Is that all?

Sound familiar? You're right in the middle of your professional life, maybe right in the thick of your career. You're successful at what you do, you know your job inside and out. Maybe your company is going through a massive phase of change where everything is being turned upside down, your team is shifting, your environment is changing, or even your daily work. Or perhaps you're reading these lines as you approach the final stretch of your career, asking yourself: Can I really keep this up until I retire? You might be sitting on a Teams call right now, listening for the umpteenth time to an explanation of the new company structure and how everything is going to be better now. Or your workplace has changed so much that things are simply done differently than before — changed just for the sake of change. Maybe digital technology is transforming your job so fast and thoroughly that you're struggling to keep up. And all of this leaves you feeling unsettled, because deep down you're good at your job — yet something is gnawing at you that goes way beyond just performance.

Maybe you feel like I did back then: the question "was that really it, do you want to keep doing this for the next 20 years?" is getting louder and louder? At first, it's just a thought you quickly brush aside while brushing your teeth. But over time, it gets more persistent, popping up when you're stuck in traffic on your commute or having lunch with your colleagues in the cafeteria. Maybe even right before you fall to sleep? You notice that you hesitate for a second during small talk about work before you answer. Or that praise from your boss suddenly feels strangely empty. Or you're sitting at a company event and realize: "I don't want this anymore." Sometimes it's just a gut feeling of inner conflict that makes you doubt: Can I really hold out until retirement? Most people feel deep down: I no longer want all these things that make me doubt, create inner friction, and occupy my mind day and night. But where do I want to go, what is my calling? Which job is right for me? The blunt truth is: Many people feel this way, and many put off these questions for a long time—not because they don't want to hear the answer, but because they're afraid of it. What if I actually have to change something?

And almost automatically, you ask yourself: but what then? And this is where most people get stuck. Because this question often feels too big to grasp, let alone answer on your own. What if I change direction and things don't get any better? What about my family, my house, what are the financial consequences? What will my colleagues think of me? Am I betraying them? Am I already too specialized in my field to start all over again? Am I already too old for this? All these questions are valid — but they're also the reason why many people get stuck right here, because thinking about these big topics is often overwhelming. And you stay stuck in a state that isn't good for you or the people around you. This stalemate can last for months, even years. Over time, physical symptoms start to show up too; you get more irritable, maybe you start sleeping worse, which leads to exhaustion, which in turn makes you even more irritable. The people around you, your family, your relationship start to suffer as well. What can you do about it? Talk about it, with your friends, your family, your partner. By talking about it, the knot will slowly untie over time. I know how that feels — for me, talking about it eventually sparked the desire to explore new perspectives.

And that is exactly where coaching comes in. Unlike pondering things on your own, you aren't left alone with your thoughts. Someone asks you questions you wouldn't think to ask yourself. A coach's job isn't to tell you what you need to do. Instead, they help you find what you already know deep down, but just can't see clearly yet.

I can't say it often enough, but this really gets to the heart of how I see people:

Every person is naturally creative, resourceful and whole.

Coaching isn't about fixing things. Instead, it helps you figure out where you stand right now, what truly drives you on the inside, and where you want to go. Along the way, you'll discover fresh perspectives, try out new paths, and experiment with solutions. Step by step, you'll get closer to who you really want to be and what you truly want to do.

And speaking from my own experience: at some point, it just clicks, and you've found what you were looking for. Everything else falls into place easily because you feel that resonance. Resonance feels amazing, but in a completely different way than just being content. As I've heard from others: it's like being 17 and falling in love. The physical tension starts to fade, you sleep better again, and you're less irritable. The people around you notice a change, too. For me, it felt more like finally arriving at my true self. It wasn't a huge epiphany or some grand fireworks display. Instead, it was finishing three days of intense coaching training way outside my comfort zone and still having more energy than I ever had after a tough day at work. From that moment on, a lot of things were simpler; it confirmed the path I'd chosen, and things just started flowing. Not because my new path takes any less work, but because I'm no longer working against myself—I'm working with myself. And no, my fears (like letting down colleagues or worrying about my age) didn't just vanish because I ignored them. They got smaller because I started actually listening to them instead of just dreading them.

If you're reading this and seeing yourself in it: maybe this is your moment to listen. Let's talk.