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When it comes to career change, we often picture a dramatic leap, handing in notice, moving interstate, stepping into a brand new field. But the truth is, most meaningful shifts don’t begin with a leap.They begin with a step. And often, a small one. Something like: Signing up for a short course Reaching out to someone who inspires you Asking your team leader about secondment opportunities Shadowing a colleague in a different role Finally journaling about what you actually want next These are what we call micro-moves.They’re low-pressure, low-risk, but high in potential. And for paramedics, especially those coming off the road, on leave, or questioning their next chapter, they can be the difference between feeling stuck and starting to move forward again. Because momentum isn’t about speed or scale.It’s about direction. And when the direction is yours, aligned with your values, goals, or current season of life, small steps become powerful. They build confidence. They open conversations. And they give you a sense of progress without the pressure to “have it all figured out.” 💬 This Week’s Nudge: What’s One Small Action You Can Take This Week That Moves You Closer to What You Want? It doesn’t need to be polished, public, or permanent. It just needs to be yours. Something you’ve been thinking about that’s waiting to be tested. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Bookmark a role or course you’ve been curious about Reach out to someone who’s made a move you admire Start a “career curiosity” list in your notes app Schedule 15 minutes to reflect on your current motivators Offer to mentor or debrief a new paramedic 💡 If it creates insight, connection, or clarity ... it counts. 🧠 Habit Hack: Start a Micro-Move Tracker Every week, jot down: 📌 The Action You Took (big or small) 🧠 What It Taught You (insight, reaction, idea) 🔁 What It Led to Next (follow-up step, new idea, new question) Over time, this creates a visible pattern of progress. It shows you that even during “quiet” seasons, you’ve been moving. And it becomes a confidence file, a reminder that you’re not stuck, you’re evolving. Use a notebook, the notes app on your phone, or a simple calendar entry. Keep it light. Keep it yours. ✅ Final Thought Your next move doesn’t have to be big. It doesn’t have to impress anyone.It just has to reflect who you are and where you want to head next. So don’t wait for the perfect moment.Take a step. Track it. Let it teach you something. That’s career growth ... and you’re already doing it. Respondr is here to support you to make these small, incremental changes that will lead to big results in the long term, click on the link below to join the Respondr Network.

You don’t have to have a five-year plan to move forward in your career. But if you’re feeling stuck or ready for something new, it helps to ask a powerful question: 👉 What’s driving me right now? The truth is, most career decisions aren’t random. They’re guided, consciously or not, by internal motivators. Things like lifestyle, values, growth, impact, and identity all influence how you feel about where you are, and where you want to go next. This article will help you identify which of these motivators is most active for you now and how to use that clarity to shape your next move. 🔑 The 5 Core Motivators Behind Career Decisions You may be influenced by more than one of these, but often, one stands out in this season of life. Understanding your lead motivator can help you make decisions with more confidence and less second-guessing. 1. 🌅 Lifestyle: You Want Work That Fits Your Life (Not the Other Way Around) You're motivated by balance, flexibility, and quality of life. You may be seeking more time with family, a predictable roster, or a shift away from physical or emotional intensity. This doesn’t mean you’re “less committed.” It means you’re ready to build a career that supports the rest of your life, not dominates it. Signs this is your motivator: You feel constantly fatigued or time-poor You want more space for rest, hobbies, or relationships You're considering part-time, off-road, or hybrid roles Reflective prompts: What parts of my current role feel unsustainable long-term? What would a balanced work week look like for me? 2. 🎯 Values: You Want Work That Aligns With What Matters to You You’re motivated by meaning, integrity, and alignment. You want to feel like your work reflects who you are and what you stand for. This might show up as frustration when your current environment feels out of sync with your ethics or priorities or as excitement when you see opportunities that match your deeper purpose. Signs this is your motivator: You’re asking, “Does this work feel right?” You’re seeking more connection, authenticity, or purpose You’re considering roles that align with your values (e.g. community health, mental health, education) Reflective prompts: When have I felt most aligned and proud of my work? What values am I not willing to compromise on anymore? 3. 📈 Growth: You Want to Learn, Stretch, and Be Challenged You’re motivated by progress, skill-building, and development. You want to expand what you’re capable of, whether that means clinical progression, leadership, or exploring a new field entirely. This doesn’t mean you're dissatisfied, it means you’re ready for more. Growth doesn’t always mean “up.” It can also mean “outward” into new experiences or deeper knowledge. Signs this is your motivator: You feel under-stimulated or bored in your current role You’re drawn to CPD, study, mentoring, or new environments You’re excited about what you could become next Reflective prompts: What am I curious to explore, even if I don’t feel “ready”? Where do I feel a pull to stretch beyond what I know? 4. 🌍 Impact: You Want Your Work to Make a Difference You’re motivated by contribution, influence, and service. You want your work to matter and to know that it’s helping others in meaningful ways. For some, this shows up as a desire to shift into roles with broader influence (education, policy, advocacy). For others, it’s about reconnecting with people or causes that matter most. Signs this is your motivator: You feel disconnected from the impact of your day-to-day role You’re inspired by stories of paramedics making change You want to help others grow, recover, or be heard Reflective prompts: When do I feel most proud of the impact I have? Who or what do I want to help beyond the front line? 5. 🧠 Identity: You Want Work That Reflects Who You’re Becoming You’re motivated by self-awareness, reinvention, and congruence. You may be transitioning into a new season of life, recovering from burnout, or simply discovering that the old version of your career doesn’t quite fit anymore. This motivator is often present during or after a career pause, identity shift, or major life change. Signs this is your motivator: You feel like your current role doesn’t represent who you are anymore You’ve outgrown certain environments, expectations, or labels You want to integrate your lived experience into your next move Reflective prompts: Who am I now, compared to when I started this job? What kind of work would reflect who I’m becoming? 🔁 How to Use Your Motivator to Guide Your Next Step Once you identify your strongest motivator, use it as a career compass. It doesn’t have to define your whole direction—but it can help you filter choices and stay focused on what truly matters. ✏️ Write it down 📌 Use it to evaluate opportunities 🧭 Let it guide your micro-moves (e.g. conversations, courses, roles, shifts) ✅ Final Thought: You Don’t Need to Know It All ... You Just Need to Know What’s Driving You Clarity doesn’t come from pressure, it comes from alignment.When you understand what’s motivating your desire for change, you don’t need to force a plan—you just need to follow the pull. Your next move starts with knowing what matters most.Let that be your direction. Respondr are here to support and guide you, allow you to understand your options, connect you with the right support and resources. Click on the link below to join the Respondr Network.

