Alan Barnes
@generalistalan.bsky.social
I write about how to live deliberately, stay curious and therefore stay relevant. Author of the "Faark I Hope It's Not Too Late" newsletter
Generalistalan.substack.com
Generalistalan.substack.com
Sonya Wilson's creative path from journalism, to author, to charity founder 👉 bit.ly/4sHr7BD
Sonya's Creative Path From TV To Books
When Life Interrupts Your Career (And That's Actually the Best Thing That Can Happen)
generalistalan.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Sonya Wilson's creative path from journalism, to author, to charity founder 👉 bit.ly/4sHr7BD
Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for certainty. Stop waiting for someone to save you.
The truth is, no one's coming, and you don't need them to. You're the adult in the room. The power to reinvent your life is already within you.
Claim it.👇
The truth is, no one's coming, and you don't need them to. You're the adult in the room. The power to reinvent your life is already within you.
Claim it.👇
January 16, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for certainty. Stop waiting for someone to save you.
The truth is, no one's coming, and you don't need them to. You're the adult in the room. The power to reinvent your life is already within you.
Claim it.👇
The truth is, no one's coming, and you don't need them to. You're the adult in the room. The power to reinvent your life is already within you.
Claim it.👇
Stop waiting for permission. Stop seeking external validation. You're the only one who can greenlight your future.
Read why being the adult in the room is the secret to reinvention: 👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
Read why being the adult in the room is the secret to reinvention: 👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
You're The Adult In The Room
No one is coming to save you.
generalistalan.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Stop waiting for permission. Stop seeking external validation. You're the only one who can greenlight your future.
Read why being the adult in the room is the secret to reinvention: 👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
Read why being the adult in the room is the secret to reinvention: 👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
The real barrier to your reinvention isn't talent or luck.
It's the willingness to be the adult in the room—to make decisions with imperfect information and move forward anyway.
Are you ready?
It's the willingness to be the adult in the room—to make decisions with imperfect information and move forward anyway.
Are you ready?
January 15, 2026 at 3:00 AM
The real barrier to your reinvention isn't talent or luck.
It's the willingness to be the adult in the room—to make decisions with imperfect information and move forward anyway.
Are you ready?
It's the willingness to be the adult in the room—to make decisions with imperfect information and move forward anyway.
Are you ready?
That reinvention you're dreaming about isn't waiting for you to be ready.
It's waiting for you to claim it.
Small decisions compound into massive change. You just have to start.
It's waiting for you to claim it.
Small decisions compound into massive change. You just have to start.
January 15, 2026 at 2:00 AM
That reinvention you're dreaming about isn't waiting for you to be ready.
It's waiting for you to claim it.
Small decisions compound into massive change. You just have to start.
It's waiting for you to claim it.
Small decisions compound into massive change. You just have to start.
You're waiting for certainty before you move.
Newsflash: Certainty never comes.
The adults in the room? They act anyway. They decide. They move. And so can you.
Newsflash: Certainty never comes.
The adults in the room? They act anyway. They decide. They move. And so can you.
January 15, 2026 at 1:00 AM
You're waiting for certainty before you move.
Newsflash: Certainty never comes.
The adults in the room? They act anyway. They decide. They move. And so can you.
Newsflash: Certainty never comes.
The adults in the room? They act anyway. They decide. They move. And so can you.
No one is coming to save you. And honestly? That's the best news you'll hear today.
The permission you're waiting for? You can give it to yourself right now.
Stop outsourcing your life.
The permission you're waiting for? You can give it to yourself right now.
Stop outsourcing your life.
January 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM
No one is coming to save you. And honestly? That's the best news you'll hear today.
The permission you're waiting for? You can give it to yourself right now.
Stop outsourcing your life.
The permission you're waiting for? You can give it to yourself right now.
Stop outsourcing your life.
Stop waiting for certainty.
Stop waiting for the perfect plan.
Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
You're the adult in the room, so act like it.
Read why small actions compound into big life changes:👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
Stop waiting for the perfect plan.
Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
You're the adult in the room, so act like it.
Read why small actions compound into big life changes:👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
You're The Adult In The Room
No one is coming to save you.
generalistalan.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Stop waiting for certainty.
Stop waiting for the perfect plan.
Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
You're the adult in the room, so act like it.
Read why small actions compound into big life changes:👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
Stop waiting for the perfect plan.
Stop waiting for someone else to fix it.
