The month of January is over already – how did that happen? Time seems to be flying by more quickly than ever. You had great plans for yourself this year and are already feeling you are behind. That somehow you are stuck and never going to change to get where you want to go. Maybe there’s a better way to look at it, to give yourself a little grace and yet help you move forward. Here it is – you’re not stuck, you’re just between versions of yourself.
I know it doesn’t feel that way. It feels like you’re treading water. Like everyone else is moving forward and you’re… here. Again, after another year.
But that’s not what’s really happening – you are shedding an old skin. The one that kept you small and kept you comfortable. That said yes to everything except for what you actually wanted.
And, the new skin isn’t here yet. You can’t see it clearly, but it’s coming.
This messy middle part? It’s not a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign you are changing and change takes time.
So be patient with yourself. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where growth happens.
What if you stopped thinking of this as “stuck” and started calling it what it really is—becoming?
A mindset change is the first step to getting what you want and you have all the control over that…..
https://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.png00Kathy Parkshttps://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.pngKathy Parks2026-02-01 00:50:572026-02-01 00:50:57Are you stuck, or is it really something else?
As I look back at the world of work this last year, with my themes of careers and leadership, one word keeps coming up: adjustment. Not reinvention or disruption. Just a lot of people quietly rethinking what work is supposed to mean for them.
Career-wise, (based on industry research and talking with my clients), the big shift was away from the traditional, upward ladder approach we have long been told was the way to go. More people experimented with lateral moves, skill-stacking, and “stepping back” roles that actually moved them forward in a different and better way. There was less focus on titles and more honest reflection about energy, learning, and fit – what you really wanted instead of what you should want. It felt like progress—even if it was sometimes uncomfortable or scary.
AI also started to become part of everyday work life (with some initial kicking and screaming). But after this initial panic (and hype), the people who benefited most weren’t the techies, they were the ones willing to experiment and learn and grow through trial and error. It wasn’t easy and still isn’t. Curiosity though, is beating expertise more often than not and you are being rewarded for that.
And in leadership, this was the year control finally started to lose its shine. Is it totally gone? Not by a long shot. But the leaders who did well focused on clarity, context, and trust. They communicated more, managed less, and remembered they were leading humans, not productivity dashboards. And that wasn’t easy to do in the year we’ve just had.
Burnout didn’t magically disappear, but boundaries became more acceptable. Rest stopped being framed as a reward and started being treated as maintenance.
If there’s a theme for this last year, it’s this: work grew up a little. Are we done yet? Never done, but it might be a little easier to build on in 2026.
https://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.png00Kathy Parkshttps://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.pngKathy Parks2025-12-31 19:35:472025-12-31 19:35:47Looking back at this crazy year….
The best networkers I know? They’re not working the room at conferences. They’re having intentional one-on-one coffees. They’re commenting thoughtfully on posts. They’re reconnecting with former colleagues.
A Stanford study found that weak ties – those casual connections – are actually more valuable for career advancement than your close network. Why? Because they expose you to new opportunities and perspectives.
Networking isn’t about collecting business cards. It’s about building genuine relationships in ways that feel authentic to YOU.
So if the thought of “networking events” makes you want to hide, good news: that’s not the only way. Find your way and do it with your own networking style. And if you don’t know what that is, you can always get help!
https://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.png00Kathy Parkshttps://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.pngKathy Parks2025-12-12 20:33:082025-12-12 20:33:08Career Myth #2 Networking is awkward and you need to be naturally outgoing to build a strong professional network.
Let’s talk about the biggest career myth I keep hearing: “I don’t have enough experience for that promotion.” Sound familiar?
Here’s the truth – and the data backs this up: According to a LinkedIn study, 70% of professionals who were promoted didn’t meet all the qualifications listed for their new role. That’s encouraging, right?
The real barrier isn’t your resume. It’s the story you’re telling yourself about what you’re “ready” for.
I’ve coached dozens of mid-career professionals who thought they needed one more certification, one more year, one more project before they could step up. But when we dug deeper, they already had the skills – they just weren’t owning them, showcasing them correctly or telling their story so that people understood their true value.
