Do you check your emails at midnight or work on that document for an extra hour just to ‘get it done’ by tomorrow — even though you KNOW you’ll be more productive in the morning?

Today, we’re talking about overworking and how to manage it as a high-achieving senior leader who wants to stay ambitious without burning out.

The past few days, ‘9 to 5’ by the legendary Dolly Parton has been playing on repeat everywhere I go. And it’s a timely reminder, given how much I’ve been overworking lately. 

I was sitting at my desk one Thursday afternoon thinking I wanted to get to the gym before 5pm to beat the after work rush.

All of a sudden it was 7.30pm and I realised the gym closed at 9. And even though every inch of me was saying, ‘I’m exhausted’, I rushed out the door after a 12 hour day and got my workout in.

Walking out afterwards in the cold, dark night and pouring rain, I noticed I had a sore throat. For me, that’s always the first sign my body is fighting something off — and if I keep pushing, I’ll get sick.

The next morning, I woke up with the worst flu in a while, slept for 3 days straight and took 10 days to recover.

This wasn’t the result of a day of overworking or one decision to keep pushing when I needed to rest. It was the cumulative effect of burning the candle at both ends, logging back on after dinner and working well into the early hours for a number of weeks.

Because even though I’ve done the identity work to address overachievement and don’t try to prove myself anymore, I still fall back into the pattern of overworking at times.

I’ve done many deep dives into the specific causes of overworking. So, in this episode, I’m sharing what still drives this pattern — even after you’ve addressed the root cause.

You’ll learn:

• The surprising reason I’ve been overworking lately — and how to address your pattern without compromising your strengths or changing what makes you successful
• How to stop treating your to-do list like a critical deadline, so you can find the balance between healthy ambition and hustle
• The exact strategies I used to go from closing my business for 2 months to slowing down for 3 days, which will get you back on track before overworking tips into burnout 

So hit play now — and let’s dive in!

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Spotify.

Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave me a 5 star rating and review. This helps more people find the podcast and benefit too!

Connect with and work with me further:

→ Ready to find clarity, build confidence and create sustainable success on your terms? Explore Ignite Your Career.

Enrolling now for the September intake. Apply for a free 30 minute consult to get started!

→ Learn more about me here

→ Find out about my services for individuals and organisations.

WHY I’VE BEEN OVERWORKING LATELY

​As a high-achiever, there’s a part of me that’s always defaulted to overworking and pushing myself to the limit. Many years ago when my identity was tied up in work, overachievement was how I tried to prove myself.

These days, I don’t overwork to prove myself anymore but because I genuinely love what I do. It’s easy to get absorbed in a creative project or client work and lose track of time. Then I’m still sitting at my computer several hours later – or log on in the evenings and unexpectedly work until 2am.

I also like to go DEEP: in my coaching sessions, client emails, feedback or content. Brevity is not my strength, I like long-form creation and when I speak, it’s long-winded. And this takes a lot of time and energy.

But I don’t want to change this, it’s the way I’m wired. Excellence, delivering deep insights, high quality work and attention to detail are my unique strengths. Instead, it’s about putting practices in place to counteract the down side of this.

What I’m noticing is that for me, the pattern of overworking is driven by perfectionism. The internal pressure to keep on going and get ‘one more thing’ done.

This recent experience is an important reminder that this pattern still needs ongoing awareness and management. When you understand what’s driving overworking, you can take steps to address it.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEALTHY AMBITION & HUSTLE

I was talking to a client yesterday who received an urgent deadline on Friday afternoon and worked all weekend with only a few hours sleep. I explained to her that I treat these one-off occasions as short-term sprints. I’m talking 2% of your time or 2-3 times a year, not weeks on end.

As ambitious leaders with full lives and a lot on our plates, there will always be times where we need to do longer hours to meet a project deadline or prepare for a one-off event. This is fine when you consciously choose to work more for that period. I did this earlier in the year when I was getting ready for back-to-back client delivery and interstate travel.

However, I also created space on the other side to slow down and rest, so I could hustle for that short-term sprint. The key is not to get caught on the treadmill long-term.

But recently I’ve been treating my to-do list like a short-term sprint. I’m talking about the daily tasks that need to be done on an ongoing basis. As a result, I got into a bad habit of overworking and never made it off the treadmill!

When you’re intentional, you will find the balance between healthy ambition and hustle.

Finally, here’s what I’ve noticed will get you back on track during a period of overworking, before it tips into burnout. 

#1 — RESET

Getting the flu was a forced reset which gave me the chance to get my body back into balance. Last Monday morning a few meetings were serendipitously rescheduled — but I had little energy to do anything else that week, apart from minimal work behind the scenes. 

It’s also why this week’s podcast episode came out a couple of days later than planned. I could have pushed to get it published on Thursday. But after nearly 3 years of consistent fortnightly episodes, I gave myself permission to wait until I had the energy and the ideas landed. 

When you create space to reset, you will get your energy back and avoid burnout. 

#2 — FOCUS ON YOUR DAILY BIG 3

The extra time away from all the doing made me examine my patterns and how I’ve been working. And because I had limited energy last week, I had to prioritise what’s important. 

So I scaled my schedule back to the top 3 priorities I’m focusing on each day — not ten items on my to-do list. I also leave lots of space between every meeting or task, so I’m not racing from one thing to the next.  

When you focus on your highest priorities, you reduce the risk of overworking. 

#3 — PUT A HARD STOP ON OVERTIME

One of the biggest challenges for me as a night owl is working late into the evenings. Logging on again at 10pm can quickly escalate into a midnight marathon. 

