#125 - The Unconventional Part: Figuring Out Your Career When You Feel Lost

You know that feeling when everyone around you seems to have their life figured out, and you’re sitting there wondering what comes next? Welcome to what I call the unconventional part.

It’s that uncomfortable middle ground between what was and what’s next. The part nobody talks about because it’s hard to explain, hard to sit in, and even harder to navigate. But here’s the truth: being in that uncertain space doesn’t mean you’re lost. It means you’re alive and paying attention.

“I have no idea what I’m going to do tomorrow. How exciting.”
That line, borrowed from Night at the Museum, completely reframed how I think about uncertainty. Instead of fearing the unknown, what if we started to see it as potential? “What if it was an opportunity and not an adversity?”

Maybe you left a job that stopped challenging you. Maybe you’re still in one that feels wrong but you can’t quite leave yet. Maybe your plan isn’t panning out the way you thought it would. Either way, that’s the point. “Just because it’s what you’ve been doing, it doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it.”

The unconventional part is where growth actually happens. It’s messy, quiet, and unpredictable, but it’s also where the most interesting turns begin.

Read the Full Blog Package

• Feature Article: Reframing the Unknown: Why Feeling Lost Might Be the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You

• 7 Lessons Post: 7 Lessons on Figuring Out Your Career When You Feel Lost in Your 20s

• Practical Q&A: How To Know When It's Time To Leave Your Job

Notes From Josh

If you’re questioning whether to stay or go, it doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you’re finally listening to yourself.

Quick Answers

Q: What does “the unconventional part” mean?
It’s the space between certainty and change. The part of your career or life where you don’t have everything mapped out but you’re still moving forward. It’s not failure. It’s transition.

Q: How do I know if I’m in it?
If you’re asking yourself what’s next, you probably are. The unconventional part starts the moment your old goals stop fitting.

Q: How do I move forward when I feel stuck?
Start small. Take action on anything that builds curiosity instead of control. Momentum doesn’t always look like progress, but it’s still movement.

Q: How can I feel more confident during uncertain phases?
Confidence doesn’t come from knowing the plan. It comes from trusting yourself to figure it out. You’ve already made it this far. That’s proof enough.