"What If This Isn’t It?"

the in-between seasons of being a community professional

There’s this quiet season that many community professionals walk through, sometimes more than once, where everything starts to feel uncertain.

Especially for many of us in African countries, the work often feels invisible and the value we bring isn’t always recognised. Sometimes it feels like people see our career as a side hustle when for us it’s our life’s work.

It keeps you in that constant loop of loving what you do and also worried that you’ve signed up to build a life that won’t sustain you.

Ohh, don’t get me wrong, the good times and days exist where you feel proud of everything you’re doing and feel hopeful for the rest to come. But so does the uncertain times… sometimes almost making the good times less significant.

I’ve felt that more times than I care to admit in my 5 years as a community professional. 2023, especially, hit hard. I was out of a job for too long and seriously began to spiral.

A good friend of mine, who had previously switched from product design to community management was in the same rut. We both hit a wall that year. One time, we talked and I told him to go back to design - It was a space he was doing well in and he still had love for it. He got back to and he’s currently thriving excellently. That doesn’t mean his time in community was wasted. It was part of the process and it helped has shape how he now builds and shows up.

I tried going back to my old career too. It didn’t feel right. There’s no guarantee I’ll always be here though but I know that everything happening right now is still part of who I’ll eventually become- in or out of the community space.

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If you’re in that in-between space right now, unsure of what’s next, breatheee. You’re not alone. The questions are part of it. The tension is part of it. And you don’t have to answer them all today.

You have permission to leave if this isn’t working.

You also have permission to stay - but to stay differently.

But whatever you do, don’t stay stuck just because it’s familiar.

Maybe your pivot would lead you out of community completely. Maybe it would lead you deeper into community but from a new angle. Maybe you just need time to pause and redefine what community work means for you right now.

You just have to be honest with yourself and be open to more.

You’re not here to simply exist in life. You’re called to live life curiously and fully.

I’m rooting for you

If you’ve been here too or you’re currently navigating the in-between, you can share what it’s been like for you.

You can also share with someone who may need this reminder today

Talk soon!