Did You Reinvent Yourself?
June 6th, 2008 by Bob Bly
My friend Peter Fogel is writing a book on reinvention in the workplace.
It’s rare for people these days to have one career and stick with it for decades.
Most of us have several careers during our life — which often necessitates a difficult period of transition, training, and reinvention.
Have you “reinvented” yourself at work or in your business?
Did you do it by learning a new skill … or finding a mentor … or growing a new profit center?
And did you reinvent yourself out of choice — or did your industry become moribund or your skills obsolete?
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June 6th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Reinventing yourself?
I have spent the past 25 years in working in the hi-tech world. I have been a system administrator, programmer, systems analyst, database administrator…etc. However, I have always been writing. Sometimes it was not the the big important stuff but it always required thought and some degree of research.
A few years ago I completed my JD and during the time school was in session the amount of writing doubled even tripled. I am not a practicing lawyer but I continue to write and now I have decided writing is what I want to do. Writing is something I truely enjoy.
I think people don’t necessarily reinvent themselves as much as the redirect their efforts. The redirection as we add a few birthdays is generally in the direction of something we truly enjoy. Oh sure, there are those that completely change the course of their lives but I would be curious how many really started doing something they were not doing before. They may have been doing it as a part of their job or as a hobby.
I guess it all hinges on the definition of “reinventing”.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Some days I feel as if the changes in publishing are forcing me to re-invent myself as a writer who must now be a writer-marketer-blogger-social networker-TV/radio personality-podcaster-YouTuber-etc. And when it gets to be a bit too much, I read your blog for a breath of fresh and calm down and STOP trying to re-invent myself.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:29 am
From PHD in philosophy of language to working for an online gaming firm to a direct marketing agency and now founding the first pan-european academy of direct and interactive marketing.
How about that as a re-invention?
I suppose my motivation is finding something that makes money and, more importantly, makes me feel good about what I am doing. Probably with www.eadim.com I am getting close to the feeling good thing, not sure about the making money bit, though:-)))
June 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I have worked as a trainer, a PC tech, an Account Executive at an ad agency, a computer trainer, a project manager, a publicist for an IT organization, and now I’m working on launching a freelance career. Through it all, writing has been the common thread. In each position, I found myself the “writing expert” that everyone came to for advice and help. I think reinventing is part of discovering what it is you truly want to do and then finally recognizing there is a place for your talent in the world. I agree with Marta, it is also a quest to find a way to make money with the skills I have, but it is also about finding work I really enjoy doing as well.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I reinvented myself over 8 years ago after getting burned out in the fashion business where I was a designed and mfg. of women’s knitwear for over 25 years.
I knew I wanted to help people and decided that the best way I could do that was to utilize my experience and skills to help others shorten the learning curve and run their businesses more easily, profitably and effectively.
It was definitely a choice, I could have continued, but opted for doing something more meaningful. I’ve never looked back.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I reinvented myself several years ago, and gradually, from being a copywriter/creative director to a certified hypnotist.
Not so much of a leap you say? well, maybe not.
Can’t say I fully let go of the writing or advertising though. I’m finding that mesmerising long-copy taps into both.