Who else has ridden the roller coaster of a multi-month interview process only to end in disappointment?

It starts with excitement: You land an interview, and suddenly there’s hope. Frantic preparation kicks in. You crush the first round. Then comes round two, then a personality assessment, writing assignment, and another panel interview. Each step builds momentum. You start to picture yourself in the role…solving problems, bonding with the team, spending the paycheck in your head.

But then it happens.

Maybe there was a hiccup, one question you didn’t nail. Maybe you let too much personality shine and now you're second-guessing whether they liked you. Or maybe, deep down, you knew you were the best candidate and still got blindsided: “We’ve decided to go in another direction.” Or worse,“we’re on a hiring freeze.”

One of my clients recently made it to the final stages after weeks of interviews, only to get that exact message. No job. No offer. Just the echo of “maybe next time.”

I’ve been there too. Years ago, I interviewed on and off for the same job from January to July. After months of back-and-forth my dream came true, “you’ll have your offer by Friday." A week later, I got an email: “We do not have a job for you.” Just like that. Months of energy and expectation…gone.

Here’s what most people don’t realize.
Interviews feel like progress, but they’re not a strategy.

Yes, you should prepare and show up powerfully. Yes, it’s worth celebrating when you make it through each round. But if you're not actively feeding the top of your job search funnel, you’re risking a total stall.
​Think of your job search like a martini glass:











The wide top: Networking, informational interviews, coffee chats, affinity groups, targeted outreach. This is where the volume happens.
The middle: Targeted Applications
The narrow middle: Interviews, Screenings, Assessments.
The very bottom: Offers and Negotiations.

I am sure that you have heard that 45–80% of roles are filled through connections. Not job boards. Not cold applications. But conversations.

If your focus is temporarily hijacked on what’s at the bottom of your funnel…interviews already in progress, you’re setting yourself up to run dry. You can roll with the rejection of coming out of multiple rounds without an offer, but do you really want to add insult to injury…when you realize that you have nothing else in the pipeline.

Keep It Flowing

Keep making connections! Especially when you are deep in the interview process. Keep setting up chats. Keep applying. Because momentum matters. And so does protecting your energy and confidence. When you’re constantly fueling the top of the funnel, rejection stings less because you’re already onto the next thing.

The job or opportunity you land might not come from the place you're interviewing today. It might come from a conversation you have tomorrow.

Ready to build a smarter, more strategic job search plan?
Don’t wait until your momentum runs out. Let’s take a look at your current strategy together, and make sure you’re setting yourself up for success at every stage of the funnel.

Schedule a call with me here to get started. Your next opportunity might be one conversation away.
https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session


​

I’ve worked with so many people who were standing at the edge of change, straddling two worlds in their careers and unsure how to move forward.

One foot still in a job that’s draining them, maybe even pushing them out the door with toxic culture, layoffs, or burnout. Another planted in a business they’ve poured their soul into… but that still hasn’t taken off. Some are still reeling from a gut-wrenching termination they never saw coming. Others are simply done, done climbing the ladder, done doing the thing they’ve been doing since college, done chasing someone else’s version of success. 
Some have started to imagine new possibilities and even took a few steps toward that dream. Others are stuck in the in-between, desperate for something different, but terrified to walk away from everything they’ve built.
Here’s the thing…you never really walk away from it all. You bring the best of it with you. That messy middle is uncomfortable, disorienting, and yes, painful. It’s a place of tension between what’s comfortable and what’s calling. A stretch between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming.
You might be asking:

• Should I stay or should I go?
• What if I make the wrong move?
• Who am I to want something more?
  
