“Honestly, I don’t know my next move”
Readtime: 3 minutes
A senior professional said to me recently:
“I feel like I should have achieved more by now.”
This was someone with two decades of impact.
He led a sizeable team.
He delivered results for a global business.
By almost any measure, he was successful.
But when I asked what his next move was, he hesitated.
He listed a few options – another rung up, a lateral shift, maybe a new company – then admitted quietly:
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
It was a reminder: complexity is the enemy of clarity.
And without clarity, even the strongest careers stall.
The Career Clarity Formula
That’s why I use a three-sentence framework.
It helps ambitious professionals define their next move with conviction.
It’s simple. Deceptively so.
And that’s why it works.
Sarah’s Story
Sarah had spent 15 years in senior risk roles at global banks.
Respected. Reliable. Steady.
But she felt restless.
Her role was safe, but it no longer stretched her.
She was torn between three paths:
Staying for the next promotion.
Moving to a smaller company with more influence.
Jumping into a start-up.
She told me: “I know I should be clearer about what I want, but everything sounds possible – and nothing feels right.”
Here’s how she used the formula.
Three Sentences That Change Everything
Sentence 1: Ambition Thesis
What do you really want next – and why now?
Sentence 2: Non-Negotiables
What must be true for this move to feel like success?
Sentence 3: Bold Direction
What’s the energising, aligned move that pulls everything together?
Sarah reflected and wrote:
“I’ve delivered at a high level in big institutions, but if I don’t change gears now, I’ll end up repeating the same five years of experience on a loop.”
“My next move must give me visibility at the executive table, exposure to international work, and the freedom to spend more time with my family.”
“The right move is a COO-track role in a mid-sized company, where I can have broader influence, develop internationally, and still be present at home.”
Why It Works
That was it.
Three sentences.
And with them – clarity and conviction.
She didn’t need to rewrite her CV.
She didn’t fire off loads of applications.
She simply found language to articulate what she wanted.
And the shift was immediate:
Recruiter calls became more productive.
Mentors knew exactly how to help.
She felt energised instead of boxed in.
The Lesson for You
Your career won’t stall because of a lack of opportunities.
It will stall because you haven’t defined – with clarity – what the right opportunity looks like.
This formula forces you to:
Take a stand (your thesis)
Define your criteria (non-negotiables)
Own your direction (bold move)
Most resist the simplicity.
They fear being too specific.
But specificity creates clarity.
And clarity builds momentum.
When you can state your next move in three sentences, you create the foundation for every decision, every conversation, every application that follows.
A Challenge for This Week
Take 30 minutes to draft your three sentences.
Don’t chase perfection – chase clarity.
Your first draft will evolve.
But it will give you a starting point.
And that starting point might just put the spark back into your career.
See you next week,
Mostyn
P.S.
If you’re curious about whether my Atomic Ambition live program is right for you, join my free live demonstration and Q&A.
Save your place: Tuesday, 30th September, 16:30 – 17:30 (UK time)
You’ll leave with greater clarity on your next career steps, and there will be a chance to ask me anything.