If there is ONE thing I want you to know about my work

If there’s ONE thing I want you to know about the work I do, it's THIS: I don't want you to be miserable.

When necessary, I will push back when I smell BS and see that you don’t actually want “the goal.” Maybe you like the idea of this career goal, or you’ve been in this career for so long, or you feel like you’ve invested too much time, effort, and education into it.

But. You. Don’t. Feel. It.

After years in adult education—as an instructor, career specialist, and curriculum writer—I’ve met too many students who enrolled in tech programs for the wrong reasons.

Maybe they thought it was easy money. Maybe they thought it was prestigious. Maybe they thought they needed to upskill to finally find a tech job they could tolerate.

It doesn’t matter your career field, whether or not you’re in tech—the feelings of being planted in the wrong soil are the same.

The sadness creeps in. Or the depression. Or the ennui. Or the anger. Sometimes you take it out on yourself or lash out at others. Maybe you just sit with it for weeks, months, even years, letting the frustration gnaw at you.

These are all symptoms of going against yourself.

You might know this already. The knowledge could be buried deep in your soul or sitting right on the surface, waiting for you to pick it up. How much time do you want to waste ignoring it?

That’s why I always address this elephant in the room.

In my freelance bootcamp contracts, I’m gentle about it. I suggest options to students on diversifying their career goals to illuminate the possibilities, then I proceed with the program.

For my private clients, I face the issue head-on. It’s harder to get the results my clients pay for—a career that nourishes a life they love—when they’re trapped in a situation they hate. You don’t have to change, but we must face this fact.

Because those feelings won’t fade with a CV change or a lateral career shift.

I don’t pretend that life is fair and that everyone gets a job that feels like ice cream on a summer afternoon. I learned that capitalism wasn’t fair before I was 10 years old, when my family lost our home. My college graduation gift from society was the cratering of the industry I studied for years to join. Layoffs hit me nearly every time I got a leg up in the first half of my twenties.

So, yeah, I know you can’t always get what you want. And yet, you can carve out a space for yourself.

It starts by opening yourself up to what you truly want. Face your feelings on your own terms before they bubble up through self-sabotage, stress-related health problems, burnout, etc. There’s no real separation between the professional and personal when it comes to your mental health.

Your career is unique. Your career has seasons. Your career can change. If this post resonates with you, don’t let fear, pride, or uncertainty waste any more of your time.

You have a finite time on this earth—why spend it miserable for 40+ hours a week?

PS. Just another thing to know about me: I don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions, and I don’t believe there is ONE TRUE WAY to develop your career. Some coaches have a specific formula they use with each client, and that’s great for them. I don’t work that way.

After a decade as a job counselor—working with everyone from teenage runaways to VPs—and having experienced a career change myself, I’ve seen, researched, and lived through a myriad of ways to evolve a career. I work with clients to find a strategy that works for them, where they are now.

Sometimes that includes experimentation. Sometimes that means figuring out the difference between what they think they ‘should’ do and what actually works for them. Sometimes that means confronting mindset blocks.

The process is unique for each person.

If that’s what you need, DM me to book a session.

More about me:

Sami Gardner, here. I am a Career Kickstarter, LinkedIn Consultant, former Librarian, and?current Digital Nomad! I am currently the founder of the Career Kickstart Academy and the host of the Career Kickstart Podcast. I have been featured on/at the Classy Career Girl Podcast, CareerFoundry, 7in7 Conference, QueerHustle Conference, and Mac’s List.

I believe that you can be uniquely professional and still be uniquely you!

Kick starting your career begins with understanding into what you truly want within a happy, stable, and authentic career.

How do you figure it out?

Ask yourself with some journaling prompts to get clear on your career! Sign up for my newsletter to get my career clarity worksheet and more goodies.