Identity

Clever AI summary (no need for you to copy the article into ChatGPT - I'm already making you more productive):

After two years of grappling with identity, Mike Mills has finally made it official—stepping boldly from Corporate to Creative (C2C) and embracing his Second Act as a musician and creator.

Once a legal executive solving “bet the company” problems, he’s now channeling that same drive, curiosity, and intensity into Reduction in Force (RiF)—his anthemic alternative music project built on Big Music. Big Ideas.

With a new identity on full display, Mike is diving headfirst into what it truly means to reinvent yourself, lean into creative work, and embrace the exhilarating unknown. Through music, writing, and storytelling, he’s proving that transformation is more than a pivot—it’s a search for meaning, a challenge to grow, and a way to truly connect.

This isn’t just about making a shift—it’s about asking the hard questions, following curiosity past the discomfort, and seeing where it leads.

So, What’s Next?

Click the button.  Update your profile.

It's not that hard.  Just do it already!

I finally did it.

It took 2 years.

Funny thing about identity, it has power.  Lots of power.  Whether it is how you see yourself or how others see you, identity shapes everything.  I guarded my professional identity with all that I had - mind, body and soul.  Identity is so powerful it's almost impossible to imagine having a different one.  You truly have to live it to own it.  God bless whoever came up with 'fake it 'til you make it.'  Otherwise, we'd all just be set in stone.

Immobile.

Over my career I've gone from Business to Business (B2B) to Business to Consumer (B2C) and now Corporate to Creative (C2C).

My new identity is on full display in my LI banner. Musician - Reduction in Force (RiF) | Former Legal Executive | Creator.

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Let's break it down:

Musician - Reduction in Force (RiF).

Reduction in Force (RiF) is the name of my musical project.  It's bold, it rocks and it has an amazing acronym 'RiF' that works on so many levels.

Let me first address the elephant in the room - I am keenly aware that many of you have suffered the sting of a corporate RiF.  I've been on both sides and it sucks no matter which side you're on.  However, it is radical transformation epitomized and each RiF in my life has left me stronger, more resilient.  Having RiF'ed myself two years ago - it was one of the most powerful and empowering acts I've ever taken.

Each of you will experience a fateful RiF at some point.  Good things you could have never imaged lay on the other side, but (pro tip #1) curiosity, planning and action are key BEFORE that fateful day.

Oh, and there are days that will suck.  This is the universe's way to make sure you really mean it.  (pro tip #2) Get curious, brutally honestly curious - you know where it doesn't feel great inside type of curious.  Go past that.  Then ask the questions you want/need to know the answers to.  Keep doing it until you come up with a plan - then live it for a while.  Did it work?  Fantastic - keep going until it doesn't.  Didn't work - go back to pro tip #2.  No, there are no short cuts.  Thanks for asking.

Creator.

This act offers a wealth of knowledge and experience from Act One.  It offers freedom from the more cruel aspects of life, the constant fear and dread of making money.  And, it allows me to fly closer to the sun - live my first love - music.

Creator is fun because I had no clue how many ways you could embrace your passion.  Make music?  Sure - that's ground zero.  But, there's also writing (for fun?!) - a skill that has paid so many dividends I can't emphasize it enough.  Storytelling in all of its various forms and mediums?  Absolutely.  All creative outlets are on the table.  I'll be taking the best of what I've got and plowing full steam ahead into creativity's gooey center.

No new suggestions here, but pro tip #1 and pro tip #2 are good places to start.

Former Legal Executive.

Understand that I loved so many aspects of my professional identity.  Mostly, because I was lucky enough to work closely with whip-smart business lawyers who understood that the goal of business is to . .  .  wait for it . . . sell stuff.  This meant that these folks were also pragmatic, whip-smart people who in turn reinforced the best parts of being a lawyer - using your unique skillset to help others sell stuff.

There's also a dark side to my prior identity.  Best to keep that personal, but I can say that it is a spring (a torrent?) from which many of my future songs will flow.  That same dark side is also why I am writing this post 10-15 years earlier than one would expect.  Yes, they'll be a song in that as well.

So, here I am - the new and improved Mike Mills.

My goal is to spark conversations about anything and everything - mostly it will be about winding down the path looking for bits and pieces of truth dropped along the way.  Some ripe lands for discovery include Second Acts, what it means to go from Corporate to Creative and personal and interpersonal relationships.  I will also be tossing out music, videos and other creative nuggets that I hope will take hold and grow. March 31st is THE big day on that front.

Perhaps, I can serve as an exemplar (cautionary tale?) for those ready to shed their current identity (assuming $ and the family is taken care of - sorry to be a nag and sound like a parent here) and tap into wherever pro tip #2 leads them.

For now, I’ll leave you here. There’s so much more to uncover, and all in due time.

CTA

I’m here—just make sure you shout loud enough for me to hear you over the music.