309 I Career Clarity After 13 Years in the Same Organisation with Claire Bartkus

If you’re feeling stuck at mid-career, unsure whether to stay, pivot, or start something new this episode is for you.

In this case study, I’m joined by my former client Claire, who went from feeling uncertain about her next move after leaving a role of 13 years in education to gaining crystal-clear career clarity and launching her own consulting business in just three months.

We talk about what it really takes to get unstuck, how to move from overthinking to aligned action, and why clarity doesn’t have to take years when you approach it strategically.

If you’ve been sitting in “what’s next?” mode for longer than you’d like, this conversation will give you both perspective and momentum.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why mid-career transitions can feel heavier and how to navigate them strategically
• The difference between being “stuck” and being unclear
• How Claire moved from uncertainty to launching a consulting business in 3 months
• What actually creates clarity (hint: it’s not more overthinking)
• The mindset shifts required to stop default climbing and start designing what’s next

Action Steps:

1️⃣ Get honest about what feels misaligned.
 Instead of asking “What job should I apply for?” ask “What do I no longer want to tolerate?”

2️⃣ Stop gathering endless information and choose one direction to test.
 Clarity often comes from action, not analysis.

3️⃣ Define your next 90-day focus.
 If you had to move forward strategically for the next three months, what would you prioritise?

👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step.

Connect with Claire and learn more about her work - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-bartkus/ 

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Connect with me!

Website: careerchangemakers.com
Email: podcast@careerchangemakers.com

LinkedIn:  Janine Esbrand

Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

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