🧠 What’s It About? The Squiggly Career offers a fresh take on career development in today’s world, especially relevant for first responders whose paths rarely look “typical.” The authors challenge the outdated idea of climbing a straight ladder toward success and instead introduce a flexible, self-guided approach where growth happens in many directions. For paramedics and frontline workers, where roles are highly structured and the path to advancement can feel narrow, this book opens up new possibilities. Whether you're on leave, stepping back, stepping sideways, or just feeling stuck, this book reminds you: you're not off-track ... you’re just taking the scenic route. 🔍 Why It Matters for First Responders Many paramedics feel the tension between wanting more, more balance, more meaning, more progression, and feeling boxed in by rigid systems or expectations. This book shows you how to take control of your career, based on what matters most to you, not the system. It’s especially useful if: You’re returning from time off and asking, “What’s next?” You feel ready for change but aren’t sure how to begin You’re exploring roles outside the traditional on-road structure You want to grow, but not necessarily “move up” 🔑 Key Lessons You Can Apply 1. 💡 Identify Your “Super Strengths” Instead of focusing on what’s next in title or rank, the authors encourage identifying your core strengths, the skills that energise you and come naturally. Respondr Tip:List the things you’re good at that don’t rely on your clinical title. This might be: Communicating under pressure Teaching new colleagues Advocating for patients Building trust fast 👉 These strengths can shape your next move ... even in unexpected fields. 2. 🎯 Let Values Be Your Compass When you hit a turning point, values keep you grounded. The book gives tools to help clarify your top 3 values so you can make aligned choices, not reactive ones. Respondr Tip:Ask: What kind of work makes me proud?Look for patterns. That’s your values at work and your career compass. 3. 🔄 Explore Without Pressure The authors introduce the concept of “career experiments”, small, low-stakes actions that help you test new directions. Respondr Tip:Try one of these this month: Shadow someone in a different team Volunteer for a non-clinical project Take a short course in something non-medical Join a conversation with someone who’s stepped off-road You don’t have to commit to a change to explore it. 4. 🧠 Manage “Career Gremlins” (Your Inner Critics) One powerful insight from the book is identifying and naming the beliefs that hold you back, like “I’m behind” or “I should stick with what I know.” Once you name them, you can challenge them. Respondr Tip:What’s one career belief you’ve been carrying that no longer serves you?Write it down, then reframe it. (e.g. “I’m starting late” → “I’m starting now, and that’s enough.”) 💬 Reflection Prompts: Where in my career do I feel boxed in and how might I explore outside the lines? What’s a “squiggly” move I’ve already made that taught me something valuable? If I removed all expectations, what would I love to try next? ✅ Final Takeaway: Your Career Doesn’t Have to Be Straight to Be Successful You’re not lost. You’re exploring. And in paramedicine, where growth often feels linear and rigid, The Squiggly Career is a reminder that real success is shaped by self-awareness, curiosity, and courage, not titles, ladders, or fixed timelines. Wherever you’re at .... this is still your path. You get to shape it. You can access The Squiggly Career: Ditch the Ladder, Discover Opportunity, Design Your Career by Helen Tupper & Sarah Ellis via print, digital or audio format.