Last week I set a clear boundary with myself and put a hard stop on the time I finish work. For the first time in months, I wrapped up work at 6pm and went for a walk before dinner. Because of this I was in bed by 10pm (which is incredibly early for me), able to wind down and wake up at a normal time without my alarm! 

When you protect your working hours, you will increase your productivity – and get more done, in less time.

#4 — CREATE THE FOUNDATIONS

This means establishing the daily practices that sustain you, especially during busy periods. No matter what’s on my plate, my non-negotiable is daily movement. This year I’ve been going to the gym 3 times a week, committed to lifting heavy and getting stronger. And on the days I don’t go for a run, at the very least I get out for a 30 minute walk. 

Limiting my late night log-ins is also key, as sleep remains a constant challenge for me. I usually go to bed around midnight, but if I work into the evenings, it’s easy to feel the creative urge and lose track of time. Or, I struggle to sleep because I’ve gone straight to bed after staring at a screen and I’m wired. 

When you build the right foundations, you will work more sustainably and recover faster if you’re running on empty. 

#5 — CATCH THE PATTERN EARLY & COURSE CORRECT

While I no longer work myself to the point of burnout, I am human. Years ago, this meant closing my business for 2 months. This time, my body forced me to slow down when I was sick in bed for 3 days.

But I’m not pushing myself to the limit, working 60-70+ hour weeks or experiencing cycles of burnout every couple of years anymore. These days, I notice when I start falling back into old habits of overworking and reset before it goes too far.

When you notice the pattern early and address it, you will minimise the impact of overworking.

So there you have it — exactly how I manage my own pattern of overworking. These strategies have helped my clients and I stay ambitious without burning out. I hope they support you too!

If you’re looking for an ongoing partnership to clarify your direction, build confidence and create sustainable success on your terms​, I invite you to explore Ignite Your Career.

I’m now taking applications for the next intake, with 2 spots available starting in September. Apply for a complimentary call to get started here.

Stacey Back is an executive career coach, strategist and speaker. She guides high-achieving senior leaders to design careers on their own terms and helps organisations to develop and retain them. 

Are you feeling so consumed by your work that you’re ready to quit without a plan — EVEN if it could lead to serious financial and career setbacks?

Today, we’re talking about how to stop running away from your current situation when you’re a senior leader or executive at a career crossroads — and start intentionally creating the future career you want.

This episode is part of the ‘Career By Design’ case study series, where I give you an exclusive, behind the scenes look at my clients’ career transformations. My intention with this series is to show you there isn’t one definition or clear pathway to success. Instead, it’s about identifying what this looks like to YOU.

Despite their different backgrounds, there are 3 things every client has in common which you can use to create a career by design too:

1. Clarity: Getting clear on what’s missing in your current career and what you want before attempting to change it

2. Confidence: Managing your mindset and shifting the self-doubt holding you back in your career to build confidence

3. Career Strategy: Focusing on solving the right problem and knowing which strategies will get you results at this stage of your career

In this case study, you’ll hear how one executive leader went from ready to resign to creating a 2-3 year transition plan — without even changing roles. Discover how taking ownership of their career kept them from making a reactive decision out of fear and the exact steps you can take to make a strategic career move.

You’ll learn:

• The first step you MUST take when you’re depleted and putting yourself under pressure to figure out your options, so you find clarity on your career direction
• How this client went from ready to resign and doubting his abilities to knowing his worth — without EVEN changing jobs
• The counterintuitive approach that turns an urgent escape plan into a strategic career move, so you dont stay stuck at a crossroads
• Top takeaways you can apply right now to create a career on your terms — even if walking away seems like the ONLY option

So hit play now — and let’s dive in!

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Spotify.

Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave me a 5 star rating and review. This helps more people find the podcast and benefit too!

Connect with and work with me further:

→ Ready to find clarity, build confidence and create a strategy to take ownership of your career? Explore Ignite Your Career.

Enrolling now for the September intake. Apply for a free 30 minute consult to get started!

→ Learn more about me here

→ Find out about my services for individuals and organisations.

RESULTS

​This executive leader was operating in a high-pressure environment, with little space to think strategically. When we started working together, he was depleted and so consumed by work that he couldn’t see his situation clearly. Work was affecting every aspect of his life, including his mental health and important relationships.

Walking away from his role seemed like the only option — even though it would have had detrimental consequences for his financial position and career progression.

We set three goals at the outset of his coaching program: The first was developing the self-assurance to lead a business line. Second, he wanted to leverage and communicate his core strengths and skills with confidence. And the final objective was to clarify his career vision and actionable steps to achieve it.

Six months later, this individual had achieved all three goals and exceeded his own expectations. He describes himself as a fundamentally different person, is doing well at work and seizing the opportunities around him.

As a result, he’s stopped running away from his current role and started running toward the future career he wants. Moving on is still the plan — yet it’s not urgent or reactive anymore. Instead, it’s intentional and will happen when the time is right for him.

CLARITY

When we first met, this person was in ‘survival’ mode and saw no other option than to leave his job. Because of this, he was putting pressure on himself to understand his career options. But you don’t find clarity without the capacity to think about your direction.

Although he couldn’t immediately change his work situation, we looked at what was within his control to do differently. The first priority was creating space to switch off from work and investing in the activities which nurtured him. This looked like going to the gym, cooking healthy meals at home and spending quality time with family.

Once this individual had some space, we identified his core values, strengths, talents and interests. This gave him an immediate understanding of what was missing in his current career and what was within his control to change. He could also see how to harness this self-awareness when making future career decisions.

