“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
What does it mean when something feels “off”?
Maybe you’ve been there before or are there right now. There is a quiet sense that something needs to change.
You might not be able to name it exactly. Nothing is obviously wrong on the surface, yet the alignment you want just is not there. Still, the feeling lingers.
Have you ever felt that?
I know I have – quite a bit actually. And I want to share what I have learned about that feeling and how we can move through it.
The Feeling Is a Signal
That sense of being “off” is not random. It is a signal.
It shows up in our minds, our bodies, our hearts, and sometimes even our spirits. It points to an opportunity for change. Something needs to shift.
That shift might be in a relationship. It might be in your professional life. It might be in your mindset or the way you approach challenges.
The specifics vary, but the signal itself matters.
My Experience With Being “Off”
For a long time, I felt this way in my own professional life. Instead of leaning into it, I tried to outrun it. I told myself it would resolve on its own if I just waited long enough.
It did not.
What happened instead was that I became very familiar with the feeling. Not comfortable, but familiar. It stayed with me.
Eventually, I decided to name it.
I now call it the “messy middle.”
The Messy Middle
The messy middle is the space between where you are and what comes next.
It feels uncertain. It feels emotional. Fear, anxiety, and doubt show up quickly.
It is the place where we are most tempted to avoid, hide, clamp down, or pretend everything is fine. It is also the place where many people isolate themselves and try to carry everything alone.
One of the most important shifts I made was inviting others into that space. My wife. Close friends. Family members. Mentors. Coaches.
Their presence taught and reminded me of two things.
- I was not alone.
- Many people struggle in this same in-between space and need support.
Going Deeper Than Strategy – My Own Shift
For the past several years, my work has focused on leadership and career development for engineers. That work still matters deeply to me, but my focus is evolving.
I want to work with people in this deeper space.
This is not just about tactics or strategies. It is about how we see ourselves, how we make meaning of our experiences, and how we move forward when clarity is not obvious yet.
It is about finding confidence and direction even when fear and uncertainty are present.
I have been there. And truthfully, I still find myself there at times.
Transitions do not eliminate fear. They invite us to relate to it differently.
Transformation, Not Just Transactions
I love helping people reach concrete goals. Landing a new role. Making a career shift. Growing professionally. Those things matter.
But what excites me most is helping people transform, not just transact.
That includes engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to shift how they show up at work, at home, and in their communities. People who want alignment, clarity, and depth, not just the next checkbox.
I’m here to help with that.
If This Resonates With You
If something feels off for you right now, and you sense that change is needed but you are not sure what or how, you may be in the messy middle.
Moving through it does not require having all the answers.
It requires community. It requires support. It requires the courage to step forward instead of running away.
The discomfort will not disappear overnight. But knowing you are not alone, surrounding yourself with the right people, and taking intentional steps forward is how progress begins.
I love helping and serving people in this space. More opportunities and experiences are coming that are designed specifically for this kind of work.
In the meantime, I want to share a resource that many people find helpful: the Career Clarity Checklist. It offers guided exercises to help you reflect, gain clarity, and reconnect with what matters most.
Watch more in the video below:
