When the Path Leads to a Dead End

Or Going Off-Script to Embrace the Power of Redirection

In our careers, it’s easy to see setbacks as outright failures. However, what feels like rejection can often be a powerful redirection—and one you may be thankful for later on. Let me explain.

This morning, I sat down for coffee with an old colleague who had just launched his new company. Like many of us, his career is somewhere between the end of his second act and the beginning of his third.

“What’s been the best day so far?” I asked. His answer surprised me. The best day was actually before he even launched the company. It was when he thought he was having an impromptu meeting with his old boss, but it was actually with HR, informing him that his position had been eliminated. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. “The division is being restructured. These are hard decisions. It’s not you, it’s us,” as the script goes.

For my friend, it was that moment when he realized his true path, his angularity, and believed in himself. He needed to stop trying to be good at the hundreds of things that didn’t excite him and lean into the few that did. That other path? He was never meant to walk it. Realizing this brought him to do what he was always meant to do, but had found a thousand excuses not to.

So, why am I telling this story? Because we all have our angularity. It’s when you take all that knowledge from your early career (figuring out what you want to do), your mid-career (gaining recognition for doing it), and parlay that into your third act. Your angularity is your defensible position that makes you indispensable. Remember, you’re not supposed to get far on a path that you were never meant to walk in the first place.

If you’re at a crossroads, consider this: your angularity—what makes you uniquely you—can guide your next move. Embrace these moments as chances to reassess and realign with your true path.

Here are three steps to find your angularity:

• Reflect on Your Passions: Identify what excites you and keeps you up late at night. These are the areas where you’ll naturally excel and stay motivated.

• Assess Your Skills: Take stock of your skills and experiences. Align them with your passions to find where you can provide unique value.

• Seek Feedback: Engage with your network to gain insights on your strengths and how you can leverage them. Sometimes, others can see what you can't.

Interested in exploring this further? Join me on Thursday, August 8th at 5 PM PT for a free workshop on refining YOU, communicating it effectively, and identifying your angularity. Let’s navigate these career currents together.