You Don't Have to Figure Out Your Career Alone (Here's How to Get Help)

Before I work with any client, I always ask them one question:

"What is the number one thing holding you back from career success?"

I get dozens of answers. Dozens and dozens. Like, way too many dozens of eggs left over from a Halloween prank-fest dozens.

But all of those answers are rewordings of one single problem. Always.

It's always: "A clear focus on what I want to be doing."

I hear you. So loud. So clear. Trust me when I tell you I know the frustration. The feeling that somehow everyone else has been let in on some secret that you're not cool enough to know.

The secret though? That's nonsense. Most people feel the same way you do.

Why Nobody Taught You How to Manage Your Career

Why? What the hell, man? It's because we're not taught how to manage our careers. We're taught what to know to get certain jobs and sometimes how to get jobs, but rarely, if ever, how to figure out what we want to do for a living, much less manage our careers once we're in them.

We're left to our own devices and frazzled HR directors and recruiters who have no time to have a career growth chat because they have to run payroll, get the new benefits system up and running, and talk to Joe about not wearing his daisy dukes, yes, even on casual Fridays.

So what then? What are you supposed to do?

You had no idea career coaching was a thing? Well, it IS a thing. And it's a thing TOTALLY not related to your strange high school counselor. You know, the one with the tiny office who always had a half-eaten cup of applesauce on her desk for some reason?

Here's what you need to understand: you absolutely don't have to figure out your career all by yourself. It's not just a good idea to get objective help in this arena, it's actually the smart thing to do.

What Career Coaching Actually Is (And Why You Might Need It)

So what is career coaching all about exactly, and who does it benefit?

I might be biased, but I think everyone, YES, everyone could benefit from a career coach. "Why?" you may be asking after you've finished making that dismissive sound.

Because first off, you need to be sure you're in the right career for you. And secondly, no matter your gig, stay-at-home parent or oil rig worker, you NEED a plan. A career plan allows you to strategically go after growth and opportunity. It allows you to see the big picture of where you want to go and how you want to travel that path.

Think about it: you wouldn't start a business without a business plan. You wouldn't build a house without blueprints. You wouldn't take a cross-country road trip without at least looking at a map. So why would you navigate something as crucial as your career, which takes up the majority of your waking hours for the majority of your adult life, without any strategic planning whatsoever?

Most people spend more time planning their two-week vacation than they do planning their career trajectory. That's bananas.

A career coach helps you:

• Get crystal clear on what you actually want, not what you think you should want

• Identify your unique strengths and how to leverage them

• Create a strategic plan for getting from where you are to where you want to be

• Navigate transitions, whether you're changing careers, industries, or roles

• Build confidence in your value and learn to communicate it effectively

• Hold you accountable to your goals when motivation wanes

• See patterns and possibilities you're too close to see yourself

It's like having a personal trainer for your career. You could figure out how to get in shape on your own, sure. But having someone who knows what they're doing, who can see what you can't, who can push you when you need pushing and support you when you're struggling, makes the whole process faster, easier, and more effective.

Each week I send a personal email, straight to your digital doorstep that gives you the real deal lowdown on how to Find Your Thing, define success for yourself, make money doing meaningful work and…… sometimes pictures of my dog. Because he’s cute. Get in on the list below and get the goodness, exclusive discounts, tips & tricks and those highly sought after dog pics. 

All the Ways You Can Get Career Help (Beyond Coaching)

Now I know private coaching isn't an option for everyone. So many coaches offer lower-cost group programs or self-paced online courses. But coaching isn't the only option. Below is a roundup of resources you might find helpful.

Career Blogs

You could start with career blogs. There are so many talented people out there offering help to you, for free, consistently. Reading career development blogs gives you access to insights, strategies, and perspectives you wouldn't have otherwise.

The key is finding voices that resonate with you. Not every career expert's approach will work for your personality or situation. Read widely, take what serves you, and leave the rest.

Comprehensive Interactive Websites

You can hit up some super comprehensive, totally interactive websites like The Muse or Career Contessa. These platforms offer everything from career advice articles to job listings to company reviews. They're one-stop shops for career exploration and job searching.

The Muse, in particular, has amazing company profiles that give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it's actually like to work there. Career Contessa focuses specifically on helping women navigate their careers and has incredible resources for everything from salary negotiation to career pivots.

Books

If you're a more tactile person and you prefer a good book, try picking up a copy of "Born for This" by Chris Guillebeau or "A Job to Love" from The School of Life.

Books allow you to go deep on a topic, work through exercises at your own pace, and return to concepts as you need them. The downside? They can't give you personalized feedback or hold you accountable. But as part of a larger strategy, they're invaluable.

Other excellent career books to consider:

• "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

• "What Color Is Your Parachute?" by Richard N. Bolles (a classic for a reason)

• "The Pathfinder" by Nicholas Lore

Recruiters and Temp Agencies

Want someone to do the heavy lifting for you? Leverage recruiters and even temp agencies. Their job is to analyze your skills and place you in a job you'd thrive in. You could try some national agencies like Premier Staffing or Robert Half.

Here's what many people don't realize: good recruiters aren't just trying to fill positions. They're trying to make matches that work long-term. They have insights into company cultures, hiring managers' personalities, and what skills are actually in demand. They can often see opportunities you wouldn't have known to look for.

The key is building relationships with recruiters in your field, not just reaching out when you're desperate for a job. Touch base regularly, keep them updated on your skills and goals, and be responsive when they reach out.

Assessment Tools and Tests

You could try taking a few tests. There is one called StrengthsFinder that many companies rely on. Once you know what your strengths are, you can make sure you are focusing on those in whatever role you're in because working to your strengths equals happiness.

Oprah apparently has an awesome and free career assessment test tool.

Other assessment tools worth exploring:

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - helps you understand your personality type and how you work best

• CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) - identifies your top five strengths

• DISC Assessment - focuses on behavioral styles and communication preferences

• VIA Character Strengths - identifies your core character strengths

The caveat with tests: they're great starting points for self-reflection, but they're not gospel. Use them as conversation starters with yourself, not as definitive answers about who you are and what you should do.

Career Coaches (Yes, Really)

And of course, there are career coaches. It truly IS the most comprehensive and impactful option.

