Why I Started Writing Again (and What Maslow Has to Do With It)
(Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2025)
I spend a lot of time thinking about why people do what they do in their careers—including myself.
Same goes for the bigger life choices.
Especially now, as I find myself in the later chapters of my own career, looking at what’s next—not with urgency, but with curiosity.
I’ve been fortunate to reach a place where I no longer have to chase the next title or build the next company. But I still want to do something. Not to stay busy, but to feel aligned with something that matters.
And if you’ve ever been in that in-between space—where you’re no longer climbing, but not ready to coast—you’ll understand the questions that start to surface.
Career Clarity in a Post-Titles Phase
I’ll admit, the idea of “winding down” feels strange. I know I’m not alone in that. After all, two men far older than me have recently served as President. Robert De Niro is still making movies—and raising a toddler—at 81.
But what does change is the motivation.
I’m not building because I have to.
I’m not consulting because I need the income.
I’ve started writing, coaching, and reflecting for one simple reason:
It feels meaningful.
Battling the Impostor Voice
When I first started sharing advice on careers and leadership, I hesitated.
I didn’t want to sound like a “know-it-all.”
I didn’t want to position myself as some expert on life or success.
I’ve made my fair share of mistakes.
I’ve also had some wins.
And in the end, I figured—if I could share something useful from those experiences, that would be enough.
That’s the mindset I’ve tried to bring to everything I write.
No soapboxes. Just perspective.
Enter Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Last week, I found myself revisiting an old concept: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Not because I remembered it from Psych 101—but because my wife, who holds a master’s in psychology, often reminds me how relevant it still is.
For those unfamiliar, Maslow’s model outlines five layers of human motivation:
- Physiological needs – food, water, shelter
- Safety needs – personal and financial security
- Love and belonging – relationships, community
- Esteem – recognition, respect, achievement
- Self-actualization – fulfillment, personal growth
But there’s a lesser-known sixth layer that researchers have added over time:
Self-transcendence.
The Sixth Layer: Self-Transcendence
This stage goes beyond personal success. It’s about seeking:
- Knowledge for its own sake
- Beauty for its own sake
- Purpose through contribution to others
That clicked with me immediately.
It put words to what I’d been feeling—and helped me make sense of why writing and mentoring feels so fulfilling right now.
I’m not doing this for legacy. I’m not trying to grow an audience or sell a product.
I’m doing it because it feels good to help.
To think.
To connect.
To reflect.
To share something that might land with someone else, at just the right moment.
The Pyramid Isn’t Always Linear
Maslow originally framed his pyramid as a linear climb—you meet your basic needs first, then progress up the ladder.
But real life? It doesn’t always follow clean lines.
After level three, I’ve found it gets a little… messy.
Personally, I’ve felt pulled between esteem, self-actualization, and transcendence all at once. I don’t think that’s a flaw in the model—I think that’s just how life works.
It’s rarely a straight shot to meaning.
Sometimes, clarity shows up in loops.
A Thought to Sit With
If you’ve ever asked yourself:
“Why am I doing all of this?”
It might be time to revisit the pyramid.
Not as a checklist—but as a compass.
You may be further along than you think.
Or you may realize the next phase has less to do with achievement—and more to do with alignment.
Final Reflection
For me, starting to write again wasn’t about chasing a goal. It was about answering a pull.
It didn’t come from a place of pressure.
It came from a place of purpose.
And if you’re in a similar season—where you’re not chasing, but still curious—I’d encourage you to do the same:
Reflect.
Write.
Mentor.
Help.
Not because you have to.
Because you can.