 When I began training as a distance runner, I learned about a type of workout called fartlek training. The idea is simple: during a long run, you add short bursts of faster running at random intervals. Sometimes you sprint to the next streetlight, sometimes you pick up the pace for 30 seconds, then recover and return to your steady rhythm. In the moment, these sprints hurt, but in the long run they trained my mind/body, and made me faster. They got me closer to my goal…FASTER.
So why am I talking about running? This concept of the fartlek can be applied to reaching any goal. Career transformation and entrepreneurship are marathons. They require endurance, patience, and long-term commitment. But if all you ever do is move at a steady pace, it’s easy to plateau. You lose momentum, motivation dips, and progress feels slow. That’s where the sprint comes in. A sprint is a focused burst of effort around a clear goal. Short, structured, and strategic. It’s about saying...For this specific window of time, I’m going all in on building momentum. It’s not forever, it’s for now. And that makes it psychologically doable. Why Sprints Work (Mentally and Practically) Short-term focus fuels follow-through. You can do something hard when it’s clearly defined and time-limited. That’s why 30-day challenges, bootcamps, and even NaNoWriMo (write a novel in a month) work. Our brains thrive on urgency and boundaries. Clarity replaces overwhelm. A sprint forces you to focus on what really matters, not everything, just the essential things that create traction. Momentum compounds. Small wins in short bursts build confidence. Once you start moving, it’s easier to keep going, even when the marathon stretches ahead. Some of my coaching engagements are designed as short, high-impact bursts rather than long commitments. And time and again, I’ve seen how much momentum can be built in just a few focused weeks. From 9–5 Employee to Entrepreneur in Motion One of my clients was ready to transition from her full-time job into consulting and coaching. But with the daily grind of work, family, and caregiving for both children and parents, she couldn’t find the time to start. So we created a 30-day sprint, and worked with intention. For this defined period of time she hired extra help and said ‘no’ to extra distractions. In one 4-hour intensive, we: Took her headshots Picked her brand colors Designed her logo and built a basic website Within a week, she: Drafted her lead magnet Continued to expand her website Posted her first videos Announced her first event In a month, she went from “I’ll do it someday” to “I’m in business.” All because we turned someday into a defined sprint. From Drifting to Directed Another client came to me with no resume, no LinkedIn, and no clear direction. She just knew something had to change. Being underemployed for years, focusing on caregiving instead of her career. But now her children had left the home, and it was her time to build her career and bank account! In her 30-day sprint, we: Clarified her career vision Built her personal brand and relaunched her LinkedIn profile Created a master resume that told her story with power Crafted a networking strategy and messaging plan By the end, she wasn’t drifting, she was actively pivoting her career. Imagine what’s possible when you dedicate one focused window of time to your own growth. From In the Weeds to Working on the Business And for my small business owners, the sprint concept is just as transformative. One entrepreneur I worked with was drowning in daily operations. She couldn’t scale because she was too busy doing everything herself. Together, we used her sprint to: Identify what truly moved the needle Decide what to delegate or systemize Build a simple support structure, people, tools, and priorities, to free her time By the end of the sprint, she had space to breathe and a clear path to scale. Sometimes growth isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing differently. The Marathon Is the Year and The Sprint Is Your Power Move If 2025 feels like a marathon, then the final stretch is your chance to add a burst of energy, your sprint within the marathon. That’s the idea behind my new experience: Project YOU: Your Year-End Power Move Join my guided sprint to the end of the year. Designed to help you refocus, rebuild momentum, and finish strong. Whether your next step is a career pivot, a rebrand, or scaling your business, we’ll do it together. Imagine how it would feel to finish up the year in motion, with clarity, accountability, and energy. Transformation doesn’t start on January 1st. It starts the moment you decide to move. Are you ready to make your year-end power move? Join Project YOU, and I’ll share details on how to join the private community and start your sprint. www.mariadastur.com/project-you-sprint #CareerPivot #ReinventYourCareer #PortfolioCareer #DreamBigDoBigger #MomentumMindset #MonetizeYourBrilliance #WomenInTransition #DesignYourLife #CareerCoach
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 Have you ever noticed how your own mind can turn against you just when you’re ready to make a change, especially a big change like a career pivot? You start to see all the ways things could go wrong, or you convince yourself that success has to look a certain way, even when that version of success is burning you out.
