Ever since I exited my two startups some could call “successful” (even though I have like 7-8 failed investments and startups as well), people have asked me versions of the same question: “Why haven’t you committed to one company? Why do you keep going to different companies doing contract and consulting work after all these years?”
Lately in China, almost every person I have met has asked me two questions. Why am I not married and why have I not committed to one company?
I am at a cafe reading and I decided to whip out my phone and start this journal entry because someone who was sitting next to me I started chatting with just asked both questions. It’s like a default I find because it must be culturally ingrained here.
Both fair questions but I’ll focus on the career one right now. Maybe I’ll write the marriage one when I figure it out. Haha.
The reality is I did try to launch a few start ups after my exits but they didn’t work out for a number of reasons. I did some angel investing. I lost a lot of money there. Family burdened me financially. All of those combined forced me to either consider taking on a full-time role or double down on another single venture. But instead, for the last six years, I’ve worked as a consultant/contractor/ business operator under different banner firms and had clients across different markets and industries.
The short answer: I never planned for this path. I fell into the role and I never left. Pretty typical story I would say. The longer answer is that there is value in my work in ways I hadn’t expected.
My portfolio career
I don’t know what to call it. I’m in my portfolio career stage.. Yeah, that sounds appropriate. I know it’s not sexy like “senior director”, “entrepreneur” or “founder”
I’m like a traveling gypsy except I”m not fortune telling or selling rag and bones. I bring skills with me and companies will pay handsomely to temporarily have those skills in their project or company. Working with multiple organizations, Instead of putting all my time, risk, and energy into one entity, I’ve been able to work across a range of markets, industries and categories. Most casea, my next project will see value in something I’ve done in past projects which makes my experiences and skills transferable. This allows me to diversify how much impact I want to make with a client..
In a few years, I’ve had exposure to everything from consumer goods to SaaS to cross-border operations in 5 different markets with a reach as low as 100 to 500,000 people. That kind of breadth simply wouldn’t have been possible if I’d been buried inside a single org chart.
Seeing “lifers” scared me
Another eye-opener was meeting the “lifers” in each company I worked with. These were people who had spent 15, 20, sometimes 30 years at the same organization. Their capabilities were strong in their respective areas, but their skills often weren’t transferable. And it wasn’t necessary. They had limited options to move within the company and even fewer options outside of it. I would say almost all of them at late age were ok with this.
I had one restructuring project where I had to make calls to issue terminations due to restructuring. So many of them late in their careers. The first time I issued RIF’s, it scared the bajeezus outta me. Most took it well. Some didn’t. I could end up in the same position. It showed me the risk of tying my entire professional life to one organization. The client did what they needed to do but I knew I didn’t want to put myself in such a vulernable position.
I like to sprint
I’ve also come to appreciate the value of being brought in for short, high-impact projects. When I worked under the Apollo banner, I was thrown into so many different companies that didn’t need permanent operators. What they needed was someone who can solve a specific operational challenge, restructure a team, or guide an internal team for legal. I was like a plumber or HVAC guy you called in to upgrade or fix something. Handle “this” and leave.
Very different from how Asia Group is involved with clients. Here, I’ve been appointed to lead launches in new regions, streamlined operations and see master files, and be part of strategy to navigate cost pressures without sacrificing service. These projects aren’t specific. There is no set ending date. You don’t stop until it’s done. This is still a spring because my role is designed to leave behind systems that must keep running long after I’ve stepped away. For me, that’s deeply satisfying.
Not a fan of office politics
Although temporary, I’ve spent enough time around senior leadership to know how much energy can get drained by politics, bureaucracy, and managing optics. Contracting gave me a different vantage point. As a consultant or contact worker, I have the credibility to influence decisions but the freedom not to get trapped in the politics that slow real execution.
It’s crazy to call not being caught up in the politics, “freedom”
I see what it does to people. As an outsider, some own’t bother with me. Others will ask I get involved. And I can say no and walk away there isn’t some backlash that will come out of that. This allows the measure of my success in getting thing delivered, not how many meetings I survived.
Choices choices
By the time COVID reshaped the business world, I was still in a very fortunate position because I live a pretty simple life, I had no major dependents, and while I lost a lot of money, I was still financially stable enough to beg for my earn out role back. What mattered more was choosing who I wanted to work with. My work in the last 5 years wasn’t all glamorous. I was in cities and counties in the middle of nowhere. I had good managers in my banners but some of my clients were just assholes as well. At the same time, I have also spent time in different parts of the world, exploring new markets, and still have space to live life on my own terms like I am doing right now.
Am I doing this right?
I dunno. Looking back on these years, I would tell the locals here that I'm not “avoiding commitment,” but redefining what commitment looks like because I haven’t stopped working. I’ve committed to learning, to building across multiple markets, to sharpening my craft in high-pressure environments, and to helping businesses grow without always having to carry one title.
I know I can’t do this work forever. Traveling sucks most of the time. I have had offers to go full-time with some clients but they didn’t feel right whether it was due to operations or leadership. I’m confident the right company and leadership team will come up where they will also see I’m a genuine fit – A place where I could see myself building for the long haul and even retiring alongside that group, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy in and commit. Until then, I don’t plan on leaving this path, I’ll keep investing my energy where I can create impact for the right client.
Erwin living out life in East Asia?
May 11, 2024