Help! I'm in a Life Transition

What I Did in My Topsy-Turvy Summer

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What happens when the guy who writes about life transitions goes through a massive life transition himself? If I was looking for a question that captured the last few months of my life that would be it. I’ve been a little silent here of late because I’ve been uncommonly upside-down in real life.

My summer of somersaults has involved a combination of being out and about talking about my new book, going into the field to start researching my next book, and dealing with some whopping emotional milestones at home, not least preparing to drop my two-and-only identical twin daughters at college this weekend. 

Seriously, anybody out there know anything about navigating life transitions? 

I’ll have lots more to say about what I’ve learned from this pileup in the coming weeks, in part because of an unimaginable twist of fate in my life. Five days after saying goodbye to my own children on Monday and dealing with all those tears (parental, of course!), I’ve been invited to give the convocation address at Middle Tennessee State University outside Nashville where all 3,200 incoming students have been assigned to read Life Is in the Transitions. Right now, I can’t even get through the part where I speak to their parents without breaking down. Oof.

So more to come on all these fronts. But in the meantime, I’ve had some banner experiences in the last few weeks talking about how we’re all in a massive meaning moment around work, success, and redefining what it means to find happiness, balance, and purpose in our lives. I thought I would share some of those links.

1. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria

One friend said it best, "We watch Fareed every Sunday like others go to church." The Church of Fareed. How perfect! The great Fareed Zakaria invited me on his signature CNN show to talk about why there's such a massive, unexpected change going on around work. We talk about why 'Follow your passion' is the worst career advice; the woman who walked away from being a spy and still ended up running the CIA; and how you can find meaning purpose in your own life. Check out the clip below.

2. NPR’s Here and Now

Robin Young is one of the greatest interviewers I know. With stints at everything from the TODAY SHOW to the Boston Celtics, Robin has hosted ‘Here and Now’ for almost 20 years, first at WBUR and now nationally on NPR. I absolutely loved our recent conversation about finding yourself in your work. Listen at the link below.

3. Pulling the Thread, a Podcast with Elise Loehnen

If Robin is already a legend, Elise Loehnen is a legend in the making. The author of a fantastic new book called On Our Best Behavior, she hosts the essential podcast (and Substack) Pulling the Thread, where I was delighted to be a guest. We dug into nonlinearity, personal setbacks, and how to find meaning through our life stories. The reaction was out of this world. You can listen to a clip from the show below, or visit Elise’s website for the full audio and transcript.

4. Yahoo!

Kerry Hannon has been writing about finance for many years and is a senior columnist at Yahoo! She reached out earlier this summer to discuss why so many Americans are quitting their jobs. In our Q+A, we explore why work doesn’t have to be miserable and how we can turn inward to find the sense of direction that will bring us the satisfaction we crave. Read it here.

5. Business Insider: ‘21 Questions to Find Work You Love’

Remember that iconic New York Times artice ‘36 Questions that Lead to Love’? Why should lovers have all the fun. Business Insider ran my response: ‘21 Questions to Find Work You Love.’ Please check it out and share it with a friend who needs it.

Hope you’re having a less topsy-turvy summer. I’ll be back with more reflections soon.

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