153: Leverage Your 9–5 More Than It Leverages You

153: Leverage Your 9–5 More Than It Leverages You

From Try Life On by Maurice Philogene

March 13, 2026 · 28 min · Episode 153

About this episode

Maurice Philogene discusses how layoffs can serve as a wake-up call and shares strategies for leveraging your 9–5 for personal growth and freedom.

What if losing your job isn’t the end—but the wake-up call you needed? In this episode, Maurice Philogene responds to a message from a TLO community member who was suddenly laid off and felt something unexpected: relief. Using her story as a starting point, Maurice shares the unfiltered truth about his own career journey, retiring from three different professions while navigating layoffs, politics, leadership decisions, and moments that forced him to rethink everything. Through personal stories from his time in corporate consulting, the military, and law enforcement, Maurice breaks down what it really means to navigate a career strategically—and why your 9–5 should be a tool for building the life you want, not the thing that traps you. In this episode, you’ll learn: ​ Why layoffs and career disruptions can become powerful turning points ​ How to strategically navigate promotions, leadership decisions, and workplace politics ​ The mindset shift that helps you leverage your job to build long-term freedom If you’ve ever questioned your career path, felt blindsided by leadership decisions, or wondered how to create more control over your future, this episode is for you Connect with…

People in this episode

Host: Maurice Philogene

Topics covered

  • career navigation
  • layoffs
  • mindset shift
  • workplace politics
  • strategic promotions

Keywords

  • career disruption
  • job security
  • personal stories
  • corporate consulting
  • military
  • law enforcement
  • long-term freedom

More episodes of Try Life On

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Try Life On podcast page.