The Career Compass in Uncharted Waters
- Brooke Ozlem Erol
- Nov 20
- 4 min read
Let’s be honest — work feels unstable right now. Every week brings another layoff announcement. People with decades of experience are suddenly updating résumés at 2AM. Bright, talented professionals are wondering, “How did we get here?”
But here’s the deeper truth: When the waters around you are unpredictable, your direction must come from within you — not from your employer. And that shift, while scary, can become the most liberating moment of your career.
I’ve seen it happen again and again. ( It is my story too!)
A Story From the Storm
A client of mine — let’s call him David — spent 18 years in the same company. Reliable. Hard-working. Well-liked. But exhausted. He kept telling himself he’d make a change “someday” when things calmed down.
Someday never came. The layoff did.
He was devastated for two weeks. Then angry. Then numb.
But something powerful happened once the shock wore off.
He started asking different questions: “What kind of work actually feels like me?” “What if this isn’t the end… but the beginning?”
David remembered he had always loved woodworking. Not enough to quit his job. But enough to build furniture on weekends, enough to lose track of time, enough to feel alive.
He started sharing small pieces of his work online. One post. Then another. A friend ordered a custom piece. Then a stranger. He built a tiny offer — nothing fancy. And people kept saying yes.
Eighteen months later, he had a thriving side business. Three years later, it became his full-time work. He once told me: “Being laid off was the worst day of my life… until it became the best.”
Not because it was easy. But because it forced him to follow a compass he’d ignored for years.
What You Can Learn From His Story
When the external world stops feeling stable, the inner world becomes non-negotiable:
Your strengths are your anchor.
Your values are your north star.
Your passions point to energy, flow, and possibility.
Your purpose becomes your true direction.
This is the compass that carries you through uncertain waters — and toward work that feels like you again. I explain how these four elements ground us ,over and over again, including my upcoming new book because they always lead us to a better place.
Your First Step (Start Small, Start Real)
Not everyone wants to become an entrepreneur tomorrow. You don’t have to.
But starting a tiny offer — something connected to your strengths or passion — can restore your sense of agency faster than anything else.
It might be:
A micro-session
A helpful guide
A clarity call
A mini-workshop
A small digital product
A simple service you can deliver in a few hours
The point isn’t to create a “business.” The point is to remember you have value beyond your job title.
If you want guidance on how to start small — even if you don’t have a website or an idea yet — I created something simple for you:
👉 Here’s where you can start exploring small offers that fit who you are. Check my stan store first as an example. Easiest and most affordable platform I have ever seen. Then join me by starting small: It is free for 14 days. I have most of it on my website too but you do not need to even build one. I am trying this with you and see the benefits. That is why I am recommending it.
This is the easiest, lowest-risk way to test your compass in a new direction.
You’re Not Drifting. You’re Navigating.
This moment in history is challenging — truly. But it’s not the end of your story. It’s the moment you choose to steer differently.
Let the world be unpredictable. Let the headlines be chaotic. You can still find your way — not by holding tighter to old maps, but by trusting the compass you’ve been carrying all along. We are changing what work means one person at a time.
And if you need someone in the boat with you, I’m right here.
Gratefully,
Ozlem Brooke Erol
I’ve always been an advocate for people who love to work, who want to live a meaningful life, and who long to contribute to the world in a positive way. We all deserve that.
Everything I do—reading, learning, writing, speaking, coaching, and consulting—is driven by one purpose: to uplift as many people as possible by helping them unleash their unique gifts, passions, and purpose. Our world desperately needs it.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to connect. Visit www.yourbestlifeinc.com for individuals or www.purposeful.business for organizations. Send me a message here or there. I always have a complimentary session to see if we are a good match to work together and understand your challenges.
Also you can follow me at
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