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.

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, build 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.

#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. 

Ready to make a change in your career — but you’re too busy to start? Finding another year has gone by, you’re no closer to clarifying your direction and you’re wondering if you’ve left it too late?

Today, we’re talking about one of the biggest roadblocks holding high-achievers back from figuring out what’s next in their careers: “I don’t have time”.

I recently met a leader who was at a career crossroads and unsure what they wanted next or how to address it. This person was 100% committed and ready to go ALL IN on working together. However, they initially held off getting started while they waited to hear back about a new role.

My only objective was to help this individual make the right decision. And so the one thing I warned them about was not to let timing be the reason that continued to get in the way.

Because something I see amongst the busy leaders I work with is how easy it is to keep waiting for the ‘right time’. You’ll do it when: you’ve completed this project, returned from leave, started the new role (or insert your condition or timeframe).

And before you know it, months have passed by without anything changing.

In my experience, ‘I don’t have time’ is rarely about time. It often comes up when you’re terrified of failing or throwing away everything you’ve invested into your current career, so it’s safer to stay where you are.

It’s always important to consider your current season or life stage. But notice if you keep putting off exploring what you want next indefinitely or using the ‘time excuse’ out of fear.

In this episode, I’m sharing 4 tips to figure out what you want next in your career — EVEN if you feel like you ‘don’t have time’. You’ll walk away with practical ideas you can personalise to your current capacity and circumstances, so you start creating the career you want.

You’ll learn:

• The ONE mindset shift that separates the leaders who figure out what they want next (from those who don’t)
• Why trying to think your way to clarity won’t work — and how to generate more career ideas in one chat than months of self-reflection
• How to make sure financial pressure never becomes the reason you abandon your long-term career goals
• The secret to creating time that has nothing to do with productivity — and why 15 minutes a week beats doing nothing for 6 months

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 June 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.

TIP #1 — COMMIT

You always have a choice about whether you keep putting off exploring what you want — or if you commit and go all in. This mindset piece comes first because without it, you’ll keep making excuses.

A senior leader was referred to me because they were thinking about making a change — but weren’t sure what this looked like. Before we got started, their employer offered them a promotion into their first C-suite role.

On paper, it made complete sense. So they took it, got busy with the handover, and we never proceeded. Nearly 2 years later, they have the title — yet still don’t know what they want next.

In contrast, the client I mentioned at the top of this episode also had a lot on their plate — as a single parent, caring for their mother and currently between roles.

I highlighted that the majority of my clients are employed full-time and have very full lives, so the program is designed to be flexible rather than create more pressure. We’d build coaching actions around their capacity and they are the one who’ll dictate how much time they have to invest.

This person chose to make a decision now, commit to the coaching process and delay their start date by a few weeks. But the main thing is, they didn’t put it off. They’re all in and doing the groundwork while waiting for the job opportunity to land!

I’m sharing these examples because I see this pattern showing up everywhere — even with leaders who’ve never worked with me.

The lesson for YOU is this: When you stop making excuses, commit now and do the work, you will create the career you’re after.

TIP #2 — STEP OUT OF SELF-REFLECTION

If you don’t know what you want next, sitting behind the scenes trying to think your way to clarity won’t help. You’ve got to get out there, actively explore your options and talk to people.

One client found they had more time than ever after a recent redundancy. Yet trying to force themselves to sit at their desk at dedicated times and focus on brainstorming career ideas wasn’t working.

Because when you’re feeling frustrated and uncertain about what you want next, it’s easy to procrastinate — or start questioning whether pursuing a different career path is even possible.

What we noticed is the ideas started dropping when they were out in the world responding to things and interacting with others — not when they were trying to force it.

Instead, we shifted their entire strategy to setting up conversations with people doing work which interested them. THIS is the best way to generate career ideas, build your network and identify new job opportunities. I also encouraged them to change up their environment by working from a café or meeting a friend for lunch a couple of times a week.

I want to acknowledge that reaching out to people can feel uncomfortable. Even as an extrovert with a sales background who was confident connecting with people, I still found it daunting at first.

Because as a high-performer, successful in my career and known for what I did, my whole identity was tied up in work. So what would others THINK if I dared to consider doing something different? And who would I even BE without the title and identity I’d built?

But once I took the first step and reached out to one person, I realised: people are generous and willing to help. That one action alone helped me work out what I wanted to do next and build friendships and professional relationships I still have years later.

One client was resisting ‘cold-calling’ people, so we reframed it to ‘reconnecting’ and started with their warmest contacts, one at a time. This is what separates the people who take action from those who don’t.

Because when you get out and talk to people, you’ll generate more career ideas in one conversation than months of self-reflection alone.

TIP #3 — RELEASE THE PRESSURE

Financial pressure is one of the most common reasons senior leaders abandon the process of figuring out what they want next in their careers. Even if you KNOW you want something different, the fear of leaving a steady pay cheque, the familiar title or security of an established career can stop you before you’ve even begun to explore your options.

