Mini guide for career and business

I designed this guide to help you figure out where you stand with your career or business and where you’d like to go next (no more just "winging it" and hoping it all works out).

Whether you're looking to climb the corporate ladder, grow your business, or just find more fulfillment, let’s get intentional about your path forward.

Step 1: Reflect

Before making changes, it's worth figuring out how you really feel about your current career or business. Honest reflection can reveal more than just "Mondays are rough."

  • Is your job something that gets you out of bed excited, or just something that pays the bills? Be honest—there’s no judgment here, but the answer can guide your next steps.

  • There must be some parts of your job that don’t make you want to take a nap. Maybe it’s the creative brainstorming sessions, mentoring a coworker, or that feeling you get when a project comes together. Identify those moments—they're your clues.

  • Meetings that could have been emails? Spreadsheets that give you existential dread? Knowing what drags you down can help you figure out what to minimize or improve.

  • This one’s deep but important. Does what you do match what you care about? If not, it's no wonder you're feeling a bit lost—values misalignment is a career buzzkill.

  • You don’t need a perfect 5-year plan, but having an idea of where you want to go in the next year (or beyond) helps. Are you aiming for a promotion, a business pivot, or a complete career overhaul?

  • Being too comfortable is nice for a nap, but not so much for growth. If you're not being challenged, you may need to shake things up a bit.

  • Are you working late every night, or have you gone the other way and completely checked out? It’s worth figuring out if you need a reset on the balance front.

Step 2: Identify

Once you've reflected, it’s time to zoom in on what needs a change. Let’s get specific.

  • Maybe your skills need a refresh, your work environment is driving you nuts, or you're craving more purpose in your day-to-day tasks. Pick the area that needs love.

  • Stagnation is the enemy of fulfillment. Think about whether you’re picking up new skills or if you've hit a bit of a plateau.

  • If you're great at problem-solving but spend all day filling out forms, there’s a disconnect. Identify where your strengths and your daily tasks don’t align.

  • Often, it’s fear of the unknown that keeps us in place. Is there a conversation you’re avoiding (maybe about a raise) or a dream project you haven’t started?

  • There’s always that one action—like finally reaching out to a mentor, taking a course, or updating your resumé—that you've been avoiding but know would help.

  • Instead of just thinking about what title or role you want, think about how you want to feel—motivated, valued, challenged. This can give you clarity on what changes to prioritize.

Step 3: Create an action plan

Now let’s turn those reflections into actions. The key is to make it manageable, so you don’t get overwhelmed and give up on day three.

    • Refine your goals: Pick three small, achievable goals. Maybe it’s updating your LinkedIn, setting up a coffee chat with someone inspiring, or completing a course.

    • Block time for growth: Schedule time each week to work on your career—whether that’s learning a new skill, networking, or thinking about your next steps. Treat it like an important meeting (because it is).

    • Expand your network: Reach out to 1-2 people who could help or inspire you. Don’t worry, most people actually love talking about their work—especially over coffee.

    • Reassess your role: Are there ways you can shift within your current job to make it more enjoyable? Maybe you could volunteer to take on a project that interests you.

    • Level up your skills: Enroll in a course that helps fill a gap in your skillset. It doesn’t have to be long or formal—just enough to keep you challenged and evolving.

    • Rework your work-life balance: If work’s taking over your life, it’s time for some boundaries (no, emails don’t need answering at 11 p.m.). Or, if you’ve lost all motivation, maybe setting more structure could help.

    • Dream big: Write down where you’d like to be in a year or two. Is it a new job, starting your own business, or leading a big project? Put it on paper—it makes it more real.

    • Plan your exit strategy (if needed): If you know this isn’t the career for you, start planning an exit. What do you need—skills, savings, connections—to make that move happen?

    • Check in regularly: Every 3-6 months, sit down with your goals and reassess. It’s okay if plans change—what matters is staying connected to what you want.

Step 4: Regular check-ins and accountability

Accountability is where good intentions turn into action. Here’s how to keep yourself on track:

Quarterly reviews: Take 30 minutes every three months to assess where you’re at. Are you closer to your career goals? What needs tweaking?

Accountability buddy: Find someone who’ll keep you on track—whether it’s a friend, coworker, or even a mentor. Knowing someone’s checking in on your progress makes a big difference.

Celebrate wins: Keep a log of all your accomplishments, no matter how small. It’s easy to forget your progress when you’re in the thick of it, but looking back helps you see how far you’ve come.

Cut yourself some slack: Progress is rarely a straight line. Some weeks will be productive, others won’t. The important thing is to keep at it, even when you slip up.

  • Example action plan for career and business

    Here’s how you could put this guide to work:

    Current situation: You’re a marketing manager, but feeling like you’ve hit a wall. You've been toying with the idea of starting a side hustle but haven’t taken action.

    Reflection:

    • You’re stuck in a comfort zone, and your job isn’t challenging anymore.

    • You’re most energized when you’re helping small businesses with their marketing but haven’t explored freelancing seriously.

    Action plan:

    • Short-term: Spend one hour every Sunday planning out a side hustle (like freelancing for small businesses). Sign up for an online course to refresh your skills.

    • Mid-term: Start taking on a few freelance clients while keeping your full-time job. See if it energizes you or if you want to stick to the status quo.

    • Long-term: Build your savings and client base with the goal of transitioning fully into freelancing within a year. Reassess every three months to see if this still feels right.

Next

Break it down and start with something doable.