If your career were a movie…
Hey there… I'm back!
When I paused this newsletter last year, I said it was a pause, not a stop button. And here we are.
Sometimes we need to step away to remember why we started something in the first place.
Speaking of stepping away...
Imagine if your career were a movie. Now imagine you were sitting in the front row watching it as an outsider.
What would the audience be screaming at you?
I think about this question constantly when I'm coaching executives who are exhausted by the corporate grind.
Smart, capable people who know they're at a crossroads but feel stuck. They want something different.
Maybe to leave their corporate role, go solo, write that book, or launch something meaningful. But they can't get clear on the path.
They already sense what they need to do. They're just scared to make the leap.
I get it. I've been that person in the theater seat, watching my own life unfold, knowing I wanted more freedom and purpose but finding every reason to stay put.
But the audience isn't wrong. They see what we miss when we're stuck in our own story.
5 Things the Audience is Probably Screaming:
1. "You're Playing Too Small!"
The problem: You've gotten comfortable being the supporting actor in your own career story. You stay in roles that don't challenge you, take on projects that don't excite you, and accept "good enough" as your standard.
Try this: Ask… When was the last time I felt genuinely lit up from my work? If you can't remember, or if it's been more than six months, that's your answer.
2. "Stop Waiting for Permission!"
The problem: You're waiting for someone else to give you the green light. Your boss. Your spouse. The "right" opportunity. But permission isn't coming from outside. It never does.
Try this: Complete this sentence: "I would _______ if I knew it was okay." That's what you should be doing.
3. "You're Burned Out. Walk Away!"
The problem: You're running on fumes but telling yourself you can push through. The Sunday scaries aren't just Sunday anymore; they're every day. You're irritable, exhausted, and going through the motions.
Try this: Take the "energy audit." For one week, track what activities and interactions give you energy versus what drains you. If 70% of your day is in the "drain" column, it's time to make a change… not just power through.
4. "You're Overthinking. Just Start!"
The problem: You've been planning, researching, and "getting ready" for months (or years). You have spreadsheets, business plans, and backup plans for your backup plans. But you still haven't started.
Try this: Give yourself 48 hours to take one small action toward what you really want. Not a perfect action. Not the "right" action. Just any action.
5. "You're Living Someone Else's Dream!"
The problem: You've built a career that looks impressive on paper but still feels hollow. You're succeeding by everyone else's definition while slowly losing yourself in the process.
Try this: Write down what you wanted to be when you were 10 years old, before the world told you what was "realistic." Now ask: What part of that dream still calls to you? Is there a disconnect between who you are and who you're trying to be.
Listen to the Audience
The people watching your movie aren't wrong. They see the patterns you're stuck in, the potential you're not claiming, and the story you're afraid to write.
So ask yourself: Are you lit up right now? Or are you just going through the motions?
Because if it's the latter, maybe it's time to listen to what they're screaming.
Your coach,
Chris
P.S. If you're stuck asking "if not this, then what?" I have a 4-session Radical Clarity program designed to help you figure that out. Interested in learning more? Check it out.
