Learning, Growing
Like most of us, I’m looking forward to the current calendar becoming another year older. We all have our personal stories about what made 2020 memorable (or forgettable).. While there is much I could share personally about this year, johnlkennedy.com is essentially about the professional side of my life and so will keep the focus there.
After departing Conduent last year, my expectation was that another full-time CMO role at a Fortune 500 or 1000 company would be waiting for me. In fact, I had several engagements right out of the gate which did not materialize into offers.Then the pandemic hit – which transformed the way to look for positions and the positions that were available. Many positions were being eliminated as companies were cutting costs. I’d been pursuing a range of scenarios: 1) full-time CMO, 2) position at major consulting firm, and 3) joining an agency as a “client-side” advocate and business development expert. In addition to my job-search, I’d gotten involved with a small start-up (Trendalyze) which gave me some exposure to the start-up world. After 9 months of working with the founder, we both decided that I was not the right fit for what he needed for his company. .
As conversations around full-time leads slowed, I began testing the idea of going out on my own. After 30 years of collecting a paycheck, this would be a new adventure. But throughout my career, I’d always run to “gnarly challenges”. This would be my next one. Several former colleagues and friends provided advice and input as I considered this move. They have also been a source of prospective clients. I was introduced to my first client in May and they hired me in September. Since then I’ve closed on two additional ones.
In future blog posts, I’ll share learnings from this next chapter of my professional career. One take-away right off the bat — is that it's helped me appreciate all that I've learned after having worked in packaged goods, personal computers, two tours of Asia, helped lead marketing at IBM, participate in a major corporate separation, spin-off, IPO and launch of a new Fortune 500 company. I’ve had the chance to interact with hundreds of professionals all over the world — fellow employees, agency partners, channel partners, consultants. All of these experiences have accumulated into a body of knowledge that I can share to help other companies grow and mature. It is interesting work. There has been a lot to learn about the administrative side of running a buisness but persistence and some trial and error are good teachers I continue entertain and follow-up full-time leads as they emerge. But will follow the door that is opening here and push to see the degree to which it can scale. Until next time.