When Fear Knocks, Keep Moving
When the Ground Gives WayInside this issue
On My MindIt only takes one sentence to shake your identity. “You’re being let go.” This week on the podcast, I sat down with Merry Korn, and she described that moment as feeling like “the ground beneath me gave.”  She was a single parent. Two teenagers. College ahead. Real bills. Real pressure. Real fear. Her words were raw: devastated, paralyzed, at a complete ground zero loss.  What came next, though, is what stuck out to me. She didn’t hide. She didn’t give up. She said, “Surrender was not an option.”  So she did what many of us forget to do when fear hits: she picked up the phone. Merry started calling CEOs. She scheduled structured conversations. She applied everywhere. She cut expenses. She kept moving. And eventually, from nothing, she built a company that employed more than 1,300 people across 30 states. Not just any company, but one that prioritized hiring people with severe disabilities, disabled veterans, and people living in deep poverty. Here’s what I keep thinking about: Most dads don’t fear hard work. We fear instability. We fear letting our families down. We fear not knowing what’s next. Merry felt all of that. And, still, she moved forward anyway. And she reminded us of something even more important: Your work will still be there. Your kids won’t. The Holy Grail of Informational InterviewsMerry calls informational interviews “the holy grail.” These are not job interviews. They’re conversations. Why it MattersWhen you’re stuck, your brain narrows. Fear makes your world small. Conversations make it bigger. Informational interviews let you explore industries, validate ideas, and build relationships without the pressure of asking for a job. How to Do It
That last question changes everything. Why it WorksYou’re not selling. You’re learning. And people rarely shut down curiosity. Merry used this approach to:
All while terrified. Her advice was simple: “You feel the fear. Just keep moving. Just keep doing it anyway.”  Protect the RitualMerry built a high-growth company, but she also protected dinner. Why it Matters Careers stretch. Childhood doesn’t. “It seems endless,” she said about field trips and school events. “But there will be a day that comes that you don’t have any more field trips.”  It’s so true. How to Apply It Choose one recurring ritual:
Put it on the calendar like a board meeting. Non-negotiable. Pro TipRituals don’t have to be elaborate. Merry used to sit and paint with her daughter. Years later, her daughter invited her to London to sit and paint again. The small things compound. Your inbox won’t remember, but your kids will Time to Sprint: 20 Minutes Toward ClarityIf you’re feeling stuck, you don’t have to overhaul your life. Start small. Step 1: Define the Direction Write down one type of work that intrigues you. - Not what pays the most. - Not what looks impressive. - What genuinely pulls at you. Step 2: Identify One Person Find one person in that field. Just one. Step 3: Send the Message Ask for 20 minutes. That’s it. Why it WorksMomentum beats rumination. Action shrinks fear. You don’t need a five-year plan. You need one conversation to get started. Your MoveWhere in your life do you need to keep moving, even though you’re afraid? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response. Connect with MerryMerry Korn knows what it feels like to lose everything professionally and still have to show up as a parent. Two months into what she thought would be her final job, she was fired. Instead of retreating, she rebuilt. She launched Pearl Interactive Network and eventually employed more than 1,300 people across 30 states. She teaches people how to overcome paralyzing fear, clarify what actually makes their heart sing, and use structured conversations to create real opportunity. If you’re navigating change or quietly wondering whether your work could mean more, she’s someone worth learning from. Follow Merry On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrykorn On X: https://X.com/korn_merry45334 On Instagram: https://instagram.com/mpearlkorn On Facebook: https://facebook.com/firedtoinspired On her website, Fired to Inspired: https://firedtoinspired.com On the Show This WeekContinue the ConversationProfessional loss can shake more than your income. It can shake your identity. Your confidence. Your sense of stability as a dad. In this conversation, Merry breaks down what it actually looks like to move through fear instead of around it. She shares how informational interviews opened doors when her resume didn’t, how she aligned her work with a deeper mission, and how she protected dinner tables and field trips while building a company that eventually employed 1,300 people. If you’re in a season where work feels uncertain, misaligned, or heavier than it used to, this episode will remind you that momentum starts small. One call. One conversation. One decision to keep moving. Check it Out🎧 Merry Korn on Turning Professional Loss into Purpose-Driven Work Listen on your favorite podcast platform The Last LaughA quick lesson in specificity. |
