Mid-Career Change

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to give advice about other people’s careers… and how much harder it can be to figure out your own?Many mid-career professionals reach a point where their thinking becomes crowded with competing voices. Should I change direction? Aim for promotion? Start something new? Or simply stay where I am?In this episode, I introduce a simple technique that can help cut through that noise: timed writing. By setting a timer and responding to a powerful prompt, you can bypass overthinking and allow deeper insights to surface.You’ll also hear the story of Sarah, a project manager who had spent more than a decade in the same organisation. A six-minute writing exercise helped her uncover a direction she had quietly dismissed for years.If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain about your next step, this episode offers a simple exercise you can try today to bring greater clarity to your career thinking.Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

In this episode, I explore a different way of thinking about the future of your career, especially when the path ahead feels open or uncertain.Many mid-career professionals feel pressure to have a clear long-term plan. To know exactly what they are aiming for and where they are headed. When that clarity is missing, it can feel uncomfortable or unsettling.In this episode, I introduce a framework I use regularly in my coaching work called the Three Horizons. It offers a way to think about career direction without needing everything figured out in advance.We look at three distinct time horizons.The near future, where practical progress and momentum matter most.The medium term, where multiple possibilities can be explored without rushing decisions.And the long view, which connects to identity, values, and the contribution you want your work to make over time.Rather than asking you to predict the future, this approach helps you orient yourself. It allows you to hold direction lightly while still taking meaningful action in the present.If you are questioning what comes next, feeling unsure how to plan, or wanting a calmer and more realistic way to think about your career future, this episode will give you a useful framework to work with.You can explore these ideas further in my book Write Your Career, which brings together practical writing tools to support reflection, clarity, and next steps. You can find it here:https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk/booksThanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

In this episode, I turn to confidence, particularly the kind of confidence that often wobbles in mid-career.When roles change, expectations shift, or you begin to question your direction, confidence can take a knock. Not because you’ve lost your ability, but because many of the external markers we rely on, such as job titles, seniority, or organisational status, start to feel less secure.In this episode, I explore why confidence can feel fragile at this stage of a career, and why reassurance or positive thinking alone rarely helps. Instead, I introduce a more grounded approach to confidence, one built from evidence.I share a simple but powerful writing exercise called the Highlight Reel. It helps you notice moments where you were effective, energised, or at your best, and turn those experiences into clear evidence of what you bring. Not for performance reviews or interviews, but for yourself.This kind of confidence grows quietly. It comes from seeing your own strengths clearly, naming them, and trusting what you already know about how you work best.If you’re navigating change, considering your next move, or finding that your confidence hasn’t quite caught up with your thinking, this episode offers a practical way to steady yourself and move forward.You can explore these ideas further in my book Write Your Career, which brings together reflective tools and practical exercises to support mid-career growth. You can find it here:https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk/booksThanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

In this episode, I explore a quiet but powerful idea: the invisible career scripts many of us follow without realising.These scripts are the stories we inherit from family, education, workplaces, and professional cultures. Ideas about what success should look like, what feels sensible, and what feels risky. They often sound like good advice: work hard, don’t rock the boat, be grateful for what you have. And for a long time, they usually work.But at some point in mid-career, those same scripts can start to feel restrictive. You may find yourself feeling restless, disconnected, or quietly questioning whether the path you’re on still fits.In this episode, I talk about how to recognise when you’re living inside one of these inherited stories, and why simply noticing them can create space for change. I also share how writing can help you step outside the inner editor and hear what you actually think, rather than what you feel you should think.If your career looks fine on paper but feels slightly out of step, this episode will help you understand why that might be happening, and how to begin thinking differently about what’s next.This episode is the first in a short series, and it lays the foundation for rebuilding confidence and exploring future direction in the episodes that follow.If you’d like to explore these ideas further, you can find my book Write Your Career here:https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk/booksThanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

In this episode of Mid Career Change, I’m joined by Michael Tabirade for a thoughtful conversation about what happens when a familiar career path no longer fits in the same way. Michael spent many years in senior public sector leadership roles, working on large-scale transformation programmes across health and government, before moving towards more independent, portfolio-style work. We talk about the identity shift that often comes with leaving big roles, the mindset changes involved in stepping away from employment, and how to begin exploring independent ways of working without rushing or burning out.This episode is for anyone in mid-career who’s quietly questioning whether there might be a different way to work – one that offers more autonomy, balance, and alignment with what matters now.We explore:·     The emotional reality of stepping away from established roles·     Letting go of titles and rebuilding professional identity·     Designing a portfolio-style working life that supports wellbeing·     Common blind spots when moving towards independent work·     Simple, practical first steps you can take while things are still unclearIf you’re feeling curious rather than certain, and drawn to change without wanting to make a dramatic leap, this conversation will give you space to think – and permission to start gently.Michael's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@michaeltabirade?si=8umywRtGuktLp4SlConnect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltabirade/Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

