Feeling Depleted, A Mid-Career Reset
At a mid-career crossroads, a compass points the way forward.
N. was at a high point in his career in finance but got there by putting in 80-hour weeks. Burnout was a real risk. He just didn’t enjoy the work the way he once had. The work-life balance challenge hung over him, and with a growing family on the horizon, it was something he knew he had to resolve—now.
Trying something new
N. had done a little bit of career coaching in a group environment, but he felt the time was right for some one-on-one support. He reached out to MKLC and after a few early conversations, decided to embark on the Compass Program.
“I was feeling scatterbrained at work,” N. said. “I was also at a crossroads—I had achieved a lot but was at the midway point in my career when you have to decide if you’re pushing forward or switching lanes. I knew that if I could not bring my life back into balance and find joy in my work again, I would need to make a big change. So I gave the Compass Program a shot.”
The Compass is a tailored program designed for those who want to integrate their work and personal lives more effectively and get clarity about where their work life is taking them and why. The deep dive sessions help leaders explore and articulate what matters most and help translate those aspirations into their days, months, and ultimately years.
Trust, truth and personal motivation
Right away, N. knew he had made the right choice. “Maya’s emotional intelligence is amazing. She is so good at building the trust that for me was the foundation of our work together. That trust is what allowed me to open up and be honest with her and with myself. And from there we uncovered some deep truths around which Maya was able to offer practical guidance,” said N.
Over the course of the Compass Program, N. told us that little by little, he started to feel greater focus and a renewed sense of purpose. It started with a feeling of hope that he was getting somewhere.
“I wouldn’t characterize it as a big, enormous shift. More like she helped me make sense of where I was at, why I was feeling so stuck. It has given me a completely different perspective. Without that external, objective partner to work things out with, I’m not sure I would have been able to find the personal motivation I was looking for.”
Getting back to a place where work gives you energy
Reflecting back, N. says he has embedded the techniques and tools from the Compass Program and that these have created some big shifts.
“My day-to-day has changed so that my outlook is no longer discouraged and all over the map. Instead, I am going into my days and weeks with more of a thoughtful plan. We’ve also added structure to the types of things I do each day to give organization to my week, which has profoundly shifted my outlook. I now look forward to my work weeks! And that for me was the goal. I wanted to get back to a place where I enjoy my work—where the work gives me energy, rather than taking it all out of me. There are still stressful parts that I do not like, but we’ve built structures for me to manage that stress, ensuring I am fully present for the enjoyable parts.”