Job Search, Promotion, and Career Clarity: The Mid-Career GPS Podcast

330: How I Turned Feeling Stuck Into A Career I Love

Jan 6, 2026

Feeling stuck in your career? Discover how intentionality can help unlock new opportunities! The host shares his journey from teacher to leadership coach, highlighting pivotal moments that shaped his understanding of career dynamics. Learn about six powerful strategies to show up with clarity and confidence. Delve into why mid-career isn’t a plateau, but a phase for building relationships and influence. Plus, hear tips on overcoming challenges and navigating job offers. Transform your career path with intention!

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ANECDOTE

Game Show Math Sparked A Career Shift

John Neral created “Game Show Mathematics,” turning 70s–80s game shows into engaging math lessons for teachers and students.
The workshops energized him and revealed he wanted more than classroom teaching.

ANECDOTE

The Voice That Pushed Change

While teaching a successful fractions lesson, John kept hearing a voice telling him he couldn't do that the rest of his life.
That persistent feeling forced him to acknowledge he wanted more than being 'fine'.

ADVICE

Ask For Feedback After Interviews

After finalist interviews, ask for feedback directly to learn why you didn't get the offer.
Requesting feedback gives clues even if you don't receive full answers.

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Career Momentum and Getting "Unstuck" Starts With How You SHOW UP

Career momentum does not come from doing more. It comes from showing up with clarity, intention, and confidence, especially at mid-career. In this opening episode of the year, I share my personal journey from classroom teacher to leadership and career coach, and the moment when being fine was no longer enough.

I walk you through the experiences that shaped how I think about careers today, from turning classic game shows into engaging math lessons to leading instructional coaches across 13 middle schools. Along the way, stalled interviews, internal politics, and budget delays forced me to rethink how career decisions are really made and how influence is built at mid-career.

These lessons became the foundation of my work helping mid-career professionals who feel undervalued, underutilized, or stuck despite doing everything they were told would lead to advancement.

Why Mid-Career Feels Harder Than It Should

Mid-career is not a plateau. It is a dynamic and decisive phase where visibility, influence, and clarity matter more than effort alone. I share how nonprofit reorganizations left me highly valued by some leaders and invisible to others and how those moments sharpened my understanding of what truly drives career momentum.

In this episode, I introduce the six strategies for showing up with intention. These strategies focus on aligning your thoughts, emotions, and actions so you can protect your professional brand, have more meaningful conversations, and make smarter career decisions in a complex job market.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

If you are a manager or senior director balancing career growth with family and caregiving responsibilities, this episode will help you cut through the noise and regain momentum.

You will learn:

Why mid-career is one of the most important and misunderstood stages of your career
The turning point that shifted me from educator to leader and coach
How to read interview signals and ask for feedback that actually matters
How to reframe career setbacks into growth opportunities
The six strategies for showing up with clarity and intention
Common challenges facing managers and senior directors today.

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