The Career By Design Podcast with Stacey Back

Stacey Back
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Are you a high-achiever at a crossroads in your career?   The Career By Design Podcast is for you if you're an ambitious leader who is confused about your direction, stuck in self-doubt or feeling out of control in your career.   Consider this show your fortnightly resource to help you develop the clarity, confidence and strategy to take ownership of your career.   Hosted by global career development coach Stacey Back, this conversational podcast explores what it really means to redefine success and create a career on YOUR terms.    With 16+ years in coaching, people development, HR & recruitment, Stacey shares unique insights from her corporate career and experience running a business. You'll learn the exact strategies she used to change careers, shift into more aligned work -- and how she's supported hundreds of leaders to do the same.   Every Thursday fortnight, Stacey will deliver practical strategies to develop your career, mindset and leadership skills. Plus, you’ll hear guest experts and inspiring stories from individuals who’ve created their careers by design -- to show YOU what’s possible too.   Expect a dose of inspiration, to be challenged to think differently and actionable advice you can immediately implement.   Hit subscribe and get ready to design a career that's fulfilling, sustainable -- AND supports your lifestyle!   Find out more at staceyback.com.

  1. 2 days ago

    #73: Why You Fear Failure Despite Your Success (And What It's Costing You Right Now)

    Are you telling yourself: ‘I’m already successful. What happens if I do something different and fail?’ Today, we're talking about how the fear of failure shows up for you as a high-achieving leader -- no matter how ‘successful’ you are.  Because here’s what I see amongst the senior leaders I work with… You’re successful on paper and have followed the path that’s laid out in front of you. You’ve ticked every box that society, your industry or organisation told you was needed to progress your career.  Now you’re finding yourself at a crossroads and the strategies you once relied on are no longer working. You’ve either hit a ceiling in your current career or industry -- or the path you were on isn’t aligned anymore.  So when your current path has no clear next step or you decide to do something different, of course it feels uncertain. This is why it seems safer to stay where you are. And the biggest underlying fear I see at the root of this is the fear of failure.  Because there’s more to lose at this level: money, status, credibility, your accumulated experience and professional identity. But your next chapter doesn’t have to come at the EXPENSE of the success you’ve already achieved. It’s about using everything you’ve built to intentionally create the career you want now.  This is the difference between starting from the ‘outside in’ versus the ‘inside out’. The first keeps you on the safe path, chasing external success. The second is the approach I recommend: Taking ownership of your career and following YOUR version of success. In this episode, I’m unpacking the 3 core beliefs beneath the fear of failure that keep high-achievers at a crossroads in their careers. Discover how to stop following someone else’s version of success, so you create a career by design -- not default. You'll learn: What to do if you’re afraid of throwing away EVERYTHING you’ve already built, so you reduce risk with your next career moveThe real truth about what other people think and the ONE shift you must make so you no longer let their opinions hold you backWhy worrying about making the ‘wrong’ move keeps you trapped in endless overthinking -- and how to get clear on what you want next without waiting for certainty So hit play NOW -- and let’s dive in! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Ready to find clarity, build confidence and create sustainable success on your terms? Explore Ignite Your Career. Enrolling now for the September intake. Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  2. 26 Aug

    #72: Healthy Ambition Vs Hustle: How To Manage Overworking NOW Before It Leads To Burnout

    Do you check your emails at midnight or work on that document for an extra hour just to ‘get it done’ by tomorrow -- even though you KNOW you’ll be more productive in the morning? Today, we're talking about overworking and how to manage it as a high-achieving senior leader who wants to stay ambitious without burning out.  The past few days, ‘9 to 5’ by the legendary Dolly Parton has been playing on repeat everywhere I go. And it’s a timely reminder, given how much I’ve been overworking lately.  I was sitting at my desk one Thursday afternoon thinking I wanted to get to the gym before 5pm to beat the after work rush. All of a sudden it was 7.30pm and I realised the gym closed at 9. And even though every inch of me was saying, ‘I’m exhausted’, I rushed out the door after a 12 hour day and got my workout in. Walking out afterwards in the cold, dark night and pouring rain, I noticed I had a sore throat. For me, that’s always the first sign my body is fighting something off -- and if I keep pushing, I’ll get sick. The next morning, I woke up with the worst flu in a while, slept for 3 days straight and took 10 days to recover. This wasn’t the result of a day of overworking or one decision to keep pushing when I needed to rest. It was the cumulative effect of burning the candle at both ends, logging back on after dinner and working well into the early hours for a number of weeks. Because even though I’ve done the identity work to address overachievement and don’t try to prove myself anymore, I still fall back into the pattern of overworking at times. I’ve done many deep dives into the specific causes of overworking. So, in this episode, I’m sharing what still drives this pattern -- EVEN after you’ve addressed the root cause. You'll learn: The surprising reason I’ve been overworking lately -- and how to address YOUR pattern without compromising your strengths or changing what makes you successfulHow to stop treating your to-do list like a critical deadline, so you can find the balance between healthy ambition and hustleThe exact strategies I used to go from closing my business for 2 months to slowing down for 3 days, which will get you back on track BEFORE overworking tips into burnout  So hit play NOW -- and let’s dive in! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Ready to find clarity, build confidence and create sustainable success on your terms? Explore Ignite Your Career.  Enrolling now for the September intake. Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → Take the FREE Career Success Code Assessment. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  3. 12 Aug

