8 Ways to Drive Career Change Through Self-Compassion

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The job market continues to be rough for midlife marketers, especially those in transition.? As we brace for a leaner 2025, companies have the upper hand and are looking for that “unicorn” to fill whatever roles they have.? Many midlife marketers are stressed out after applying for hundreds of jobs on LinkedIn with no response and getting ghosted by HR after 5 rounds of interviews for their dream role.

In the Harvard Business Review’s article Give Yourself a Break: The Power of Self-Compassion, when people experience a setback at work, one common way to respond is to punish themselves.? However, “it can lead to an inaccurately gloomy assessment of one’s potential, which undermines personal development.” On the other hand, those who have high self-compassion “typically have greater motivation to improve themselves and are more likely to report strong feelings of authenticity—the sense of being true to the self. Both are important contributors to a successful career.”? I struggle with self-compassion on a daily basis and am my own worst critic.? However, I have found that beating myself has definitely held me back in my professional and personal life.

Treating yourself as you would a friend can help you embrace setbacks while fostering positive change and concrete action towards what’s next in your career. Here are 8 ways to drive career change through self-compassion.

1. Reframe Your Inner Narrative: Replace negative self-talk with affirmations that celebrate your strengths, such as adaptability and wisdom. Acknowledge that career change is a sign of growth, not failure.

2. Recognize Your Value: Reflect on accomplishments to see how your experience has shaped you as a professional. Create a "success journal" highlighting impactful campaigns, achievements, or strategies you've led.

3. Seek Lifelong Learning Without Judgment: View upskilling as an opportunity rather than an obligation. Choose courses or certifications that excite you rather than those dictated by trends.

4. Embrace a Growth Mindset: Accept mistakes as learning opportunities and part of the process. Focus on progress over perfection as you pursue new goals.

5. Set Realistic, Compassionate Goals: Break down your career-change plan into manageable steps. Celebrate small wins to keep motivation high and avoid overwhelm.

6. Take Time to Recharge: Prioritize self-care through exercise, meditation, or hobbies that bring joy. Recognize that rest is productive and necessary for clarity.

7. Practice Gratitude: Reflect on how your career has shaped your resilience and adaptability. Regularly remind yourself of the opportunities ahead, not just the challenges.

8. Surround Yourself with Supportive Networks: Engage with communities of like-minded professionals who value experience and wisdom. Seek a community of “midlife marketers” who can empathize with your journey and provide encouragement. You are NOT alone!? Now more than ever, there are too many amazing “midlife marketers” who need to figure out how to reinvent themselves and what’s next for their careers. I'm curating the next cohort for a group coaching program for like-minded "midlife marketers" navigating a career change. Space is limited to a maximum of 6-10 participants. If you're interested in finding out more information, message me on LinkedIn or email me at marnigordoncoaching@gmail.com

Marni's Top 10 Favorite Marketing Jobs

Please check my LinkedIn profile activity daily for all of the job listings I share on an ongoing basis.

4A's, SVP, Member Engagement & Development – Central Region

Agency EA, Lots of Job Opportunities!

Alloy Women's Health, Vice President of Marketing

Amazon, Live Sports Creative Strategist, Live Sports Brand Partnerships

ESSENCE Ventures, Director, Integrated Account Management

Liquivida, Chief Marketing Officer

MNTN, Senior Manager, Partner Marketing

Native Pet, VP of Acquisition & Media

Penguin Random House, Vice President, Marketing, Random House Books

Publicis Collective, SVP, Performance Investment

About this Newsletter

As mentioned in Forbes, “A midlife crisis is defined as a period of emotional turmoil in middle age, around 40 to 60 years old, characterized by a strong desire for change.”? However, marketers begin their midlife crisis much earlier.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age of a US marketing/advertising manager is 39.0, compared to 46.7 for all managerial roles.

While the marketing industry has responded to issues of gender, race, and sexual harassment, there continues to be no movement against ageism.? This issue has been swept under the rug, but it is very real.

When I was laid off from my job in advertising in my 30s, it was a dark and scary time.? I had no idea what was next for me and needed to figure out a way to reinvent myself.? I remember all of the people in my network who went out of their way to help me and those who let my emails go into “cyberspace”.? That experience made me realize how important it is to “pay it forward” to help other “midlife marketers” figure out what’s next in their career journey.? Life is too short to stay in a job that doesn’t align with your core values and connect to something greater than yourself.

This bi-weekly newsletter for “midlife marketers” (from new managers to senior leaders) has easy-to-read tips and actionable advice on ways to design your own career path, take your career to the next level and how to master the art of networking.? This newsletter will leverage my insights to help you navigate your career journey. Each issue will also include a curated list of job opportunities shared from my network of 9,300+ marketers.

• Find your ideal career: Discover ways to find your dream career that aligns with your values, strengths and passions.? Learn how to manage career transitions and leverage your transferable skills to design the life you want.
• The art of networking: Learn how to build and maintain authentic relationships over time to find hidden job opportunities.
• Hot career topics: including designing a portfolio career, setting boundaries, dealing with ageism, imposter syndrome, self-care during transition, and more!
• Curated list of my favorite marketing job opportunities

About Marni Gordon

Marni is passionate about paying it forward to help marketers who want to thrive in a career they love. Marni is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a Certified Career and Executive Coach from New York University (NYU), and a Certified Group Coach from Group Coaching HQ (ICF Certified Program) with 25+ years of corporate marketing leadership experience. Marni has an extensive background creating community, networking, training individuals and groups, developing individuals in a variety of high-performance roles, and facilitating discussions to help clients uncover their own insights, action plans and accountability. Marni is a super connector and will help you become one too.