Getting laid off sucks. Usually. Sometimes it is actually immediately seen as a good thing.

But when I got laid off from Boeing in the summer of 2014, I did not initially see it as a good thing.

There have been some major layoffs in the aerospace world recently. Last week, Blue Origin announced it was laying off 10% of its workforce. JPL had an 8% reduction this month. And Boeing warned employees on the SLS program about upcoming layoffs. I saw in my LinkedIn feed that other Boeing layoffs were already happening across the company.

I can’t give advice for everyone because everyone’s situation is different. But I will tell you what I did next.

The layoff gave me a little time (with a severance) to assess my career and my life. This was a very fortunate gift. I took advantage of it.

I went through a Strengths Finder exercise. I applied my research and analytical skills to do a new market assessment for my career field, my local economy, and my own professional background.

I also decided that it would be great to have another source of income that didn’t rely on a paycheck. A residual, passive income would be ideal.

Of course that sounds awesome, doesn’t it? But how can an aerospace engineer and project manager create that in a way that uses that knowledge and experience?

I concluded that writing and publishing a book that had something to do with my skills and background would be a worthwhile attempt.

Thus was born the idea of How To Be a Rocket Scientist!

Thus became this website that you are reading right now!

Whadya know, it is more than 10 years later and this website blog still happening. Along with the book sales…

Since then, a lot has changed and evolved. They layoff didn’t kill me. Or my career. That’s important to point out.

I also learned that writing and self-publishing a book provides a long list of advantages and benefits for professionals who are faced with an unexpected career twist.

It gives you a productive and creative outlet to channel your energy. It provides a unique sense of self-satisfaction.

Done right, it also positions you for your next career move. And it creates a new, residual, income stream.

If these sound like attractive things for you, whether you have recently been laid off or not, take advantage of the resources I have made from doing this type of thing for the past 10+ years at boostwithabook.com.

Take a look at the tools and resources you find there. And start thinking about how a book could turn your layoff into an opportunity to boost your career into a new direction.

Good luck, and take charge!