Am I happy or sad in this picture? The real answer is both. This was taken days before I left a job I loved, restructured out and no longer needed. We are complex people - we can carry sadness whilst enjoying the moment. If you're navigating your own transition and feeling torn between where you are and where you're going, let's talk about what support you need.

For senior leaders who are brilliant at helping others find clarity but struggling with their own next step. A reflection on the questions that helped me navigate career transition – and might help you too.

"What use am I?"

That hit home. I hear you, and I am you.

My client had just said that out loud in a coaching session. We were exploring purpose – that most fundamental of topics that comes up time and time again in my leadership work. Specifically, we were unpicking the tensions between what we want to be doing and what we feel we must.

It was a powerful moment for him. Led us into an impactful discussion about what makes us happy, how we define ourselves, and the pressures we put on ourselves.

What landed differently for me was how close this conversation was to home.

Because I was there. Not that long ago. Sitting at my desk thinking the exact same thing. Have I hit my level of incompetence? I can't go on like this, but I don't know what the alternative is. People rely on me. I can't let them down.

If you're carrying that question right now, here's what I learned about finding purpose when you're stuck...

A lot gets written about purpose these days. It's one of those words we throw around without really thinking about what it means. But when I was asked "why I set up on my own" this year, it made me dig deeper than expected. Here's what I learned when I stopped giving the polished elevator pitch and started being honest about the journey - from running away from corporate games to finding a purpose that bridges personal authenticity with genuine service to others who feel stuck.