Why? Because coaching is personalized, strategic, and accountability-driven in a way that no book, blog, or assessment tool can be.

A career coach sees YOU. Not a general audience, not test-takers in aggregate, but you specifically. They help you dig into your unique situation, identify your specific roadblocks, and create a customized plan that actually works for your life.

They also call you on your patterns. That thing you keep doing that's holding you back? The story you keep telling yourself about why you can't? The opportunity you keep missing because you're not seeing it? A good coach spots that stuff and helps you work through it.

And critically, they hold you accountable. It's easy to set goals. It's hard to follow through, especially when you're doing it alone. A coach checks in, tracks your progress, and helps you course-correct when you get off track.

There are so many amazing coaches out there. You just need to do a little research to find the best one for you. Look for someone whose approach resonates, whose clients get results, and who you feel you could trust with your career aspirations and fears.

Many coaches offer free consultations so you can get a feel for their style before committing. Take advantage of these. Chemistry matters in coaching relationships.

How to Choose What's Right for You

See what I'm getting at? Don't feel like you've got to do it on your own. Try one, two, or a few, whatever feels good to you. But don't leave your career to chance. Figure out what you love to do, want to do, and make a plan.

Here's how to think about combining resources:

If you're just starting to explore: Begin with free resources like blogs, books, and assessment tools. Get familiar with career development concepts and start thinking about what you want.

If you're ready to make a move but need direction: Consider working with a recruiter or taking a structured online course. These give you more guidance and accountability than DIY resources.

If you're serious about major change or growth: Invest in coaching, whether group or one-on-one. This is where you get personalized strategy, deep work on mindset blocks, and accountability that actually moves the needle.

If money is tight: Start with free resources and group programs. Many coaches offer lower-cost group coaching that gives you most of the benefits of one-on-one work at a fraction of the price. Look for scholarships, sliding-scale options, or payment plans.

If you learn best by doing: Consider temp work or informational interviews alongside your other resources. Sometimes the best way to figure out what you want is to try things, even temporarily.

The Bottom Line: Your Career Is Too Important to Wing It

Here's what I want you to take away from this: the fact that you feel lost or unclear about your career direction doesn't mean anything is wrong with you. It means you weren't taught how to navigate this crucial part of your life.

But you can learn. And you don't have to learn alone.

The resources exist. The help is available. Coaches, recruiters, books, websites, assessment tools, they're all there waiting for you to use them.

Your career is going to take up roughly 90,000 hours of your life. That's too big a chunk of your existence to just hope it works out. You deserve to be strategic. You deserve to have a plan. You deserve support in figuring out what you actually want and how to get there.

So stop trying to figure it all out by yourself. Stop feeling like you should magically know what to do. Stop comparing yourself to people who seem to have it all figured out. They probably don't, or they got help getting there.

Get the support you need. Use the resources available. Build your plan.

Your career is waiting. And you don't have to find your way there alone.

Yours in you've got so much help available goodness,

EBS

Scared to Make a Career Move? Here's How to Take Action Anyway (Without Letting Fear Win)

Fear.

So many clients come to me out of fear. They say things like:

"I know I need a new career but I'm afraid." "I'm afraid I will never find my passion." "I want a new job, but I'm afraid I won't get one." "I need to do something I love but I'm afraid it won't happen." "I deserve a promotion but I'm afraid to ask." "I want to switch departments but I'm afraid they'll say no." "I want to start my own business but I'm totally overwhelmed."

SO. MUCH. FEAR.

All the fears. Which are totally rational, by the way. Making any change is scary. Making career changes, where your livelihood is at stake? Freakin' terrifying.

I wish I had a magic wand and I could make their fear disappear. But I don't and I can't. Does that mean that they are stuck with this career-crippling fear forever?

Absolutely not. IF they decide to tackle it head on.

Why Your Career Can't Be on Autopilot

Okay, I know you're hungover and your boss is being a pain and your Zoom keeps crashing, again, but you gotta focus. On you. Yup. Right now.

If you're cruising along thinking that careers just grow, blossom, and "work out" on their own, it's wake-up call time.

Your career is like that nifty succulent on your desk. It doesn't need to be replanted every day, but it does need care, attention, and sometimes water. Are you drinking enough water, by the way?

What I'm getting at here is that your career is your job. You have to work at it, at work. Make sense? You gotta drive this boat. You gotta do this thing, and the best way is to do it little by little.

The last few years have been a special kind of dumpster fire. There are some terrible things afoot. Employment rates continue to fluctuate wildly, and I know that can be terrifying. However, there is also some good stuff coming out of all this too.

No matter your job, career, or employment status at the minute, you should know that you absolutely can accelerate your career right now.

Remember, a single job is not your career. Your career is a collection of those jobs, freelance experiences, and businesses. So while you may be unemployed, taking a gig to tide you over, on furlough, or doing just fine, there are actions you can implement right now to get things on track and actually accelerate your career.

Here's the truth: if you want your career to be bigger, to be better, to do more than before, you need to take action. Not huge actions. Small, sometimes totally imperfect, big-time baby steps.

How to Move Through Fear (Five Steps)

Confronting your fear can be, well, frightening. How's that for meta? Follow these steps and you'll be well on your way to moving past those big fear blocks.

Step 1: Congratulate yourself for considering change

Honestly, it's a big deal. So many people never even get to the point where they move past being unhappy to actually making a decision to do something about it. You're ahead of the pack already.

Step 2: Accept that you're scared, acknowledge the fear

Fear is real and it's intense. Trying to pretend you're not scared doesn't help anyone or anything. Once you sit back, acknowledge that you're scared, but decide to move forward anyway, that's where things get real.

Step 3: Visualize the outcome of NOT taking any action

A good friend clued me into this concept when I was having trouble moving past something because I was frightened. And man oh man was she right. Find a quiet space, clear your head for a second, and just visualize. Visualize what will happen if you do nothing. How will you feel one month, six months, one year from now? The results of inaction are far more likely to be scarier than anything moving forward might bring.

