Mid-Career Change

140. Rebuilding Confidence in Mid-Career: The Evidence You Already Have

In this episode, I turn to confidence, particularly the kind of confidence that often wobbles in mid-career.When roles change, expectations shift, or you begin to question your direction, confidence can take a knock. Not because you’ve lost your ability, but because many of the external markers we rely on, such as job titles, seniority, or organisational status, start to feel less secure.In this episode, I explore why confidence can feel fragile at this stage of a career, and why reassurance or positive thinking alone rarely helps. Instead, I introduce a more grounded approach to confidence, one built from evidence.I share a simple but powerful writing exercise called the Highlight Reel. It helps you notice moments where you were effective, energised, or at your best, and turn those experiences into clear evidence of what you bring. Not for performance reviews or interviews, but for yourself.This kind of confidence grows quietly. It comes from seeing your own strengths clearly, naming them, and trusting what you already know about how you work best.If you’re navigating change, considering your next move, or finding that your confidence hasn’t quite caught up with your thinking, this episode offers a practical way to steady yourself and move forward.You can explore these ideas further in my book Write Your Career, which brings together reflective tools and practical exercises to support mid-career growth. You can find it here:https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk/booksThanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

139. The Invisible Career Scripts Shaping Your Choices

In this episode, I explore a quiet but powerful idea: the invisible career scripts many of us follow without realising.These scripts are the stories we inherit from family, education, workplaces, and professional cultures. Ideas about what success should look like, what feels sensible, and what feels risky. They often sound like good advice: work hard, don’t rock the boat, be grateful for what you have. And for a long time, they usually work.But at some point in mid-career, those same scripts can start to feel restrictive. You may find yourself feeling restless, disconnected, or quietly questioning whether the path you’re on still fits.In this episode, I talk about how to recognise when you’re living inside one of these inherited stories, and why simply noticing them can create space for change. I also share how writing can help you step outside the inner editor and hear what you actually think, rather than what you feel you should think.If your career looks fine on paper but feels slightly out of step, this episode will help you understand why that might be happening, and how to begin thinking differently about what’s next.This episode is the first in a short series, and it lays the foundation for rebuilding confidence and exploring future direction in the episodes that follow.If you’d like to explore these ideas further, you can find my book Write Your Career here:https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk/booksThanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

138: Exploring Independent Work in Mid-Career

In this episode of Mid Career Change, I’m joined by Michael Tabirade for a thoughtful conversation about what happens when a familiar career path no longer fits in the same way. Michael spent many years in senior public sector leadership roles, working on large-scale transformation programmes across health and government, before moving towards more independent, portfolio-style work. We talk about the identity shift that often comes with leaving big roles, the mindset changes involved in stepping away from employment, and how to begin exploring independent ways of working without rushing or burning out.This episode is for anyone in mid-career who’s quietly questioning whether there might be a different way to work – one that offers more autonomy, balance, and alignment with what matters now.We explore:·     The emotional reality of stepping away from established roles·     Letting go of titles and rebuilding professional identity·     Designing a portfolio-style working life that supports wellbeing·     Common blind spots when moving towards independent work·     Simple, practical first steps you can take while things are still unclearIf you’re feeling curious rather than certain, and drawn to change without wanting to make a dramatic leap, this conversation will give you space to think – and permission to start gently.Michael's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@michaeltabirade?si=8umywRtGuktLp4SlConnect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltabirade/Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

137. Three Questions to Help You Rethink Your Career

In this episode of the Mid-Career Change podcast, I explore three gentle signs that something in your working life might be asking for attention — and what those signs are really telling you.January is often a moment of clarity. With a bit more distance from your usual routines, you start to notice things you might have brushed aside during a busy year. But recognising these signs doesn’t mean you need to make a big career change. More often, they’re early signals worth listening to — hints that something wants to grow, shift, or come into focus.In this short, reflective episode, I share three of the most common signs I see in my coaching work:• Something feels “off” — a sense that a task, expectation, or part of your role is no longer in step with who you are.• You’re craving more energy or meaning — noticing where you feel most alive in your work, and where you don’t.• You’re imagining other futures — those small, curious “what if?” questions that surface when your identity is starting to stretch.For each sign, I offer a simple writing prompt from my new 30-day course, Write Your Career, to help you interpret what the sign is pointing toward. These questions aren’t about pressure or dramatic decisions. They’re about clarity — about hearing yourself more clearly and reconnecting with what matters.Whether you’re feeling stuck, quietly restless, or simply sensing that something in your working life might need attention, this episode gives you a gentle, practical way to explore what’s going on beneath the surface.And if you’d like to work through these prompts more deeply, the Write Your Career course is available now at the January launch price of £49, with or without one-to-one coaching.Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

136. Looking Ahead to 2026: New Book, New Course, New Direction

In this episode, we’re looking ahead to 2026 and what the new year will bring. I share an update on the projects I’m most excited about — including the publication of my new book, Write Your Career, which launches in April, and the fully-developed 30-day Write Your Career course, now available at a special January price.I talk through what’s changed, what’s improved, and how the course and book fit together to support anyone wanting more clarity, direction, or momentum at the start of the year. I also explain the new coaching-supported option, designed to give people more structure and guidance as they work through the material.To finish, there’s a short Coaching Moment focused on the value of simply getting started — why small beginnings often matter more than big plans, and how you can use that idea to shape your next steps in 2026.If you’d like to explore the course or coaching options, you’ll find everything at www.bravocoaching.co.ukThanks for listening! If you need support with your career:call me on 07833 593875email mark@bravocoaching.co.ukvisit www.bravocoaching.co.uk