So – you’re in the middle of your career, looking carefully at your retirement savings, moving into a better place financially, and WHAM! – your job gets eliminated. Now what?

Well – you have choices: a) Freak out. Panic. b) Get angry. c) Get really depressed about the state of the job market. d) Take a real look at your career, and make the best of the situation. e) All of the above.

For those of us who’ve managed to successfully move from one state of employment to another over the past many months, it is most likely “e) All of the above.” We do indeed move from fear, anger through depression, into denial land and maybe – with some hard work – to acceptance of the new reality in which we live.

It’s hard. Boomers entered the job market at a time when we were told, “Work hard. Be a company person, and you’ll retire, get the watch and be fine. The company will take care of you if you take care of the company.” What a load that turned out to be! Right?

So – again – we have choices. I choose freedom and independence over dependence and servitude. I don’t plan to ever be truly dependent upon a third party for my financial and personal well-being. I own my career, and I am going to act like I own it. This means:

a. Making a commitment to on-going learning and remaining curious about how the broader economy can use what I have to offer.

b. If my skills start to get stale, I’m going to keep them fresh or learn new ones.

c. If my job stalls, I’m going to either get or make a new one.

This new reality might seem scary or intimidating to many of us. But I find it wonderfully liberating. We don’t have to be tied to a job we don’t like. We can – and should – constantly be working to stay current and fresh. And – I will never let my network fall apart.

I’m working with people who – at age 50 or even older – are embarking upon brand new careers. I admire them, and I know they will succeed. They have embraced this new world, and are taking affirmative steps to claim ownership of their own careers.

Let’s all make a commitment to follow their lead.