One leader waited until the financial pressure forced them into action. Relying on the external pressures of a mortgage, private school fees and providing for their family to create motivation didn’t work. They ended up jumping straight into another role in their existing field not by choice — but because they needed the money.

Alternatively, if you’re in between opportunities and need the income now, finding an interim role is a smart move in the short-term. But don’t use that as an excuse to stop exploring what you want long-term. Both can happen at the same time — just as it would for someone who’s already working full-time.

My client identified 3 options:

1. Use this time between roles to work out what they really wanted
2. Find a bridge job to ease the financial pressure and continue to do this work on the side, or
3. Return to their previous career and try to find fulfillment in other ways outside work

They already knew Option 3 would be difficult in a high-performing role with little time and lots of big life commitments. By the time we met, this person had already decided Option 2 was the way to go — not one or the other.

And I thought this was wise. Securing this role removed the immediate pressure and gave them the confidence to invest in coaching.

Compare this to waiting for external circumstances to force your hand. This is the risk of letting your career unfold without direction — versus proactively taking ownership of it.

Taking action towards what you want completely shifts how you show up in your current role or bridge job. Even if it’s not where you want to be long-term. Because knowing you’re doing something about it changes your energy entirely.

When you reduce financial pressure without losing sight of your long-term goals, you will create a career by design, not by default.

TIP #4 — MANAGE YOURSELF, NOT YOUR TIME

At this point you’re likely asking: How do I find the time when I’m already busy? The secret is self-management, which is different to time management.

While HOW you prioritise your time is important, this isn’t about productivity tips or time management hacks. Self-management is about taking personal responsibility for what you choose to give your time and energy to.

Whether you want to get promoted in your existing organisation, develop new skills in your current role or shift careers completely, the approach is the same. You need to block out small increments of time to work on your career development — and protect them.

I recommend identifying your Daily Big 3 — your top 3 tasks and number one priority to work on each day. Then, treat the steps you take towards your long-term development in the same way.

Think of it this way: Even if only one 15 minute action per week is focused on your long-term priorities, it’s better than doing nothing for 6 months!

One of my clients is a single mother who was dealing with the grief of losing a parent, burnout and navigating a toxic work environment. Anyone in this situation could have decided it wasn’t the right time — but she didn’t wait.

Don’t make it your full-time job

So that’s how to create space when you’re time poor. But what about the other extreme — when you’re between roles and suddenly available 24/7 to work out what’s next?

In this instance, don’t turn it into your full-time job. Dedicate 30-60 minutes a day, half a day a couple of times a week or whatever works for you. However, this doesn’t mean you have to chain yourself to your desk for 8 hours a day!

Another client was feeling quite socially isolated after working remotely in their most recent role. So my advice was to dedicate time to the activities they enjoy and that nurture them too — like going to the gym or catching up with friends while they have the flexibility.

By prioritising yourself, your health and important relationships first, you’ll be better equipped to get the most out of the dedicated chunks of time you spend on your career. Those activities and interactions could even spark new ideas and connections to support your next career chapter.

Managing multiple career goals

If you have a couple of different career objectives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start. But don’t make the mistake of waiting until one is resolved before addressing the other.

Say you’re looking for an immediate bridge job and also want to figure out what you want long-term. Then carve out time to work on them both. Or if you’re thinking of moving into a new career path while building a business on the side, create separate chunks of time for both activities.

When you decide to take action despite the obstacles, you will figure out what you want next in your career.

So there you have it. The exact strategies that have helped my clients and I figure out what’s next in our careers — even if we ‘don’t have time’. Because when you decide to make your career the priority, you’ll always find the time.

If you’re looking 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.

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 been Googling ‘how to be more visible at work’ — only to keep getting the same surface level advice?

Today, we’re talking about why so many high-achievers aren’t feeling seen despite their success and what to do about it.

I recently started working with a leader who was feeling completely invisible in their role. No matter how hard they worked, they weren’t recognised for their contribution or receiving regular feedback.

This slowly started chipping away at their self-esteem and impacting how they showed up in interviews, as they began to explore what was next. Though they appeared confident, on the inside they were doubting themselves and questioning their abilities.

Then something interesting emerged in our session…

They tapped back into a hidden part of them: the talented musician who performed on stages in front of people. Someone who was very visible. But somewhere between building their career and becoming successful, they’d locked it away.

Now, many career coaches address visibility using external tactics. And I could have helped this client with their presentation skills or how to answer challenging interview questions.

Yet what I see amongst the senior leaders I work with, is that you can’t solve visibility from the outside. Because it’s an identity issue.

In this episode, I’m sharing the REAL reason high-achievers feel invisible in their careers. Discover 3 ways to address this from the inside-out, so you’re seen with confidence!

You’ll learn:

• The two ways visibility shows up for high-achievers and how recognising which one’s running your career is the first step to change it
• Why the external ‘success’ you’ve spent your entire career building is actually making you feel invisible
• Why knowing your value proposition isn’t enough — and the ONE thing that makes you impossible to ignore
• How to reconnect to who you authentically are beneath your achievements, so you stop worrying what others think
• Practical steps to take if you’re not being recognised — and how to cut through the fear that’s keeping you invisible

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 visibility and create a strategy to take ownership of your career? Explore Ignite Your Career.

