The pandemic zeroed me out in terms of work/finances. I'm 21.

I began working to be where I am now in my career ever since I was younger. It was my life long dream be a broadcaster and I got that two years ago. I've been making lucrative strides and getting my name out there. Right before COVID happened, I had a lot of projects and opportunities coming my way. The pandemic put the rise of my career to an abrupt end. I'm being let go of the company.

I don't know where or how to start again. Rollo and Rich talk about how men will inevitably face being zeroed out many times in their life and this is my first one. My pride is high in not wanting to take low-level jobs, mainly cause I feel like I've reached far, and I feel like that'll kill me to lower myself again, but it looks like my only option now.

It feels like I'd be wasting my talents in being in dead-end jobs that won't really give me anything good for myself and I'd be wasting my time there, despite earning okay. It'd be like selling my soul. It's not that I don't want to work, but it would be like just accepting my fate and dying of a thousand paper cuts. Is this normal? I don't really know what to do.

Maybe I'm seeing it too narrowly. What have you done in similar situations? Did you just swallow the pill down or fought and tried despite the circumstance? I haven't had many positive male figures growing up and most of the older men in my life are beta. It would really help to find some clarity and possible solutions. Thank you