Adapting To Career Shifts

When I moved from a law firm to an in-house role, I thought I was ready. I wasn’t. The shift was more than just a change in job scope - it was a change in mindset, dynamics, and even how legal advice was received. Looking back, these are 4 things I really wish someone had told me: 1. You won’t always be seen as the expert. In private practice, clients come to you, pay you, and usually listen. In-house, legal is often viewed as a cost centre. Some stakeholders loop you in late or push past your advice altogether. I had to learn how to influence without authority - something no one teaches you at the start. (To be fair, I’ve also seen empowered legal teams. But that trust is earned, not assumed.) 2. Your boss matters more than your numbers. In a firm, if you bill well and get results, you’re solid. In-house, your direct manager controls your visibility, the projects you get, and sometimes even how you’re perceived across the company. A good boss can open doors. A bad one can quietly stall your growth. It’s a different game. 3. You’ll have to dig for the facts. Law firm clients usually come prepared: here’s the issue, here’s the contract, here’s the deadline. In-house, it’s often: “Something’s off, can you look into it?” You’ll deal with unclear scopes, missing context, or stakeholders who don’t even know what the legal risk is. Fact-finding becomes a big part of your value. 4. You need to market yourself - as a business partner. This was a tough one. I thought doing great legal work was enough. But to be seen as more than a gatekeeper, I had to shift how I communicated. Instead of saying “we can’t,” I had to start with “here’s how we can - with guardrails.” Commercial awareness became just as important as legal soundness. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all story - every in-house journey is different. But if you’ve made the switch too, I’d love to hear: What do you wish someone had told you?

I have been freelancing for 3 years and here is the complete truth about it, without romanticising it! Sure, the idea of "being your own boss", working from the comfort of your own home, and having the flexibility to choose your own hours can be very liberating but the all that glitters is not gold! From the lack of stability and job security to the never ending pressure to find new clients - freelancing is not all rainbows and butterflies. Here are the harsh realities of being a freelancer which you should consider: - No steady pay-check: Income as a freelancer, can vary greatly from month to month. This makes it extremely difficult to plan for the future. I have had months of making INR 2 lacs and then INR 15,000, so you need to be ready with a finance cushion in case things go south. - Cycle of finding new clients: As a freelancer you need to be on your toes - networking and finding new clients all day every day. A project can last anywhere from 1-6 months and hence you need to manage your workflow in a way that you don't overwhelm yourself with work but also have enough work to sustain yourself. - Lack of work life balance: When you are your own boss - it is difficult to get track and meet deadlines because you are a wonderful boss but a sloppy employee. There's also the risk of overworking oneself and burning out, as you often work in a niche you enjoy so separating work and play often doesn't happen. All in all - while the freedom and flexibility of freelancing can be alluring, it's important to weigh the pros and cons before making the decision to become a freelancer. What are some of the challenges you have faced working for yourself? Let me know in the comments below! #freelancingtips #freelancinglife #linkedingrowth #linkedincreator