Enrolling now for the June 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.

There are two different ways visibility shows up for high-achievers, which you’ve likely experienced:

1. Wanting to be visible but not feeling seen

Like the client I mentioned, you’re showing up, contributing and putting yourself out there — yet no-one seems to notice. You’re not getting feedback from your boss, recognised in the room or a response from the interview panel.

I’ve had many moments where it feels like I’m posting on LinkedIn and hearing crickets. Or sharing my work and not getting feedback from the market. Over time, the lack of external validation starts to impact how you see yourself.

2. Having a fear of being visible — even when you crave it

You want to speak up in the meeting, but something stops you. Or you appear confident on the outside while second-guessing yourself on the inside.

As a child, being visible was an authentic part of who I was. I LOVED being in the limelight, performing my own plays and ballroom dancing. Still, I can also remember going on stage, getting nervous and forgetting my lines.

Today, I speak on stages for a living — and that fear still shows up sometimes. But here’s what I know now… If I ever start feeling invisible, it’s because I’m focusing on what others will think, if I’ll be good enough, or whether my presentation is perfect!

So WHY do you feel invisible? Here’s the REAL reason…

As a high-achiever who’s built your whole career around performance, results and external markers of ‘success’, feeling invisible is an internal issue. Somewhere along the way, you outsourced your identity to a job title, company and achievements. They became your answer to the question: Who are you?

And you buried the most naturally visible part of you — your true, authentic self.

When your role feels aligned and the recognition is rolling in, you feel seen and know who you are. But the moment that external validation disappears because your role changes, the company restructures or you’re at a crossroads and questioning whether you’re on the right path — you don’t know who you are anymore.

And that’s why you feel so invisible. Because you can’t be seen by others if you can’t see yourself.

The musician who got up on stage and the creative child who loved performing for people were being seen because they were connected to something authentic about themselves.

So what’s the answer?

Visibility isn’t an external problem that’s solved with LinkedIn strategies or networking tactics. It starts from the ‘inside-out’ by reconnecting to who you authentically are beneath the achievements. Here’s how:

#1 — UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE

One of the best ways to rediscover who you are is to identify your unique strengths. Think beyond what you DO: Your job responsibilities and the list of competencies on your resume. Consider your natural genius, unique perspective and the impact only you can make.

But knowing your strengths on an intellectual level is not enough. What makes the difference is believing in your value and embodying it. This means internalising that belief so deeply, it changes how you show up, talk about yourself or walk into a room.

Then you can clearly and confidently communicate your value in your career documents, interviews or when networking. THIS is how you position yourself strategically, without convincing. Because you’re telling the truth about who you are.

We unearthed my client’s dormant strengths and who they really are. The musician earlier in life who was comfortable being visible and presenting to a crowd. Then we drew the line between this and what they want to do now.

For example, pitching to a room of executives or articulating their value when interviewing for senior roles in a new field. The same skills — presence, communication and the ability to hold a room — never went away. They’d simply lost connection to them.

When you understand and embody your unique strengths, you become impossible to ignore!

#2 — RECONNECT TO WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU

Another approach is to uncover your personal values. These are your priorities in life, the things that are innately important to you.

Whenever you’re angry, frustrated or upset, it’s a sign you’re out of alignment with your values. And so much of the fear and doubt that shows up around visibility comes from being disconnected from what makes you authentically you.

In a work context, your values help you to assess what is and isn’t working in your current career, set the right goals and make the correct career choices in future.

One client was feeling disconnected from her work, under pressure and overwhelmed from chasing KPI’s and financial targets. Identifying connection as a core value helped her refocus on what she truly cares about: building strong client relationships. This became a clear priority for how she wanted to lead and create an impact in her career.

When you’re connected to who you authentically are, you stop worrying about what others think.

#3 — TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION

While self-awareness forms the foundation, you must follow it with action. Actively seek out feedback from your manager or get recognition outside your 9-5. Sign up for that marathon, pick up painting again or begin a passion project.

Find practical ways to honour your gifts at work. Put up your hand to lead the meeting, organise the client event or outsource tasks to a colleague who has strengths in areas you don’t. And start designing your career around your talents and passions — especially if you’re at a crossroads and working out what you want next.

Of course, none of this is easy if the fear of being seen is holding you back. So DO the thing you’re afraid of! Send the email, speak up in the meeting or apply for that role.

EVERY time I’ve attempted something new — launching a business, publishing the website, posting my first video or speaking on stage — I did it afraid.

To cut through fear, shift your focus from what you’ll get from being visible to what you can give. What do people need to hear from you? And what unique perspective can you contribute to the conversation?

Because confidence comes through courage. When you show up as the true version of yourself and take action anyway, you become more confident over time.

So there you have it.The real reason high-achievers feel invisible in their careers — and what to do about it. I hope this helps you reconnect with who you authentically are and be seen with confidence!

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

I’m now taking applications to work together in the second half of 2026, with 2 spots remaining. 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.