I hope this note finds you and your families doing well.
This is a time of year when I like to take stock of what I am thankful for. As I reflect this year I give thanks for all of you - my network. I was overwhelmed with the response to my news. Literally hundreds reaching out through email, various social channels (Facebook messenger, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, …), text messages, and phone calls setting 1:1 personal meetings. If I failed to get back to you for some reason I apologize; all those tools are great for connecting - not so good at organizing and keeping track of who's been replied-to and who has not.
I was also humbled by the lengths people went to (and continue to go to) to help me find my next role. Please do keep the suggestions and introductions coming. You never know which one will be "the right one". I have become convinced my next role will be found through my network and not likely through job postings - so I have been spending a lot of energy engaging with and expanding my network.
It has now been almost two months exactly since I received the news that my position at 3M was being eliminated. That first month was a whirlwind largely spent sorting through the job separation details, getting a plan together for finances and health insurance, really working on a plan for this next phase. Month two has been invested in intentionally expanding my network and doing a "listening tour". I have had many conversations to try and sort out what might be "the next thing" for me. I see my future state being a combination of a few kinds of roles - and this will continue to evolve as opportunities reveal themselves. One of the first things people ask me when we meet is, "What do I want to do?".
Here is my current thinking:
- Full-time roles - VP Marketing, CMO, or Chief Digital Officer (CDO) - I believe this to be my end goal but have to say a lot of people I engage with try to convince me a better (happier) option is consulting and fractional work. And that consulting or fractional work could lead to a full-time role as well if there's a company that turns out to be a great fit.
- Fractional roles - it would appear there are a lot of companies that need a 25% CMO or CDO to act as a general contractor to build out a strategic digital marketing plan, align organizations, build processes, implement technology and then optimize; but they're only able to support a fractional commitment due to organizational size.
- Consulting - similar, I suppose, to the fractional role but really focused on a specific deliverable wherein I can act as another set of hands, augmenting the current team and support the existing CMO/CDO.
- Advisory/board roles - it would be excellent to identify a few companies to become an advisor or board member for. Coming out of COVID many companies realize simply having a website and a CRM is not sufficient to compete in a digital world and are looking for answers.
I have put together a Venn diagram to highlight my experience to hopefully narrow down the field for opportunity targeting. As an aside - it is an out-of-body experience to think through a product-market fit exercise where you are the product.
If you have any feedback or suggestions on above--or any opportunities to pass on--please reach out
As always, if there is ever anything I can do for you - do not hesitate to connect.
With thanks,
Rob
Topics for Future Updates:
- Right Management experience
- "My search approach" - may be a helpful roadmap for others
- Books I have read - 4-hour Work Week, Building a Second Brain, Never Search Alone
- Stoicism
- New business ideas / Energy into starting my own business (more on that in a future update)
- Calendly as a productivity tool
- Building a Second digital brain
- Personal CRM
- Robfredsmith.com
- Ouvu - the new business card
- Fractional-Digital.com
- I have learned a lot about the digital executive search landscape - happy to share if you're interested
