When I first started exploring new skills to pivot my career, I was convinced there had to be a “right” answer. Like a one-size-fits-all map that would tell me: this is the program, the school, the certificate that will unlock your future. What I got instead? A mess of well-intentioned advice, ads that promised instant success, and a surprising amount of internal pressure to pick the “most impressive” route.
I used to end my day the way I thought most productive people did: with one last scroll through email, a glance at tomorrow’s to-do list, and maybe a podcast that I half-listened to while cleaning the kitchen. It felt like I was winding down, but truthfully? I was just mentally multitasking my way into bed, bringing every unfinished task, unspoken thought, and unchecked tab with me.
A few years ago, I had a job interview for a position I genuinely wanted—one of those rare roles that felt aligned with both my skills and my sanity. But when I opened my closet to pick an outfit, all I saw was a mix of “office clothes” from three jobs ago, stretched-out sweaters, and a blazer that only buttoned if I held my breath.
