Intentions!
The moving finger writes.
It’s that magical time of year again, where my children are exposed to obscure not-so-mainstream Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. Bet you didn't know Rudolph had a sequel! And you're bang on if you think it's not as holly jolly as the original. (A baby gets abducted by a vulture guys. Stuff of nightmares for a 4-year-old.)
Scarring kids for life aside, parents and the rest start formulating their New Year’s resolutions ‘round this time of year too. [Mine for 2025 was to stop reading American news - I sure know how to pick ‘em eh.]
The subconscious though, for many people is a funny thing. Depending on how your career life is going, you may’ve started your unofficial-official ‘resolution’ back at Thanksgiving. Sports on the TV, maybe a team you don’t like or are disengaged from altogether - you pull up LinkedIn and your thumb drifts to the ‘Jobs’ feed icon.
And that’s how it begins. If this has ever happened to you, you know that's the pivotal moment where you've already started fantasizing of turning over a new leaf. Change of scenery. Maybe, a new job doing something different somewhere completely different than your current setup. Or, maybe the same job at a similar organization where you’re hoping to have a better experience.
Boss?
Coworkers?
The day-to-day itself?
Everyone’s got their own tale. Take it from a guy that’s done January-kickoffs 3x now: it’s exactly as exhilarating as you imagine it to be. Change is good for the soul. Stagnation is the devil’s playground - so too, is boredom. If you’re even unconsciously thinkin’ about it, you’re ready for Job # Next-Please.
Recruiters - we often see a surge of applications for our requisitions over the holidays. And, simultaneously end up busting Hiring Manager’ myths that those applicants are jaded with their current roles and not ‘the right fit’ for theirs. If anything, this is an ideal pool of candidates to pull from. Passivity isn’t always the answer. Aggressive job seekers are engaged and ready to have impact. Just, not in their (current) jobs. Lol.
You making the transition over to being a disgruntled employee? Good! Well not good but rest assured, the grass is greener elsewhere.
I often tell people I ‘Goldilocks’ed’ my way to my current ideal state. That first bowl of porridge I tried was too cold, that second was too hot, that third had a toxic work culture [kidding, this is for illustrative effect] - until I found the bowl that was just right. With work/life balance, some of the nicest people I’ve ever worked with and day-to-day fulfillment.
Realizing now: folks are gonna assume there’s some deeper-than-intended metaphor with the whole, family of bears devouring her etc. Okay, bad analogy.
I’ll drop the mic here I guess.
To you and those you love, Happy Holidays. Wishing you the best for 2026.
-Matt
Readings! 🎁
If you're looking for a reason NOT to click LinkedIn’s jobs feed icon this Christmas, while George Bailey sings ‘Buffalo Gals’ and your brother's kids scream in your ear, I've got some Substack recommendations that'd make for some nice phubbing:
Andrew MacDougall has, I think, accurately identified what’s wrong with social media and our obsession with it.
The folks at Build Canada seem to ‘get it’ and I’m encouraged by their stuff.
And one more - with less of a Canadian spin mind you - from across the pond, this guy Alex McCann wrote something I thought about for days after digesting it.
🙏🏻🙏🏻
“I ‘Goldilocks’ed’ my way to my current ideal state.” Same. It feels good :)