Have you ever thought, “I just want to do something that matters”?

In today’s episode of Joy at Work, I respond to a listener who wants to leave a successful commercial career to work in the charity or not-for-profit space. If that sounds familiar—if you’re craving more purpose or impact—I invite you to pause before leaping.

I share what I’ve learned from years of working with midlife professionals who’ve felt the same longing. And I offer questions worth asking before you make a big switch. Because meaning doesn’t always come from where you work—it comes from how your work connects to who you are.

🎧 In this episode:

• Why switching to a not-for-profit role isn’t always the magic solution
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• How to uncover what’s really missing from your current work
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• The difference between industry and role misalignment
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• A practical exercise to get clearer on what you actually want
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• Why volunteering can offer more insight than job applications
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📥 Free Worksheet:

Questions Worth Asking (When You're Feeling Career Stuck)

→ Download it here

💬 Join the Free Midlife Unstuck Community

→ Join here

💡 If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone else questioning what’s next.

I’m answering a brilliant (and very real) listener question: “Is it insane to resign?”

If your workplace has recently been bought out, the culture is collapsing, and you’re feeling an urgent need to escape — this one is for you.

I’ll share why your frustration and anger are valid, why it’s NOT insane to want to leave, and — crucially — why pausing, planning, and positioning yourself first is key to protecting your future.

You’ll hear:

✅ Why private equity takeovers feel so brutal (and why it’s not personal)

✅ How to handle the emotional vs. logical brain tug-of-war

✅ 3 practical steps to create your Freedom Fund and plan your next move

✅ Why rushing out the door might land you in a different version of the same trap

And a gentle reminder: You don’t have to pretend this culture is okay for you. Clarity, not insanity, is what you’re experiencing.

Ready to design a sane, strategic exit — and a joyful next chapter?

👉 Join the Midlife Unstuck Community Membership — find clarity, support, and real tools to redesign your work life.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Reclaiming Middle-Aged Me Blog
• Career Design Video on YouTube

You’ve got this. And if you need a guide — you know where to find me.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the slow pace of change inside your organisation—you’re not alone.

This week on Joy at Work, I’m joined by Luke Murphy, Product & Transformation Coach, who has walked this path himself. Together, we dive into the mindset shifts and small actions that can empower anyone—yes, even without a big job title—to become a true trailblazer for change.

We cover:

• Why waiting for permission holds us back
• The four common traps that sabotage grassroots change efforts
• Luke’s personal story of transformation and what he learned
• Practical first steps to take today if you want to drive meaningful change in your team

This conversation is a powerful reminder that real change often happens from within, not from above.

If today’s episode sparks ideas for you, I’d love to invite you to start your own redesign journey with my Derailed Life Satisfaction Assessment → https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/derailed

And to learn more about becoming a Trailblazer, sign up for Luke’s newsletter Disrupt From Within → https://disrupt-from-within.kit.com

Here’s to building workplaces—and work lives—that bring more joy.

Have you ever hit the top of your career only to realise... this isn’t the mountain you wanted to climb?

In this episode, I respond to a listener who’s built an enviable career, but now finds themselves utterly done with the job—yet far from done with working. We explore what it means to reach the peak and feel empty, the risks of early retirement, and the real work that begins once the big job ends.

If you’re staring down your next chapter and wondering what truly fulfilling work could look like now, I walk you through the first steps of career redesign—including how to identify your Superpowers and choose work that feels fierce, meaningful, and yours.

🎯 Download The Superpowers Starter worksheet now:

💬 Mentioned in This Episode:

• Join the Midlife Unstuck Community
• Dana’s Story: A Case Study in Midlife Redesign

Ever Googled “career coach” and found yourself drowning in vague promises and polished LinkedIn bios? You're not alone. This episode was sparked by a real message from Mike, a listener who’s 51, cynical, and unsure where to start. He knows he doesn’t want a repeat of the same job—but how do you find someone who actually gets that?

In this episode, I break down four key hints for choosing the right career advisor (even if you hate the word coach). You’ll hear about:

• Why generalists rarely work in midlife career redesign
• How to spot someone who actually walks their talk
• The importance of emotional safety in a coaching relationship
• Real talk about pricing transparency and red flags

I also share how my own missteps cost me over £100k—and how I now help others avoid the same.

🎯 If you're exploring what joyful, aligned work could look like for you, take the next step here:

👉 https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/work-with-me

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode

• Blog: You’re Not Too Old and It’s Not Too Late
• Video: 12 Stages of Burnout for Professionals in Midlife

This episode was sparked by a listener who was unexpectedly made redundant after 13 years. If you've ever had the rug pulled out from under you—or fear that moment might come—this one’s for you.

I break down what really happens emotionally when you’re let go (spoiler: it’s not just fear), why shame is the quietest but most damaging response, and how to gently move through it. I also share two key steps to help you figure out whether you simply need a new job—or a new career strategy entirely.

You’ll find links below to my most-read article on navigating redundancy and all of my midlife career redesign tools.

If you're feeling the wobble, you don't have to figure it out alone. The Midlife Unstuck Community is here when you’re ready to begin your redesign.

👉 Join the Community

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Article: The Emotional Anatomy of a Redundancy
• Blog Archive: All Career Design Article

Ever find yourself thinking, “I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up”?

You’re not alone — and more importantly, you’re not behind.

In this episode, I respond to a heartfelt question from a 43-year-old marketing director who's feeling stuck and unsure about their future. We unravel the pressure-packed question we've all heard since childhood — “What do you want to be when you grow up?” — and offer two far more useful ones instead.

You’ll hear:

• Why we’re still haunted by career expectations that began at age five
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• A mindset shift that turns work from obligation to opportunity
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• Two powerful questions that can reframe your midlife work life
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• How to connect your superpowers with real-world problems that matter
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• A peek inside how we tackle this inside the Fierce Emporium programme
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If your brain has been circling the same old questions for years, this is the episode to help you stop the spiral — and start designing something better.

🎥 Watch the video – Do I just need a new job or a new strategy?

👉 Watch now

📥 Free download – Five Questions to Ask When You’re Feeling Career Stuck

👉 Download here

💬 Join the conversation – You’re not too old, and it’s not too late.

👉 Midlife Unstuck Community Invitation

If this episode sparks something, please share it with someone who's quietly wondering the same thing.