That’s the question I posed in a recent note - and today I want to explore it more fully.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how to re-profile my career. Looking back over more than four decades, it’s clear that careers aren’t just shaped by our decisions - but by the forces we can’t control.

Take the economy. When I graduated in 1983, the UK was shifting from manufacturing to services. A recession hit. Graduate jobs disappeared. Company earnings dropped 35%.

The early ’90s brought another downturn - earnings fell 25%, inflation neared 15%, and unemployment soared.

Then came 2008. The Great Recession, triggered by the US mortgage collapse, pushed UK unemployment to 2.68 million.

Recovery was slow. Then Brexit hit, stalling growth and widening skills gaps.

Just as we steadied, COVID arrived, bringing the worst recession since 1709. Inflation surged, the cost of living spiked, and the war in Ukraine deepened the crisis.

By 2023, we were back in recession, with job losses rising and confidence shrinking.

What’s the pattern? For decades, economic shocks have hit roughly every 10 years. But that rhythm is changing.

Now, AI is reshaping the workplace faster than anything we’ve seen before.

According to Public First, in a Microsoft-commissioned report:

“Digital technologies such as AI and cloud could create a £550 billion opportunity for the UK economy by 2035.”

But timing matters. As the report also says,

"Adding an additional 5 years to the time it takes for AI to fully roll out would reduce the size of the economic impact in 2035 by over £150 billion.”

In short: the faster we adopt, the greater the reward.

That urgency is already visible.

Higher Education is in turmoil, grappling with how to integrate AI into academic learning. Sir Anthony Seldon calls it an "existential crisis."

And it's not just education.

• Manufacturing output is falling fast.

• Retail expects to shed over 200,000 jobs in 2025.

• Financial services are cutting back, with AI replacing roles in risk and compliance.

• Professional services face up to 50% automation in audit, tax, and advisory.

• Tech has already seen over 61,000 job cuts this year.

• The public sector is reducing civil service roles to save £2 billion using AI.

• Even hospitality and healthcare are hiring more cautiously.

After 40 years in the world of work, I’ve never seen a period as volatile – or as full of potential.

Career upheaval doesn’t just mean lost income - it affects identity, confidence, and mental well-being, unless the change is something you choose for yourself.

So how do we future-proof our careers? I believe the key lies in durability.

The Quest for Durability

Durable careers don't just happen. They’re built.

Merriam-Webster defines durable as being:

“Able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration in quality or value.”

That’s the goal. And in my experience, those two elements of quality and value matter most.

1. Create a Quality Career

A quality career is rooted in something bigger than a job title: your ultimate concern. This is the theme, cause, or idea you are prepared to stand for. It’s what gives your work meaning.

The Stoic emperor Marcus Aurelius put it this way:

“A person who does not know their purpose in life does not know who they are or what the universe is.”

As researcher Angela Duckworth, author of 'Grit' indicates, success comes when passion and perseverance align.

And as we move more and more into a skills-based economy, purpose matters all the more too if we are to avoid a sense of our own existential vulnerability.

If you haven’t found your ultimate concern yet, start with your values, life experiences, or natural strengths. Or explore the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the world’s biggest, hardest and longest-lasting challenges.

Ultimately, an ultimate concern acts like a gyroscope. It helps us stay steady, even in turbulent times.

2. Create a Career of Value

Durable careers also deliver value - not just to employers, but in a way that feels meaningful to you.

The most satisfying work comes when we use our best abilities in service of something that matters.

And by best, I don’t mean perfect, I mean the things you do naturally and joyfully.

Five decades is a long time to spend working.

Doesn’t it make sense to make that time count so when we look back over our lives we can be proud of our efforts and our legacy?

Navigating Change

So how do you build a lasting career in a constantly shifting world?

• Work on your career, not just in it. Stay alert to change. Scan the horizon while managing the day-to-day.

• Develop a durable mindset - one that’s open, reflective, and resilient in the face of change.

• Commit to lifelong learning. Keep adapting your skills as the world evolves.

• Understand how AI may affect your role. Resources like the Government's UK Shortage Occupation List can help you spot future opportunities.

• Pay attention to the edges. Sometimes, the niche is where the need lies. For instance, thatchers are in short supply. We need more if we are to maintain the beauty and heritage of our built environment. Similarly, legacy tech specialists are still needed to maintain vital systems.

• Diversify. A side venture or portfolio career, anchored in your ultimate concern, can spread risk and open new doors.

My durable future is focussed on coaching and writing, reflecting my ultimate concern of helping people grow into who they are.

You may say that AI can do that. I would firmly disagree for one age-old reason: as long as we’re human, we’ll keep needing human connection - through conversation, coaching, and shared ideas.

I have three questions for you starting with my original one:

How durable is your career?

What ultimate concern is it based on?

What changes could you make now to strengthen it for the future?

I hope that gives you the clarity and focus to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

As always, if you need to talk, you know where I am.

Best as ever,

Carolyn