At mid-career, not all endings come from things going wrong.Sometimes, on the surface, everything still looks fine.The role is stable. The work is good. You’ve built experience, reputation, and a sense of identity around what you do.And yet, underneath that, something begins to feel different.Less energising. Less meaningful. Less alive.In this episode, I explore the idea of necessary endings. The kind of endings that don’t come from failure or crisis, but from growth.Because one of the most difficult realisations at mid-career is that you can outgrow something that has served you well.Drawing on ideas from Necessary Endings, I talk about why endings can feel so difficult, particularly when we’ve invested years, or even decades, into a role, identity, or way of working.We explore the emotional and psychological side of endings, including the role of identity, expectation, and the pressure to continue with something simply because it’s working.I also share a simple but powerful question to help you reflect on your current situation:“If I weren’t already doing this… would I start it today?”Alongside this, we look at how to distinguish between a temporary dip and something that has genuinely run its course, and why creating space can be an important part of what comes next.This episode is also a more personal one.After 150 episodes, I share my decision to pause the podcast for a while, and reflect on what a more sustainable, human-scale way of working might look like at this stage of life.If you’ve been sensing that something in your career or life may be coming to an end, this episode offers a thoughtful way to reflect on that, without pressure to act immediately.Sometimes the most important step is simply acknowledging the truth of where you are.Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email <a href='mailto:mark@bravocoaching.co.uk'>mark@bravocoaching.co.uk</a> visit <a href='https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&id=4112ce25aa&e=5b3d6b399e'>www.</a><a href='https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&id=4646753f71&e=5b3d6b399e'>bravocoaching.co.uk</a>

At mid-career, not all endings come from things going wrong. Sometimes, on the surface, everything still looks fine. The role is stable. The work is good. You’ve built experience, reputation, and a sense of identity around what you do. And yet, underneath that, something begins to feel different. Less energising. Less meaningful. Less alive. In this episode, I explore the idea of necessary endings. The kind of endings that don’t come from failure or crisis, but from growth. Because one of the most difficult realisations at mid-career is that you can outgrow something that has served you well. Drawing on ideas from Necessary Endings, I talk about why endings can feel so difficult, particularly when we’ve invested years, or even decades, into a role, identity, or way of working. We explore the emotional and psychological side of endings, including the role of identity, expectation, and the pressure to continue with something simply because it’s working. I also share a simple but powerful question to help you reflect on your current situation: “If I weren’t already doing this… would I start it today?” Alongside this, we look at how to distinguish between a temporary dip and something that has genuinely run its course, and why creating space can be an important part of what comes next. This episode is also a more personal one. After 150 episodes, I share my decision to pause the podcast for a while, and reflect on what a more sustainable, human-scale way of working might look like at this stage of life. If you’ve been sensing that something in your career or life may be coming to an end, this episode offers a thoughtful way to reflect on that, without pressure to act immediately. Sometimes the most important step is simply acknowledging the truth of where you are. Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

At mid-career, not all endings come from things going wrong.Sometimes, on the surface, everything still looks fine.The role is stable. The work is good. You’ve built experience, reputation, and a sense of identity around what you do.And yet, underneath that, something begins to feel different.Less energising. Less meaningful. Less alive.In this episode, I explore the idea of necessary endings. The kind of endings that don’t come from failure or crisis, but from growth.Because one of the most difficult realisations at mid-career is that you can outgrow something that has served you well.Drawing on ideas from Necessary Endings, I talk about why endings can feel so difficult, particularly when we’ve invested years, or even decades, into a role, identity, or way of working.We explore the emotional and psychological side of endings, including the role of identity, expectation, and the pressure to continue with something simply because it’s working.I also share a simple but powerful question to help you reflect on your current situation:“If I weren’t already doing this… would I start it today?”Alongside this, we look at how to distinguish between a temporary dip and something that has genuinely run its course, and why creating space can be an important part of what comes next.This episode is also a more personal one.After 150 episodes, I share my decision to pause the podcast for a while, and reflect on what a more sustainable, human-scale way of working might look like at this stage of life.If you’ve been sensing that something in your career or life may be coming to an end, this episode offers a thoughtful way to reflect on that, without pressure to act immediately.Sometimes the most important step is simply acknowledging the truth of where you are.Thanks for listening!&nbsp;If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email <a href="mailto:mark@bravocoaching.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer">mark@bravocoaching.co.uk</a> visit <a href="https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&amp;id=4112ce25aa&amp;e=5b3d6b399e" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.</a><a href="https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&amp;id=4646753f71&amp;e=5b3d6b399e" rel="noopener noreferrer">bravocoaching.co.uk</a>