Next, we clarified his overarching career vision. From there, we used these insights to start exploring potential career options in a structured way and pinpoint his preferred pathway. Through this process, he realised he had more options than expected — which removed the pressure to make a rushed decision.

Once this leader had clarity on his direction, he was more determined than ever to excel further in his career and forge his own path. One that works for him, his values and priorities!

When you start by creating capacity, you will find clarity on your career direction.

CONFIDENCE

The biggest transformation this client experienced was a complete perspective shift in the way he viewed his situation. Before coaching, his confidence had taken a serious hit, he was doubting his abilities and had internalised that HE was the issue.

His belief from the outset was that the only way to improve his current circumstances was to resign. But the fear of making the wrong move and ending up in an even worse position held him back.

Through the deeper mindset work we did together, this individual developed the tools to shift his thinking and challenge the story he was telling himself. He’s in a completely different headspace and is no longer caught up in the negative aspects of his immediate role. Instead of reacting out of fear, he’s focused on the future and is making intentional decisions.

We also identified how to leverage his unique strengths and skills to his advantage and communicate his value proposition with confidence. This leader now knows his worth and finally recognises he’s operating at the level required for someone in his position. As a result, he’s gained confidence and is seizing the opportunities around him that he previously shied away from.

His mindset has completely shifted and he’s no longer running away from his current situation but towards what’s next — when the time is right for him.

When you shift your perspective, you will have the confidence back yourself — without even changing roles.

CAREER STRATEGY

‘I’m too busy to even THINK about what to do next’. I hear this all the time from high-achieving leaders who are juggling demanding roles and putting their careers on hold.

And it’s exactly where this executive client was before coaching: exhausted, unable to focus or think strategically about his career.

He couldn’t see a way forward that didn’t involve walking away from his role and going back to the drawing board. But quitting would likely lead to serious financial and career setbacks.

This is exactly what Seth Godin was talking about in a recent episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast when he said: ‘When you want two things at the same time that can’t co-exist, you feel stuck.’

You can’t immediately quit a senior level position without risking your financial security. But you can start taking steps towards what you want next while still in your existing job.

I’ve had clients come to me wanting a complete career change. However, they’re not willing to take a pay cut. Their desire to do more fulfilling work is in direct conflict with their current financial and lifestyle commitments.

Some people choose to transition slowly by building something on the side, reducing their hours or upskilling over time. Others decide it isn’t the right time — or that it doesn’t align with their priorities. One recent client chose to stay in his existing field to maximise his income during this growth phase and change careers in another 5 years.

Either way, knowing this allows you to make an intentional decision — instead of staying stuck at a career crossroads.

For this leader, taking ownership meant choosing to stay for now. It sounds counterintuitive but he turned a reactive career decision into a strategic career move.

To start, we reverse-engineered his vision into short to medium term goals and action steps. He then committed to a regular cadence of objectives that he ticked off each week, which kept him in momentum.

This person also looked strategically for growth opportunities in his existing organisation. He developed new skills and gained exposure to projects, transactions and business functions where he didn’t have as much experience. Staying longer proved to be a smarter strategy to support his next career move and long-term goals.

Next, he reconnected with his network, continued to expand it and updated his career documents so he could immediately respond to new opportunities. Finally, he did the work to test and validate different career paths in advance, so he could minimise risk with his move.

Executive career transitions are a 2-3 year plan, not a quick job change. At senior levels, making the move IS the final step — once you’ve clarified what you want, positioned yourself correctly and executed the strategy.

This individual is clear on his next step and knows the work required to make it a success. Moving on is still the goal though it’s on his timeline — not a rushed exit forced by fear.

When you create a long-term strategy instead of an urgent escape plan, you will take ownership of your career.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

So what can you take from this client’s transformation? Here are my top 3 takeaways and how YOU can apply them to your career!

#1 — Get up on the balcony

When you’re depleted, it’s difficult to make decisions or think strategically about your career. In his work on Adaptive Leadership, Harvard Professor Ron Heifetz talks about ‘getting off the dance floor and up on the balcony’. You need to create space and step back far enough to see your situation clearly.

#2 — Know your priorities and trade-offs

Every career choice has a trade-off. Knowing yours helps you make an intentional decision, instead of staying caught at a crossroads. Sometimes staying longer is the smartest strategy, so you can gain experience, upskill or transition slowly — without the risk of starting over or taking a huge pay cut.

#3 — Create a runway

If you’re looking to step into your next senior leadership or executive role within 2-3 years, start the process NOW. Begin laying the groundwork before you’re desperate to leave, so you’re ready when the right opportunity appears. This is what separates a rushed exit from a strategic, long-term career move.

So there you have it. How my client went from believing quitting was his only option to a planned exit on his terms. I hope this helps you find direction, build confidence and gives you a clear strategy to create a career by design too.

If you’re looking for an ongoing partnership to clarify your direction, build confidence and create a personalised strategy to take ownership of your career, I invite you to explore Ignite Your Career.

I’m now taking applications for the next intake, with 2 spots available starting in September. Apply for a complimentary call to get started here.

Stacey Back is an executive career coach, strategist and speaker. She guides high-achieving senior leaders to design careers on their own terms and helps organisations to develop and retain them. 

Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough?

That you’re not qualified enough, smart or successful enough. Not confident enough, old or young enough.

In short — you’re not enough.

Today, I’m talking about the specific ways I see this show up when you’re a high-achieving leader at a crossroads in your career — and how to work through it.

Years ago, back in my legal recruitment days, I sponsored an International Women’s Day lunch for women lawyers. One of the guest speakers was a senior judge who spoke about her career journey.