That’s the work of the sneaky voices that create frustration, fear, and keep us from moving toward those big hairy audacious goals. The self sabotage that is behind all of our stress, anxiety, and burnout. YES! We do this to ourselves! What if the very habits that made you successful are the same ones keeping you stuck? Two of my clients discovered this truth the hard way, and what happened next changed everything. Chris came to me after several years as a struggling entrepreneur. She had built a recognizable brand and loyal clients, but behind the scenes, the pressure of meeting expenses and managing contract staff had taken a toll. When she first sat down with me, she sighed, “I think I just need to get a job.” Her whole posture looked defeated. But as we began the process of career visioning, it became clear that returning to an employee role would pull her even further away from her passions and purpose. Chris was completely depleted, financially, physically, emotionally. Yet when she talked about her international retreats, speaking gigs, and community workshops, her whole energy changed. “Maria, I am so energized when I get to mentor women and entrepreneurs,” she told me. We started by making small but powerful shifts: streamlining her business model, letting go of unnecessary overhead, and creating breathing room in her finances. “With each change we make, I feel lighter,” she said. As she continued to strengthen her mental fitness, Chris learned to pause the controller in her head, that voice insisting everything had to be managed, fixed, and perfect. “I learned that there’s never a good time to stop and grow, life doesn’t stop. But when you do, that’s when your eyes begin to open and you start seeing opportunities.” Chris began experimenting, saying yes to small income streams that fit her new season of life. She house-sat in her favorite vacation destinations, drove for Uber, and helped a friend in her boutique business, all while building back her confidence and energy. And then, almost magically, the right job appeared, one that allowed her to serve entrepreneurs, lead community programs, and still keep her side gigs. “Maria, I’ve never been so happy,” she told me. “I’m living my best life.” Cathy’s journey began in a familiar place of burnout. After a decade in high-pressure banking, she left to start her dream business. Her clients loved her, but her savings dwindled, and soon she was working at a daycare for $20 an hour just to stay afloat. She told me, “I don’t know what I thought would happen when I started my business, I thought my financial runway would be enough.” When we started working together, our focus was to stabilize her income. But it became clear that the daycare job, though safe, was draining her energy and holding her back from building her dream. I asked her to revisit her banking career, not to return to it, but to remember what parts she actually loved. Her eyes lit up as she said, “I loved working with small business owners to help them get their loans approved.” That was the spark. We realized she didn’t need to abandon her financial expertise, just the toxic environment that came with it. She quickly earned a few certifications and launched a financial consulting offer tailored to small business owners. Within a month, she had her first clients. Now, Cathy runs two thriving businesses: one using her education and core skills and the other following her passions, perfectly blending her analytical and intuitive strengths. Both Chris and Cathy realized something powerful, their biggest obstacles weren’t the economy, or lack of opportunity, or even their past choices. Their biggest obstacles were internal. Your saboteurs, the inner critics that push you into fight-or-flight, can masquerade as strengths. The Hyper-Achiever insists, “You need me, I’m the reason you’re successful!” But that same drive can lead to: Conditional self-worth tied to achievement Overwork and burnout Neglect of relationships and self-care Learning to recognize and quiet these saboteurs changes everything. Here’s what my clients say after working on their mental fitness: “I’m learning how to break that constant cycle of fight or flight.” “On the days I skip the exercises, I revert to stress and exhaustion. When I do them, I can make calm decisions.” “This program completely changed how I see and react to challenges.” “I’ve learned that planning to be profitable has to go hand in hand with self-care and mental health.” When you strengthen your mind, you stop self-sabotaging your success. You stop chasing external validation. You start aligning your energy with what truly matters. Seeing Your Own Saboteurs So, are you starting to see your saboteurs everywhere? Understanding the roots of these behaviors, and the lies they tell, is the key to reducing their grip on your career and your life. Self-sabotage can isolate you, drain your energy, and keep you stuck in cycles of overwork and doubt. But when you start strengthening your mental fitness, everything shifts. You make better decisions. You create from calm, not chaos. And you open your eyes to a career that truly feels like you. Ready to quiet your saboteurs and build your mental fitness? DM me or schedule a call. I’ll help you build the clarity, confidence, and calm to design a career that fits who you are and the life you want to live. https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session #CareerPivot #MindsetMatters #SelfSabotage #CareerChange #MentalFitness #MidlifeCareer #EQ #ProfessionalDevelopment  This is not how you pictured it. Years into a career pivot and you’re still not there. Sure you have picked up some income here and there, but this is NOT what your dream career looks like. 150 carefully targeted job applications, not mass blasts, but roles you could see yourself thriving in. 10 multi-stage interview processes. All making it past the initial screen, because targeted applications work, but every single one petering out before the offer. Some dragged on for 10+ weeks, panel interviews, work samples, in-person presentations. Some checked your references. None chose you.
