Gold, I read this today and had to double check I didn’t write it myself! You’ve captured every thought I’ve had in this time of transitioning out of an almost 20 year career. Not by my choice but not unwelcome either. Looking forward to listening to your podcast.
I’m so glad it resonated, especially after almost 20 years in one career. That kind of transition is not small. I hope the podcast feels like a useful companion in the middle of it.
This resonates so much- I just wrote about my own experience post-layoff where I was desperately trying to replicate what had worked for me in the past. The same job hunting, networking, etc, and nothing panned out after more than a year invested in what we’ve been taught is the “right” way to achieve the impressive job. I think it was all a redirect- I realized I wasn’t disappointed not to be chosen for any jobs I got to final rounds for. I’m trying to see where consulting takes me and treat it as an exciting experiment, which is such a different energy than job hunting was 💗
There’s a clarity that comes when you stop trying to force the old formula to produce a future you don’t even want anymore. I love the way you’re reframing consulting as an experiment. That feels lighter and freer. Rooting for you!
So on target! The “safe path” does feels terrifying, but when you’re ambitious it’s very easy to spiral in wanting to do so many different things. I love the idea of 90 day sprints. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Exactly. What I've learned is that focus is protection, not a limitation. The 90-day sprint idea has been helping me give my ambition somewhere useful to go.
Tomide - this entire essay resonated with me. I had such a difficult time returning to work postpartum, and I can’t imagine flying to NYC for an accelerator while managing pumping, recovery, and everything else.
The line about unlearning urgency is something I’ve had to unlearn too (along with not tying my identity to a job title or company name). Thank you for writing this and I’m looking forward to listening to your podcast!
This is a great article!! I just wrote about an eerily similar experience/feeling post-layoff. It’s so validating to hear that it bursts the bubble for other people as well.
Yes, completely. The old playbook just doesn’t fit the same way anymore. So many of us were handed a version of “safety” that made sense in one era, but the world, work, and our lives have changed so much since then.
Yes !! This speaks volumes ☀️ I’m new here 🙈 - I write about what it means to design a life that feels like your own—through faith, personal growth, career pivots, creativity, and honest conversations. Looking forward to connecting with genuine souls like yours along the way. 🤍
I’m smack in the messy middle of it all. I was laid off in January while pregnant, looked for work (didn’t get any), and now I’m in the thick of post partum wondering what to do with myself once my “mat leave ends”… I definitely have felt that odd grief you write about. Where it’s empowering yet I still feel wobbly. I don’t have a yearning to go back but I feel like that’s the responsible thing to do. I wish and wonder how I could keep exploring my creative ideas with an income instead!
Ugh, great article. Hoping to get some type of inspiration and action plan by following you. Thanks again!
Gold, I read this today and had to double check I didn’t write it myself! You’ve captured every thought I’ve had in this time of transitioning out of an almost 20 year career. Not by my choice but not unwelcome either. Looking forward to listening to your podcast.
I’m so glad it resonated, especially after almost 20 years in one career. That kind of transition is not small. I hope the podcast feels like a useful companion in the middle of it.
This resonates so much- I just wrote about my own experience post-layoff where I was desperately trying to replicate what had worked for me in the past. The same job hunting, networking, etc, and nothing panned out after more than a year invested in what we’ve been taught is the “right” way to achieve the impressive job. I think it was all a redirect- I realized I wasn’t disappointed not to be chosen for any jobs I got to final rounds for. I’m trying to see where consulting takes me and treat it as an exciting experiment, which is such a different energy than job hunting was 💗
There’s a clarity that comes when you stop trying to force the old formula to produce a future you don’t even want anymore. I love the way you’re reframing consulting as an experiment. That feels lighter and freer. Rooting for you!
So on target! The “safe path” does feels terrifying, but when you’re ambitious it’s very easy to spiral in wanting to do so many different things. I love the idea of 90 day sprints. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Exactly. What I've learned is that focus is protection, not a limitation. The 90-day sprint idea has been helping me give my ambition somewhere useful to go.
Thank you for reading, Shanice.
Tomide - this entire essay resonated with me. I had such a difficult time returning to work postpartum, and I can’t imagine flying to NYC for an accelerator while managing pumping, recovery, and everything else.
The line about unlearning urgency is something I’ve had to unlearn too (along with not tying my identity to a job title or company name). Thank you for writing this and I’m looking forward to listening to your podcast!
Thank you so much, Jasmine. I’m so glad this resonated, and I hope the podcast feels like a good companion, too.
Love this Tomide! Lots of growth happens in the messy middle.
Thank you, Jenn. And I absolutely agree about the messy middle. I'm learning that it's not just a waiting room between identities
This is a great article!! I just wrote about an eerily similar experience/feeling post-layoff. It’s so validating to hear that it bursts the bubble for other people as well.
Thank you, Randy. And yes, “bursts the bubble” is such a good way to put it.
so very true! Everything is different from when I was 17 in 1981
Yes, completely. The old playbook just doesn’t fit the same way anymore. So many of us were handed a version of “safety” that made sense in one era, but the world, work, and our lives have changed so much since then.
Yes !! This speaks volumes ☀️ I’m new here 🙈 - I write about what it means to design a life that feels like your own—through faith, personal growth, career pivots, creativity, and honest conversations. Looking forward to connecting with genuine souls like yours along the way. 🤍
I’m smack in the messy middle of it all. I was laid off in January while pregnant, looked for work (didn’t get any), and now I’m in the thick of post partum wondering what to do with myself once my “mat leave ends”… I definitely have felt that odd grief you write about. Where it’s empowering yet I still feel wobbly. I don’t have a yearning to go back but I feel like that’s the responsible thing to do. I wish and wonder how I could keep exploring my creative ideas with an income instead!
Ugh, great article. Hoping to get some type of inspiration and action plan by following you. Thanks again!