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Sep 20Liked by Matt Tillotson

"Maybe the real secret of The Art of the Pivot is this: let its energy take you where it’s meant to go. Don’t fight or try to control the momentum. Use it to propel to you to What’s Next." Clearly you are carrying a great deal of wisdom with you as you pivot Matt. And it seems wise that you note this thing ain't over yet. You get to co-pilot an incredible remaining cohort and who knows what will come out of that?

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Thanks -- we shall find out, Rick!

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Thanks for sharing, Matt! My life was certainly changed by Write of Passage and I'm thankful to have gotten to it before the shutdown. I'm also mourning the loss. If you're really in the heat of transition (which it sounds like you may be in a couple months after the cohort) you may enjoy Jerry Colonna's work (he's an executive coach and works with many folks at a similar age and stage as you). He has a book called Reboot. Wishing you the best in this phase and here for you however I can be. I appreciate all you did to make WoP the success it is/was.

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Thank you Jeremy -- I appreciate the book suggestion. I'll check it out!

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Thank you for a very thoughtful, honest, well structured piece Matt with lots of actionable information. As you write, all professional athletes face the same challenge / opportunity you're writing about, as do millions of military people, who often retire from the military in their forties.

I have no doubt the next phase of your career and life will be even more fulfilling and exciting than your current role. I do share your feelings about the lost opportunity to help tens of thousands of Write of Passage students who, now that Write of Passage is closing, will never take the course and experience their own version of the manifold benefits we've all experienced.

That blighted opportunity to help others transform their lives and realize their talents is also what has stayed with me since the announcement. It really sticks in my craw.

So, athough I can't claim to be objective--because I am absolutely not!--I do feel you're closing in on the right area to find your next role in this section:

"There’s another piece I will struggle with for a long time. I have people change their lives over and over, using the course as a fulcrum to launch themselves into new realities. Write of Passage helps facilitate breakthroughs, career pivots, creates friendships, and gives space so people find the courage and tools to say what they need to say.

It almost feels wrong to shut that down.

You might find that ridiculous, and that’s ok. But I can’t help thinking about who won’t have their lives changed now in Cohort 14, or Cohort 32.

I may never quite make peace with that.

And maybe I shouldn’t.

Maybe that’s the new seed that’s trying to spring up. To keep helping people help themselves, to realize they can transform their lives, either their entire world or some small but important corner of it."

Go for it!

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Thank you Chris. Insightful as always.

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Beautiful reflection

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Sep 21·edited Sep 21Liked by Matt Tillotson

Matt - I appreciate you sharing all this. It helps to make others feel less alone who are going through something similar. I am going through a career transition myself, trying to figure out what's next.

Putting yourself out there, asking well, sharing openly, might open doors you never would have expected. I'm confident that something will come out of this. There will still be writers needing to find their voice, so perhaps there's a way to take the learnings from Write of Passage and apply them in a different way, even if it has to look different.

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Thanks for those kind words, Chris. Much appreciated.

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…i am sure whatever magic you and the world have for each other next it will be transformative and glorious…here’s to one last rodeo until the start of a other season…and yes, i would be a clown inside of a barrel during this analogy…

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OK, but the smartest, most insightful clown-in-a-barrel the world has ever seen ...

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Love the insights you shared from this book and your experiences. It’s been an amazing ride and an honor to be a part of the journey with you.

This final cohort feels a bit like my fave band is having their last tour. And it’s going to be the best one yet!

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That's a good analogy. The Farewell Tour (except we won't do five rounds of Farewell Tours).

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Thanks for sharing this experience and the book! I went through a similar situation in May 2020 when the world shut down for the pandemic. My 22 year career as a physical therapist and practice director ended abruptly when I lost my job. It took 11 months to pivot into my current career, but I grew a lot during that time. I leaned into my freelance writing and consulting while I figured out the next path. The experience also made me realize how much of my identity was tied to being a physical therapist. It helped me redefine my identity as a multifaceted person with an unusual mix of skills and interests. Wishing you the best during this phase of life! Feel free to reach out if I can help.

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