Why Career Crossroads Make You Feel Stuck and What to Do Instead
If you have ever sat at your desk and thought, “I cannot do this for another five years,” you are not alone.
I talk with women leaders who reach a point where the path forward feels uncertain. Staying in the same role may feel safe, but deep down you know it is not lighting you up anymore. That feeling of being stuck is not the end. It is a sign.
Crossroads moments are your invitation to pause, realign, and create a future that matches who you are today.
Why It Can Feel Overwhelming
Many women continue in roles because they feel familiar or because they are really good at them. But what you are good at is not always what you are meant to keep doing.
The feeling of being stuck often comes from believing there are no other options. Yet there is always an option you just have to be open to what the universe is telling you. When I feel overwhelmed, getting mindful really helps.
One focused breath can shift your state, calm your mind, and open you to possibilities.
Try this breathwork reset: four seconds in, four-second hold, four seconds out, four-second hold.
How did it make you feel?
Moving To Your Northstar
Clarity begins with your values. They are the guiding principles that help you make confident choices.
My friend Laurie Wessels, co-author of Power of What’s NEXT: Bold Moves By Design, teaches a simple exercise: Love, Like, Capable.
✨ACTION: Write down what you love, what you like, and what you are capable of. This becomes your north star and helps you see what matters most.
Get Curious
Crossroads are not the time to stall. They are the time to explore. Instead of asking “what if,” begin asking “why not?”
This week, I told two women in very different career stages, “You are a Baller and unstoppable.” Both needed to hear it. And maybe you do too.
Try Saying the mantra. Observe how it makes you feel.
Don't Go it Alone
When I left corporate, I felt the “cliff” moment. No meetings, no phone calls, no one waiting at my door. It was quiet.
What changed everything was building partnerships with women who shared the same vision. That collaboration created momentum and reminded me that community is the key to progress.
5 Strategies to Move You Forward
1️⃣ Align your values so they guide your decisions
2️⃣ Use curiosity to shift from “what if” to “why not”
3️⃣ Define your sense of purpose beyond job titles
4️⃣ Notice the signals that it is time to pivot
5️⃣ Lean on community and partnerships for support
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Crossroads moments can launch you into your most exciting chapter yet.
✨ Join me on September 3rd for the free Crossroads Moment Masterclass with Lisa Sakai, Founder of One Vision Retirement.
REGISTER
✨ Be part of Design Your Next Chapter, starting September 10th. Create your personal roadmap with purpose, alignment, and confidence. REGISTER
Connect with Natalie Benamou
Natalie Benamou is the visionary behind Women Leaders on the Move, a Top 10 Women’s Leadership podcast by Feedspot. As the Founder of HerCsuite®, she leads a powerful leadership network for women navigating board service, portfolio careers, and entrepreneurship—especially in the second half of their professional lives. Work 1:1 with Natalie as a strategic advisor or fractional Chief Growth Officer.
Natalie also serves as President of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit revolutionizing the way women experience healthcare.
🔗 Follow Natalie Benamou on LinkedIn
🔗 Follow HerCsuite® on LinkedIn
This podcast is brought to you by HerCsuite®’s portfolio career programs, including NEXT Career and the Design Your Next Chapter Course. Explore curated programs, real conversations, and experiences designed for women shaping what’s next—for themselves and the organizations they lead. Learn more at HerCsuite.com.
