Is There Life After A Layoff? Ask Tami.

By Alex Greenwood

As part of our continuing series of interviews with authors, songwriters and other outspoken creative people, we’re happy to introduce you to author Tami Cannizzaro. Tami’s experiences as a veteran business professional getting laid off started out as fodder for her popular blog, then grew into a book, Tales of the Terminated^® A Humorous Look at Life after a Layoff (2012 Pink Dog Press).

Stress, heartache, happiness, anger, sadness, boredom, loneliness and feeling less-than-successful are all emotions that follow the recently unemployed or underemployed around like a shadow. Nevertheless, Tami discovered there is another side to the story, a humorous side. Yes, funny things happen when you’ve been laid off.

We talked with Tami about her writing, career and life after a layoff.

AlexanderG Whiz: Tell us a little about yourself.

Tami Cannizzaro: I’m a marketing and PR professional, author, motivational speaker and mentor. A retail veteran, my career includes working for big brands: Neiman Marcus, Zale, Nokia, Blockbuster and 7-Eleven.  My work has ranged from retail buying (I bought men’s underwear, among other things), store operations, sponsorships and promotions, sports marketing, strategic marketing and public relations. Currently I work as Account Director for a PR agency.

I’m an almost-native Texan, a die-hard Aggie and wife to the best husband anywhere. I’m also a writer who loves to see the humorous side of things. I’m an avid traveler and need only one medium suitcase for a two-week trip.  I love all dogs, especially my beautiful 85 lb. four-legged daughter.

Aside from writing, my passion is mentoring college students and providing them insight into the work world, sharing things that I wish someone had told me when I was preparing for my career.

And I’m a huge IndyCar fan. I’ve even taken a ride in an IndyCar at the Indianpolis Motor Speedway.

AlexanderG Whiz: Cool. Why did you write your book–what was the “eureka” moment?

Tami Cannizzaro: I wish I had a really fun “eureka” moment to share with you! The decision to write my book, Tales of the Terminated, was more of a gut feeling or inner voice telling me to do this. Sometimes I ignore my “inner voice”, although this time she was pretty persistent. It just seemed like the logical next step based on the positive response to my blog, and an opportunity to provide humor to others who might find themselves in a similar situation.

What I found during my journey is that most books and articles about layoffs talk in “how-to” language; they are about resume writing, preparing a job search, networking tips, etc.  I wanted to write Tales of the Terminated to show others that there is more to a layoff than simply losing your job; it’s an emotional journey that few, if any, are truly prepared for.

AlexanderG Whiz: Did you ever quit–thinking it wasn’t for you? Something you didn’t want to finish?

Tami Cannizzaro: Oh yes – I actually quit writing Tales of the Terminated as soon as I started!  The idea for Tales of the Terminated came right after the layoff, when I found myself humored by the funny things that were happening as I embarked on my journey through unemployment.  So I started writing everything down, almost like keeping a journal, with the intent on sharing with others through a blog or possibly a book.  Yet I let fear or insecurity take over and I put my writing away.

My thoughts were, “Who’s going to read this? Will anyone even care?”

Plus, I did not think of myself as a writer.

Months later I was stuck inside due to an ice storm and lamenting that it had been one year since I was laid off.  The cold must have given me a blast of courage because I pulled out my writing and turned one of my stories into a blog post. Just like that, Tales of the Terminated was born.

I received such positive feedback from the Tales of the Terminated blog that writing a book no longer seemed like a dream. And once I got started, I never wanted to quit – just to keep going.

AlexanderG Whiz: You’ve been a newspaper columnist as well as public relations professional. That’s a lot of writing. Are you a natural writer–I mean, does writing come easy for you?

Tami Cannizzaro: I would love to tell you that I had a secret desire to be a writer, but honestly I had never before thought of myself as a writer. Although looking back at my college days, any class that included lots of writing was a good grade for me. Even freshman English, which was basically creative writing. At work I’ve been able to write well too.

Does it come easy for me? That depends on the day, moment or assignment. If I’ve got a creative idea I can usually knock something out quickly, especially if I can get a bit of quiet time. Just like all writers, though, I get blocked. Especially when I’m too busy, making it difficult for my mind relax. It’s hard to turn creativity on like a faucet. The secret is that I truly enjoy it, and I think anything you enjoy has a bit of ease to it.

