The Cost of Flip-Flopping: Why Self-Coaching Matters

A colleague of mine made a bold career move last year. He decided he wanted to be made redundant.
Not because he hated the job but because the payout seemed worth it.
He began subtly (and then not so subtly) positioning himself to be let go. Financially, it made sense to him.

Then last week? Total pivot. Now he wants a promotion.
Suddenly, the pay rise looks like the better deal.

Both paths, redundancy and promotion, are viable. But swinging between them? That’s a problem.

How a Lack of Intention Undermines Everything

The issue isn’t the choice. It’s how fast he changed it and how little it was rooted in clarity.

He's now lost three things that are hard to win back:

✅ Credibility: Colleagues are confused by the sudden reversal

✅ Integrity: Peers see it’s all about the money

✅ Trust; If he flip-flops on big life calls, how steady is his day-to-day decision-making?

I get it. He wants to pay off his mortgage before retirement. The urgency is real. But urgency without direction isn’t strategy—it’s panic dressed up as a plan.

This wasn’t self-leadership. It was a reaction.

The Real Risk: Outsourcing Your Career Decisions

Here’s the even bigger challenge: 

Both of his plans rely on someone else saying yes.

Whether it’s HR signing off on redundancy or a manager approving a promotion, he’s handed over the steering wheel.

That’s the mistake I see too often:

People build careers based on what others might allow, rather than what they deeply want.

Here’s what he could have done differently:

✅ Checked in with his values

✅ Clarified his long-term goals

✅Owned the path, instead of waiting for permission

Because the only sustainable career path is one you’re actually driving.

And this isnt just a problem for someone well into their career or maybe towards the end. It can cause you problems at any stage. 

So get it right from the start.

Coach Yourself: A Better Way to Plan Your Future

Ask yourself:

✅ What do I actually want?

✅ What do I value?

✅ What energizes me—and what drains me?

Write it down.

From there:

✅ Make aligned decisions. Don’t chase the shiny thing. Choose the right thing.

✅ Be proactive. Build relationships. Learn what matters. Plan ahead.

✅ Take ownership. No one cares about your career as much as you do.

✅ Start now. A small step today is better than a desperate leap tomorrow.

Final Thought: Build a Career That’s Actually Yours

I’ve made the same mistakes—stayed too long, waited too quietly, ignored what I really wanted.
That’s why I’m so passionate about this message.

You don’t need a perfect plan. Just a starting point.

Coach yourself first.

Be honest. Ask better questions

Build something with intention

Stop flip-flopping

Start building a career that feels like yours—because it is