What I'm doing after "InformationWeek"

I've been telling people that I'm leaving InformationWeek, which is very optimistic and forward-looking. And it's true: I am optimistic, and I was done at InformationWeek, and ready to move on.

But "I'm leaving InformationWeek" is not the whole story. The whole story is: I was laid off.

So what now?

I'll finish out the month at InformationWeek. I've worked at the company that owns InformationWeek for 17 of the last 20 years. It's been a great experience overall, and I want to leave on an up note.

After that, I'm taking some postponed vacation time.

After that, in late January or the beginning of February, I start the next chapter of my career. I'll be freelancing, doing tech journalism, as well as writing press releases, white papers, case studies and more. Got any work of that kind? Let's talk. No rush, though; like I said, I won't be ready to start anything new for more than a month. Unless you have a really attractive offer, of course.

I also plan to launch an Internet marketing consulting business. I know a lot about using Twitter, blogs, Facebook, and other social media for business, and I want to help companies put that knowledge to work.

And I plan to continue working on Copper Robot, my podcast interview series. That's coming up on its one-year anniversary now, and we had some great guests. Coming up, novelist, Internet activist, and Boing Boing blogger Cory Doctorow (Dec. 16, 8 am Pacific time), science fiction writer Joe Haldeman (Jan. 3), novelist Jonathan Lethem (Jan. 17), and a special program on Ayn Rand and Objectivism (Jan. 31). All of the interviews are done in front of a live audience in Second Life and on the Web, and available for playback later.

It occurred to me last night that this is the latest in a huge series of changes in my life that started two years ago. I started writing a novel in 2007. I climbed on the treadmill in the spring of 2008. I started Copper Robot a year ago. I started losing weight in spring of this year.

Since then, I've finished the first draft of one novel and I'm more than 30,000 words into a second. I've been walking five days a week for the past year and a half; I'm now up to an hour a day. I've lost more than 30 pounds. And I've done one and a half dozen podcasts.

And now I'm going to have to do something new again: Run a business. I'm going to have to learn how to sell and deal with clients. I've been saying that I need to do this because anybody who doesn't have these skills is not the master of his own destiny, somebody else is making his career decisions. And that much is true, but it's also true that I want to do these things because they're hard and challenging and I've never done them before.

I guess this is what they mean by mid-life crisis. Now I just need to get a red sports car and toupee.

Comments

[Giff]

Try to enjoy the vacation Mitch, and I wish you well with the transition. I hope you find it exciting and liberating!

[Jess(ica)]

Mitch, I wish you the best in all of your future endeavors. You have a great attitude and a thirst for knowledge which is a great trait to have. Good luck, and enjoy your time off!

[DavidD]

Congratulations and condolences and good luck and welcome to the disturbing world of those who have been laid off. And good luck again.

[Mitch Wagner]

Thanks, all. David, how many times is it for you? This is my second.

[Joe Caponi]

Best of luck, Mitch! Please feel free to continue to use my description of you -- "The Ernie Pyle of Second Life"

[Mitch Wagner]

Thanks, Joe! I could also be the Geraldo Rivera of Second Life. Need to do something about the 'stache tho.

[Janice L. Brown]

Best wishes, Mitch. With your journalism experience, deep industry knowledge and distinctive personal brand, I think you will do well in your new venture. Although this may sound naive, I really do believe that old saying "When one door closes, another one opens." Look forward to the Rand podcast in Jan. Safe travels.

[Mitch Wagner]

Thanks, Janice!

[Joe Roy]

Hoping you find a great opportunity. You deserve it. Best to you.

[michael fitzgerald]

welcome to the portfolio economy, Mitch (i.e., freelancing). sounds like you've got the right attitude to start.

congrats on the weight loss. I've lost a bunch of weight over the last two years, too. though the holidays always pose a challenge.

[Mitch Wagner]

Thanks, Michael.