Designing the Right Move

Welcome to 2026!

Happy New Year to you!

With the celebrations behind us, it’s time to refocus. Lately, I’ve been thinking about why New Year’s goals often fail (as roughly 40% of folks ditch them by February). The answer: It’s not about motivation. At all. The real issue is that we jump into big changes without trying them out first.

In this issue, I’m focusing on how to “test before you invest” when planning your next career step.

Read more below and let me know what you think.

Enjoy,
Nelle

January is always filled with advice about goalsetting and comprehensive planning. That’s great if you’re looking to improve your health, break a habit, or take up a new hobby. But that approach doesn’t work for people trying to find out what their next move should be. There’s are more effective alternatives, and this month, I published three posts on how to navigate career change differently:

Why Most New Year's Goals Fail
Setting goals is counterproductive. Testing before committing is the way.
Read it here: Why Most New Years Resolution's Fail | Life Design with Nelle

The Mid-Career Trap
Why life feels like an escape room you can’t get out of and what to do about it.
Read it here: The Mid-Career Trap | Life Design with Nelle

Enjoyed both posts? Let me know what you think!

Tip #1: Ask Yourself: What Do You Really Want?

It’s tempting to start working on your resume and networking when you’re ready to pivot, but before you do, think about what you really want? If you’ve left your previous job because you were burned out, or your contemplating taking a different role, you want to take a different route and lean into self-reflection.

Most mid-career professionals skip this step and jump straight to job searching. Then they end up in another version of the same trap or something far worse. So, spend some time getting clear on your values, priorities, and non-negotiables first. The right next step becomes obvious when you know what you're looking for.

January is the perfect time to start designing your next move without leaping before you look.

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