The reason I’m so passionate about helping people navigate change in their careers and personal lives is because I’ve lived it. I’ve experienced the challenges many of my clients face: career transitions, layoffs, reinvention, starting over. As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, every disruption reminded me of my sixteen-year-old self, riding his bike across town, searching for opportunity—a story that shaped who I am.
During these disruptions, my ARC—Adaptability, Resilience, Curiosity, Creativity—was powered most by curiosity. I asked questions like:
“What skills can I develop here?”
“What relationships can I build?”
“What opportunities might be hidden in this challenge?”
I also allowed myself to pause and listen to intuition: had my interests changed? Were my priorities different? What mattered most in that stage of life and career?
Embrace Continuous Growth
Even between disruptions, growth matters. Developing transferable skills and staying curious and adaptive can make the next transition easier. For example:
AI skills: AI is transforming workplaces. Learning how to leverage AI effectively within your field can set you apart in a competitive job market.
Alternative futures: Another tool I use is alternative futures—a strategic foresight framework. Some factors in your career are within your control, others are not. Planning for multiple possible career scenarios gives you confidence, clarity, and direction and helps you anticipate the unexpected.
Consider three alternative future paths:
Stay and grow: Continue advancing within your current organization.
Moderate disruption: A layoff or RIF occurs, but your skills are in demand elsewhere in your industry.
Major disruption: A layoff coincides with limited opportunities in your field, requiring a career pivot or industry change.
Mapping these paths against your core values, interests, and transferable skills prepares you to act decisively and confidently with clarity when disruption strikes.
Plan for the Inevitable
It’s no longer “if” you’ll face a career disruption—it’s when. Pre-planning through skill-building, networking, and scenario analysis equips you to navigate these events successfully.
When disruption arrives, your ARC can guide you, combined with the data you’ve collected: skills you’ve developed, connections you’ve nurtured, and potential paths you’ve mapped. The result? You identify the most effective path forward, write your next chapter, and thrive.
Because, as always, your story matters.