  

But what if this discomfort is actually something sacred? What if it’s not confusion at all…
What if it’s evidence that you’re evolving?
After working with dozens of clients, I have created my 5 step framework to help you build momentum one intentional step at a time. Sharing it today with the hopes that it gives you clarity to move out of the messy middle! 
​
Step 1: Define What You Really Crave
ASK: “What am I truly missing right now?”
Most people think they’re choosing between job titles or industries. But underneath that, the real choice is between:

• Freedom vs. structure
• Purpose vs. paycheck
• Ownership vs. obedience
• Growth vs. stagnation
  
  

ACTION STEP: Journal 5 things you want more of and 5 things you want less of in your next season. Let this become your filter.

Step 2: Find Your Growth Edge
ASK: “What part of the new path excites me and scares me?”
This is where your edge of growth lives. What stories does your brain tell you as you start moving forward in this career pivot? The work you’re meant to do usually lives right at the intersection of energy and uncertainty. 

ACTION STEP: Write down one bold move you’ve been avoiding and ask yourself: “What would I do if I trusted myself more?”

Step 3: Audit the Tradeoffs
Staying has tradeoffs. So does leaving.
Create a simple chart with three columns where you can weigh the options:

• Pros and cons of staying
• Pros and cons of pivoting
• The opportunities that enable me to take this step
  
  

ACTION STEP: Highlight anything that feels like a deal-breaker or non-negotiable. Is there a corresponding opportunity that would make any of these steps easier or faster? If not, what could you do to create opportunity?

Step 4: Choose a Micro-Move
Most people wait to pivot until they’re 100% sure. But momentum comes from movement, not certainty.

ACTION STEP: Commit to one small experiment this week:

• Reach out to someone doing what you want to do
• Update your LinkedIn headline
• Start a freelance profile
• Block time for creative exploration
• Attend an in person or virtual networking event
  
  

You don’t need to blow up your life. You just need to make small, meaningful steps.


Step 5: Recommit to Who You’re Becoming
When you get stuck in “Should I stay or go?” Ask yourself…“If I trusted my growth, what would I do next?”
​
ACTION STEP: Build your support and accountability team. List 2-4 people who will help you stay accountable, mentor you, listen on the hard days, and open doors for you. 
Everything you are experiencing, being stuck in the messy middle is part of your career evolution. “Should I stay or should I go?” Only you can answer that question. If you are ready to take your next step, then check out my Bold Pivot Plan. It is a summer on-demand program that I created to move you from the messy middle to landed.

Check it out here: https://www.mariadastur.com/boldpivot1
#over40 #midlife #career #inspiration #meditation #getajob #promotion #entrepreneur #family #career  #coach #RichLife #support #boldreinvention

You got what you wanted… so why does it feel like everything is unraveling?
You did it. You made the leap, new title, new role, new business. You post the news, and the likes roll in. “You’re amazing!” they say. But then, a few weeks later, you wake up and think, why do I feel so off? Wasn’t this supposed to feel better than this?
You are exhausted.
Dread Creeps in…quiet, unexpected, and unsettling.
What is happening here? What happened to the confident joyful moments!?

The Dread After the Dream
“I wanted this… but now I just feel like I’m drowning.”
“I am not sure I want this…”
“Shouldn’t I be crushing it already?”
“I can’t do anything right” 

Christine made the brave bold move to leave corporate and launch her own consultancy. She found her way to me after 6 months. “I am watching my savings dwindling down and down. Some mornings I just stare at my laptop wondering what exactly I should be doing. I didn’t think it was going to be this hard…”

Why You’re Feeling This Way
When I work with clients, it is not uncommon for us to continue our work AFTER the big pivot. WHY? Because this is often when the impostor syndrome, fear of failure, financial anxiety, overwhelm and regret really start to set in.


This fatigue and emotional strain is a normal part of doing big things. Our body and our brain crave routine, and a big career pivot, well is anything but routine. Our brain is going to fight to go back to the status quo. The reality of the uncertain road ahead can be a lot to tackle all alone.

Here is what I want you to remember when you are paralyzed with self-doubt.

