Rebuilding After Layoffs: A 54-Year-Old’s Journey to Reinvent Income and Purpose

Exploring the crossroads of consulting, product creation, and trading in a shifting career landscape

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It’s been 3 months since I was laid off, and I’ve been keeping myself busy. I’ve kept my head down, learning and writing much Python code. Staying focused and productive has worked mostly, but in the quiet early morning hours, I often wake up in a full-blown panic.

I’m not panicking about the job I lost, but a tiny voice keeps whispering: “Am I good enough for anything anymore?” Self-doubt creeps in as I stare into the mirror and see a 54-year-old man looking back.

I have experience and knowledge in engineering and AI, but I’m not young anymore, and I’m not impressionable anymore. Add to that the fact that I’m not exactly “cheap” by hourly rate, and I start believing I’m no longer a viable candidate for Series A or B startups.

What about older startups, like those at Series C or D? They’re a possibility, but they come with caveats. Companies that have survived that long are either generating sales or are backed by an executive team skilled at raising venture capital. If I join a Series C+ startup again, I’ll scrutinize its sales strategy and growth trajectory very carefully.

And then there’s the option of post-IPO or established firms. I could go back to those organizations and ride out my career until retirement. But where’s the excitement in that? Corporate politics and ladder-climbing hold no appeal for me anymore.

The Financial Reality

My priority, starting in January 2025, is simple: get money flowing. I need to soften the financial blow of losing an income. I’m fortunate to have a wonderful partner who’s gainfully employed, but I feel a deep urge to contribute—to “put meat on the table.”

Do I feel like less of a man for not being the provider right now? Not at all. But I do feel like my skills and experience are going to waste. So, how can I put them to use while earning income?

Three paths stand out: consulting, building a product, and trading.

Consulting

I’ve always kept a low-key engineering consultancy since leaving the corporate world. After living in New Jersey for over 20 years, I’ve built a network of architects and design professionals. Occasionally, I’d get a call for help with a site plan or drainage report. These were small, part-time projects—just one or two a year—but I’ve always kept those relationships alive.

After being laid off, I reached out to my old contacts to let them know I wanted to grow my consultancy in 2025. This isn’t the best time of year to seek engineering work, but at least I planted the seed.

Consulting has its risks—work may take a while to materialize—but once established, it can provide a steady, reliable income.

What about AI consulting? That’s another avenue I’m actively pursuing, but the AI field feels like shifting ground right now. Layoffs have flooded the market with talented AI professionals, making it difficult to predict where the opportunities will land.

Building a Product

The idea of building a product has intrigued me for years. My online friend Mike Carson built something he needed, turned it into a service, and ended up making millions. That story is inspiring, but it leaves me asking, What could I build?

Mike’s success didn’t come from aiming to build a product. He solved a problem he faced—automating domain trading—and only later realized others wanted the same solution. His success embodies the “blue ocean” strategy: solve a unique problem for yourself, and the market may follow.

When I floated the idea of building a subscription-based product to my partner, she said bluntly: “If you want to build a product, make something people want and need. Don’t copy the competition.” She’s right. Why swim in a red ocean of competitors when I could create something truly original?

But here’s the issue: I don’t yet have an idea. Without one, there’s no income, and the clock is ticking. I feel the pressure, but rushing into something would only repeat the mistakes I’ve criticized others for making. I need to take a step back and think deeply.

Trading

I’ve been in the markets for years. I started day trading after the Dot Com implosion in the early 2000s, but shifted to long-term investing when I joined the startup world. That changed with GameStop’s meteoric rise, which rekindled my trading interest.

I made a small fortune flipping GameStop and Nvidia stocks, but trading is hard. It requires a sizable account, constant attention to market trends, and meticulous risk management. As a trading friend wisely said, “Trading is the hardest way to make an easy buck.”

Last year, I pivoted to selling option premiums—a strategy akin to selling insurance against extreme market events. I sell cash-secured puts on stocks I wouldn’t mind owning if assigned. It’s a risky strategy, but it suits my current goals.

Since September, this approach has paid off. I made nearly half my monthly salary in September, more than half in October, and matched my monthly salary in November. Trading, alongside some income from writing, is currently my lifeline.

Pulling It All Together

Each of these paths—consulting, product-building, and trading—offers promise and challenges for me, but I’m under pressure. I’m under pressure to make something happen. The big question is: where do I focus my energy for maximum effect?

My immediate goal is financial stability, but I also want to build something meaningful. I spent 54 years on this planet, and I don’t want my entire existence to just be a money grab. Is it possible to do both? Is it possible to make a living and do it meaningfully?

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Thank You!

I wanted to say thank you to all the paid subscribers; your generosity helps keep my family’s lights on. Thank you!