Each application: 30 minutes minimum, even with AI Each networking conversation: prep, follow-up, emotional energy. Each event: gas, time, and hope. Social media strategy: endless scrolling, posting, connecting, all to climb past 500 connections. Headshots. Résumé writers. Premium subscriptions. Calling in favors that went nowhere. It’s exhausting. It’s infuriating. And it feels like so much wasted time. I want acknowledge how heavy this process can feel. The endless hours poured into something with no guarantee. The rollercoaster of getting so close, again and again, only to hear, “We went in a different direction.” Now zoom out for moment. The perspective is different. Misalignment is real. With distance, you can often see that many of those roles weren’t quite right. They weren’t built for someone like you to thrive, they were built for someone who wanted the old path, not the new one you’re trying to create. You probably dodged a few bullets. Have you ever looked up who they did hire? Sometimes, they’re a perfect fit for a job that would have suffocated you. Sometimes, the company culture turns out to be toxic. Sometimes, the dream role wasn’t one at all. You’ve been sharpening your clarity. Every application forced you to articulate who you are and what you want. Every interview helped you practice telling your story. Every “no” nudged you closer to the “yes” that actually fits. You’ve been building resilience and range. The sheer persistence it takes to keep going to refine, learn, connect, and try again is itself a muscle. And that muscle will serve you well, no matter where you land. It’s easy to call all of this wasted time because the result, the job, the offer, the next chapter, hasn’t materialized yet. But what if the time hasn’t been wasted at all? What if it’s been the tuition you pay for transformation? Every conversation expanded your network. Every rejection clarified your direction. Every “almost” showed you what not to settle for. A career pivot is not a straight path. It's a series of discoveries, wins, setbacks, and learning opportunities. And if yours is taking longer than you expected, that doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’re still in motion. If you feel like you’ve wasted time, try looking again. Because often, that time is exactly what’s preparing you for the chapter that will fit the “you” of today. And when that chapter arrives, you might look back at all those near-misses and realize… you didn’t lose anything at all. You dodged bullets. You refined your vision. And you built the version of you that’s finally ready for what’s next. You’ve already done the hard part, now let’s make it count. Book a connection call and let’s explore how to turn your effort into opportunity and build the career (and life) that truly fits. https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session  It’s human nature for motivation to ebb and flow. Seasons shift, life gets busy, and suddenly the goals you set back in January feel… distant. But there’s something about fall that always feels like a natural reset. The air turns crisp, routines return, and we get that back-to-school buzz, even if there aren’t any kids in your house. Fall is a transitional season, and with just a few months left in the year, it offers us a choice, coast through to December or lock in and finish strong.
