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Before you update your resume, apply for a new role, or make a big career move, there’s one step that often gets skipped: clarity on where you’re headed.

In this episode, Michelle Schafer and I explore why professionals rush into action before getting clear on their direction—and how that instinct can actually slow things down.

Michelle offers five grounding questions that help you shift from uncertainty to intentional clarity, focusing on energy, values, non-negotiables, transferable skills, and how you want your days to feel.

If you’re sensing a change but aren’t sure what’s next, this conversation will help you move forward with more confidence.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode

1. Career clarity is a prerequisite—not a luxury.
Many people rush into updating a resume or applying for jobs because action feels safer than reflection. But skipping the clarity phase often results in longer, more confusing job searches. Taking time to get clear on what you’re running toward—not just what you’re running from—creates more aligned, sustainable career moves.

2. The best career decisions are built around energy, not titles.
Instead of asking, “What’s my next job?” start with “How do I want my days to feel?” This episode reframes career clarity around lived experience—what energizes you, what drains you, which problems you enjoy solving, and what pace and environment actually support you over time.

3. You don’t need a perfect answer—just the next right step.
Career decisions don’t have to be forever. We talk about lowering the stakes, designing for the current season of life, and using small experiments—conversations, projects, or informational interviews—to gain clarity in motion. When used intentionally, tools like AI can support reflection by helping you notice patterns and reduce overwhelm—without replacing your intuition.

Connect with Michelle
Michelle on the web: LinkedIn | Website
Email: michelle@mschafercoaching.ca
Chat: 30-minute discovery call- Book here

Resources mentioned in this episode:
+ Buy Michelle’s book: Cultivating Career Growth- Navigating Transitions with Purpose
+ Listen to our previous episode: Why Success in Your Job Search Starts with Mindset with Michelle
+ Download the reflection tool: Career Focus Framework here
+ Free chapter from Michelle’s Book

🌟 The Flourish Careers Podcast is proudly highlighted in the Top Career Podcast Guide

Ways to work with me:
+ Join Fried to Flourishing, the self-paced career change course or virtual coaching experience.
+ You’re invited to the Gathering Ground, an insider circle where careers take root, grow, and flourish.
+ Browse around the shop and check out the playbooks: Make The Leap, Ultimate Playbook for Heart-Based Career Change | The Complete Interview Prep Playbook | Jumpstart Your Job Search, Gift for Grads

HEART-Based Career Change Checklist

Align Your Work With What Matters Most: Discover Your HEART-Based Career Path

Because you deserve a long, radiantly happy + healthy career ❀

ACCESS THE DOWNLOAD HERE

Want more career wisdom? Check out these podcast episodes/blog posts!
+ Why Success in Your Job Search Starts with Mindset with Michelle
+ What Are Bridge Jobs? How They Can Help You Navigate Career Change
+ Should I Stay or Go: Heart-Based Career Decisions

For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram @flourish.careers.

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