She blew me away as she shared candidly about her experience with imposter syndrome. Of feeling like a fraud, not good enough and at times, inadequate compared to the women around her.

I glanced around the room at all the accomplished women, at different stages of their careers. And noticed the nodding and the looks of acknowledgement on their faces.

They recognised themselves in her story.

It was then I realised. So often at these events or in my dealings with women like this, I’d felt inadequate or not enough too.

And after coaching hundreds of successful leaders, I’ve witnessed how widespread this ‘not-enough’ is.

In this episode, I’m sharing the 4 patterns I see high-achievers experience when they’re at a crossroads in their careers. You’ll walk away with the antidote to each one so you can strengthen your self-worth and minimise feelings of ‘not enough’.

We’ll cover:

• The common pattern that keeps Type A achievers waiting for the ‘perfect’ plan or trying to THINK their way to clarity — and how to move your career in the right direction
• Why it feels like something’s missing EVEN when you’re successful on paper and the one shift to design a career that’s fulfilling and sustainable
• What to do if you chose your career for the wrong reasons and it no longer fits, so you make future decisions from a place of ownership, not obligation
• The dangerous pattern that has you fixating on your weaknesses when someone else succeeds — and why it’s proof of what’s possible for YOU

So hit play now NOW and let’s dive in!

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Spotify.

Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave me a 5 star rating and review. This helps more people find the podcast and benefit too!

Connect with and work with me further:

→ Ready to find clarity on your direction, overcome self-doubt with confidence and create a strategy for your next career chapter? Explore Ignite Your Career.

Apply for a free 30 minute consult to get started!

→ At a crossroads in your career? Take the FREE Career Success Code Assessment.

→ Learn more about me here

→ Find out about my services for individuals and organisations.

WHY YOU DON’T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH

​Both nature and nurture can impact your self-worth and lead you to experience feelings of ‘not enough’.

First, fear is a protective mechanism, designed to keep you safe. It presents anytime your amygdala perceives there’s a ‘threat’ to your survival.

When you’re at a career crossroads, this could look like a fear of judgement which holds you back from putting yourself out there. Or worrying you’ll fail when starting something new.

The other contributor is your core beliefs, adopted in childhood. Your parents, society and the media influenced these beliefs in your early years of life.

Growing up, did you receive praise for achievement and performance? Your academic results, sports accomplishments, having good manners or people pleasing. If so, you may have developed the belief you need to be ‘perfect’ or ‘successful’ to feel good about yourself.

Even though I still experience moments of ‘not enough’, I’ve cultivated my self-worth and know how to move through it.

Here’s how this shows up at a career crossroads — and what to do about it. 

PATTERN #1 — PERFECTIONISM

The first pattern I see is perfectionism — and as a recovering perfectionist, I know this one intimately. At the heart of perfectionism is a deep fear of not being good enough. It’s striving for perfection or success to validate your self-worth.

As a Type A achiever at a crossroads in your career, this commonly presents as waiting to create the ‘perfect’ plan before taking any action. You could spend hours going down the Google rabbit hole researching potential career paths or trying to think your way to clarity.

These activities are often procrastination in disguise. You avoid action because deep down, you fear failure or are worried about making the wrong choice about your future career. ESPECIALLY when you’ve already accomplished a lot or are seen as successful at what you do.

If you notice yourself in this pattern, here’s the antidote: go for progress, not perfection. Realise no-one is perfect and do your best.

Remember: to fail doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Learn from your mistakes without being self-critical or beating yourself up.

One tool to support you with this is reframing your thoughts. Perfectionism runs on the internal script: ‘If this isn’t perfect, I’ve failed’ or ‘I can’t move forward until I know it’s the right step.’

This negative self-talk stems from your core, sub-conscious beliefs. To work through it, start with awareness. Notice the belief and challenge it.

Then, replace this belief with a more helpful one. ‘I’m a failure’ becomes ‘I did my best.’ ‘I don’t have enough experience’ turns into ‘I have everything I need to succeed.’

Finally, celebrate your successes. Take time to acknowledge your achievements rather than playing them down or rushing to the next goal!

When you reframe failure as learning, you will overcome perfectionism and start moving in the right direction.

PATTERN #2 — OVERACHIEVEMENT

The second pattern I’ve observed is overachievement — basing your worth on your level of productivity. Because when you’re praised or rewarded for working hard, you develop the belief that overworking is the key to success.

You have so much to do and so little time! Anything ‘unproductive’ — sleep, self-care or doing something FUN — becomes a waste of time. For many years when work became a part of my self-worth and identity, I was guilty of this.

For a leader at a crossroads, this initially shows up as a sense that something’s missing at work. You may struggle to stay motivated because external success alone isn’t enough anymore. You’re feeling empty, unfulfilled and end up asking: Is this all there is?

And at times, something external forces you to slow down and reassess your career. It could be burnout, grief or even a relationship breakdown. Often that’s the very catalyst for the crossroads you’re at now.

If this pattern resonates with you, the antidote is to detach your worth from work. This is about your identity, not laziness or doing less. And you don’t need to compromise your work ethic either.

In practice, this looks like learning to say no, prioritising rest and self-care. And by self-care, I’m not talking about bubble baths or spa days (though I love those!). It means slowing down when you need to in order to speed up later.

When you detach your worth from work, you will intentionally design a career that’s both fulfilling AND sustainable.

PATTERN #3 — SEEKING EXTERNAL VALIDATION

The third pattern I see is relying on other people’s opinions to feel good about yourself. You may seek validation by chasing money, status or other external markers of ‘success’. At the core of this is the fear of being judged, criticised or rejected by others.

