​(blot: read my new article in the Harvard Business Review here.)​

Let's face it, Reader. No matter our role or level, we all reach times when it feels like we can't keep on going on.

Like my client—we'll call him M.

M lobbied hard to get promoted from a narrow sales function into a broader regional leadership role. It took six months of coaching support to lock-in new habits and beliefs that helped his exec team trust he could handle the new job.

He was on cloud 9 when the promotion came through. 🌤️

Less than a year later, after a particularly hard week, M said to me, "How could THIS be what I wanted?"

His dream job had become his nightmare.

And worse of all—M believed it was his fault.

That he wasn't good enough or strong enough to handle it. That his ambition bounced ahead of his abilities.

That in order to save himself, he needed to take a step back—or even, away.

That, I told M, was a load of hooey.

Because what I could see was that there were assumptions about new role that were NOT sustainable.

Not for M; not for ANYONE.

The role hadn’t been designed; it had been patched together over time. Responsibilities piled up, nothing came off the list, and no one ever stopped to ask whether the whole thing still made sense.

Instead, they suffered, sacrificed, and sometimes just left, even without a plan.

THAT makes me sad . . . and honestly, a little angry. 👿

Because there are better ways to work.

And WE have the opportunity to take back control and change our lives at work in ways that work for our lives.

Recently, the Harvard Business Review published an article on this topic I wrote with my colleague Tony Martignetti:

​Read "What to Do When Your Senior Role Feels Totally Unsustainable" ​

if you can't access this link for any reason, hit REPLY and I'll send you a gift PDF.

So how about you, Reader? Is someone you know in a role that seems unsustainable? Or maybe that's YOU? It's a perfect time of year to get clear on what you want, what your role needs and doesn't, and what actions you can take to make work work better for you.

(And of course, you don't have to do it all by yourself. Schedule a coaching consultation with me and you'll have a partner all along the way.)

Hit REPLY and tell me what YOU see happening in your role or others. It's just me here on the other side of the laptop, and I always love hearing from you.

In the meantime as January marches on, it's a good time to remember that life is nothing if not changeable. Your situation doesn't have to stay the same--but won't change if you don't, too. I believe in you, Reader--you matter more than you know.

Always, Darcy

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P.S. If the article resonated with you, I'd be honored if you'd share it with a friend or two. Forward this email, comment on your fave social channels, or send a link to your private What's App friend circle--everything helps. HBR "counts" who's reading what, and your visits to the article help them know that this kind of content (the kind I write!) is useful. Thanks! --D

P.P.S. If you're reading this because Reader was kind enough to forward this email to you, please join our group here every week. It's fast, fun, and free--just sign up here. Thanks!

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