Recognizing Patterns in Career Choices

Elite performers don't stumble into their next chapter — they design, engineer, and execute their way to it. After guiding hundreds through career transitions, I've developed a framework that transforms fuzzy potential into decisive action. I used it for myself, and now I share it with others going through their own transitions: 1️⃣ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 Start with identity, not job titles: - What archetypes do you currently embody? (engineer, connector, wife) - What archetypes do you aspire to? (thought leader, founder, mother) This reveals underlying motivations that job descriptions can't capture. 2️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅 Rate each aspirational archetype on three dimensions using a 1-5 scale: ✅ Excitement 5: Energized just thinking about it 3: Neutral or ambivalent 1: Bored or unmotivated ✅ Difficulty 5: Already embodying this identity 3: Unclear what changes would be needed 1: Requires major life pivot ✅ Impact 5: Aligns with life's calling 3: Moderately aligned 1: Potentially negative impact 3️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Analyze what emerges: - Which paths get you most excited? These reveal intrinsic motivations. - Which paths seem most accessible? These offer immediate next steps. - Which paths align with your values? These reveal deeper purpose. Look for relationships: - Which paths are complementary and reinforce each other? - Which paths are sequential where one leads to another? - Which paths are concurrent and can be pursued simultaneously? 4️⃣ 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘀 A lot of people get stuck in reflection, journaling, and hypothesizing. 📊 Enough thinking. Time to get real data by rapidly testing hypotheses: 1. Conversations with people living your target archetypes 2. Relevant resources (books, podcasts) 3. Low-risk experiments to try these identities A client tested his "investor" archetype by joining an angel group with minimal commitment — revealing he missed the team dynamics from previous work. I used to think I wanted to do BizOps -- and then discovered legal and accounting are energy-draining for me. Now I delegate those tasks away! 5️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 Career reflection isn't one-and-done: 1. Form initial hypotheses 2. Test with small experiments 3. Gather observations 4. Refine understanding 5. Gradually increase commitment as clarity emerges 👇 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 What separates exceptional careers from good ones isn't just talent—it's deliberate reflection and strategic choices. This framework isn't about finding the "perfect" next step but creating alignment between who you are, who you want to become, and your desired impact. With this clarity, your search becomes less about chasing opportunities and more about recognizing ones that truly fit. Take thirty minutes today to begin this reflection—your future self will thank you.

“I don’t know what I want to do with my career…” Let’s just go ahead and normalize this. Because more people are here than you think. And not just once, sometimes multiple times throughout their lives. (I know I’ve been here. More than once.) But the part we don’t talk about enough? The HOW. → How do you figure out what you actually want? → What fits? → What makes sense for your life now? So here’s what I’ve learned from being that person and helping other people work through this same exact thing: 1. Stop trying to force yourself to pick a job title. - Scrolling job boards hoping something clicks? - That usually leads to frustration. - Truth is, most of us don’t even know how to name what we’re looking for. Start by asking: → What kinds of problems do I enjoy solving? → What work has felt most like me, even if the title didn’t reflect it? → What do people always ask me for help with? 2. Look at the why behind your past roles (and other parts of your life). → What were you brought in to do? → What made you feel useful or alive? → What did you outgrow, and what did that teach you? Your career has patterns. You just haven’t been taught how to read them yet. 3. Use this filter: Pay. Power. Peace. → Can you live off it? → Do your strengths actually matter here? → Can you breathe? If it doesn’t hit at least 2 of the 3, it’s probably not it. 4. Don’t just run to quit your job, run small experiments. You don’t need to burn it all down. You need data. → Try a course. → Join a project outside your usual lane. → Ask someone, “What do you actually do in your role?” Clarity is built in motion—not in your head. 5. Keep a “Could-Be-Me” list. Every time something lights you up, write it down. Then ask: → Why does this resonate? → What strengths do I already have? → What would I need to build? No pressure. Just explore. 6. Create a Career Criteria list. Think beyond the job. Ask: → What kind of life do I want? → Flexibility or structure? → Am I best front-and-center or behind the scenes? → What are my absolute no’s? You’re not trying to fit into a job, you’re building a career that fits you. Let me say this: If you’re in the “I have no clue what I want to do” season… -You’re not broken. -You’re not late. -You’re just being honest with yourself. And that’s where real clarity begins. If you want support figuring it out with guidance, strategy, and real community, I got you. Drop “PATH” in the comments or DM me and I’ll send you the info to join the P.A.T.H. Forward™ Community. You’re not behind. You’re in the middle of realignment. And that’s brave as hell. 💥 _______________ Join the P.A.T.H. Forward Community: https://lnkd.in/gDMj8V5r Hi, I’m Erica Rivera, CPCC, CPRW. 👋 Voice-finder. Story-shaper. Career strategist. I help you untangle the career story you were handed — and rewrite it in a way that aligns with your values, your vision, and your next chapter.