For some people, this pattern has dictated their entire career or seen them pick a particular path for the wrong reasons. You could’ve become a doctor or lawyer because your parents expected it. Or perhaps you pursued a career in finance for the sole purpose of making money.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with these things. I know I prioritised them for decades. But it IS a problem if you’re basing your future decisions on what you think you should do — not what you want.

As a high-achiever at a career crossroads, this looks like writing off potential career ideas as unrealistic or not possible without exploring them. Or staying stuck in a career that’s no longer aligned because you’re worried what others will think.

For me, the thought of leaving a ‘successful’ career to do something different was petrifying at first. But money was the only thing keeping me there and it slowly started losing its grip.

If you relate to this pattern, the antidote is to start from the ‘inside out’. Ask yourself what YOU want first, rather than seeking the approval of others. After all, you have the right answers within yourself!

One of the tools I recommend to support this is self-acknowledgement. Instead of judging or criticising yourself, focus on self-compassion. Take the time to celebrate who you are — your best qualities.

Here’s a simple daily practice I learnt from my own coach several years ago. Each morning, write down three personal qualities you’re celebrating in yourself. Begin each sentence with ‘I am…’, as in ‘I am creative’, ‘I am courageous’, ‘I am generous’.

It’s normal for this exercise to feel unnatural at first but don’t dismiss it! When I first started, it took me forever to come up with my top three. But the longer I did it (and the more I stepped into my worth), the easier it was to list off my three qualities.

Still finding this tough or feeling self-conscious? Start by acknowledging others in your daily interactions. The slower you are to judge or criticise others, the easier it will be to do the same for yourself.

When you start from the inside-out, you’ll make future career choices from a place of ownership, not obligation.

PATTERN #4 — COMPARISON

The final pattern I’ve noticed is comparison. If you’re anything like me, you feel good about yourself until you compare yourself to others.

One moment you’re feeling on top of the world. The next, you scroll social media and see someone putting the idea YOU had out into the world — or doing something you aspire to do. Then you feel small, unworthy and not enough in comparison.

When you’re at a crossroads in your career, this looks like the LinkedIn announcement about a board position, promotion or new role with the prestigious organisation. Or the person who’s landed the big client, book deal or launched the business you want.

And when you see someone else accomplish the thing you want to do, you tell yourself it isn’t possible for you. Then you fixate on your weaknesses and all the things you think you lack. As a result, you freeze and don’t take action.

If you’re experiencing this pattern, here’s the antidote: make comparison irrelevant.

Instead of doubting yourself, use these feelings as fuel for what you desire. Not only does comparison reveal what you want, it shows you what’s possible.

If others have achieved it, you can too. This is about shifting from a scarcity to abundance mindset and realising there’s more than enough to go around.

Finally, stay in your lane and look for evidence of your strengths and past achievements. Because when you focus on YOUR unique gifts — not your weaknesses or what you believe you lack — comparison becomes irrelevant.

Everyone experiences the feeling of not being good enough at times — even the most accomplished person in the room. If one of these patterns is showing up for you at a career crossroads right now, these are the exact strategies that have helped my clients and I work through it. I hope they support you too!

Are you at a career crossroads and ready to clarify your direction, overcome self-doubt with confidence and create a strategy for your next career chapter?

Click HERE to apply for a complimentary 30 minute consult.

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.

Have you left it too late to create the career you want? Or are you telling yourself time is running out to make a change?

If you’re a senior leader at a career crossroads and you’re circling these very questions, today I’m giving you a filter to run your situation through.

The leaders I work with are typically in their 40’s or 50’s. I remember one client telling me in our very first consult: ‘I turned 50 last year, I figure I’ve got 10-15 years until retirement and I want to make the most of this time.’

Yet one of the most common things I hear is: What if I’ve left it too late?

Often it’s the first time they’ve said it out loud — and something they haven’t admitted to anyone else.

The short answer to this question is: It’s NEVER too late. But there are a few things which will keep you at a crossroads longer than you need to be — regardless of your age or circumstances.

So in this episode, I’m walking you through a 5 part checklist to assess your current situation. Find out if you’ve left it too late and what to do instead to start creating the career you want.

You’ll learn:

• The ONE shift that determines whether you’ll design your next career chapter intentionally, rather than letting time run out
• Why figuring out what you want next takes less time than avoiding it — and how to ensure you’re not standing at the same crossroads in 2 years’ time
• How waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment guarantees you WILL leave it too late to make a change in your career
• What’s really hiding beneath the belief ‘I’m running out of time’ and how to stop using timing as an excuse
• How one client redefined success at a stage when many people choose to slow down in their careers — and why they’re living proof it’s NEVER too late

So hit play now NOW and let’s dive in!

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

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#1 — YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME

The first way to know you haven’t left it too late to create the career you want is: You BELIEVE you have plenty of time left in your career.

Statistically, if you’re 50 and plan to retire by 65, you still have 10-15 years of work ahead of you. Or 20 + years if you’re still in your 40’s.

But there’s a difference between knowing you have time and believing those years are worth designing intentionally.

Because at this stage, what you want from your career can start to shift. It’s often no longer only about making money or climbing the corporate ladder. You may also want leave a legacy, do more meaningful work or balance it with your health, hobbies or time with loved ones.

Many people are working well beyond retirement too. They want to continue making a contribution or to give back by starting a business, taking on a board role or doing part-time consulting work.

