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Hey Reader,
Have you noticed that we humans are obsessed with growth – in our lives, in our careers, in our bank accounts?
But lately I’ve been wondering… what if growth doesn’t always mean more?
What if it just means different?
I’ve been wrestling with this idea my whole life.
People have always challenged some of my choices and guilt-tripped me in the name of growth.
Like the time I left a big enterprise company to join a small startup.
“Isn’t that a step back?” they asked.
Honestly? It was one of the best moves I’ve made – less formalities and more autonomy. I grew more in that role in one year than I had in the two years prior. 💁🏻
Or another example from my personal life is the hundreds of times people have asked me if I want to move to a bigger city or a bigger state.
Nope. I’ve got my friends here in New Jersey. My family’s here. And honestly, I love this state. Where else do you get beaches and mountains within an hour of each other?
So nope, I’m not going anywhere. I’m good.
But when it comes to careers and income... that’s where the pressure to “grow” starts to hit differently.
I’ve always loved doing new things and solving new challenges in my 9-5. (Think: turning around a $1M ARR at-risk customer – those kinds of moments that stretch you as a CSM.)
Even becoming a career coach… that was a massive pivot for me. Did I know one day I’d be teaching people how to build CS careers? Absolutely not. 😀 Was it hard leaving a 9-5 and going out on my own? Very.
But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. That’s the kind of growth that’s sustained me most.
Whenever I’ve aimed for “growth” in my career, it hasn’t always been about more money, more people to manage, or a higher title. I mean, that’s been part of it sometimes, too – definitely.
But the growth that comes from doing something different – something new, something risky, something that might not turn into a huge success? That kind of growth hits different.
👉 So today I want to invite you to sit with this for a second:
What has growth meant to you in the past? What does it mean now? And what do you want it to look like in the future?
(Spoiler: your answers can change. They probably should change. Growth doesn’t exist in a vacuum – it’s always shaped by what else is going on in your world.)
Then take it one step further: What does growth mean to you in your career?
Is it about making more money? If that’s your top priority right now, go you – there are seasons where income is the most important thing, and that’s totally valid. 💰
Maybe it’s switching industries so you can see how things work in a completely different context.
Maybe it’s going from enterprise to a startup, scaling down so you can grow in agility, connection, and values.
Or the opposite: from a scrappy startup to a large enterprise for the stability and structure you’ve been missing.
Wherever you are right now, this reflection is always worth doing. You might be surprised by what it brings to the surface.
It’s been transformational for me, that much I can tell you – first when I switched from Sales to CS, later when I left enterprise to join a startup, and most recently when I walked away from full-time employment to become a career coach.
And I’ve seen this shift work for so many of my clients, too:
🔥 Like Chris, who moved from Cybersecurity to Marketing Tech, and is loving the energy in his new day-to-day.
🔥 Like Charlotte who left an enterprise team for a small startup and discovered she thrives in the scrappy chaos.
🔥 And Johnny who went from teaching to being a CSM at a SaaS company – a career path he never thought was in their future.
Because here’s the thing, Reader – your world can change for the better when you let yourself try something different.
And if “different” is what career growth looks like for you right now, lets talk.
I take so much joy in helping people navigate those scary-but-exciting transitions, and nothing makes me happier than seeing a client months later, thriving in their new role.
(Just ask any of my 800+ clients 😄)
Whatever season you’re in, I’m always rooting for your growth – whatever that means for you right now.
To your success,
Carly
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