Hidden Career Barriers Keeping You Stuck (MUST KNOW)
James Hilliard
America's Only $100-Million Executive Coach. I help VPs and C-Suite Execs future-proof their careers and earning potential | Board Advisor | Speaker | Podcast Host
You wake up.?
You go to work.?
You check off the boxes.?
You push through meetings, emails, and tasks that seem important but never move you forward.?
Days blur into weeks, weeks into years.
And one day, you realize: You’re stuck.
DG, a technology President, put it perfectly:?
He said,
"My old life was a gray life on autopilot."?
It drained him, misaligned with his goals, and felt empty.
He’s not alone.
People in high-achieving roles often wake up one day and wonder how they got here…
… Stuck in a career that no longer excites them, working toward goals they never truly set, doing work that doesn’t feel meaningful.
Maybe you’ve felt this too.
Maybe you’ve told yourself:
That’s where people go wrong.
If you’re stuck, it’s not because you’re not working hard enough.?
It’s because you don’t have a strategy.
3 Potential Hidden Barriers Keeping You Stuck in 2025
In coaching executives, I see three significant problems repeatedly holding people back.?
If you don’t address these, no effort will get you unstuck.
1. You Don’t Have a Clear Mission
SB, a transformation leader, wanted to make a meaningful contribution.?
She had expertise.?
She had the desire.?
But she didn’t have clarity and direction.
Most high achievers get lost because they focus on what’s next, not what’s right.?
They climb the ladder without questioning if it’s against the right wall.
Where people go wrong:
The right approach:
2. You’re Waiting for Someone to Validate You
CD, a Senior Director, said...
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"I needed a leader who saw my potential."
She felt like she couldn’t level up on her own.
This is one of the biggest mistakes I see: competent, driven professionals waiting for permission.?
Waiting for a boss to say, “You’re ready.”?
Waiting for HR to offer a promotion.
Where people go wrong:
The right approach:
The aforementioned DG said coaching gave him the confidence to level up and play big.?
RN, a Chief Operating Officer, realized his ambitions should know no bounds.?
That shift in mindset??
It changed everything.
3. You Don’t Know What to Prioritize
MS, a General Manager, felt scattered. SB, mentioned above, had goals but couldn’t organize them. Sound familiar?
Most ambitious professionals have too many things competing for their focus.?
They try to do everything: pursue different skills, randomly network, and say yes to every new project.?
And then wonder why they’re exhausted and stuck in place.
Where people go wrong:
The right approach:
When MS focused on the right priorities, things changed fast.?
He cut through the noise. He moved with purpose. He finally broke through (broke free?)
The Bottom Line
You're not alone if you feel like your career is on autopilot. But you also don’t have to stay stuck.
What is the difference between high achievers who stay stagnant and those who rise??
A strategy.
The best leaders don’t wait. They don’t hope for recognition. They don’t rely on effort alone.
They move intentionally, clarify their value, and execute on the right priorities.
That’s how you go from stuck to unstoppable.
About James Hilliard
James Hilliard is an executive coach who helps high-level professionals break through career plateaus and achieve meaningful, strategic growth.?
I help VPs, SVPs, and C-suite leaders gain clarity, take control, and create the careers they want.
The Coaches Coach?. I help coaches THRIVE in their practice with a proven blueprint to work less & earn more. The 7-Figure Coach Summit ????
2 周Such a real struggle! Hard work is important, but without the right strategy, it’s easy to feel stuck. Thank you for sharing!
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2 周Intriguing! "Gray life on autopilot" resonates. Looking forward to learning about these hidden career barriers and how to overcome them.
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2 周Excellent reminder! Living "a gray life on autopilot" is the 2025 equivalent of Thoreau's "lives of quiet desperation." There is no mental quiet in 2025. But there's plenty of desperation.