🎭 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒑𝒔: 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒉... Ever cried before a Zoom meeting? Or felt unusually motivated at 2 a.m. to apply for a job you'd usually scroll past? You're not alone. Our moods are more than just background noise — they're internal GPS signals, quietly guiding our decisions, influencing our goals, and even determining our definition of success. 🧠 Moods are Career Clues Let’s decode how your emotional patterns are quietly writing your career story: 𝟏. 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 = 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 When a task excites you, even if it’s challenging, that’s a green light. Pay attention to the moments you feel energized — that’s your natural zone of thriving, not just surviving. ✨ Pro tip: Keep a “Mood Journal” for a week. Note when you feel the most alive — the patterns are pure gold. 𝟐. 𝐀𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 = 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭? Feeling anxious before client calls or public speaking? Pause — is it because you're in the wrong role or because you're growing into a new one? Learn to distinguish fear rooted in misalignment vs. fear that signals opportunity. 🔍 Ask yourself: “Is this fear pushing me forward or pulling me away?” 𝟑. 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 = 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 If your mood is perpetually “meh,” you're probably underchallenged. Your brain craves novelty and meaning. A stagnant mood often signals a stagnant career path. Time to upskill, pivot, or innovate. 💡 Innovation starts when boredom ends. 4. 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 = 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑽𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 That lingering frustration after work? It’s not just a bad day. It could be your inner self rebelling against broken boundaries or undervalued work. Don’t suppress it. Listen. Then act. 🚪 Resentment is the mind’s way of knocking on the door of change. 🎯 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝑼𝒔𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 ✅ Check-in Weekly: Use a mood tracker or voice notes to reflect on how you felt, not just what you did. ✅ Observe Patterns: Look for emotional highs and lows during tasks, meetings, or learning experiences. ✅ Ask Better Questions: “What does this feeling want me to know?” rather than “How do I get rid of this feeling?” ✅ Take Aligned Action: Let your emotions inform — not hijack — your career decisions. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬! Start paying attention, and you’ll realize your emotions have been trying to tell you something important all along: 👉 You’re meant for more. You just have to feel your way there. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆? Comment below. #CareerGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerDevelopment #MondayMotivation #MindsetMatters #SelfAwareness #FutureOfWork #CareerClarity #MentalWellness #LinkedInWisdom

Everyone stuck in a loop needs to read this post. The most dangerous career and relationship patterns are the ones you don't recognize. For executives like me, these invisible cycles silently shaped two decades of my career. When I was in my early thirties, I had what I can only describe as a "pattern revelation." Throughout my twenties, I'd navigated from political campaigns to PR firms to tech startups, constantly seeking the next challenge. I was achievement-oriented, moving between roles with enthusiasm but never quite finding lasting satisfaction. The pattern was uncanny: 🔹Join an organization with genuine passion 🔹Excel quickly with my natural skills 🔹Feel increasingly confined by the structure 🔹Start looking for the next adventure It wasn't until a mentor asked me a simple question that everything changed: "Dave, have you considered that what you're searching for isn't in the next milestone?" Here are 5 cycle-breaking insights that transformed my awareness: 1) Your childhood dynamics replay at work. Growing up with a disabled father taught me adaptability and resilience. Great for navigating change, terrible for feeling secure in one place. 2) Your biggest strength becomes your biggest blind spot. My ability to see potential and possibilities meant I rarely stopped to appreciate what was in front of me. I was forward-thinking, but rarely present. 3) Your emotional triggers follow a predictable pattern. Track when you feel restless or constrained. The pattern will shock you. 4) Your best relationships share common elements. For me, it was authentic connections with space for curiosity and growth. 5) Your cycles continue until awareness interrupts them. Just seeing the pattern clearly opens up the door to stop repeating it. Awareness isn't about blame. It's about freedom. You can't avoid what you can't see. But once you see it, you can't unsee it. And information, as they say, is power. I now help my clients map these patterns using my CircleDotShift™ tool. One client discovered he'd been recreating the same authority-conflict dynamic in four different leadership roles spanning 15 years. What pattern might be hiding in plain sight for you? (me on the left, my dad on the right) #CycleBreaking #SelfAwareness #ExecutiveCoaching #CareerPatterns