    #71: Career By Design Case Study: From 'Quitting Is My Only Option' To Planned Exit On THEIR Terms

    Are you feeling so consumed by your work that you’re ready to quit without a plan -- EVEN if it could lead to serious financial and career setbacks? Today, we're talking about how to stop running away from your current situation when you’re a senior leader or executive at a career crossroads -- and start intentionally creating the future career you want.  This episode is part of the ‘Career By Design’ case study series, where I give you an exclusive, behind the scenes look at my clients’ career transformations. My intention with this series is to show you there isn’t one definition or clear pathway to success. Instead, it’s about identifying what this looks like to YOU.  Despite their different backgrounds, there are 3 things every client has in common, which you can use to create a career by design too: 1. Clarity: Getting clear on what’s missing in your current career and what you want BEFORE attempting to change it 2. Confidence: Managing your mindset and shifting the self-doubt holding you back in your career to build confidence 3. Career Strategy: Focusing on solving the RIGHT problem and knowing which strategies will get you results at this stage of your career In this case study, you'll hear how one executive leader went from ready to resign to creating a 2-3 year transition plan -- without even changing roles. Discover how taking ownership of their career kept them from making a reactive decision out of fear and the exact steps you can take to make a strategic career move. You'll learn: The first step you MUST take when you’re depleted and putting yourself under pressure to figure out your options, so you find clarity on your career directionHow this client went from ready to resign and doubting his abilities to knowing his worth -- without EVEN changing jobsThe counterintuitive approach that turns an urgent escape plan into a strategic career move, so you’re no longer stuck at a crossroadsTop takeaways you can apply right now to create a career on your terms -- even if walking away from your role seems like the ONLY option So hit play NOW -- and let’s dive in! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Ready to find clarity, build confidence and create a strategy to take ownership of your career? Explore Ignite Your Career.  Enrolling now for the September intake. Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → Take the FREE Career Success Code Assessment. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  4. 29 Jul

    #70: 4 Patterns Keeping High-Achievers Stuck In 'Not Enough' (And HOW To Work Through It)

    Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough? That you’re not qualified enough, smart or successful enough. Not confident enough, old or young enough. In short -- you’re not enough. Today, I’m talking about the specific ways I see this show up when you’re a high-achieving leader at a crossroads in your career -- and how to work through it. Years ago, back in my legal recruitment days, I sponsored an International Women’s Day lunch for women lawyers. One of the guest speakers was a senior judge who spoke about her career journey.  She blew me away as she shared candidly about her experience with imposter syndrome. Of feeling like a fraud, not good enough and at times, inadequate compared to the women around her. I glanced around the room at all the accomplished women, at different stages of their careers. And noticed the nodding and the looks of acknowledgement on their faces. They recognised themselves in her story.  It was then I realised. So often at these events or in my dealings with women like this, I’d felt inadequate or not enough too. And after coaching hundreds of successful leaders, I’ve witnessed how widespread this ‘not-enough’ is. In this episode, I’m sharing the 4 patterns I see high-achievers experience when they’re at a crossroads in their careers.  You’ll walk away with the antidote to each one so you can strengthen your self-worth and minimise feelings of ‘not enough’. We'll cover: The common pattern that keeps Type A achievers waiting for the 'perfect' plan or trying to THINK their way to clarity -- and how to move your career in the right directionWhy it feels like something's missing EVEN when you're successful on paper and the one shift to design a career that's fulfilling and sustainableWhat to do if you chose your career for the wrong reasons and it no longer fits, so you make future decisions from a place of ownership, not obligationThe dangerous pattern that has you fixating on your weaknesses when someone else succeeds -- and why it's proof of what's possible for YOU So hit play NOW -- and let’s dive in! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Ready to find clarity on your direction, overcome self-doubt with confidence and create a strategy for your next career chapter? Explore Ignite Your Career.  Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → Take the FREE Career Success Code Assessment. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  5. 15 Jul

