New Year, Real You: Breaking Free from Career Crossroads
You know that feeling when you're scrolling through LinkedIn, and everyone seems to have it all figured out? Their "I'm excited to announce..." posts making you question every career choice you've ever made? Yeah, I've been there. In fact, I was there for years, putting on a brave face while running Scotland's leading social enterprise, all while feeling increasingly disconnected from myself and my purpose.
Here's the thing about New Year's resolutions – we often set ourselves up for failure by focusing on surface-level changes instead of addressing what's really holding us back. We make grand plans about hitting the gym five times a week or finally learning Spanish, but we shy away from the bigger questions: Are we truly fulfilled in our work? Are we living authentically? Are we brave enough to admit when something isn't working?
The Comfort Zone Trap
I remember clearly when I realised I was stuck in the "comfort zone trap." I had co-founded Social Bite, we were bringing A-listers like George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio to Scotland, and from the outside, everything looked perfect. But inside? I was burnt out, disconnected, and honestly, pretty miserable.
The irony wasn't lost on me – here I was, helping others find their path while completely losing sight of my own. Sound familiar? Maybe you're in a similar spot right now: successful on paper, but something feels off. You're doing all the "right" things, but that spark, that sense of purpose? It's gotten lost somewhere along the way.
Breaking Free: It's More Than Just Making a Plan
Let's be real – if change were as simple as making a plan and sticking to it, we'd all be living our dream lives already. But here's what I learned the hard way: sustainable change requires more than just willpower. It needs a deep understanding of yourself, your patterns, and the neurobiological factors that drive your decisions. I learnt all of this during career coaching I engaged with while still at Social Bite, and it ended up changing my life.
I went on to do more and more career coaching with different business coaches and eventually, I found the enneagram and started studying neurobiology, and what I found astounded me and continues to liberate my approach to life and my clients in the work we do together.
This is where things get interesting (and where my inner neuroscience nerd gets excited). Did you know that your brain actually has specific circuitry dedicated to purpose and motivation? When we align our actions with our authentic purpose, we tap into these neural pathways, making change not just possible, but natural. Figuring out what authentic purpose might look like for you individually is the first exciting part of the journey, and I get really excited to do this work with my clients.
I continue to work with incredible career coaches because I understand the invaluable benefits of having someone’s undivided attention on my life and work. It’s like having a business partner for your life, someone to share the heavy lifting with and help problem solve in a way that is totally unique to coaching, whether it’s life coaching, business coaching or spiritual coaching. I’m yet to find another way that works better for me to improve my life.
The Four Pillars of Real Change
Through my journey from burnt-out social entrepreneur to purpose & business coach, I've developed what I call the Four Pillars of Change – a framework that's actually rooted in neurobiology. This isn't just another feel-good program; it's based on how your brain actually works when it comes to purpose, fulfilment, and achieving meaningful goals. We're talking about engaging both your conscious and unconscious motivation centres – because let's face it, if change were just about conscious decision-making, we'd all have transformed our lives by now!
Let me break down these pillars for you:
Clarity (Lateral Prefrontal Cortex) This is where we get crystal clear on what's actually going on. Not just the surface-level stuff, but the deeper patterns and truths that have been running the show. Think of it as switching on the lights in a room you've been fumbling around in – suddenly you can see what's what.
Purpose (Orbitofrontal Cortex) This is your brain's purpose centre – the part that lights up when you're aligned with your authentic path. We dive deep here to uncover what truly drives you, not what you think should drive you. It's about finding that sweet spot where your talents, passions, and the world's needs intersect.
Internal Map (Ventral Striatum) Here's where it gets really interesting. This pillar is all about understanding your internal patterns – the unconscious habits and behaviours that either support or sabotage your progress. It's like having a GPS for your inner world, helping you navigate around those sneaky self-imposed roadblocks.
External Map (Lateral Prefrontal Cortex & Amygdala) This is where we get practical. Using insights from both your planning centre and emotional brain, we create a step-by-step roadmap for change. But more than just making a plan, we build in the motivation switches that will keep you moving forward, even when things get tough (because let's be real, they will).
Taking That First Step
I get it – change is scary. When I decided to leave Social Bite after years of building it up, people thought I was crazy. "But you're so successful!" they said. “What are you going to do now?!”. What they didn't see was the internal struggle, the knowing that despite all the external success, I wasn't living in alignment with any sense of authenticity of control over my own life or narrative. And most importantly, I lacked a true sense of value and purpose (even though I was helping people with my work!).
If you're feeling that pull toward change, that whisper that says "There must be more than this," you're not alone. And more importantly, you're not stuck, but it’s quite normal to feel that way when it’s time for a new chapter.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
I've created a Free 5-Day Purpose Course specifically for people at this crossroads. It's designed to help you start peeling back the layers, understanding your true motivations, and getting clear on what fulfilment actually looks like for you. No fluff, no generic advice – just practical tools and insights based on real experience and solid neuroscience.
Through this course, you'll start to:
Identify what you really want for your life
Understand your unique purpose - We don’t have just one purpose, it’s about where you get your energy from, and this course will help you narrow that down.
Learn how to make decisions from a place of authenticity and leaning into your best possible outcomes
Begin creating a roadmap for meaningful change
Ready for More?
If you're looking to dive deeper, I'm excited to share that my 10-Month Programme. This is where you’ll work with me directly so we can really roll up our sleeves and get into the transformative work, combining deep Enneagram insights, breathwork practices, body intelligence, and those Four Pillars of Change I mentioned earlier.
You can participate in this programme as part of the group coaching model which kicks off in late January, or if you'd like to go premium and work with me one-to-one, simply get in touch to chat through your options.
Your Turn
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, you have a choice. You can keep doing what you've always done, hoping things will somehow be different. Or you can take that first step toward real, lasting change.
Start with the free 5-Day Purpose Course. Give yourself the gift of clarity. Because trust me, when you finally align your work with your authentic purpose, everything changes. I've seen it in my own life, and I've witnessed it in countless clients who've had the courage to say "enough" to the status quo.
Here's to making this the year you stop wondering "what if" and start creating the life and career you actually want – not the one you think you should have.
Let's make this your year of purposeful change.