Find Your Genius in Your Career Story

Laid off, burnt out, or just craving a career shift? Read this. Your past experiences hold the key to your next step—how to connect the dots and move forward with confidence.

My first job? Stacking rubber boots on grocery store shelves.

It was a one-month gig in a small-town store in East Finland. I was finishing high school, staring at a future I couldn’t quite figure out. What would I do with my life? I had a million ideas—psychology, business, philosophy, journalism—but every time I tried to sit down and study for university, I just couldn’t do it. I struggled to focus, to push through those thick books, and I didn’t understand why.

Now I do.

I wasn’t meant to follow a traditional path.

I didn’t stay in that store. I wanted more. I needed to see the world. So, with no job, no apartment, and no real plan, I jumped on the train with my friend and started a completely new life. No security. No guarantees. Just the belief that we’d figure it out.

And we did.

A Career of Detours and Discoveries

At first, I took whatever jobs I could find. I cleaned offices. I worked for a phone company. I got fired from two places because, honestly? I wasn’t motivated by the work.

But I kept going.

I worked in a sports store, a university bookstore, a fast-food place—sometimes juggling three jobs at once. I didn’t know what my professional path would be, but I loved working, and I really didn’t have options.

Eventually, I studied IT. I financed my studies by working and one of my jobs was at a student mental health organisation, managing their network and IT system. The more I watched the people working there, the more I thought:

"I want to do what they do."

Psychology pulled at me again. But once again, I struggled to get into university. The books, the exams—it felt impossible. So I took another route.

I worked my way through IT, telecom, sales, product and project management—all while searching for something deeper. I designed mobile products, built processes, solved complex problems- and worked with big clients. And I thrived—because one of my greatest strengths is seeing the big picture and interacting with people.

But something was still missing.

I didn’t just want to work with systems and sales, and climd corporate ladder. I had a hidden dream.

I loved solving problems. I loved connecting with customers, training teams, mentoring and facilitating. I wanted freedom, manage my time and unleash my creativity that I had been hiding under the rational mind and beliefs how life should be built and lived.

I wanted to break free but I was struck by fear, of failure, unknown, loneliness, and not knowing how to get started.

Finding My Way

Every job taught me something. Every twist in my path led me here.

💡 I thrive when I’m helping others find solutions, break patterns, and do things their way.
💡 I’m at my best when I see the big picture and connect the dots others miss.
💡 My “job” was never about a title—it was about creating impact, guiding others, and building something meaningful.

That realisation led me to coaching—and finally, I built the career and life I always dreamed of— made the impossible possible, and use every skill I’ve ever developed on my professional path.

What I learned:

🔹 Your career path isn’t a straight line. It’s full of clues about what truly excites you.
🔹 Your struggles aren’t failures—they’re signs. The things you resist may be showing you a different path.
🔹 Your genius, the red line, is already there. You just have to look at your experiences differently.

Your Turn: Unlock Your Mind

If you feel stuck, lost, or like you’re not on the right path, I have a challenge for you:

📌 Make a list of every job you’ve ever had. Don’t just write the titles—write what you did, what you loved, and what drained you.
📌 Look for patterns. What stands out? What came naturally to you? What did you avoid? What kept you stuck?
📌 Ask yourself: If I could do anything, without limitations, what would it be? What makes you feel alive and thrive?

We don’t always see our true passions, purpose and gifts because we’re too close to it. And in our busy work-life we don’t really stop to think about these things, until we have to. But now, when you step back, you start to recognise the themes that have been there all along— who you have become and what you really crave and enjoy.

So—what do you see in your own career journey?

And if you know you need a change—but the path forward isn't clear:

• Your success feels like a trap.

• Your professional path is not sustainable for you anymore.

• And that little voice saying "maybe something different" grows louder daily.

• Fear makes change feel impossible, you just can’t see how.

Here’s some of my client stories that might inspire you and give you the needed boost:

✨ Michelle spent 20 years in an executive role, overworked and underpaid, commuting hours per day and away from her family. She longed for a different career but felt trapped, believing it was not possible to find anything better. Together, we uncovered her true priorities and designed a new professional path that honored her expertise, career goals and her personal life.

✨ Maria had built a business that no longer felt right. The industry had changed, opportunities had dried up, and she felt lost. We explored her strengths, experience, and deeper interests—leading her to pivot her business into a thriving consultancy in an exciting new industry.

✨ Mary was stuck in a high-stress finance career, overwhelmed by anxiety and burnout. She told me, “My stress is becoming my children’s childhood. I need to change this.” First, we worked through the emotional toll, helping her regain a sense of calm and safety. Then, we mapped out an exit plan—and she built a successful well-being business that she runs today.

✨ Peter recovered from burnout and that was the needed wake-up call. He needed a solid plan and ideas how to make the next two decades of his work-life best. But what was next? We worked through the uncertainty, tested ideas, explored new skills—and they discovered a passion for creativity and entrepreneurship. They launched a podcast, earned certifications, and started building a future on a new foundation.

My coaching isn't about polishing CVs for lateral moves.

It's about defining what YOU truly want next—whether that's pivoting your business, going after the next-level job, launching a side hustle— or using a layoff, or personal wake-up calls as fuel for reinvention.

But what if the next decade could be your BEST professional chapter?

I have spots open now for my 4-session Career Clarity program where we analyse your situation and create a new foundation for your next chapter.

If you're ready, I can help bridge the gap between "someday" dreams and "today" reality— book a Connect call with me to get started.