Universal Lessons of Reinvention

There’s one thing you can count on: inevitability of change.

Yet, knowing change is coming we try not to change ourselves. Most of us cling to old identities like a worn-out safety blanket, which ends up limiting who we are and what we can accomplish.

One of the most powerful truths in life is that we are not bound by who we were yesterday. 

When we resist change, we find ourselves in a cycle of stagnation—struggling to move forward. I’ve seen this firsthand with clients who feel stuck in roles or paths they’ve long outgrown. And I’ve been there myself, holding onto a past version of myself because letting go seemed scarier than staying put. We all fear losing what we’ve known, even if knowing that that the lack of change is holding us back.

The way forward isn’t through clinging, but through embracing the freedom to evolve.

The Freedom to Evolve: Identity is a Choice

Millions of professionals feel stuck in their current careers, believing they’re too old or too entrenched to make a change.

Why does this matter? Because we end up limiting ourselves with the belief that our past choices define our future. It’s like putting your car in park and pressing down on the gas pedal—you’re burning energy but going nowhere. When you think of yourself as a “one-version” person, you miss out on what reinvention could unlock for you. But reinvention starts when you acknowledge your ability to change is infinite.

The truth?

You have the power to reshape your path and pursue something new. Begin by questioning the narratives that limit you and explore possibilities outside of what you already know. Whether it’s learning a new skill or diving into a creative pursuit, the capacity for change is always within reach.

Let’s dive into how you can make that shift.

How To Reinvent Yourself For Growth

You can choose a new direction and move towards it. Here’s how to start.

• Challenge Your Identity Narratives: The first step is identifying and questioning beliefs you hold about yourself. Ask yourself, “What if everything I’m holing onto wasn’t true? I’m wrong?” If you think you’re not “creative enough” or “too set in your ways” then you have to seek discomfort. Many people who made profound changes started here. Take Colonel Sanders, for example. At 65, he didn’t let his age define him as he launched Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

• Experiment Playfully: Try something new without expecting a perfect outcome. Treat it like a test run to gather feedback and see what sparks joy or excitement. Playfulness lowers the stakes and opens up possibilities.

• Let Go of One Thing Holding You Back: Success isn’t just about adding more goals—it’s about shedding what no longer serves you. Identify one habit, task, activity, or belief that is no longer serving you to drop this week and forever. Steve Jobs was a master of this. He believed that focus is about saying no. Throughout his career, he continually refined his focus, shedding distractions to pursue what mattered most. Letting go frees your energy to commit to what moves you forward.

• Think From Your Future: Let your future decide things for you. Instead of letting our prior selves make decisions for our present, let your future make decisions and draw you forward into that future.

By embracing these steps, you create mental space and momentum to reinvent yourself—just like these high-performers who chose to evolve beyond their initial roles.

Here’s Why Reinvention Works

Reinvention is a choice you can make at any time.

It works because:

• It frees you from old identities that no longer serve you.

• It unlocks your potential to grow into a more fulfilled, resilient person.

• It opens up new opportunities and perspectives you wouldn’t otherwise see.

For example, one of my clients was feeling overwhelmed by juggling his roles as a professional, husband, and father. He was also staying up late playing video games with his college friends—holding onto an identity from the past as a way to socialize. However, the late nights were taking a toll on his energy, impacting both his work and family life.

To make a change, we started by helping him shift focus from his college identity to his current one. Instead of staying up late, he committed to early mornings where he could be fully present for his family. These changes created space for him to invest in his health, strength, and family life.

Over time, he became ‘addicted’ to his new morning routine, finding greater fulfillment and energy in his roles as a father and husband. This shift didn’t just benefit him; it rippled through his relationships, enhancing his professional life as well. He made the difficult choice to leave behind habits that no longer served him, opening the door to a more intentional and fulfilling life. PS: He still makes time for college friends, but in a new way that serves his future self.

Managing the Fear of Change

Reinvention isn’t about ditching everything you’ve known, but rather expanding into new possibilities. Start by asking yourself: What’s one thing I’ve been putting off exploring?

Any easy way to move to a whole new level is a method Tim Ferriss calls fear setting. Start by identifying your biggest fear and you’ll realize that many times this is the thing you most need to do. Furthermore, once you take action you realize that risks weren’t that scary once you took them. Fear is what is holding you back. Define the fear. Do it anyway. Grow.

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain

Success is a decision.  Winning is a choice.

And if you decide to embrace change and reinvention, you’ll find that you’re capable of more than you ever imagined.

The bottom line is simple: you are not confined to the person you were yesterday. 

You are free to evolve, learn, and become the best version of yourself. This growth mindset is at the core of success.

That’s it. 

Book I’m Reading

Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power isn’t just another book on strategy—it’s a deep dive into the ways power and influence really work, drawing on the wisdom of history’s heavy hitters like Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Catherine the Great.

Greene uses 3,000 years of lessons to unpack the dynamics of human relationships, offering up insights that are as practical as they are thought-provoking. While the book’s take on influence might feel a little ruthless, that’s exactly why it’s sparked so much debate—and why it’s such an eye-opener. If you’re ready to look under the hood of human behavior, this book is a compelling read.

That’s all for today!

Please let me know if something resonated with you today or how you think about reinvention. Don’t be a stranger — please let me know if anything piqued your interest here by replying or messaging me on LinkedIn.

Cheers,

Eric Mathews

P.S. — If you’re looking for a coach to get you to the next level while getting you ready for 2025, I’m opening up slots for free introductory coaching calls. There you can more about my coaching and how I can help you unlock your goals.

Schedule a call with me HERE.