    #69: Is It Too Late To Create The Career You Want? (Here's HOW To Know)

    Have you left it too late to create the career you want? Or are you telling yourself time is running out to make a change? If you're a senior leader at a career crossroads and you're circling these very questions, today I'm giving you a filter to run your situation through. The leaders I work with are typically in their 40's or 50's. I remember one client telling me in our very first consult: ‘I turned 50 last year, I figure I've got 10-15 years until retirement and I want to make the most of this time.’  Yet one of the most common things I hear is: What if I've left it too late? Often it's the first time they've said it out loud -- and something they haven’t admitted to anyone else. The short answer to this question is: It's NEVER too late. But there are a few things which will keep you at a crossroads longer than you need to be -- regardless of your age or circumstances. So in this episode, I'm walking you through a 5 part checklist to assess your current situation.  Find out if you've left it too late and what to do instead to start creating the career you want.  You'll learn: The ONE shift that determines whether you'll design your next career chapter intentionally, rather than letting time run outWhy figuring out what you want next takes less time than avoiding it -- and how to ensure you’re NOT standing at the same crossroads in 2 years’ timeHow waiting for the 'perfect' moment guarantees you WILL leave it too late to make a change in your careerWhat’s REALLY hiding beneath the belief ‘I’m running out of time’ and how to stop using timing as an excuse How one client redefined success at a stage when many people choose to slow down in their careers -- and why they’re living proof it’s NEVER too late  So hit play NOW -- and let’s dive in! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Listen to Episode #53: Why It’s NEVER Too Late To Reinvent Your Career (And How To Get Started) next → Ready to find clarity on your direction, build confidence and create a strategy for your next career chapter? Explore Ignite Your Career.  Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → At a crossroads in your career? Take the FREE Career Success Code Assessment. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  6. 1 Jul

    #68: The Career Reset: How To Finish 2026 Strong (No Matter Where You Are Right Now)

    Have you been putting your head down and working hard since the start of January -- without pausing to check your career is moving in the direction you want? If so, today I’m walking you through a mid-year career reset to finish 2026 strong. We’re officially halfway through the year! In Australia, 30 June marks the end of financial year -- a time where you naturally look back at the past 12 months and plan ahead. So I thought this would be a great opportunity for us to check in on your career together and reset your goals for the next 6 months. But as I sat down to record this episode, I felt creatively blocked. After putting it off all week, I made two attempts to outline it over the weekend. Both times I hit a wall, slammed my Mac shut and binged TV instead. Because even though I guide high-achieving leaders through this exact resistance, I'm not immune to it. So I did what I’d recommend to any of my clients: I recognised I was mentally tapped and allowed myself to rest. Then on Monday morning, instead of trying to THINK about how to explain this process, I took myself through it. And it worked.  The insights I got from this exercise surprised me and I know it'll do the same for you.  In this episode, I’m sharing the exact strategies I used earlier this week to help you:  Reflect on the past 6 months, so you can clarify what you want to create in the second half of 2026Identify the ONE area to focus on next to find more fulfillment at work and set your career up for success -- no matter where you are nowDiscover the first step to take right NOW to reduce overwhelm, build momentum and begin the rest of the year with intention So grab a pen and paper and let’s finish the year strong! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Ready to figure out what you want next in your career, back yourself with confidence and create a strategy to reach your goals by the end of 2026? Explore Ignite Your Career.  Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → At a crossroads in your career? Take the FREE Career Success Code Assessment. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  7. 17 Jun

    #67: 4 Ways To Figure Out What You Want Next In Your Career (EVEN If You 'Don't Have Time')

