I remember very well the first time it really dawned on me that I didn't want to continue in that line of work for many more years.
Many women don't start their career transition by handing in their notice or with a ready-made plan. Often, it begins with a quiet feeling: Actually, a lot of things are going well—and yet it just doesn't feel right anymore.
The moment when something went wrong
I was sitting in a regular meeting at the bank. The whole team was in the conference room; we were discussing an investment opportunity we were supposed to recommend to our clients. On the surface, everything looked well-prepared and polished.
And yet, during the conversation, I felt a tightness inside me. There was a pressure in my chest, and at the same time, a very clear thought: I can't recommend this to my clients with a clear conscience.
Because I knew that this solution posed significant risks for my clients and, ultimately, was primarily in the bank’s interest. My clients trusted me. That was exactly the kind of trust I didn’t want to take advantage of.
It wasn't a dramatic moment. No one in the room would probably have guessed what was going on inside me at that moment. I just fell silent. But deep down, I suddenly realized: I don't belong here anymore.
That appointment wasn't the only reason. But it brought to light what had been on my mind for quite some time.
Why Change Is Hard Especially When Things Are Going Well
On the surface, a lot of things were going well back then. I had a good job, a good income, experience, responsibility, and people who trusted me. That’s exactly why it was so hard to admit to myself that something wasn’t right anymore.
Maybe you recognize this feeling in your own way. On the outside, things are going well, and yet inside, a question keeps growing louder: Is this really the path I want to continue on?
Sometimes it's not your entire career that no longer feels right. Sometimes it's more like a path that once fit but has become too narrow over time.
I think that’s exactly what often makes a career change so challenging. It’s not always that something on the surface is obviously wrong. Sometimes the key issue is much more subtle. You simply realize that the path you’ve been on no longer aligns with what’s important to you today.
This feeling deserves to be taken seriously
If things look good on the outside but you still feel a clear “no” on the inside, that’s not simply ingratitude. It can be an honest sign that you’ve changed and that it’s time to take a closer look.
This is exactly where I step in today to support women who have achieved a great deal in their careers but still feel that the path they’ve taken so far no longer quite suits them.
If you’d like to shape your career path with greater clarity and inner confidence, learn more here about my 12-week program, “Be Your True Self in Your Career.”
