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Your next 90 days: how to get started and not burn out
You've decided 2026 is your year. You've identified your ONE BIG FOCUS. You've blocked out time in your diary. You're ready to go.
But here's what usually happens: you go too hard, too fast. You try to overhaul everything at once. You add business development on top of your crushing workload. You say yes to every opportunity.
By week three, you're exhausted. By week six, you've quietly dropped most of your career development. By week twelve, you're burnt out and back where you started.
Building momentum towards partnership isn't about working harder or doing more. It's about doing the right things consistently without burning yourself out. And the secret? Start smaller than feels comfortable.
In this episode, you'll discover how to pace yourself from day one so you can sustain your career development efforts for the years it takes to make partner.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why "just work harder" is a terrible strategy for partnership progression (and what successful partners do instead)
- The three traps that kill momentum in the first 90 days (and how to avoid each one)
- How to start smaller than feels comfortable (and why this counterintuitive approach actually gets you to partnership faster)
- A real example of someone who won £180k of new work by doing less, not more
If you find this episode useful, don't forget to like it and then subscribe so you don't miss another episode.
What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?
If you're thinking, 'I want to build momentum but I'm genuinely worried about burnout', our on-demand course "How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward" addresses exactly this.
The course helps you create a career development plan that's ambitious but sustainable. You'll identify your ONE BIG FOCUS, build your Default Diary, and develop habits that keep you performing at your best without running yourself into the ground. It includes practical exercises on saying no, delegation, and creating boundaries that protect your energy.
If you're unsure where to focus, start with our free Partnership Readiness Assessment. It takes 12 minutes and shows you exactly which key indicators to focus on - helping you prioritize without trying to tackle everything at once.
Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.
Links:
Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment - https://careerprogressionreadiness.scoreapp.com to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertownsend/
Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.
Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership - https://amzn.to/3ETEYk3
Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life - https://amzn.to/4iLxugM
Buy your copy of The Go To Expert - https://amzn.to/3HGPYlP
Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma
Get full access to How to Make Partner at howtomakepartner.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By Heather TownsendYou've decided 2026 is your year. You've identified your ONE BIG FOCUS. You've blocked out time in your diary. You're ready to go.
But here's what usually happens: you go too hard, too fast. You try to overhaul everything at once. You add business development on top of your crushing workload. You say yes to every opportunity.
By week three, you're exhausted. By week six, you've quietly dropped most of your career development. By week twelve, you're burnt out and back where you started.
Building momentum towards partnership isn't about working harder or doing more. It's about doing the right things consistently without burning yourself out. And the secret? Start smaller than feels comfortable.
In this episode, you'll discover how to pace yourself from day one so you can sustain your career development efforts for the years it takes to make partner.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why "just work harder" is a terrible strategy for partnership progression (and what successful partners do instead)
- The three traps that kill momentum in the first 90 days (and how to avoid each one)
- How to start smaller than feels comfortable (and why this counterintuitive approach actually gets you to partnership faster)
- A real example of someone who won £180k of new work by doing less, not more
If you find this episode useful, don't forget to like it and then subscribe so you don't miss another episode.
What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?
If you're thinking, 'I want to build momentum but I'm genuinely worried about burnout', our on-demand course "How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward" addresses exactly this.
The course helps you create a career development plan that's ambitious but sustainable. You'll identify your ONE BIG FOCUS, build your Default Diary, and develop habits that keep you performing at your best without running yourself into the ground. It includes practical exercises on saying no, delegation, and creating boundaries that protect your energy.
If you're unsure where to focus, start with our free Partnership Readiness Assessment. It takes 12 minutes and shows you exactly which key indicators to focus on - helping you prioritize without trying to tackle everything at once.
Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.
Links:
Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment - https://careerprogressionreadiness.scoreapp.com to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertownsend/
Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.
Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership - https://amzn.to/3ETEYk3
Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life - https://amzn.to/4iLxugM
Buy your copy of The Go To Expert - https://amzn.to/3HGPYlP
Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma
Get full access to How to Make Partner at howtomakepartner.substack.com/subscribe