Step 4: Take your time and be intentional

Now that you've decided to make something happen, don't just go running around the office yelling "BURN IT DOOOOWWWWN!" Take a few more moments to decide on a plan of action. You don't have to have it all figured out, but you do need at least a broad-strokes plan. You want to make your next move carefully and intentionally. But here's the cool thing: your next move is tiny. Like sooo little. Shhhh tiiiiinnnnyyy.

Step 5: Commit to doing one very small thing toward the change that scares you

I mean tiny. Minuscule. Really freaking small. Something like: putting some time on your calendar to research salaries for that role you have your eye on. Just block out 30 minutes on your calendar. That's it.

Write out a list of five people who inspire you. On a Post-it. Stick it on your desk. That's it. Just five.

Find an article to message the manager of that cool department you want to break into. That's all. Just find the article.

One TINY step will lead to another and another, and soon enough you'll have taken one actual full-sized step.

That's it. You, my friend, are now officially on your way and walking through all that fear. Well done you.

Ten Daily Actions That Accelerate Your Career (Despite the Fear)

I don't want you to get bogged down in a major career overhaul. I want you to get moving on small actions. All it takes is: one goal, one action, each day.

None of these take a ton of work, but their impact is huge. Give one or all a shot and see how far you go. And don't forget to hydrate.

1. Network like crazy

I don't care what industry you work in, what role you have, what your goals are. You HAVE TO network.

Good news is there are so many ways to network. You can absolutely find one that works for you. Totally online? Fine. Only in person? Great, pandemics permitting. Speed networking at hyperspecific conferences? You do you. Just do something.

Also be sure to choose a consistent action like: take out one person for coffee a month, ask for two informational interviews per week, or email one industry insider each day.

Keeping your network up-to-date, warm, and dynamic is genuinely the best thing you can do for your career. Keeping yourself top-of-mind, keeping yourself informed, keeping yourself connected can do exponentially more than a bag full of specialized skills and deep-dive know-how.

The old adage "it's not what you know but who you know" truly is a force. People recommend other people that they know, like, and trust. Someone else may know more than you, but if you know the right person, the job is yours. The project is yours. The corner office is yours.

Continue to build that know, like, and trust factor throughout the year and your career will expand in leaps and bounds.

2. Follow one industry leader, innovator, or insider each day on some social platform

LinkedIn is fantastic obviously, but other platforms like TikTok, and Instagram can be great too. Especially if you're in a creative field. But wait, there's more. Don't be a passive lurker. Interact with them.

Get to know them and they'll get to know you. You'll be surprised what kind of mentorship and opportunity can come from being actively engaged on socials.

Another old adage to take in here is: the only way to get better at tennis is by playing someone better than you.

This goes for most things. To become better at something, anything, you need to be challenged, you need to be questioned, you need to have to fend off a few serves flying at your face at full force.

The best way to be challenged is through mentorship, guidance, and inspiration. You can find those things by becoming immersed in the worlds of leaders, innovators, and insiders within your industry.

Follow them, interact with them, get to know what they know, and ideally get them to know you.

3. Have one priority to-do

What do you need to accomplish at work, in your job search, job growth, or career learning each day that needs your attention but has a habit of getting shuffled to the back burner?

Start each day by knocking out one to-do. If it's a big project at work, maybe you hop on it before you even look at your emails. If it's a class that you're taking, how about booking a conference room for 30 minutes and completing a module before lunch?

4. Research

Spend a few minutes each week researching your industry and your role. Check out industry news, research your company's competitors, research the salary for your role, research how and what tech will be changing your role.

Information and learning are key to growing. You can't cut a path to your career if you don't know the landscape.

Knowledge truly is power. The more you know about your role within the industry and what makes you unique and impactful, the more bargaining power you have when it comes to getting the initiatives you want, being on the team you want, and getting the money you deserve.

Spend this week learning all you can, but don't let it only be this week. Keep on top of this info. Don't let it go stale. Make sure you're in the know and use that knowledge.

5. Get on the calendar

Here's one you only need two minutes to do. Today.

Book some time on your manager's calendar to talk to her about your goals. Don't wait for review time. Ask how you can proactively grow in your role. Ask for active mentorship.

Unless you are vocal, your manager may have NO IDEA that you want more. They might be so buried in their own deliverables lists that they aren't paying attention to the fact that you haven't taken on more responsibility since last year. Your manager should want to help you grow. If they are resistant, they may not be the best manager for you.

6. Sign yourself up to learn a new transferable skill

It could be software, hardware, communications, leadership, almost anything. Ask HR if there's a company learning and development program. Or maybe they reimburse some tuition? Or they'll let you expense that one online course.

If no, find something you're itching to learn that grows your skills list and find a class you can afford and register yourself ASAP.

If you are currently looking, look at the job descriptions for that next great gig you have your eye on. Is there a skill gap you need to fill? There are a million inexpensive and free options for e-learning. Research the course, certificate, or program you need and get started.

7. This year's goal

Write down one thing you want to accomplish in your career or on the job in the remainder of this year. Then after your big, fat, juicy thing, write down all the teeny, tiny things it's going to take to get it done.

When you see it laid out in bite-sized steps, it stops seeming so overwhelmingly large and wayyyyyy more doable. Now put some time on your calendar, daily, to get those small steps done.

8. Next year's goal

Write down one thing you want to accomplish in the beginning of next year. Then follow the same process as your end-of-year project and make a plan to get it done.

9. Read

Read. Read more. And then read something else. It can be books, articles, magazines, journals, whatever is relevant for your industry and even some things that aren't. Have you seen the 1980s opus Working Girl? If not, go do it now. Because Tess, the lead, works her way to the top by reading and being smart enough to put the pieces together. Also, you can just watch it for the hair.

10. Update

Every week do some updating of your LinkedIn, resume, and portfolio. There's a few reasons.

First, when you are ready to jump ship, you'll be all good to go. Second, when you do decide to job hunt, you won't tip off your boss. Nothing is more of a red flag than an employee who suddenly has an updated profile. Third, this will help you keep track of your latest and greatest accomplishments so that when you talk to management about that raise, it will be all right there.

If you are currently looking, then this needs to be priority number one. You have to sell yourself into the gig you want, and these are your sales materials.

