From Corporate Creative to Just Creative: How Layoffs and Cancer Redirected My Life’s Purpose

From Corporate Creative to Just Creative: How Layoffs and Cancer Redirected My Life’s Purpose

The reality of things and a deeper dive 

In the three weeks between losing my job on February 6, 2023, and finding out I had breast cancer on March 3, 2023, I was making plans. 

After I overcame the shock of losing my job, and since I was given some severance, I thought, “Why not travel? Take a month off, regroup, and then get back into the job hunt.” That was the plan. A short break then back to corporate life. After all, I support myself, have a mortgage, two pets to spoil, and a not-so-cheap ceramics hobby—I had to keep my corporate career moving.

Then came the breast cancer diagnosis. So much for traveling. So much for that "refresh."

Before all this, my career path was pretty clear-cut. I started out as a graphic designer and worked my way to leading creative teams. I enjoyed mentoring, loved the peeps I’ve worked with, and I think my teams have appreciated me as their leader. I was good at what I did. I worked my ass off and all I’ve asked for in return from an employer was two things: trust and respect. That wasn’t always so easy to come by. 

After my diagnosis, I had some interactions with HR about my benefits. In fact, the day I learned I had cancer I contacted them in a complete panicked state, thinking, "Surely, they’ll have my back." After all, I wasn’t let go because of performance issues. I mean, for the 4 years I worked there we were considered family. Employees who became ill or had life events were greatly supported. So, of course, there’d be some level of support for me, right? Call me naive.

Let’s just say that was the beginning of my desire for a corporate hiatus, exit, adios amigos. Turns out, once you’re off the payroll, you’re just a number—if that.

That realization, plus a few other factors helped solidify my decision to pursue something entirely different. For starters, the corporate stress had taken a toll on me both physically and mentally. It was always the same thing: nothing was ever good enough, fast enough, creative enough. You’re expected to be the expert, but aren’t trusted as such. Everyone is out for themselves and the turnovers in leadership made for inconsistent job expectations, lack of understanding, and poor communication. This wasn’t just my experience, it is one many are faced with.

Corporate America has changed so much. The days of working for one company until retirement are long gone. Now, the two-year stint has become the norm, with “everyone” constantly chasing the next opportunity for a slight pay bump. Expectations are sky-high, compensation is stagnant, and loyalty is practically non-existent–on either side.

I remember laying on my couch, exhausted from radiation treatments, thinking, What if I had to work through this as so many do? I couldn’t do it. I’d have daily meltdowns. Would my body even heal?

Cancer shifted my priorities. It forced me to look at life differently. What used to seem urgent no longer holds the same weight. I started questioning what I really wanted from life, from my career, and how I wanted to spend my time. And my heart became softer. The money was nice but was it bringing me any happiness? This is my second chance—I didn’t want to pour all my time and energy into making someone else successful anymore—I wanted to invest in myself.

And now here I am—it’s been one year and 8 months (and 3 days, but who’s counting) since I got the boot from corporate life. And now, on my terms, I’m promoting myself, generating new creative ideas, making sculptures, vases, lots of octopuses, cool videos to promote them, and it’s working! It’s hard work, and sometimes it feels overwhelming but it’s also incredibly fulfilling. 

Still, there are big questions looming: Can I really make this work? What will my finances look like in a year? Will I still be happy, or stressed out? Will my passion sustain me, or will my bank account be on the decline? And if it does, what then? Do I go back to life as it was before with my tail between my legs? 

The uncertainty is real, but I don’t dwell. I stay positive, speak positive, I AM positive. And when I start to doubt, I exercise to clear my mind and sometimes I scroll through LinkedIn for a reminder of what could be and it lights a fire under me. For reals.

But one thing is for sure: I’m committed. I’m motivated. I’m in the driver's seat. And for the first time, it feels right.