Is a full-time career in Web3 just for techies? One question that keeps sliding into my DMs is: "Diego, how can I transition my career into Web3 if I don't know a line of code?". Listen up, I'm living proof you don't need to be a coder to thrive in this space. My jam? Branding and Digital Marketing. Web3 is the Wild West of opportunities where you don't need a tech badge to be a sheriff. Coders and devs, they're the gold miners, no doubt. But hey, even in the Wild West, you needed saloon owners, storytellers, and lawmakers, right? (and JPEG designers… 😅 ) Web3 is a playground where your unique skills can shine, whether you're a wordsmith, a people person, or a business-big-brain-can-sell-anything type of person. Here's something I want you to reflect on: “What's exciting about Web3 is the possibilities it's opening up for people living outside major cities. You can make it in fashion without being in Milan, crush it in tech without being in Silicon Valley, and make your mark in art without being in Paris. To me, the real power of Web3 is the power of the decentralization of opportunities.” – Diego Borgo So you're still wondering how to jump into Web3 without being a coder? No worries, Mr. Pink Beanie got some ideas for you. Here's a quick list of roles that don't require you to speak "Solidity" or "Python": 1️⃣ Marketing and Strategy: You're the architect, laying out the blueprint for how a Web3 project gains traction and scales. 2️⃣ Lawyer: You're the rule-maker and the peacekeeper, ensuring that the project operates within the legal frameworks of this new frontier. 3️⃣ Finance: You're the numbers guru, making sure the project is not just innovative but also financially sustainable. 4️⃣ Community manager: You're the vibe curator, the one who sets the tone and keeps the community engaged. It's more than just moderating; it's about creating a culture. 5️⃣ Content creator : If you can tell a story, you can be the voice that guides newcomers into the Web3 space. Your words can be the map that helps others navigate this new world. 6️⃣ Business developer: You're the connector, the one who brings partnerships to life. Your role is crucial in scaling any Web3 project. 7️⃣ UX/UI designer: Design is universal. Your skills can make a Web3 platform not just functional but also enjoyable to use. What else would you add to this list? LFGrow #RightClickSaveAs

Age is just a number when it comes to chasing your dreams. Your best chapter might be ahead of you. Here's some examples to show it is never too late to start a new chapter: • 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 - Started KFC at 62 after multiple failed businesses • 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 - Published her first Little House book at 64 • 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴 - Entered fashion design at 40, built empire after 50 • 𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗿𝗼𝗰 - Founded McDonald's franchise at 52 • 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 (𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀) - Began painting seriously at 78 Here's how REINVENTING after 50 can work (from coaching hundreds of clients) 𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 • Decades of experience help you spot opportunities others miss • You know your strengths and can leverage them better • Past failures become valuable lessons, not roadblocks • Better judgment in partnerships and business decisions    𝟮. 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 • Remote work removes age bias from hiring (video calls mean nobody sees your grey hair!) • Online platforms let you start businesses with low overhead • Social media gives direct access to customers worldwide • Gig economy offers flexible ways to test new paths    𝟯. 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 • Start as a side project while keeping your day job • Test ideas with minimal investment before going all-in (do a low-cost probe - test and learn) • Build skills gradually through online courses and workshops (I planned 4 years ahead before I transitioned) • Transition slowly to reduce financial risk    𝟰. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 • Professional networks you've built over decades • Mentorship programs specifically for career changers • Online communities of people making similar transitions • Family support often stronger when kids are grown 𝟱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 • No more climbing ladders for other people - build something that excites you • Freedom to say no to toxic clients and bad opportunities (assuming you got mortgage paid off) • Work with people you actually like instead of just tolerating • Finally pursue that thing you've been curious about for 20 years If this speaks to you, here's some words of encouragement: You're not starting over - you're starting ahead. With life expectancy trending toward 100 years, you potentially have 40+ productive years left. That's longer than most people's entire first career. You have something no 25-year-old has: wisdom earned through experience, networks built over decades, and the clarity that only comes with time. And the best part, you can choose to slow down or accelerate. Start building your next chapter now so you have a smooth transition. (I call this - Build your parachute for a soft landing) What will you start today? Follow Adeline Tiah for stories on reinvention and future of work. Image credit: Ideogram

This is by far the number one question I’ve been asked since the rise of AI: How do I future-proof my career in these uncertain times? It’s a question I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately, particularly as industries and technologies evolve at an unprecedented pace. My recommendation is simple. Look at how your industry is pivoting. Figure out the new trajectory. Then assess your relevance in term of skillset and keep focusing on developing skills that are needed to fill the gap between the old and the new trajectory. Are the skills you’re developing aligned with where your organization is heading? If not, it might be time to rethink your strategy. And clearly, if your current company is not evolving quickly enough, or not reacting to technological disruption, you might find yourself in a career trap that could leave you unmarketable within a few years time. That's how fast things are going. So ,don’t wait for the perfect moment—be proactive in shaping your next move. Building career resilience today isn’t just about holding onto your job—it’s about positioning yourself for where your industry is going. Organizations are adapting fast, and so should you. Are you positioning yourself for the change, or letting it pass you by? #CareerResilience #Leadership #FutureOfWork #SkillDevelopment https://lnkd.in/eMUbkkxe

