{Giveaway is Closed}
When Dominque Browning, of House and Garden fame, lost her job in 2007, it was quite a devastating time for her. I can imagine it was, since I too, have been through the loss of a few jobs myself. Over the course of my 30 years in Corporate America, at least 4 times I was laid off for one reason or another, all because of downsizing or restructuring or whatever they decided to call it at the time. All I knew was that I had lost my job and that is a very hard thing to go through. You really start to doubt yourself and what you have to offer.
I survived that time in my life and with each move in the Corporate world, it was usually a better situation for me, so I can see God’s hand in that, looking back. Now that I’m out of the Corporate world, I can say I totally don’t miss it. I would much rather be at home, doing what I love to do and blogging about it with all of you. That is a whole bunch more fun than showing up at an office each day, I can tell you that (been there, done that). I thought it would be hard to adjust to the non-structure of staying at home and working at my own pace after so many years of going to work, but it has not been. I took to it like a duck takes to water and haven’t looked back.
So, when I was asked if I’d like to review Dominique’s new book, Slow Love (How I Lost My Job, Put on My Pajamas & Found Happiness) all about the losing of her job and in turn, how she found herself, I just knew it would be a good read. And it is! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, recounting how she found out she lost her job as the Editor-in-Chief of House and Garden, back in the Fall of 2007 and all of the emotions that went along with losing the job that was her identify. She was a powerful woman in the Conde Nast organization and all of a sudden all of that was gone. She went through depression, denial, and a feeling of what do I do now? Oh, not to mention, she had been involved in an intense love affair for several years that seemed to be going nowhere. That’s part of the story too that maybe we all can relate to.
Well, she pulled herself together, sold her big house in the city and down-sized to her country house in Rhode Island, she was now an empty-nester, since both her boys were gone and she had to go about finding herself again. From going to the farmer’s market in her PJ’s, to planting a garden, to kayaking in nearby ponds, she slowly came back to life again. It’s a very good read and I really enjoyed turning the pages of this book. Dominique now writes a blog, called Slow Love, as well as a contributor for other publications, which you can see on her blog. She’s an outstanding writer.
Here’s a link to a video interview with Dominique on Good Morning Ameria, which is also good to hear.
I got to ask her a few questions in an interview, so I’m looking forward to sharing those Q & A’s with you:
Question #1 from Rhoda: What is the biggest bit of advice you could pass along to other women losing jobs and possibly careers and starting over?
DB: My advice? Stop thrashing around, sit with the pain and fear for a while, allow yourself to mourn, and honor what is lost. Then, get moving. Physically. Walk, garden, do yoga, bang a drum, but move. Physical movement loosens something up in the brain, and allows creativity to begin to flow again.
Question #2: Would you go back to the Corporate world if you were invited and had the opportunity?
DB: Sure, I’d go back, but only if I could do something about which I feel as passionately about as what I’m doing now!
Question #3: In your own home, what is your favorite style to decorate and do you enjoy yardsales and thrifting? The joy of the hunt?
DB: My style is hopelessly eclectic–meaning, I mix traditional with modern, and every time I try to stick to one style, I end up drifting…and mixing. I love consignment shops, but I know that I’m in a “giving away” mode so that really puts the brakes on my purchases.
*******************************************************
Thank you, Dominque, for taking the time to answer my questions. And here’s the fun part! We have a book to give away to ONE of my readers, so all you have to do is leave a comment and a winner will be drawn by Random.org. on Monday evening.
I’d love to know if you’ve ever lost a job to a layoff or downsizing situation? I can totally relate to this, since it’s happened to me and I’m sure it has happened to many of you too.
Tell me how you handled it? The first time I was laid off, it really took me by surprise and I had to regroup and figure out what I was going to do next and it can be a depressing time. But, when it happens a 2nd or 3rd time, I think you get used to it and this day and time, it is happening more and more out there.
That’s it, leave a comment if you’d like to win a copy of the book!
**********************************************
Some weekend links for you:
June 19th: If you’re looking for some berry festivals this month, check out the NC Blueberry Festival in downtown Burgaw, NC. If you’re anywhere in the area, it might be a fun event to attend.
