Someone once said, “Change is a bastard!”. True? It can be. If you let it. It can also be the shove. The jolt. The hard kick up one’s jacksy to engage into higher gear!
Four years ago, I lost my job.
I was sent a calendar event from my MD, cc Talent Manager. It was 7.00am. I was with my wife. We guessed the agenda. “Whatever happens, you’ll be alright… we’ll be alright”, she reassured me.
‘Changes in operational requirements’ of the business I had spent the last eleven or so years at, ‘no longer had a requirement’ for my role and therefore my position was terminated.
We were in Covid lockdown. The news was delivered via Zoom. It was short. It was sharp. It was efficiently done. It saved an escorted walk from the building!
I experienced the full Royal flush of emotions – shock, anger, resentment, bewilderment and total panic. An expected hand and I started to reel.
I panicked. I had always held permanent positions. I’m a senior creative with nearly four decades of experience. Finding a new position was going to be a bit of an ask. I felt the ‘Lack of relevance syndrome’ beginning to take hold.
However, this is not a ‘woe is me’ tale about being a victim of ageism. It’s a tale of how unexpected change can be a fertile catalyst for a career swerve and creative liberation.
Ironically, lock-down proved to be a blessing. As the world experienced a semi state of suspended animation, I was able to settle, regroup, hunt for the silver lining and not have the extra mental burden of FOMO.
Fate has always intervened in my career progression and over the years it seems that I’ve been a bit of a magnet for opportunities – right place, right time etc. My financial advisor (the second person I told!) suggested that my redundancy couldn’t have come at a better time. Due to my stage in life, financial situation etc I admit things did seem less calamitous than it could have been. An inner voice was telling me to, “Get over myself”.
I’ve always had that feeling that someone is looking over us. Shortly after I received my marching orders, I organised with the office manager that I come in to drop off laptop, clean out locker and tidy desk. As mentioned, it was lock-down and it was just the two of us in the office. I took my time, careful not to forget anything but most stuff ended up in the recycle bin. On my desk and beneath my project files I found a small trinket. It wasn’t mine and had no idea where it came from. It was engraved with a message. It read Have Hope. I’ve never looked back.
“Whatever happens, you’ll be alright… we’ll be alright”. True, we have.
Family rallied as families do. Ex colleagues and clients offered support and give me work. It’s been a steady-ish flow but the projects have been varied and stimulating. I’ve positioned a comms agency, been creative lead on an integrated, global advertising campaign, named a new range of RTD products, been creative director on packaging projects, creative directed annual reports, scribed and designed several brand guidelines, created identities for one of Australia’s most respected photographers and offered pro bono services for an organisation that helps retired greyhounds find new homes. I’ve also been a juror for a national design award and appeared on a business tv channel. As I said, someone is looking over us.
A change in circumstances pushed me to consider a career swerve. I set up a business with the objective of mentoring and coaching design thinking to young graphic designers and account managers. The company is called Friend Thorp and I been able to help number of clients in parallel with the opportunities I’ve had as a freelance creative director.
Ageism is a national, if not global, conversation. Perhaps it’s easier to retreat rather than compete with our younger brethren. For those north of fifty, my advice would be to seek opportunities with younger teams and clients. There’s been a gradual shift in attitudes and the realisation that we Boomers can add something worthwhile to idea generation, team culture and craft is growing. I’ve found working with creatives, copywriters and account managers, in some cases forty years my junior, enlightening and so enjoyable. I reckon when Keith Richards coined, “I ain’t getting old, I’m evolving!”, there’s still hope for me!
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