This year, a trend called “The Great Lock In” has been making waves on TikTok. At its heart, it’s simple: commit to a period of intense, focused action. 115 days from now until the end of the year, to set yourself up for success in the next. And honestly? I love it. Not because I believe in quick fixes or New Year’s resolutions, I’ve never been big on those, but because a defined window of focus can change everything. Maybe 2025 hasn’t unfolded exactly the way you hoped. Maybe you started a career pivot months ago, only to get stuck in the messy middle. Or perhaps you’re just tired of feeling like you’re “in motion” but not really moving forward. Where does the time go? The Great Lock In offers a cultural reset before the holiday rush swallows the calendar. Not to do everything, rather to do the right things, intentionally, for a set period of time. And when it comes to doing big things in your career, that kind of structured focus can be game-changing. There’s no one-size-fits-all rulebook here. For some, it’s about health and fitness. For others, finances or creative projects. But if you’re reading this, chances are your version is career-focused: Landing that promotion Securing a new role Building your side hustle Finally finishing your career pivot Before you consider jumping on the trend, know one thing. Your sprint must be about your why, not someone else’s expectations or a trend you’re borrowing from social media. External validation can be a trap. Your Lock In should be deeply personal, and yes, it should stretch you. I’ve chosen a keystone habit this year: living in the gain, not the gap. Every morning, I write down my three most important needle-moving tasks. Every evening, I celebrate what I accomplished. It’s simple, but it compounds. That’s the essence of a Lock In. It’s not magic. It’s focus, repeated daily, until you’ve laid a foundation for something bigger. 🔍For job seekers, that might mean shifting from endless online applications (that haven’t worked so far) to more meaningful actions like networking and real conversations. 🔍For entrepreneurs, it might mean carving out the time to launch that offer or finally nurture that list. 🔍For anyone in transition, it’s about momentum, and momentum loves structure. Create Your Own Lock In Blueprint
What’s one bold, meaningful commitment you could make for the next 115 days? And if your goal is to finish a career pivot before the new year, whether that’s moving from corporate to something more meaningful, building your portfolio career, or launching your own venture, I would love to connect. Grab your spot on my calendar for your complementary career igniter call. Don’t wait for January. Start today. Lock in. Finish strong. Schedule here: https://calendly.com/mariadastur/connectioncall  I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended Chicago Public Schools. This was not the land of big dreams. The people around me were hard-working, but their aspirations were often practical and close to home. No one was jetting off to DC for a summer internship or talking about their acceptance to an Ivy League school. Many were headed right to the workforce or into the military after high school. Life revolved around the neighborhood, and dreams rarely stretched beyond attending a state college.
Now, contrast that with a world where kids grow up going to “Take Your Kid to Work Day” at their parent’s law firm or at fortune 500 companies. Or where kids grow up internationally because their parents work for the State Department. In those circles, thinking big is the default. I did have some entrepreneurial influences, my parents scraped together enough to buy a $28K rental property, then another ten years later. And my first job (beyond babysitting) was working as a bookkeeper for my neighbor’s gourmet artisan cheese distribution business. But for the most part, my exposure to big visions and bold possibilities came later in life. The Circle That Shapes You Whether you grew up in a neighborhood where everyone worked in factories, as an Army brat living on base, or in a place where every parent had a white-collar job, we didn’t choose our beginnings. But we do choose who we surround ourselves with today. You’ve probably heard the saying: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” It’s not just a catchy phrase, it’s reality. Your circle shapes your mindset, your standards, your possibilities. So, here’s the real question: How can you widen your circle? When you choose right, you gain: New perspectives — You see options you didn’t even know existed. New opportunities — You hear about jobs, projects, and ideas you never would have stumbled across. New standards — You naturally raise your game when you’re surrounded by people playing at a higher level. 3 Ways to Enlarge Your Circle (and Choose the Right People) Put yourself in new rooms — on purpose Attend events, conferences, or meetups that attract people you admire or want to learn from. Volunteer on a board. Take a class outside your comfort zone. You can’t expand your network from your couch. Look for the “energy spark” The right rooms will light you up. You’ll feel more engaged, curious, and maybe even a little nervous. Pay attention to that tingle of imposter syndrome. It often means you’re in the right place, stretching into your next version of yourself. Seek people who think differently If everyone in your circle agrees with you and shares your exact experiences, you’re in an echo chamber. Seek out people from different industries, backgrounds, and life paths. The contrast will open your mind. We don’t get to pick where we start. But we do get to pick who we surround ourselves with, and those choices can expand your vision in ways that your younger self couldn’t have imagined. So here’s your challenge: Put three things on your calendar this week that will put you in new rooms, spark new conversations, or connect you with people who think differently. What are you going to do first? If you’re ready to widen your circle and design a career that fuels your life, not the other way around. Connect with me for your complimentary connection call. Together, we’ll unapologetically prioritize your desires, reclaim your power, and define your work in a way that feels aligned, exciting, and uniquely yours. Schedule HERE! #CareerGrowth #MindsetMatters #ThinkBigger #NetworkingTips #CareerPivot #PersonalDevelopment #DreamBig #LevelUp #WomenInBusiness #LifeByDesign #CareerCoach #GrowYourNetwork #LeadershipDevelopment #SuccessMindset  You can’t scroll for long without seeing a call to “take back your career” by starting a side hustle. Maybe yours started with a doTERRA kit, selling your homemade treats at the farmers market, or flipping thrift store finds on Poshmark. Maybe, like many professionals post-layoff, you dipped your toe into consulting, only to realize you get to keep the paycheck, but you also carry the pressure of constantly chasing the next gig.
