“What is hard to appreciate, in retrospect, was how clueless and hopeless and conflicted I felt for many months. I considered almost every future imaginable—book consultant, copywriter, carpenter, farmer, hermit—until I found one that fit.”
I think you just voiced what so many of us feel.
Congratulations on the job, sounds like you've found an amazing fit (and good job seeking advice here too)!
Thank you, Claire. I appreciate the kind words and I’m so glad that part resonated. It can be easy to forget the pain of the past, or minimize it to something easy.
Tommy, thank you for taking the time to share the depth of your process and thoughts. If not for the border between our countries, I would have loved the privilege of working with you, collaborating with you, and being influenced by you.
The clients you serve and the folks at your new firm with will be lucky to have you.
Thank you, James. It brings a big smile to my face to see your name here. You are an instrumental part of my career search, from connecting me with Amba to coaching me through called emails, and a friend the whole way through. I continue to look up to you as a model of the man I want to be in my career.
Congrats! Having recently left my job of 6 years, I flirted with a lot of these same paths and ultimately landed on keep doing what I'm good at and enjoy and that pays well while making the time to write.
I find this gives me more Real Life to build a reservoir of experience to then write about (while admittedly still fantasizing about my startup selling and getting to write more 😅)
Thank you, Jack. I appreciate you reading and the kind words. You’re spot on about the flirting, there’s almost a certain dating process involved in finding the right path. A light yet intentional series of experiments. Maybe the fantasies just never go away and maybe that’s just real life.
Appreciate the detailed account of your approach in this decision process. Your ability to examine what’s important to you and develop the self-awareness to balance needs and desires is, in my opinion, uncommon. My sense is that it will serve you well in your career and your life. Wish you well in your next work role, and also those into which you will most likely subsequently evolve. Very curious where you have chosen to live. Cheers.
for someone looking for a job to fuel my writing and creative endeavors, this was very insightful. i couldn't agree more with many of the points discussed. thank you for writing this!
Thank you, Brittney. I appreciate you reading and I’m glad that the essay was helpful for you. It’s always hard to tell whether something will resonate or if it’s just me.
I have come to many of the same conclusions regarding work and writing and earning a living.
To add to this essay a point which might be missing: the best thing we can do with our lives is to give, not simply accumulate wealth or exalt our own cleverness. And if I'm honest, there's an element of writing which is not about giving but about spending time in my own thoughts and amusing myself, chasing recognition for my brilliance. But work and family and love and church and community - these are opportunities to give, to look beyond ourselves.
I write this as much for me as for you, but I hope it's an encouragement.
Thank you A.A. I appreciate you reading and it always brings a smile to my face to see your name here. I love your words on the element of service and self emptying and I think it’s exactly right. More and more I think true greatness is found in selfless love.
If you have time, maybe have a read of some of my recent pieces, especially 'Loving a Stranger'. I think it will resonate. (No pressure, only if you have the bandwidth).
Tommy, your thoughtful, deliberate actions that follow your genuine intentions are an inspiration. Congratulations on creating a life that is uniquely designed to sustain your financial, emotional, and creative needs.
Thank you, Marian. I appreciate you being here. Perhaps I’ll write a piece one day on how I picked my specific city, but it’s so individual I fear it would almost be unhelpful. In the end, as all big decisions in life are, there was a large dose of serendipity.
even if it’s not advice, it sounds like it’d make a great story :) but i’m convinced you could write about anything and make it beautiful so i’m looking forward!
Been thinking about the concept of human-shaped career decisions all day and this came just when I put the thinking down for the day. Simple and yet so so good. Thank you!
Yeah definitely something like that. I don’t think the current economic system is built around “people” inasmuch as it’s built for “machines” or “profit.” Finding a way to earn a living sustainably inside the machine or earning a living outside the machine both present unique challenges, but we won’t stumble on either “human-shaped” option — it’ll take intention. p.s. I say that with the least amount of conspiratorial activist pretense possible.
“What is hard to appreciate, in retrospect, was how clueless and hopeless and conflicted I felt for many months. I considered almost every future imaginable—book consultant, copywriter, carpenter, farmer, hermit—until I found one that fit.”
I think you just voiced what so many of us feel.
Congratulations on the job, sounds like you've found an amazing fit (and good job seeking advice here too)!
Thank you, Claire. I appreciate the kind words and I’m so glad that part resonated. It can be easy to forget the pain of the past, or minimize it to something easy.
Tommy, thank you for taking the time to share the depth of your process and thoughts. If not for the border between our countries, I would have loved the privilege of working with you, collaborating with you, and being influenced by you.
The clients you serve and the folks at your new firm with will be lucky to have you.
