Early Mid-life Crisis
Pivot again or stick with it
Last week I missed my first edition of this newsletter, 75 editions in. This was a disappointment to me, but also a realization. I realized that I am lost. I am having an early mid-life crisis.
I have known this for a few months now, but due to the fact that I was still doing work and pushing forward, I was able to deny it. At face value, I shouldn't feel this way. I have most of the things I am slated to at this point in my life, but something feels like it is missing.
Long-time readers know that I quit my day job back in June 2021. Since then, I have completed passion projects, consulted about remote work, and now focus mainly on productivity consulting. It has been a journey for sure. I have learned a lot about myself and what I don’t like to do. Because of this, I am not sure what to do next.
When I was stuck in my previous role I became complacent. That was all there was and there was nothing to do about it. I went about my days, only daydreaming about the other possibilities. Now that the possibilities are endless, where do I start? I have a very diverse background, so I don't fall into one category. I also do all of them at basically the same level of skill. I have thought about a career reboot and have applied to jobs that fall into that realm. If they actually reply, I get the classic line: "you're overqualified". I know, that's the point! I want to try something new! Why is this idea so complicated?
At the same time, do I really want a full reboot? I am great at so many things, and I like doing most of them. Why not just pick one? Well, because it feels restricting. I feel like I can do so much and nothing quite lives up to my capabilities. I want to do work for a cause that matters, not just add to the bullshit we humans make, to add complexity to our lives.
I was a product manager in my previous career. Should I just go back to that? Most product roles want BA's or MBA's. I don't even have a college degree! I don't want one, or need one. I don't want to learn, never mind master SQL. I do like curating backlogs, being an advocate for the customer, and working with design and engineering.
At the same time, I really enjoy my consulting work, but it's been drying up a bit. I don't want to put everything into that if it just goes away. I plan on becoming an official Notion Consultant in the near future, maybe that will open some doors.
I am at yet another crossroads. Do I go all in or pivot once more? Will I ever stop pivoting? Can I ever be satisfied in an industry? Will this early mid-life crisis be the first of many? This situation has been really affecting my day-to-day life. I always feel tense, always wondering what direction to go. I am truly ready to settle in. I want to buy a home soon and start traveling again, but this career/mental flux is disrupting this.
I cannot be alone in my struggle. Are other 30-somethings feeling the same way? Have you felt this way and solved the problem? Is this feeling even a problem? I would love to know your thoughts and solutions! Please comment below or reply to this email.