AlexanderG Whiz: What’s your writing routine–both as a blogger and when you were writing the book?

Tami Cannizzaro: Apparently I have a difficult time toggling between my work and my writing, so I dedicate Fridays to writing. This is great because it allows me some additional free time on Saturday and Sunday to review and revise anything I’ve written, or even to write some more. I have a little routine in that I have my coffee and breakfast while reading the paper and listening to the news – believe it or not this clears my mind. Then it’s off to my desk to write.

If I get stuck on a concept I’ll shift away from it for a few minutes to clear my mind, usually a game of computer solitaire or a walk into the backyard.

Another routine is that I’m always jotting down my thoughts; anything that may contribute to my tales.  I keep several moleskin journals around so I can capture a thought as it hits me – in my purse, next to the bed, on my desk, everywhere. Some of my best thinking is done in my car and I’m constantly pulling over to write something down. Sometimes it takes me forever to get to my destination because I’m stopping to write thoughts.

AlexanderG Whiz: You often speak to groups, covering some of the material in your book. Where do you speak and what kind of responses do you get?

Tami Cannizzaro: I’ll speak to just about any group, including student associations, non-profits, special events, etc. My favorite, though, is working with college students. While they haven’t been in a layoff situation yet, they still benefit from the message of Tales of the Terminated: always be ready for change, figure out how to adapt and know that anything is possible if you maintain a positive attitude and put your mind to it.

The response I’ve received from speaking engagements has been very positive, beyond anything I could have imagined. All ages seem to respond favorably – again, whether the audience has been laid off or not. Ultimately, the message from Tales of the Terminated is to remain positive, see the situation for what it is – the good and the bad – and realizing that there is always a silver lining.  That’s probably why my stories resonate with a variety of audiences.

AlexanderG Whiz: Would you rather give a speech or write a new book? (Or give a speech about your new book?)

Tami Cannizzaro: Do I have to choose? I enjoy both!  If I must choose, I have to pick giving a speech. It’s very interactive, especially since I get to meet with the audience afterwards. I’m a very social person and writing is very solitary. And I like seeing the reactions while I’m speaking, which allows me to make adjustments to my talk if necessary.

AlexanderG Whiz: Pink Dog Press is your publisher–not a large press. What was the toughest part about writing and publishing the book with a small imprint?

Tami Cannizzaro: I think any author will say that the most difficult part of the process is promoting yourself and the book. Writing, publishing and the set-up required to get the raw material into book/e-book form was easy in comparison. Especially since I had an awesome editor who knew all the ins and outs to guide me through the process.  The marketing is hard to do while working full-time. As a marketing and PR professional, I may know too much about what should be done for a promotion – I might be better off if I was a bit more naïve in this area!

AlexanderG Whiz: Let’s talk more about the book itself. So, you got laid off one day, right? Tell us about that experience.

Tami Cannizzaro: So you want me to relive that day, huh?  Actually I knew it was coming. My company had experienced numerous layoffs during my tenure and the business was struggling. My department had been eliminated a few months earlier and I was spared, moved to another department to work on “special projects”.  It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to figure out that any time your job title says “special projects”, it’s a temporary gig and your resume should be up to date.

That didn’t make the reality of being laid off any easier when I actually received my pink slip.  The layoff came on a Friday and my car was packed to leave town for the weekend.  I remember calling my husband, who offered words of encouragement as I walked to the parking garage. I guess “fight or flight” took over as I instantly started networking, calling people during my drive. Reality set in the following week, and I was sort of numb as I tried to figure out my strategy.

Though I was a bit scared, somehow I just knew that everything would work out.

AlexanderG Whiz: Your book is hilarious–laugh out loud funny in places, in fact. Have you always “found the funny” in tough situations throughout your life?

