You can change your life in one year

If you’re feeling lost, rejected, confused, sad, angry, defeated, scared, or hopeless because your personal or professional life isn't where you hoped it would be right now, I have a tip:

Don't underestimate what you can accomplish in one year.

It’s March 2024, and exactly one year ago, I was feeling all of those things too.

About six months prior, I had quit the best-paying job I’ve ever had because it was killing my soul.

I ventured out on my own to offer a writing service to companies designing digital products. It was mine, growing steadily, and meeting a market need, but it didn't light me up.

This, by the way, came after 20+ years of job jumping and career indecision that convinced me I was incapable of finding work that I enjoyed and paid the bills.

It was a scary moment when I realized that a multiple six-figure income didn't solve anything.

Money matters—but it’s not everything

This isn’t a money-doesn't-matter, just-follow-your-passion message. Money matters, I’m not here to tell you otherwise.

And, after a certain threshold, money doesn't satisfy the inner yearning to contribute in a way that feels authentic and that pushes you to live into your potential.

That was my experience anyway.

As I became more financially comfortable doing things that didn’t feel meaningful for me, I became more acutely aware of how I was spending my time.

An urgency seeped in.

It became non-negotiable for me to pursue a more fulfilling path.

Which brings me back to the one-year tip!

The magic happens in the gap

On March 9, 2023, I started Martha Beck’s Wayfinder Life Coach Training.

I went into it thinking maybe I’d get into coaching but primarily it was an adventure in self-discovery—a chance to look honestly at my own blocks and learn tools for navigating the second half of my career.

Today, exactly one year later, I’m a certified coach.

My coaching practice is in full swing. I’m working with several amazing clients who are committed to their own growth. I’m creating digital products to bring coaching support to wider audiences.

One year ago, it was impossible for me to see the “how” of it all. The only thing I knew for sure was that coaching piqued my curiosity.

The gap between signing up for coach training and working in a career that feels aligned with my true nature felt gigantic and terrifying.

Like any journey that takes us from where we are now to where we want to go next, I closed the gap one small step at a time.

If you’re reading this feeling like there’s another level, another version, another path—another destination—out there for you, trust it and start moving in that direction.

Your journey might not look anything like mine but I promise you, if you start and commit to following your curiosities, we’ll have one thing in common:

Your life will look drastically different one year from today.

Good luck, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want support along the way.