If you’ve ever felt like work just isn’t working for you, you’re not alone. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report shows that over 50% of people are disengaged at work, and many feel trapped in roles that drain their energy rather than fuel their potential. For many people, work feels broken. It’s something you endure rather than enjoy. If you’re spending your weekdays longing for the weekend, you’re wishing your life away. And that’s tragic.

In my years of coaching, I’ve seen the same patterns play out repeatedly:

You’re unhappy in your current job, so you jump ship to a new company, hoping it’ll fix everything. For a while, it seems better, but soon the same frustrations bubble to the surface.
You finally achieve the promotion you’ve been chasing. The new title and raise feel great—until you realize the work no longer lights you up. Now, you’re stressed and questioning how you ended up here.

Sound familiar? It’s a cycle of chasing external fixes for internal misalignments, such as pursuing roles that don’t align with your values, neglecting personal growth, or ignoring the need for meaningful work-life integration. For example, you might take a high-paying job that feels “prestigious” but leaves you drained every day, or you might avoid pursuing a dream project because of fear or self-doubt. These misalignments can show up as constant dissatisfaction, low energy, and even physical burnout. Not only have I seen these patterns in clients I’ve worked with, I’ve also experienced them in my own career.

Why does this happen to so many of us?

Most people are trying to build a career without having a solid foundation in place. Without that stable foundation to build on, you’ll struggle to make career decisions that serve your long-term aspirations. Instead, those decisions will be reactive—driven by fear, resentment, or a sense of lack. You end up chasing money or a fancy title to show everyone (including yourself!) how important you are. But when you operate from this space, your outcomes will rarely align with the life you want for yourself.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Why You Need a Career Foundation

Building a strong foundation is the game-changer. How do I know this? First-hand experience. I got caught in the common trap of chasing a promotion, landing it, and then realizing how far back it set me. I’d changed jobs, thinking the “grass would be greener” somewhere else, only to realize I’d taken a role that was totally out of alignment with whom I am. These experiences helped me realize the problem was not with my job, not with my boss – the problem was with me. I didn’t have the foundation I needed. I built up this foundation over time, and it has transformed my relationship with work. It allows me to approach my career with clarity and strength, rather than reacting to the stress and dissatisfaction of the moment.

With the right foundation, you can:

Make decisions rooted in confidence—because you know what truly matters to you.
Align your career with your values—so work becomes a part of the life you want, not a drain on it.
Create long-term sustainability—avoiding the burnout and unhappiness that come from chasing the wrong goals.

Without this foundation, you’re likely to keep building on shaky ground, hoping the next job, the next raise, or the next title will finally make things better. (it won’t)

What Makes a Solid Foundation?

When I talk about a career foundation, I’m talking about five essential pillars:

Health – Your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being are the bedrock for everything. Physical health provides the energy and stamina you need to pursue your goals, while mental health ensures clarity and resilience in decision-making. Spiritual health (often overlooked!) connects you to a sense of purpose and aligns your actions with your core values. When you neglect any of these aspects, it becomes difficult to make thoughtful, intentional career decisions.
Mindset – Your beliefs shape your reality. Cultivating a growth-oriented, empowered mindset is critical for navigating challenges and creating change.
Finance – Financial stability provides freedom. Knowing your numbers and managing your money helps you make career moves from a position of strength, not fear.
Self-Awareness & Knowledge – Understanding your values, strengths, and goals allows you to align your work with whom you are at your core.
Systems – The right habits, routines, and structures enable you to consistently move toward your goals without getting overwhelmed.

Join the FREE Foundation-Building Challenge

Because I understand how critically important it is to have a solid foundation in place to unlock career success, I pulled together a FREE 5-day challenge for you. If you’re ready to reboot your career, start with building a solid foundation. The Career Foundation Challenge is here to guide you through the process. Over the course of 5 days, you’ll receive daily emails focused on each of these pillars.

Each email is packed with practical, actionable steps you can take right now to build a foundation that will support your career growth.

Building a rock-solid foundation is the critical prerequisite to designing a work life that truly works for you.

Join Challenge

Quotation that I’ve been pondering

In his book What You Do Is Who You Are, Ben Horowitz shares a powerful insight that I often consider:

“If you don’t know what you want, there is no chance that you will get it.”

This simple yet profound truth underscores the importance of gaining clarity about what you truly want; not what others want for you, not what you think is expected of you.

Unfortunately, so few people take the time to achieve this clarity.

Journal prompt

What barriers do you see standing between you and a career that truly lights you up? Identify one small step you can take today to start removing one of those barriers.

How I Can Help:

When you’re ready to take control of your work life and make work something that works for you, I’ve got you covered! Here’s how I can help:

Join the free 5-Day Foundation-Building Challenge. Start building the essential pillars of your career foundation with this free, step-by-step challenge. It’s a great way to gain clarity, align your values, and take actionable steps toward meaningful change.
Book a Free Discovery Call. Let’s explore where you are, where you want to go, and how I can help you get there. This no-obligation call is the perfect first step to see if my coaching is the right fit for you.
Schedule a Paid Coaching Call. Need focused guidance on a specific career challenge? Book a one-on-one coaching session, and let’s work through it together to create actionable solutions.