Tami Cannizzaro: Not at all!  I come from a long line of worriers.  When I was younger I took life and my career way too seriously, always worrying about everything. Add to that my very competitive, always-want-to-be-the-best Type-A personality and you’ve got the potential to be an Olympic caliber worrier. While I’m sure my ability to find humor in situations was always there, the turning point was having very serious surgery. There is nothing that gives a person perspective faster than facing your own mortality. From that point I realized that everything else, including work, is just fluff and I make a conscious effort to put things in perspective. If I have my health and my family, everything else comes after.  Not to mention that I found humor during my hospital stay – now those are funny stories!

AlexanderG Whiz: Is there a certain demographic the book is aimed at? I’m a guy in his (ahem) early forties, and I loved it.

Tami Cannizzaro: Well I’m glad that as a forty-something guy you enjoyed reading Tales of the Terminated! Hubby is in the same category and says he loves reading my book, although he knows better than to say otherwise. While Tales of the Terminated especially resonates with those who have experienced a layoff or who are simply looking for a new career opportunity, I think it’s for anyone of almost any age. The message is about finding the positive side of life and continuing to move forward after a setback – and that could apply to so many situations.

AlexanderG Whiz: If people were to sample one chapter out of your book, what would it be (tell us about what’s in the chapter)?

Tami Cannizzaro: Only one chapter? Wow – that’s like asking a parent to pick a favorite child! One of my favorite chapters is “Do You Want Fries With That?” It’s more poignant than the others, yet it best illustrates one of the by-products of being laid off, and that’s your loss of identity. This is something that I don’t think most people expect with a job loss.

Another favorite is “Vegetables; Are They Really a Necessity?”  Money, or lack of money, is always a concern with a layoff. I was inspired to write this one day while I was in the car on my way to the grocery store but had the urge to head to the mall.

“Holiday Meltdown” is another fave; it’s just so me.

AlexanderG Whiz: You’re back to work now. Has your layoff experience changed the way you view being employed now?

Tami Cannizzaro: Yes, I’m happy to be working. One thing that’s changed is that I’m not afraid of a layoff. While I hope not to go through another layoff, if it does happen I know I will be able to figure something out work-wise. Even if it’s something different than I’m used to or is at a lower salary.  It’s amazing what you can adjust to.

The experience also helped me refocus my priorities.  I make sure there is time for family as well as my new found love of writing.

AlexanderG Whiz: Any advice for the laid off or underemployed people out there?

Tami Cannizzaro: My advice for anyone in the Land of Layoff or even those who are underemployed is to “put yourself out there”.  If a layoff occurs, allow yourself a short pity-party – one week max – then move on.

Join at least one networking group; it’s a great way to get out and interact with other professionals as well as get job leads.

Another good thing is to volunteer at a non-profit, especially if you can leverage your job skills to assist the organization.  What better way to stay busy, give back to a good cause, add experience to your resume and possibly make a job connection.

Get over yourself. Meaning, be willing to accept a different title, a lower wage, a longer commute, etc. Unless you have unlimited cash reserves that allow you to go without a salary for a long time, your objective is to find work even if the job isn’t your first choice. This is a strategic move that provides money and provides some peace of mind while you continue to look.

Most of all, at whatever you do, make sure you exude positive energy; you’ll be surprised at the return.

AlexanderG Whiz: Any advice for writers?

Tami Cannizzaro: If you really enjoy writing, keep at it. Don’t listen to others who think you might be wasting your time. I had well-meaning friends tell me I should spend time focusing on my job search and not my writing. As long as you can financially afford to write, do it. Submit articles for neighborhood publications; they love to receive work from people who live in the area.

AlexanderG Whiz: Anything I missed?

Tami Cannizzaro: You forgot to ask me where I was born and what I wore to school on the first day of 10^th grade, but other than that I think you’ve covered it.

AlexanderG Whiz: Thanks Tami!

Want to hear more from Tami? Check out her interview on the Audio Dust Jacket Radio Show–click here.

More About Tami and Tales of the Terminated

You can learn more about Tami’s book (and download a free excerpt) by clicking here. Visit her website and blog by clicking here. You can follow her on Twitter here and on Facebook here. Purchase a paperback or ebook wherever books are sold, including Amazon.com: Tales of the Terminated: A Humorous Look at Life After a Layoff.

Disclosure: Ms. Cannizzaro is a client of AlexanderG Public Relations.