Ep. 89 - Fluidity & The Future of Work: Trends, Stories and Examples from Strategic Momentum

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The notion that “change is constant” is practically our new motto here at Strategic Momentum, as we study the workforce trends shaping the future of work in the coming years. Due to COVID-19 and the numerous crises over the last year, we’re all coming to terms with the fact that we’re living in an increasingly dynamic world.

We’re shifting from singularity to multiplicity, from linearity to intersectionality, and from rigidity to flexibility. It’s no doubt the pandemic is changing things, and we have to be more fluid now than ever to get through it.

Fluidity, of course, is a significant theme in Connie’s book, Building the Business of You. But it wasn’t a new idea that just came about during the pandemic — it's a trend that Connie has observed over the last few years, especially with interviews on this very show. We’ve had guests who have demonstrated how they’ve earned their success not by sticking to one clear path but by moving through various roles and companies, even pivoting as many as 11 times, to learn and develop the skills and perspectives that lead them to where they are today.

In this episode, Connie revisits some of these interviews, dating back as far as 2018, to uncover some of the stories that supported the development of the fluidity concept in Building the Business of You.

The Various Applications of Fluidity

Trends emerged through our interviews, such as situational fluidity, mindset fluidity, location fluidity, career fluidity, and role fluidity. All of which points to one main idea: the way forward in this ever-changing world is embracing change and going where the “cheese” is. That’s how you create your career mashup and reach your true growth potential.

These diverse stories illustrate the changing landscape of the business of work. To build your dream career, you need to embrace constant adaptation, iteration, and evolution. Situational fluidity, mindset fluidity, location fluidity, career goals, and role fluidity — these are just a handful of the ways in which the world of work is becoming more dynamic. 

As legendary martial artist Bruce Lee famously said, “Be water,” a reminder to be in a state of “True Flow” in your mind and body — and now your career.

As Connie writes in the book, “Fluidity is the new way at home, at work . . . everywhere. There are no boundaries between the personal and the professional.” Fluidity is now the way of the future.

Key Takeaways:

Situational or Environmental Fluidity:

Mindset fluidity

Location Fluidity

  • Remote work was made commonplace over the first few months of the COVID pandemic. Where and who you work with are now virtually distributed, and the lack of compartmentalized spaces is blurring lines between the personal and professional. Even before the pandemic, companies started building virtual teams, and the growing gig economy and freelancer marketplace inherently create geographically dispersed teams. Location fluidity allows workers to be their most authentic selves and work from environments where they can feel the most productive.

Career Fluidity:

Role Fluidity:


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Biz of You Spotlight: Spotting the Trends — Building the Business of You

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Biz of You Spotlight: Fluidity — Building the Business of You with Connie Steele