The 7 Hidden Clues You’re Meant for More
Readtime: 4 minutes
Before we dive in – if you’re at least 15 years into your career, and have been feeling less fulfilled recently, take a look at Atomic Ambition. There’s nothing else like it that can get you back on track. People like Katie, Chris, and Tim describe it as “life-changing”.
Now, onto today’s newsletter…
You’ve spent years building a career most people would admire.
And on paper, you’re doing brilliantly.
But lately, in quieter moments, you’re asking yourself:
“Is this it?”
If that’s you, you’re not alone.
And more importantly, you’re not stuck, you’re simply ready for something better.
Here are seven signs I see time and again in the senior professionals I work with when they’re on the edge of their next big chapter.
If two or three strike a chord, pay attention.
Your future self will thank you.
1. Your calendar is full, but not with things that light you up
You’re in demand, constantly in meetings, shaping decisions…
But your diary feels like a treadmill.
There’s very little that excites you anymore.
You’ve become the person who gets things done, not the person who feels alive doing them.
2. The wins don’t feel like wins anymore
A title change. A bigger bonus. Another award.
All good news, but the satisfaction fades in days, not months.
You’ve outgrown external markers of success.
3. You’ve perfected the line “All good”
When colleagues or friends ask how work is going, you say: “All good.”
But inside, you know you’re coasting, and that doesn’t sit well with who you are.
4. You keep imagining different futures
Not just idle frustration after a bad day.
Genuine daydreams about a new role, a new sector… maybe even going out on your own.
And those thoughts give you more energy than your actual day does.
5. The clock feels louder now
You catch yourself thinking: “If I’m still doing this in five years, I’ll regret it.”
That’s helpful – it’s your ambition trying to wake you up.
6. The clock feels louder now
You’ve explored internal moves. Taken on stretch projects.
Maybe even spoken to recruiters.
But after the initial lift, the same frustration returns.
Because it’s not a tweak you need, it’s a complete rethink.
7. You can almost see what’s next… but don’t know how to get there
You know you’re capable of more.
But with everything else on your plate, you haven’t had the time or space to map out what that really looks like, or how to make it happen.
If this feels familiar, here’s what to do next:
Don’t quit. Don’t rush. But don’t ignore it.
The next chapter isn’t about tearing everything up, it’s about designing something better.
✔ Identify your core values and strengths.
Get crystal clear on what matters most to you and what you’re naturally brilliant at.
Any meaningful next step needs to align with both, because when your work fits your values and plays to your strengths, energy and fulfilment follow.
✔ Step back and reflect.
Carve out time to properly review where you are, what energises you, and what drains you.
Senior people rarely do this deeply, but it’s where clarity begins.
✔ Define what ambition means to you now.
Not the version you inherited 20 years ago. Your version. What impact, income, and influence actually matter to you at this stage?
✔ Explore options you’ve dismissed.
Even if you’re sure you’ll stay in corporate, think about other ideas – portfolio careers, advisory work, your own consultancy.
Thinking about those provides context for clarity on your next corporate move.
✔ Sketch a realistic roadmap.
Not a grand 10-year plan. Just the first few actions to explore your ideas, test the waters and start building momentum.
✔ Own it.
Your career isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you build.
And now is the time to be even more deliberate about it.
In Summary
Here are the seven signs you’re ready for a career pivot:
✅ A full calendar, but nothing that lights you up
✅ Wins that don’t feel like wins anymore
✅ Saying “All good” when really you’re coasting
✅ Daydreams about doing something different
✅ A growing sense that time is slipping by
✅ Trying the obvious fixes but still feeling stuck
✅ A sense of what’s next, but no clear route
If these resonate, here’s where to start:
✔ Get clear on your core values and strengths
✔ Reflect on what energises you and what drains you
✔ Redefine what ambition means to you now
✔ Explore options you’ve never seriously considered
✔ Sketch out a few small first moves to test and build momentum
Your career is something you shape deliberately, and now is the perfect time to begin.
On a Personal Note
It took me two years to decide to leave my partner role at KPMG.
Even though I recognised a lot of the signs above.
I told myself I should be grateful (which I was) and that this was what success looked like.
But when I finally took those seven signs seriously, everything changed.
The biggest catalyst for me was the point above about thinking: “If I’m still doing this in five years, I’ll regret it.”
If one of the points above speaks loudly to you, don’t ignore it for too long.
One Quote to Get You Going
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
That’s all for today.
See you in a couple of weeks,
Mostyn
P.S. You don’t have to figure this out alone. Atomic Ambition takes you from quietly wondering “is this it?” to knowing exactly where you’re heading – and feeling alive about it again. Find out more about Atomic Ambition here.