- </a>Some may think getting the axe from a job is the end of the world. Feelings of anger, regret, loss, fear, and a sense of failure are common for someone who has recently been <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/careers/2010/11/30/so-youve-been-fired-now-what-how-to-get-back-in-the-game/">laid off or fired</a>. But one good thing that can come out of disappointment and loss? A prime chance to learn new lessons and make a comeback. Here are a few celebrities who did just that, using adversity as a stepping stone and moving forward to find personal and professional success:
- </a>Football star <strong>Michael Vick</strong> was infamously suspended and<strong> </strong>later released from the Atlanta Falcons after <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3148549" target="_blank"><strong>pleading guilty to federal dog fighting charges</strong></a>. He subsequently served 19 months in prison after being convicted. Shortly <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4183786">after his release</a>, he was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles and had a <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/40207194/ns/sports-nfl/" target="_blank"><strong>record-breaking game Nov. 15</strong></a> against the Washington Redskins: He passed for 333 yards and got four touchdowns, and rushed 80 yards to get another two touchdowns, ultimately leading the to Eagles victory. A comeback, indeed.
- </a><strong>Juan Williams</strong>, author and long-time National Public Radio (NPR) analyst, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130712737" target="_blank"><strong>was terminated</strong></a> from the station after making what were considered <a href="http://video.foxnews.com/v/4381341/juan-williams-responds-to-his-firing-from-npr" target="_blank"><strong>discriminatory remarks</strong></a> about Muslims on Fox News. NPR faced a backlash, with many citing Williams's freedom of speech rights and saying he was wrongfully terminated. Soon after, Fox gave Williams a $2-million, three-year contract, with regular feature as a guest host on the <em>O'Reilly Factor</em>.
- </a><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/2010/11/17/what-you-can-learn-from-sean-diddy-combss-branding-techniques/"><strong>Sean "P. Diddy" Combs</strong></a> was fired by Andre Harrell as a 21-year-old exec at Uptown Records early in his career. Today, Combs has gone on to build a more than $300-million-dollar empire, with an expanding list of ventures under Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group: Sean John Clothing and Sean by Sean; a movie production company;<a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/2010/11/17/what-you-can-learn-from-sean-diddy-combss-branding-techniques/" target="_blank"><strong> his own Ciroc vodka</strong></a>; his own fragrance; reality TV shows; a solo music career, as well as his collaboration with artists Dirty Money; and an acting career, including a role in the Oscar-winning <em>Monster's Ball</em>.</p>
Sean Diddy Combs gestures to cheering fans during dedication ceremonies for his new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles Friday, May 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
- </a>With a personality larger than life, <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2009/10/01/backtalk-with-wendy-williams/"><strong>Wendy Williams</strong></a> was once let go from Hot 97-FM, even after having a successful show,<em> The Wendy Williams Experience</em>. She went on to become a New York Times best-selling author and reclaimed her crown as the multi-million-dollar "Queen of All Media" at New York's WBLS-FM, hosting the No. 1 show in New York in the 25-54 age group. The show went on to be syndicated in several markets across the country. Today, Wendy's staking her claim on TV, <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/business/business-news/2009/07/24/wendy-williams-talks-departure-state-of-urban-radio/"><strong>hosting her highly successful talk show, <em>The Wendy Williams Show,</em> on Fox</strong></a>.
- </a>Author, television personality, and cultural critic <strong>Toure</strong> was once fired from his internship at <em>Rolling Stone </em>magazine while a young journalist. He went on to later become a contributor to the publication, writing reviews and features on artists including Run D.M.C., <strong><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/2010/11/29/alicia-keys-spearheads-mass-social-media-boycott/">Alicia Keys</a></strong>, Beyonce, and <strong><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/2010/11/16/decoded-a-breakdown-of-quotes-from-a-hip-hip-powerhouse-jay-z/">Jay-Z</a></strong>. He's author of three books and has written articles for <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>The New Yorker</em> and<strong> </strong><em>The Village Voice.</em> And one can't go without seeing him give his pop culture insight on VH1, MTV and MSNBC.
NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Toure visits the Apple Store Soho on April 10, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/WireImage)
- </a><strong>Desiree Rogers</strong> was the <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2008/12/09/white-house-social-secretary-to-give-post-new-face/"><strong>former social secretary at the White House</strong></a> until last year's gatecrashing incident involving Tareq and Michaele Salahi, a Washington couple who gained <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQAXrUMNuas" target="_blank"><strong>unauthorized entry into the state dinner</strong></a><strong> </strong>hosted by <strong>President Barack Obama</strong>. After much <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/careers/2010/03/02/misfired-desire/"><strong>media and investigative scrutiny</strong></a>, she was ousted from her post, but went on to become the CEO of Johnson Publishing Co., the publisher of <em>Jet </em>and <em>Ebony</em> magazines.
- </a>Talk show host, author, and activist <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/2009/01/15/tavis-smiley-launches-black-history-exhibit/"><strong>Tavis Smiley</strong></a> was once <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2002/03/01/brand-yourself/"><strong>controversially fired</strong></a> as host of BET <em>Tonight with Tavis Smiley</em> in 2001. He went on to host his own progrm, <em>The Tavis Smiley Show</em>, on NPR, where he interviewed <strong>President Barack Obama</strong>, among other celebrities and notables, and became a commentator on the <em>Tom Joyner Morning Show</em>. Smley is now host of a late-night show bearing his name on Public Broadcast Service (PBS) network, where guests have ranged from <strong>Prince</strong> to <strong>Dennis Miller</strong>.</p> <li><strong>For more resources on rebounding after termination, check out:</strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/careers/2010/11/30/so-youve-been-fired-now-what-how-to-get-back-in-the-game/">So You've Been Fired… Now What? Tips for how to get back in the game</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/2010/12/01/so-youve-been-fired-now-what-the-accidental-entrepreneur/">So You've Been Fired… Now What? Find inspiration from this accidental entrepreneur</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/careers/2010/04/01/reinvention-required/">Reinvention Required: Handle Unforeseen Change With Confidence and Smarts</a>
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