Bonjour everyone!

First week back at work, and I'm beyond grateful to be energized meeting incredible leaders every day. Going back to work with this level of energy hasn’t always been my reality - especially during my corporate years.

So I’m consciously enjoying it . Because waking up with a purpose changes everything

But I know it's not the case for everyone, that’s why I wanted to talk about it this week.

After the Christmas break, the signs often become impossible to ignore: perhaps you’ve asked for a promotion that didnt materialize, you’ve signed KPIs you know are not achievable, or the board-level chaos is bleeding again into your daily operations.

That vague thought you've been pushing aside is now front and center: you need a change.

But what does your“next step” look like exactly?

That's what I'm helping you figure out today.

Mapping your past, to plan your future

Don’t let what you’ve learned (good and bad) in 2025 get lost as you transition back into the workplace. The following exercise and example can help you assess which parts are worth keeping and which to discard. So to get started, grab a pen and a piece of paper, your photos and calendar on your smartphone, and follow the steps below:

(or download now the full version of this template 👇)

The patterns that emerge reveal the conditions where you thrive, and what you're finally ready to abandon.

The 4 Questions that clarify everything

Let’s continue!!

1-What do you want to preserve? These are your non-negotiables from your high points. (the ones you circled, as priority): Autonomy over your schedule? Collaboration with brilliant peers? Work that matters beyond quarterly targets?

2-What do you want to change? Those lows you circled: the time spent at commuting, pointless meetings, industry norms that no longer align with your values.

3-What will stay the same? Your kids' schedules, your partner's location, financial obligations. These aren't limitations, they are your strategic parameters.

4-What does an ideal future actually look like? Not "living my best life" fluff, but rather: what does a typical Tuesday look like 6 months from now?

Now what? (that’s the interesting part)

You now need to understand and make the necessary connections across your priorities

• If , for example, your highs clustered around "learning new skills" and "building things on weekends," but lows centered on "micromanagement," entrepreneurship might be your logical next step, not a pipe dream.

• If, for example, you loved the industry and work, but lows were "lack of strategic input" and "micromanagement," a new role at a different company might be your answer.

Your next step should reflect the person you are TODAY

Traditional career advice pushes you toward title, salary, prestige. But the real world doesn't work that way anymore.

Your next move doesn't have to be dramatic to be right. It just has to honor what you've learned: when you do your best thinking, who you need around you, what problems make you lose track of time, and what you absolutely won't compromise on anymore.

So before updating your resume or reaching out to recruiters, grab that paper. Draw the timeline. Mark those highs and lows.

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The answer to "what kind of change do I need?" may already be there, waiting in the patterns of your own life.

Have a great week

Yours,

Stephanie