Alan Barnes

Claude can check my emails and calendar, so can I

The courage to change direction is often more valuable than the ability to persist. Your past effort built who you are today, but it doesn’t dictate where you go next. Read my full thoughts on letting go and making your smartest career move yet:👉 generalistalan.substack.com/p/the-rugby-ba…

When changing direction, don't try to master every new skill. Ask yourself: Which skills genuinely unlock opportunity, and which are just nice to have? Instead of asking HOW you learn everything, ask WHO already does it brilliantly. Focus on your unique value.

The biggest lie we tell ourselves: "I’ve invested too much to start again. I can't just throw all that away." Here's the truth: Your skills rarely disappear. They transfer.

Just because you’ve spent years getting good at something doesn’t mean you should keep doing it. We often fail to realise that the 'sunk cost fallacy' traps us in unfulfilling careers. Your past investment shouldn't dictate your future direction.

I used to break windows with a rugby ball because I refused to quit Now, I see people doing the exact same thing with their careers If you're terrified of "starting from zero", I wrote this for you. Read why letting go is the smartest move you can make 👉 generalistalan.substack.com/p/the-rugby-ba…

Thinking of a career pivot but terrified of starting from scratch? Here’s the truth: you aren't starting from zero. You're starting from experience. All those skills are transferable Just because you’ve spent years getting good at something doesn’t mean you must keep doing it

The most dangerous question you can ask about your career: "Have I invested too much to quit?" The question you should be asking: "If I were starting today, knowing what I know now, would I choose this path again?" Your past investment shouldn't dictate your future.

Just because you’ve already kicked the ball once doesn’t mean you should keep aiming at the same window. Sometimes the smartest move is to stop, reassess, and aim somewhere completely different Read more 👉 generalistalan.substack.com/p/the-rugby-ba…

Pivoting, especially in midlife, feels irresponsible. But here’s the twist: your skills don't disappear. They transfer.

As a kid, I was practising my drop kicks and sent a rugby ball straight through our kitchen window. Two weeks later? I did it again. It’s a funny memory, but it perfectly captures a trap that trips up a lot of smart people in their careers: the sunk cost fallacy. 🧵 1/5

The courage to change direction is often far more valuable than the ability to blindly persist. Read my full thoughts on the sunk cost fallacy, career pivots, and the lesson of the rugby ball here:👉 generalistalan.substack.com/p/the-rugby-ba…

Stop trying to master every new skill before you make a career move. Instead of asking "How do I learn this?", start asking "Who already does this brilliantly?" Focus your finite time on the skills that actually unlock opportunity. Delegate the rest.

The biggest trap in a midlife career pivot? The sunk cost fallacy. We ask: "Have I invested too much to quit?" Instead, realise this: "If I was starting today, knowing what I know now, would I choose this path again?" If the answer is no, it's time to change direction.

Just because you have spent years getting good at something does not mean you should keep doing it. The courage to change direction is often far more valuable than the ability to persist. Letting go might be the smartest move you make. Read why here: generalistalan.substack.com/p/the-rugby-ba…

You do not need to master every new skill to change your career path. Focus only on the skills that genuinely unlock opportunity. For everything else, ask "Who, not How." Find the people who excel where you do not. Your time is finite, so leverage the expertise of others.

Stop asking if you have invested too much to quit. Instead, ask yourself: "If I were starting today, knowing what I know now, would I choose this path again?" If the answer is no, pay attention.

The Sunk Cost Fallacy is the ultimate career trap for smart people. We tell ourselves we have spent too many years in an industry to quit now. But staying the course just to justify your past effort is a mistake. Your past investment should not dictate your future direction.