The “In-Between Projects” ended up becoming a 5 week long Solo trip to Japan — Here’s How She Reset Without Losing Momentum.

Let’s talk about a different kind of career move:

Not the promotion

Not the resignation

Not the pivot.

But the intentional pause.

One of our clients—a high-performing strategist in her late 30s—came to consultation in what many would call a lull. Her last contracting project had just ended. No next gig lined up. No clear plan yet. And yet… she wasn’t burnt out. She wasn’t lost.

She was ready to do something bold with the in-between.

Instead of scrambling to fill the gap with another job, she used our sessions to craft something smarter: A 5-week solo journey through Japan.

Not a "break."Not an escape.But an active sabbatical.

The Myth of the Pause

Let’s debunk the fear: Taking a pause doesn’t mean you’re falling behind.

In fact, done deliberately, it can be the most strategic move in your career.

The key difference? Intention.

This wasn’t about zoning out. It was about zooming in.

What She Did — and Why It Worked

In coaching, we mapped out a clear container:

Purpose: Learn something new, push beyond comfort, engage her curiosity. Travel to a place never visited before

Boundaries: No job boards. No passive LinkedIn scrolling.

Experiences: Tokyo street food tour, Kyoto tea ceremony, a local cooking class in Fukuoka, Hot springs in Kyushu.

Practices: Daily journaling. Long walks without GPS. Saying yes to unexpected conversations.

The result?

Confidence: She didn’t wait to “figure things out”—she designed a chapter worth remembering.

Creativity: By the end of week 3, she had 3 new business ideas (2 still in motion).

Clarity: She came back knowing exactly which type of work she never wants to do again.

No momentum was lost—because the sabbatical was the momentum.

What This Teaches Us

Most professionals are taught to think in two gears: Work hard or rest up.

But there’s a third, often-ignored zone: The active sabbatical.

It’s not about stepping out—it’s about stepping consciously aside.

Long enough to get perspective.Clear enough to return with direction.

This doesn’t happen by accident.It happens by design.

Coaching Is the Catalyst

How Coaching helped her:

Name the desire before burnout hit

Craft the structure that made the trip meaningful, not meandering

Return with clarity, not confusion

When we stop treating time off as a failure and start treating it as part of the strategy, we reclaim our agency as leaders.

Ask Yourself

What if your next big idea isn’t in your inbox—but in a small alley in Osaka?

What if your clarity doesn’t come from grinding—but from getting on a train you’ve never taken before?

What if your most productive quarter starts with a passport, not a pitch deck?

This is your permission slip.Not to escape your career.But to lead it—differently.

And if you're ready to design your own active sabbatical (no matter how long), you know where to find me.

Let’s plan your most strategic reset yet!