personal: long-term strategy...

I've just turned thirty. And I've been genuinely quite shocked by how many people have been asking me how I feel about that in relation to what they call my "life-goals" or "long-term strategies". It strikes me as a very Western concept, one that sees time as inescapably linear and therefore running out. I don't like seeing things like this. It makes me panic.

Trying to have a long-term strategy as a freelance theatre director is admirable but I've found there to be so few short-term assurances and so many variables, that the strategy can only ever be incredibly vague. For me, happiness (a.k.a. no panic) lies in rejecting it entirely. My strategy has become 'make better art each time' and that's enough for anyone to worry about, aged thirty or otherwise.

But there are two other reasons why I've been thinking about long-term strategy this month, the first is because I've begun a new part-time job with Company of Angels running and developing projects that will span over years and have genuine long term goals, and the second is because it's almost the end of The Conker Group's first year as an official company. And with this thought has come a bit of a realisation too:

Long-term strategy is best shared.

At least, it doesn't suit me to have one for myself by myself. And that's why we formalised the company. We're doing it and it isn't making me scared. It's making me excited.

 Turning thirty.