Still, time isn’t guaranteed. I think about my Dad, who worked incredibly hard his entire life and passed away a couple of years before he got to enjoy retirement.

I don’t mean to sound morbid but it’s the truth. Right now you have time, so make sure you use it.

So how do you want to spend this next career chapter? Because when you believe these years are worth it, you will design this next career chapter intentionally — rather than letting time run out.

#2 — YOU’RE READY TO WORK OUT WHAT’S NEXT

The second way to identify you haven’t left it too late is: You’re willing to invest the time to work out what’s next.

But if you’re already busy, it’s easy to believe you ‘don’t have time’ to figure out what you want. So you wait until your latest project wraps, you return from leave or the kids are at school full-time — and keep putting it off.

Or you default to what you’ve been conditioned to do — applying for new roles or reaching out to your network for the next opportunity. It may sound like progress, but the problem is you don’t know what you REALLY want.

Because without understanding what’s missing in your current career or what you want, those issues will follow you to your next role. I see it all the time: Clients who come to me 2 years later at a crossroads, wondering how they ended up in the same position.

And when you’re worried you’ve left it too late, it’s even more essential to act NOW.

This doesn’t have to take a lot of time compared to how long you’ve already been avoiding it. Investing a few months now will set you up for the next 10, 15, even 20 years, so you have clarity on what the next decade or two looks like.

This is the exact problem I help my clients solve — and the structured process we work through allows them to find clarity faster than doing it alone.

Because if you’re NOT willing to invest the time to figure it out, that’s fine — but it’s a personal choice. You’ll simply be standing at the same crossroads in 5 or 10 years’ time.

When you invest the time now, you will work out what you want next in your career.

#3 — YOU TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION

The third way to know you haven’t left it too late to create the career you want is: You take imperfect action.

As a high-achieving leader, you’re prone to perfectionism and may wait until you have the ‘perfect plan’ before moving. And when you’re very logical and strategic in your approach, you can get caught up in research or analysis paralysis and avoid taking action.

But if you’re not prepared to test, experiment or take action, you WILL leave it too late. I know that sounds blunt, yet it’s the truth. And I think it needs to be said more often.

I remember exploring my career options before moving into the work I do now. When it came to setting up conversations with people doing work I was interested in, I really resisted.

Not because I lacked the confidence to reach out — quite the opposite. As an extrovert who’d spent the past decade in sales, I LOVED talking to people! What held me back at first was that my identity was tied up in work.

Because what would people think if I considered doing something different? And who would I even BE without the successful career and work I was known for?

Still I reached out anyway, despite the discomfort. Within a couple of months, this one action alone helped me clarify what I wanted to do next and build new connections with people who still support my career today. If I wasn’t willing to put in the work and get uncomfortable, I would NEVER have built the career I have now.

When you take imperfect action, it will never be too late to create the career you want.

#4 — YOU’RE NOT USING TIMING AS AN EXCUSE

The fourth way to determine you haven’t left it too late is: You’re NOT using timing as an excuse. Because what’s really hiding beneath “I’m running out of time” is FEAR.

The fear of what others will think if you step away from a ‘successful’ career. Fear of failure. Anxiety about throwing away everything you’ve invested into your current career over the past 20+ years.

And with it all on the line, you’re worried about making the wrong choice…

The closer you feel to running out of time, the bigger the fear. Because the stakes are higher and you have more to lose than you did in your 20’s and 30’s.

When I first changed careers and moved into the work I do now, I felt like I was starting again. So instead of backing myself, self-doubt kept me doing ‘busy’ work behind the scenes.

This looked like trying to create the perfect website or LinkedIn profile before putting anything out there. But what actually got results and built my confidence was sharing my work and getting feedback from the market.

Here’s what I NOW know to be true: There’s no such thing as making a ‘wrong’ move — it’s learning. Every imperfect step gives you data that points you in the right direction.

So if you refuse to use timing as an excuse out of fear, see it as evidence you haven’t left it too late.

#5 — YOU’RE OPEN TO WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

The final way to know you haven’t left it too late to create the career you want is: You’re open to what success looks like in this season. EVEN if it’s different to what it looked like in your 30’s.

If you’re anything like me, success at 30 meant putting your head down, working hard and striving for the next pay rise or promotion. You were in the growth phase of your career, driven by money, status and other external markers of ‘success’.

Because there’s one clear definition of and pathway to success — and once you’re on it, you don’t question it. Until one day, you hit the ceiling in your current company, team or industry and are wondering where you can go next.

Or suddenly, it feels like something’s missing. You want MORE — and chasing money or titles alone doesn’t cut it anymore. Like me, you could have hit the point of burnout or are finding yourself at a crossroads, questioning what you want next.

As a high-achieving senior leader, that ambition doesn’t leave you in your 40’s, 50’s and beyond — it looks different. What happens is life gets busier with big financial and other life commitments like kids, a mortgage and aging parents.

And once you’ve reached a certain income, title or level of success, your priorities expand. Success in this current season or life stage could look like making an impact, doing fulfilling work or creating room for other areas of life outside your career.

If you’re NOT open to redefining success in this season, you’ll remain caught at this crossroads and risk never creating the career you want.

When I think of the perfect example of someone who has redefined success and is living proof it’s never too late to create the career you want, my client Julie comes to mind. Julie was a guest back on Episode #53 of the podcast, where she shared about navigating a career crossroads after decades as a financial planner and non-executive director.

When we started working together, Julie had already built and sold a successful financial planning business, then pursued another career. She came to me the year she turned 60 to work out what she wanted in this next career chapter.

