How Does Your Career "On Ramp" Work (or not)?

Today's growth leaders feel increasingly overwhelmed?as they are expected to be brand stewards, AI experts, tech mavens, customer experience hubs, and mental health advocates.?My CMO clients feel these pressures more than other leaders. Some question their current career choices and next moves.

?When faced with overwhelm and isolation, we have two options:

1.????? We can design and pursue the life and career that we love; or

2.????? Wait for things to happen TO us. (through divine intervention, the government...or other means).

In our communities, our clients choose option one. They believe that finding their next career move is a choice, not a matter of chance.

After advising over 100 high performing leaders, I have discovered that those who land on their “happy feet” share five common traits:

???????? They treat the career transition process as a learning journey (versus random circumstances).

???????? They maintain great health rituals.

???????? They embrace a Growth Mindset. (Credit goes to author @Carol Dweck)

???????? They build a clear brand identity.

???????? They create a strong, supportive peer community that holds them accountable.

Below you will find the five Career Reset Stages that mindful, successful leaders follow. I hope you find them useful as you map out your promotion or new role:

The Five Career Reset Stages

?I.?????? Letting Go of the Past. This is the time to reflect and forgive. Take stock on your achievements, keep what worked, double down on what you care about, and release any sense of resentment, blame or frustration.

You may still be working for your current employer--which makes this stage periodically challenging. You may feel as if you have one foot in your job, and another out the door! My friend Chip Conley calls this phase liminality. Instead of fighting or resisting, accept it. This too shall pass.

II.????? Re-mapping. You now have the clear mind to design what’s next—and start telling others what you want. Be sure you have let go of the past first. Without those "letting go" rituals, you will find yourself pining for what used to be. That was a previous you, and it's time to let that go.

III.??? Touring. Every new journey invites you to experiment with new people, places, and palates. Plan to test, learn, and adjust for a month or three! Some exploratory meetings may not initially make sense. Be patient and open. You have evolved into a different identity than in Stage 1.

I am experimenting with some new relationships and technologies, also. I am currently re-designing some of my business processes to incorporate generative AI. This requires me to build new contacts in that field. I am attending my first Voice+AI conference in September in Washington, DC. It's energizing.

IV.??? Make Inroads. This stage happens when you see the future you want to create, and your career options begin to take hold. People refer opportunities that land in your “sweet spot.”

During this stage, you will set your intentions by building a Strategic Search Plan. Share that with your inner circle of 10-50 people. This plan looks different from a resume.

Want to see a sample? Message me for the OnRamp Career Guide (free).

V.???? Set a New Course. You have found the road to new opportunities within your sweet spot. Interviews that land directly in your sweet spot increase in volume. You follow and regularly update your written Strategic Search Plan. You find yourself with dedicated time each week to creating and pursuing the career you want, and it’s bearing fruit.

One of my clients invested six months with her Career Reset Process. She had left an SVP of Marketing role for a SaaS company. She was highly regarded in her industry--at one point, she had 380 people in her department.

Prior to our work together, she was spending 100% of her time in "Touring" mode. Old colleagues and retained search firms pursued her aggressively--for every single opportunity.

It exhausted her! She fielded questions and calls from recruiters and accepted too many interviews. Few fell in her genius zone, and did not align with the refreshed vision of her new life in San Francisco. After working with me, she created:

1. A clear vision for her new life and career.
2. A strong sense of what NOT to pursue.
3. A weekly outreach plan to connect with ideal recruiters and "top 25" companies.
4. A "signature story" that felt energizing and true--and attracted the ideal opportunities.

She was able to regain several hours each day, and stopped chasing "shiny penny" job opportunities. I helped her realize that the startup career path did not align with her values and vision.

I was proud to see her shift gears, hop on the right OnRamp stage, and set clearer intentions. Months later, she accepted a role with a global B2B research firm, and never looked back.

The same success principles and tools apply to any professional who is facing transition or a promotion.

If that describes you, I hope these stages provide clarity and calm.

No matter what career you choose next, our intention is to make your new journey a smoother one.

The OnRamp Career Reset also includes links to dozens of tools and resources. I have successfully used these with my clients for decades—and update them regularly.

What Reset stage are you currently experiencing? What needs to happen to move to the next one? Please let me know how your journey unfolds!

Want your own copy of the OnRamp Career Reset toolkit? Drop me a note . I'll forward it. (free)

About me...

I launched EnergizeGrowth LLC in 2002 after my own career reset. I left a high profile Senior Partner role with a large enterprise software firm. My values and vision were not aligned with theirs, and it was time to gracefully leave.

Today, senior marketing and digital leaders from AARP, CoStar, Google, Hilton, and Schneider Electric have hired me to cultivate healthier companies and careers.

My clients benefit greatly from my highly prized executive network. I am honored to collaborated with many of the world’s top thought leaders and market disrupters who have created billions in new value.

Our private peer communities provide safe havens for idea sharing, accountability, and collaboration.. The Marketing Growth Leaders? community and CMOs Leading Innovation Conferences (CLIC) are celebrating our 12th year.

I'm also a member of Marshall Goldsmith's elite 100 Coaches community.

In addition to being an HBR contributor, my books include EnergizeGrowth NOW: The Marketing Guide to A Wealthy Company and The Mindful Marketer: How to Stay Present and Profitable in a Data-Driven World.

Download our free learning bonuses, LinkedIn Learning "Effective CMO" course , and #linkedinlive shows any time at lisanirell.com/events.