Career Change Confidence

The most dangerous career strategy in 2025: Following a path that worked for everyone before you. Over the last few weeks, my inbox has been flooded with messages of strife and anxiety from brilliant people blindsided by layoffs. To be honest, there is very little I can say to many. Most played the game of life perfectly. They went to great schools, got good grades, landed prestigious jobs, and worked hard. Their stories raises a critical question: What if it's not just specific jobs disappearing, but a fundamental flaw in how we've viewed careers and success? The linear world we've grown accustomed to is abruptly being disrupted. The ladders that guaranteed safety and success no longer hold their promise. For decades, we've operated under the belief that: → Business success comes from perfect execution → Career paths follow logical progression → Expertise can reliably predict the future My friend Gaetan recently said: "What if success was always more random than we wanted to believe? What if strategic planning was always more about the illusion of control than actual causality?" Navigating uncertainty now requires us to: → Judge the quality of our decisions not just results → Embrace uncertainty over false certainty → Recognize success as probabilistic For individuals navigating this shift: → Build skill portfolios, not linear paths → Combine skills uniquely; avoid single specialties → Design for uncertainty, not control → Test multiple career options → Adapt quickly; don’t chase perfection → Diversify income streams Following these principles won't just help you withstand career shocks, it makes you antifragile, allowing you to grow stronger from volatility and stress. The human cost of layoffs extends beyond financial insecurity; it's the painful realization that playing by the rules perfectly was never a guaranteed protection. Yet within this destabilizing reality lies a massive opportunity: to redefine success itself. Success shouldn't be a singular path to follow, but the freedom to create multiple paths of your own design. The true cost of clinging to old models isn't just stalling your career; it's missing the chance to discover who you might become when you stop following and start creating.

7 Questions To Ask Yourself (When You Don’t Know Which Career Path Is Right For You): 1. What Energizes Me? Grab a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Label one side “Energy Creators” and the other “Energy Drainers.” Now reflect on all the projects, initiatives, etc. you’ve worked on over the past few years. Label and categorize each one. Now look out for roles where the majority of the work is focused on energy creation. 2. What Do People Come To Me For? Everyone has a specific skill or strength that other people look to them for. If you’re not sure what it is? Ask 5 friends and 5 colleagues this question and see what they say. That can help you identify a skill that’s in demand that you’re also recognized for being good at. 3. What Problems Do I Enjoy Solving? Every job has problems. In fact, work and business are really the process of identifying and solving problems. So if you’re going to be spending your life solving problems, it’s important to know which ones you like to solve. Reflecting on this will help you see which challenges you enjoy taking on. 4. If Money Wasn’t An Issue What Work Would I Do? Most of us work to make a living. But it can be helpful to start from a place of what you love to do, and then work backward into the overlap between that and making an income. You’d be surprised at how many jobs exist where people are able to work on things they’re passionate about while also earning. 5. What Does My Ideal Workday Look Like? Some people love traveling for work, some hate it. Some people love sitting at a desk all day, some don’t. Some people love combing through spreadsheets, and…you get it. Painting a picture of the ideal day will help you dial into jobs that align with that schedule, workflow, and balance. 6. What Am I Willing To Struggle For? Most things that are truly worth doing are hard. If you’re not willing to take on some big challenges, to do hard work, and to deal with some uncertainty? You’re limiting your potential. So think about paths and outcomes that you feel are worth struggling for, then aim to align your work and career with that. 7. Whose Career Do I Admire? Finally, think about someone whose career you admire. A friend, a former colleague, etc. Reach out to them and ask them if they’d be willing to chat more about their journey and their job. This will give you a ton of insight into what they do and how they got there so you can see if it’s a good fit for you!

