The Lonely High Achiever's Guide to Making a Successful Career Pivot
The Conundrum of the Lonely High Achiever 🤔
Sonya came to me recently struggling with a challenge I've seen many times with highly successful professionals - the lonely high achiever paradox. Over her 20+ year career, she had amassed an incredible track record of high-profile achievements. She was the ultimate "fixer" who could parachute in and solve any situation. Her vast network constantly relied on her expertise and support.
However, when it finally came time for Sonya to make a career pivot and reach out to that same network for help, she was met with...silence. Why does this happen to so many high achievers? They've spent decades helping everyone around them, only to find no one can return the favor when they need it most.
Why Your Network May Seem Unhelpful (Even Though They Don't Mean To Be)
The reasons behind this phenomenon are two-fold. First, most people don't think they can actually be helpful to the high achiever. They think, "Sonya is operating at such an elite level, how could my advice or assistance truly be valuable to her?" Second, you've made your incredible achievements look almost effortless over the years. So, your network assumes you'll naturally "figure this out too" like you always do.
This leads to an incredibly isolating experience for the high achiever. You're thinking "After all the energy I've poured into helping others, why isn't anyone supporting me now when I need it most?"
Finding Your Tribe of Peers to Recalibrate 🤝
The first step is finding your tribe - that very small subset of individuals operating at the same high level you are. These are the only people who can truly understand and relate to your experiences as a high achiever. Have open and honest conversations with them. This will restore your confidence that your decades of hard work were worth it. More importantly, it will give you the strength to then re-engage your broader network in a way that compels them to help.
How to Get Your Network to Engage
You can't just directly ask your network for help, because as mentioned, they assume you've got this covered. Instead, you need to re-educate them on specific ways they COULD support you during this pivot. I give my clients techniques to mobilize their network around them in a manner that empowers people to offer meaningful assistance tailored for a high achiever's needs.
By first surrounding yourself with a tribe of peers who deeply understand your struggles, you can then re-activate your broader network from a position of strength and self-assuredness. Before you know it, you'll have assembled a cohesive support system to facilitate your career pivot.
If this sounds like advice that could help you or someone you know, I invite you to check out Work It DAILY’s job search career coaching membership. Our team of expert career coaches (including myself) can provide personalized guidance for any career challenges you're facing, whether you're a lonely high achiever or just need an extra boost. Don't stay stuck and isolated - let us assist you in taking the next steps.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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