Build While Others Pause: A Call to Courage for Talent Professionals

In recent months, I’ve conversed with several consulting firms and noticed a troubling trend: many talented professionals in the learning and development space are finding themselves in a drought. Not because they’ve lost their edge—but because organizations are caught in the familiar cycle of reactive decision-making.

When business is booming, companies invest heavily in the employee experience—funding attraction, retention, and development strategies that support every stage of the talent lifecycle. When things slow down, leaders often overcorrect. They pull back on long-term talent strategies, fearing that investing in people is a luxury they can’t afford.

So, what happens to the professionals who’ve built their careers on empowering others? Here’s my encouragement:

Be bold. Be unafraid. Be your own best investment.

The world will always offer reasons to shrink—economic uncertainty, shifting priorities, programs paused or dismantled. But fear is not fertile ground for growth. Just as you wouldn’t pull all your money out of the market during a dip, you shouldn’t retreat from investing in yourself when organizations are recalibrating.

Markets fluctuate. Strategies shift. But you remain in the driver’s seat of your life and career. Stay empowered during the highs and the lows with the following:

1. Invest in Your Own Learning

Stop waiting for your company to fund your growth. If you’re still hoping for budget approval to pursue development, it’s time to become your own sponsor. Be your biggest advocate. Your evolution doesn’t need permission.

2. Take Stock of Your Strengths

Get honest about your brilliance. What do you do exceptionally well? Where do you shine brighter than those around you? Lean into those gifts. Keep them sharp—even if it means pursuing personal projects or unconventional paths to stay fresh.

3. Define and Honor Your “Rule of Life”

What rhythms, practices, and values guide your life? Your Rule of Life is your internal compass—keeping you aligned, grounded, and resilient. Without it, you risk burnout and disorientation when external conditions shift. Build your foundation in the sunshine, so you’re prepared when storms come.

Your value isn’t defined by market cycles or someone else’s opinion. You are a steward of your own growth. So don’t shrink. Don’t stall. Stand tall, invest deeply, and move forward with purpose.