The idea of building side income isn’t new. My own mom ran a daycare out of our house. Over the years, I’ve had plenty of side jobs myself, from painting and dog sitting to a brief, and let’s just say, educational stint with Amway. Today, more and more people are rethinking traditional work and using side hustles as a pathway to something more. Flexibility. Freedom. A way to monetize your brilliance on your terms. But before you jump in, it’s important to zoom out. The right side hustle isn’t the trendiest one, it’s the one that actually fits you, your life, and your goals right now. Here are the key things to consider before you dive in: Time: What Do You Actually Have to Work With? Be brutally honest with yourself. Do you have 5 hours a week, or 25? Do you have caregiving responsibilities, health needs, or a full-time job? There’s no one-size-fits-all path. But you do need to know what you’re building. Start by mapping your weekly bandwidth. This helps set realistic expectations and avoid burnout.“What can I build?” “What can I sustainably maintain for the next 90 days?” Financial Reality Check: What’s Your Runway and Revenue Goal? Are you starting this hustle to bring in quick cash, to build a long-term income stream, or to eventually replace your 9–5? That answer shapes everything. How much do you need to make each month? Do you have savings to float you while it ramps up? Are you supplementing a job—or hoping this becomes the job? Get clear on your financial must-haves vs. nice-to-haves. A side hustle without a financial plan is just a hobby that could stress you out. Support + Sanity: Who’s Really in This With You? Side hustles don’t happen in a vacuum, they happen in real life, with real responsibilities. Before you commit, take a look at your support system and financial picture: Have you talked to your family or partner? Side hustles can mean late nights, early mornings, and a laptop on vacation. Buy-in from the people you live with can make or break your momentum. Set expectations early and talk openly about time, money, and shared priorities. What’s your financial reality? Even a “cheap to start” hustle may have startup costs, delayed payments, or months before consistent income. Can you handle that runway without extra stress? What sacrifices will need to be made short-term? Who will help you stay in the game when it gets hard? Because it will get hard. You’ll hit walls. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll wonder if it’s worth it. That’s when you need people who get it, other entrepreneurs, an accountability partner, a coach, a mastermind, or even a friend who will remind you why you started. Build your support system now, before you're running on fumes and questioning everything. Once you’ve taken an honest look at your time, money, and support system, it’s time for the fun part, exploration. There are a million ways to earn extra income, but not all of them will light you up or fit your lifestyle. Let’s walk through a few key questions that will help you uncover the right hustle for you. The Right Hustle for You Ask yourself: Do I want to offer services or create products? Am I open to digital tools and automation, or do I want a more human, hands-on role? Do I want to grow this into a business or keep it casual and contained? If you're not sure what to pursue, test a few ideas fast and small before fully committing. Your Sellable Skills: What’s in Your Toolbox? Start with what you already have. Did you grow up in an entrepreneurial household? What industry and skills did you learn? What do people already come to you for? What can you do quickly that solves a problem? What energizes you enough that you’d do it even if no one paid you, but also, what will someone actually pay for? This is where my spark worksheet can help (Download it here). Often, your side hustle gold is hidden in plain sight. Come up with some ideas, run the numbers, talk to your supporters and remember, your side hustle doesn’t have to be your forever thing. It just has to be the right next thing. I’m Maria, a career strategist who helps professionals in transition to reignite their purpose, monetize their brilliance, and design a career that works for the life they’re living now. Whether you’re rekindling your career, launching a side hustle, shifting into entrepreneurship, or building a portfolio career, I’m here to help you navigate the messy middle and take bold, aligned steps forward. Ready to explore what’s possible? Let’s start with your spark, schedule your complementary career exploration call today: https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session #SideHustle #SideHustleLife #CareerPivot #CareerTransition #BuildYourOwnPath #WorkOnYourTerms #MonetizeYourBrilliance #CareerDesign #CreateYourOwnJob #PortfolioCareer #MidlifeReinvention #ReigniteYourPurpose #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessStrategy  This one HURT. The interview process went on for months. You were sure this was the one. Then came the dreaded Friday email:
