A Small Challenge
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Every transition in our lives has a stage that feels uncomfortable. We often want to discard our previous identity or role, yet we don't feel fully established in the new one. This "in-between" period, sometimes referred to as liminality, can be challenging.
In her book 'Working Identity', Herminia Ibarra emphasizes a crucial point: we don’t think our way into a new identity; we act our way into it. In other words, we need to start 'walking the talk'.
This March (hopefuly Springtime, new beginnings etc.) I 'm challenging you to shift your perspective. Instead of asking, “What should I do next?” consider asking, “What small experiment could I run in the next 30 days?”
This doesn’t require a massive leap, a resignation letter, or a five-year reinvention plan—just an experiment. Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Have one conversation with someone whose work intrigues you
• Volunteer for a stretch project within your organization
• Test a paid micro-offer based on your expertise
• Write one article in a voice you haven’t used before
• Shadow someone for half a day
• Teach a workshop, run a webinar, or mentor someone
• Reduce something by 10% to create space for something new
The goal isn’t to find certainty but to gather data—energy data, confidence data, curiosity data. Transitions, especially in our 50s and 60s, are not resolved through introspection alone; they require movement.
So, what experiment will you run before the end of March? If you're willing, share it in the comments. Saying it publicly often makes it real.!
