You’re not building perfection.

You’re building momentum.

That’s where the magic starts.

Hey friends,

After two amazing weeks traveling in London and Slovenia, I came home happy... and completely derailed.

Between time zones, late nights, and all the gelato, my sleep was wrecked and my workouts? Nonexistent.

I felt like I was running through wet concrete.
Tired. Sluggish. Weak.
My muscles had turned to jelly, and my motivation was nowhere to be found.

It’s the same feeling many of my clients describe when trying to update their résumé, make a career change, or simply log into LinkedIn again:

“I don’t even know where to start.”
“Everything feels harder than it should.”
“I used to have momentum… now I feel stuck.”

And that’s when I remind myself — and them — of this:

✨ You don’t need willpower. You need momentum.

Because let’s be honest:
When you’ve been still for a while, starting is the hardest part.

Newton’s First Law of Motion:

An object at rest stays at rest…
Unless acted upon by a force.

For me, the force is as simple as changing into workout clothes and walking into the gym — even if I only do half a workout or just stretch and leave.

The first few steps don’t need to be impressive.
They just need to happen.

💡 Want momentum in your career?

Try one of these tiny first steps:

• Set a 15-minute timer and research one career path, company, or role you’re curious about

• Reach out to one person in your network you’d actually like to talk to

• Update one bullet on your LinkedIn or résumé

• Practice one sentence you want to say in your next meeting

• Say yes to one opportunity that puts you in motion, even if it’s small

If you’ve been stuck, stalled, or in recovery mode — you’re not behind.
You’re just between waves of momentum.
And the best way to find the next one is to start paddling.

Small steps count.
Tiny actions matter.
Momentum builds — if you let it.

💬 I’d love to hear from you:

What’s one “just show up” habit you’re building right now?

(Or hit reply and tell me what’s feeling sticky — I read every message.)

Cheering you on,

Melissa Palmer, MS, CPC

Career Planning Studio
Smart Design for Work You Love

Executive, Career & Life Coach | Connect with me on LinkedIn!
melissa@careerplanningstudio.com
careerplanningstudio.com
469.615.7261

✨ Studio Time (Nov 6)

🧠 What’s better than career strategy? Career momentum.

For all current and past clients and Career Accelerator students:

STUDIO TIME is back on November 6, and this session is a must-attend.
We’ll be exploring how to leverage professional associations, groups, and meetups to:

• Discover career paths you didn’t even know existed

• Seed new opportunities (before they’re posted)

• Expand your network intentionally

• Position yourself as a thought leader — without shouting

✨ Special guest Malory Weber (Entrepreneur, Consultant, and Director of Strategy & Ops) will join us to share how joining one professional association became a surprising game-changer — and what she had to overcome to make it happen.

Studio Time is lifetime access for all 1:1 clients and Career Accelerator participants — a space to refine, recalibrate, and grow alongside others doing the work.

Twice a month. On purpose. Packed with value.

Not in yet?
Join the waitlist for the Career Accelerator and get access starting with our January cohort or get immediate access when we work 1:1.

Let’s make 2026 the year your career takes off!

Momentum Meets Strategy

Ready to build real momentum in your career?
If you know something needs to change in your work life but aren’t sure where to start — or how to get unstuck without spinning your wheels — the Career Accelerator is designed for exactly that.

It’s my signature program that helps high-achieving professionals like you:

• Clarify your ideal path

• Build confidence and presence

• Make strategic moves with less burnout

• Tell your story powerfully — on paper, in interviews, and in real life

• Join a community that gets it (and cheers for you, hard)

✨ New cohort starts in January — and the best way to get early access, updates, and behind-the-scenes info is by joining the waitlist now:
👉 Join the Waitlist

This may be just the nudge you need to make this next chapter your best one yet!

PS – If you're ready for more structure or support around building momentum in your career, let’s talk about what you need and if now is a good time to start.

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3600 North Duke St, #1369, STE 1
Durham NC  27704

Our email is:

melissa@careerplanningstudio.com

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