From Layoff to Launch: A Five-Year Journey of Reinvention
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Caitlin Moyer
When I was laid off from my full-time job in October 2020, it felt like the ground had dropped out from under me. After 18 years with the same organization, what many considered a dream job, I suddenly had nowhere to be on a Tuesday morning. Friends offered well-meaning clichés about doors closing and opening, and I appreciated the sentiment even if I was not quite ready to believe it yet.
I had thought about going out on my own for years, but I was comfortable. I had a steady paycheck, good benefits, and a role people envied. Why would I leave? People would not understand. So I stayed even as the idea of building something of my own kept quietly tugging at me. The layoff did not give me a choice. It gave me permission.
Those first few weeks were disorienting. I went on long runs just to get fresh air and clear my head, which eventually turned into marathon training. I held virtual and socially distanced yoga sessions in my living room or backyard because moving my body and inspiring others to do the same was the only thing that quieted the noise. I journaled to get the spiral out of my head and onto paper, and I practiced meditation whenever I could carve out a few quiet minutes. These were not curated self-care rituals. They were practical ways to survive and regain a sense of control amid the uncertainty.
As the fog lifted, I faced a decision. I could find another full-time desk job, the safe and expected route. But I kept asking myself: if I do not try to build my own thing now, in the middle of a pandemic, will I be sitting at that same desk 20 years from now wondering what if? Desk jobs would always be there if I failed. This moment might not come again.
So I took the leap. I launched Caitlin Moyer Communications & Marketing while simultaneously pursuing personal training and yoga instructor certifications. It felt equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. I was combining nearly two decades of communications and marketing expertise with my passion for fitness and wellness, but on my own terms this time.
The journey was messy. There were months when work was sparse and I second-guessed everything. I studied for certification exams late at night, caffeinated and stressed. Slowly, things started clicking. A client here, a successful class there. Each small win reminded me why I had chosen this path. I learned to trust my instincts, say no to projects that did not feel right, and build a business that actually reflected my values.
Five years later, here is what I know. My only regret is that I did not do this sooner. I have the freedom to create my own schedule, choose the clients and projects I take on, and work with people and brands I actually trust and believe in. My work-life balance is better than it has ever been. I thought I would miss the extensive travel that came with my old role, but instead I am excited to be home, to not miss random summer afternoons, and to travel on my own terms when I want to.
The layoff forced me to do what I had been too comfortable to do myself. It forced me to bet on me. If you are in a role that feels safe but not quite right, or if you have been laid off and are wondering what comes next, here is what I wish I had known sooner. Comfort is expensive. It costs you the chance to find out what you are capable of. You do not need to wait for permission or the perfect moment.
You just need to start. Find practices that keep you grounded when everything feels uncertain. Trust yourself even when it is scary. The leap you are afraid to take might be exactly the one you need.
That layoff did not ruin my career. It freed me to finally build the one I had been too scared to pursue. Five years later, I am running my own business, teaching yoga and personal training, and living life on my terms. If I could go back to that version of me sitting at her kitchen table in October 2020, I would tell her: this is the beginning of something better. Trust yourself. Take the leap. You will not regret it.
Connect With Caitlin
Instagram: @CaitlinMoyer
Twitter/X: @CMoyer
TikTok: @CMoyer
YouTube: @CMoyer
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