Insights

1.) Challenge beats advancement.
The Lesson: "In any career, the most important thing is always to be moving to more challenging work, and that doesn't always mean moving up," says Betsy Collard, director of program development at Palo Alto's Career Action Center. "If you aren't stretched, you're dying on the vine."

2.) Turmoil can be enriching.
The Lesson: "People should realize that some of the best career opportunities are gained from moving over," says Betsy Collard. "If you don't, you lose out on the opportunity for growth and change that a different perspective brings."

3.) To make yourself marketable, look for opportunities to learn.
The Lesson: "To turn a bad situation into an opportunity, slow down," advises Collard. "Think about when and how you do your best work. Taking stock of where you stand can be a healing process. It can also be a pivotal opportunity to find work that's more in keeping with who you really are."

4.) Losing your role can help you find your way.
The Lesson:"There's nothing like the discomfort of losing your role to make you reevaluate what's really important at work and in life," observes Collard. "When an assignment comes to an end, it should be viewed as a chance to move on to a new challenge."