Since its inception, the Festival has become a premiere event in Southeastern North Carolina and attracts more than 30,000 people who have come to enjoy some of the area’s finest entertainment, artisans nestled around the courthouse square, antique cars lining the streets, food vendors serving up an array of delicacies and of course the Festival’s main attraction Blueberries! The Festival is a non-profit civic organization and is sponsored in part by the Town of Burgaw.
Alabama has a Blueberry and Blackberry Festival every year too, at Petals from the Past, where we got our blackberry and blueberry plants. Their festival will also be on June 19th and we plan on going!
How to Get Published, Part 2: Are you Ready to be an Author?
How to Make your own Ice Cream this summer.
This reminds me of the movie Baby Boom without the baby :). I’d love to read the book. Going to check out her blog too!
Yep, been there, done that, too…not a good feeling when you didn’t see it coming at all, but as you said looking back can definitely see God’s hand in it and how He protected me from alot of things. He is so good like that.
Would love the book-sounds like a good summer read and I have a friend that has lost 2 jobs that I could also pass it along too.
Years ago, I was laid off from my first job out of college. It wasn’t too devastating as I was so young and had only had the job for just over a year (plus, the entire company had gone bankrupt and I made it through 14 rounds of layoffs before I got cut). However, recently my sister was laid off after 7 years and she is really having a hard time dealing with it, mentally. She was provided a very fair and generous severance package, and she was part of a rather large layoff, but she still is having trouble not taking it personally. I think this book would help tremendously!
This books sounds very interesting, Rhoda! Kudos to Dominique for doing what needed to be done and living her life in the face of it. I have not had to face a lay-off or down-sizing ~ I expect it is because of the field my day job is in {law firms}.
I’ve been hearing so many good things about this book. I also heard an interview with the author on NPR. I was shocked at the animosity some of the callers had for her though. A lot of resentment because she was financially comfortable at the time of her dismissal…as if that mitigated her emotional upheaval.
I lost my job twice. Once when I was young. I was angry and took it personally and the second time my company had been “merged” so many times that I was actually relieved. I couldn’t wait for my turn to be “let go”. The other shoe finally dropped with a nice severance package and I escaped the corporate world. Like you, Rhoda, I never looked back. My guy and I moved to Connecticut and started our own business. That was fifteen years ago and we have never worked harder or been happier.
This book sounds great. I love to read real life stories about how a person changes their life around. Thanks for the chance to win and if not I will definitely look for this book next time I’m in the bookstore.
I’m looking forward to reading this book!
Yes, I have 2 experiences with layoffs in the electronics manufacturing world. Once during college years, which didn’t bother me much, and then like Lori H, after surviving numerous rounds of layoffs at a struggling company.
I moped for a bit, I suppose, did some thinking about what I wanted to do vs. what I could stand doing. Then returned to the working world until I had a daughter.
Now contemplating a return to working…and I’m trepidacious!!
I was hired away from a 20+ year corporate career to a startup company in the same field. It was a very hard decision to make and it was done with much prayer and thought. I did not take it lightly. In the new job I immediately felt as though I had fallen into a deep hole – non-stop travel with no notice, “vacation days” filled with conference calls and e-mails, unending stress of at least 14 hour days – and I wondered how I was going to survive. Well, I didn’t! 🙂
After the initial shock (I remember that I did not close my eyes the first night) I just started working in my yard and did that for at least six weeks. Then I volunteered in an area that I love. Next came an offer to do consulting in that area and then an offer for a “real” job 30 hours a week. Now I have time to do all the things that I love along with a pension from the first job.
God’s hand was in it all the way. I am very thankful that I no longer live with that stress. Because of that, I have had many opportunities to listen to others who have recently found themselves in that situation. Wouldn’t want to go through it again, but it was all in God’s plan.
