EP18: Find Your Focus, Get Your Hands Dirty, Create Things That Matter (Regenerative Sticking Point with Cloé)
Many people working in corporate sustainability feel frustrated by the gap between their desire to create meaningful change and the reality of their work. They’re passionate about addressing challenges like climate change, fostering stronger communities, and reconnecting with nature, but often find themselves stuck – wanting to leave but overthinking the “perfect” career path.
In a “regenerative sticking-point” coaching session with Cloé, we explored how to break free from that paralysis and start making tangible progress toward a career that matters.
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Why the ‘Perfect Career’ Keeps You Stuck
Cloé wasn’t lacking in ideas for regenerative work, in fact the opposite was true. She sees the magnitude of the situation we face and desperately wants to contribute to making change happen. But she is was at a juncture – not knowing which idea to follow or where to start. Should she become a “degrowth consultant”, open a “community cafe” or start a “mushroom growing business”?
“People seem to have worked on that for so many years and built on amazing path and journeys and connections. And I feel like I'm really starting now and almost too late.”
This is common fear amongst people wanting to move into regenerative work –that it’s too late, that everyone else has it worked out, and they don’t know where to start. Cloé was worried that she wasn’t qualified enough and was going to have to retrain. These thoughts, coupled with her search for the perfect regenerative career, were keeping her stuck in a job that is driving her “insane” and preventing her from moving forward.
The Simple Idea of Taking Action
During our coaching session, I offered Cloé a simple idea – that to gain clarity and move forward, the most important thing to do is start. Not to define the perfect career and the end destination but just to pick one idea for now and take action on it.
Guiding questions
To pick a path, I ask my coaching clients to define a ‘guiding question’ that will help with their decision-making. And to look at their options through the lens of this question. Cloé’s guiding question wasn’t about what would create the most impact, as she had previously been focused on, but “what brings her joy and what is feasible?”
The simple idea of taking action based on her guiding question was a turnaround moment for Cloé. She was very quickly able to pick “mushroom farming” as the option which would bring her joy and felt most feasible to move forward with. It was so uplifting to see the ease with which Cloé unlocked this beautiful idea when she didn’t need to make it perfect or work out every detail.
Small Experimental Steps
When taking action on a regenerative career idea, you need to switch your corporate mindset for a regenerative one. And take the opportunity to nurture your idea seedling and have fun with it.
Top tip: Don’t compare your burgeoning regenerative career to your current job or expect it to match your current salary from day one. This takes the joy away for the crucial experimentation stage.
Focusing on the joy of experimentation and play really appealed to Cloé. For her, taking those first steps into regenerative work meant doing something she’d been longing to do for a long time. Something very ‘un-corporate’. It meant getting her hands dirty. Not creating a business plan for a mushroom farm. But simply experimenting with growing mushrooms at home with her daughter.
Finding Your Strength and Clarity
Chloe unlocked this beautiful idea that she has decided to move forward with during one coaching session. It might be the springboard for something else or the the catalyst that changes her whole career, or just be a wonderful experience that she shares with others and her family. Who knows? But I'm so pleased that she's feeling empowered to move forward and make a difference with it.
Cloé’s journey highlights how aligning with your values—whether through community, nature, or impact-driven projects—can help you regain focus and build momentum. Progress doesn’t require perfection; sometimes, the best way forward is simply to get your hands dirty and see what grows.
Whether you’re feeling stuck, doubting your impact, or unsure where to start, I hope Cloé’s story will inspire you to take meaningful action toward a regenerative, sustainable career.