I wake up every morning with a to-do list… and that’s almost never how the day unfolds—but I’m okay with it. If there’s one skill everyone needs in career and life, it’s being comfortable with ambiguity. Across business, career, and life, the pace of change is fast. Research suggests that nearly 40% of workers’ core skills will change by 2030, which means uncertainty and adaptation are becoming a normal part of how we work. Whether it’s building technology in an AI-driven world, mapping a career path, or trying to stick to an itinerary with six teenagers on a ski trip, you’re better off when you can adjust and go with the flow. Here’s what I’ve learned about managing ambiguity: - You still need a plan. The point is being okay when it doesn’t unfold exactly as you expected and being able to say: This worked. This didn’t. Let’s adjust. - Ambiguity is part of modern work. Markets shift, priorities change, technology evolves, and teams are often making decisions without perfect information. - Small course corrections are normal. If the plan is a straight line and you drift a bit, you can still end up close to where you intended. Sometimes you end up somewhere different—that discomfort is something we have to accept in today's fast-changing environment. - Adaptability needs rigor. Being flexible doesn’t mean saying yes to every detour. You still need discipline around when to veer off course—and when not to. If you’re not comfortable with the reality that things won’t unfold exactly as planned, it’s hard to thrive in the world we’re working in now.

A career pivot isn’t just a trendy buzzword—it’s a strategic shift that can redefine your professional trajectory, resilience, and fulfillment. A career pivot can involve switching industries, taking on a new role, or applying your existing skills in a different context. Unlike a total reset, a pivot builds on your experience while opening new doors. The world of work is changing faster than ever. According to a 2024 LinkedIn Workforce Report, 61% of professionals who made a career pivot in the last two years did so to escape burnout, pursue growth, or find more meaning. FACT: companies now value adaptability as much as expertise, and those who pivot effectively are more likely to thrive in uncertainty, avoid stagnation, and discover untapped potential. Here's how to embrace your career pivot: ✅ Listen to Your Inner Signals Persistent disengagement, boredom, or curiosity about something new are not flaws—they’re clues. Pay attention. ✅ Reframe Your Experience Your skills and achievements aren’t wasted in a pivot—they’re assets. Map out how your strengths translate to new opportunities. ✅ Expand Your Network Seek out people who are doing what interests you. Informational interviews and mentorship can reveal paths you never considered. ✅ Experiment Before You Leap Test the waters with side projects, volunteering, or contract work. Small steps build confidence and clarity. ✅ Invest in Learning Upskill through courses, certifications, or workshops relevant to your new direction. Lifelong learning is the pivot’s secret weapon. This is less about abandoning your past and more about evolving it. Don’t wait for a crisis to force your hand—proactively explore, experiment, and embrace change. The best time to pivot is when you feel the pull, not just when you hit a wall. Coaching can help; let's chat. | Joshua Miller #careeradvice #executivecoaching #professionaldevelopment

More often than not, people who change jobs later admit they did it too early. They moved not because they had clarity, but because they were uncomfortable with not knowing. That discomfort is costing people their best career moves. If you feel restless at work but cannot yet articulate what you want instead, that is not a weakness. It may be the most strategically useful phase of your career. Here’s how to use it well: 1. Treat uncertainty as an expansion, not a gap When you stop forcing yourself to name the next role, you give your thinking room to widen. Instead of asking what job you want, ask where you have done your best work before and under what conditions. Patterns emerge when pressure lifts. 2. Learn to separate signals from fear Ambiguity makes everything louder, especially anxiety. Fear pushes you toward familiar roles that look good on paper. Curiosity shows up quietly in the work you lose track of time doing. One leads to safety. The other leads to direction. 3. Build your future around skills, not titles Titles lock you into narrow paths. Skills travel. Inventory what you are genuinely good at and where those capabilities could matter in different contexts. Then identify one or two skills worth deepening before you decide anything else. 4. Replace purpose statements with purposeful days Purpose rarely appears as a single sentence. It shows up in how you allocate your time, who you help consistently, and what you choose not to pursue. Alignment comes from daily decisions, not grand declarations. Career clarity is often iterative and occasionally messy. Rushing to resolve uncertainty usually trades short-term relief for long-term regret. If you are between chapters, resist the urge to force an answer. The uncertainty is not something to escape. It’s information worth listening to.

