When I was in my twenties, I’m a Baby Boomer, so it was a different world, I had the notion that when one “grew up”, that life somehow settled down to a predictable “happily ever after” pattern.
Mine didn’t and I felt like a failure. Gail Sheehy’s book Passage’s was a revelation to me. The subtitle was “The predictable passages of adult life”. As I read it I was both delighted (that I wasn’t a failure) and peeved that I wasn’t as unique as I had thought.
If you look around, it seems that today, every other article, blog or website is about career change, re-invention and the like.
Are there people who don’t re-invent? Would that be fun? It seems boring to me although I admit that many of my re-inventions were not initiated by me but by some outside event.
In my work with entrepreneurs and organizations, I know that a critical part of strategic planning is to anticipate the events, to detect the trends that may FORCE a re-invention. Having the time to chose from among different re-invention paths is usually more agreeable that having to “jump” just to avoid being hit by the unforeseen.
When I look at the thirty-somethings and the forty somethings today, and most of my clients are in these groups, I see a level of understanding about change and re-invention that I don’t recall having at their age. I have to admit, I wish I had had it. Yet I’m not sure as a generation we understood that need. It’s something I would enjoy having a conversation about. Would you?
In your life have you anticipated the predictable changes and what they would mean?
If yes, did it prepare you to face to unpredictable ones?
Look forward to hearing from you. See you next Tuesday. Yippee!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, you have once again challenged us all to think about our choices, our decisions, and the wisdom of anticipating change both in our careers and perhaps in our personal lives as well. So glad you are writing and sharing your knowledge and guidance with us all!
Barbara Sanders
Thanks Barbara for your comment and for sharing YOUR knowledge and guidance.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth –
I think you know I have at least as many transitions as you, if not more. So, your topic caught my attention. I’m not smart enough to see around the corners, so I think the main things is to keep things in order – relationships, your health, training, emotional well-being – so you are capable of making changes and so that you are able to contribute where it looks like there are opportunities for you to do so.
Someone told me recently that success is the result of many small decisions and actions over a long period of time. I think that is a powerful thought for individuals, teams, companies and countries.
Thanks for an interesting question.
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Your comment is right on target. None of us is smart enough to see around the corner. Your suggestions allow us to be nimble. Watching Serena Williams in the US OPEN is a great image of nimble – ready for whatever comes your way.
Thanks for your comment.
Elizabeth