150. Necessary Endings: Knowing When Something Has Run Its Course

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking:“You’ve left it too late.” “You should probably stay where you are.” “What if this goes badly?”then you’ve already met your inner critic.In this episode, I explore the role that voice plays in your career, especially at mid-career when the stakes can feel higher and the decisions more significant.The inner critic often sounds reasonable. Sensible, even. It focuses on risk, uncertainty, and what might go wrong. And because of that, many people mistake it for truth.But in reality, it’s usually a protective voice. One that developed earlier in life to help you avoid failure, rejection, or embarrassment. The problem is, it hasn’t kept up with who you’ve become.In this episode, I break down some of the most common forms the inner critic takes at mid-career, including the age voice, the comparison voice, the imposter voice, and the loss-aversion voice.More importantly, I share a simple and practical writing exercise you can use to create distance from that voice and see your thinking more clearly.Because when you get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper, something shifts. What felt convincing internally often looks very different when you can actually see it.You begin to separate yourself from the voice, and that creates space for a more grounded, evidence-based perspective.This is where writing becomes a powerful thinking tool. Not about positive thinking, but about building a more accurate picture of who you are and what you’re capable of.If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or held back in your career, this episode will help you understand why that voice is there, and how to respond to it in a more useful way.Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email <a href='mailto:mark@bravocoaching.co.uk'>mark@bravocoaching.co.uk</a> visit <a href='https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&id=4112ce25aa&e=5b3d6b399e'>www.</a><a href='https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&id=4646753f71&e=5b3d6b399e'>bravocoaching.co.uk</a>

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking: “You’ve left it too late.” “You should probably stay where you are.” “What if this goes badly?” then you’ve already met your inner critic. In this episode, I explore the role that voice plays in your career, especially at mid-career when the stakes can feel higher and the decisions more significant. The inner critic often sounds reasonable. Sensible, even. It focuses on risk, uncertainty, and what might go wrong. And because of that, many people mistake it for truth. But in reality, it’s usually a protective voice. One that developed earlier in life to help you avoid failure, rejection, or embarrassment. The problem is, it hasn’t kept up with who you’ve become. In this episode, I break down some of the most common forms the inner critic takes at mid-career, including the age voice, the comparison voice, the imposter voice, and the loss-aversion voice. More importantly, I share a simple and practical writing exercise you can use to create distance from that voice and see your thinking more clearly. Because when you get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper, something shifts. What felt convincing internally often looks very different when you can actually see it. You begin to separate yourself from the voice, and that creates space for a more grounded, evidence-based perspective. This is where writing becomes a powerful thinking tool. Not about positive thinking, but about building a more accurate picture of who you are and what you’re capable of. If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or held back in your career, this episode will help you understand why that voice is there, and how to respond to it in a more useful way. Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking:“You’ve left it too late.” “You should probably stay where you are.” “What if this goes badly?”then you’ve already met your inner critic.In this episode, I explore the role that voice plays in your career, especially at mid-career when the stakes can feel higher and the decisions more significant.The inner critic often sounds reasonable. Sensible, even. It focuses on risk, uncertainty, and what might go wrong. And because of that, many people mistake it for truth.But in reality, it’s usually a protective voice. One that developed earlier in life to help you avoid failure, rejection, or embarrassment. The problem is, it hasn’t kept up with who you’ve become.In this episode, I break down some of the most common forms the inner critic takes at mid-career, including the age voice, the comparison voice, the imposter voice, and the loss-aversion voice.More importantly, I share a simple and practical writing exercise you can use to create distance from that voice and see your thinking more clearly.Because when you get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper, something shifts. What felt convincing internally often looks very different when you can actually see it.You begin to separate yourself from the voice, and that creates space for a more grounded, evidence-based perspective.This is where writing becomes a powerful thinking tool. Not about positive thinking, but about building a more accurate picture of who you are and what you’re capable of.If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or held back in your career, this episode will help you understand why that voice is there, and how to respond to it in a more useful way.Thanks for listening!&nbsp;If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email <a href="mailto:mark@bravocoaching.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer">mark@bravocoaching.co.uk</a> visit <a href="https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&amp;id=4112ce25aa&amp;e=5b3d6b399e" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.</a><a href="https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&amp;id=4646753f71&amp;e=5b3d6b399e" rel="noopener noreferrer">bravocoaching.co.uk</a>