You're the adult in the room, so act like it.
Read why small actions compound into big life changes:👉 bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
The difference between people who reinvent themselves and those who don't isn't luck or talent; it's the willingness to move forward with incomplete information. Discomfort is just part of the deal.
January 13, 2026 at 2:00 AM
The difference between people who reinvent themselves and those who don't isn't luck or talent; it's the willingness to move forward with incomplete information. Discomfort is just part of the deal.
That perfect moment you're waiting for? It doesn't exist.
But you know what does? The ability to take one small action today. One email. One conversation. One decision.
That's how reinvention actually happens.
But you know what does? The ability to take one small action today. One email. One conversation. One decision.
That's how reinvention actually happens.
January 13, 2026 at 1:00 AM
That perfect moment you're waiting for? It doesn't exist.
But you know what does? The ability to take one small action today. One email. One conversation. One decision.
That's how reinvention actually happens.
But you know what does? The ability to take one small action today. One email. One conversation. One decision.
That's how reinvention actually happens.
Still waiting for someone to give you permission to make that big change?
Here's the thing: no one's coming. You're already the adult in the room.
The question is, are you ready to act like it?
Here's the thing: no one's coming. You're already the adult in the room.
The question is, are you ready to act like it?
January 13, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Still waiting for someone to give you permission to make that big change?
Here's the thing: no one's coming. You're already the adult in the room.
The question is, are you ready to act like it?
Here's the thing: no one's coming. You're already the adult in the room.
The question is, are you ready to act like it?
When you realise you're the adult in the room you start to give yourself permission 👉bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
You're The Adult In The Room
No one is coming to save you.
generalistalan.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:00 AM
When you realise you're the adult in the room you start to give yourself permission 👉bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
Bad news, no one is coming to save you. Good news, you don't need saving. You're the adult in the room.👉bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
You're The Adult In The Room
No one is coming to save you.
generalistalan.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Bad news, no one is coming to save you. Good news, you don't need saving. You're the adult in the room.👉bit.ly/3Z2JTpk
Is it too late to change direction? Not at all. I share lessons from careers in journalism, production, and leadership, showing how experience is your best asset. Generalistalan.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Is it too late to change direction? Not at all. I share lessons from careers in journalism, production, and leadership, showing how experience is your best asset. Generalistalan.substack.com
"Reinvention sounds sexy but it terrifies people. Reversioning is quieter and more honest: you already are who you need to be. You just owe yourself a better version of how that shows up.
Read more on why mining your past beats burning it down 👉 bit.ly/4pYUpd2
Read more on why mining your past beats burning it down 👉 bit.ly/4pYUpd2
Reversioning vs Reinvention
The new you with a large dose of the old you.
generalistalan.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:00 AM
"Reinvention sounds sexy but it terrifies people. Reversioning is quieter and more honest: you already are who you need to be. You just owe yourself a better version of how that shows up.
Read more on why mining your past beats burning it down 👉 bit.ly/4pYUpd2
Read more on why mining your past beats burning it down 👉 bit.ly/4pYUpd2
You took one small off-ramp, then another, then another. Twenty years later, you're in status meetings you don't believe in.
The problem isn't that you're broken. It's that your current role is a terrible fit for the engine that's always powered you.
Time to reversion.
The problem isn't that you're broken. It's that your current role is a terrible fit for the engine that's always powered you.
Time to reversion.
January 9, 2026 at 3:00 AM
You took one small off-ramp, then another, then another. Twenty years later, you're in status meetings you don't believe in.
The problem isn't that you're broken. It's that your current role is a terrible fit for the engine that's always powered you.
Time to reversion.
The problem isn't that you're broken. It's that your current role is a terrible fit for the engine that's always powered you.
Time to reversion.
The corporate marketer becomes a coach.
The teacher becomes a facilitator.
The fixer becomes a consultant.
They didn't reinvent themselves. They just asked:
What's my core skill? And where else could it live?
That's reversioning. And it's far less terrifying.
The teacher becomes a facilitator.
The fixer becomes a consultant.
They didn't reinvent themselves. They just asked:
What's my core skill? And where else could it live?
That's reversioning. And it's far less terrifying.
January 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM
The corporate marketer becomes a coach.
The teacher becomes a facilitator.
The fixer becomes a consultant.
They didn't reinvent themselves. They just asked:
What's my core skill? And where else could it live?
That's reversioning. And it's far less terrifying.
