Loving Yourself When Your Job No Longer Loves You
Andrea Johnson, MA
Corporate Transition Consultant | Helping Leaders & High-Achievers Navigate Career Change with Clarity & Strategy | Founder of CDLogistx - Global Trade Compliance & Optimization
If you’ve ever felt burnt out, stuck, or undervalued, this edition is for you.
Self-love isn’t just personal—it’s professional. Build a career that honors your worth, fuels your growth, and protects your peace.
What happens when the career you once loved no longer loves you back? When the role that once felt like growth now feels like survival?
The greatest act of self-love is creating a career that supports the life you truly want—one that fuels your ambitions without sacrificing your peace. It’s about making intentional career decisions that align with your purpose, not just your paycheck.
If you’re over 40 and feeling stuck in a role that drains you, this isn’t the time to shrink—it’s time to reposition. A strategic exit isn’t quitting—it’s choosing yourself, your vision, and your next level.
Surviving vs. Thriving: The Mid-Career Shift
Many professionals spend years surviving in careers that no longer serve them. Thriving requires ownership of your next move.
? Surviving looks like:
?? Thriving looks like:
The Mid-Career Awakening: Why Traditional Paths No Longer Serve You
Many professionals in their 40s and beyond are realizing that traditional career paths no longer serve them. The marketplace is changing, leadership dynamics are shifting, and the rules for success aren’t the same as they were 10 years ago. So, how do you stay ahead?
? Determine if you need upskilling or reinvention. Not all career shifts require a total pivot—sometimes, it’s about positioning your existing skills for higher-value opportunities.
? Shift from an employee mindset to career ownership. Whether in corporate or entrepreneurship, you must own your expertise and advocate for your value. Career success isn’t handed out—it’s claimed.
? Advocate for your value, even in the face of biases. Mid-career professionals, particularly women and Black professionals, often experience hidden biases in leadership advancement. Recognizing these challenges is one thing—strategically positioning yourself beyond them is another.
The shift from surviving to thriving happens when you stop waiting for permission and start positioning yourself for what’s next.
Decoding the Writing on Your Corporate Wall
If you’re questioning whether it’s time to pivot, here are the signs your company has already made the decision for you:
?? Your role is shrinking. Key projects are reassigned, decision-making power is reduced, or leadership is suddenly distant.
?? Your growth is stalling. You’ve been passed over for promotions or your industry is evolving faster than your company is willing to invest in upskilling.
?? The culture is shifting—and not in your favor. If leadership changes are pushing out seasoned professionals and prioritizing cost-cutting over talent retention, it’s time to reassess.
?? Your stress outweighs the reward. If Sunday nights bring anxiety instead of anticipation, your career is no longer fueling you—it’s draining you.
The mistake many professionals make is waiting until they’re forced out rather than planning their next move on their own terms.
A Beautiful Exit isn’t about quitting—it’s about transitioning with clarity, strategy, and intention.
In Choice Destinations, I talk about the power of designing your career with intention—not just reacting to opportunities, but choosing and creating a path that aligns with your purpose, values, and long-term vision.
Loving your career isn’t about sticking with what’s familiar—it’s about making decisions that support your future self.
3 Ways to Love Your Career in 2025
?? Know your worth—and negotiate for it.
Too many professionals accept what’s given instead of asking for what they deserve. If you don’t advocate for your value, who will? Whether you’re negotiating salary, leadership opportunities, or business partnerships, your success is a reflection of what you demand—not just what’s offered.
?? Set boundaries that protect your energy and career vision.
A high salary isn’t worth it if it comes at the cost of your well-being, family, or personal aspirations. One of the core pillars of Choice Destinations is achieving work-life harmony, which starts with knowing what you will and won’t tolerate in your career. Success should feel aligned, not draining.
?? Invest in yourself.
The most successful professionals continuously learn, grow, and seek mentorship. In Choice Destinations, I emphasize that clarity isn’t just something you find—it’s something you create through intentional development, networking, and strategic positioning. If you’re not investing in your growth, you’re choosing stagnation.
Read more in my book, Choice Destinations: The Blueprint for Shifting Leading Managers and Top Executives from Corporate Surviving to Entrepreneurial
领英推荐
More professionals are choosing purpose over paychecks and pivoting into autonomous career paths. But which option is right for you?
Market Perspective: Is It Time to Pivot?
The career landscape is shifting, and more mid-career professionals are making bold, intentional moves. Two growing trends we can’t ignore:
?? The Rise of Career Pivoters in Entrepreneurship Why are so many professionals leaving traditional roles for independent ventures?
The key to success isn’t just making a pivot—it’s making the right pivot
? Entrepreneurship – If you’re ready to build something of your own, business ownership offers unlimited potential—but requires intentional moves.
? Independent Consulting – If you have deep expertise, you can turn your knowledge into a lucrative business model while working with multiple clients instead of one employer
Fractional Executive Roles—Is It for You?
What is a Fractional Executive Role?
A Fractional Executive Role is a part-time, high-level leadership position where an experienced professional provides strategic leadership and expertise to multiple organizations without committing to a full-time executive position.
Unlike traditional full-time executives, fractional executives work with companies on a contract basis, typically serving as:
??A third of 45 to 54-year-olds (mid-lifers) expect to change career before retirement*
?? Why Choose a Fractional Role? ? More flexibility and autonomy than a traditional corporate job. ? The ability to work with multiple organizations, increasing impact and income potential. ? A strategic alternative for mid-career professionals looking to pivot without completely leaving corporate leadership.
?? Take Note: Not all pivots mean starting a business from scratch. Many professionals thrive as fractional executives or consultants, offering high-value expertise on their own terms.
The key is understanding your transferable skills, market positioning, and financial readiness before making the leap.
Not all pivots require starting over—some just require repositioning.
?? SPECIAL OFFERS & UPCOMING EVENTS
????Valentine’s Day Flash Sale – Show your career some love! If you’re ready to stop waiting and start executing, let’s map out a plan that positions you for impact in the next 90 days Book a Career Clarity & Accelerator Call this month and receive a complimentary copy of Choice Destinations (eBook).
??Don’t miss the Adversity to Advantage Live Series (Feb 18-20) at 2 PM CST daily—a powerful three-day event designed to help you navigate career setbacks with resilience, clarity, and self-advocacy. Your next level requires a new mindset—let’s build it together.
Share Your Act of Career Self-Love
Drop a comment: What’s one career decision you’ve made that was an act of self-love? Whether it was setting a boundary, negotiating your worth, or making a bold career move, let’s celebrate the power of putting yourself first.
?? Let’s continue building careers that support our purpose, not just our paychecks.
#CareerByDesign #LegacyWork #MidCareerMoves
Sources:
#ad Choice Destinations by Jraya Nicole [As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.]
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Let’s keep redefining what success looks like, together.
Corporate Transition Consultant | Helping Leaders & High-Achievers Navigate Career Change with Clarity & Strategy | Founder of CDLogistx - Global Trade Compliance & Optimization
2 周Alignment is the key to sustainable career success ?? Chris Harold ??
?? Video Marketing & Client Attraction Coach | Helping introverted coaches & consultants use video to attract high-paying clients & 3X their revenue—without feeling awkward. ??
2 周?? This is the message more professionals need to hear! Too often, careers are built around what’s expected rather than what’s aligned. Love the focus on self-advocacy and career boundaries—because success without peace isn’t real success. Excited to dive into this edition! What’s been the biggest mindset shift for you when it comes to building a career that loves you back? ????