Thank you, James. It brings a big smile to my face to see your name here. You are an instrumental part of my career search, from connecting me with Amba to coaching me through called emails, and a friend the whole way through. I continue to look up to you as a model of the man I want to be in my career.
Tommy, the feeling is mutual - you’re an inspiration in my life.
…congrats bud…on all of it…maybe most of all the mindset…to doing as your desire desires…
Congrats! Having recently left my job of 6 years, I flirted with a lot of these same paths and ultimately landed on keep doing what I'm good at and enjoy and that pays well while making the time to write.
I find this gives me more Real Life to build a reservoir of experience to then write about (while admittedly still fantasizing about my startup selling and getting to write more 😅)
Thank you, Jack. I appreciate you reading and the kind words. You’re spot on about the flirting, there’s almost a certain dating process involved in finding the right path. A light yet intentional series of experiments. Maybe the fantasies just never go away and maybe that’s just real life.
Appreciate the detailed account of your approach in this decision process. Your ability to examine what’s important to you and develop the self-awareness to balance needs and desires is, in my opinion, uncommon. My sense is that it will serve you well in your career and your life. Wish you well in your next work role, and also those into which you will most likely subsequently evolve. Very curious where you have chosen to live. Cheers.
Thank you, Adam. I really appreciate you reading and all the kind words and well wishes. That balance of needs and desires is so true.
I’ve been to Kitchener. Blackberry was a client, a long time ago. Seems like a nice place to stake down roots.
I really enjoyed your thought process. Thank you!
Thank you!
this was such a refreshing, well-written piece.
for someone looking for a job to fuel my writing and creative endeavors, this was very insightful. i couldn't agree more with many of the points discussed. thank you for writing this!
Thank you, Brittney. I appreciate you reading and I’m glad that the essay was helpful for you. It’s always hard to tell whether something will resonate or if it’s just me.
I have come to many of the same conclusions regarding work and writing and earning a living.
To add to this essay a point which might be missing: the best thing we can do with our lives is to give, not simply accumulate wealth or exalt our own cleverness. And if I'm honest, there's an element of writing which is not about giving but about spending time in my own thoughts and amusing myself, chasing recognition for my brilliance. But work and family and love and church and community - these are opportunities to give, to look beyond ourselves.
I write this as much for me as for you, but I hope it's an encouragement.
Thank you A.A. I appreciate you reading and it always brings a smile to my face to see your name here. I love your words on the element of service and self emptying and I think it’s exactly right. More and more I think true greatness is found in selfless love.
That's kind of you to say, likewise my friend.
If you have time, maybe have a read of some of my recent pieces, especially 'Loving a Stranger'. I think it will resonate. (No pressure, only if you have the bandwidth).
Tommy, your thoughtful, deliberate actions that follow your genuine intentions are an inspiration. Congratulations on creating a life that is uniquely designed to sustain your financial, emotional, and creative needs.
Thank you, J.T. I appreciate you reading and it’s an honour to have you here.
This sounds really good, congrats! Loved hearing about the process too. Resonated a lot with your thoughts
Thank you, Carina! Always brings a smile to my face to hear from you
congrats tommy. loved reading your introspection. best of luck (and i would love to know how you picked a city!)
Thank you, Marian. I appreciate you being here. Perhaps I’ll write a piece one day on how I picked my specific city, but it’s so individual I fear it would almost be unhelpful. In the end, as all big decisions in life are, there was a large dose of serendipity.
even if it’s not advice, it sounds like it’d make a great story :) but i’m convinced you could write about anything and make it beautiful so i’m looking forward!
Excellent! Thank you for this perspective, it was very valuable. Best of luck.
Thank you, Isabella. I really appreciate you reading and the kind words!
Congratulations, Tommy. May this be the beginning of a fulfilling journey on your path.
Thank you, Catherine. I appreciate the kind words.
Been thinking about the concept of human-shaped career decisions all day and this came just when I put the thinking down for the day. Simple and yet so so good. Thank you!
Thank you Nick (: appreciate you reading
“Human-shaped career decisions,” nice. Like ergonomics for the soul maybe?
Yeah definitely something like that. I don’t think the current economic system is built around “people” inasmuch as it’s built for “machines” or “profit.” Finding a way to earn a living sustainably inside the machine or earning a living outside the machine both present unique challenges, but we won’t stumble on either “human-shaped” option — it’ll take intention. p.s. I say that with the least amount of conspiratorial activist pretense possible.
Still mulling this over a few days later, thanks for the reply! “Human-shaped.” :)
Know that your essays here were a healing container for me when i was going through really difficult times. Thank you! Enjoy all your new adventures!
Thank you, Isabella. It means so much to hear that.
Excellent reflection, and congratulations Tommy.