Transition

“Change is good” is a phrase I’ve heard used throughout my career, usually sarcastically. Yes, change can be exciting, but it can also be scary. And sometimes both at the same time. We humans have a love-hate relationship with change.

Arrivals, departures, anniversaries, births, marriages and deaths. They tend to arrive in batches, challenging us to process conflicting emotions all at the same time. It will be a while before ChatGPT manages this as gracefully and efficiently as the remarkable human brain.

When it became clear that my job at HomeServe was coming to an end, the usual trickle of calls started coming in about potential new roles. I picked holes in them all and couldn’t get excited. Then, over Christmas, with room in my head to think, in popped the idea of going freelance. Calliope Communications was born over lunch just around the corner from Le Bon Marché department store in Paris.

Every moment I spent thinking about my new adventure brought a glint to my eye and a smile to my face. Which was how I knew that in this case, change was good.

I’m planning to start small, working in my new guise for my old employer while I find my feet. Next, I’ll network: I know it won’t be long before the lure of City work reels me back in. I’ve promised to slow down and give myself space to think ... and catch trains without having to run. With age comes wisdom. If I’d kept careering around and dividing my life into 20 minute intervals, Calliope would never have seen the light of day.

Wish me luck!