What if the best bits of your career are still ahead of you?

At 20 you were ambitious.

At 30 you were juggling.

At 40 you’re at a crossroads.

We’re often told that in your 40s, doors quietly start to close. That your best ideas are behind you.

That this is the part where you put your head down, stay in the safe job and coast sensibly into retirement, pension safely in your pocket.

It’s too late to change direction. Be grateful - don’t rock the boat. Make peace with it.

Even writing that makes me roll my eyes.

Because for many people, their 40s are the first time they’ve actually had the perspective, experience and self-awareness to do something truly aligned with who they are.

You’re clearer now. Bolder. Less interested in pretending.

You’ve survived sleepless nights, demanding managers, deadlines, family logistics and whole identity shifts.

You know what matters and, more importantly, what doesn’t.

So I’m asking you:

What if this - right now - is the best possible time to rethink everything?

You’ve already done the heavy lifting

You’ve built a career from the ground up through steep learning curves, tight deadlines and office politics.

You’ve earned respect, built credibility and become the person that people turn to when something has to get done.

You know how to read a room, manage tricky people, hold boundaries and keep things moving when everything’s in chaos - because you’ve done it more times than you can count.

You’ve also raised kids, coordinated calendars, handled school emails, life admin, family logistics - all while showing up for friends, ageing parents and partners.

You’ve carried a lot. Quietly, competently and consistently.

It’s no wonder you’re tired but I want to challenge you here:

You’re not running on empty. You’re running on deep, hard-won experience.

Now might just be the time to decide how you want to use it next.

At 40, you don’t need a five-year plan

You need space and perspective.

You need to remember that what you’ve already done counts but it doesn’t have to define what comes next.

You’re not starting from scratch - you're starting from wisdom. And it's OK not to know exactly what your future looks like.

One small step you can take today

If this blog spoke to you, I'd suggest taking my free Career Clarity Quiz.

It's a manageable first step that gives you personalised results on what your top 1-3 career must-haves are now, in your 40s.

Take 10 minutes to fill it in now and see where the clarity takes you.

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