Since the collapse of the agile industrial complex, I’ve been wondering what new direction my life should take. It involved a lot of exploration.
Pivoting to AI? Coaching? Consulting? Writing? Drawing? Cooking? Joining advisory boards? Building a multi-agent system architecture?
If you’ve been reading my newsletter this past year, you've probably noticed my soul-searching. I was quite open about it. Figuring out the best match between what you love doing and what the market wants to pay for can be hard and is best done in public. You never know which person in your network is going to hand you that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Earlier this year, I asked an experienced board member if it made sense applying for gigs and positions that may not be the best fit. “Absolutely,“ she said. “Because it’s a way to get you on a recruiter’s radar. Once they understand you and your qualifications, they may realize there’s a better opportunity for you elsewhere.“
And that’s exactly what happened.
A few months ago, I applied for a gig at a local school for which I was clearly somewhat overqualified. But I liked the idea of having a job nearby. No commutes. No more traveling. Count me in!
However, the recruiting agent who handled the job opening said, “This job doesn’t suit you. However, I have another client who could use someone like you, but it’s a much heavier job. And it’s even closer to your home. There is no open vacancy yet. But would you be interested in a coffee with their CIO?“
I said, “Yeah. Duh.”
Long story short … Yesterday, I signed an agreement with Erasmus University Medical Center as the new Transition Manager at the Information & Technology department, helping them introduce and develop a new operating model that, hopefully, will chart a path into the age of AI. It’s a near full-time gig for one or two years.
“Once they understand you and your qualifications, they may realize there’s a better opportunity for you elsewhere.”
I find it incredibly exciting because it means I get a chance to apply everything I learned these past twenty years at the largest medical center in the Netherlands, tied to a university that ranks among the global top 100.
And it’s a ten-minute walk from my house.
I want to give this new gig my full attention, which means I’m pausing most of my other business activities, including this publication. It has served its function as my tool for thinking out loud, experimenting with AI, and exploring a wide landscape of opportunities. The exploration phase is done. Now I need to focus.
Thanks for reading.
I’ll be back … someday.
Jurgen, Solo Chief.
P.S. I paused all paid subscriptions.
Hey Jurgen, I'm so excited to hear that you're embarking on this new life!
You've been a great explorer and very impactful in my life, and I appreciate your "refusal to fit in" or "settle". I have had many lives, and although they seem very different in other people's eyes, they feel coherent and part of the same exploration from my perspective.
You embrace change and keep finding new ways to express yourself. This is just another round for you. Hopefully a very enjoyable one. And I wish this next cycle allows you to integrate a lot of the learnings and find their grounding.
We communicate more with our actions than our words. This newsletter will be silent for a while, maybe forever, but silence makes sound all the more special and meaningful. Your voice and your words will stay with us! And our support and appreciation will go with you!
Congrats Jurgen! Awesome you're making the plunge. They are super lucky to have you.