149. The Inner Critic Running Your Career

Ever wondered how you can love your job and build a great career? Learn how with My Bravo Career a podcast about why your career matters, how you can enjoy what you are doing day each day at work and how to build a great career along the way. Mark Crossfield is a Professional Career Coach specialising in empowering people in their career to become unstuck, overcome challenging situations or improve their overall happiness and satisfaction at work.   Some episodes will be directly from me, what I know, what I’m learning and how I can help you with actionable career advice. Some episodes will be with people sharing their career stories, their Aha moments and what they did that made all the differenceThanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email <a href='mailto:mark@bravocoaching.co.uk'>mark@bravocoaching.co.uk</a> visit <a href='https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&id=4112ce25aa&e=5b3d6b399e'>www.</a><a href='https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&id=4646753f71&e=5b3d6b399e'>bravocoaching.co.uk</a>

Ever wondered how you can love your job and build a great career? Learn how with My Bravo Career a podcast about why your career matters, how you can enjoy what you are doing day each day at work and how to build a great career along the way. Mark Crossfield is a Professional Career Coach specialising in empowering people in their career to become unstuck, overcome challenging situations or improve their overall happiness and satisfaction at work. Some episodes will be directly from me, what I know, what I’m learning and how I can help you with actionable career advice. Some episodes will be with people sharing their career stories, their Aha moments and what they did that made all the difference Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

Ever wondered how you can love your job and build a great career? Learn how with My Bravo Career a podcast about why your career matters, how you can enjoy what you are doing day each day at work and how to build a great career along the way.&nbsp;Mark Crossfield is a Professional Career Coach specialising in empowering people in their career to become unstuck, overcome challenging situations or improve their overall happiness and satisfaction at work. &nbsp;&nbsp;Some episodes will be directly from me, what I know, what I’m learning and how I can help you with actionable career advice.&nbsp;Some episodes will be with people sharing their career stories, their Aha moments and what they did that made all the differenceThanks for listening!&nbsp;If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email <a href="mailto:mark@bravocoaching.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer">mark@bravocoaching.co.uk</a> visit <a href="https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&amp;id=4112ce25aa&amp;e=5b3d6b399e" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.</a><a href="https://bravocoaching.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=27b11cbddec66de88fc6949f9&amp;id=4646753f71&amp;e=5b3d6b399e" rel="noopener noreferrer">bravocoaching.co.uk</a>

0 - The Pilot Episode

At some point in mid-career, the path that once made sense can start to feel less clear. Mid-Career Change is a podcast for that moment. Hosted by career coach Mark Crossfield, it helps you think more honestly about your career and what comes next. Each episode offers a different way into that thinking. Sometimes through a simple question or writing exercise. Sometimes through a framework you can apply, or a conversation with someone who has made a change of their own. Writing runs through much of the show as a practical way to slow things down, make sense of your situation, and see more clearly what matters. Mark brings his own experience to the conversation, having spent 28 years in civil engineering before making the shift into coaching. This is not a podcast about quick fixes. It’s about giving yourself the space to think properly, so you can move forward in a way that feels right for you.

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At some point in mid-career, the path that once made sense can start to feel less clear. Mid-Career Change is a podcast for that moment. Hosted by career coach Mark Crossfield, it helps you think more honestly about your career and what comes next. Each episode offers a different way into that thinking. Sometimes through a simple question or writing exercise. Sometimes through a framework you can apply, or a conversation with someone who has made a change of their own. Writing runs through much of the show as a practical way to slow things down, make sense of your situation, and see more clearly what matters. Mark brings his own experience to the conversation, having spent 28 years in civil engineering before making the shift into coaching. This is not a podcast about quick fixes. It’s about giving yourself the space to think properly, so you can move forward in a way that feels right for you.

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