Listen to the episode in the podcast player below, or find it on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Transcript:
Myth #1: You just need to follow your passion.
There are good intentions behind this advice — but passion alone isn’t a reliable career compass.
The shorter path with less resistance is finding your “product-market fit”:
- What are people willing to pay for?
- What do you enjoy doing at work?
- What do you have the most experience in that you can leverage?
A truly sustainable career blends three things:
- What you enjoy doing at work
- What you’re good at doing at work
- What is valued and paid for in the market
Passion can limit you to what you already know. You can discover new skills and interests you never expected — but you won’t know you like them until you try them. Stay curious.
Myth #2: You just need more advice before you’ll find clarity.
You can get stuck in research mode far too long before taking action. Podcasts, blogs, books, LinkedIn — too much input drowns out your own instincts.
Clarity comes from getting your hands dirty:
- Experiments and side projects
- Talking to people in roles you’re curious about
- Volunteer work
- Trial and error
Two things that genuinely help with big decisions:
Strategic silence — creating space to hear your own voice above the noise. Block social media, go on quiet walks, bring a journal. Let yourself think.
Retrospection — talking to a therapist or a trusted friend who has been through something similar. Get their input after you’ve already thought things through, not instead of thinking.
Myth #3: If it’s the right path, clarity will hit you all at once.
Clarity comes in waves. The doubt, the learning curves, the ups and downs — that’s completely normal. Rarely does anyone feel 100% certain on day one.
What actually happens:
- Clarity builds gradually as you gain evidence from lived experience
- You may upskill toward one role and pivot when a different opportunity appears — and that’s okay, because your skills transfer
- Having a direction for this phase of your career doesn’t lock you in forever
Think of it as getting your foot in the door so you can learn more. Your career will keep shifting and growing as you grow.
Myth #4: Clarity means finding the right job title.
A job title is just a label a hiring manager gives a role. Two people with the exact same title can have completely different day-to-day experiences — which is also why salaries vary so much.
Real clarity is knowing:
- Which skills you want to use most
- Your preferred work environment
- Your values
- What you’re able to bring to a role and how you can stand out
- What you’re not comfortable doing
Don’t anchor to one specific title. If you have project management skills, those show up in operations roles, training roles, office manager roles, and more. Focus on where you thrive and what kind of impact you want to have — not just what something is called.
Myth #5: You need career clarity before you can take action.
This is the biggest myth — and the one that keeps teachers stuck for years.
You can’t think your way into certainty about things you’ve never done. The only way to find clarity is to start moving.
Ways to take action before you have it all figured out:
- Do freelance or side projects in areas you’re curious about
- Volunteer somewhere new to test if you enjoy the work
- Talk to people currently in roles you’re considering
- Try small experiments while you’re still in the classroom
Research suggests that having a sense of agency — feeling like your actions can influence outcomes — increases motivation, confidence, and resilience during uncertain transitions. Taking action, even imperfect action, builds exactly that.
The shift: Stop asking “What should I do?” Start asking “What can I try next?”
The Takeaway
Clarity gives you:
- A direction for which skills to develop
- A filter for which opportunities to pursue (and which to ignore)
- Confidence in interviews when asked why you’re sure this is the right path
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Take one step forward this week — explore an option, sit in strategic silence, or reach out to someone in a role you’re curious about. Let clarity build from there.
RESOURCES
- If you are struggling right now, please seek help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 802-273-8255
- Get the template! Writing a Teacher Resignation Letter to a Principal
- Take the FREE QUIZ: What career outside of the classroom are you qualified for?
- If you know it’s time to start your transition and are looking for resources and guidance, check out the Teacher Career Coach course today!
- Join our growing community (and connect with Daphne) on Instagram @teachercareercoach.
