You’ve worked hard to build your career. You may have the seniority, salary, recognition and reputation you wanted. But what is that success costing you?
In this episode Sarah explores the career tax: the hidden personal costs we can pay for professional success. From running on empty and sacrificing time with loved ones to losing sight of what we really want, these costs can creep up on us until we start asking, “Is this really worth it?”
I share five common career costs, examples from my coaching work and my own experience as an HR Director, plus questions to help you decide whether it’s time to make a change.
You’ll discover how to:
- Recognise the five hidden costs of career success.
- Understand why it can be difficult to change, even when your career is taking a toll.
- Review the psychological contract you have with your work.
- Rethink what success means to you at this stage of your life and career.
- Identify what you could change, renegotiate or do differently without automatically having to leave your job.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Unstuck & Unstoppable
01:30 What is the career tax?
02:30 The hidden cost of career success
03:00 Cost 1: Your energy
05:30 Cost 2: Your freedom and creativity
08:30 Cost 3: Your relationships
09:45 Cost 4: Your sense of self
10:30 Cost 5: Your future potential
11:30 Why do we keep paying the career tax?
13:30 Three questions to help you reassess your career
14:30 What can you change without leaving your job?
15:00 Rethinking what success means to you
16:00 My experience as an HR Director
17:30 How to rebalance the cost of your career
18:30 Final thoughts and next steps
Reflection questions
Take a moment to consider:
- What does my career give me that I genuinely value?
- What is it costing me that I can no longer ignore?
- If nothing changed in my career over the next 12 months, how would I feel?
You don't necessarily need to leave your job to make things better. But you do need to be honest with yourself about the price you're paying and whether you're still willing to pay it.
Useful Links
Episode 99: Tough Job Market? How to make your current leadership role work for you
Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration
Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes
Book a Free 121 Clarity Call
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
Rate & Review the Podcast
If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: sarah@careertreecoaching.co.uk