The Bottom Line on Fear and Action

Again, none of these actions take a ton of work, but they do take action. Actions need action. Get it? See what I did there?

All kidding aside, take the tiny steps and they will lead to some major career growth and acceleration.

Here's what I know after years of coaching people through career transitions: fear never fully goes away. You don't wait for the fear to disappear before you act. You acknowledge it, you respect it, and then you act anyway.

The secret isn't eliminating fear. The secret is making the steps so small that fear can't stop you.

Research salaries for 30 minutes? You can do that scared. Email one person in your network? You can do that scared. Follow one industry leader on LinkedIn? You can do that scared. Update one section of your resume? You can do that scared.

Each tiny action builds momentum. Each small step proves to yourself that you're capable of more than fear wants you to believe. And before you know it, you've taken a dozen tiny steps that add up to one giant leap.

Your career won't grow on autopilot. It needs you to tend to it, even when you're scared. Especially when you're scared.

So congratulate yourself for even considering change. Acknowledge that you're terrified. Visualize what happens if you do nothing. Make a tiny plan. And then take one very small action.

That's all it takes to start walking through the fear.

You've got this.

Yours in ‘grow, grow, grow your career boat’ goodness,

EBS

How to Find a Job That Makes You Happy (Without Starting From Scratch)

Quick question: If money wasn't an object, what would you do for a career?

What was your gut reaction, initial, no-overthinking response? Is it worlds apart from what you do now? Or is it being the "bomb ass boss" at your current gig?

What is it you want to do with your career, really?

I know, I know. Easier asked than answered.

Or just maybe, deep down you know the answer, but you're afraid of the answer or you have no idea how to move forward.

You might be sitting at your desk, asking "Is this it?" "Is this the best career for me?" "Because I'm not super happy and sort of want to strangle my cubicle-mate." Even if your cubicle mate is your actual mate because, work from home.

First off, slowly back away from your desk and realize that you're going to need to get real with yourself if you want a meaningful career, including a job that will make you happy.

Where Happiness at Work Actually Comes From

Job satisfaction is comprised of a lot of factors, but for you to be truly happy at work, you need to focus on yourself. Your personal connection to the work is where the happiness comes from.

Here's what I learned through two major career changes of my own: I used to be a professor. Yup. I taught courses like "The History of Creativity." That's totally a thing. Did you know that was a thing? I LOVED being a professor. But I also loved paying the rent. I'm not sure if you know this, but academia isn't exactly a cash cow.

I finally hit a breaking point financially and was forced to reconsider and reevaluate.

I tried out a few things, but nothing felt right.

I knew I wanted to continue educating and helping people find their thing. I knew I liked helping students figure their own stuff out. It was when I finally worked with a career coach that it became clear.

I specifically wanted to help people with their own career development and growth. It makes sense, right? Teaching college is helping students figure out what careers and futures they're interested in. Career development is the next logical step. Career development just made all sorts of sense.

Cool, but knowing what I wanted to be was only part of it. I had to figure out how to make my teaching skills make sense in corporate-land.

I made my way back to advertising and marketing, where I had worked until grad school. I dabbled in several roles until I found my footing in creative staffing. It's truly a mix of recruiting, management, learning and development, and a healthy dose of career coaching.

In my years of staffing candidates and coaching clients, as well as finding my own sweet spot, I've learned that finding a fulfilling career requires getting honest with yourself. Really honest.

The Power of Asking "Why?" Five Times

In order to find a job that makes you happy, you need to ask yourself ONE tough question, five times. Seriously.

This technique, borrowed from root cause analysis, helps you dig past surface-level complaints to understand what you actually need.

Step 1: If you are not currently happy at your job, ask WHY.

This is where you get to leave the stuff you don't like behind you. It goes like this:

"I don't like my job because I hate my boss." WHY do I hate my boss? "She's demanding." WHY is she demanding? "She acts like I don't know how to do my job." WHY does she act like that? "She is stressed all the time." WHY? "There are only two of us to do all the work." WHY? "It's a small company."

Based on all that, you may need to find yourself a larger company that allows you some trust and autonomy to do your job. Once you do this for the multitude of reasons you're currently unhappy, a picture should start to emerge of the type of job, company, and environment that will allow you a bit more job satisfaction.

Step 2: Ask WHY you want to work (other than a paycheck)

We all need to pay the landlord, but other than that, WHY do you want to work?

For example: "I want to have a sense of purpose." WHY? "I want to feel fulfilled at work." WHY? "I need to know that what I do matters." WHY? "Because otherwise, I'm just wasting my life." WHY? "Unless you're doing good, there's no point to it." WHY? "Doing good is the whole purpose of life."

You might need to find yourself a job or company that gives back in a big way. This may mean a gig in a small nonprofit, a massive corporation with a charitable foundation you can work for, or a midsize company with lots of volunteer days.

Step 3: What abilities, interests, and skills make you feel good, strong, and engaged?

Keep in mind that just because you're good at something, you don't have to do it for a living. I mean, I'm great at laundry, but I'm not about to open a dry cleaners.

So, what interests and skills do you have?

"I'm interested in art." WHY? "It's amazing to see all the ways someone can express themselves." WHY? "It really shows just how unique we all are."

Anything else?

"I'm good at organization." WHY? "I just get how to keep things straight so they're easily accessed." WHY? "My brain just sees things in a logical, mathematical way."

Who knows, maybe an operations position in an art gallery would knock your socks off. Maybe a solo business where you organize closets and show people how to dress creatively with items they already own could be your jam.

Step 4: How do you work best?

Under what conditions do you work best? Do you have a boss and are part of a team, or are you a solo-preneur? Do you go to an office, work from home, or the beach? How many hours do you put in and how much money are you making? Basically, how do you want to live life? WHY?

"I prefer to work in an air-conditioned office downtown." WHY? "I like the structure of having somewhere to go." WHY? "Otherwise I'd never put on pants." WHY? "I really like being at home, on my couch, with my dog and being comfortable, so going to an office makes me act like a real human." WHY? "Because I'd happily work in my underwear with Judge Judy on for background noise while eating PB&J every day if I didn't have to get dressed." WHY? "Because that's what makes me happy!"