Early in my career, I faced a moment many of us dread: A sudden, unexpected company reorganization. It seemed like overnight ➟ my role ➟ my team ➟ my daily tasks were all up in the air. I remember the anxiety. The flurry of rumors. The uncertainty. They clouded my thoughts about the future. But it was in this chaos that I found clarity. I realized that change, though daunting, also brings opportunities for growth. I wrote an article on this for Harvard Business Review. Here are 5 actions you can take when your professional life is unpredictable: 1. Embrace the Uncertainty Use periods of change as a catalyst for introspection. Reflect on what truly matters to you and your future. 2. Define Your Identity Think about who you need to be... Not just what you need to do. 3. Focus on the Process Establish and commit to positive career behaviors. It gives you a sense of control and leads to results. Examples: • Contribute in each team meeting • Expand your network every week  • Offer a strategic idea to leadership monthly • Take on a stretch opportunity once a quarter • Thank a coworker for something helpful every day 4. Cultivate Learning Agility Be ready to adapt. Stay curious. Embrace new ideas. This mindset isn't just to survive; it helps you thrive. 5. Ask for and Act on Feedback Regularly seek feedback. Take time to reflect on it. It's crucial to know where you're growing. And where you need to improve. Change can be scary. But it's also a chance to reset. To pivot. You may discover new paths you hadn't noticed before. Remember... It's not the strongest or most intelligent who survive. It's those who can best manage change. Lean into the uncertainty. Use it as a stepping stone. Build a career that's not just successful, but also aligned with who you truly are. Find this valuable? Repost ♻️ to share with others.  Thank you! P.S. What keeps you going when things get uncertain?

77% of employees are disengaged (Gallup). But not everyone needs to leave corporate. If you feel discontent or like your career is stagnating, you need clarity on why. Real transformation happens from the inside out. Based on Robert Dilts' "Neurological Levels" Model , people are often unconsciously stuck on one or more of these levels. Career reinvention means working out which one:👇 1️⃣ Purpose – Why do you do what you do? ↳The most prestigious role feels empty if it lacks meaning. 📌 Ask: What impact truly matters to me? 2️⃣ Identity – Who are you becoming? ↳Your career is a reflection of who you are. 📌 Ask: Does my work align with the person I want to be? 3️⃣ Beliefs – What do you believe about yourself? ↳Your mindset creates your reality. 📌 Ask: What limiting beliefs are keeping me stuck? 4️⃣ Capabilities – What can you do? ↳Your skills, strengths, and experience determine how far you can go. 📌 Ask: Do I have what I need to thrive? 5️⃣ Behaviour – What are you doing daily? ↳Your habits define your success. 📌 Ask: What actions will move me forward? 6️⃣ Environment – Where are you now? ↳The people and culture will either elevate or limit you. 📌 Ask: Is my environment helping or stifling my growth? Why does this matter? ↳Because identifying where you’re stuck helps you focus on the right changes. You don’t need to burn it all down. Sometimes, shifting one level can transform everything. What do you think of this model? --- 📌 Ready to reinvent your career in 2025? ✅ Send me a DM or book a call.

How high achievers find fulfillment when external validation stops being enough to sustain motivation and career satisfaction. The truth most career advisors won't tell you: fulfillment doesn't come from chasing titles and pay increases. It comes from career alignment with your core values and natural strengths. The executives I place who remain genuinely satisfied long-term have all discovered their Ikigai - the intersection of what they love, what they're good at, what the world needs, and what they can be paid for. Here's the practical approach that works: - Create a detailed list of career moments that made you feel truly alive and energized. These are the times when work didn't feel like work. - Analyze those experiences for common themes. What were you doing? Who were you serving? What problems were you solving? What environment were you in? - Research industries, organizations, and missions that align with those themes while offering competitive compensation. Alignment doesn't mean accepting poverty wages. - Strategically position yourself toward opportunities that match your energy patterns rather than just applying wherever job boards suggest you should. The highest-performing professionals aren't motivated solely by external rewards. They've found the sweet spot where their natural talents meet market demand and personal fulfillment. Stop optimizing your career for what looks successful to others and start optimizing for what feels sustainable and meaningful to you. Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://vist.ly/45gkd #careerfulfilment #ikigai #careeradvice #careerstrategy #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #professionaldevelopment