Harvard Business Review found that women apply for jobs only when they meet 100% of qualifications, while men apply when they meet 60%. This isn’t about gender – it’s about confidence and how we perceive “readiness.”
So here’s my challenge to you: What promotion are you NOT pursuing because you think you’re not ready? Drop a 🙋 if this hit home.
Because honestly? You’re probably more qualified than you think. 😉
https://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.png00Kathy Parkshttps://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.pngKathy Parks2025-12-09 20:54:032025-12-09 20:54:03Career Myth #1 – I don’t have enough or the right experience for this promotion…
It’s been a crazy 3 years! We just survived a terrible global pandemic and people lost their jobs in unprecedented numbers. Then the jobs came back and people began to quit – the Great Resignation. But even if they didn’t really quit, many experienced a ‘silent quitting’. And now the economy has turned down again – layoffs are happening at companies where you would never have expected them, and we may be going into another recession. Who could have predicted all this a mere few years ago?
But because of all that turmoil, people have finally woken up to the fact that they may have just been allowing their career to follow its own path, without stopping to take stock of whether they really liked what they were doing at all. And that’s a good thing. Because you’d hate to get to the end of your work life, or life, and look back and realize that you should have done much more or something different. You don’t want to finish off with any regrets.
It’s important to understand that you are the only one who is responsible for your career. No one else will take it on, everyone is too worried about their own stuff to have time for yours. Read more
https://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.png00Kathy Parkshttps://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.pngKathy Parks2023-02-14 18:24:412023-02-14 18:24:41Create a Career Plan to Jump Start Your Job Search
It’s been a tough several years for businesses and the world of work has been upended in any number of different ways. A lot of things have changed, but sadly in the domain of the job search, some things that should have by now, just haven’t. I know that recruiters and hiring managers are busy people – you need to get your positions filled quickly and you often get hundreds of applicants for a single posting, especially these days. As a career coach, I see it from the other side – those unfortunate individuals who, for whatever reason (mostly not their fault) have lost their jobs and are desperately still trying to provide for their families. Or those who are in a toxic work environment (there are still lots of those too) and are trying to get out. And then there are those individuals who are just trying to better themselves, get a promotion or land in a job where they actually might be happy. Read more
https://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.png00Kathy Parkshttps://kpcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kp-logo-retina.pngKathy Parks2022-12-11 22:16:492022-12-11 22:35:12Recruiters & Hiring Managers – 3 Things That Job Searchers Wish You Would Do
Are you stuck, or is it really something else?
/by Kathy ParksThe month of January is over already – how did that happen? Time seems to be flying by more quickly than ever. You had great plans for yourself this year and are already feeling you are behind. That somehow you are stuck and never going to change to get where you want to go. Maybe there’s a better way to look at it, to give yourself a little grace and yet help you move forward. Here it is – you’re not stuck, you’re just between versions of yourself.
I know it doesn’t feel that way. It feels like you’re treading water. Like everyone else is moving forward and you’re… here. Again, after another year.
But that’s not what’s really happening – you are shedding an old skin. The one that kept you small and kept you comfortable. That said yes to everything except for what you actually wanted.
And, the new skin isn’t here yet. You can’t see it clearly, but it’s coming.
This messy middle part? It’s not a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign you are changing and change takes time.
So be patient with yourself. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where growth happens.
What if you stopped thinking of this as “stuck” and started calling it what it really is—becoming?
A mindset change is the first step to getting what you want and you have all the control over that…..
Looking back at this crazy year….
/by Kathy ParksAs I look back at the world of work this last year, with my themes of careers and leadership, one word keeps coming up: adjustment. Not reinvention or disruption. Just a lot of people quietly rethinking what work is supposed to mean for them.
Career-wise, (based on industry research and talking with my clients), the big shift was away from the traditional, upward ladder approach we have long been told was the way to go. More people experimented with lateral moves, skill-stacking, and “stepping back” roles that actually moved them forward in a different and better way. There was less focus on titles and more honest reflection about energy, learning, and fit – what you really wanted instead of what you should want. It felt like progress—even if it was sometimes uncomfortable or scary.