When I returned from Switzerland, I made a costly mistake: I resisted change. While the world raced ahead with new tech and digital transformation, I clung to "the way things were." The result? I fell behind. Hard. But here's the truth that changed everything: The rules of work aren't just changing—they're being completely rewritten. Here's what you need to know: • The divide is stark: AI-skilled workers earn up to 53% 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 in the same roles • The crisis deepens: 69% 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 can't find AI talent while planning to eliminate traditional jobs • The threat is immediate: 375 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 must switch careers by 2030 due to AI displacement But here's the good news—you can choose your path. 3 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆: 1. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 - Stop viewing AI as competition - Start using it as your career accelerator 2. 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗵𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 - Combine your domain expertise with tech fluency - Create value AI alone cannot replicate 3. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁 - Invest in continuous learning - Build your AI literacy, even if it's uncomfortable The cost of resistance? I lived it. The reward for adaptation? I'm living it now. Don't let fear of change hold you back like it once did me. The future belongs to the adaptable. Are you ready to evolve? Want the full story?  Read my latest piece: "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗜 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿" Follow me for daily insights on navigating the AI revolution. Repost to help others future-proof their careers.

You're lying awake at 3am wondering if they're quietly planning to push you out, if you'll just fade into irrelevance, or if there's actually a meaningful next chapter - and almost nobody talks about this anxiety openly. Here's what most miss: you have way more control over this transition than you think. But you need to stop waiting for them to decide your fate and start architecting your own succession. Three strategic moves to make now: 1. Create your own timeline - Don't wait for the severance conversation. Present a three-year transition plan where you mentor your replacement while handling strategic initiatives only you can execute. You're setting terms, not reacting. 2. Build your exit ramp while you have leverage - Start consulting on the side, pursue board positions, teach. Create multiple income streams before you need them as backup. Real security comes from options, not one paycheck. 3. Reposition as institutional memory keeper - Document everything valuable you know. Position yourself as the bridge between what's worked historically and what needs to happen next. Make yourself indispensable in a fundamentally different way. Professionals who thrive in later career years don't wait for retirement to find them. They don't get pushed out because they proactively planned their own elegant exit. You spent decades building expertise. Now use that same strategic thinking to design your succession instead of allowing others to design it for you. Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights: https://vist.ly/4g8ii #careerafter50 #careertransition #jobsover50 #over50career #retirementplanning #latercareer #succession #careerafter60 #workingafter50 #careerstrategy

I'm not brave. Even though many people think I am. An impression that arises because of my decision to quit law after almost a decade to help others build their LinkedIn personal brand + run the So This Is My Why Podcast). The path seems strange. Why would a lawyer suddenly do.... branding & podcasting? Isn't it risky? I suppose... it is. But it also isn't. Because you see, I'm not the kind of person who leaps blindly. I like to research, plan, test drive, talk to people, plan & research even more before I pull the plug. The bias to action, the lessons learned from experiment and community built along the way is what ultimately helped me take the leap. A leap that felt natural. Almost 100% risk free. And which I still do not regret. So to those wondering how they can jump from a 9-5 job to building the career of 'their dreams', here's my humble 2 cents: 1️⃣ 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 It's not enough for you to say, 'I've always loved art as a child.' Go further. What does that 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯? Do you want to become a full-time artist? Is there anyone whose career you wish to emulate? You need a North Star to head towards (but be open to circumstances changing). 2️⃣ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 Build a portfolio that fits the kind of career that 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞. It's like Amazon's famous working backwards method (which I learned while still in corporate): When developing a new product, the team imagines how the product is ready to shop & drafts a press release announcing its availability. It becomes a useful gut-check on the product's viability & helps Amazon stay customer centric. So. If you want to do more than 'pursue your passion' but make it an actual career, you too need to be customer centric. And that starts with building the 'right' kind of portfolio. 3️⃣ 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 Not too sure what you really want to do / whether it's commercially viable? Having a 9-5 job means you get to test drive without worrying about being on the streets. If announcing on LinkedIn that you are offering X services generates 10 leads and 2 conversions... surely that's a sign? 😉 4️⃣ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐞𝐠𝐠 Most people tend to save 6 months' worth before taking the leap, but everyone's circumstances are different. You decide what's best for you. 5️⃣ 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 Make sure people around you know what you intend to do & get advice from those who've done it before. 6️⃣ 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐩 And at some point, you've got to take the risk. You never know. You might never fail. But soar instead. 😉 💌 Want a sneak peek into my life as an entrepreneur & tips on how to build your personal brand? Check out the weekly STIMY newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gvgqYKGu

