How to Stop Career Drift and Make Intentional Progress

In this final episode of season 1 of the "Little Moves Big Careers" podcast, host Caroline Esterson shines a spotlight on drift - the quiet career killer that shows up when you’re doing the tasks but losing direction.  She challenges listeners to cut through the noise and embrace intentionality in their careers. Whether you're mid-pivot or feeling stuck, Caroline offers practical advice on making deliberate choices that can transform your professional journey. Discover the concept of the "two millimetre difference" and learn how small, intentional shifts can lead to significant outcomes. 

Tune in for a mix of cheeky games, career insights, and actionable strategies to help you stand out and build a career you're proud of. Don't miss this mic-drop moment as we wrap up the season with a call to action: make your next move, no matter how small, with purpose.

Key Concepts Covered:

• Burnout isn't a weakness. It's a signal that your current strategy is unsustainable.
• Clarity comes from movement, not more overthinking or 3 am job board spirals.
• The 2mm Difference: Small, intentional shifts that radically alter your career trajectory
• Intentionality over effort. It's not how much you do; it’s how you do it that gets noticed.
• Micro-choices build macro momentum. Stop aiming for the leap. Start with the tilt.

Listen Now If You:

• Feel like you’re working hard but going nowhere
• Are constantly overwhelmed and thinking of quitting
• Want to rebuild focus, energy, and career direction without a full reset
• Need a bold nudge to stop drifting and start deciding

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Now go prove it.

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Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00.47)
Okay, so let's cut through the noise for a second because whether you're mid-pivot, mid-panic or just mid-email pretending to be busy, this moment, this moment right now, it matters. And how you move through it, well, that's where your real power lives. So let me ask you a question. Are you drifting or are you deciding? Because indecision is actually still a decision.

It's just one that costs you energy. This episode is your wake up nudge to get deliberate, especially in those foggy, in-between moments where it's easier to scroll than steer. You don't need a 10-year plan. You need one move, tiny, scrappy and intentional. Hey, F. Thank you for joining me at the Little Moves Big Careers podcast. I'm Caroline Esterson, career strategist.

and sticker of brilliant people and your co-pilot through the chaos of real world careers. And this podcast, well, it's for you if you've ever done everything right and still felt stuck, overlooked or like you were shouting into a team's call on mute. And this episode right here, well, this is the last episode of the series. I could get sentimental, but instead I'm going full firestarter today.

because if we're ending this first season, we're going to end it on purpose and hopefully with a mic drop. So important it echoes into series two. Are you ready? Well, let's go.

Speaker 1 (01:44.322)
This isn't a pep talk, it's a practical guide with a glitch in its eye. Smart moves, slight chaos, welcome to little moves, big careers.

Speaker 1 (01:58.048)
talk to you today about the gap. Not the space where you're waiting for something new. The space between what you have to do and how you choose to do it. It's the sliver of autonomy that lives inside every task, every email, every eye roll worthy Zoom meeting. Because here's the truth, anyone can hit the numbers, but the way you show up to do it, well, that's what sets you apart.

That's the bit that people remember. It's what makes you intentional. Most people coast through the gap. They tick the box, blend in, wait for someone to notice. But the people who build bold careers, they choose. They move on purpose. They make that gap their proving ground, their playground. This isn't about perfection. It's about precision. It's about showing up in a way that reflects who you are.

not just what the job asks. It's the small stuff done with fierce intent that builds the career story that others can't ignore. But what might this look like in practice? Well, let's play a game to find out.

Now, welcome to the chaos. It's game time. Zero prizes, mild embarrassment, but hopefully excellent fun. Let's play a little game together of truth or tiredness. Sonia is going to read you a bunch of career actions, some small and some slightly spicy. And your job is to call out, I don't care whether you're on the train or not, call it out. Are they being intentional? Is it an intentional move or just autopilot?

Because let's face it, not everything we do is strategic. Some of it is just habits.