What she created was a new business mentoring financial planning leaders and developing the next generation of advisers in her industry. In our interview, she talks about her motivations for launching a company at a stage when many people choose to slow down in their careers.

When you know what success looks like in this season and you’re intentionally creating your career around it — that’s the final sign you haven’t left it too late.

So there you have it. The 5 ways to tell you haven’t run out of time to create the career you want. Let’s do a quick recap and use my client Julie as an example.

First, she believed she had plenty of time left. Second, she was willing to invest in figuring out what she wanted next. Third, she took action instead of waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment.

Fourth, she didn’t use timing as an excuse out of fear. And finally, she was open to redefining what success looked like in this current season.

So have you left it too late? Run yourself through the same filter. But the answer is almost always NO — unless you choose it.

Ready to find clarity on your direction, build confidence and create a strategy for your next career chapter? Explore Ignite Your Career.

Apply for a complimentary 30 minute call with me to get started HERE.

Have you been putting your head down and working hard since the start of January — without pausing to check your career is moving in the direction you want?

If so, today I’m walking you through a mid-year career reset to finish 2026 strong.

We’re officially halfway through the year!

In Australia, 30 June marks the end of financial year — a time where you naturally look back at the past 12 months and plan ahead. So I thought this would be a great opportunity for us to check in on your career together and reset your goals for the next 6 months.

But as I sat down to record this episode, I felt creatively blocked. After putting it off all week, I made two attempts to outline it over the weekend. Both times I hit a wall, slammed my Mac shut and binged TV instead.

Because even though I guide high-achieving leaders through this exact resistance, I’m not immune to it. So I did what I’d recommend to any of my clients: I recognised I was mentally tapped and allowed myself to rest.

Then on Monday morning, instead of trying to THINK about how to explain this process, I took myself through it. And it worked. The insights I got from this exercise surprised me and I know it’ll do the same for you.

In this episode, I’m sharing the exact strategies I used earlier this week to help you:

• Reflect on the past 6 months, so you can clarify what you want to create in the second half of 2026
• Identify the ONE area to focus on next to find fulfillment at work and set your career up for success — no matter where you are now
• Discover the first step to take right NOW to reduce overwhelm, build momentum and begin the rest of the year with intention

So grab a pen and paper and let’s finish the year strong!

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Spotify.

Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave me a 5 star rating and review. This helps more people find the podcast and benefit too!

Connect with and work with me further:

→ Ready to figure out what you want next in your career, back yourself with confidence and create a strategy to reach your goals by the end of 2026? Explore Ignite Your Career.

Apply for a free 30 minute consult to get started!

→ Learn more about me here

→ Find out about my services for individuals and organisations.

STEP #1 — REFLECT

How often do you pause and reflect? It wasn’t until I hit burnout several years ago that I realised: I never reflected on my career.

I’m a natural doer who dives into action, works hard and follows through. And if you’re reading this, I know you’re the same.

Yet, this focus on ‘doing’: planning, strategising and ticking off to-do’s — often comes at the expense of reflecting on successes, learnings or celebrating progress toward your goals.

And at this point in the year when you’re exhausted or disappointed with your results, it’s easy to overlook what you have achieved. Our brains fixate on the gaps, which is why reflection is essential!

One of my favourite quotes by Maya Angelou is: ‘You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.’

Let’s start reflecting on your career by looking back at the first half of 2026. This is the exact process I used earlier this week:

1. What are you celebrating so far this year?

Every January, you set big goals and work hard to achieve them. But how often do you pause to celebrate the milestones along the way? Acknowledging your success is essential for finding fulfillment at work.

Think back to your January goals. What were your greatest career wins and what obstacles did you overcome?

List everything you’re celebrating. Did you deliver a project on time and budget — or land an important client? Have you received a promotion or started a new job? Are you working flexibly, prioritising your health or building your network?

Did you overcome health issues or family challenges? Were you dealing with burnout or a challenging work environment?

Finally, highlight your top achievement so far in 2026 and why it’s important to you.

I’ll share some of mine to get you started. One win I almost dismissed was achieving my biggest year in this business. But my main accomplishment was going all in on my podcast as the main platform and seeing it convert to paid clients.

Why this matters is that I’ve invested significant time building trust with my audience, backed myself to make a decision when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed — and now have the evidence it’s working!

2. What are your biggest lessons from the past 6 months?

Reflect on what you’ve learnt in 2026 and how you’ve grown. Consider the mistakes you made or anything which didn’t go as planned.

Remember: Failure isn’t about the outcome — it’s about having the courage to step outside your comfort zone, try something new and grow. Take a couple of minutes to list your biggest career lessons so far this year.

Is it setting better boundaries, letting go of perfectionism or comparison? Did you delegate more effectively to free up space for strategic thinking? Have you put yourself out there, applied for a new role or pitched for a new client — even if it wasn’t successful?

Once you have this list, identify your most significant lesson. What will you do differently in the second half of 2026 to course-correct or avoid similar mistakes? Write down the ONE change you’ll make and why it matters.

My biggest lesson (and the source of my recent resistance) is letting urgent tasks and client delivery take over the important projects that will have the greatest long-term impact on my business. The one change I’m making is prioritising those projects first because they’ll allow me to scale my work.

One high-performing leader described being “caught up in the hamster wheel of daily tasks and work responsibilities”. Despite his ambition, he admitted to ‘coasting’ in his career — focusing on getting the job done without pausing to consider his goals. This lack of reflection limited his ability to dream bigger and risked derailing his long-term career aspirations.

