OPEN THREAD: What have you let go of?
When it comes to your identity, I mean.
Letting go
Today’s topic is a tease to tomorrow’s newsletter. You’ll soon be receiving our first weekly newsletter, a piece from Jory somewhat provocatively titled, “Letting Go of My Exes.”
It made me want to ask all of you: When it comes to your personal or professional identity, what have you let go of?
Professionally, it seems like we spend the first part of our careers trying to plump up our CVs, and then hit a point where our essence might be getting lost amongst the breadth of our experience.
Personally, we may identify as many things we no longer make space or time for. (Like, if I still want to consider myself a musician, don’t I have to play the piano sometimes???)
So, when do you take the step of letting something go?
Some thought starter questions:
Have you removed the year you graduated from school?
Are there entire industries, verticals, or areas of expertise you no longer want to pursue (or be pursued for) and have you removed them?
Is there something you always used to say to describe yourself that you realized was outdated or did not serve you?
You get the idea. So, I ask you: What have you released and why?
And keep your eyes open for Jory and her exes in your inbox tomorrow.
O Events
Premium members: Monthly Office Hours with Jory and Elisa kick off on Wednesday December 13, 12PM PT. Check out the Events Tab for the info.
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Bookmark This
Read the #OriginStory of Optionality here. And hear us riff on the story in our first Conversationality audio conversation.
Overheard
“I just gave myself a membership for Christmas.“
-Susan Getgood, new Premium member of Optionality
Great idea! You can even give the gift of Optionality to someone else!
I had to go look at my LI profile to remind myself of what I've let go of:
1. No, I do not have the year I graduated college there.
2. I took off my first career some time ago...I spent 7 years in the commodities industry!
3. I probably *should* let go of the 7 years I spent in traditional high tech product management/product marketing. I've kind of consolidated those years into one entry about doing that function in the telecom industry. I think I hang on to it because I really loved the *work* of doing product management and marketing. I really love thinking about everything I make as a product...events are a product, community is a product...and applying those principles to their development and growth. But probably this literal product experience from 20 years ago isn't that meaningful anymore?
I let go of working and filling my calendar with things to do and people to meet. I feel so free and open as a result!