Speaker 2 (03:50.05)
So let's get right to it. Writing. Let me know if I can help on the end of an email with no actual offer of help.

Well, that's definitely autopilot, right? You know, what's the point? It's a fob-op. Be specific or don't bother.

So, next one! What about this? Asking to shadow someone in a team you admire.

Ooh, I like that. That's actual initiative. HR might just have felt a tremor in the matrix right now.

Or liking a colleague's post on LinkedIn without even reading it.

Speaker 1 (04:29.234)
for goodness sake. What is great, but so is context. know, if you're going to like it, can't you just spend 30 seconds thinking about why you like it and add a comment, make it meaningful or don't bother.

Yeah, I agree with that one, definitely.

You see it, don't you, all the time, just like Always know it means nothing.

And telling, what about telling your boss you want to co-lead the next strategy session?

Ooh, brave, bold, definitely intentional. Because if you don't ask, you don't get right.

Speaker 2 (05:07.566)
Totally. Yep.

And I've seen you do that. I know that's the kind of thing that you do.

Sometimes I do it without thinking, so it's actually unintentional.

No, no, it's your purpose Sonia. The intention is unconscious, your unconscious guiding you. That's why it works.

I really say that.

Speaker 2 (05:31.586)
You always say the nicest things. So how about saying yes to another random project so you seem keen.

So autopilot, you know, you're going to burn out. You've got to learn to say yes to the right things and know and mean it when you say no.

And what about booking a coffee with someone who's two levels up just to learn?

Curious, courageous and coffee. Three C's. Perfect triad. I love that one.

Yeah, me too. Me too, that's a really good one.

Speaker 1 (06:09.236)
I just want to say, often people will stop themselves doing this because that little gremlin that we've talked about in their head will be saying to them, they're too busy. They won't be interested in meeting me. What I will say is most people who are more senior value the initiative. They respect somebody that is clear and wants to learn. So I would absolutely encourage you to do that, but do it with purpose, do it with meaning.

Great. And then my last one here is when you respond by saying, no worries if not, when asking for something you really need. And do you know what I actually know? Hand on heart, I've done that.

Sonia, you know, when I wrote this, I was thinking of you and I was thinking of me because we do that to each other. We ask for something, but we realize that we know that the other person is busy. And so we kind of do that, but it's fine. It's fine. Don't worry if you can't, you can't do it, but we really want it. And I think it's different with friends because I know that you know I will ask for something unless I really need it. And I know that you will.

Give me the time when you can because you're really clearly band-raided. And I think you know the same, same me as well. But in work, it is different. In work, just think about what that says about you. No worries if not, you know, you're saying that you don't value what you're doing.

Yeah, I think you give yourself the impression of being a little bit of a pusher.

Speaker 1 (07:46.25)
Over. Absolutely. So respectfully, just stop it. know, and you Sonia and me, Caroline, even with friends, just stop it. This is about boundaries. It is about being clear. It's about saying what you need and why you need it so that people understand. So the takeaway I hope you got from this game is that intentional moves don't always look fancy.

And you know what? They're not always easy because we've got these habits, we've got these gremlins that are talking to us. But I want to have alerted you to it. And when you do say things, when you do take action, do it, say it and look like you mean it. And that's the difference between showing up and standing out. Time for Brain Food, the research bit. But make it cheeky.

Because we all love evidence, especially when it supports our own experiences. Let's get one thing straight. Your brain loves the binary choice. Fight or flight? This or that? Do more glory. But real life, especially career life, well, it's messier than that, isn't it? You're not standing at a fork in the road. You're juggling three paths, a sandwich and a slack notification while someone asks if you've got a sec to have a chat. And in all that chaos, the temptation is just to drift.

default to tick the box, hit the numbers, nod, smile and pretend everything's fine. But drifting doesn't get you where you want to go. Choosing does that. You know, we romanticise the big decision, the bold leap, the dramatic career pivot. But your career isn't built in leaps, it's built, as we've said before, in those micro choices, the tiny tilts in a new direction made consistently over time. So

Enter stage right, the two millimeter difference. Let me explain. The two millimeter difference is the idea that tiny shifts, just two millimeters, can change everything. You know, the way a pilot adjusts their path by just two millimeters can turn them out into a completely different country. That's your career too. It's not always about dramatic action. It's about those intentional tweaks. How you open up the meeting.

