So, Now What?

One thing you can count on, is that everything changes – sometimes overnight. Recently, in the name of “beautification”, all the roadside stalls have been torn down. To some, these rickety structures were a blight that cluttered the city, but to owners, they represented everything – school fees, rent, and the ability to put food on the table. A means though which many people were afforded the dignity of an honest day’s work, with the assurance of money at the end of a long and hard day. But just like that, they’re gone.

However, it’s not just informal businesses feeling the pinch. In corporate spaces, many companies are downsizing, restructuring, or quietly closing their doors. Careers that once felt stable, are shifting. And retirement, whether planned or forced is fast approaching, much earlier than expected. Across the board, we’re all wondering, “What’s next?”

This question hit me like a tonne of bricks during the COVID-19 lockdown. For the first time in years, my life (and everyone else’s) hit pause. There were no clients to placate, no deadlines dictating my time, and no deals to chase. Boredom became depression and depression became listlessness. Those long and quiet days left me no choice but to listen to my loud thoughts, and address uncomfortable questions about the life that I had built for myself. What did I really want out of life? What was I good at? And more importantly, what could sustain me, both financially and emotionally?

Pivoting is a deeply humbling and worthwhile experience. Having re-examined my life and my priorities, I came to a surprising conclusion. In my youth, I had dreams of being a writer and author. The dream hadn’t died per se, but the necessities of life had long since put me on a different path. With nothing left to lose, I took a couple of online writing courses. When lockdown ended, I made a choice that felt both ridiculous and necessary. I reached out to someone whose writing I admired, asked them to mentor me, and became one of the oldest interns ever. Within a few months, I was being paid to do two things that I loved – writing and travelling. I bore witness to, and told stories of resilience and wonder. Within them, I found gratitude for all that I have in my life, and perspective that continues to inspire me to do and be better.

If you’re standing at a crossroads in life, whether due to retirement or circumstance, here are three concrete steps to take:

  1. Conduct a self-inventory. Audit your skills, knowledge, and tolerance. If you are a retiree (or old school), your lived experience is an asset and there’s always a market for wisdom that has weathered multiple storms. If you’re still young, energy and time are in your favour. Nevertheless, ask yourself: What are you good at? What do you love doing?

  2. Identify the pain points in your community (both physical and digital). What do people complain about? What services do they wish were readily available or accessible? What problem could you solve for ten people tomorrow if you weren't afraid of starting and failing?

  3. Lower the cost of failure. We live in a digital age; you no longer need to rent space to start a business. Use social media to test your products and services. At the start, offer your services for free to a chosen few, then at cost for profit. The feedback loop is faster and cheaper.

I cannot take credit for this idea, the Japanese call this intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for – Ikigai (meaning: life's purpose). I am still walking this path, some days in a confident strut, and others with a palpitating heart and wobbly knees. But I am still here, still showing up and putting one foot in front of the other.


So, what’s next for you? Share your thoughts here in the comments, or DM me – @KagoTMD on TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn. I really want to know.

If you're interested in watching full video essays of this and other topics I've discussed here, visit and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Let's build your future, together.

Image courtesy of FreePik

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