For the first time in my career, I do not know what the future hold, I do not know what I will end up doing this time in 6 months, a year, 2 years. Not just where I will be working, but both IF I am working, and exactly WHAT I will be working as. And this scares me, a LOT. But for me, I may have a solution: The Forrest Gump approach.
This is a reference to the masterpiece of filmmaking, Forrest Gump, the synopsis of which is:
The film follows several decades in the life of a slow-witted yet kindhearted Alabama man named Forrest Gump1 (played by Tom Hanks) and his experiences in the 20th-century2
One of the key repeated events for the protagonist is his lack of a plan to do most things (except for getting the girl, and possibly Bubba Gump shrimping). He is offered a role and he just says ‘OK’, gets on and dives right into it and becomes the best he can be at doing that. He doesn’t have a plan but he embraces the opportunity, and it takes him in unexpected directions.
It is fiction, it is a feel-good film, sure. But this notion of exploring new opportunities without a plan has always stuck with me.
In the last couple of years (writing this February 2024), plans for most people have changed dramatically. From the events and fallout of the global pandemic, wars and economic downturns and leading into the great redundancy period, nothing is what I thought it would be or where I thought I would be now. I also have no idea what is coming next.
The future for the wider product manager role has been uncertain for some time now, with criticism and new definitions, coupled with it being an easy target to reduce headcount on for many businesses (at least in the short team).
For Product Operations, the demand for this strategic & supporting role shows signs of stalling. Roles are few, definitions are lax and also vary between job description to interview & real needs, often really wanting or needing a project manager.
Highlights of my recent career:
Product Manager for around 10 years in the education sector
Exited from a company during the height of the pandemic
Co-founded 2 startups part-time
Joined a business services company managing the product team, out of Spain
Spun up this thing called Product Operations
Shut down one start up, exited the other
Joined a cyber security company to rebuild their Product Ops function, out of the US/Germany
Made redundant
Freelance consultancy since for businesses across the spectrum
My future career as a linear path from role to role, promotion to promotion, on a single track and job type such as I have to date, is at best, bumpy, and my enthusiasm, jaded.
I do not know what will come next, despite my desire to continue my good work in Product Operations. The choice may not be mine.
And so, the Forrest Gump approach. I am exploring new options I had not considered previously, still largely (yet not exclusively) in the product space, but for projects and organisations, sectors and locales, ranks and terms I would never have considered. Taking the time to connect with others, explore opportunities with them whatever their needs.
I am providing training courses again after 15 years, coaching long term, creating content (Like this site), speaking on stage - which is bloody brilliant.
I’ve build communities like the Product Mind Community and supporting others like The Female Product Lead. I’m attending more events that ever before and networking left right and centre - often now meeting familiar faces rather than always new ones.
I’m advising a number of businesses based on both my experiences and also my PR skills in brand building - something I’ve never formally done, I just talk a lot! This covers both technical aspects such as product management and operations, as well as mental health & wellbeing topics.
None of this was specifically in the plan… The plan is well and truly in the bin. And while necessity dictates I will likely need to return to a full time role quickly, I have a solid foundation to continue to product to the wider market on all thing Product Ops, and redundancy for if or when I next find myself discarded professionally.
What do you think of the Forrest Gump career approach?
Graham
Forrest Gump rights belong to Paramount Pictures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Gump