Still Looking… post-script to “My Journey”

Over recent months, I’ve been reconnecting with many of my previous colleagues and professional connections, both to share with them what we’re building, as well as to hear their personal experiences. These experiences include how they have reached where they are today, and what their dreams for their future are, especially career-wise.

This post is a follow-on to my longer personal journey in which I shared some of my career history, perspectives, and inspirations. In it, I encouraged you to please make contact with us, and share your own stories, what motivates you, and your top tips. While engaging with us, some of you have told me that you are a little shy, have “nothing inspirational to share”, or aren’t comfortable to submit directly. The first step is to start the conversation, so please do send your thoughts (however short) to us, and we’ll help you to distil them positively into messages that can resonate with others. These can include:

• positive examples where you actively managed your own career
• a description of a challenge you faced so that others can avoid future pitfalls
• specific individuals you want to recognise for the impact they had on your growth & learning
• useful resources that have helped you in your development

We won’t publish your emails verbatim, and will engage further before we determine how to position your story. If you want to write a two-thousand word essay, please do, but that’s not required. Even fifty words can help to inspire others, whether we share them as short updates, or as part of a combined thematic post.

To help stimulate your creative cells, we’re intending to post examples, inspiration, and hybrid stories over the coming months. Please do send us your thoughts or ideas, or if you’d like to, comment directly on the posts (note though that post comments, once reviewed, would appear verbatim).

From the conversations I’ve had with you, here is a distillation of your feedback so far:

• Our principles resonate with a lot of you, which probably also explains why the page describing them is one of our most popular.
• You’re keen to hear others’ stories, but there are aspects holding you back from sending your own in, which we described earlier.
• A number of you see the benefits of active career management, and would greatly value support and guidance on your own career journeys, including the discipline of external oversight.
• Some of you would also be delighted to share your experiences by mentoring others, either on a one-on-one basis, or in small groups.

We love to hear your feedback on what works, and what doesn’t, so please do keep sharing with us, and we’ll do our best to evolve and grow alongside you.

On a personal note, the evolution of PROTAGION has very definitely been an exciting ride so far, and I’m learning so many new things. So radically different each day, and extremely challenging – in a good way. Onwards and upwards...

We at PROTAGION find our engagements with you uplifting and we draw our inspiration from helping you to achieve your personal best, whether via a quick adjustment or a longer-term grand plan. Where improvement is sustained and the outcomes are long-term, this is the ultimate reward for us.

We’re loving learning and growing our business while supporting you to learn and grow. Thank you for being a part of it. Please do share your personal experiences with us.