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Have you ever felt stuck working for a boss who will not advocate for you, invest in your development, or support your growth?

Many mid-career professionals do strong work while feeling invisible, overlooked, and unsure how to move forward.

In this episode, I tackle a reality that many mid-career professionals face but rarely discuss openly. Weak or ineffective leadership is common, but it does not define your future.

I walk you through practical strategies to protect your momentum, build visibility, and take ownership of your next move without damaging relationships or your professional reputation.

I begin by acknowledging the emotional toll of working under poor leadership. Feeling disengaged, underutilized, or trapped by compensation or stability can keep talented professionals stuck longer than they want to admit. From there, we take action to help you regain control of your career direction.

I share how to build visibility beyond your manager through concise results-focused updates, cross-functional projects, and opportunities that put your work in front of decision-makers. We discuss language that allows you to credit your manager while still clearly communicating your contributions and impact.

I’ll show you how to ask for stretch opportunities in ways leaders can say yes to by aligning requests with business priorities, clearly defining scope, and setting timelines that create accountability.

Another key focus is building your own personal board of directors through mentors, sponsors, and internal allies who can advocate for you and open doors. I also explain how to recognize stalling tactics and vague responses so you can gather the information you need to make an honest stay or leave decision.

I share a real-world story of navigating organizational change and how asking direct questions, receiving honest feedback with gratitude, and using that information can help you move forward with purpose.

The bottom line is simple. Doing good work is expected. Visibility and advocacy are what lead to promotions and career advancement. When you stop waiting to be discovered and start choosing yourself, even a difficult boss can become the catalyst that pushes you toward a better future.

Want to go deeper? Join my free Mid-Career GPS Newsletter for weekly insights and strategies to help you build clarity, confidence, and momentum in your career.

Support the show

Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to:

• Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough."
• Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter
• Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career

Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here.

Connect with John on LinkedIn here.
Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here.
Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching.
Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

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Are you working harder than ever yet feeling less visible, less fulfilled, and more burned out in your career?

In this episode, I sit down with leadership strategist and Forbes senior contributor Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Nell 3D, to challenge one of the biggest myths mid-career professionals face today: that doing more is the only way forward. We explore how strategic subtraction can actually help you become more effective, more influential, and more fulfilled in your work.

If you are navigating a tough job market, feeling stuck under ineffective leadership, or wondering how to sustain performance without burning out, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up at work. Nell introduces her practical Stop, Drop, Roll method, a framework that helps high performers pause, remove draining habits, and redesign their workdays so their energy creates bigger results.

We discuss real stories of leaders who cut unnecessary meetings, redesigned team rituals, and reclaimed personal time while still improving team outcomes. We also tackle real mid-career challenges, including dealing with a difficult boss, maintaining confidence in a slow job market, and learning how to stop carrying expectations and criticisms that drain momentum.

If you are holding onto a role for stability while trying to protect your long-term career prospects, you will also learn why strategically cruising at seven instead of ten can actually extend your runway and help you perform where it matters most.

This episode offers permission and practical tools to step back, gather honest data about how you spend your time and energy, and make smarter decisions about what deserves your attention.

If you are a mid-career professional looking for career clarity, stronger leadership presence, or a smarter job search strategy, this conversation will help you see how doing less of the wrong things can help you achieve more of what matters.

Mid-career success is not about grinding endlessly. It is about choosing where your effort creates the most impact. Often, the smartest career move is not adding more. It is subtracting what no longer serves you.

Connect With Nell 3D

LinkedIn | Website | Substack

Support the show

Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to:

• Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough."
• Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter
• Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career

Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here.

Connect with John on LinkedIn here.
Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here.
Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching.
Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.

Send a text

Feeling stuck in your career while the job market feels crowded and unpredictable? You are not alone. Many mid-career professionals are navigating confusing signals right now.

Job boards are flooded, promotion paths feel unclear, and AI-generated applications are making it harder than ever to stand out.

In this episode, I bring things back to one powerful idea that can help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Choose one primary strategy and commit to it.

Whether you focus on targeted networking, job board applications, or a thoughtful combination of both, success comes from clarity, consistency, and protecting your energy while you execute.

I walk you through how to audit what is working, identify what is not, and decide what to do next. We talk about defining your next role clearly, understanding the skills and visibility required to earn it, and choosing the strategy that best supports your goals.

If you are pursuing external roles, I explain how applicant tracking systems really work, how to tailor your resume without sounding robotic, and how to compete when hundreds of candidates apply within hours. If your goal is promotion, we cover how to build the right evidence, strengthen internal relationships, and turn positive feedback into real sponsorship and advancement opportunities.

I also address how to use AI as a support tool without losing your voice, why generic cover letters fail, and how reviewing weekly job search data helps you refine your approach.

Finally, I talk about protecting your focus, building a trusted circle of advisors, and maintaining resilience so you can stay steady even in a tough market. And if you are staying put for now, I share how to grow intentionally so you are positioned well when new opportunities emerge.

If you are ready to stop waiting for clarity and start creating it, this episode will help you take your next step with purpose.

If this conversation resonates with you, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Share this episode with a colleague or friend who needs clarity in their career right now, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more mid-career professionals find strategies that work.

And if you are ready for your next step, I have something free to help you. Go to johnneral.com/briefing to receive my 15-minute audio

Support the show

Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to:

• Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough."
• Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter
• Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career

Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here.

Connect with John on LinkedIn here.
Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here.
Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching.
Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.