Business leaders across professional services, knowledge work, and most of the sectors where mid-level workers have felt secure for two decades are going to be forced to change quickly - whether they planned to or not. The competitive landscape, the labour economics, the technology capability, the economic pressures are all moving at the same time. When that happens, the dynamic I lived through in manufacturing plays out at scale, across an entire economy.

For Francesca - and for most people doing knowledge work right now - the disruption isn't a possibility. It's a given. The question is whether she's in the right place to navigate it, and whether she has the personal capacity to do so. That's what these three questions are actually asking.

The board meeting started well enough. Karen presented Q2 results. Revenue flat at £4.2m. Costs at £3.7m. Margin 12%, profit £500k. Nothing exceptional, but solid.

Then Rachel presented her AI strategy.

I watched Michael's face as she went through the slides. He was leaning forward, nodding, making notes. When she got to the final recommendation - phase 1: 7 people over 6 months, phase 2: another 11 people by Sept 2029 - he actually smiled.

17th March 2028: The Drop (Two Years From Today)

Lost my job today. Grey Tuesday afternoon, HR meeting, the works. Second restructure in six months. This time my client relationships weren't enough to save me.

Three months' severance. Compassionate handshake. "We really value what you've brought to the firm, Seb." Then why am I being shown the door?

Lucy cried when I told her. Proper sobbing, not the quiet kind. "What about the baby, Seb? We were going to start trying this year." I held her but I couldn't say owt. The baby conversation's over before it even started and we both know it.

We've got savings for four months if we're careful. Maybe five if we cut everything non-essential. After that I don't know.