We're (still) all in this together.

It is commonly accepted now that it’s a tough market out there, whether you're a supplier or a buyer. Clients are scrutinising their old relationships, budgets are being slashed and it’s being felt by us all.

I don’t know if it’s economic instability due to the state of volatile global politics, or a general shift in the way things are done as AI changes the world, but the expectations of clients have changed, their willingness to take risks has gone down and the roles we all used to play has been thrown in the air. While everyone projects success on things like LinkedIn, it's easy to feel paranoid and excluded in these trying times.

The origins

I had a delightful Bristol reunion this weekend where it was gratifying to see so many familiar faces with a 30 year update - everyone had grown into the adult version of themselves.

Chatting to people working across different industries, it was interesting to hear about the ones that have given up on the rat-race and settled for a much happier life abroad, away from personal ambition, while others have persisted and risen to the top.

But most reassuring was to know that really we’re all struggling in our own ways every day: whether that’s the ones that have made it and are now feeling a lack of purpose in their lives, or those that are still battling at the coal-face, striving to attain whatever success will mean for them - it just doest get easier!

"Don't give up", Kate Bush

Having initially worried what people would think of me and my career after 30 years, I realised (2 Proseccos in): it really doesn’t matter what people think, or what we think society thinks. The world will have its way and all we can do is respond the best we can.

In these testing times, the main message of the day is to just keep trying. I think of Mandela's words about success being how many times you get up and try again. Believing that we will make the right connections with the right people that see our value is our guiding light - knowing that together we can grow into something so much bigger than we could ever have imagined on our own. Become the personal brand that will give us a sense of purpose in our lives.

If we all did this, imagine a world where we all did exactly what we were born to do, where society could be aligned regardless of where we come from, growing into this big productive happy world with everyone is doing exactly what they should be doing. Maybe not yet...

The power of places and experiences

Seeing so many familiar people from a long-off chapter in my life reminded of what a journey the last 30 years have been since I left Bristol. University is such an enriching experience, and as the sons and daughters of family and friends start to choose universities, it made me realise how university experiences are as much about the place, as the people, as the experiences and as the learning. You're at a stage of life where you’re discovering your place in society, and who you are as a young person that will grow in to a proper adult.

And being in a city like Bristol with such a rich music heritage and this strange mix of chequered colonial history with Bohemian indulgence has produced some incredibly remarkable people. The reunion room was a testament to that.

Embrace your past to be present in the present

I realised how who we are today is informed by our past and those connections we made 30 years ago. Sometimes there are niggles in the past that we have to face and iron out like a deep massage, but it pays to make peace with your past because it’s what allows us to be present in the present - and feel connected with those around us. All we really crave in life is human connection, and I felt that in spades this weekend.

The faces might get older but the people remain the same. I now remember why I had such a life-defining experience at Bristol Uni 1991, and how very grateful I am for the trajectory it has sent me on.

Great to see you all!

Steve Maud is Founder and MD of Cloud9Media

Thanks to University of Bristol