A newsletter hit my inbox recently that resonated in so many ways.
Khe Hy was sending a note to let readers know he was sunsetting his email & podcast.
I couldn’t find the exact post online, but I did find his blog site here.
There were three elements of his post that really resonated and aligned with what I’ve heard from others who have left corporate roles to venture out on their own.
#1 – The Identity Earthquake
I wrote about this concept in a blog post a year or so ago.
When we leave a job (planned or unplanned), we lose our identity and career path.
What was interesting in Khe’s post is the description that somewhere along the way his new identity emerged from his work.
I believe we often miss this transition or don’t recognize when it happens.
#2 – The Portfolio
Post-corporate life isn’t always as easy to describe as a title & specific role at a company.
Many people have a portfolio of projects and income streams.
I’ve often mentioned that LinkedIn doesn’t have a great structure for expressing this.
Kye used a timeline with projects coming in and out to show his evolution.
Below is the image from the email.
Not only does this show the additions, but we also see what he decided to drop at different points in the journey.
This leads to the final notable point of the newsletter.
#3 – The Matrix of Hobbies and Jobs
Khe used the matrix below to describe how influencers & thought leaders can lose joy in their creativity when they are too focused on the business and not the art.
I have heard so many creatives express frustration in the tension between art and business.
Kye is focused on keeping the joy rather than allowing activities slip left into being a chore.
I’m intrigued by this four-box matrix.
It has me thinking about Elizabeth Gilbert’s framework of the hobby, job, career, and vocation.
You can learn more about that here.
Your Turn
Have you ever suffered an identity quake?
Do you wish you could show your experience in a timeline with rows instead of linear titles?
Have you had any projects that you loved initially and then they turned into a chore?