If the market you've been in for over 10 years is deteriorating into a race to the bottom, and showing increasing instability, on top of a refusal to do things in new ways (i.e. innovate), would you stick it out?

Or would you look into a new one, possibly even create your own?

This was a dilemma I started to ponder upon 3 years ago. Things were so unpredictable, that I sometimes went months without substantial projects.

And then, the pandemic hit. And projects vapourised, with only vague promises, constant postponements, and non-committal nods.

This was the kick I needed to decide to get out of a market that I'd been clinging on to, both because of fear of the unknown and fond memories.

And thus, I am exiting the school enrichment market (in Singapore).

I would have loved to stay, but there are too many things wrong with it, and too little being done to rectify them.

Perhaps I'll expound on these things in a future post and hope for improvement for the sake of those still in it, but, for now, I'm looking towards a future that is, though still clouded, full of potential.

To those I've worked with, and are still in it, I wish I didn't have to go, but I cannot be part of this swirling maelstrom anymore.

Take heart. Things will eventually look up.

And I'm sure we'll meet again, though likely in different capacities.

This isn't really goodbye.