Through our work together, he did the reflection he’d been avoiding for years, which gave him clarity on his direction. As a result, he transitioned into his desired career through an internal job move. Now, he’s taking ownership of his career and no longer treats career management as an afterthought to his day job.

When you pause to reflect on where you’ve been, you will clarify what you want next in your career.

STEP #2 — REVIEW

Now you’ve reflected on the first half of 2026, let’s review your current situation to clarify what is and isn’t working in your career.

I’ve created a tool called the Career Sweet Spot which is built around four important pillars: your strengths, passions, ideal lifestyle and income. At the centre is the IMPACT you want to make. This includes your purpose — or the ‘why’ behind your work and career goals — and your values, which are your top priorities in life.

By understanding your career sweet spot, you can set the right goals, make the correct career choices, and build a fulfilling, sustainable career!

Let’s use the Career Sweet Spot tool to assess your current level of satisfaction in each area. Then, you’ll pinpoint the ONE area to focus on in the next 6 months to find fulfillment at work.

1. Rate each area on a scale of 1-5 (1 = not at all, 5 = completely) based on how much it’s honoured in your career

Jot down your scores, move quickly and trust your first instinct!

• How aligned is my career with my purpose and the impact I want to make?
• To what extent is it in alignment with my values and what’s important to me?
• How well does it match my unique strengths and expertise?
• Is it a fit for my passions and the work I enjoy?
• Does it suit my current life stage and desired lifestyle?
• How well does it meet my financial goals?

Next, identify the lowest ranked area and highlight it. This is your ONE focus for the second half of 2026.

If you have more than one, consider: Which would have the biggest impact on your career if it improved?

2. What’s one step you can take to move closer to a 5 in that area?

For example, to increase your income, you could negotiate a pay rise, promotion or start a side hustle. If you want to improve your lifestyle, you could create better boundaries around your work hours.

One client chose passions as their focus area, which meant more variety and doing work which lights them up. The actions identified to support this included requesting different projects or clients, moving roles internally or leaving their organisation altogether.

By the time we finished working together, this person had left a 20+ year IT career to launch their own property business, work they’re truly passionate about.

When you assess your current career situation, you’ll uncover the one focus area to set your career up for success in the second half of 2026.

STEP #3 — RESET

Now you know your top focus area, let’s reset your career goals for the next 6 months.

Did you know over 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February?

If you’re anything like me, you look forward to a fresh start in January and set big goals for the year ahead. But then your daily to-do list takes over, leaving you overwhelmed — and unsure where to start…

This isn’t due to a lack of ambition or hard work. What happens is life gets in the way and without a clear plan, it’s easy to lose focus.

It’s why I think it’s unrealistic to rely on ONE moment in the year to reset everything. Instead, I believe in having a clear vision, setting meaningful goals and creating a step-by-step plan to reach them ANY time.

1. Clarify your vision for the next 6 months

Because think of it this way: You wouldn’t jump in your car and start driving without knowing where you were going. Your vision is the destination and your goals the roadmap that gets you there.

Imagine it’s December 2026, you’re exactly where you want to be in your career and looking back on the past year. Answer these questions as if it’s already happened:

• What goals did you reach in 2026? Think about the successes you highlighted in Step 1 and what you wanted more of in the second half of the year.
  
• What did you let go of? Consider the lessons from Step 1, such as: the fears or limiting beliefs holding you back, commitments or relationships which no longer serve you, or anything you’re no longer willing to say YES to for the rest of 2026.
• What’s different NOW? Reflect on the focus area from Step 2 and shifts you wanted to make in the second half of the year

2. Define your priority goal for the next 90 days

From what you’ve written, highlight the ONE thing you want to change or achieve in the next quarter. Then ask yourself: Why does it matter? Knowing the purpose behind your goal keeps you motivated and on track — especially when challenges come up!

Now, declare your goal. Write it down as if you’ve already achieved it, by finishing this sentence:

On 31 December 2026, I will have (write your goallist the goal). This is important to me because (insert why).

Studies show that writing your goals down (as if they’ve already happened) increases the likelihood you’ll achieve them. This is because your brain seeks out the information it needs to reach your goals — and discards the rest!

My goal for the next 90 days is to build out a new semi-private coaching program, so it’s ready to launch by the end of September.

Here’s my example: On 31 December 2026, I will have launched the first cohort of this program. This is important because I want to create another way for people to work with me, generate a new income stream and scale without draining my energy.

3. Create some action steps to reach your 90 day goal

How will you achieve it? Write down 3 actions to implement this quarter, breaking them down into micro-steps.

What’s the next best step you can take right now? Highlight or circle your first step and commit to it. Your challenge is to take action on it within the next 2 weeks!

The actions I identified for my goal are to schedule two blocks each week to build out the program, start recording the modules and market the first cohort. My next best step was to schedule the first 2 hour block to work on it on Tuesday morning.

One client set the goal to work smarter, not harder by putting systems in place to become more organised and feel less chaotic. We started with email, the biggest distraction and time suck because they’re reacting to it multiple times a day. Their first step was to turn off notifications and schedule set times throughout the day to check and respond to emails.

When you identify your next best step, you will build momentum and start the second half of 2026 with intention.

So there you have it. 3 simple steps that have helped my clients and I reset our career goals and finish the year strong. I hope this process supports you too!

Ready to figure out what you want next in your career, back yourself with confidence and create a strategy to reach your goals by the end of 2026? Explore Ignite Your Career.

Apply for a complimentary 30 minute call with me to get started HERE.

Stacey Back is an executive career coach, strategist and speaker. She guides high-achieving senior leaders to design careers on their own terms and helps organisations to develop and retain them.