JimCarroll

“Sometimes you just wish could change the channel!” – Futurist Jim Carroll

There’s not a lot to say this morning.

Sometimes, an image just speaks for itself.

“When a promise can’t stand the test of honesty, then failure is inevitable!” – Futurist Jim Carroll

No doubt the world watches in disbelief, trepidation, the foreboding of horror, shock, denial, fear. A full range of emotions runs rampant; a collective breath is inhaled.

But make no mistake – what unfolds today and over the course of the next several weeks will have seismic consequences for the rest of the 21st century and beyond. Everything is on the table – the climate, human decency, the opportunity for advancing global freedom and democracy, health…..

Take a look at the final pre-election opinion by Thomas Friedman, which sums it up best:

“There is no escaping it: America is on the ballot on Tuesday — the stability and quality of our governing institutions, our alliances, how we treat one another, our basic commitment to scientific principles and the minimum decency that we expect from our leaders. The whole ball of wax is on the ballot.”

He goes on to note:

“If America goes dark, if the  message broadcast by the Statue of Liberty shifts from “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” to “get the hell off my lawn…”

“Home Sweet Office! 30 years today, I began the voyage that would help me reinvent my future – and discover the magic that lay within it!” – Futurist Jim Carroll

30 years ago today, I began a new career, working at home, leaving the corporate world to pursue my own passions and interests! I’ve never looked back – and in fact, have been blessed to experience such absolute joy in the home office each and every morning.

It’s a crazy story, really. A full-fledged CPA (Canadian Chartered Accountant), I decided to leave what was then a predecessor firm of KPMG to build a career as – wait for it! – an e-mail and online information resource consultant. I had a great starting contract with a major Canadian company, but after that, had no idea how things would unfold.

The technology at the time? My initial office had me with a Toshiba 3100 laptop – sporting 1MB of memory, a massive 10-megabyte hard drive, and a 2,400 baud modem! Frustrated by the speed, I would soon move up to a 9600 baud super-speedster!

I was only able to take on this risk because my wife – we were newly married – had a stable job as the Tax Manager / Controller for a massive global food company. Listening to me each morning during our morning commute on the train, I think she sensed that I might forever be happier working in a world in which my imagination for the future was not being compressed by the inertia of an organization.

The fact is, I knew something big was happening in online world, and I wanted to be a part of it! I would soon go on to write my first book about the online with another fellow – and within but 6 years, we would pump out 34 books in all, becoming the Lennon and McCartney of the Canadian Internet scene.

Beyond that, a career path began to unfold that truly became unimaginable – just a year ago at this very moment, my wife and I were getting ready for a trip to Marrakech, Morocco, where I would deliver a keynote address for an event for the World Bank! I found myself on stage all over the world, sharing my hopes, dreams, insight and pathways for success.

The real magic, though, came from a life lived working t home with my wife and the joy of starting a family – and then watching my sons grow through each and every day from my home office. I think is the most wonderful career success of all – I am blessed beyond belief.

Imagine the joy that comes with the arrival of your first son, and then getting to experience this moment of joy through each and every working day, throughout the day!

Or starting your day with storytime as soon as they woke up? This went on as a regular routine for at least two years!

Imagine being on deadline for something, and seeing this little fellow come barging into the office to interrupt your thoughts!

Imagine walking in – and finding Teddy being sacrificed to the altar of technology on the fax machine!

The voyage has not been a solo one. In just over four years – after returning to work for six months after the birth of our first son and missing him terribly – my wife would leave her own job to start working with me in the home office. (I needed the support and assistance, and rather than getting on outside office, we decided to go all in!) She’s been with me ever since, occupying her own bit of space over on the other side of the room. She still is not in a cooperative mood when I decide that it might be a good time for some Led Zeppelin at 715am though!

The boys soon discovered that daddy had some fascinating technology at his desk, and soon always did their best to commandeer it! Many of my days would see this type of scene as a computer game took over the office agenda!

For years, my efforts to try to get something done would fail – with my attention being diverted by a different form of ‘office politics.’

Struggling through trying to pay attention to a conference cal? I’d get this bit of joyful energy wander in the room to say goodbye before heading off to school:

Over time, as my career begin to take off, I lived a life that had TV crew after TV crew come to my home office to film some bit of insight about the future. For a few years, my sons would wake up in the morning to find a TV crew out in the hallway, setting up for some sort of news shoot.

30 years! And now, I’m even more all-in! when I can’t get to a stage, I decided to bring the stage into another room near the home office:

That’s why I find all the gnashing of teeth about the future of the workplace so interesting. Quite clearly, with Covid-19, much of the workforce has discovered the joy and beauty of what can come with a home office environment. Yes, many people do miss the interaction with their business counterparts.

But let’s face facts – I dare say many of them won’t want to go back to an office workspace any time soon. They’ve discovered the magic that has been a part of my life for the last 30 years.

Lessons learned? Check my post from 2003! 10 Rules for Working at Home!

10 Rules for Working at Home

With that in mind, it is clear that there is a seismic workplace attitude shift underway, and we would do best to understand it!

 

“Hallowe’en 2020. Note to self: some potential new career transitions are best left unpursued!” – Futurist Jim Carroll

Good thing I stuck to being a futurist – I don’t think I would make a great clown! Turn that frown upside down!

That said, let’s focus on the fact that many people are finding it necessary during these perilous times to completely reinvent their careers to align with the upheaval in the global economy. I’m certainly witnessing it within my online network: a meeting planner pursuing a new career as an insurance agent. A speakers bureau representative chasing a new path in marketing for an automotive company. An AV tech now working to implement Web and e-commerce design infrastructure.

Out of necessity, people in the most hard-hit industries are finding it necessary to admit that the future is too cloudy to find any ray of optimism.

My world – the meeting, events, and leadership industry – is but a small microcosm of vast structural industry changes that are underway in many sectors. Massive layoffs in the aerospace sector are bringing a harsh new reality to tens of thousands. The airline, hotel, and travel industry have been decimated, and much of it won’t be back for a long, long time. Tens of thousands of in-store retail clerks and staff are finding that it’s probably a good idea to think about doing something different. Reality? The smart ones have already moved on towards some sort of personal reinvention, knowing that their old world won’t be back.

Is there an opportunity out there? Here and there – the vast move to online services and logistics is creating a tremendous number of new jobs. Online learning, training, and related fields are a big growth opportunity. And there is an uptick in volunteer and charity work as those who have the personal ability to weather the storm decide to give back to the community.

As we settle into the winter months, it will become even more evident to more people that the global pandemic is a massive, transformative event that will reshape the world for decades to come.

As I keep preaching here, reinvention is the name of the game for many. Try it. Sometimes it will work.

As for me, I think I’ll keep doing what I’m doing! I might not be a great clown, but I can always find an inner smile to keep me going!