Wow would I love to read this book! I’m ‘there’ now. I was laid off, down sized whatever! last August and still can’t find a job. I just turned 60 on Wed and I think I’m ‘retired’ like it or not. I love blogging and it has saved me! Literally! Made new friends, found a creative outlet and encouraged me to try new things, gardening for one and I’m loving it. Not sure what my future holds job wise but I will make it one way or the other!
I can totally relate. I’m now in the midst of my 2nd layoff. I was laid off from a job I had worked at for 17 years in 2006, in 2007 I found a new job at a very cool internet marketing company. I loved working there, but the hours were killing me. I’m a single parent of 2 young kids, and some nights and weekends the job took priority over them. Last summer, I was laid off from that job. I’m still trying to find work. I’d love to read some inspiration from this book. Thanks for the give away!
I quit my job in 2006 to stay home with my kids and do daycare. Well that lasted about 2 years then I needed a change. I took the summer off and thought I would be able to find a job in August. Well not many people want an interior designer right now, especially when my focus has been in commercial interiors. I have been searching since August of 2008. I have started a home staging business and blog about paining furniture. Still waiting for my ship to come in. I can’t wait to read this book for some inpiration.
LOVE Dominique Browning and am so looking forward to reading this book! (it was supposed to be here yesterday – what happened B&N?) I’m in the throes of a similar situation myself and trying to look at my job loss as an opportunity to make a big change – from working at home for 17 yrs to moving back out into the corporate or retail world. Pretty scary but exciting too!
Have a great weekend, Rhoda!
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book. I have been very fortunate and have never suffered job loss personally, but have 2 close friends who have faced this situation recently. One found work almost immediately and the other has been looking now for over 8 months and has decided to take the opportunity to go back to school and finish her grad degree. She is fortunate that she has that option financially with her husband’s income, as so many do not.
I am ‘there’ right now. Started a blog the first day I became a SAHM. Am working through the pain, the self doubt. And, I certainly do see the hand of God at work in my life. What more could a girl want? This book sounds wonderful. Thanks, even if I don’t get it from you, I will certainly check it out at the bookstore.
Oh yes, we have had that experience several times over the years, and even though it has always worked out for the best, you do take it very personally. I would love to read this book.
I saw the interview on GMA and thought she was interesting and the book would be a good one.
Hugs!
Kat
I am unemployed and in my pajamas…I think I need this book. Thanks for the fun giveaway!
I would love to read this book: I have been freelancing all my life, and since two years, I have much to much work and I do not enjoy it any more. Not to mention the stress. I need to summon up the courage to rethink me life and do something else, what keeps me back is fear to be without an income…
Would love to read the book. I also LOOVE the NC Blueberry Festival here in Burgaw. We go every year. Thanks for mentioning us. : )
I’m a technical writer and software tester who has been unemployed for the last ten months. As a consultant, I’m used to having contracts end and having to scramble to find a new one, but this is the longest I’ve ever been unemployed. And there’s no end in sight. Unlike “regular” jobs, there are no severance packages when a consultant gets laid off.
For most of my adult life, I’ve worked two or more jobs simultaneously so I could afford to buy and maintain a house. I’d work one job during the day and a second one in the evenings and on weekends. I could go for years without a day off! So it’s been a bit of a shock to my system not to have to work day and night.
The first thing I did when I lost my job was to renegotiate my mortgage. Fortunately, the rates were much lower than they were the last time I’d renewed the mortgage. I also posted my resume online and sent it to every consulting firm and headhunter I could think of. I also sent it to every store or flower shop in town (I used to own a flower shop).
I start every day by searching for jobs online. In addition, I assign myself at least one major (or several minor) task every day: clean the basement, work in the garden, shop for the week’s groceries, visit my mother, wash the windows, etc. One advantage of being unemployed is that my house has never been cleaner or more organized.
Once I’ve accomplished my task(s), I play with my kitties and then hop on the bus to head to the SPCA, where I volunteer. After that, I settle down to read. I’ve kept every paperback I’ve ever bought, so I’m re-reading them all. I surf the net and read every design blog. Having little animals to love, and reading and seeing pictures of beautiful decor keep me sane. I’d love to read Dominique’s new book!