How to Find Clarity During a Major Career Transition? A Live Coaching Session with Dr. Nancy Dome
Summary:
Many leaders reach a point where the business they built has worked well, and the next chapter asks them to step forward as the face of their own ideas.
This week on The UpLevel Podcast, we welcome Dr. Nancy Dome as she opens up about navigating a major career transition and what comes next. She came into this coaching session wanting clarity and one next step, while also being honest about the fear and uncertainty that come with making her own body of work the focus.
Together, Dr. Nancy and Christie name the voice that questions her, which she calls Ricky, and make room for the very real fatigue that can come after years of building a business. Then Dr. Nancy explores her transition through two very different perspectives: "aspiration" and "sushi." As she speaks from each perspective, something shifts; her energy changes and new possibilities begin to surface.
We’ll also “brain-dream” a list of possible next steps, and she closes the session by imagining herself stepping across a line, naming what she is ready to let go of and what she is ready to say yes to.
It’s a powerful look at what can happen when we give ourselves permission to see a transition from a different perspective.
In This Episode:
How to find clarity during a career transition
How to respond to imposter syndrome and the inner critic
How changing perspective gives you access to new ideas and energy
How to choose small actions and build accountability that fits your life
Why naming your inner saboteur can change your relationship with it
Why "sushi" became a powerful metaphor for Nancy's next chapter
The importance of reconnecting with the things that give you energy
What it means to step across a threshold and choose possibility
Order of Topics:
Meet Dr. Nancy Dome: From Business Owner to Solopreneur
How Does the Coaching Agreement Work
What Does It Mean to Rebrand Yourself as the Face of Your Own Work
How Do You Define Success Before a Career Transition
What Does Imposter Syndrome Sound Like
Where Does Self-Doubt Show Up in Your Body
Why Do We Avoid the Work That Matters Most
How Do You Name Your Inner Critic
How Can a New Perspective Change What's Possible? The Aspiration Lens
How Can Creativity Help You Find Clarity? The Sushi Lens
What Is Brain Dreaming and How Do You Do It
How Can You Combine Your Passions With Your Work
How Do You Choose Next Steps That Bring You Energy
How Do You Build Accountability That Works for You
How Do You Set a Realistic Goal for a New Habit
How Do You Let Go and Step Into What's Next
Action Items:
Give your inner critic a name.
Write down the exact sentences your doubt repeats when you think about your next step, then give the voice a name that makes you smile. When it speaks, greet it by name and keep going. Naming it creates enough distance for you to respond with humor instead of believing every word.
Notice where doubt lives in your body.
When you can locate the feeling, you can tell the difference between a physical signal and a fact about your abilities.
Separate real fatigue from the voice of doubt.
Tiredness after years of hard work deserves attention and care. List what you're feeling, mark each item as either your saboteur or your current reality, and give the real ones the rest or support they need.
Remember that your saboteur may be trying to protect you.
Seeing the protective side softens its hold and makes it easier to say, "Thank you, I've got this."
Change your perspective to change what's available to you.
Your circumstances may stay the same while your energy and ideas shift. Choose a person you admire or something you love, such as a favorite food, and describe the values it holds for you. Then look at your situation through it and write down what becomes possible.
Pay attention to what brings you energy.
Truth tends to show up in your body as emotion, chills, or a lift in your voice. Use that response to choose between ideas, and let the ones that feel flat wait.
Brain-dream before you decide.
Set a timer, list every idea that comes to mind, and include the ones that feel too big or silly. If your list feels too practical, return to the qualities of your chosen perspective and add more. Circle the two or three ideas that bring energy into your body.
Balance one action that feeds you with one that serves others.
Choose something that nourishes you, such as a creative practice you've missed. Then choose something that helps you learn what the people you serve need right now, so your next offer fits them.
Set a target you know you can meet.
Pick a number that fits your real schedule, try it for one week, and reassess. A commitment you can keep builds trust with yourself.
Build accountability that fits your life.
Ask a colleague, partner, or friend to check in on one specific action. When you report back, share what you're learning about yourself, whether or not you finished every task.
Create a visual reminder of your chosen perspective.
A small piece of art, a sketch, or a photo near your desk can bring you back to the perspective that gives you energy, especially on days when the saboteur gets loud.
Step over your line.
Stand up, picture a line in front of you, and say what you're letting go of. Then step over it and say what you're saying yes to. Writing your answers down gives you something to return to when you need a reminder.
Free Resources for Your Next Step
Growth doesn't happen from listening alone. It happens when we take what we've learned and put it into practice.
That's why we've created these free leadership, coaching, workplace well-being, mental health, grief, publishing, and personal development resources.
Use them to go deeper into the conversations you've heard on the UpLevel Podcast, explore topics that matter to you, and find practical tools you can bring into your life, your team, and your organization.
Start with the resource that speaks to you. Your next UpLevel might be one click away.
About Dr. Nancy:
Dr. Nancy Dome is a renowned speaker, author, coach, and Founder/CEO of Epoch Education, which she co-founded in 2014 to help leaders in education and business build greater diversity, inclusion, and belonging through accessible professional development.
With a career spanning education, social justice, and professional development, Dr. Dome has worked as a teacher, faculty member, coach, and organizational leader. Her work focuses on helping individuals and organizations navigate complex conversations, build stronger relationships, and create more inclusive cultures.
She is the bestselling author of Let’s Talk About Race and Other Hard Things and The Compassionate Dialogue Journey, and is the creator of Compassionate Dialogue, a framework designed to support meaningful conversations, personal growth, and stronger workplace relationships.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancydome/
🎉 The UpLevel Podcast was listed as #3 among the Top 7 Best Coaching Culture! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/coaching_culture_podcasts
🎉 It was also ranked #16 among the top 49 Best Workplace Mental Health Podcasts! https://podcast.feedspot.com/workplace_mental_health_podcasts
🎉 It was also ranked #10 among the top 23 Best Conscious Leadership Podcasts! https://podcast.feedspot.com/conscious_leadership_podcasts
About UpLevel Productions: Founded by Christie Mann, MA, CPCC, PCC, and Rachel Baldi, CPCC, PCC, UpLevel creates, produces, and delivers Transformative Experiences, Workshops, Training, Events + Media that develop leaders who make our world a healthier, more alive, and connected place to be. As Associate CTI Faculty Partners, UpLevel is licensed to sell, produce, and deliver Co-Active coach training and leadership development programs around the world to support the transformational growth of individuals and culture inside the workplace and organization. www.uplevelproductions.com Instagram @uplevelproductions Facebook & LinkedIn @uplevelproductionscompany
Comments