Are You in the Driver’s Seat of Your Career?

Hey, everyone! I’m so thrilled to see 17,000+ amazing professionals subscribed to this newsletter. I trust you've been well. I thought I’d stop by to share what's been on my mind lately while sitting in the passenger’s seat, coaching my son in the driver’s seat. He's been practicing driving, and sometimes I've caught myself cringing when he made a not-so-perfect turn or forgot his indicators, only to calm down knowing he's got this and practice makes progress.

Think about the last time you felt in the driver’s seat of your career. For many professionals, work feels like something that “happens to us” rather than something we actively shape. But what if you could change that? Research shows that a proactive career mindset leads to higher job satisfaction, better performance reviews, and even quicker promotions.

Over the next 5 days (this will be a 5-day series), I'll be sharing little snippets on becoming the CEO of your career—where C.E.O. stands for Confident, Energized, and Organized, so you want to turn on your notifications and share this with a friend. This isn’t just about climbing the ladder or checking off goals; it’s about transforming how you experience and direct your career daily.

The biggest enemy to your success is YOUR MINDSET!

What are three specific ways to shift your mindset and define success on your terms before 2025?

#1: Redefine Success on Your Terms

Imagine two colleagues: Alex and Shola. Alex defines success as constantly climbing the ranks, while Shola values creative freedom and work-life balance. Alex may look more “successful” on paper, but if he’s constantly stressed, is he really thriving? Meanwhile, Shola enjoys her work and brings that positive energy to every project. This difference in perspective makes Shola more likely to stay engaged, productive, and open to new opportunities over the long run.

One of the biggest mindset traps is measuring success based on others’ standards. Maybe you’re comparing yourself to a peer who got promoted faster or someone who always seems more put together. Research tells us that setting?intrinsic?goals—goals that come from our own values—creates much more sustainable motivation and happiness than?extrinsic?goals like money or status.

Practical Step: Take out a notebook or open a blank document. Write down what?you?want from your career—not what you think you’re supposed to want. Is it flexibility? A leadership role? Innovation? Redefining what you want empowers you to move forward with clarity.

#2: Own Your Story

Owning your story is about confidence in your unique journey. Studies on?career capital?suggest that professionals who recognize and leverage their unique skills and experiences are more likely to find satisfaction and advancement in their careers. Instead of comparing your achievements to others, see them as building blocks that make you uniquely qualified.

Let’s say you’ve spent years in a back-end role, quietly perfecting your skills, while others have been in more visible, front-line roles. One day, a project comes up that needs both deep technical knowledge and effective team collaboration. Because you’ve mastered your role and know your unique strengths, you can step in and excel, making your skills visible. Owning your story allows you to leverage these hidden strengths confidently.

Practical Step: Write down three to five key career moments—projects, skills, or challenges you’ve overcome. Think of each as a “chapter” in your career story. The next time someone asks you about your experience, frame it as an ongoing journey where each experience has equipped you with valuable tools.

#3: Turn Your Setbacks into Strategic Growth

A critical mindset shift is seeing setbacks as growth opportunities rather than failures. Research on resilience shows that people who frame challenges as learning experiences are happier and more successful in the long term. This mindset, sometimes called a “growth mindset” (Dweck, 2006), increases resilience.

Picture a project that doesn’t go as planned—maybe it was canceled at the last minute, or you missed an important detail. Instead of feeling defeated, a growth-oriented professional sees it as a chance to refine their approach. Next time, they ask more questions, double-check details, and make more precise plans. Over time, this process of learning from setbacks makes them a more decisive, more strategic leader.

Practical Step: Think about a recent setback. Could you identify three things you learned from it rather than focusing on what went wrong? How will you apply those lessons from now on?

Your career is the sum of your choices and your mindset. Own them both, and you set yourself up to be unstoppable.

If this post triggered a thought, comment, or question, reply below.

I can’t wait to hear from you.

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Be Unstoppable,

Dr. Fofo