Ask Katy: Career Setbacks, First 90 Days and Escaping the “Second Job Trap”

April 28, 2025

Feeling stuck after a career setback? Drowning in your first 90 days? In this Ask Katy episode, I tackle your burning questions about bouncing back from disappointment, mastering your first 90 days, and escaping the "second job trap" that's keeping you from promotion.

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Episode Summary
Feeling stuck after a career setback? Drowning in your first 90 days? In this Ask Katy episode, I tackle your burning questions about bouncing back from disappointment, mastering your first 90 days, and escaping the "second job trap" that's keeping you from promotion. Plus, DM me if you have a coaching question you'd like answered!

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

  • A four-step framework to overcome career disappointments without losing your motivation (including when it's actually okay to wallow!)
  • My proven 30-60-90 day roadmap for excelling in a new leadership role—including what to prioritize and when to make strategic changes
  • How to escape the "second job trap" that's burning you out and blocking your promotion (with a practical task audit method)
  • Why women are 30% more likely to take on non-promotable tasks and how to break this pattern
  • The counterintuitive leadership approach that impressed senior executives when I stepped into VP and EVP roles
Remember, your career is not your whole life—and sometimes the best way to advance is to do less, not more.

 

…LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVO!

Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there’s room for all of us at the table.

Hi, I’m Katy McFee
A former VP and EVP who knows how hard it is to break into executive leadership. After years of feeling stuck, I figured it out and now, as a certified executive coach, I help other women do the same. I’ve supported hundreds in landing the promotions they deserve with strategies that make success achievable, without the years of trial and error.