Personal News: Open to Work!

Earlier this year, LibraryPass (my full-time passion for nearly six years) was acquired, and I decided it was a good time to figure out my next adventure while helping the new owners through the initial transition. That transition is in its final phase now, so for the first time since 2015, I’m on the open market, looking for my next gig!

More details below, but tl;dr, I’m taking on some short-term consulting gigs while exploring opportunities for a full-time role.

If you’ve ever wanted to work with me, or have been curious about what I’m actually good at, let’s talk.

The Short-Term Plan

I’ve done a lot of ad hoc, mostly pro bono consulting over the years, but I’ve never actively sought out clients. Even though “Free Verse Media” existed for a while (mainly for working with the Panorama Project and, in the very beginning, LibraryPass), this is actually new territory for me.

I’m not ready to put up a formal shingle again and declare myself a full-time consultant, but I do want to take on some short-term projects related to my areas of expertise. I’ve updated my Consulting page to give a general overview of the primary areas I can help with: Strategic Planning, Content Strategy, Audience Development, Email Acquisition & Engagement, Event Programming, and Project Management.

If you’re wondering if I might be able to help you, grab a slot on my calendar to schedule a free 30-minute meeting, or drop me an email for a quick asynchronous conversation.

The Long-Term Plan

“What do you want to do next?”

I’ve been thinking about this question a lot over the past few months because it’s typically the first question someone asks when they know you’re looking for a job. It’s a great question, but I haven’t really had to think about it since I left Library Journal back in 2015, the last time I was formally on the open market.

I’ve spent the vast majority of my career in media (primarily magazines and books, physical and digital), and I’ve worn a variety of hats for companies of all shapes and sizes. I’ve developed and executed subscription, marketing, and content strategies for a range of products and services; produced hundreds of live and virtual events for a range of audiences and business goals; and negotiated agreements with dozens of publishers, distributors, and individual creators. I’ve been a scalpel, a Swiss Army Knife, and managed large teams across multiple brands and departments. I’ve been directly responsible for budgets of $50K to $4.5M, and have played a key executive role in two different companies being successfully acquired for multiples on revenue.

“But what do you want to do next, Guy?”

I want to keep my options open and explore any interesting opportunities, even if they don’t clearly align with my resume. I’m a big fan of “job crafting“, for myself and direct reports. One of my all-time favorite industry colleagues called me “a slant fit” a couple of years ago, because I’ve had “such varied and diverse experiences” and “understand how the business works and what leads to success.” I’ve embraced that descriptor ever since, and it will guide my search for what’s next.

Ideally, I want to be challenged by interesting problems that need solving, while being inspired by a meaningful mission. And I want to do good work with good people.

If you have or know of something that might be a good fit, drop me an email or pass along my LinkedIn profile to anyone you think should know about me.

In the meantime, thanks for reading, and wish me luck! It’s a rough market out there, but I’m optimistic that someone reading this knows about the perfect short-term project or long-term role for me. Maybe it’s you?

Header photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash