How to Manage Early Career Path Changes

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

Ever have that moment where you look up from your laptop and think, This is not what I signed up for. You’ve had your head down, working hard, just trying to make it through the days and weeks. Then you stop. Blink. And start saying thinking: How did I end up here? This isn’t what I thought it was going to be. Is this as good as it gets? Is this even what I want? I don’t have any other options. I’ve been there for sure. That line of thinking can make you feel powerless and trapped. Which often leads to not making any changes. To burnout, dread, anxiety, and overwhelm. You end up abdicating your autonomy to your job. There are so many ways you can start making small shifts that add up to a completely different day-to-day emotional experience. Change in the right direction. Some ideas: 1️⃣ Reconnect with your values and goals: Take some time to reflect on what's important to you and what you hope to achieve in your career. It may not be the same as it was when you started out. Once you’ve done that, what needs to change to get in alignment with those values and goals? Start making changes one by one. 2️⃣ Focus on what you can control: It's easy to feel overwhelmed or frustrated by the things that are outside of your control, such as organizational policies and politics, supervisors, colleagues, clients, trends in your industry, or the job market. Instead of focusing on these external factors, focus on the things that you can control, such as your own mindset, work habits, and actions. 3️⃣ Identify areas for growth: It’s possible that you aren’t being challenged enough or that your professional growth has stalled or that you are bored with what you are currently doing. Where can you add or take advantage of some opportunities for growth and development? 4️⃣ Build in time for rest: It’s hard to get unstuck when you are going full speed all. the. time. Start building in some intentional slow downs. Create the space you need to assess your life. 5️⃣ Build relationships and community: When we are overworking, we neglect our need for human connection. Where can you build in more meaningful connection? 6️⃣ Ask yourself this → If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about your current job, what would it be? Then, answer this → How can I make that happen without a magic wand? 7️⃣ Get coached. I know what it is like to look up and feel lost about where you are and how you got there. Getting coached helped me make significant changes to the way my life looked and felt (and those tools are still helping me do that every single day). ❔How are you feeling about your job and your life right now?

𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞—𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐬. In high school, I was the “perfect grades, bad test taker” type. Standardized tests weren’t my thing, and when my SAT score didn’t reflect my potential, my dream of going straight to a four-year university faded. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐈 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝. I enrolled in community college, earned my associate’s degree, then transferred to a four-year university and got my bachelor’s degree. But after graduation, I felt stuck. I wasn’t sure what came next. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐈 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. I took a year off to figure things out, then applied to social work school—a decision that felt like the right path at the time. But after graduating, I hit another roadblock: I struggled to pass my licensure exam. 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬. Five rounds of studying, testing, failing, and wondering if I was even meant to be in this field. By the time I finally passed, something had shifted in me. I started questioning whether I wanted to be boxed into just one career path—or if there were other ways to make an impact. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐈 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. I explored new opportunities, transitioned into talent acquisition, and eventually launched my own side-hustle as a career coach and speaker. Today, I help students and early-career professionals navigate their own journeys—because I know firsthand that success doesn’t always follow a straight path. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐞: 1️⃣ Your path is YOURS. You don’t have to follow a “traditional” route to be successful. There are multiple ways to reach your goals. 2️⃣ Failing doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It just means you need a new strategy. 3️⃣ Pivoting is a skill. The ability to adapt, learn, and shift directions will set you apart in any career. 4️⃣ Your value isn’t measured by scores, degrees, or job titles. It’s in your skills, resilience, and willingness to keep going. If you’re a student or early-career professional feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next step—know that I’ve been there, and I’ve built a career helping others navigate those same challenges. Have you ever had to pivot in your career?