What You Should Actually Be Doing During 'The Great Stay'

Layoffs fueled by AI are splashed across headlines daily. Families whisper at dinner tables, wondering if tomorrow will be the day their breadwinner’s role gets swallowed by a machine.

Software engineer? On edge.

Customer service rep? Scared.

Travel agent? Worried

Sales representative? Nervous

And you are probably right to be concerned. In the Federal Reserve’s August survey, workers said they only had a 44.9% chance of landing a new job if they lost their current one. That’s the lowest confidence level since the survey began in 2013. People aren’t exactly optimistic about bouncing back right now.

While maybe this isn’t the time to storm into your boss’s office demanding a raise or handing in your two weeks’ notice. But standing still isn’t the move either.

Welcome to 'The Great Stay'

After years of hearing about The Great Resignation, we’re now in a new era. Economists call it The Great Stay.

During the Great Resignation, employees were resigning in waves, chasing higher pay, remote perks, and greener pastures. But that wave has crashed.

Now we’re in a different era: The Great Stay. Here’s what it means:

• Economic uncertainty has people choosing security over risk.
• Hiring slowdowns make jumping ship less appealing.
• Layoff fears keep employees anchored, even if they’re unhappy.

People are staying put, but often with clenched fists and clenched teeth. And that comes with a hidden danger: stagnation.

Because let’s face it, staying doesn’t mean growing. The Great Stay could easily become the Great Stall if you don’t take intentional steps to invest in yourself. During this season focus on sharpening your skills, building your resilience, and becoming more valuable while you stay.

That’s where we shift from fear-based clinging to purpose-driven growth.

Ask C.A.R.L.: Investing in Yourself During The Great Stay

I asked C.A.R.L. (the Cohesive Artificial Response Leader, ask him yourself here) "How can I invest in myself during The Great Stay?" Here's C.A.R.L.'s answer:

Investing in yourself during the Great Stay can be a transformative experience. According to the principles we follow, here are some ways you can do so:

1. Reading and Learning: Engage with good books, listen to podcasts, and take online courses. These resources can provide valuable insights and knowledge that contribute to personal and professional growth.
2. Professional Development: Consider enrolling in professional training programs, night classes, or masterclasses that align with your interests and career goals. Many of these options are affordable and can be pursued at your own pace.
3. Soft Skills Practice: Focus on developing soft skills such as communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence. These skills are crucial for personal and professional success.
4. Habit Stacking: Incorporate learning into your daily routine by aligning it with other activities. For example, listen to audiobooks or podcasts while exercising or commuting.
5. Commitment and Consistency: Growth requires a decision followed by a commitment. Dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to learning and self-improvement, as even small, consistent efforts can lead to significant changes over time.

Remember, investing in yourself doesn't have to be costly or time-consuming, but it does require dedication and consistency.

AI: The Job Shifter (Not Killer)

AI isn't coming for all jobs... It's shifting them. Take IBM for instance. They built an AI system for HR, laid off 80% of that workforce, and then rehired more than 8,000 employees in new roles.

That’s the pattern. Roles change. Skill sets evolve. Jobs shift.

Which means… if your company invests thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) into an AI tool, you don’t want to be the person hiding from it. You want to be the person who masters it. The employee who figures out every useful angle of that AI system is the employee who sticks around.

Why Analog Still Wins

While you’re upskilling in AI, don’t ignore what AI can’t touch: human, physical, real-world activities. Trades, outdoor facilitation, hands-on teamwork, shared adventures are all things people will increasingly pay premiums that take them off-screen.

That’s why we’re doubling back to some of our early, analog team experiences at On Purpose Adventures. No algorithm can replace the feeling of solving a problem face-to-face, pushing your physical limits, or building trust through real sweat and laughter.

Lead Cohesively, Stay Purposefully

Technical skills and AI fluency might get your foot in the door, but it’s leadership skills, like communication, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and resilience, that open the doors of promotion, advancement, and long-term career growth. For the emerging workforce especially, these are the differentiators. The employees who practice cohesion, who create belonging, who bring value, and who commit mutually with their teams will always rise above the noise.

If you’re currently locked into a position during The Great Stay, you have two choices:

1. Freeze and wait for the storm to pass.
2. Use this time to sharpen your skills, grow as a leader, and master the tools that will shape the future.

Becoming a Cohesive Leader means you choose the second option. You invest in yourself, you practice consistency, and you lean into both technology and humanity. That’s how you stay On Purpose.