Humboldt County can be a supportive place to reinvent yourself. I’ve lived here most of my life. It has been a place of possibility, unexpectedly gorgeous experiences, and a propensity towards the whimsical. There are driven, ambitious people; there are folks driven by an ambition to get away from driven, ambitious people. It takes all kinds, and generally, an identity shift is widely accepted here.
We’ve all spoken about it at length — the economic drivers of the area are in the midst of rearranging. There has been a transition into a what-do-we-do-next mindset for many — not everyone, but many. Why is this happening? The causes of these shifts are multifaceted, but the fluctuation of the cannabis economy is definitely one of them. I think few of us realized the full extent of the impact that would have, and some still don’t want to admit it. Regardless of the cause, many business owners are looking for new strategies, and employees are seeking new paths. Like so many others, I myself am closing up shop entirely on the health food business I’ve operated for a decade.
Sometimes a pivot in business or career is tangled up in our personal identity. It can feel sad, frustrating, relieving, exciting and many other emotions all at once. It is not easy to start over; it is not easy to let go of previous dreams. But new dreams await! Each time you reinvent yourself, this region changes right in front of you. You meet new people; you meet a different “you” and view your surroundings in a new light.
I adored Arcata as a musician studying with Eugene Novotney and Ginny Ryder at what was Humboldt State University. I have felt pride in Humboldt as a small business owner, relishing being my own boss and building mental stamina from the uniquely heavy weight of the accountability that comes with owning your own business. I grew a new fondness for the Emerald Triangle working with cannabis farmers that chose to navigate through the regulatory systems. Now I am totally infatuated with economic development and my role with AEDC.
Often at AEDC, I hear from folks that are looking for the next step … a pivot in their business or a new business altogether. I’ve encountered artists, musicians, farmers, business owners and tradespeople facing a call to change. That career as a clave player just didn’t quite work out the way some of us music students were hoping. It is true that certain careers just won’t be available anymore, or they won’t be as lucrative. It might be time to get creative and get involved.
As the economic landscape continually reshapes itself, what will your role be? Humboldt has many needs; your skills might be a great asset in a sector you haven’t yet considered. It might take a few years and some professional development to get there, that’s OK. Maybe you are the next helicopter pilot that inspects 800-foot tall floating wind turbines ~25 miles off the Humboldt coast. How about a city job where you can help tackle community infrastructure goals you’ve been on a personal soapbox about for years? Or maybe your artistic passions will lead to an advocacy or grant writing role with a local foundation or nonprofit. There is much opportunity here, and much work ahead to see that opportunity come to fruition. If you choose to stick with what you’ve been doing for 20 years because you love it that much, I admire the heck outta you. If it is time to reinvent yourself to meet your needs and the needs of our little slice of heaven, bravo to you too!
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