In this episode of the Mid-Career Change podcast, I explore three gentle signs that something in your working life might be asking for attention — and what those signs are really telling you.January is often a moment of clarity. With a bit more distance from your usual routines, you start to notice things you might have brushed aside during a busy year. But recognising these signs doesn’t mean you need to make a big career change. More often, they’re early signals worth listening to — hints that something wants to grow, shift, or come into focus.In this short, reflective episode, I share three of the most common signs I see in my coaching work:• Something feels “off” — a sense that a task, expectation, or part of your role is no longer in step with who you are.• You’re craving more energy or meaning — noticing where you feel most alive in your work, and where you don’t.• You’re imagining other futures — those small, curious “what if?” questions that surface when your identity is starting to stretch.For each sign, I offer a simple writing prompt from my new 30-day course, Write Your Career, to help you interpret what the sign is pointing toward. These questions aren’t about pressure or dramatic decisions. They’re about clarity — about hearing yourself more clearly and reconnecting with what matters.Whether you’re feeling stuck, quietly restless, or simply sensing that something in your working life might need attention, this episode gives you a gentle, practical way to explore what’s going on beneath the surface.And if you’d like to work through these prompts more deeply, the Write Your Career course is available now at the January launch price of £49, with or without one-to-one coaching.Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

In this episode, we’re looking ahead to 2026 and what the new year will bring. I share an update on the projects I’m most excited about — including the publication of my new book, Write Your Career, which launches in April, and the fully-developed 30-day Write Your Career course, now available at a special January price.I talk through what’s changed, what’s improved, and how the course and book fit together to support anyone wanting more clarity, direction, or momentum at the start of the year. I also explain the new coaching-supported option, designed to give people more structure and guidance as they work through the material.To finish, there’s a short Coaching Moment focused on the value of simply getting started — why small beginnings often matter more than big plans, and how you can use that idea to shape your next steps in 2026.If you’d like to explore the course or coaching options, you’ll find everything at www.bravocoaching.co.ukThanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

The conversation reflects on a transformative 2025, featuring the launch of a new book and a five-year podcast milestone. Insights from standout listener experiences help shape the upcoming Write Your Career course, which focuses on writing for career growth. Mark introduces the Highlight Reel technique, encouraging listeners to identify their meaningful moments from the year. This self-reflective exercise reveals personal strengths and sets the stage for goal-setting as we head into 2026.

In this episode, I’m joined by Career and Leadership Transitions Specialist Suzanne Penny, who brings more than 20 years of experience in outplacement, recruitment and people development — along with her own lived experience of redundancy and reinvention.Suzanne and I first spoke back in 2023 for the Association for Coaching podcast, and so much has evolved for both of us since then. Today we reconnect to explore the realities of mid-career change: the moments that shake your confidence, the small steps that make the biggest difference, and why no one should navigate transition alone.We talk about the emotional impact of redundancy, what really helps people rebuild clarity and confidence, and the practical ways to move forward when you’re feeling misaligned or unsure. Suzanne also shares powerful stories of clients she’s supported — including members of her new community space, created to take the loneliness out of redundancy.Together, we explore themes of wellbeing, resilience, and the importance of pausing before rushing into what’s next. We also dig into the rise of purpose-driven work, the changing world of hybrid careers, and how mid-career professionals can leverage their experience, strengths and values to shape a meaningful next chapter.Whether you’re going through change yourself or supporting others through it, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective and plenty of practical ideas. Suzanne’s message is clear: you’re not starting from scratch — you’re starting from experience.If you’re navigating uncertainty, wondering what’s next, or craving a sense of community during transition, this one’s for you.https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannepennyexecutivecoach/https://www.suzannepenny.com/Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

Confidence can feel fragile during times of change — especially when you’re between chapters in your career. In this episode, I explore how to rebuild a steadier, more enduring form of confidence: the kind that comes from alignment, self-trust, and quiet action.Drawing on recent coaching conversations, I share how many mid-career professionals lose confidence not because their ability fades, but because the familiar structures that once supported them — job titles, recognition, belonging — start to shift. Confidence doesn’t vanish; it simply takes on a new form as you step into what’s next.I offer practical ways to reconnect with your strengths, align your work with your core values, and take small, deliberate steps that rebuild momentum. I also look at the link between confidence and fear — and why feeling fear isn’t a sign you’re not ready, but a signal that you’re stretching into something meaningful.Whether you’re exploring new options, facing redundancy, or simply feeling ready for change, this episode offers calm, realistic guidance for rediscovering confidence that lasts — not the loud kind that demands attention, but the quiet kind that carries you forward.Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk