This year started not with a bang but a whimper.
For the first time ever – through sheer luck, I assure you – my role was made redundant.
Not that it was a shock. I was reading the signs leading up to that point, more accurately than I dared to imagine, so to that extent I was mentally prepared. But in any case, it wasn’t a nice feeling to lose a job that I poured myself into.
Never mind, all good things must come to an end. And paradoxically, the following “downtime” turned out to be the most productful time of the year as I put it to good use:
- I created an online course.
- I featured in 3 podcasts.
- I wrote a guest article.
- I was quoted in an article.
- I wrote 7 blog posts.
- I won a prestigious award.
- I attended 2 industry events.
- I attended 3 meetups.
- I co-hosted a meetup.
- I earned a Top Voice badge on LinkedIn.
- I created an accessibility badge.
- I drew a cartoon.
- I had numerous coffee catch-ups, lunches and Zoom calls with peers.
- I visited 4 countries that you can’t get to by bus.
Amongst that hive of activity, I also found space to rest and reflect.
Jobwise, I vowed not to jump at the next thing that moved. Instead, I resolved to take my time to secure a new role that not only values my skillset, but also aligns to what I want to do every day.
Until then, I’m pleased to have picked up a contract in my local neighbourhood which ticks those boxes. Plus, I walk to work!
As the year winds down, I invite you to review the blog posts that I published before, during and after my stint of unemployment:
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In L&D conferences in Australia & New Zealand in 2024 I list professional development events in my corner of the globe. Stay tuned for a new list in January.
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In Similar but different I express my conditional support for the Australian Government’s proposed National Skills Passport.
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In Training at scale I point to the podcast episode in which I discuss enterprise-wide learning & development.
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In The beauty of customer education I celebrate a make-up retailer’s approach to content marketing.
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In Soft landing I differentiate hard skills from soft.
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In A super skill in the age of AI I recognise a way to thrive alongside the robots.
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In So hot right now I share peer insights on artificial intelligence and skills-based learning.
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In Shift the odds I spruik my course for maximising your probability of success.
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In Thunderstruck I express my shock at winning the Internet Time Alliance Jay Cross Memorial Award.
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In The tortoise and the h@r3 I temper the discourse about robots stealing our jobs.
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In Skill shift I point to the podcast episode in which I position skills-based learning as a fundamental shift in the way we approach organisational development.
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In The LXD spectrum I point to the podcast episode in which I differentiate Learning Experience Design and Learner Experience Design.
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In TV star I recount my quest to earn a Top Voice badge from LinkedIn.
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In People use apps I share the impressive insight of a cheesy movie.
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In Represent I provide a way to signal our commitment to accessibility.
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In Hearts and eyes I illustrate the difference between User Interface and User Experience.
Please feel free to add a comment to each of the above… I read them all.
In the meantime, I wish you all the best in the new year. And if you happen to find yourself in the unenviable position of being laid off, I hope you find a way to reframe the experience as an opportunity.
When life gives you lemons, make whiskey sour.