Freelancing is hard, and if someone tells you they can give you a roadmap to success with their course—run away as fast as you can. 🏃♂️ Just yesterday, I was going through a very long post on Reddit about a popular freelancing coach, who claims that he/she has got it all sorted out and can help you become a millionaire with freelancing. Let me tell you the reality. I started as a freelancer in 2018, bagged some really awesome clients, mostly from India but also a few from US, UK, and Australia. Everything was going fine. I was actually earning a six-figure income (INR) and was working approx. 20-30 hours in a week. But the fear of losing projects was real and there were a lot of uncertainties as well. Sometimes I also had to work during weekends and holidays to complete my projects. Also, I didn't want to limit myself to just writing and freelancing, and so I joined a nice US-based company as a contractual content specialist and started earning more and never looked back. (Although I still work on a couple of side projects and will always do it. Once a freelancer, always a freelancer. 😉 ) Similarly, most people who were freelancing at that time with me opted for different routes. The reasons were different obviously, but just a few only continued their path and they are running their businesses very successfully. But here's the thing—it took us years of experience to reach where we are currently, and most of us didn't take any course to learn freelancing. We actively chose a good skill, learned more about it by practically doing it, and then we chose our ways. And now when I see people selling 10K, 20K courses, I feel discouraged (or frustrated). None of those courses are going to give you a real-time view of the current marketplace. You need to dive deep into the water to learn how to swim. If you still want to pick someone's brain and understand more, ping people who are doing great and have some real work and reviews to prove their worth. I am sure a few people will love to help you out. But please don't get scammed by ads and gimmicks. They are just making their stories successful and not yours. You have the internet, read reviews, and use websites like Reddit and Quora to get the real picture. I know it can feel lonely at first but trust me it does get better with time. Ciao!

Many freelance content writers are underemployed. 😢 Every so often, I interview writers who are desperately seeking a job because they haven't earned enough in recent months. Post-COVID, freelancing appeared attractive for several reasons: * Marketplaces for content writers and other freelance work * Overall boost in the gig economy * Lucrative careers as content creators and influencers * Increased emphasis on being 'digital nomads', travel, and mental health awareness. Many people in traditional jobs quickly moved to freelancing and tried various styles over the last few years. However, reality's different. While the demand for quality content and creators has increased, people don't need subpar freelancers. 🙅♀️ Moreover, AI can generate content with minimal input. For those who have built their brands on basic skill sets, this is a challenge. This trend is particularly concerning in India, where it may lead to issues in workforce management and skilled labor availability in the coming years. At The Wise Idiot we witness these challenges firsthand. Many promising freelancers with 3-4 years of experience often fail to meet our expectations. Their work quality and lack of substantial experience mean that training them is more time-consuming than training freshers. In the last three months, we have tried 34 freelance writers/editors for a big project, hoping to find at least a handful of good writers to work with regularly. Freelancing isn't easy. For young professionals, it becomes even more important to train and prepare for the fluctuating fortunes of such a career path.