127: The $100K Shift: Why Working 'ON' Your Career (vs 'IN' it) Changes Everything

Applied to 50+ UX or Product jobs & still no interviews or offers? Get UX job search help .

Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who founded the UX job search accelerator, Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

Still stuck in job search mode even though you’re “doing all the right things”? This episode might explain why.

What if the problem isn’t how hard you’re working—but what you’re working on?

In this episode, Sarah unpacks one of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make in your career: moving from working in your career (busywork, perfectionism, burnout) to working on it (strategy, clarity, confidence). Drawing from her own business experience and the journeys of UX professionals she’s coached, Sarah shows you how to stop spinning your wheels and start making high-leverage decisions that move your career forward.

✔️The difference between working in vs. on your career or job search

✔️ Why busy doesn’t equal progress—and what to do instead

✔️ The costly habits that keep you stuck (like redesigning your resume for the 10th time)

✔️ How to zoom out and make more strategic, long-term career decisions

✔️ What cupcake bakers, physical therapists, and UX designers have in common

✔️ 3 reflection questions to help you shift into CEO mode for your career

00:00 Introduction: Troubleshooting Formulas and Business Insights

01:47 Starting My First Business: The Journey Begins

02:13 The Importance of Working On Your Business

03:22 Examples of Working In vs. On Your Business

09:40 Applying Business Strategies to Your Career

17:43 Actionable Tips for Career Growth

21:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Feeling scattered or stuck in your UX career? Join Sarah Doody for a f<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-