“Thank you so much for your time, energy, and thoughtfulness throughout this process. After much discussion and reflection, we’ve decided to proceed with another candidate…” This can’t be happening again. The lightness and excitement you felt only 24 hours ago? Gone. I work with clients at all stages of their career pivots. Some have been job hunting for a year, two years, sometimes more. And while there are moments that feel like progress, they often lead to another rejection, another dead end. You’re curled up on the floor of your closet, whispering, “How much more of this can I take?” Questioning every decision that led you here. You thought this pivot would feel powerful. Instead, you just feel broken. But here’s the truth: reinvention is messy, slow, and full of faceplants. Stumbling Toward Something Better A woman fled corporate burnout, expecting quick success in her consulting business. She took the leap with one client at her side. A champion who stuck with her, but more clients didn’t come. Months and months went by. The financial run way dwindling, the shame spirals pulled her down, down, down. She learned how to ask better questions of prospects, refined her offer, rewired her beliefs, got clear on who she really wanted to serve and the problems they faced. The next six months went better. Now thriving, because of that flop, not in spite of it. “It took failing in front of everyone I respected to finally build the thing that felt like mine.” What Failure Really Teaches You No one wants to fall flat on their face. But it’s in those bruises that we learn: What matters most Who’s in our corner Where we need boundaries And how strong we really are Feeling like a hot mess during transition? Totally normal. My Own Faceplant Story After a 10-year career gap, it was time for me to get back in the workforce. I started where everyone does: LinkedIn and the resume. I had no clue what I wanted to do next, so I applied to everything that sparked the slightest interest. Dozens and dozens of carefully crafted applications over months…Crickets. No one, even my husband, knew I was job hunting. I sat with the shame and rejection… alone. But then I realized: that was the problem. No one knew I was looking. Those early applications helped me learn the market (which had changed drastically!) and gave me clarity on what I actually wanted, and what I wouldn’t compromise on. With a new outlook, I started telling everyone I was looking. And guess what happened? Conversations. Which led to calls. One informational interview? I blew it. Rambling for 25 of the 30 minutes. Forgot to ask questions. Gave unsolicited advice. Didn’t follow up, I was too embarrassed. Lesson learned: Let people help you. Have a conversation. A few weeks later, at my daughter’s gymnastics practice, another mom mentioned her friend needed help with his nonprofit. “Are you interested?” “YES PLEASE.” That informational interview? It led to a job offer. I became the Director of Membership for a national nonprofit. Success Built on Micro-Failures Another client felt like she was doing everything wrong, her pivot had been dragging on for years. Start. Stop. Start again. Sound familiar? But when she finally layered all that experience into a carefully crafted portfolio career, things clicked. The money started coming in. The work finally fit. “It didn’t make sense until one day, it did. But I had to live through the mess first.” If You're In the Spiral, Ask Yourself: What Have I Gained? You’ve practiced talking about your skills. You’ve gained clarity on your goals. You’ve: Built confidence Grown your network Added new skills Boosted your personal brand Landed interviews you never dreamed of Gained 400 LinkedIn followers (yep, that counts!) Found new possibilities you hadn’t even imagined All of this? That’s Failing Forward, the process of learning through action, missteps, and messy attempts. If you have lost a job, been ghosted after two months of interviews, gotten passed over for a promotion, lost money on a side hustle, you’re not failing. You’re building something. So How Do You Keep Going When You're Battered, Bruised, and Broke? Reflect. Reframe. Remember. You are not the same person who started this journey. Give yourself grace. Celebrate your growth. If you're falling forward, you're doing it right. If you’re ready to turn everything you've learned into a clear path forward, I invite you to book a free connection call. Let’s take what you’ve gained, and build the career and life you actually want. Let's Chat: https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session #over40 #midlife #getajob #entrepreneur #promotion #CareerPivot #FailingForward #MidlifeReinvention #PurposeDrivenCareer #RealTalk #CareerGrowth #ReinventionJourney #WomenAtWork #PortfolioCareer #LifeByDesign  Hardly a week goes by without a new message in my inbox.