AI also started to become part of everyday work life (with some initial kicking and screaming). But after this initial panic (and hype), the people who benefited most weren’t the techies, they were the ones willing to experiment and learn and grow through trial and error. It wasn’t easy and still isn’t. Curiosity though, is beating expertise more often than not and you are being rewarded for that.
And in leadership, this was the year control finally started to lose its shine. Is it totally gone? Not by a long shot. But the leaders who did well focused on clarity, context, and trust. They communicated more, managed less, and remembered they were leading humans, not productivity dashboards. And that wasn’t easy to do in the year we’ve just had.
Burnout didn’t magically disappear, but boundaries became more acceptable. Rest stopped being framed as a reward and started being treated as maintenance.
If there’s a theme for this last year, it’s this: work grew up a little. Are we done yet? Never done, but it might be a little easier to build on in 2026.
Career Myth #2 Networking is awkward and you need to be naturally outgoing to build a strong professional network.
/by Kathy ParksNope. Not even close.
The best networkers I know? They’re not working the room at conferences. They’re having intentional one-on-one coffees. They’re commenting thoughtfully on posts. They’re reconnecting with former colleagues.
A Stanford study found that weak ties – those casual connections – are actually more valuable for career advancement than your close network. Why? Because they expose you to new opportunities and perspectives.
Networking isn’t about collecting business cards. It’s about building genuine relationships in ways that feel authentic to YOU.
So if the thought of “networking events” makes you want to hide, good news: that’s not the only way. Find your way and do it with your own networking style. And if you don’t know what that is, you can always get help!
Career Myth #1 – I don’t have enough or the right experience for this promotion…
/by Kathy ParksLet’s talk about the biggest career myth I keep hearing: “I don’t have enough experience for that promotion.” Sound familiar?
Here’s the truth – and the data backs this up: According to a LinkedIn study, 70% of professionals who were promoted didn’t meet all the qualifications listed for their new role. That’s encouraging, right?
The real barrier isn’t your resume. It’s the story you’re telling yourself about what you’re “ready” for.
I’ve coached dozens of mid-career professionals who thought they needed one more certification, one more year, one more project before they could step up. But when we dug deeper, they already had the skills – they just weren’t owning them, showcasing them correctly or telling their story so that people understood their true value.
Harvard Business Review found that women apply for jobs only when they meet 100% of qualifications, while men apply when they meet 60%. This isn’t about gender – it’s about confidence and how we perceive “readiness.”
So here’s my challenge to you: What promotion are you NOT pursuing because you think you’re not ready? Drop a 🙋 if this hit home.
Because honestly? You’re probably more qualified than you think. 😉
Create a Career Plan to Jump Start Your Job Search
/by Kathy ParksIt’s been a crazy 3 years! We just survived a terrible global pandemic and people lost their jobs in unprecedented numbers. Then the jobs came back and people began to quit – the Great Resignation. But even if they didn’t really quit, many experienced a ‘silent quitting’. And now the economy has turned down again – layoffs are happening at companies where you would never have expected them, and we may be going into another recession. Who could have predicted all this a mere few years ago?
But because of all that turmoil, people have finally woken up to the fact that they may have just been allowing their career to follow its own path, without stopping to take stock of whether they really liked what they were doing at all. And that’s a good thing. Because you’d hate to get to the end of your work life, or life, and look back and realize that you should have done much more or something different. You don’t want to finish off with any regrets.
It’s important to understand that you are the only one who is responsible for your career. No one else will take it on, everyone is too worried about their own stuff to have time for yours. Read more
Recruiters & Hiring Managers – 3 Things That Job Searchers Wish You Would Do
/by Kathy ParksIt’s been a tough several years for businesses and the world of work has been upended in any number of different ways. A lot of things have changed, but sadly in the domain of the job search, some things that should have by now, just haven’t. I know that recruiters and hiring managers are busy people – you need to get your positions filled quickly and you often get hundreds of applicants for a single posting, especially these days. As a career coach, I see it from the other side – those unfortunate individuals who, for whatever reason (mostly not their fault) have lost their jobs and are desperately still trying to provide for their families. Or those who are in a toxic work environment (there are still lots of those too) and are trying to get out. And then there are those individuals who are just trying to better themselves, get a promotion or land in a job where they actually might be happy. Read more