July 23rd, 2023: This past week we put our stuff in storage in Austin and headed to the east coast for a couple of weeks before spending a few months in Taiwan. Although we intend to return to Austin by the end of the year, this feels like the end of a chapter for us. We found good friends and a community in Austin and also had our daughter. Everything seemed so uncertain when we moved back to the US in October 2021 but almost two years later, I am feeling a lot more confident. It seems this writing thing I’m doing has some potential and I have some confidence that I can keep doing the work I love while putting family and living above work. Despite this confidence, heading back to Taiwan feels like I am stepping back into a liminal space. We get lost to get found and every time I head back to Taiwan it feels like I am about to discover something. What will it be? Stay tuned…
Interesting piece Paul. Having been on a pathless path my entire career so far (25 right now) I was always fearful of losing my edge by taking time off in the beginning. However, having been through periods of busyness and slowdown, it always surprises me that I can quickly shift back into the fast paced life when I need to. Us humans are a little more adaptable than we give ourselves credit for.
Contrary to Charlie, I am very much still on the path rather than the Pathless Path. Still working on that one. I might re read your book again. I’m working on it.
The newsletter is growing nicely and I’m quickly learning about how to build a community online. I find it energising and actually I feel like I have more edge when I work on that than my day job!
I can feel what you mean by edge but it’s hard to describe. What I do know is that when I’m working on things for my newsletter etc I get an excited buzz in my stomach.
Love this Martin. Having just given you a stalk on LinkedIn your separation of what I assume is your work interests (rail, data etc.) and your newsletter (personal development) is pretty interesting. I'm not sure if you've thought about it... But, if it does actually fascinate you I'd 10/10 read a rail x data article from you - maybe on "Why UK trains are always late". Don't forget to lean into what makes you unique along this journey.
So far you’re right. I’ve kept the worlds very separate. I guess I’ve been building in public but not quite public in that I’ve not mixed the two worlds.
Although I’ve not used the subject matter. My Substack does draw on the lessons I’ve learned around leadership and personal development from my career in the railways and consultancy.
Very perceptive of you though . I will ponder some more (on the train to Waterloo station tomorrow 😢)
I'm struggling with this as well -- my LinkedIn persona feels very different than my Substack/Personal persona, as I build in public.
Interestingly, I was talking to a client the other day who on the side asked me for advice on how to have the courage to share. I had no idea, but I guess he'd been silently following my journey and we had a total candid, not work related discourse about writing and building a brand beyond your day job.
Immediate association: LCD Soundsystem 🎧
https://youtu.be/nqww88x584U
Interesting piece Paul. Having been on a pathless path my entire career so far (25 right now) I was always fearful of losing my edge by taking time off in the beginning. However, having been through periods of busyness and slowdown, it always surprises me that I can quickly shift back into the fast paced life when I need to. Us humans are a little more adaptable than we give ourselves credit for.
This really resonated with me as a 32-year-old consultant ready for my next path in life.
Love your perspective and thoughts on taking the plunge into new paths.
Great post Paul.
Contrary to Charlie, I am very much still on the path rather than the Pathless Path. Still working on that one. I might re read your book again. I’m working on it.
The newsletter is growing nicely and I’m quickly learning about how to build a community online. I find it energising and actually I feel like I have more edge when I work on that than my day job!
I can feel what you mean by edge but it’s hard to describe. What I do know is that when I’m working on things for my newsletter etc I get an excited buzz in my stomach.
Love this Martin. Having just given you a stalk on LinkedIn your separation of what I assume is your work interests (rail, data etc.) and your newsletter (personal development) is pretty interesting. I'm not sure if you've thought about it... But, if it does actually fascinate you I'd 10/10 read a rail x data article from you - maybe on "Why UK trains are always late". Don't forget to lean into what makes you unique along this journey.
Ha, good call. I wish I knew. 🫢
So far you’re right. I’ve kept the worlds very separate. I guess I’ve been building in public but not quite public in that I’ve not mixed the two worlds.
Although I’ve not used the subject matter. My Substack does draw on the lessons I’ve learned around leadership and personal development from my career in the railways and consultancy.
Very perceptive of you though . I will ponder some more (on the train to Waterloo station tomorrow 😢)
Loved this dialogue.
I'm struggling with this as well -- my LinkedIn persona feels very different than my Substack/Personal persona, as I build in public.
Interestingly, I was talking to a client the other day who on the side asked me for advice on how to have the courage to share. I had no idea, but I guess he'd been silently following my journey and we had a total candid, not work related discourse about writing and building a brand beyond your day job.
Good one!
Enjoyed reading this post. I’ve been kinda “out of it” for a few years now, I almost forgot I DID have an edge haha.
I also registered for the NYC event, see you tomorrow!