After 27 years as a broadcast executive, Sidmel Estes-Sumpter unexpectedly was offered a buyout about 18 months ago.  She admits she was shocked, depressed and truly felt kicked to the curb.  In her words, she and ‘chardonnay’ become real good friends.

With the help of her friends and faith, she picked herself up. She created a consulting business drawing off her expertise on understanding the media.  Her company, BreakThrough Inc. specializes in helping firms fine tune their messages for the media. She makes a clear distinction: “I’m not out to do just PR, but help people understand what the media are looking for when they’re trying to decide which stories to cover.”

Estes-Sumpter mailed a letter to everyone she knew to let them know she was now on her own and looking for business.   She was amazed at the results.  People got back to her offering encouragement and even inviting her to pitch her business.

Estes-Sumpter says she is still learning and has some rough days when the phone is not ringing and the invoices are not getting paid.  She offers this advice:

* Know yourself  - Understand what you like and don’t like to do.

* Control Yourself - Emotions run high when you’ve just left a job or career that you took for granted would always be there. Be strong.

* Know others - Network, network, network.

* Do something for others - You weren’t successful by yourself so reach out, give back and feel good about yourself.

Now, read more from our panelists:

David Honig & Janice Bryant Howroyd.