Success without fulfillment is the ultimate paradox.
In coaching seasoned professionals, I’ve uncovered a fascinating pattern:
The moments of deepest career satisfaction rarely correlate with our biggest achievements.
I’ll never forget one client who told me she was devastated when she got promoted.
Yes, devastated.
She explained that being elevated again was like a noose tightening around her neck.
Her reaction to what should have been good news was visceral—and a clear signpost, flashing in neon, to signal the career problem she needed to solve.
That’s the thing about misalignment.
It sneaks up on you, tightening like a noose until it’s hard to breathe.
You convince yourself you’re just adjusting to the pressure, but deep down, you know something’s off. The promotion that once felt like a win starts to feel suffocating.
The higher the stakes, the harder it becomes to admit that you might be on the wrong path. And ultimately, it’s completely untenable.
This happens because the secret to a truly fulfilling career lies in alignment,
Not ever more elevation in work that’s wrong.
Designing a Career That Fits
Fulfillment isn’t found—it’s designed. The most satisfied leaders I work with don’t treat their careers as static. They see them as dynamic systems with endless choice-points.
When they design their careers to solve for alignment, they:
- Unleash Their Potential
Leveraging their unique strengths to support their passions and purpose. - Create Meaningful Career Change
Realigning work they love with the kind of satisfaction that endures. - Master Career-Life Synergy
Achieving integration between what they do, what matters most and the life they wish they were living—so their personal and professional lives competing is a thing of the past.
A Tool for Realignment: The Energy-Impact Matrix
Want to get started? Here’s a practical exercise that surprises even the most self-aware leaders:
The Energy-Impact Matrix: Instead of listing activities, try this deeper approach:
Identify Your “High-Energy Zones”:
→ What specific tasks or interactions boost your energy, even on tough days?
→ Which activities make you lose track of time because you’re so immersed?
Spot the “Impact Sweet Spots”:
→ Where are you making the biggest difference, either to the business, your team, or clients?
→ Which of these outcomes resonate with your deeper values or sense of purpose?
Pinpoint the Misalignment:
→ Are you spending too much time on draining tasks that deliver little value?
→ What’s one small shift you could make to spend more time in your “high-energy, high-impact” zone?
The Choice Is Yours
Career fulfillment doesn’t happen by accident. It is designed. And that starts with small, intentional changes—that go from the inside out.
Please remember, this is your career story. And you hold the pen. If it’s getting harder to breathe at work, please don’t wait.
Ask yourself: is it time to rewrite your next career chapter?