Don’t Get Stuck at 40,000 Feet: Build Your Career Emergency Exit

Last week, I was flying to Spain when, soon after takeoff, I asked the flight attendant, “Excuse me, where’s the emergency exit?” She smiled politely and said, “I’m sorry, there is no emergency exit on this plane.”

How would you feel? Safe? Relaxed? Or suddenly very aware that you’re stuck in the air, with no way out?

Thankfully, it was just a lucid dream in the middle of turbulence, but that unsettling feeling is exactly how many of us feel about our careers right now. Our mortgages, our families, our lives all depend on the stability of a job that has never felt more unsafe.

For decades, we were taught that a stable job was a safe bet. Find one, stay loyal, don’t rock the boat, and everything will be fine. But the reality is different. Jobs today are fluid. Companies change direction overnight. Technology disrupts whole industries. The old sense of job security feels like a myth.

I spend a lot of time with companies that struggle to find committed people; but at the same time, they know they can no longer guarantee long-term stability like they did in the past. That tension is real, and while it’s rarely spoken about openly, it often comes up behind closed doors.

Yet, too often, we are on the other side, running more and more every day, without ever pausing to consider what we’d do if things changed.

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be trapped. You can build your own emergency exit.

Not because you want to run away from your job or because you’re unhappy. Quite the opposite. Having a Plan B is an act of confidence and care. It frees you to be fully present where you are, knowing you’re ready for whatever comes next.

This is how to do it:

1. Start with what you’re already good at. Look at the skills you use daily: communication, problem-solving, project management, or technical abilities. These are your foundation. By deepening and expanding these skills, you can perform better today and create opportunities for tomorrow. Developing what you know feels natural and energising, and it often opens unexpected doors.

That presentation you’re always asked to lead? Try refining it into a repeatable framework. The tool you troubleshoot daily? Get certified in it.

2. Explore what energises you. What new skills or knowledge excite you? Is there a technology, leadership style, or creative approach you’ve been curious about? Learning with genuine interest keeps you engaged and can both enhance your current role and prepare you for future possibilities. This curiosity-driven growth is what keeps work fresh and meaningful.

Sign up for a workshop that feels slightly outside your comfort zone. Follow someone whose work inspires you and start paying attention to what clicks.

3. Build quietly but consistently. Even small steps add up. Maybe it’s taking an online course, updating your LinkedIn, or networking with people outside your immediate circle. These steady moves expand your runway, giving you options and clarity without disrupting your day-to-day life. Over time, this momentum creates freedom and confidence.

Set aside one hour a week to invest in your future self, and treat it like a meeting you can’t skip.

Having a Plan B isn’t about fear. It’s about freedom.

Freedom to love your job deeply, because you’re choosing it, not trapped by it. Freedom to say yes to new challenges without anxiety or hesitation. Freedom to grow and evolve without being stuck in survival mode.

Because the best way to enjoy flying is knowing you can always land safely.

With Care,

Serena

Want to explore how your own runway might look? I’m not taking on new clients until September, so this is the best time to have a quick chat now to know what’s possible when you’re ready. Have a look here