Stuck at a Career Crossroads? You Might Be a Pathfinder

Estimated read time: 3–4 minutes

There’s a moment in many careers when the questions get louder than the answers.

Am I in the right role? Is this still what I want? What’s next—and how do I even begin to figure that out?

Not every career challenge shows up as burnout or failure. Sometimes it shows up as uncertainty—that quiet, persistent pull toward something different, even if the next step isn’t fully clear yet.

And one of the most common stages we see people land in? A phase we call “The Pathfinder.”

When You’re in a “Pathfinder” Season

Most professionals don’t realize there’s a name for this part of the journey.

You may:

• Feel ready for a change, but not sure what that change should be

• Be questioning whether you’ve outgrown your current role or industry

• Be exploring leadership, entrepreneurship, or a pivot—but without a clear map

• Feel restless, disengaged, or unsure why your current work no longer feels aligned

This isn’t a failure phase.

It’s a discernment phase.

A recalibration phase.

A moment when your career is asking you to slow down just enough to ask better questions before making your next move.

In my work as a career and professional development coach, I see this season constantly.

And what I’ve learned is this:

👉 Most people don’t need more hustle at this stage.

👉 They need clarity, perspective, and strategic guidance.

Why Career Coaching Matters Most at This Stage

One of the biggest mistakes people make during this phase is trying to out-activity uncertainty.

They:

• Rewrite their résumé without knowing what story they’re trying to tell

• Apply broadly without a clear target

• Make quick lateral moves that don’t actually solve what feels misaligned

Career coaching at this stage isn’t about telling you what job to take.

It’s about helping you:

• Identify what actually matters to you now

• Understand how your strengths have evolved

• Clarify what kind of role, environment, and leadership path truly fits

• Build a strategy that aligns your next step with your long-term goals

This is the work that saves people years of misaligned effort.

A Smarter Way to Understand What You Need Right Now

Over time, I noticed that clients tend to cluster into a few consistent professional growth stages—each with very different needs.

Some need clarity.Some need structure and momentum.Some need help leading others. Some need strategic partnership at the executive level.

The problem is, most people don’t know which stage they’re actually in—so they end up pursuing the wrong kind of support.

That’s why we built the Professional Power-Up Quiz.

It’s a fast, practical way to:

• Identify your current career growth stage

• Understand what type of coaching would help most right now

• Avoid over- or under-investing in the wrong kind of development

If You’re Feeling “In Between” Right Now…

That tension you feel?

The quiet sense that something needs to shift?

That isn’t random.

It’s often the early signal that a more aligned chapter is available—but hasn’t fully taken shape yet.

And that’s exactly the point where the right guidance can make the biggest difference.

👉 Two Simple Next Steps

If this resonated with you, here are two ways to move forward—no pressure, just options:

1. Take the Professional Power-Up Quiz

Discover which stage of growth you’re currently in and what kind of career or professional development support fits best.

👉 Take the Quiz

2. Book a Free Strategy Session

If you’d rather talk it through, you can book a complimentary strategy session with me. We’ll look at where you are, what’s feeling stuck, and what kind of support would make the most difference.

👉 Schedule a Free Strategy Session

Final Thought

Not knowing exactly what’s next doesn’t mean you’re off track.

It often means you’re standing at the edge of something more aligned than what came before.

The question is whether you’ll move into that next chapter with guesswork—or with clarity.