How Career Clarity Helped Me Leave a Toxic Job and Build a Career I Love

I remember sitting in my car in the parking lot.

I’d get to work early but wouldn’t go in immediately. I’d sit there until the last minute because walking through those doors meant stepping into an environment that drained me.

I was in a student affairs role, but it was hard to be innovative and creative. One supervisor seemed to compete with me. Another micromanaged every move I made. And when others recognized me for my leadership, it only created more tension.

I felt stuck, doing good work, but invisible and unsupported at the same time.

The Breaking Point

In 2016, protests erupted on our campus in response to racist incidents. Students needed support, and I wanted to provide it. So, I organized a town hall where nearly 200 students showed up to share their voices and process their feelings.

But in the middle of it, a vice president walked in. They took the microphone, told me I wasn’t authorized to lead, and essentially told students how they should feel.

In that moment, my staff’s energy was crushed. Their excitement to create space for care and connection was silenced.

And so was mine.

It's important to mention that the roles weren't all bad. I gained experiences I’ll always carry with me and built connections that still matter today. But I had to accept that even good things can be the wrong fit if they don’t align with your purpose.

That was the moment I knew something had to change.

Taking the Leap

My first step was radical: I applied for graduate teaching fellowships and scholarships to leave my job and become a full-time student.

When the opportunity came, I made the impossible decision: I walked away from a steady paycheck.

I took a $60,000 pay cut. I was newly married at the time, with a young child, a daycare bill, and a new mortgage. Everything in my life said, “This isn’t the time to leave.”

But I knew staying was worse for my sanity than leaving.

Where I Found Clarity

What gave me the courage was the students themselves.

They’d say things like:
“Hey, I really enjoyed your class.”
“Your training helped me feel more confident.”
“I feel like you really see me.”

Those words gave me clarity. Students didn’t just see me as an administrator; they saw me as an educator. And I noticed that when I was teaching, training, or speaking, I was in flow. Hours felt like minutes.

That was the clue: Lean into the work that made me feel alive.

What I’d Tell the Old Me

Looking back, I’d tell the “stuck” version of myself one thing: invest in your future.

When times are tough, it can feel overwhelming to shell out more money for new opportunities without a guarantee. Yet, I've learned that to make more money and better opportunities, you have to invest more. Since then, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on training, coaching, and speaking development. I used to think people brought me in just to educate. But I’ve learned people also want to be inspired.

That’s when everything shifted. I leaned into the gift of both teaching and motivating. And it’s also taken me from a discouraged professional… to a professor, speaker, and leadership coach helping others unlock their clarity.

The Lesson for You

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• You don’t become a failure until you quit.

• Keep failing, keep learning, keep going.

• Hard, focused work over time always works out.

And here’s a simple but powerful exercise you can try right now:

👉 Do a vision mapping exercise.
Ask yourself:

• What do I want my life to look like in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years?

• What kind of career, home, and lifestyle do I want to create?

• What can I do daily to step toward that vision?

Clarity isn’t just about knowing what you want. It’s about mapping it out and aligning your daily actions with the bigger picture.

Your Next Step

If my story resonates with you, know this: you don’t have to stay stuck.

That’s why I created my Career Clarity Coaching Program. It’s the exact process I used to go from sitting in my car dreading work… to thriving as a professor and professional speaker.

You already have the potential. What you need is the clarity to connect the dots.

👉 [Click here to learn more about coaching with me.]

Not ready for a coaching program? Check out a free resource: From Stuck to Thriving: 5 Questions that Unlock Career Clarity