If a layoff ever hits… will you be ready?
Welcome to the Dojo!
Layoffs don’t just hit “underperformers.” I’ve been through it—and built something better.
This week’s newsletter is about what I wish I had back then: what to do, what to avoid, and what to build next.
On the Mat
- Let’s Train: The Hard Truth About Layoffs—And What to Do If You're Next
- Ask Feras: “Call it quits?”
- Sharpen The Blade: JUST RELEASED “Give me 17 minutes… I’ll build your confidence to launch”
Let's Train
🧠 The Hard Truth About Layoffs—And What to Do If You're Next
We’ve already seen 946,000 job cuts in the U.S. this year— and 2025 hiring plans are at their lowest since 2009.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we pass the 1 million mark before year’s end. This isn’t just speculation—it’s data. (Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas)
In 2003, I was laid off from a VP role. It hurt. Badly. But looking back, it gave me a blank slate—a chance to reset, reassess, and eventually launch a business that led to an 8-figure exit.
So if you’ve been laid off, think you might be, or know someone who is—this is for you.
⚠️ Some Hard Truths:
- Yes, layoffs often hit the bottom 20%.
Companies are under pressure to protect margins. Cuts can be cold and calculated. - But strong performers get caught too.
Restructuring, budget freezes, entire departments cut—it’s not always about performance. - Either way—it’s not always about you.
It’s often about timing, capital, and decisions made far above your pay grade. Don't take it personally. But do take it seriously.
💡 What You Can Control:
If you suspect you were in that bottom 20%, take a moment.
Be objective. What could you have done differently?
Not to beat yourself up—but to level up. That self-awareness will serve you wherever you go next.
For some, the next step is returning to the job market (yes—even in a role beneath your title, just to stabilize).
For others, this might be the window to finally try something new. Like launching your own business.
If you're navigating this transition—or helping someone who is—these will help.
Tough times call for clarity, community, and yes, new beginnings. Let’s make sure we’re ready for them.
🎯 Free Resources You Can Use (or Share):
Even if this doesn’t apply to you right now, you likely know someone it does.
Here’s what I’ve put together to help them navigate the fog and move forward:
Ask Feras Recap
“Call it quits?”
The Challenge
“My business partner and I have been going hard at it for months and still have no revenue. We’re thinking of calling it quits. Feras, what do you advise?”
What I Told Them
After a short conversation with the founder, I learned that he and his business partner had worked hard to build their lifestyle coaching business—backend systems, website, content, the whole setup. They had even done a solid job researching the competition.
But one critical piece was missing:
👉 They hadn’t been talking to potential clients.
This is one of the most common (and toughest) hurdles I see. Reaching out to strangers, making the ask, and hearing “no” isn’t fun—but it’s necessary.
The hard truth is: you can’t outsource sales at the beginning.
As a founder, you have to build the sales muscle.
You have to sell—before you can scale.
Sharpen Your Blade
Every time you try to start your business, fear takes over.
I’ve been there… trapped in the same fear loop of overthinking, waiting to feel “ready.”
Over the last 20+ years, I’ve learned that most entrepreneurs don’t struggle with ideas — they struggle with confidence.
In this video, I walk you through my Confidence Ladder — the exact framework I’ve used to help more than 150 entrepreneurs overcome fear and finally launch.
You’ll learn how fear shows up differently for each personality type — and how to climb from hesitation to momentum, one rung at a time.
This isn’t theory. It’s field-tested strategy for founders who are ready to step on the mat and start building.
Watch until the end — I cover the 8th and most universal fear that every entrepreneur faces (and how to use it as fuel).
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