Your Career Journey
Who Are You Without Your Job Title? Redundancy, Identity & Redefining Success
What happens when the career you’ve spent decades building suddenly ends, and you realise just how much of your identity was tied to it? Geoff Curtis spent nearly 30 years building a successful career in communications, including reaching Chief Communications Officer level. But when an acquisition led to redundancy, he didn’t just lose his job. He lost the title, structure and sense of relevance that had shaped much of his adult life. In our conversation, Geoff talks openly about what came next: the emotional impact of redundancy, his tendency to use busyness as a way of avoiding difficult emotions, and the challenge of figuring out who you are when the professional identity you’ve relied on is no longer there. We talk about navigating career transition after decades of professional success, the fear of becoming irrelevant, starting again without having a perfectly formed plan, and Geoff’s experience of writing vulnerably about the patterns he began to recognise in his own life. We also explore how his definition of success is changing, from achievement, status and professional recognition towards values, joy and being more present. If you’ve experienced redundancy, reached a career crossroads, or simply found yourself questioning how much of your identity and self-worth is wrapped up in what you do, this is a thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation about what happens when the old measures of career success no longer quite work. To connect with Geoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycurtis/ Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with: Gain clarity on what’s important to you Confidently communicate your value Build a personal brand and a strong network Take a strategic approach to your next move Navigate the job market effectively Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint Explore my coaching programs and free resources: Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ Free Resources: CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call
