Thank you Bryan! I had a great "pause" yesterday. I went and met with an American here in Quito that has been here for 15 years. He runs an adventure motorcycle tour company and is also building a 3D software for large wraps on cycles, vehicles, etc. I was blown away! He was doing life his way, his unique way, and it was beautiful to see. His team was like family, his methods unique and also strategic. He said "I didn't start out to build this...This came from pivot after pivot after pivot." Such rich words for me! It was a valuable pause for me.
This resonated with me. I’m one year retired from my first act, and remember these feelings well. My default was to assume that this was just the requirement of excellence or leadership. It wasn’t supposed to be easy, and this was how hard felt. Retirement feels pretty different, most of the time. But there is still the questioning, and the unease can return. I’ve opted to explore a few things (tacking?), including some consulting, some work on the board of a local non-profit, and some beekeeping. I’m reminded that it’s not likely a destination that I’m looking for, but rather a direction or journey that remains enjoyable, inspiring and purposeful. Keep up the great work !
I have written on this subject, popularized in Marshall Goldsmith’s seminal work, many times, primarily in the context that augmented AI recruiting is rapidly changing the roadmap and the results for brand management.
With executive and management hiring still reeling from the white-collar recession, ignoring these changes will be detrimental to career advancement.
When I began my career in executive search many years ago, we tended to shy away from executives who aggressively promoted themselves. Somehow, it felt a bit unseemly. How times have changed. Executives who failed to build a career network, for the most part, avoided the consequences.
Not anymore.
Failure to embrace the new “automated” normal will render aspiring executives invisible. It seems that in career management, your theme for today is particularly applicable: what got you here won’t get you there.
John, really appreciate your thoughtful note, and you nailed it. The shift you describe is seismic. What once felt like self-promotion now feels more like self-preservation. And you’re right: invisibility is a real risk now. Thanks for sharing your lens on this. Grateful for the dialogue.
Thank you Bryan! I had a great "pause" yesterday. I went and met with an American here in Quito that has been here for 15 years. He runs an adventure motorcycle tour company and is also building a 3D software for large wraps on cycles, vehicles, etc. I was blown away! He was doing life his way, his unique way, and it was beautiful to see. His team was like family, his methods unique and also strategic. He said "I didn't start out to build this...This came from pivot after pivot after pivot." Such rich words for me! It was a valuable pause for me.
Bryan,
This resonated with me. I’m one year retired from my first act, and remember these feelings well. My default was to assume that this was just the requirement of excellence or leadership. It wasn’t supposed to be easy, and this was how hard felt. Retirement feels pretty different, most of the time. But there is still the questioning, and the unease can return. I’ve opted to explore a few things (tacking?), including some consulting, some work on the board of a local non-profit, and some beekeeping. I’m reminded that it’s not likely a destination that I’m looking for, but rather a direction or journey that remains enjoyable, inspiring and purposeful. Keep up the great work !
Wayne
Wayne, sounds like you swapped the grind for the hive, still flying, just with sweeter rewards. Tacking suits you.
Excellent newsletter, Bryan.
I have written on this subject, popularized in Marshall Goldsmith’s seminal work, many times, primarily in the context that augmented AI recruiting is rapidly changing the roadmap and the results for brand management.
With executive and management hiring still reeling from the white-collar recession, ignoring these changes will be detrimental to career advancement.
When I began my career in executive search many years ago, we tended to shy away from executives who aggressively promoted themselves. Somehow, it felt a bit unseemly. How times have changed. Executives who failed to build a career network, for the most part, avoided the consequences.
Not anymore.
Failure to embrace the new “automated” normal will render aspiring executives invisible. It seems that in career management, your theme for today is particularly applicable: what got you here won’t get you there.
Thanks again for this excellent post.
John, really appreciate your thoughtful note, and you nailed it. The shift you describe is seismic. What once felt like self-promotion now feels more like self-preservation. And you’re right: invisibility is a real risk now. Thanks for sharing your lens on this. Grateful for the dialogue.