Career Barriers I've Already Overcome

At the start of my career, around the age of 20-22, I was honestly just going with the flow. I didn’t have a clear plan for what exactly I wanted to do or where I wanted to end up. Today, I watch Gen Z young professionals with admiration—they have such a clear vision of the exact job and workplace they want. At their age, I was nowhere near as intentional. I was simply proud to have landed a job at a well-known multinational company, happy to have great colleagues, and glad that work ended on time. That’s how my first few years passed. But life had other plans, and I had to try myself at different fields. It turned out to be a valuable lesson, helping me understand what I truly wanted to do—and, just as importantly, what I didn’t.

Not long after that realization, my first daughter was born, and I stepped away from work for four years. Just when I had figured out what I wanted to do! 🙂

So, how does this tie into the barriers I’ve overcome? Well, I only became aware of these barriers when I returned from maternity leave. I had missed the years when my colleagues were building their careers—they had advanced significantly, while I wanted to catch up immediately. But that’s not how it works. They had worked hard for their progress while I was home with my children. Fortunately, soon I found my way to prove what I'm able to achieve with my talent and skills. I built relationships both inside and outside the company, started seeing results, received positive feedback, and enjoyed my work. But I still hadn’t caught up to Them—those with a four-year head start.

I always felt like I was lagging behind, as if I would never reach their level. I kept waiting for someone to notice this and stand up for me, to advocate on my behalf. In an ideal world, simply delivering results and meeting (or exceeding) expectations should be enough. But in reality, it’s not that simple. Many people meet those expectations, and leaders have a tough job when deciding who will be THAT ONE this year.

It took time, but I eventually realized that no one was going to stand up for me—I had to do it myself. I had to take responsibility and learn to express what I wanted. Several barriers emerged here:

• The need for validation – Seeking external recognition to confirm my abilities and achievements.

• The victim mentality – Thinking about how others had advanced while I fell behind, even though, in reality, I was grateful for the time I spent at home and for having a job to return to.

• Lack of assertive communication – Talking about my own performance, taking responsibility, and articulating what I wanted to achieve turned out to be harder than I expected.

It’s important to note that these barriers weren’t created by my environment—they existed only in my head. I never had any real reason not to ask, not to speak up, or not to take initiative. What I’ve learned over the past few years is that if something exists only in my mind, I’m the only one who can overcome it. I could wait for external validation, rescue, or solutions—but for problems I create for myself, only I can take action.

How Did I Overcome These Barriers?

Through learning, taking deep breaths, and staying focused on my goals. The deep breaths helped my soul, while learning and defining my goals helped me make conscious decisions—and still do.

Do these feelings sound familiar? Have you been in a similar situation or are you currently trying to push through it? I hope it helps if I share the practical steps I took to break through these barriers:

Find Supporters!

Others won’t solve your problems for you, but they can help—a lot! Since the beginning of my career, I’ve consciously sought people with whom I could build trusting relationships within the corporate environment—relationships that offer mutual support in achieving our goals. Having someone to share your workplace struggles with—someone who knows the environment, knows you, and wants the best for you—is incredibly valuable. These relationships may not always be friendships in the traditional sense, but they possess one of the most important qualities of true friendship: They won’t just tell you what you want to hear. Instead, they’ll provide an external perspective—one you likely wouldn’t be able to see yourself. To me, that’s priceless.

Weigh the Consequences—What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

In difficult situations, it’s hard to stay objective—emotions can easily take control of your actions. When I’m in such situations, I take a step back and truly think: What’s the worst that could happen if I go through with this decision? More importantly, how bad is that worst-case scenario, really? In most cases, it’s actually not that bad.

Take this example: You want a promotion, but you’re afraid to ask for it (a typical pattern among women, unfortunately). What are you actually afraid of? Most likely, rejection—that the answer will be "no." But what does “no” really mean? That everything stays exactly as it is. So, is it worth trying? Absolutely—you have nothing to lose, only to gain.

Celebrate Small Wins

Every time you break through a barrier, you’re actually overcoming yourself. These barriers aren’t always huge—sometimes, they’re just high enough that a small step can get you over them. But that doesn’t make them any less intimidating.

For example:

• Presenting an idea in a meeting, even though you fear others will think it’s stupid.

• Saying “no” to something you feel isn’t your responsibility.

These small steps, when taken consistently, lay the foundation for overcoming bigger barriers. And it’s crucial to acknowledge these small victories. Say them out loud to yourself, write them down, share them with your supporters, and use them to build your confidence. No one started the high jump by setting a world record. 🙂

What Barriers Are Holding You Back in Your Career?

Which ones have you already conquered?