The teacher becomes a facilitator.
The fixer becomes a consultant.
They didn't reinvent themselves. They just asked:
What's my core skill? And where else could it live?
That's reversioning. And it's far less terrifying.
Problem: You think you need to burn it all down and start from zero.
Solution: Stop. Look at what you've always been doing, even when nobody paid you for it. That's not a dead end—that's your reversioning blueprint.
Mine your past, don't erase it.
Solution: Stop. Look at what you've always been doing, even when nobody paid you for it. That's not a dead end—that's your reversioning blueprint.
Mine your past, don't erase it.
January 9, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Problem: You think you need to burn it all down and start from zero.
Solution: Stop. Look at what you've always been doing, even when nobody paid you for it. That's not a dead end—that's your reversioning blueprint.
Mine your past, don't erase it.
Solution: Stop. Look at what you've always been doing, even when nobody paid you for it. That's not a dead end—that's your reversioning blueprint.
Mine your past, don't erase it.
You didn't fail in your career; you just found yourself in the wrong setting for your true talent.
A lawyer who becomes a mediator isn't reinventing but revising—same core skill, better fit.
What were you passionate about before life intervened?
A lawyer who becomes a mediator isn't reinventing but revising—same core skill, better fit.
What were you passionate about before life intervened?
January 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM
You didn't fail in your career; you just found yourself in the wrong setting for your true talent.
A lawyer who becomes a mediator isn't reinventing but revising—same core skill, better fit.
What were you passionate about before life intervened?
A lawyer who becomes a mediator isn't reinventing but revising—same core skill, better fit.
What were you passionate about before life intervened?
You already are who you need to be; you just owe yourself a better version of how that manifests in the world. Mine your past and edit it. That's reversioning. That's your next move. Read more: 👉bit.ly/4pYUpd2
Reversioning vs Reinvention
The new you with a large dose of the old you.
generalistalan.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:00 AM
You already are who you need to be; you just owe yourself a better version of how that manifests in the world. Mine your past and edit it. That's reversioning. That's your next move. Read more: 👉bit.ly/4pYUpd2
The lawyer turned mediator. The marketer turned coach. The teacher turned facilitator.
They didn't reinvent themselves; they returned to their core and found a better fit.
You have that same power. You are already who you need to be.
They didn't reinvent themselves; they returned to their core and found a better fit.
You have that same power. You are already who you need to be.
January 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM
The lawyer turned mediator. The marketer turned coach. The teacher turned facilitator.
They didn't reinvent themselves; they returned to their core and found a better fit.
You have that same power. You are already who you need to be.
They didn't reinvent themselves; they returned to their core and found a better fit.
You have that same power. You are already who you need to be.
Stop asking, "What could I become?"
Start asking, "What have I always done, even without getting paid?"
That recurring behavior? That's your superpower. It's reversioning, and it's already within you, ready to be unleashed in a better form.
Start asking, "What have I always done, even without getting paid?"
That recurring behavior? That's your superpower. It's reversioning, and it's already within you, ready to be unleashed in a better form.
January 8, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Stop asking, "What could I become?"
Start asking, "What have I always done, even without getting paid?"
That recurring behavior? That's your superpower. It's reversioning, and it's already within you, ready to be unleashed in a better form.
Start asking, "What have I always done, even without getting paid?"
That recurring behavior? That's your superpower. It's reversioning, and it's already within you, ready to be unleashed in a better form.
You don't need to reinvent yourself; you just need to rediscover.
That passion you had before life intervened? It's still within you—still powerful, still yours. The difference now is you understand your worth and won't settle for less.
That passion you had before life intervened? It's still within you—still powerful, still yours. The difference now is you understand your worth and won't settle for less.
January 8, 2026 at 12:00 AM
You don't need to reinvent yourself; you just need to rediscover.
That passion you had before life intervened? It's still within you—still powerful, still yours. The difference now is you understand your worth and won't settle for less.
That passion you had before life intervened? It's still within you—still powerful, still yours. The difference now is you understand your worth and won't settle for less.
The more I talk to people about change, the more I notice they've returned to an original source of enjoyment or love.
It seems that many find their future in their past. 👇
It seems that many find their future in their past. 👇
January 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM
The more I talk to people about change, the more I notice they've returned to an original source of enjoyment or love.
It seems that many find their future in their past. 👇
It seems that many find their future in their past. 👇