If there’s one universal truth about careers, it’s this: curveballs are guaranteed. Sometimes they arrive quietly — a restructure, a new boss, a sudden change in strategy. Sometimes they land like a meteor — redundancies, market shifts, acquisitions, or an opportunity you didn’t plan for but can’t ignore.
Most of us spend years trying to design the “perfect” career path, only to discover that real progression comes from how we handle the unexpected.
Here’s what I’ve learned about navigating the moments you didn’t see coming:
1. Don’t panic. Pause.
A curveball triggers instinct: protect, react, fix, do something immediately. But the first move should be the opposite.
Take a breath. Step back. Gather data, not drama.
A calm mind sees options a panicked mind misses.
2. Ask: “What is this really telling me?”
Not every curveball is a crisis. Sometimes it’s a nudge. Sometimes it’s a sign you’ve outgrown your role. Sometimes it’s the universe doing the thing you didn’t have the courage to do yourself.
Reframe it: - Is this an opportunity disguised as disruption? - What door does this close — and which does it quietly open?
3. Control the controllables
You can’t control restructures. You can’t control market conditions. You can’t control someone else’s decision.
But you can control:
- Your response - Your mindset - Your visibility - Your network - Your next move
This is where career resilience is built.
4. Protect your confidence — it’s your career currency
Curveballs often hit the ego more than the CV.
Remind yourself:
- Your track record didn’t evaporate - Your capability didn’t disappear - Your value didn’t suddenly decline
Confidence doesn’t mean pretending to be unfazed. It means reminding yourself that you’ve handled much worse — and you’re still standing.
5. Have the awkward conversations
Career curveballs often come with ambiguity. Resolve it quickly.
Ask the direct questions others avoid:
- “What does this mean for my role?” - “What’s the timeline?” - “Where do you see my contribution moving forward?” - “What options do I have internally and externally?”
Clarity beats speculation every time.
6. Activate your network before you need it
The worst time to start reaching out is when you're already in free-fall.
A quick message, coffee, or call can reignite opportunities faster than any job board ever will.
Your network is your safety net — but only if you maintain it.
7. Remember: careers are rarely linear
Straight-line careers look great on LinkedIn but don’t exist in real life.
The most successful people — the ones with the most interesting stories and the most influential roles — all have:
- detours - derailments - unexpected promotions - sudden shifts - leaps of faith
The curveballs were the turning points.
8. Use it as a chance to upgrade
Every disruption gives you leverage:
- Upgrading your skills - Rethinking your direction - Positioning yourself for the next level - Reinforcing boundaries - Leaving a stagnant environment
Sometimes the curveball isn’t an obstacle — it’s the opening act for the next chapter.
Final thought: Curveballs don’t break careers. They build them.
Your career isn’t defined by the plans you make. It’s defined by how you adapt when those plans get rewritten.
The people who progress fastest aren’t the ones who avoid disruption — they’re the ones who know how to turn disruption into momentum.
And if you’ve lived long enough, you already know: Sometimes the thing you didn’t want is the exact thing that pushes you where you actually need to be.
At Laurence Simons we have almost 40 years of experience of helping clients and candidates enrich their careers. If you would like to have a discussion in how we can support you build your team in compliance, privacy, legal or risk please do get in touch.