“Is it time for a change? Complete your masters degree in 18 months!” “Unlock six figures in six months…your dream career starts with this certification." You do not need more education to fix your career. More credentials don’t always equal more clarity. And they certainly don’t guarantee success. Yet, when you’re stuck, lost, or burned out in your career, the temptation is strong: “Maybe I’ll just go back to school.” “When I finish this certification, a job will fall into my lap.” “This master’s program says it’ll open doors…” Sometimes, a degree or high-ticket certification is just an expensive detour, a way to avoid doing the real work of figuring out what you actually want. It’s not progress. It’s postponement. A costly escape hatch from the emotional rollercoaster of a career pivot. Don’t get me wrong, upskilling is essential. The market changes. Tech evolves. We grow. But there’s a massive difference between upskilling with purpose and going ‘back to school’ to escape your current dissatisfaction. The difference? A plan. Without a plan, all that tuition, time, and stress can land you in the same spot you’re in now, only with more debt and more doubt. If your goal is to pivot, to earn more, to feel excited by your work again, get strategic, not just busy. Just ask recent grads. There are hundreds of thousands of recent grads with fancy degrees and no job offers. Why? Because degrees aren’t magic and the job search that you tried to escape will be right there waiting for you after graduation. In today’s market, skills, relationships, positioning, mindset, and clarity often matter more than a piece of paper. So how do you know when it is time to make the investment in expensive and time consuming training, certifications, or advanced education? Ask yourself these questions. 1. Is this credential required for the specific role or industry I want to move into? 2. Do I have a clear career vision and plan that this degree fits into, or am I hoping it will give me clarity I don’t yet have? 3. Have I spoken to at least 3 people currently doing the work I want to do and asked them how they got there? 4. Do I have the time and money to make this investment? Do I have a plan? Ok…so I’ve realized it’s not the right time for a degree. “BUT, Maria, I’m emotionally drained and financially stretched. The longer I stay stuck, the worse it gets. I need a way forward.” Here’s where you should start….
Support, mindset shifts, and accountability to take aligned action. That’s what I call a Bold Pivot Plan. A smarter, faster way to redirect your career. Ready to stop spinning and start pivoting? Check out the Bold Pivot Plan here: https://www.mariadastur.com/boldpivot1   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  Lately, it feels like everyone around me is landing new roles.
Maybe it’s confirmation bias. Or maybe it’s just part of being a career coach. People love sharing their wins when they finally break through. But still…the momentum is real. One client just took a role paying half of what she earned before, but with the kind of schedule that lets her breathe again. She’s calling it her “bridge job,” while she levels up for what’s next. Another is consulting, pulling in enough to cover her bills while still saying yes to summer. Contracts, client calls, and still plenty of fun with the kidos. Then there’s the one who just landed a second offer, $100K more plus a bonus, just months after starting a new job. She didn’t expect it. But her brand showed up before she even had to. And someone else? She’s knee-deep in two interview processes: panel interviews, writing assignments, personality tests, and she’s still going strong in week seven! What do they all have in common? They didn’t just hope it would happen. They didn’t ghost their goals. They kept going, despite summer distractions, self-doubt, and setbacks. Did you? Maybe you had your moment too. Maybe you even started, sent out a few applications, had a networking call, downloaded a workbook, had a great coaching call, maybe even joined the Bold Pivot Plan. And then? Pool days. Visitors. Vacations. Mindless scrolling. Overwhelm. “Maybe later…” I get it. Life happens. But so does stagnation. You can’t build your next chapter if you keep ghosting your own career. You don’t need to overhaul your life. You don’t need more time. You need a plan…a bold one. Here’s how to un-ghost your pivot (and your future) Bold Step 1: Get radically honest about what you need and want…financially, emotionally, and energetically. Bold Step 2: Own your brilliance and update your brand to match it. Bold Step 3: Start having real conversations and creating new opportunities. Bold Step 4: Take aligned action without burning out or spiraling. If you are ready to get your career back, then check out my Bold Pivot Plan. Access the framework, tools, and gentle accountability to keep moving, even if life’s a little messy right now. It is self-paced, so it fits your schedule while focusing on real results, not just reflection. You’ve waited long enough. Let’s make your second half your best half. Check it out here: https://www.mariadastur.com/boldpivot1 #over40 #midlife #career #inspiration #meditation #getajob #promotion #entrepreneur #family #career #coach #RichLife #support #boldreinvention |
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