I recently had a conversation with a senior leader at a major US university. This lady, whom we will call “Anna”, was introduced to me by one of my previous team members Ellen. We weren’t talking about US recruitment market like we would normally do, we were talking about reinvention. About what happens when your corporate career pauses or ends, and you’re finally free to ask: What do I want now? What exactly is my purpose out side of the Corporate World?
Not another role – that’s easy and that’s called comfort.
Not another title, that’s never what it seems.
But a new direction – designed by you.
After decades of working within other people’s systems, you suddenly have the opportunity to build something that truly reflects you. But that shift, while exciting, is actually layered and complex.
My advice on the first step: re-evaluate your values.
When I began this journey, one key insight helped everything fall into place: re-evaluating values. Who are you now, not who you were 10 or 20 years ago?
Thanks to my Career Coach Kath, I took time to reflect on what I really wanted my working life to look like in these later chapters, and how my values, shaped by lived experience, needed to drive my decisions. This wasn’t just a philosophical exercise. It became the foundation for how I built my business, who I work with, and how I showed up today.
Life is a puzzle. That’s why I started Jigsaw People Solutions. I chose the name Jigsaw for a reason. Life is one giant jigsaw puzzle. People, experiences, opportunities, they all come and go. Some pieces fit. Some don’t. But each one shapes the picture of who we are becoming.
So was a sudden episode of amnesia a few years ago – my “brain blip”- that forced me to slow down and completely rewire how I lived and worked. That moment, and Kath’s guidance, gave me the space and courage to start again.
And now? I’m writing a book. Supporting organisations I truly believe in. Living a week filled with variety, purpose, and space to think.
Building a brand that’s not corporate
One thing Anna hadn’t yet considered in our conversation was this: What does your personal brand stand for? This isn’t about logos or taglines. It’s about:
– What your brand means: what do you want to be known for?
– What colours you choose: and how they reflect your energy, intention, and personality.
– Who your audience is: who are you speaking to now, and what do they need from you?
– How you use your network: not just for business, but for genuine connection and growth.
These aren’t questions we’re taught to ask in the corporate world. But when you step out on your own, this is everything.
And then… the Silence.
One of the tougher lessons many people face when they go solo: the network you once relied on – the colleagues, contacts, even friends who once responded instantly in a corporate context can suddenly fall silent. Not because they don’t care. But because your role no longer “serves” them. And that silence can sting.
But here’s the shift – you don’t need permission or validation anymore. You’re building something for you. Stay focused. Stay positive. The right people will come, and the relationships that matter will evolve. This life is yours.
Working for yourself is full of highs and lows. Freedom is real. So is the unpredictability. But the most powerful part? You get to drive your wants, your needs, and your vision.
So, to Anna, and anyone else standing at the edge of unexpected reinvention:
- Re-evaluate your values.
- Define your identity, you may be surprised.
- Build a brand that reflects you, not your last employer.
- And… create it, believe in it, own it, and enjoy it.
Because life is short. And precious. And if I can get to this point – from corporate, through health scares, to running my own business and writing a book – then trust me: you can too.
This chapter of your life isn’t corporate. It’s personal to you. And it might be the best one yet, as what’s for you won’t go past you as my grandmother used to say!