330: How I Turned Feeling Stuck Into A Career I Love

Send us Fan MailCareer Momentum and Getting "Unstuck" Starts With How You SHOW UPCareer momentum does not come from doing more. It comes from showing up with clarity, intention, and confidence, especially at mid-career. In this opening episode of the year, I share my personal journey from classroom teacher to leadership and career coach, and the moment when being fine was no longer enough.I walk you through the experiences that shaped how I think about careers today, from turning classic game shows into engaging math lessons to leading instructional coaches across 13 middle schools. Along the way, stalled interviews, internal politics, and budget delays forced me to rethink how career decisions are really made and how influence is built at mid-career.These lessons became the foundation of my work helping mid-career professionals who feel undervalued, underutilized, or stuck despite doing everything they were told would lead to advancement.Why Mid-Career Feels Harder Than It ShouldMid-career is not a plateau. It is a dynamic and decisive phase where visibility, influence, and clarity matter more than effort alone. I share how nonprofit reorganizations left me highly valued by some leaders and invisible to others and how those moments sharpened my understanding of what truly drives career momentum.In this episode, I introduce the six strategies for showing up with intention. These strategies focus on aligning your thoughts, emotions, and actions so you can protect your professional brand, have more meaningful conversations, and make smarter career decisions in a complex job market.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeIf you are a manager or senior director balancing career growth with family and caregiving responsibilities, this episode will help you cut through the noise and regain momentum.You will learn:Why mid-career is one of the most important and misunderstood stages of your careerThe turning point that shifted me from educator to leader and coachHow to read interview signals and ask for feedback that actually mattersHow to reframe career setbacks into growth opportunitiesThe six strategies for showing up with clarity and intentionCommon challenges facing managers and senior directors today.Support the showIf this episode resonated with you and you want more support in how you SHOW UP for your career and life, I want to invite you to join the SHOW UP Leadership Lab. This is my group membership program where you'll get the clarity and support you need to SHOW UP more impactfully and effectively in your life and career. Visit https://johnneral.com/showup to join. Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here.Connect with John on LinkedIn here.Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here.  Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.