Repeat after me – I am not my job! Not everyone can say that – regardless of where or how you work. Having grown up on a farm, I know that the average life expectancy of a farmer is about 5 years after they retire. It is their identity, as it is for many construction workers, foresters, mechanics, etc. They also have among the highest suicide rates among non-uniformed workers. Suicide rates have gone up approximately 33% in the last 25 years. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7250a2.htm
That sense of job identity is even stronger among military and first responders. Roughly 1% of all suicides are first responders, and almost 14% are military. You would think we would be better at preventing this. Military and first responder careers are pretty predictable, and for many, there isn’t an equivalent civilian position to transition into. For those who identify too closely with their job, the transition can be difficult if not impossible.
A New Type of Job Disruption
Over the next few years, a whole new group of workers is going to find themselves transitioning out of jobs unexpectedly. Now these aren’t going to just be layoffs. These are going to be the elimination of whole job classes. Taxi drivers, accountants and tax preparers, programmers, truck drivers, radiologists, etc., are likely to be dramatically changed from what we know today. Some people will make the transition to whatever comes next; others will not. Years ago, I worked on a program to retrain button workers who lost their jobs when the business moved overseas. While that might seem like an extreme niche reference, it’s a glimpse of the iceberg that is about to hit us.
This time it’s likely to be more stressful, because workers don’t understand the problem. It’s not a matter of a factory moving to another state or country. The way we are working is changing. Most CEOs don’t even understand the problem. Many companies are doing layoffs ahead of time, thinking AI will bring cost savings. This is generally flawed logic. The companies that are successful are the ones that are looking at AI as part of a growth strategy, not to replace workers.
For those people who don’t work for enlightened companies, many are going to see their career path go up in smoke thanks to perceptions about AI. Job loss alone is stressful. When you don’t have a path forward, it is even more stressful. And getting to the mental point of “I am not my job” can be a bridge too far for many people.
Looking at Things Differently
As someone who has been at ground zero for various economic bubbles bursting during the past 40 years, I’ve pivoted many times. I am not my job. Looking back at 1986, my career path doesn’t make a lot of sense. But looking backwards, there are common themes and threads that tie it all together. Seeing that in their own lives is going to be important for many people whose careers end. You are not your job. It might take a few times to hear that before it starts to sink in. So I will say it again – you are not your job.
Once you get to the point where you might start to think you are not your job, the next logical follow-up is what are you? This can be almost as scary for most people. We’re just out of practice. Ask a four-year-old to be a wizard, a raccoon, or a firetruck, and they will transform in an instant. Those are silly examples, but can you be a chef, a teacher, an artist, a carpenter, a writer, etc., probably! Find what works for you. It might take a little time, but everyone has the potential for a second act. It might just take a little imagination. One of my favorite lines from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is when Ferris’s girlfriend asks Cameron what he thinks Ferris is going to do. “He’s going to be a fry cook on Venus”. It doesn’t get more out of the box than that. The changes that AI brings may actually make some crazy new job descriptions. Maybe you will be the first of something.
Letting Go of the Past
Getting to that point requires letting go of your association with what came before. This is not an easy task for most adults. We become invested in our past, and often lose sight of the future. Some of the jobs in the future are likely to include AI Prompt Engineer, Carbon Accountant, Circular Economy Designer, Longevity Coach, Metaverse Architect, Digital Wellness Counselor, etc. If you find yourself coming to the end of one road, I guarantee there is another one waiting. You just may have to build it. You are not your job. It might take a while to figure out, but the experts are out there. Just ask someone who knows they can be anything – even if they are four.
