Lifestyle

I Lost My Job at 57… and It Changed Everything

August 8, 2026 by Miko No Comments

At 57 years old, I lost my corporate job.

I definitely didn’t see it coming. After years of building a successful corporate career, suddenly that chapter of my life was over.

But here’s the crazy part: losing my job didn’t feel like the end.

In many ways, it felt like the push I needed to finally step fully into something I’d already been building for years—Miko Slays Fashion and my life as a full-time content creator.

In the video below, I’m sharing the real story behind my layoff, what happened afterward, and some of the very practical questions people have asked me, including how I’m paying my bills, what I did about healthcare, and whether my husband supports my decision.

And yes, we’re even going back to my 20s, when I filed bankruptcy twice. 😩 Because believe it or not, some of the hardest financial lessons I learned back then helped prepare me for what happened at 57.

🎥 WATCH: I Lost My Job at 57… and It Changed Everything

Losing My Corporate Career at 57

For most of my adult life, having a traditional career meant security. You work hard, build your résumé, move up the ladder, earn a steady paycheck and plan for the future.

Until one day, that security disappears.

My position was eliminated, and suddenly I had to decide what came next.

Of course, there were practical things to figure out. Money. Healthcare. Bills. What this meant for my husband and me.

But there was also a much bigger question:

Did I want to go find another corporate job—or was it finally time to bet on myself?

I chose me.

The Money Mistakes That Prepared Me for This Moment

Here’s something I talk about in the video that may surprise some people:

I filed bankruptcy twice in my 20s.

I made some terrible decisions with money and credit when I was young. At the time, those experiences certainly didn’t feel like something I’d someday be grateful for.

But I learned from them.

Those mistakes taught me lessons about credit, saving, debt, spending and financial responsibility that stayed with me throughout my adult life.

So when I unexpectedly found myself without my corporate salary at 57, I wasn’t the same woman who had struggled financially in her 20s.

I had decades of lessons behind me.

Sometimes the mistakes we make early in life become the wisdom we need later.

How Am I Paying My Bills?

This was one of the big questions I knew people would have.

Because saying, “I lost my job and decided to become a full-time content creator!” sounds exciting—but babeee…the mortgage company still wants its money. 😂

In the video, I talk candidly about how I’m navigating the financial side of this transition and why the decisions I made long before the layoff put me in a better position to handle it.

I’m not pretending that losing a paycheck doesn’t matter.

It absolutely does.

But being financially prepared gave me something incredibly valuable: options.

And having options allowed me to make this decision from a very different place than I could have years ago.

What About Healthcare?

This was another BIG one.

Leaving—or unexpectedly losing—a corporate job means losing more than a paycheck. Employer-sponsored benefits are a major consideration, especially when you’re starting over later in life.

So yes, healthcare was something I had to address immediately.

I share what I did about health insurance in the video because I wanted this conversation to include the practical realities of starting over—not just the inspirational parts.

Because pursuing your dreams is wonderful.

But we still need health insurance. Especially at 57! 😂

Is My Husband Supportive?

Absolutely. ❤️

Having a supportive partner makes such a difference when you’re making a major life change.

This decision affects both of us, so my husband’s support has been incredibly important as I’ve transitioned from corporate life into full-time entrepreneurship and content creation.

I talk more about his reaction in the video—and why I believe choosing the right life partner can affect so many other areas of your life.

Starting Over at 57

Here’s what I know now:

Starting over doesn’t have an expiration date.

At 57, I’m starting with decades of experience. I have a Bachelor’s degree, an MBA, and earned my Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation. I built a successful career in corporate finance and worked my way up to the Director level.

None of that disappeared when I lost my job.

The education, discipline, business experience, financial knowledge, leadership skills—and even the mistakes I’ve made along the way—are all coming with me into this next chapter.

I’ve also spent years building my platforms, learning the business of content creation, and creating content while maintaining a corporate career.

Now I get to find out what happens when I give Miko Slays Fashion my full attention.

Is it scary?

A little. 😂

But I’m also excited.

Because sometimes life makes the decision for you.

And sometimes the thing you thought was happening to you becomes the thing that opens the door for you.

So here’s to the next chapter. ❤️

If you’re over 50 and navigating a career change, starting over, pursuing a dream you’ve put on hold—or simply trying to figure out what you want the next chapter of your life to look like—I hope you’ll stick around.

We’re just getting started.

👉🏽 Watch the full video above and leave me a comment: Have you ever had to completely reinvent yourself after an unexpected life change?

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Written by Miko
Hello, Gorgeous! I’m Miko, founder of Miko Slays Fashion, where I help women over 50 elevate their style, embrace confidence, and create a life they love. I’m so glad you’re here!