When you crave change

Last week I met with my Mastermind group at our quarterly in-person meetup. This week’s post applies to anyone, not just founders. I have the great fortune of hosting a community of Chief Innovation Officers and other technologists in the AEC space. The conversations after the meetup were much about “what’s next for my career?” This hit home for me in a couple of ways. I was coaching a founder that is on the cusp of an exit. The acquiring company wants them to enter into an employment agreement for 3 years. So I asked, “Is this the future you want for the next 3 years?”
For myself, I have decided to leave Atlanta. I have lived here 49 years of my 53 year life. It feels like as we are exiting summer, many people are craving a change. Present company included.

Craving change is pretty common in startup world, but not exclusively. Some common cravings-
1. Mixing up the team. Wanting new people around you.
2. Launching new markets and products before your existing ones have any meaningful market saturation.
3. Starting to help other founders and taking advisory roles.
These are just a few. For AEC professionals it’s because they have moved out of the mainstream business lines, whether technology, business development etc. and they are exhausted by leadership decisions centering around the core business and not in your functional area.

Things to consider when you are craving change.

1. Are you tired of where you are OR are you excited about where you want to go? Is the grass that much greener on the other side.
2. Are things too consistent and you want some chaos? This is pretty common with founders. Once there is some natural sales motion and predictability to the business, a founder gets bored.
3. Here is a tough one. Are there things in your personal life not going well, that a work change can help you avoid? Taking a job that requires a ton of travel, so you don’t have to be with your family. (I have seen this one a bunch)

The reality is that if you are craving change due to healthy reasons, what you may actually be craving is growth. The question is, are you prepared for
growth? Some people have a fixed mindset for a large part of their career. Then one day, they want to start growing. They are rarely prepared to grow and then are disappointed when they can’t. Growth is not just about trying to grow your bank account either. What I have typically seen is that personal growth is catalyzed by intellectual curiosity and then executed through building habits in the areas that support growth (big fan of Atomic Habits).

Let’s say you believe that you have a lot to offer and want to start a newsletter.

A good starting point is to write 250 words per day, everyday. It’s doesn’t have to be award winning, but you can’t miss a single day for 6 months. Once you build the habit, you build the muscle and then you can refine it.

While craving change can be intense, without action it can subside. Then this time next year, you will be in the same spot. One of the best things you can do is share your ambition with people in your ecosystem. For me personally, I have been talking about leaving Atlanta for a few years. I have had friends that I shared this with, and they would ask “what’s your latest excuse?” Having someone to help you be accountable is huge.  You may also find out that the change you are craving is much different than the actions you are taking.