👉 Give yourself a grace period – Allow yourself a few weeks/months of decompression and adjustment before demanding clarity or results. Build a structure to take good care of your body and soul. Eat well, get good sleep, find ways to decompress and move your body regularly.
👉 Be aware of the stories you're telling yourself – When doubt creeps in, notice the internal narrative. Are you assuming you're failing, or that you should “have it all figured out” by now? Check the facts. If you’re in a new role, have you even asked your boss what success looks like in the first 90 days? Clarity can silence unnecessary self-criticism.
👉 Reconnect to your “why” – Revisit what made you take the leap in the first place. Journaling or vision boards help reignite purpose and get some dopamine flowing.
👉 Celebrate micro-wins – You are learning and growing in so many directions. Focus on small progress instead of perfection. Each action forward is momentum.
👉 Talk to others who’ve done it – Whether at work, or in your entrepreneurial community, surround yourself with fellow career pivoters who can offer support and insights to navigate the journey ahead.

You’re Not Alone—Let’s Map Out Your Next 90 Days
Christine didn’t stay stuck in the dip. Together, we reset her expectations, celebrated micro-wins that proved she was on the right path, and anchored her “why” with a visual reminder in her workspace. With the support of Positive Intelligence training and a community of like-minded mentors, she built the mental resilience to navigate uncertainty with more confidence and clarity. Her pivot didn’t just survive, it started to thrive.

If you’re feeling the swirl of “what now?” after a big move, you’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong. Let’s map out your next 90 days with calm, clarity, and confidence. Book a complimentary call with me and leave with a plan for impact, income, and inner peace. https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session
#CareerPivot #NewJobStruggles #EntrepreneurLife #MidlifeCareerChange #ResilienceAtWork #PositiveIntelligence #ImpostorSyndrome #PortfolioCareer #WomenInTransition #BuildAThrivingCareer #LifeByDesign #CareerGrowth #MindsetMatters #FromFearToFreedom​

Sometimes career pivots stretch far beyond what we imagined—so long, in fact, that freelancer, consultant, or unemployed job seeker starts to feel like your only identity. In the meantime, you do what needs to be done: piecing together hourly work, taking on a patchwork of consulting or fractional gigs. 

You tell yourself it's temporary, but the weeks blur together. 
You scroll the job boards like clockwork, and it’s been how long since anything even remotely exciting popped up?
You’ve lost track of how many applications you’ve sent. 

Life has stepped in with its own demands—caregiving, unexpected responsibilities, even moments of joy, and you’ve said yes to it all, partly because helping others is one of the few ways you still feel valuable. You’re showing up for everyone else, but inside, your career confidence burned out a long time ago.

And maybe you’ve even wondered, Is this just how it’s going to be now?

But what if everything you’ve done during this stretch, every gig, every connection, every moment you chose to give instead of hustle—isn't a detour at all? What if this is the path? What if the real secret to landing fulfilling work isn’t about chasing it—but about becoming so aligned, so known for your brilliance, that the opportunity finds you?

Let me tell you a story about Kimberly, who did just that. I’ve connected with Kimberly on and off for several years. She popped into free workshops, joined a few of my events and mindset programs, and we often crossed paths at local networking events. Over time, we became friends.


Kimberly’s journey was anything but linear. She weathered turbulent layoffs, faced near-misses with job offers, and once dodged a notorious revolving-door position that popped up four times in two years—each hire left within months. At one point, we laughed about absurd interview questions she encountered like:
"Could you watch an animal being euthanized?"
"Is our Lord Jesus your Savior?"
…well then!


If you are someone who has been stuck in a prolonged career pivot - journey of exploration - I am going to share a strategy for how to make each day count. To make this gift of time an asset vs. a liability. Kimberly kept showing up, piecing together income streams and kept her eyes open for the right full-time fit. Meanwhile, she consulted, served on boards, served as a fractional Director of Development, supported others in nonprofit leadership, and quietly built something powerful: a magnetic personal brand.


Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she received a LinkedIn direct message while traveling. A nonprofit organization was looking for their next leader and was she available to talk next week? One conversation turned into another. Soon she was touring their facility, talking international strategy. Before she left the building, she had a job offer in hand.
Here’s how Kimberly attracted that life-changing role—without chasing it down.

Position Yourself as the Go-To Expert in Your Zone of Brilliance
Over several years, Kimberly positioned herself as the person to know in nonprofit fundraising. She didn’t just dabble—she immersed. She:

• Attended trainings and conferences
• Spoke at workshops on nonprofit leadership
• Shared thoughtful commentary on social media
• Showed up with consistent presence in her city’s nonprofit circles
  
  

Kimberly became known—not just as competent, but as a go to resource.
If you want to attract opportunities, you need to be known for something. That starts with getting clear on your strengths, values, and what sets you apart—and then showing up consistently in ways that showcase that brilliance.
Action Steps:
✅ Identify your niche and zone of genius
✅ Clarify your value proposition and messaging
✅ Optimize your LinkedIn, website, or portfolio to reflect your expertise
✅ Ask yourself: How can I show up with confidence and credibility this week?

Share Value Generously to Build Authority and Trust
Kimberly didn’t hoard her expertise. She gave freely. She:

• Volunteered at peers' fundraisers
• Ran women’s leadership conferences
• Connected people to grants, resources, and other experts
• Cheered on her community’s wins
  
  

This is how leaders are made—by lifting others while staying rooted in their own mission.
People are drawn to those who give without agenda. When you share insights, help others shine, and connect dots for your network, you build deep trust. That trust becomes a magnet.
Action Steps:
✅ Create and share content that educates, inspires, or solves problems
✅ Show up as a contributor in online and in-person communities
✅ Volunteer, mentor, or serve on a board
✅ Ask yourself: Where can I give today without expecting anything in return?

Cultivate Strategic Visibility
Kimberly didn’t try to be everywhere—she was in the right rooms. She showed up at:

• Major fundraisers with the city’s movers and shakers
• Chamber of commerce meetings
• Women’s philanthropy groups
• Leadership events where decision-makers gathered
  
  
  

You don’t need to shout on every platform or attend every mixer. You just need to be visible where it matters.
Action Steps:
✅ Identify the platforms, events, or communities aligned with your goals
✅ Put one networking outreach or event on your calendar this week
✅ Explore opportunities to teach, speak, or write in your field
✅ Ask yourself: Where does my audience spend their time—and how can I show up there?

Stay Ready and Trust the Pull, Not the Push
Here’s the final piece of the puzzle: Kimberly stayed committed and had faith, even as income streams came and went over the years. She trusted the timing and stayed focused on relationships and value, and not on frantic searching. When her latest consulting roles began to fizzle, Kimberly didn’t panic. She had built a foundation of visibility, expertise, and trust. So when that direct message landed in her inbox, she was ready. She had also joined my 8-week mental fitness cohort to develop routines that supported confidence and resilience. That inner work helped her show up boldly when it mattered most.
Action Steps:
✅ Make the decision to pivot from scarcity to abundance
✅ Build one habit this week that supports confidence and patience
✅ Stay present, curious, and open to aligned opportunities
✅ Ask yourself: If the right opportunity came tomorrow, would I be ready to say yes?

Kimberly didn’t land this opportunity because she chased it. Over the course of a few years, she slowly built a body of work, a presence, and a reputation that made her the obvious choice when the right opportunity finally arrived.
She attracted it—by showing up as a trusted expert, sharing generously, cultivating the right visibility, and staying rooted in her vision even through hard seasons. You can do this too.

Are you ready to build your own magnetic brand and thriving career path? I help people position themselves as powerhouses in their field so they can attract aligned work, clients, and collaborators—without burning out in the hustle.

Let’s talk about how to build a career that calls in what you truly want. Schedule your complimentary career discovery call today: https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session