Are you working harder than ever and still not seeing the rewards you expected?

You’ve ticked all the boxes: qualifications, accreditations, experience. Maybe even a niche certification, only 1.25 people on an obscure island have ever achieved (obvious sarcasm here). And yet nothing’s shifting. You’re doing everything right, and still feel like you’re stuck in survival mode.

You’re not imagining things. The game has changed. The old model of working hard, staying loyal, and eventually being rewarded no longer guarantees success, if it ever truly did.

Let’s unpack what’s really going on and how you can start rewriting the rules of your own career trajectory because working harder alone won’t cut it anymore. But working with intention and strategy? That changes everything.

1. The System Is Broken and It’s Time We Admit That

Let’s start with the uncomfortable reality. We’ve been sold a promise that no longer exists.

Back in the day, you were told: get good grades, land a solid job, stay loyal, and you’ll be taken care of. But in today’s economy, that blueprint feels hollow. I’ve worked with professionals who’ve done everything right, long hours, loyalty, extra qualifications, and still feel undervalued, underpaid, and overwhelmed.

This isn’t just a feeling. It’s structural. Real wages, adjusted for inflation, have declined. In 2023, ONS data showed a 6.2 percent dip in pay in real terms. Meanwhile, income inequality widens, and burnout is now recognised as a clinical condition.

Let’s call it what it is. Hard work isn’t enough if the system itself is rigged. And continuing to play by outdated rules only leaves you exhausted and disempowered.

Years ago, I was in a role where I gave everything. Energy, evenings, weekends. But I looked around and realised no matter how hard I pushed, the rewards weren’t proportional. That was the turning point. I needed to do something different or risk running in circles forever.

2. You’re Not Lazy. You’re Tired, Disillusioned, and Burnt Out

Burnout isn’t laziness. It’s your body waving the white flag. When you’re doing the 9 to 5 and the 5 to 9, but still not getting ahead, it’s no wonder so many of us are fatigued and questioning everything.

We live in an economy that celebrates performative productivity. Showing up, looking busy. But that doesn’t mean meaningful work is being done. And when leadership prioritises profit over people, the weight gets heavier for everyone else.

What if it’s not you that’s broken, but the reward system you’ve been taught to chase?

3. My Career Model: Understand, Reach, Expand

When I hit my breaking point, I didn’t have a silver bullet. But I needed a new framework to regain control. It’s become the bedrock of how I coach others and how I navigate my own career today. It’s simple but powerful.

Understand

Start by assessing your current landscape. What’s really going on, economically, politically, technologically? I use tools like PESTLE analysis to get a macro view. Accept what is. Understand where you are.

Then audit your finances. What’s coming in? What’s going out? Where can you cut back, save, or invest? Financial literacy is foundational. Export your bank data into Excel and start tracking with intention.

Reach

Next, define what you can offer. This is where you build your unique value proposition. Ask yourself:

• Do I want to move up in my current organisation?
  
• Pivot to a new role or industry?
  
• Step into contracting or consulting?
  
• Launch a side venture?
  

You don’t have to do everything at once. But do something. Treat it like an experiment. Whether it’s writing on LinkedIn, taking on a small freelance project, or mentoring a peer, test your edge.

And no, building a personal brand doesn’t always mean jumping on social media. It simply means being known for something by the right people.

Expand

Once you’ve got clarity and momentum, it’s time to diversify and grow. Here are some things to think about:

• Strategic investing: Whether it’s index funds, property, or a side venture, find assets that work for you. The earlier you start the better.
  
• Embrace the portfolio career mindset: You don’t need one job title. You need a career ecosystem. I wear many hats: consultant, coach, trustee, speaker. Each feeds the other.
  
• Adapt to technology: AI isn’t optional. Tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Claude can help you leverage your thinking. N8n and make.com can automate and accelerate your workflow. You don’t need to be a coder to be tech-savvy.
  
• Continuous learning: Ask ChatGPT to build a course for you. Use it to explore skills like machine learning, product design, or data storytelling. Or take accreditations that align with your career ambitions. Keep sharpening the blade.
  

Bonus Insight: Think Like a Creator, Not Just a Contributor

You might be thinking. Isn’t this just more work?

It is. But the difference is ownership.

When I first stepped away from a traditional path, I went all in. Left the pursuit of medicine. Dived into entrepreneurship. Racked up £30K in debt learning about business, property, speaking, trading, everything. Then I stripped it all back.

I focused on building something sustainable. And bit by bit, the path revealed itself. I became a contractor. Then a consultant. Then a coach. Now I help others build their own path, too.

You don’t need to have all the answers. But you do need to stop waiting for permission. Design your own ecosystem. Start small. Stay consistent.

Conclusion: Move from Clarity to Control

Here’s the formula I live by.

Clarity is information organised.
Control is taking meaningful action with that information.
Confidence comes from doing it, again and again, until it becomes second nature.

You won’t get it right every time. But that’s not the point. The point is to stop playing by outdated rules and start writing your own.

So let me ask you.
What’s one action you can take this week to move from surviving to designing your career?

Understand. Reach. Expand.
Peace.