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.

Connecting with people is my thing. I often say it's my 'superpower'. But you can't force it.

After leaving my last role 11 months ago, I'm reflecting on how easy it is to lose touch with people who mattered.

I'm sat in the optician's chair, trying contact lenses for the first time at 51 years old, and I can't shake the feeling that something fundamental has shifted.

Not just my vision (though that's definitely different). It's deeper than that. My face comes with glasses. Has done since I was 17. They're part of who I am. Without them? I look like a stranger to myself.

But when you're cycling on busy roads and the Garmin's getting blurry, the coffee menu's unreadable, and that car or tree is just a touch too undefined - you adapt, or you risk something worse than discomfort.

"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.

Too many leaders are stuck in transactional mode. What happens when we make space for real conversation instead? A reflection on reconnection, curiosity, and joy.

Ever feel like you’re waist-deep in something, unsure how to move forward? This reflection explores purpose, coaching, and what it means to wade into the work — fully.

What does riding a longhorn have to do with independent consulting? A lesson in fear, bravery, and the quiet grit behind building something of your own.

Six months into my own business journey, I keep meeting two distinct types of career changers. There's the "I finally took the plunge" type - that's me, the corporate ladder climber who realized getting out of bed was getting harder each morning. Then there's the "I don't want to waste my life" type - those with the courage to build independence from their thirties rather than waiting until their fifties. Both paths lead to the same destination: happiness, autonomy, focus. The question isn't whether you're too late or too early. The question is: what are you waiting for?