    Ready to make a change in your career -- but you’re too busy to start? Finding another year has gone by, you're no closer to clarifying your direction and you're wondering if you've left it too late? Today, we’re talking about one of the biggest roadblocks holding high-achievers back from figuring out what’s next in their careers: “I don’t have time”. I recently met a leader who was at a career crossroads and unsure what they wanted next or how to address it.  This person was 100% committed and ready to go ALL IN on working together. However, they initially held off getting started while they waited to hear back about a new role. My only objective was to help this individual make the right decision. And so the one thing I warned them about was not to let timing be the reason that continued to get in the way. Because something I see amongst the busy leaders I work with is how easy it is to keep waiting for the ‘right time’. You’ll do it when: you’ve completed this project, returned from leave, started the new role (or insert YOUR condition or timeframe). And before you know it, months have passed by without anything changing. In my experience, ‘I don’t have time’ is rarely about time. It often comes up when you’re terrified of failing or throwing away everything you’ve invested into your current career, so it’s safer to stay where you are. It’s always important to consider your current season or life stage. But notice if you keep putting off exploring what you want next indefinitely or using the ‘time excuse’ out of fear. In this episode, I’m sharing 4 tips to figure out what you want next in your career -- EVEN if you feel like you ‘don’t have time’.  You’ll walk away with practical ideas you can personalise to your current capacity and circumstances, so you start creating the career you want. You'll learn: The ONE mindset shift that separates the leaders who figure out what they want next (from those who don't)Why trying to THINK your way to clarity won’t work -- and how to generate more career ideas in one conversation than months of self-reflectionHow to make sure financial pressure never becomes the reason you abandon your long-term career goalsThe secret to creating time that has nothing to do with productivity -- and why 15 minutes a week beats doing nothing for 6 months So hit play NOW -- and let’s dive in! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Ready to find clarity, build confidence and create a personalised strategy to take ownership of your career? Explore Ignite Your Career.  Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → At a crossroads in your career? Take the FREE Career Success Code Assessment. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  8. 4 Jun

    #66: The Hidden Reason You're Feeling Invisible In Your Career (And WHAT To Do About It)

    Have you been Googling ‘how to be more visible at work’ -- only to keep getting the same surface level advice?  Today, we're talking about why so many high-achievers aren't feeling seen despite their success -- and what to do about it.  I recently started working with a leader who was feeling completely invisible in their role. No matter how hard they worked, they weren’t recognised for their contribution or receiving regular feedback. This slowly started chipping away at their self-esteem and impacting how they showed up in interviews, as they began to explore what was next. Though they APPEARED confident, on the inside they were doubting themselves and questioning their abilities.  Then something interesting emerged in our session… They tapped back into a hidden part of them: The talented musician who performed on stages in front of people. Someone who was very visible. But somewhere between building their career and becoming successful, they'd locked it away. Now many career coaches address visibility using external tactics. And I could have helped this client with their presentation skills or how to answer challenging interview questions. Yet what I see amongst the senior leaders I work with is that you can't solve visibility from the outside. Because it’s an IDENTITY issue. In today's episode, I’m sharing the REAL reason high-achievers feel invisible in their careers. Discover 3 ways to address this from the inside-out, so you're seen with confidence! You'll learn: The two distinct ways visibility shows up for high-achievers -- and how recognising which one's running your career is the first step to changing itWhy the external 'success' you’ve spent your entire career building is ACTUALLY making you feel invisibleWhy knowing your value proposition isn't enough -- and the ONE thing that makes you impossible to ignoreHow to reconnect to who you authentically are beneath your achievements, so you stop worrying what others thinkPractical steps to take if you're not being recognised -- and how to cut through the fear that's keeping you invisible So hit play NOW -- and let’s dive in! Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5 star rating and review. It helps more people find the podcast and benefit too! LINKS: → Ready to find clarity, build visibility and create a strategy to take ownership of your career? Explore Ignite Your Career. Enrolling now for the June intake. Apply for your free 30 minute consult to get started. → Learn more about my services for individuals and organisations at staceyback.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Are you a high-achiever at a crossroads in your career?   The Career By Design Podcast is for you if you're an ambitious leader who is confused about your direction, stuck in self-doubt or feeling out of control in your career.   Consider this show your fortnightly resource to help you develop the clarity, confidence and strategy to take ownership of your career.   Hosted by global career development coach Stacey Back, this conversational podcast explores what it really means to redefine success and create a career on YOUR terms.    With 16+ years in coaching, people development, HR & recruitment, Stacey shares unique insights from her corporate career and experience running a business. You'll learn the exact strategies she used to change careers, shift into more aligned work -- and how she's supported hundreds of leaders to do the same.   Every Thursday fortnight, Stacey will deliver practical strategies to develop your career, mindset and leadership skills. Plus, you’ll hear guest experts and inspiring stories from individuals who’ve created their careers by design -- to show YOU what’s possible too.   Expect a dose of inspiration, to be challenged to think differently and actionable advice you can immediately implement.   Hit subscribe and get ready to design a career that's fulfilling, sustainable -- AND supports your lifestyle!   Find out more at staceyback.com.

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