Help! My career has stalled

Career breakdown

When I was 18, I owned a Ford Escort. It was my second ever car.?

I loved it. Until it broke down.

That old heap of metal had been on its last legs for a while.

And when I offered to take my friends to the University of Liverpool for the day, I knew we might not make the journey.

10 minutes from home, the clutch snapped. Ouch!?

We were stuck. Stranded.?

My Grandad came to pick me up. It was a little embarrassing seeing my friends being rescued from the side of the road.?

How was I going to get to College in the morning to sit an exam?

Stalled

I was reminded of this story earlier this week when a client said the word 'stalled.'?

He said, “I just feel like my career has hit a brick wall. I’ve stalled”.?

That feeling of being stuck. Stranded by the side of the road, like I was in my Ford Escort.

Sometimes you have a problem where you need to call for help.

After being reliant on your career for so many years, you need to be rescued.?

It can feel like you’re helpless.?

Crisis point

What I find interesting is many people reach a similar point in their careers. There’s a real consistency.?

They reach this point of feeling disillusioned. They can’t see what the future holds. And this causes uncertainty.?

Naturally, doubt and anxiety creep into day-to-day life. And it’s because their career has stalled.?

Here are some of the questions they’re asking at this point:?

• Why do I feel stuck in this current position?
• Is it possible for me to gain control of my career again?
• Should I leave my boss or company for something better?

Locked door

You may feel like there’s a door in front of you. The door is locked and you don’t have a key to open it.?

On the other side of the door are all of the answers that you seek. Where the next 12 months are heading, whether to leave your company and whether to even retrain entirely and switch careers.?

And knowing that these answers are there, but you don’t have access to them, is incredibly frustrating. ?

Similar to my car breaking down. Someone has the keys to your vehicle, but you’re the one in the driving seat unable to move.?

Here are the reasons you feel this way:

1. Lack of support from management/board
2. Underinvestment in your personal development?
3. Change in priorities, values, or beliefs
4. You’ve grown, your company hasn’t?
5. Unfair treatment

Career mediocrity

The fear that you’re wasting valuable time is hard to ignore.?

It’s not something to rest on. Especially if you’re a high performer. Or someone that knows you’ve got potential.

You may feel powerless. Now combine that with a feeling of burnout, and you’ve got a problem.?

The good news is you can do something about this.

Even if you feel exhausted, with nowhere to turn. You may feel there’s simply no hope.?

I’m stuck in neutral for the rest of my career!?

Not true. If you want to get back into gear and drive in the right direction again, you need intervention.?

One of the key problems with people experiencing burnout is they stop investing in themselves.?

They stop reading books and stop training. Feeling like they can’t talk to anyone.?

If you read this newsletter often, you’ve heard me say that speaking up is one of the most empowering things you can do to break the cycle.?

A cycle of feeling stuck, tired, and without motivation. This has to change.?

It has to change if you want happiness. If you want to feel fulfilled in life.?

Don’t sit in neutral. Don’t continue to accept a career that’s stalled. There is a way through this.?

If enough’s enough and you need to take things one step further, reach out and send me a message.

For starters, you can answer 4 questions by clicking the link below:

Get the ball rolling today. Don’t delay.?

Tom?