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to plan your next career move, you’re not alone. Many first responders reflect deeply on their values, wellbeing, and identity, but then freeze when it comes to decision-making. Not because they’re unmotivated, but because they’re unclear about what to optimise for. Should I be chasing progression? More stability? Less pressure? A better fit? The answer depends on what you need right now. And that starts with understanding this simple truth:👉 You can’t map a career direction without first knowing what success means to you right now. 🔍 What Does “Optimising” Even Mean? When we say “optimising,” we’re talking about what you’re intentionally prioritising in your next career decision. In any moment, you can design your career to prioritise: ⚖️ Balance (time, flexibility, predictability) 📈 Growth (learning, new roles, skill-building) 🌱 Recovery (healing, reducing load, space to reset) 🎯 Purpose (alignment, impact, contribution) 🛠 Security (structure, income, benefits, stability) Trying to optimise for all of them at once usually leads to frustration and indecision.But when you choose one or two that matter most in this season, everything gets clearer. 🧭 How to Discover What You’re Optimising For Here are three quick reflection exercises to help clarify what you need your next move to give you: 1. 🔄 The “What’s Missing” Scan Ask yourself: What feels lacking in my current role or routine? What’s draining my energy the most right now? What am I craving, even if I haven’t admitted it out loud? ➡️ These answers often reveal the gap between your current state and what you wish you were optimising for. 2. 🪞 The “Best Moment” Reflection Think back to a time in the past year where you felt fulfilled or energised at work or in life. Ask: What made that moment feel right? Was it who I was helping, how I was working, or how I felt in myself? ➡️ This points toward the conditions where you thrive, which is what you should be aiming to rebuild more of. 3. 🎯 The “Gut Check” Test When you think about your options or next steps, which ones feel: Most exciting—even if they feel a little scary? Most peaceful—even if they seem less impressive? Most aligned—even if they don’t follow a traditional path? ➡️ Your gut often knows what your head is trying to rationalise. Follow it. 🗺️ How This Helps You Plan Once you identify what you’re optimising for, you can: Filter opportunities more clearly (e.g. “This job sounds good, but doesn’t offer the balance I need”) Make decisions faster, with less overthinking Set boundaries that protect your progress (e.g. “No to more shifts right now—yes to building long-term capacity”) Build confidence that your path reflects you, not just what others expect 💬 What Your Thoughts May Look Like “After burnout, I realised I wasn’t chasing rank, I was chasing recovery. So I moved to part-time and started therapy. That was my growth.” “I thought I wanted a promotion, but what I really wanted was impact, so I shifted into education.” “I stopped saying yes to more overtime because I realised I was optimising for stability, not pressure.” ✅ Final Takeaway: Clarity Starts with What You’re Optimising For You don’t have to chase what everyone else is chasing.You just need to get honest about what you need and what you're building toward right now. Because once you know what you’re optimising for, your next move isn’t a gamble. It’s aligned. Respondr are here to support and guide you, allow you to understand your options, connect you with the right support and resources. Click on the link below to join the Respondr Network.

Big career leaps can be powerful.But for most paramedics, real change starts with micro-moves—small, intentional actions that help you grow, explore, and shift direction, all while staying grounded in your current role. These are the stepping stones that build confidence, spark insight, and lead to bigger opportunities, without needing to leave the job. 💡 What Is a Micro-Move? It’s a small, meaningful action that creates forward momentum in your career. Micro-moves are: ✅ Low pressure ✅ Time flexible ✅ Actionable this week ✅ Aligned with your personal goals They’re especially valuable if you’re: Feeling stuck but unsure what’s next Returning from time away Looking to grow without burning out Exploring future options while staying on-road 🔑 7 Micro-Moves to Try This Month 1. 🤝 Mentor a Junior Colleague Passing on your knowledge sharpens your own. It builds confidence, leadership, and reconnects you with your purpose. Try this: Offer to debrief or support a new team member after a shift. 2. 🎓 Take a Short Course or Module Choose something inside, or outside, of paramedicine. Learning something new can spark ideas and remind you of your potential. Try this: Look for free or low-cost online modules in leadership, communication, trauma recovery, or wellbeing. 3. 👥 Shadow Another Role Interested in education, management, or extended care? See it firsthand. Try this: Ask a team leader or educator if you can sit in on part of their week or join a session. 4. 📄 Start Documenting Your Career Journey Whether it’s journaling, blogging, or private reflection, documenting your experiences builds awareness—and often reveals direction. Try this: Start a simple note titled “Career Clarity.” Write one observation per shift about what energised or drained you. 5. 📢 Join a Project or Working Group Most organisations have small initiatives, health and wellbeing, rostering, protocol review. Stepping into one can grow your skills and broaden your network. Try this: Ask your manager if any side projects need support, you don’t have to lead, just contribute. 6. 🚫 Say “No” to Something That Doesn’t Fit Anymore Career growth isn’t just about adding, it’s about editing. Letting go of something draining can open space for something better. Try this: Identify one recurring task or extra responsibility that’s no longer aligned, and discuss ways to transition out. 7. ☕ Have One Honest Career Conversation You don’t have to do this alone. One good conversation with someone you trust can unlock clarity and direction. Try this: Set up a 15-minute chat with a mentor, educator, or supportive colleague. 🧭 Final Takeaway: You don’t have to change jobs to change direction.➡️ Start with what’s in reach. Start with what’s real.And trust that your next move can be made one micro-step at a time. Respondr are here to support and guide you, allow you to understand your options, connect you with the right support and resources. Click on the link below to join the Respondr Network.