Speaker 1 (10:10.316)
when you choose to speak, the way you write the email, the decision to ask one better question. That's the two millimeter difference. Small shifts, big outcome, and it's completely within your control. And here's the kicker. According to psychologist Barry Schwartz, when we're presented with too many options, our brains just don't get more effective. They freeze. It's called choice overload. And it's why you end up staring at a job board,

closing the tab and suddenly deep into reorganizing your spice rack, it's the safer option for you. So if you're stuck, it's not failure, it's just you've been flooded. Simplify your choice. Shrink the move. Make one decision today that just kind of nudges you forward towards the life you say that you want because intentionality is that choice. It's not a master plan, not a promotion.

It's a choice, the choice to send the message, to say the thing, to speak up when it's easier to let it slide, to own your two millimeter difference. So if you want to move with intention, ask yourself, what matters most right now? What's one move I can control today? What am I choosing or avoiding, whether I admit it or not? Because not choosing is also a choice. And drift, drift is just quiet, polite.

kind of regret in slow motion. And remember this, your to-do list isn't your identity. But the way you show up, especially when no one's watching, that's what builds your legacy. So shrink your moves, raise the standard and make it on purpose. Because that, my friend, that is what it means to be intentional. And look, I know all of that sounds great in theory, be intentional, own the two millimetres, light up your legacy.

But what about when your inbox is giving you a twitch, your boss is a vibing villain and your brave big move feels like choosing between two kinds of burnouts? That's where we get real. It's time for our no fluff, full truth segment. What would Caro do? Let's dive in.

Speaker 1 (12:27.008)
It's time for What Would Caro Do? Like a career agony aunt but with less cardigan and more fire. Because sometimes you don't need permission, you just need better advice. So this week's listener question comes from literally on my knees from Leatherhead. It's one I've seen over and over in training rooms, in inboxes and in that internal scream you let out mid a Zoom call. Go for it, Sonia.

Gosh, I'm juggling about 17 priorities right now. Everything feels urgent. Everyone wants a piece of me. I'm waking up already overwhelmed and I'm seriously thinking about quitting just to get my life back. But I also love part of my job. I just don't know how to keep going like this. Help, Auntie Caro, help.

Okay, let's get intentional. First, take a deep breath.

You're not lazy. You're not flaky. You're not broken. You are burnt out. And when everything feels urgent, nothing gets your best attention. So here's what I do. I'd start to zoom out on everything. Not everything can matter equally. Ask what will actually move the needle this month. Not this hour, this month. Anchor to that. Name the cost of coping.

Because you know that spreadsheet juggling out you're pulling out at 2am? It's quietly wrecking your future capacity. Burnout doesn't need a calendar invite. It creeps in through silent yeses. Make that intentional move. Not a martyr move. Have a bold, boundary conversation this week with your boss, with a peer, project lead. Name the load you're under. Propose a shift. It's not weakness, it's strategy.

Speaker 1 (14:19.916)
And remember the people who burn out hardest aren't the slackers. They're the quietly brilliant over-functioners who just care too much and say too little. So ask yourself this, what would shift if I stopped trying to do everything and start doing the right things on purpose? Because burnout isn't a badge of honor, it's a signal to redesign the game. And that leads us neatly to our other quickfire tips for you to try out.

Speaker 1 (14:53.614)
Small shifts, sharp impact. These are quick fire career moves. Real things you can do before your next coffee refill. So if your career has been coasting, ghosting or full on malfunctioning like a printer in panic, this one's for you. Because intentional doesn't mean rigid. It means chosen. It means deliberate. It means you're steering. Even if the sat nav's being a diva.

