The Identity Shift: How Growth Forgets Your Old Story, According to Noemi Kis✨

In a recent LinkedIn post, Noemi Kis✨ explores the often-overlooked personal cost of significant growth, particularly when starting a new venture. She argues that the first thing to be lost is not tangible assets like money or time, but one’s established personal narrative.

Noemi Kis✨, who transitioned from finance to industrial water at age 30 to launch her business, details this identity shift through three distinct stages. She posits that as one begins to grow and evolve, their past credibility becomes less relevant, close relationships undergo changes, and crucially, their internal story about themselves begins to collapse.

“The identity shift happens in three stages: → Your credibility becomes irrelevant → Your close relationships shift → Your internal story collapses”

Navigating the Collapse of the Old Self

The author recounts the internal struggle that often accompanies this transformation, noting the dissenting voice in her own head that questioned her new path. “The voice in my head said: ‘You’re not the entrepreneurial type.’ I was introverted, a rule-follower. When other kids were selling lemonade, I was doing homework,” she shared, illustrating the deep-seated beliefs that growth challenges.

The Irrelevance of Past Narratives

A key takeaway from Noemi Kis✨’s post is the necessity of moving beyond the validation of those who only knew the previous version of oneself. She advises leaders undergoing similar transitions:

1. Stop explaining yourself to people who only knew the old you.
2. Let it be messy for a while. The first six months are supposed to be hard.

This reframing, according to Noemi Kis✨, is essential for making space for the new identity to emerge. The process itself is what forges the new persona, not the readiness beforehand.

Embracing the Unmet Future Self

Noemi Kis✨ emphasizes that the individual who will achieve future success is often someone not yet fully formed or known. This future self is realized through the journey of growth and change.

“The person who achieves your next level is someone you haven’t met yet. You become them through the process, not before it.”

She further elaborates on this point, suggesting that the feeling of readiness is not a prerequisite for growth. Instead, a willingness to let go of the past self is the primary requirement.

“You don’t need to feel ready to grow. You just need to be willing to let the old version of you go.”

Noemi Kis✨’s insights offer a candid look at the psychological and emotional challenges inherent in significant personal and professional development, encouraging leaders to embrace the discomfort as a sign of genuine progress.