Just saying, maybe you really do want a gig that lets you telecommute. Just put on a decent shirt for those Zooms, okay?

Step 5: So what?

This is where it all comes together. Go back through your answers to steps one through four and pull out what feels the MOST important to you. Now hit those with WHY.

I want to work part-time: WHY? So you can surf in the mornings? Awesome, brah. I prefer to work on my own: WHY? So you can be in charge? Get it, girl. I love the social media aspects of my job: WHY? It's engaging and fun. You betcha. I want to help women and folks with my work: WHY? The gender wage gap needs to go. Amen.

How does a remote social media strategist for small businesses sound? Boom. Done. Now go find yourself some true career happiness.

The Four Steps to Making It Happen

It really is about digging deep and being honest with yourself. I know you can do it. But once you know what you want, you need a plan to get there.

1. Start with Yourself

Outside of societal and family pressures, you need to acknowledge who you are and what you truly want. What your values, likes, and priorities are.

This doesn't have to be daunting. It can be as simple as sitting down with a pen and a notebook and really asking yourself what you want from life and how that reflects what's important to you.

Use the five-why technique above. Journal. Make lists. Talk to yourself out loud if that helps. The point is to get brutally honest about what you actually need to be happy, not what you think you should need.

2. Reach Out

Now that you've had a nice conversation with yourself, it's time to chat with other people. Especially people in your network.

Your network is a goldmine.

Want to know what it would be really like to be a preschool teacher or graphic artist? Reach out and ask. Someone you know is connected to everyone you want to talk to.

Use LinkedIn, email, your alumni association, your hair stylist's sister. Reach out and ask to take them for coffee or set up more formal informational meetings.

Everyone's favorite topic is themselves, so don't be afraid to politely ask. Most people are genuinely happy to help someone who's thoughtfully exploring career options.

3. Do the Work

Shadow, volunteer, and do freelance projects if at all possible. Even a few hours a month can give you real insight into a new role and lead to a vast network of connections.

If you're already working three jobs and just can't make the time commitment work, try squeezing in an e-course, webinar, or nighttime reading that is relevant to your career goal.

The point is to test your hypotheses. You think you'd love being a graphic designer? Great. Do a project or two. You might discover you love it, or you might realize you actually prefer the strategy side of creative work. Both discoveries are valuable.

4. Sell Yourself

Now that you know who you are, who you want to be, and what work you want to do, it's time to sell yourself.

You really only need three things to effectively market yourself into the job you want:

• LinkedIn profile (recruiters live and die by it)

• Portfolio/Website (no matter what your line is)

• Resume (yes, still)

Whether you are a career changer, freelance maven, corporate rockstar, or newbie grad, you need sales collateral. Yup, it's true. That's exactly what these things are, and if used correctly, they can do most of the job hunt work you hate doing.

If you've got all three of these buttoned up, recruiters will call you. For the rest of you, you need to get set up to sell yourself ASAP.

Building Your Sales Packet

Where do you start? With your story.

Before you slap together a profile, format a Google doc, or whip up a website, you need to start with a clear story of who you are, where you want to be, and why you want to be there. Most people treat their resumes as a list of past job descriptions. What you should be doing is using them to tell your story. To outline why you're the perfect fit for that bigger, better job.

Gather a list of five to 10 bullet points that highlight your unique value, impressive stats, and skills you want to build on. Use these "Story Bullets" to build out your summary, job history, and "about me" pages. Your LinkedIn, resume, and website need to be cohesive and work together. Using the same wording for your summaries on each will not only save you time but help you form your personal sales pitch.

Look at your bullets and focus on the ones that a recruiter hiring for the "next big gig" you want would be searching for. Don't focus on the job you want out of. Show that you're right for the next level up.

For example, Jack, of Beanstalk fame, might have the following bullets:

• Co-Founder of Giant Slayers Inc, which sold for 45 million farthings

• Deep understanding of the gold-egg market

• 62 percent rise in used-cow sales within two years

• First to market with singing harp services app

These could be summarized as: "I'm a marketer with six years of in-depth experience in multiple markets including golden eggs, harps, and cows. My experience in multi-channel campaigns, campaign management, and technology development has given me unique insight into the giant-slaying arena."

Now, for his job history sections, Jack should list his absolute best or biggest accomplishment, or story bullet, as his first. Again, highlight the skills and accomplishments that will appeal to the hiring manager you're gunning for. Don't just rewrite your current job description.

A portfolio for creatives is a 100 percent must, but it can be invaluable to all types of professions.

What's the first rule of story writing? Show, don't tell. Well, a website lets you show, not tell, your skills. For many people, building a website feels intimidating, but it can be a simple templated site hosted on a free or low-cost service.

Your Bare Basics Checklist

LinkedIn:

• Photo

• Summary

• Contact info

• Job history with key bullets featured

• Skills listed

Portfolio/Website:

• Photo

• Summary

• Contact info

• Links to social accounts

• Links to relevant content: blogs, creative works, case studies

• Link to resume

Resume:

• Summary

• Contact info

• Job history focusing on key bullets but with more complete skills and accomplishments listed

• Skills section highlighting those most useful for the job you are going after

Making It Strategic

Three emails sent to viable network connections are worth 50 resumes sent out into the internet void.

Do your research and tailor each application, cover letter, and email to that specific person, for that specific role, that you are specifically interested in and fit for.

This whole process can take days, weeks, or even months. Go at your speed and try not to play the comparison game. Who cares if your younger cousin appears more successful than you. You don't know her life.

Eyes on your own paper, butt in your own lane.

Focus on you and your path.

The Bottom Line

Finding a job that makes you happy isn't about chasing some vague passion or settling for misery because you think you're stuck. It's about getting honest with yourself through deep questioning, understanding what you actually need to thrive, and then strategically positioning yourself for the work that aligns with those needs.

Start with the five whys. Figure out what you actually want, not what you think you should want. Then reach out, do the work, and sell yourself effectively.

You don't need to start from scratch. You just need to understand yourself better and communicate your value more clearly.

Now go get 'em, tiger.

Yours in you really can find work that makes you happy goodness,

EBS

Stop Following Your Passion: Why Finding Your Thing Is Better (And How I Learned This the Hard Way)

No, you shouldn't "follow your passion." I'm serious. This idea that you should find, then blindly follow, your "passion" is overwhelming and ultimately unhelpful.