I spent 40 years building things that mattered. But I couldn't see my own value. I wrote my entire career story recently. 40 years. 12 pages. Every mistake included. Then I did something that changed everything. I asked AI to find patterns I couldn't see. The results floored me. 🤯 Turns out, I wasn't just "good at operations." I was a platform builder. A crisis navigator. Someone who creates belonging where none existed. I'd been describing myself as "behind the scenes." Reality? I was the architect. Here's the exercise that gave me clarity: 1) Write your whole story → Include the embarrassing parts → "Walked straight from her office to his. Dumb." 2) Capture your make-it-up moments → Times you had no roadmap but figured it out → "We had to build the plane while flying it" 3) Note your quiet leadership → Small changes that felt revolutionary to others → "I took meetings outside. People stared." 4) Include your comeback stories → How you rebuilt after setbacks → "Here's how I earned back credibility" 5) Track industry jumps → Manufacturing → media → tech → finance → Each taught you something transferable 6) Ask AI specific questions: → "What leadership patterns do you see?" → "How would a board value this experience?" → "What's unique about my approach?" The patterns it found surprised me: ✨ "You don't just fix problems. You build systems." ✨ "You create belonging in hostile environments." ✨ "You think like both founder and operator." I never saw these threads connecting my story. Your turn. What patterns are hiding in your career? What value are you blind to? The insight changes how you show up. And how others see you. __________________________ ♻ Repost to help other women discover their hidden career value. 👉Follow Stephanie Eidelman (Meisel) for more ways to see and communicate your true worth. 📫 Subscribe to my free newsletter, The Career Edit, to access tools that help you recognize and articulate your unique leadership value. (https://hubs.la/Q03dY9_n0)

ARE YOU THE BOTTLENECK IN YOUR OWN CAREER? What if the biggest thing slowing down your career isn’t your boss, the job market, or office politics – but you? We often attribute stagnation to external factors: lack of opportunities, unsupportive managers, or rigid company structures. While these challenges are real, psychological and career studies reveal four deeply ingrained patterns that may keep us from advancing. Recognizing these patterns is the first step. But breaking free requires a shift in mindset and strategy. 1️⃣ The Impostor Syndrome (Clance & Imes, 1978) High achievers doubt their competence, attributing success to luck rather than ability. They delay job applications, avoid speaking up in meetings, or underprice their value. They fear being exposed as less capable than others perceive them to be. Ironically, this hesitation prevents them from seizing opportunities that would further validate their expertise. 2️⃣ The Status Quo Bias (Samuelson & Zeckhauser, 1988) Many of us stay in roles, industries, or career paths too long. The familiarity of the known feels safer than the uncertainty of change. It’s not that we don’t want change – it’s that change feels like a bigger risk than staying put, even when staying means stagnation. 3️⃣ Learned Helplessness (Seligman,1975) After repeated career setbacks – missed promotions, rejections, toxic work environments – we may believe having little control over our career trajectory. This self-fulfilling mindset leads to passive decision-making and avoidance of new challenges. 4️⃣ Self-Handicapping (Jones & Berglas, 1978) Sometimes, we unconsciously create barriers to our success to protect our self-image. We avoid high-stakes challenges or delay submitting important work to ensure we have an external excuse if we fail. While this defense mechanism shields us from failure, it also means we never truly test our full potential. If any of these patterns feel familiar, you’re not alone. The difference between those who stay stuck and those who thrive is the ability to identify and rewrite these invisible career scripts. 📌 High-growth professionals don’t wait for perfect readiness—they step forward before they feel fully prepared. They recognize that no one ever feels 100% ready, but momentum comes from action, not waiting for certainty. 📌 They embrace controlled risks, understanding that growth happens at the edge of discomfort. Instead of fearing uncertainty, they learn to manage and leverage it for strategic moves. 📌 And rather than holding out for the perfect job or recognition, they create micro-momentum—taking small, strategic actions that compound into bigger opportunities. The fastest way to move forward? Identify where you’re holding yourself back—and challenge it. Which of these invisible career scripts do you recognize in yourself?   #CoachRisto #CareerPerceptions #SelfSabotage

Have you noticed patterns in your life and now use them to understand your current self? Over the years I've noticed a pattern in my career and roles and, as you may expect if you've worked with me or read my blog, I've drawn a picture to describe it. My goal is to work mostly in a level of personal challenge ranging between stretch, comfort, and recharge. Occasionally this stretches higher or lower than that range and that's fine. It it's at the extremes for a longer period then it can be a problem. Over that I've drawn a blue and a purple 's-curve' lines. Blue is the core role. Initially I get the desired challenge from it. Over time it gets easier and the challenge reduces. I seek to get that challenge back by supplementing it... That's the Purple line! I increase the challenge on myself through a common number of ways... - I innovate! I explore! I learn! I experiment! I solve problems! - I look for 'plus ones' of additional activities or responsibilities in work. - I increase my challenges outside of work... I learn, I do more hobbies, I speak at more conferences or blog more, or any number of things. - I increase my workload so I feel stretched and challenged... but it's still doing the same work and that 'fix' only works for a finite time. These are repeatable patterns that have happened through my working life. The timings vary but the pattern remains the same. I've never heard others talking about any patterns like this and wondered if others see it, or other patterns, in their lives too? Or am I just a bit weird? 😁 Nandini Das - A picture inspired by what we were talking about earlier today 😁