Well-paid and still unhappy? This might be why There are two drivers behind your motivation at work: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. And I'm talking especially to those of you in mid-career. If you've worked hard and you've achieved a lot and yet something still feels off, this is for you. Now, the example I like to use is a child painting something at school. If they're painting because they love painting and they love the process, they love art, then that is what you would call intrinsic motivation. But if the child's doing it because they want to get a chocolate biscuit or a gold star from the teacher, then that is extrinsic motivation. So intrinsic is how you feel about this work, and extrinsic is the outcome as a result of doing that work. So, what does it provide for you? How does this turn up in the world of work? Well, intrinsic motivation at work is: I love doing this. I would do this if nobody were looking. It gives me real meaning to do this. It gives me purpose. I feel I get a rich state of flow. Extrinsic is: what do I get as a result of doing this work? So I get maybe a nice salary, I get benefits, I get a bit of security, I get status and a title, and prestige. You know, it's all the trappings of doing the work. And this isn't a case of you being on one side of this or the other. It's a balance. And this balance changes depending on your stage of life. For example, if you have achieved a lot, you might be in a senior position, you're being well paid, everyone says that you've made it, and yet you're feeling flat. That might be a sign that you're missing, or there's a deficit of, intrinsic motivation within your role. But on the flip side of that, you could have really meaningful work and still be really stressed because of your money, security, or recognition. You know, the external, the extrinsic things, aren't there, and that's causing the imbalance. So intrinsic and extrinsic are key when you're thinking about a change or improving things in mid-career. And I've built a simple diagnostic; it's 12 questions, and you can rattle through the questions very, very quickly, a couple of minutes, and it tells you immediately where you sit on this radar of intrinsic and extrinsic. And then you can sit there and think, well, how does this compare? You know, this is what I need from a motivation point of view, and what am I getting? And if those two things are miles apart, then it's no wonder that you're feeling a bit restless or stressed, or stuck. And it's a case of revisiting what would deliver the right things for your balance.

📚”Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career" by Herminia Ibarra Just finished an interesting read this weekend: Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about a completely different career, envisioning a life that feels more aligned with your true self? Whether it's a passing thought during a hectic workday or a deep-seated yearning for something more fulfilling, the desire to reinvent ourselves is something many of us have felt. But how do we take that leap without feeling like we're throwing away everything we've worked for? Enter Herminia Ibarra’s enlightening book, Working Identity. This book felt like a conversation with a wise friend who sees things differently. Ibarra challenges the traditional wisdom that we need to have it all figured out before we can make a move. Instead, she flips the script, suggesting that we learn by doing. It’s a refreshing perspective: career reinvention isn't a straight line but a winding path where we try on various "possible selves." Ibarra’s model for career transition is both practical & inspiring. She suggests three key strategies that anyone can adopt: Experimenting with New Activities: Dip your toes into different professional roles to discover hidden talents and interests. Interacting in New Networks: Engage with diverse groups of people who can open new doors and offer fresh insights. Reflecting on Experiences: Take time to make sense of your journey and the new possibilities that arise. The book is filled with fascinating stories—like a literature professor who became a stockbroker & an investment banker who found her calling as a novelist. These stories aren't just entertaining; they're proof that radical change is possible. Here are some of the golden nuggets I took away: Explore Possible Selves: Give yourself permission to try new things and see what excites you. Craft Identity Experiments: Set up small, low-risk experiments to test out new career ideas. Create Small Wins: Celebrate the little victories that keep you motivated and moving forward. Navigate the In-Between: Embrace the uncertainty that comes with change, knowing it's part of the process. Connect with Mentors: Seek out mentors and role models who can guide and support you. Reflect and Reframe: Regularly pause to reflect on your experiences and adjust your course as needed. Embrace New Stories: Start telling a new story that integrates your past with who you are becoming. Reading Working Identity was like having a heart-to-heart with someone who truly understands the complexities of career change. It's a heartfelt reminder that our journeys are uniquely our own and that the path to a fulfilling career is rarely straightforward. If you’re yearning for something more, maybe it’s time to let go of the old script & start experimenting with the new. Who knows what exciting adventures lie ahead? #WeekendMusings #BookReview #WorkingIdentity #LifeLongLearning #PersonalDevelopment