Someone once told me "I'd rather be miserable in a job I know than risk being broke doing something I love." Sound familiar?

I hear some variation of this from accomplished professionals all the time. They feel trapped in careers they no longer enjoy, paralyzed by fear of making the "wrong move" and ruining everything they've built.

I get it. I’ve been there too. You've invested years of hard work and sacrifice to get where you are. Those golden handcuffs feel real, and the thought of "throwing it all away" feels terrifying!

But here's what I've learned: this fear assumes career moves must be haphazard leaps into darkness. The reality? Staying stuck in a draining career without exploring alternatives is actually riskier. What if instead you could wake up energized by work that actually fits who you are?

So what should you do if this fear is getting in your way? Start by understanding what drives you - your values, motivators, and natural strengths. These insights create a roadmap toward energizing work. Then validate that direction through conversations, informational interviews, strategic side projects, or other targeted experiments before making any big moves.

This approach lets you test alignment and reduce risk before committing. Instead of gambling with your career, you're making informed, strategic decisions that help you find truly exciting paths forward.

Want to take a small step towards pushing through that fear today? Start by naming one specific move you've been avoiding. Once it's in the open, you can begin to evaluate and build a strategy around it.

What career move have you been considering but haven't pursued?