Finding Your Passion looms large. Finding Your Thing is the way to go.

You know that feeling you've got right now? That "totally lost, I'm stuck, what am I even supposed to do with my career, can't someone just tell me what I'm supposed to be doing" feeling? Man, it sucks, doesn't it?

I know that feeling intimately. But what you've been told, this idea that you "just" need to find your passion, it's not a reasonable goal. And I learned this through two brutal career changes that nearly broke me before they remade me.

Why "Follow Your Passion" Sets You Up to Fail

I've been through two major career changes of my own and I've spent years helping clients figure out what their thing is. The reason I don't say "follow your passion" is because there's too much pressure behind Passion, the idea that it has to be the end all, be all.

But finding your thing? There's way less baggage attached to it. Fewer external and internal expectations weighing you down.

You're going to Find Your Thing, the thing that fulfills you and gives meaning to your life not because it's your one all-consuming passion, but because it supports your interests, talents, and values. It allows you to be the most you.

Just think about these two simple statements:

"Carol left her corporate job to follow her passion of Pet Care Marketing."

"Carol's thing is Pet Care Marketing."

It's all psychological, but it's an important distinction.

The expectation with "passion" is that it's so burning and all-consuming that there's nothing else of meaning for Carol, and it may not even be something she's good at. She's just obsessed with it.

However, it being her Thing? That indicates that she's good at it, she enjoys it, and she knows what she's doing. It's clearer, more concise, more concrete. It's actually MORE Carol.

And you can be more you too.

My Story: From Dream Job to Devastation to Discovery

Let me tell you how I learned this lesson. Name a job and I've probably done it: housekeeper, bartender, executive assistant, retail, marketing assistant, private caterer, lifeguard, swim instructor, vintage reseller, construction coordinator with a hot pink hard hat, and many, many others.

Many of these I held simultaneously while working my way through college, then grad school, and then in pursuit of my dream career: College Professor.

Making it through school, working any combination of jobs, and getting into a teaching position wasn't easy. But it was my dream job. And I worked incredibly hard to get it.

I spent the next 12 years as a Humanities Professor at several fantastic colleges in the Bay Area, teaching courses like "The History of Creativity" and "Values and Culture." I loved my job. Capital L Love.

As I'm sure you know, education and academia isn't exactly a cash cow, but I really did love my job, like REALLY loved it, so I scrimped, saved, and worked those weird little jobs in the cracks between classes to make ends meet.

Then I got divorced. In San Francisco. One of the most notoriously expensive cities on the planet. And things changed.

Let me say it again: I LOVED teaching. But I also now had to pay the rent all on my own. Due to the recession and with education budgets being what they are, I found my course load shrinking year after year.

I finally hit a breaking point financially and was forced to reconsider and reevaluate. It all came to a head when my options were: move across the country for a tenure track position and still struggle financially, only now far from home and family, OR find a new career.

How did I feel about my options? I was devastated. It was like a long-term, "this is it forever" romantic relationship ending. It took me months of soul searching and not a few tears to get to a place where I could even acknowledge that there really were other doors. Wide open doors.

The Breakup I Couldn't Accept

While intellectually I knew I had to make a career change, I just couldn't give up a job that I loved so much it had been the basis of much of my identity. I was a teacher.

I made my way back to advertising and marketing, where I had worked before grad school, as I struggled to keep teaching by holding on to one or two night classes. I dabbled in several roles and took a series of jobs that I knew I would hate, which I looked at as a good thing because I thought I could somehow still make teaching viable. Any other job would "just" be a day job that I could leave when I finally found a way to make teaching work.

It was like booty calling my ex-career.

After two, yes TWO, years of drunkenly texting my ex-career, I finally had "the talk" with myself that someone always has to have with you after a breakup. The "IT'S OVER, MOVE ON" talk. The hard truth that your bestie gives you. But unlike a true breakup, nobody was telling me they "never really liked my career anyway." Nobody understood that I was grieving. Forget bringing over ice cream to help me get through it.

After the talk with myself, I knew the era of the "day job" was over. I needed a new career, for real. I decided to do what I needed to do to figure out what it was, while keeping one class a semester to get my teaching fix in.

In the search for "The One," I took ALL the quizzes, filled out all the workbooks, took all the workshops. In essence, I online dated the crap out of my career.

After a while, I became convinced I'd be a sad, lonely, old career cat lady.

The Magic Isn't in Finding Your Passion

I tried working with a few career coaches in the hopes that they would magically tell me what I should do with my life. Spoiler alert: it totally doesn't work that way.

It took working with a coach who specialized in career changes to come to the certainty that I wanted to continue educating and helping people find their thing.

I knew I liked helping students figure their own stuff out, but I had NO IDEA what form that would or should take in a career. All signs were pointing toward "Coach," but I absolutely did not want to be a coach. That I knew. At the time, there was still generally a stigma around coaching. The common perception was that there were only two versions: executive coaching for the uber high-level or woo-woo life coaching for the L.A. based.

I wasn't up for either. But educating people on how to navigate their careers? I knew I wanted to do that. Cool, but knowing what I wanted to be was only part of it. I had to figure out how to make my teacher skills make sense in corporate-land.

I searched and searched for a job opening that fit the bill, but NOTHING seemed right, and man, did I do some epic wallowing. Then a former coworker who had moved on to another company reached out. She knew I was miserable in my current relationship, uh, day job. She wanted to introduce me to a new job. A new job that she knew I would rock. A job that played on all my strengths. A job where I got to teach people how to work together and help them develop their careers.

Isn't that always the way? A friend of a friend introduces you to the right thing.

That role where I found my footing was creative management and staffing. It's truly a mix of recruiting, management, learning and development, and a healthy dose of career coaching.

I racked up almost 10 years of experience in creative recruiting and staffing. Was it "love" the way I loved teaching? Not quite. You only get one first love. But I really dug my gig and it made sense. Teaching college is helping students figure out what careers and futures they're interested in. Career development was the next logical step.

