Reflect on your career and business

If your work life feels off, like you’re busy but not moving forward, it’s worth taking time to pause and reflect.

Before you chase new goals or make big decisions, it helps to look at what’s working, what’s not, and what you actually want.

This guide walks you through a simple career self-reflection process so you can get clear on where you are and where you’d rather be. Whether you're managing a business, planning your next move, or rethinking your entire path, these steps will help you make intentional choices.

Because drifting through your career isn’t the same as designing one that fits.

 

Step 1: Reflect on what’s working and what’s not

 

Before you start making changes, you need to understand where you’re starting from.

What’s working? What isn’t? What do you keep doing out of habit, and what’s still meaningful to you?

This step is about asking honest questions and listening to the answers, even if you don’t like some of them.

 

Grab a journal and ask yourself these questions:

• Am I fulfilled by what I do, or just doing it to get by?

  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.

• When do I feel most energized at work?

  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.

• What parts of my job/business make me feel drained?

  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.

• Does my job or business align with my values?

  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.

• What are my short- and long-term career/business goals?

  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?

• Am I feeling challenged, or am I stuck in my comfort zone?

  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.

• Is my work-life balance where I want it to be?

  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.

 

Once you’ve taken stock of your current situation, it’s time to get specific. What are you actually working toward?

 

Step 2: Identify the goals you want to work toward

 

Now that you’ve looked at what’s going on, let’s figure out what you want instead.

This isn’t about writing down what sounds impressive; it’s about choosing goals that reflect your values, priorities, and capacity right now.

If you’re not sure where to start, think in categories: learning, financial growth, impact, flexibility, creative freedom, or something else. Your goals don’t have to be fancy, but they do need to be yours.

 

Ask yourself these questions:

• Which aspect of my work needs the most attention: skills, work environment, relationships, or purpose?

  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.

• Am I learning and growing, or am I stuck?

  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.

• Is my work aligned with my passions and strengths?

  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.

• Am I avoiding something out of fear?

  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?

• What’s the one thing that could make the biggest difference right now?

  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.

• How do I want to feel in my career or business a year from now?

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

 

Now that you’ve got a sense of where you’re headed, let’s make it doable.

 

Step 3: Create an action plan

 

Big goals are great. But without a plan, they stay stuck in the “someday” zone.

This step is where you break things down into small actions that fit into your actual life. Think time blocks, calendar reminders, and systems that help you follow through, even on low-energy days.

Use a format that works for you: a simple checklist, a weekly planner, or a full-on project board. What matters is that you can stick with it.

 

Grab that journal and write down your plan.

• Short-term (Next 1-3 months)

  • 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.

• Mid-term (Next 6 months)

  • 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.

• Long-term (Next year and beyond)

  • 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.

 

• Click here to see an example

  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.

 

Plans are only useful if you check in on them. Let’s talk about how to stay on track.

 

Step 4: Schedule regular check-ins

 

Even the best action plan can drift off track if you don’t revisit it.

Life changes. Energy shifts. Priorities evolve. Regular check-ins help you catch that early, so you can adjust instead of abandoning.

You don’t need a complicated review process. A 10-minute monthly check-in can make a huge difference in keeping your goals aligned and doable.

 

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.

 

Step 5: Make your next move intentional

 

You don’t need a perfect five-year plan. You just need to know where you are, where you’d rather be, and what small step you’re willing to take next. If you’re serious about building a work life that fits you, your values, your energy, and your goals, don’t stop here.

Explore more tools, guides, and mini-challenges inside the Career & Business hub. Everything there is designed to help you take action, not just think about it.