New roots and new wings
Rooted and Rising.
In the last two to three weeks, the creative industry has witnessed global mergers, acquisitions, and layoffs, all on scale and at the same time. Like everyone else, I keep thinking about everything my career has been so far: the changes, pivots, shifts, refocusing, reimagining, and redesigning over the past decade, especially starting from 2020. It is safe to say that a lot of us in marketing have been experiencing many changes. I usually thrive in change; in a sense, I crave it. However, the world is changing faster than ever in human history. Futurist Ray Kurzweil famously said we won't experience a hundred years of progress in the 21st century. We'll experience the equivalent of 20,000 years of progress. By the time today's children are adults, the very concept of "progress" may shift from linear to exponential. Problems are solved in minutes, industries are redefined overnight, and possibilities are emerging that we can't yet fathom.
I am anxious about the future, but I keep reminding myself that it was never promised to anyone. I know everything that happens to us is part coincidence, part luck, part misfortune, part hard work, part people believing in us.
Lose the box
We are surrounded by boxes—labels that people stick on us or that we even place on ourselves. These boxes could be our job titles, the industries we work in, our roles, our beliefs and narratives, or the societal expectations placed on us.
What if your potential exists beyond the walls of what others think is possible for you?The box may offer comfort and predictability, but it also narrows your vision. It restricts your ability to explore new possibilities. What if the path you're on right now is about something other than conforming to what's expected? What if it's simply a different experience that challenges you to rethink what success looks like, both for yourself and others?
Instead of looking for the correct box to fit into, we can focus on creating our own path. It is time to recognize the old beliefs and narratives and let them go.
This is the time to put the labels and boxes aside and understand our new roots and wings, where to grow them, where to water them, and who we need to introduce ourselves to make this happen.
Thinking over outcome
If everything is changing, so are you. I try not to be distracted by the outcome, the perfect plan, or being right all the time. Focus on real personal strengths, not skills.
Changes are more significant than we could have ever predicted. So, let’s take some time to plan what's next and the new routes and journeys we could take. It is OK if they are not final; we are all work in progress and becoming our future selves as we progress through life.
Get to acceptance as quickly as possible
Some people expect that these changes are temporary. I think they are here to stay. Everything will change. Rising and falling will be so quick and constant all the time. The very essence of success is shifting. Success is no longer measured solely by climbing a corporate ladder or meeting the expectations of a particular role. Knowledge and expertise no longer reside in one specific domain. Today, they span multiple areas, and the value lies in our ability to weave them together. The same goes for taste and judgment—what was once defined by a select few is now available to everyone, enabling us to create, express, and pursue what resonates with us personally. Disruption is here to stay.
Embrace your multitudes gracefully.
I currently think about grace a lot, about being more graceful and handling situations more gracefully. And there is one area that needs more grace than anything else. Treating ourselves with grace. Giving ourselves space to grow and become. Have time to think, time alone, and find ways to be inspired. Become a seeker. Sometimes, we need to do nothing, so we let our minds wander. What is quite whispering you that is yet to be discovered? I am certainly too busy to hear myself out. Wisdom is whispering, and we sometimes have to stop to hear it.
Create brave spaces
Do not isolate yourself. Create bridges over walls. Find people you can trust and talk to them. Run your uncooked ideas by them. Have space to think and brainstorm about your future. It is not as bad as we think when we share our struggles with others.
I had a chance to meet new people over lunch on Sunday, people I had never met before. I had such fantastic time meeting them and seeing a different world, sometimes with similar issues and hopes, sometimes drastically different from mine. That exchange of words, energies and thoughts was so powerful and inspiring. I was able to completely let my usual train of thought aside and really be there with these people. I got new ideas for my new potential roots and wings. I need both roots to stand firm where I am even if I am going through hardships and wings to fly, never let realism steal my optimism, and imagine more than it is possible right now.
From Still careering archive:
You can check out the piece on cultivating your signature strengths.
You may be curious about one of my most popular pieces: Slow to anger and slow to judge.
As the world is constantly changing, I am trying to challenge my own perspectives. Here is a piece where I tried to see and approach career as a story.
I am also active on LinkedIn. Reach out, let’s chat.