Gratitude Monday: a clarifying chat

I had an interesting conversation last week with a colleague, generally around my work situation. I told him that I’m possibly ready for a pivot, and my strategy is to look for companies that are doing interesting things, then network into conversations about what there product management needs are. He responded with a story that really struck me:

Some years ago he was selling a house and discovered there was black mold under the roof. So he had a black mold remediation guy come out. While the guy’s guys were working on the roof, my colleague chatted with him. Turns out he used to be a data base administrator before he got into black mold (so to speak).

How did that happen; why the switch?

“I got tired of having to relearn my job every couple of years. Mold stays the same.”

Well—shoot; ain’t that the truth. At what point do you decide that the treadmill of tech-du-jour requires that you run as fast as you can just to stay in one place? (Currently it’s AI, and job descriptions are asking for 5-7 years’ experience in a field that sprouted essentially last year.) Next year it’ll be something else.

Then my colleague asked me, “I’ve got a friend at Company X, cyber crime intel—what do you tell him that you can do for his company?”

And I got that deer-in-headlights look.

Not only because I absolutely loathe with an incandescent hatred touting myself, but also because—as I told him—I don’t know how I can help them until I understand what their needs and gaps are.

That was a revelation, because it articulated what I’ve been feeling for the past couple of months, as I cannot get excited about any of the jobs recruiters and headhunters have brought to me. For me and at this point in time, that’s the wrong way to go about this. My strategy—explore companies and challenges, then present my solutions—is the right one. For me. Now.

Finally, we got to chatting about money and what’s important. I realized that, really, I’m in a position where my basic operating expenses are covered. What’s hazy is budget for travel. This means that I don’t need to make big bucks working all the hours God sends; I just need to earn enough to travel. This completely shifts the burden. Yes—lots of money would be lovely but all I need to bring in is what gets me to France and Korea and, really, wherever I might find otters.

So, today I’m grateful for my colleague, whose black mold story and questions clarified so much about my next career phase and left me relieved and hopeful.

That’s big.