What I’ve learned about career re-invention (Instead of becoming Stevie Nicks)
7 things I’ve Learned on the Road to Reinvention
When I grow up, I want to be Stevie Nicks.
But since that job is taken (and I can’t quite pull off the floaty shawl on a Zoom call), I did the next best thing: I reinvented my career.
Along the way, I’ve learned a few things. Not just about work, but about identity, leadership, courage and what it really takes to shift gear mid-career, or when something unexpectedly has taken you off your previously predicted path.
Here are 7 truths I’d pass on to any leader or high achiever standing at a crossroads:
You can’t build your next chapter with last season’s mindset.
What got you here won’t get you there. Let go of old stories. Mourn the good bits if you must, but pack lightly for where you're headed. Your new reality demands fresh thinking.
Your credentials and qualifications are not the full story.
Yes, qualifications matter. But what people are really drawn to is you. Your energy. Your lens. Your story. The way you light a room or hold a space or make the complex feel doable. That’s your secret sauce.
You get to choose.
Even inside a system, you can choose how you show up, where you spend your time, who gets your brilliance and who doesn't. Don’t mistake obligations for lack of agency. You’re still the author.
If you feel undervalued, you probably are.
Whether it’s money, time, energy, or recognition, it all counts. Prosperity isn’t just financial. Know what really fuels you, and don’t trade it away for someone else’s approval or convenience.
Don’t ignore the ‘off’ feeling.
We’ve all logic-ed our way into bad decisions. Learn to listen to your body. Leadership isn’t just head and hustle, it’s heart and gut, too. If it doesn’t feel right, it usually isn’t.
Relationships are everything.
Who’s in your corner? Who sees you? Who’s got your back? Leadership can be lonely, especially when you’re shifting lanes. Invest in the people who reflect your values back at you. Build your table if the current one feels threadbare.
Don’t take advice from people who’ve never walked your path.
Well-meaning or not, they don’t know. Find mentors who do. The ones who’ve felt the fear, made the leap, had the awkward performance reviews, the brave conversations, the Sunday-night dread.
And if you’re standing at your own messy middle moment, wondering what’s next, come and talk to me. I’d love to hear from you.