That's All Folks

CHAPTER 6

I started this tale a few weeks ago, sharing with you the story of the remaking of my professional life.

Hopefully there was something useful in it for you.

Because the telling of it helped me.  To write, to explain a thing to another (in this case, you, dear reader) is to move from muddled perception and shaky belief across the frontier towards understanding.

And here’s what I think I now understand:

My professional life heretofore was enjoyable and paid the bills.  There were many adventures: friends made; mountains climbed; ramparts stormed and one or two dragons slain.

But circumstance and motivation are fluid.  The light refracts differently at age 55 than at 35. Meaning and contentment, ways of being bordering the ineffable, shift.  

So, with a lot of interior dialog and then discussions with my wife and others, I decided to make the changes you’ve read about.

If I may offer some lessons distilled in the process:  

• The 7 Ps:  Prior Proper Planning Prevents Pretty Poor Performance: 

• It’s best to not be precipitous when making big life decisions.  Take your time.  Dream yes, but a bit of thinking and planning alongside improve the probability of good outcomes (and restful sleep).

• Caveat Emptor: A professional change of direction is non-trivial: there are consequences.  Ideas deserve respect.

• Give them the air, light and time needed to grow.  

• Try them on like a new pair of shoes. Take them on a walk. How do they feel with a bit of wear?

• Keep thinking until the fit feels right.

• Toughen up:  blazing a new path creates blisters and other pains.  While some things will work out others will crash, sometimes spectacularly.  Old friends will inexplicably forget you are alive.  You will experience doubt. So,

• Keep the faith. You will be fine.

• Don’t forget to breathe.

• Keep moving and don’t let tough days cast an unduly rosy light on the past.  You wanted a change for a reason:  remember that reason, especially when the trail feels long and lonesome.

• Find Friends:  I’ve mentioned that tons of people provided the wisdom, advice and good sense which kept me out of the ditch.  

• You’re not the first person on earth to think about professional change.  Talk to others who have been there, done that. Take good notes!

• AND, one size does not fit all:  Meaning and contentment are deeply personal experiences.  

• Study others and learn from them, but don’t assume their methods or ideas are true north as you plot your own course.

• Whatever you make, make it your own. You’re no longer a cog in another’s wheel: you are the wheel.

• Be open to your ideas evolving. Experiment, try/fail, experiment again. Figure out what works and do that.

• Note, the “destination” is never actually reached.  Rather, the path continues over the next hill, just beyond a disappearing sun.  

• Life evolves and reveals. The biggest task remains to be sufficiently awake, to perceive and be open to its evolution and revelation.

And that’s all folks!  Thank you for spending a few minutes with me these last several weeks.  I appreciate your readership and indulgence and would welcome thoughts & feedback.

I conclude with a quote from Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series, a delightful Epic, and a quote appropriate when considering a change of direction:

 “Go then, there are other worlds than these.”  

If you would like to discuss ideas for your own v2.0, then Let’s Talk.  Please feel free to schedule a Discovery Session with me by clicking on the blue button below.

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Be well everybody,