I went through this when I left the construction trade after fifteen years....

I went through this when I left the construction trade after fifteen years. I wasn't just leaving a job, I was leaving a whole identity. The guys I worked with, we had this shorthand. We talked in grunts and insults. That was our love language. When I started transitioning into a more desk-based role, I felt like I had forgotten how to talk to people. I'd be at a networking event and catch myself standing with my arms crossed, staring at the floor. It was physically uncomfortable.

What helped me was treating it like learning a new skill. I didn't try to be charming or cool. I just focused on asking one good question in every conversation. Thats it. I had a list of three questions in my phone. “What are you working on this week that actually excites you?” was the best one. It cut through the small talk. I also started going to a coffee shop the same time every Tuesday morning. I didn't talk to anyone at first. I just sat there. Over two months, I became a regular face. Then I knew the barista's name. Then I knew the name of the guy who always ordered the oatmeal. It was slow, but it was real. You don't have to reinvent yourself overnight. You just have to show up and be consistent in one small place. The rest of the world can wait.

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Brooks Egypt @egyptbrooks8131

The coffee shop thing really got me. That's such a simple idea but I bet it worked way better than some forced networking group I switched careers a few years ago from restaurant work to an office job and I still catch myself saying "behind" when I walk past someone in the hallway. The whole identity thing is so real. People don't talk about how much of your personality gets wrapped up in what you do all day Can I ask what you ended up moving into?
12 days ago

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