 When I look back at my career decisions, “flying by the seat of my pants” is probably the most accurate job title I’ve ever had. Time and time again I said yes to whatever door opened, sometimes out of excitement, sometimes out of instinct, and sometimes because my brain thrives on the spark of something new. Four times I walked away from a job without the next one lined up simply because I wanted the summer off. My first athletic training job? I had two offers with the same pay, and I chose the one where I’d be completely on my own at a brand-new high school, because the challenge lit me up in a way “safe” never did.
Jump in with both feet. Sink or swim. Figure it out as you go. That was the pattern. And I thrive on it. I get bored with monotony. I crave challenge. I’ve run toward jobs that everyone else was sprinting away from…sinking ships, strategic reorgs, new facilities, big unknowns. I do best when two days are never the same. It makes me feel alive. Whether you’re someone whose brain lights up with novelty like me, or you have an official neuro-spicy label, you might relate. Some of us are built for reinvention. Some of us need variety to feel alive. Some of us thrive with challenges, not comfort zones. So you jump..and then SCRREECH. Your brain kicks into overdrive. “You don’t have enough experience.” “Have you lost your mind!” “You are in over your head.” These are some of the things my brain screamed at me after I took leap after leap in my career. But let me ask you something. Have you heard those same whispers? Have you ever taken a bold step and immediately questioned your sanity? Have you ever felt excited and terrified at the exact same time? Have you ever talked yourself out of something you knew, deep down, you were built for? Have you considered that what you’ve been calling a risk, irresponsible, CRAZY, might actually be your next best career destination? Some people are wired for stability. Others are wired for challenge, variety, reinvention, and stepping into the unknown. And it’s often the second group, the reinventors, the builders, the problem-solvers, who feel the most “broken” in traditional career paths. What Some People May Call “Non-Linear” Is Actually Evolution in Motion When you look back on your career, has it been a straight line, or more of a twisty curvy adventure? Are you a master pivoter, changing environments every time your soul whispers “I’m done learning here.” Do you jump when you feel boxed in, underutilized, or underpaid? That’s not chaos. That’s intelligence. The people who stay in the same job for 20 years aren’t “better” or “more stable.” They simply have a different wiring. Your evolution doesn’t have to be linear. Boredom Isn’t a Character Flaw, It’s A Signal Sometimes my brain would try to keep me stuck. “It is a bad job market.” “Work isn’t always going to be fun.” “Sometimes you have to work with people you do not like.” “Nobody is getting raises these days.” STAY PUT. But I learned that restlessness and boredom was my internal dashboard flashing a message…“You’ve outgrown this. Time to stretch again.” What does your brain tell you when you start to outgrow something? Does it downplay your frustration? Does it tell you to be grateful and stop complaining? Does it whisper that wanting more makes you unrealistic or ungrateful? Does it convince you that change is riskier than staying stuck? How many times have you listened to those whispers and stayed somewhere long after you knew you were done growing there? I learned that these narratives were actually my internal dashboard flashing... “You’ve outgrown this. Time to stretch again.” Is your mind craving something bigger, deeper, more aligned? People wired for growth feel trapped when they’re not challenged! Pivots Feel Necessary Because Growth Is Your Native Language Your life has likely been a series of “level ups,” not always planned, sometimes messy, often uncomfortable, but always leading you somewhere richer and more aligned. Where could you land next if you stripped away the fear, the judgment, and the pressure to play it safe? You’ve spent decades building skills and creating YOU! You are exactly who you were designed to be, and your path reflects that. Let This Be Your Reframe as the Year Ends As we head into a new year, remember that all of your experiences have made you who you are today. And somewhere out there is your next career move, just waiting for you to claim it. This might mean that you have to leap before you feel ready. Which, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been doing your whole life. Not flying by the seat of your pants, but knowing that you will land on your feet yet again. If this post stirred something in you, if you know you're built for more but you’re not sure what the next step looks like, let’s explore it together. Book your complementary Career Pivot Strategy Call, and let’s map out the path you’re meant to walk in 2026. https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session #CareerPivot #CareerReinvention #GrowthMindset #NextChapter #TakeTheLeap #LevelUp
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 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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