Let's put you back in the driving seat. Number one, decide what you want to be known for. We talked about this in episode one. Then act like it's already true. You don't need a new job title. You need a new energy. Want to be known as the go-to for big thinking? Start showing up like it. Want to be seen as a fixer, a future leader, the calm in the chaos? Behave like it's already your LinkedIn headline. Reputations aren't given, they're

built, quietly, consistently, intentionally. Number two, make one hard no so you can say a brave yes. You can't become really intentional if your calendar still looks like a toddler scribbler pad. Say no to one thing that's draining you and use that space to say yes to something bold. This isn't being difficult. This is being discerning because your time is a non-renewable resource. Use it like a boss.

like a people pleaser. Number three, send the bold ask before you feel ready. We've already explained this in episode six. Confidence doesn't show at first. Courage does. So make the ask, book the chat, pitch the idea, send the damn email while you're still sweating. That's how brave works. That's how intentional starts. That's how momentum begins. Okay, got it?

So now that you've officially got your strategy pants on, let's take a quick detour into the land of dangerous nonsense disguised as wisdom.

Speaker 1 (16:58.968)
This quote has the right vibe and the completely wrong advice. So let's fix that before someone puts it on a mug. Let's arrest another overused under thought phrase that's been holding your career hostage. right. So what you actually mean is drift aimlessly and hope your dream job just washes up next to a Costa Cup and a used vape pen, right? Cute, but no, no.

Just go with the flow.

Speaker 1 (17:28.255)
Here's the thing, go with the flow is fine if you're chillaxing on a Lilo in a Beatha for example, but in your career it's just code for I've got no strategy and I'm hoping vibes alone will sort it out. Progress doesn't happen by accident, it happens on purpose. Choose the river and paddle with intention. If needed, build your own damn raft! Right, so

this is where I dish up your weekly words of encouragement, you know, a little bit of a gentle boost, a knowing wink, a metaphor, maybe involving biscuits, but not this time. This time I don't want to encourage you. I want to ignite you because if you've made it this far, you don't need more cheerleading. You need a spark, a line in the sand, a bold intentional choice. So take a breath.

go out with fire. You don't drift into a career you're proud of. You build it one tiny, deliberate, often uncomfortable move at a time. It's not about being fearless. It's about doing the damn thing even when your hands are still shaking. It's about knowing that saying yes to one more thing means sometimes saying no to something else and being bold enough to own that. It's about choosing the two millimeter difference

Not because it's easy, but because you're done waiting for permission. So here's your ignition sequence. Stop outsourcing your direction to other people's opinions. Start noticing the moments you've been handing over to over your agency, like it's spare change and make a move. Not a huge leap, just a purposeful tilt that points to the life that you say that you want because every step, every choice, every email, every

No, thank you. And actually, yeah, I do have something to add. That's what defines you. You are intentional. Now go prove it. Until next time.

Speaker 1 (19:41.613)
you

Speaker 1 (19:45.39)
If you've stuck with me through cheeky games, career quote crimes, Gavin from Ops, imposter spirals and intentional power plays, thank you. You're not just a listener, you're a builder, a backdoor strategist, a quietly bold disruptor in progress. So here's what I want from you now. Don't just love the podcast, live it. Send the email, book the meeting, share the episode with someone who needs it. Make the 2mm move today so that your future self

we'll fist bump you for it. And while I'm cooking up season two, you know where to find me in your inbox and your feed and probably hiding in your happy folder. Subscribe, leave me a juicy review, I'd love it. And tell me what you want more of because this, this isn't just a podcast, it's a movement and we're only just getting started. And if you want to bring fresh thinking to your team or company, that's literally what we do. Drop us a line.

We'll make it sing for you. Until next time, make the move, even if it's tiny, especially if it's tiny.