You’re not starting from scratch - You’re growing forward.

by Patrycja Janik
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This year, I’ve been paying close attention to the world around me, watching how spring brings everything back to life. Just weeks ago, everything seemed lifeless, almost dead, yet now, it returns even more beautiful than before.

It reminds me of my mum tending to her garden. Anyone who has done it knows that, year after year, the garden flourishes, often looking even better, despite the fact that (seemingly) we have to start afresh each season.

But that’s only on the surface. Beneath it, the soil is richer, the roots are deeper, and the gardener is wiser. The same is true for us.

Starting something new, whether it's a career change, a fresh chapter, or a bold leap, can feel like beginning from zero.

But in reality, we carry with us all the knowledge, skills, and experiences we’ve gained over time. We’re never truly starting over; we’re building on everything that came before.

One of the best examples of this is transferable skills - abilities that apply across different jobs, industries, and even life experiences. Some key ones include:

Communication | Decision-making | Problem-solving | Adaptability | Leadership | Time management

We all gain a set of transferable skills throughout our lives, yet we often forget to recognise them. Why?

• They feel "too obvious" - Skills like communication and teamwork come so naturally that we don’t always see them as valuable.

• We focus too much on job-specific tasks - We often emphasise technical knowledge and overlook the broader abilities we’ve developed.

• It’s hard to see the connections - We don’t always realise how skills from one job (or life experience) can apply to another.

• We underestimate ourselves - Just because something feels easy for us doesn’t mean it’s not a valuable skill!

• Memory works in context - Skills learned in one setting can be harder to recall in a new situation (this is called the Encoding Specificity Principle).

• We define ourselves by job titles - Our skills go beyond what’s listed on a CV - think volunteering, side projects, hobbies, parenting, travel, and even life’s tough moments.

If you’re facing a big change and it feels unsettling, remember: you already have everything you need to step into something new. Just like a garden, your roots are deeper, your soil is richer, and you are wiser than before.
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If this resonates with you and you’re thinking about what’s next, let’s connect.

I’d love to explore how you can make the most of your strengths in your next chapter.