347: You Think You’re in the Right Job. You Might Be Wrong

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“The right job feels like home” is a comforting idea, but at mid-career it can quietly keep you stuck.

In this episode, I challenge the belief that clarity, excitement, and relief mean you’ve found the right role. Those feelings are not reliable indicators of fit. Instead, I introduce a more practical and strategic lens: alignment you can actually see and measure.

When the fit is real, it leaves evidence. You can see it in how your value is recognized, how you are developed, and how you are invited to lead.

I start with a hard truth about career visibility. You can be doing excellent work and still be invisible. At this stage in your career, your value cannot rely on effort alone. It must be clearly understood by the people making decisions about your future. I walk you through a simple but powerful test. Can leaders describe what you do, why it matters, and the value you bring in 10 seconds or less? If not, your visibility gap may be holding you back more than your performance.

From there, I break down how your personal brand shapes your opportunities. What people say about you when you are not in the room matters. I share practical ways to gather that data through direct conversations and 360 feedback so you can better understand how your impact is perceived.

Next, we focus on growth and positioning. If you are the reliable go-to expert but no one is talking about your future, you may be getting utilized instead of developed. I explain what to look for on your calendar, how stretch opportunities actually show up, and why you need advocates beyond your direct manager. This becomes even more important as AI continues to shift expectations around execution and strategic leadership.

Finally, I address identity alignment. When your values do not match what your organization rewards, the misalignment does more than frustrate you. It changes how you show up, how you lead, and how you see yourself over time.

If one of these three indicators is missing, you are not in the right role. You are in a role that works, but it is not moving you forward.

This episode will help you assess whether you are truly aligned in your current position or simply staying somewhere that feels comfortable.

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If this episode resonated with you and you want more support in how you SHOW UP for your career and life, I want to invite you to join the SHOW UP Leadership Lab. 

This is my group membership program where you'll get the clarity and support you need to SHOW UP more impactfully and effectively in your life and career. 

Visit https://johnneral.com/showup to join.

 
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