I enjoyed the recruiting aspect of the job because I loved helping people get the jobs they were lusting after. The one that made them SO. FREAKING. STOKED. But through this career, it became clear to me that I loved, and always had, helping people find their thing.

The part of my job I especially loved was directly helping women with their career development. However, it was only a small part of my day-to-day work.

Career coaching suddenly just made all sorts of sense.

Finding My Thing (Finally)

I knew it was time for career change number two. It took another two-plus years for it to all come to fruition, and it wasn't an easy or even a direct path. But now I'm currently teaching others how to find fulfillment in their own careers, and there's no way I could be where I am without the heartbreak of having to give up being a professor.

I am in love with my job in a whole new way, and I can't imagine not being a coach. Life's funny that way, huh?

Now I can proudly say: my name's EB. I'm a certified career coach who spends her time showing creative types how to leave the fear behind and find their thing so they can achieve the fulfillment they really want.

What I Learned: The Truth About Finding Your Thing

Here's what two devastating career changes taught me: the answer is most likely right in front of you. But you can't see it when you're desperately trying to follow some mythical "passion."

It doesn't take months of going back to school, years of trial and error, or even days of pulling your hair out to Find Your Thing. You just need to be prepared to dig really deep.

It all starts with looking inside, taking stock, and being honest with yourself.

This process can be overwhelming in the best way because you will go from "I have no options, I have no idea where to start" to an overabundance of options and opportunities.

It doesn't take years of effort, but there's also no magic wand. You have to do the work, the introspection, the deciding of just what it is that lights your fire.

Yes, you could pick something out of thin air or have someone tell you what you should do, and you could absolutely do one of those. But it will never be as fulfilling as coming to the decisions on your own and working through why you want to do that particular thing.

What "Your Thing" Actually Means

Finding your thing is what creates a meaningful, fulfilling career. If "meaningful" to you is helping a nonprofit that cares for orphans, awesome. If fulfillment means traveling 70 percent of the time and letting your partner handle the homestead, fantastic. But it needs to be meaningful to you.

Only you can know what's right for you, and I promise the process becomes easier and way more fun when you ditch the concept of "passion" and focus on finding your Thing.

Maybe you have a job but you're unfulfilled. Or you're climbing the monetary ladder, but your gig isn't in line with what you see yourself being happy doing long term. Did you get laid off recently and decide this is the perfect opportunity to do something you actually want to do? Maybe you're looking to switch careers but have no idea which direction to turn, and everyone is telling you to "follow your passion," but you have no freaking idea what that might be.

No matter what your situation, let me guess: you feel stuck, frustrated, lost, and you're freaking out to varying degrees.

Don't fret. I'm here with good news.

The Work Is Worth It

When you show up in the world as your most you, you are a better person, partner, employee, business owner, parent, and community member.

Look, I understand the feeling. You just want someone to hand you a piece of paper that says you're amazing at these five things, you should go be a fill-in-the-blank with a random career, and have a huge lightning bolt moment of "YES, THAT'S IT! I JUST NEVER REALIZED IT BEFORE!"

I hate to tell you, but that's not how it works.

Often what we are told we are supposed to want, or feel that logically we "need" to do in our careers veers far from what actually makes us happy, whole individuals.

Only when you take the time to be honest, dig deep, and come to a genuine understanding of what makes you truly happy will you come to an understanding of what kind of career will be meaningful to you.

Again, the idea of what is "meaningful" work is different for literally every person on the planet. If "meaningful" to you is simply making enough money to never have to worry about ordering extra avocado, that's great. But you have to come to that conclusion on your own.

And it's worth it. It's worth the work to wake up excited about what you do. To feel genuinely fulfilled by engaging in meaningful actions. To create a career for yourself that makes you and those around you happier people. I promise.

Because here's what I know after teaching for 12 years, recruiting for nearly 10, and coaching for years: your thing is out there. Not your passion. Your thing. The work that makes sense for who you are, what you're good at, and what you value.

And when you find it? You won't need to "follow" it with blind devotion. You'll just show up as yourself and do the work. That's the difference. That's what makes it sustainable. That's what makes it yours.

So stop looking for your passion. Start finding your thing.

Yours in ‘you bet I’ve got bartending stories’ goodness,

EBS

—-

EB Sanders 

Career Coach for Creative Types

My Website | Free Stuff | Pinterest

Helping you figure out what you want to do and how to do it your way!

Finding Your Change: How to Get Inspired and Know What to Do Next

You're already feeling overwhelmed by all the inspiration quotes flooding your feed. And yet, somewhere deep down, you do feel like maybe, yeah, it is time for a change. You just have no idea what that change actually looks like.

Amen, friend. But how? And what?

Here's the thing: clarity about what needs to change doesn't usually come from external motivation or pressure. It comes from getting curious about yourself, paying attention to what actually excites you, and giving your brain permission to explore new patterns and possibilities. If you want to change something up but have no clue exactly what, here are four tried and true ways to get your creative thinking juices flowing and unlock the insights hiding beneath the surface.

Method #1: Get Out of Your Rut with Constraints and Scenery Changes

Everything from journaling five minutes in the morning to deciding to ditch the car and ride your bike to work for a month counts. Sometimes making any change in your daily routine opens you up to new thoughts and insights.

But here's the paradox: putting constraints on yourself actually makes you more creative, not less. It sounds strange, but limitations and boundaries force you to think about old things in completely new ways. Constraints create a problem-solving scenario and produce novelty by making you think differently.

Try limiting resources, time, or even your usual tools. If you always type your ideas, bust out a number-two pencil instead. The point isn't deprivation; it's inspiration. Think about Shakespeare's sonnets. They’re all about strict rules, strict structure, yet some of his most creative works emerged from those very constraints. What he did with those limitations? Wowza.

You can also create a literal change of scenery. Move your chair, go outside for a coffee, find a new meeting room, or take a walk. Take a new route to your coffee joint and check out storefronts or people's shoes. Observe your world in a way you haven't before. Even if actual movement isn't possible, change your screensaver, update your desktop, or put up a postcard of somewhere you dream about visiting. The visual inspirations you find can be genuinely game-changing.

