Creating a Clear Career Vision: Why Clarity Matters

Your Career Vision Is Your CPG Compass (Here's How to Find It)

"I'm so busy putting out fires, I don't even know what I want anymore."

She managed three major brands at a Fortune 500 CPG company. Crushed every KPI. And felt completely lost.

"When's the last time you thought about where you're going?" I asked. "Not just your next role. Your actual destination."

Silence.

That's when I knew. She didn't need another job. She needed a vision.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗣𝗚 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁

We're so good at managing complexity, we forget to manage our careers.

You can tell me the exact margin on every SKU in your portfolio. But can you tell me where you want to be in five years? Not your title. Your impact.

Most CPGers operate on autopilot:
• Take the promotion because it's offered
• Switch companies for 20% more
• Follow the traditional path because... that's the path

Then wake up at 45 wondering how they got here.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

That brand manager who felt lost? We spent two hours mapping her vision. Not her resume. Her vision.

What emerged:
She didn't want to be a CMO. She wanted to build sustainable brands that her kids would be proud of.

That clarity changed her entire approach:
• Stopped chasing every senior role
• Started targeting B-Corps and sustainable brands
• Turned down a VP role at a snack company
• Landed a Director role at a plant-based startup

Less money. More alignment. Zero regrets.

Here's what clarity actually does:

1. Makes Decisions Simple
When Pepsi called, she knew in 30 seconds it wasn't aligned. No agonizing. No FOMO. Just clarity.

2. Creates Magnetic Energy
People who know where they're going attract opportunities. She had three companies create roles for her. They wanted her vision, not just her skills.

3. Builds Resilience
When the startup hit tough times, she didn't panic. She knew why she was there. Purpose beats paycheck in the tough moments.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽

Step 1: The Mirror Test
Write down what energizes you. Not your job description. The actual work that makes time disappear.

One client discovered she didn't love brand management. She loved teaching junior marketers. Now she runs L&D at a major CPG. Vision found.

Step 2: The Legacy Question
"What do I want to be known for?"
Not your LinkedIn headline. Your professional legacy.

Step 3: The Alignment Audit
List your last five career decisions. How many moved you toward your vision? How many were reactive?

The pattern will shock you.

Step 4: The Network Build
Find five people living your vision. Connect. Learn. Most are surprisingly accessible.

Step 5: The Courage Choice
Vision without action is just dreaming. Pick one thing that moves you closer. Do it this week.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲

You can manage multi-million dollar brands. You can navigate the complexity of Walmart resets. You can lead cross-functional teams through impossible deadlines.

But if you can't articulate where you're going, you're just a highly skilled wanderer.

That brand manager? She just texted me a photo from her company's sustainability summit. "This is exactly where I'm supposed to be," she wrote.

Not because it was easy. Because it was aligned.

Your move: Block 2 hours this week. No emails. No fires. Just you and the question: "What do I actually want my career to create?"

The answer might surprise you.

What's one career decision you made from clarity instead of opportunity?