People in Transition
"People in Transition" is your ultimate guide to navigating life's major career changes with confidence and excitement! Whether you're a student landing your first job, a professional between gigs, an aspiring entrepreneur ready to start your own business, or someone preparing for a well-earned retirement, we've got you covered. Each episode offers unique insights and practical tips from people who have successfully walked these paths themselves as well as helped many others in their journey. Join us for an inspiring and entertaining journey through the many transitions of life!
People in Transition
150. Geoff Curtis - Communications Executive | Connector | Founder | Philanthropist | Author
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Few people talk openly about what happens when a successful career ends and the identity built around it suddenly disappears. In this episode of People in Transition, I sit down with Geoff Curtis, a former Chief Communications Officer with nearly three decades of leadership experience in healthcare, biotech, and corporate affairs.
After the acquisition of the company where he served on the executive team, Geoff faced a challenge many accomplished professionals experience but rarely discuss: who are you when the title and career that defined you are gone?
That experience inspired his book, Embracing Your Own Purgatory, a candid exploration of identity loss, transition, purpose, and reinvention. Rather than offering a neatly packaged success story, Geoff shares lessons learned while navigating the uncertainty between who he was and who he is becoming. His honesty and insights make this conversation especially relevant for anyone facing career disruption, retirement, burnout, or a major life transition.
In our conversation, Geoff discusses:
- Why he chose the word “purgatory” and the value of becoming comfortable being “unfinished”
- The emotional signs of major transitions and how to recognize them
- Why constant busyness can mask deeper issues
- What he means by “You can’t outwork the identity loss problem”
- How celebrating a quick comeback can sometimes send the wrong message
- Why “presence” became one of the hidden costs of career success
- How achievement, self-worth, purpose, and identity become intertwined—and what happens when that connection is disrupted
Connect with Geoff Curtis:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycurtis
Email: geoffcurtis1@gmail.com
Book: Embracing Your Own Purgatory
Thank you for listening to People in Transition. If this conversation resonates with you, please share it with others navigating change. I also welcome your thoughts, reactions, and questions. Your feedback helps continue the conversation and support others facing similar transitions.
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