Or try a change of scenery for your mind. Download a meditation app or grab a free guided one off of YouTube, find a quiet space, and meditate for just ten minutes. A shift in your mental landscape can have real, tangible impact on how you approach problems and see possibilities.

Method #2: Start an Inspiration Book and Look for Patterns

In my work with clients, there's one consistent exercise I have everyone do, no matter what outcome we're working toward. I ask them to keep an "Inspiration Book."

This can be an actual journal, a file on your phone, a Pinterest board, or even notes in your iPhone, the format doesn't matter. What matters is that you pay attention to what you're paying attention to.

Here's what you do: when you're out in the world and you see a piece of art, hear a song, come across interesting architecture, find a fascinating news article, or discover an amazing pair of shoes, write it down. Even if it seems tangential to "career development", clipping a recipe, learning about a new ingredient, taking a deep dive into your family history, these seemingly random clues offer insights in ways nothing else can.

Many clients are initially unsure how this helps. I give them no parameters. I simply ask them to pay attention and collect what catches their attention. The magic happens when you step back and look for patterns.

Here's what I've discovered working with hundreds of clients: patterns emerge that they had absolutely no awareness of.

One client worked in theoreticals all day long, but their inspiration book was filled to the brim with items that could only be created by human hands: mastercraft, handmade objects, skilled work. This client had a long, mostly suppressed desire to work with their hands. It came as a complete surprise-slash-complete no-brainer that they needed a career change to something where they could create physical objects.

Another client spent all day creating art, but what kept drawing their attention were things that were systematized, organized, and operational. She realized she no longer wanted to create art as a means to money. She wanted to do something lateral around art that included managing operations at a higher level. She evolved from "Creator" to "Operator" and discovered she enjoyed the business of art more than the creating of it.

Do this for one week to three months. Don't let it drag on forever. The key isn't just collecting; it's pulling out the patterns and allowing your brain to see what your subconscious already knows.

Method #3: Activate Your Creativity Through Constraints and Challenges

Even in the best of times, most jobs can feel automatic. If you're finding yourself feeling unengaged, on autopilot, and uninspired, there are creative ways to add energy back into your work.

One powerful method: brainstorm alternatives. You know those reports you run daily with one hand tied behind your back? Is there another way to do them? To make them more interesting to you at least? Brainstorm five different ways to complete your regular tasks. Even if you never implement them, the act of brainstorming alone kicks your brain into creative mode.

Set a daily creative challenge unrelated to your current work but possible during your workday. A seemingly small creative task can get your brain into a thoughtful, creative space (especially if it's miles away from your daily grind). Treat it as meditation, not goofing off.

Try 365 Post-it doodles. Write a haiku a day for a month. Create a new creative Pinterest board each day. Take a micro-class on daily creative project ideas. The goal is simply to get creative with your job, not just on your job.

You can also invoke the principle of asking "What would they do?" Choose someone who inspires you: Frida Kahlo, Jane Maise, Queen Bey, Ava DuVernay, or in my case, Dolly Parton (I just assume she has a way of getting things done with a rhinestone glue gun!). 

Display a postcard of your idol on your desk, keep a copy of that groundbreaking book by your favorite artist nearby, or post a print of your favorite photograph. Make a little shrine to the creativity deity of your choice. When you're feeling uninspired, ask yourself: "What would [your inspiration] do?" It's a surprisingly effective reframe.

You can also investigate the creativity of others. Follow podcasts, daily stories, cultural features, or images. Let the creativity of others help you look at yours in a new way. Or take a deep dive into someone completely outside your field. Are you a copywriter? Research a scientist whose work you've never explored. Get out of your creativity comfort zone.

Method #4: Reflect and Do Your Own Thing

It's time to look back at decisions you've made and actions you've put into play. Poke around at dreams you left by the wayside and goals you never made happen because life got in the way. Get really creative with both the data and your analysis of it. Focus not just on facts, but on your feelings about how things went down.

But here's the crucial part: do your own thing.

As long as you don't hurt anyone, go ahead and break some rules and expectations. Does your work crew always eat sad salads on Zoom together? Go for a walk and grab those amazing tacos from that tiny joint on Third Street. Eat them without judgment and enjoy that walk back.

Do you and your partner have a typical weeknight routine? Break out of your norm for one night and do something you'd normally only do on a weekend. Have you always wanted to try cosplay but never have because someone told you it was nerdy? Slap on that wig, grab your superhero outfit, and get that ticket to Comic-Con.

Do something that truly makes you happy, no matter what other people might think. Disregard judging eyes and you may just find the thing in your life that needs changing.

The Real Power of Exploration

After you've done the post-mortem of the past, move forward with some innovative ideas on what changes you can make to create a new future.

Maybe after all this creative exploration, just the act of letting your brain run wild is all you need. Maybe not. Maybe you found something you're genuinely excited to jump into and start changing. There is no "right" outcome. You do you.

But here's what often happens: as you start paying attention to your patterns, breaking your routine, getting creative, and doing what actually makes you happy, something becomes crystal clear. You start to see that what really needs to change isn't just a habit or a daily routine.

It's your work itself.

If Your Clarity Points to Career Change

If after doing a few of these exercises you realize what needs to change is what you do each and every day, then you're ready for the deeper work. You're ready to align your work with your actual values, clear your limiting beliefs about what's possible, and chart a new path forward.

When you create space for inspiration and start paying attention to what genuinely excites you, career insights often follow. You begin to see the patterns in what you're drawn to. You start recognizing what your subconscious has been trying to tell you all along.

That moment of clarity (when you realize something fundamental needs to shift) is powerful. And it usually doesn't come from external motivation or New Year's resolutions. It comes from getting curious, giving yourself permission to explore, and honestly looking at what makes you come alive.

So start with these four methods. Get out of your rut. Keep an inspiration book. Activate your creativity. Reflect and do your own thing.

See where it leads you. Your next change might be closer than you think.

Yours in ‘you got this’ goodness,

EBS

P.S. Yes, napping counts as doing a "new thing." Sometimes rest and permission to do nothing are exactly what your brain needs to process and create clarity.

—-

EB Sanders 

Career Coach for Creative Types

My Website | Free Stuff | Pinterest

Helping you figure out what you want to do and how to do it your way!