Career on Autopilot, But You Can’t Just Walk Away? You’re Not Alone.

There comes a point in many Markets careers where the chase slows down. You’ve hit the targets, banked the bonuses and because of team or organisational structure you can’t go any further up the ladder. Adrenaline shows up some days, but hunger and motivation? Not like before. And yet… leaving isn’t really an option. So what do you do when you feel like you’ve outgrown the game but still need to play? Martina Doherty discusses.

I speak to many experienced and senior markets professionals on a regular basis and a recurring theme that crops up is how they often feel stuck in their careers with nowhere to go. They’ve built up real capital – not just financial, but personal brand capital – and are known for what they do, and just as importantly the lifestyle that they have worked for is very difficult to walk away from.

To the men and women in this position, rest assured you’re not alone – and you’re definitely not lost. You’re simply in a quiet transition that most people never talk about until it’s behind them.

The Ripple Effect: You’re Still a Role Model, Even If You Won’t Feel Like One

Here’s something no one talks about enough: when employees who have been in a job for a long period disengage, the impact spreads.

Younger talent watches everything – not just trade ideas or an impressive P&L, but the posture, tone and energy of their seniors. They’re decoding the unspoken message, Is this what success looks like? Is this where I want to be in 10/15/20 years from now?

If the signal they get is, “Stick around for the money, not the mission,” it shapes their mindset, and not in a good way. It drains ambition, fuels quiet quitting and chips away at team culture in ways that no HR dashboard can detect.

Retention of rising stars might look solid on paper., but in reality? If experienced and more senior colleagues are oozing demotivation and an “I don’t care’ attitude, discretionary effort in junior employees drops. Curiosity fades, innovation slows, and eventually, the best and brightest juniors start looking elsewhere – not for better pay, but for leaders and teams who still care.

So, you are cruising your way to retirement and think no one really cares? Don’t underestimate the influence that’s having on the workplace culture and the people around you.

What’s the solution?

Some advice that I regularly share with clients and ex-colleagues who find themselves in this position.

1. Don’t Panic – The feeling is both normal and manageable

That unsettled feeling? It’s not unique to you. Hitting a career peak without a next goal is not unusual, nor is it necessarily a signal to quit. It’s just a sign to shift your thinking. You’ve moved out of the build phase of your career – and now you’re in the define phase. The question isn’t “what’s my next win?” but “what’s worth investing in now?”

Your early success may have been about P&L, recognition, and resilience. Now, it may be about legacy, autonomy, and impact and that doesn’t have to mean giving up ambition – it just means changing the scoreboard. What if that is now about mentoring someone into a leadership role you once held? Or being the voice in the room that brings clarity – not just going with the consensus because you want to play the game?

2. Teach what you know – it’s more valuable than you think.

If you’re feeling like you’ve “done it all,” that can actually be your edge. Even if you haven’t held a particularly senior position, you’ve seen enough cycles to know what matters. Don’t underestimate how powerful it is to share that. Whether through mentoring, internal training, or even just talking openly about your career journey, experiences and the challenges along the way, it’s really valuable experience to share with those coming through the ranks.

That sharing also doesn’t have to be limited to your workplace or professional environment – get involved with local schools, sports clubs or anything else that you may have been interested in before, but never felt you had the time. You no longer have to be the first one at your desk in the morning or last one to leave, so use that time to find something that can re-engage you – AND re-inspire others. 

You could even do it during working hours since most organisations have volunteering programmes which is easy to get involved in, and as an added benefit, employee volunteering has been proven to positively impact well-being, boost morale and reduce stress so everyone involved can benefit!

Final Thought

Let’s be honest, working in markets come with rewards – financial and social – which makes walking away pretty difficult. But if you’ve reached a point where your goals feel blurry yet financial obligations are fixed, you don’t need to blow up your life or force a reinvention. Instead of “rusting out” (a form of workplace stress characterised by chronic boredom and disengagement due to a lack of stimulating or challenging work) or drifting into cynicism that can have repercussions far beyond you, look for ways to rebalance. Look to take on projects that energise you and step back from what doesn’t.

Because even if you’ve stopped chasing, others are still chasing you as the model of what’s possible.

Martina Doherty is an independent business psychologist, coach and trainer, and founder of MD Consulting