3 secrets to redefine success & create a career by design
Stuck at a career crossroads?
As a high-achiever, it’s tough to find yourself at a crossroads in your career.
Whether you’re trying to figure out WHAT you want — or HOW to get to ‘the next level’ in your career.
I’ve experienced many of these moments throughout my career. And I’ve spent the past 15 years helping high-performers clarify and reach their career goals too.
Taking everything I learnt along the way, I designed a structured process to help leaders use their existing expertise to make a purposeful shift in a new direction.
After refining these systems, I developed my 3-part ‘Career By Design’ method — which underpins all my coaching and training programs.
Today, I’m going to walk you through these 3 pillars, why they’re important and how you can use them to create your career, your way.
Here’s how to develop clarity, confidence and the right strategies to get unstuck, minimise risk and take the fear out of your next career move.
#1 — CLARITY
Ever found yourself in successful career, making great money — but it feels like something is missing? Perhaps you’re experiencing this right now — and asking yourself: But shouldn’t I be happy?
This is the exact situation I was in a few years ago. I remember feeling lost, confused about my direction and going round in circles trying to figure out what I wanted next.
Looking outside myself for answers, I obsessed over trying to find my ONE ‘dream career’ upfront — and see so many of my coaching clients do the same.
CLARITY is the first pillar of the Career By Design method. Because every person I work with is seeking clarity in their career. You’re either confused about WHAT you want like I was — or know your career goals but aren’t sure HOW reach them.
You may be at a stage in your career where you’re wondering WHERE you can go next. Whether you’ve hit a ceiling in your current company — or are unsure where else you can go in your existing profession.
Everyone will find themselves at a career crossroads at some stage. What I do is help you move from confusion to clarity.
My approach starts with YOU as an individual, rather than trying to identify the one job or career path you want upfront. This is the mistake I made in my career and one many of my clients make too.
Instead of looking externally, this method begins from the ‘inside out’ by building self-awareness. Understanding WHY you’re feeling stuck, unhappy or unfulfilled in your career and WHAT you truly want — before attempting to change it.
This requires you to tap into creativity. Because when you see the possibilities, you will create your career, your way.
#2 — CONFIDENCE
I recently met an amazing prospective client who is an expert in their field. They were highly competent, confident and had a lot of self-belief in their abilities. AND they had the experience, proven results and plenty of evidence to back it up.
Yet after shifting to a new sector, they became crippled with self-doubt and their confidence plummeted. Suddenly, they were dreading Monday and finding the work challenging. They knew how to do the job — what they needed to work on was their mindset.
This is exactly why the second pillar of the Career By Design method is CONFIDENCE. Because every client I work with wants to develop the confidence TO… speak up in meetings, ask for a pay-rise, promotion — or advance their careers in some way.
But confidence isn’t a place you start from — it’s an outcome or result. Confidence comes through courage. When you do the thing that makes you uncomfortable, you become more confident over time.
The way I approach confidence is by addressing the mindset blocks which keep you stuck, small and stop you taking action. As a certified coach, I’ll help you see your blind spots and work through the doubt, fears and insecurities holding you back. It’s this deeper work we do in our coaching sessions which creates new beliefs, patterns of behaviour and permanent changes.
When you have the courage to take action despite the discomfort, you will develop confidence over time.
#3 — CAREER STRATEGY
The third pillar of the Career By Design method is CAREER STRATEGY. This is the HOW. The exact steps to get you from where you are now — to where you want to go.
This includes the practical strategies to help you find clarity on your direction. Then once you know what you want next in your career, creating a plan to make your goals and vision a reality.
Having a career strategy helps you work through the entire process in a structured way. All so you can minimise fear and risk as you create the career you want.
It could include a strategy to redesign your current role — so it’s more aligned with your unique strengths, values, personality and goals. Or testing and validating your career ideas and creating a strategy to transition into a new role or career path. Instead of immediately searching for a new job or quitting without a plan.
This final piece of the puzzle is all about action and implementation. But taking action from a place of curiosity so you remain flexible and open to new paths and career opportunities. An example is my speaking and training work, which has become a big part of my existing coaching business — despite it not being my initial focus.
When you blend a clear strategy with curiosity, you will not only create the career you want — but one you could only imagine in your wildest dreams!
So there you have it. The exact method my clients and I have used to go from stuck at a career crossroads — to creating a career by design. I hope it supports you too!
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Stacey Back is a globally recognised and certified Career + Leadership Coach. She helps high-achievers at a career crossroads find the work that lights them up, increase their income, impact and create a career + life on their terms. Stacey works virtually with individuals and organisations based across the globe.