Newsletter # 012
The silent killer of high performers’ careers
March 11, 2025
Written By: Misha Rubin
5 Signs You’re Quiet-Quitting Without Realizing It
In this issue, we’re uncovering a blind spot many executives don’t see—quiet quitting without realizing it.
You’ll learn:
➜ How to spot the signs early
➜ The long-term impact on your career
➜ Practical steps to reverse it before it’s too late
The earlier you catch it, the more options you have. Let’s dive in.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
Most people think quiet quitting means doing the bare minimum. But for executives and high performers, it looks very different.
It happens when:
• You stay busy but aren’t moving forward.
• You hit your goals but stop pushing for bigger impact.
• You let months—or years—pass without leveling up.
And the cost?
❌ Regret: You wake up wondering, Where did all that time go?
❌ Lost opportunities: The most exciting projects and promotions go to those who stay engaged.
❌ Career drift: One day, you realize your skills are outdated—and the market has moved on without you.
Quiet quitting doesn’t just stall your career. It steals your future.
5 Signs to Recognize Quiet-Quitting Before It’s Too Late
Sign 1: You’re managing, not leading.
You’re running teams, hitting targets, and keeping things moving—but you’re not shaping the future.
The Consequence:
➧ Leaders who don’t drive strategy get sidelined. The ones who set direction, influence culture, and push bold ideas are the ones who get tapped for the biggest roles.
➧ If you’re only managing the present, someone else is deciding the future.
⚡Your Move:
• Ask yourself: What’s one change I want to lead in my company this year?
• Make a visibility plan—who needs to see your leadership in action?
Sign 2: Your network is becoming narrow.
You’ve built strong relationships inside your company, but you’re not actively expanding your network outside of it—or vice versa.
The Consequence:
➧ Inside the company: Without internal advocates, you miss out on high-visibility projects and promotions.
➧ Outside the company: When you need a career move, your options are limited because your external network is cold.
⚡Your Move:
Inside Your Company:
• Identify the top decision-makers and influencers in your organization. Who knows your work? Who doesn’t—but should? - Set up one strategic conversation this month.
Outside Your Company:
• If you lost your job tomorrow, who are the five people you’d call? If your list is short, start fixing that now. Reach out to one industry leader this week.
Sign 3: You’re executing, not innovating.
You’re great at delivering—but you’re not challenging the status quo.
The Consequence:
➧ Execution keeps you relevant today—but reinvention is what keeps you indispensable tomorrow.
➧ Leaders who don’t question, evolve, and create new value get replaced by those who do.
⚡Your Move:
• Identify one inefficient process in your team. How can you challenge it?
• Look at AI, automation, or industry trends. What’s one big shift coming that you need to prepare for?
Sign 4: You’re comfortable with stability.
You’re good at what you do, your role is secure, and you don’t feel the urgency to shake things up.
The Consequence:
➧ Today’s comfort is tomorrow’s vulnerability.
➧ Many executives don’t realize they’ve fallen behind until it’s too late to pivot.
⚡Your Move:
• Ask: If my company restructured today, would they fight to keep me?
• Audit your market value—if you had to find a new job tomorrow, how strong would your positioning be?
Sign 5: You’re reacting instead of designing your career.
If someone asked, Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years? your honest answer would be “I have no idea.”
The Consequence:
➧ The longer you stay without a plan, the harder it is to leave.
➧ If you don’t actively design your career, you’ll end up following someone else’s agenda.
⚡ Your Move:
• Write down three career paths you could take in the next five years.
• Start testing options before you need them—the best career moves come from a position of power, not panic.
⏳ The clock is always ticking.
Most careers don’t crash overnight.
They fade into irrelevance one passive year at a time.
“Ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.” – William G.T. Shedd
YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT
✅ Identify one sign you recognize in yourself and take action this week.
✅ Share this with someone who might need a wake-up call.
Have you seen these signs in your own career? Hit reply and let me know.
To what's next,
In this issue, we’re uncovering a blind spot many executives don’t see—quiet quitting without realizing it.
You’ll learn:
➜ How to spot the signs early
➜ The long-term impact on your career
➜ Practical steps to reverse it before it’s too late
The earlier you catch it, the more options you have. Let’s dive in.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
Most people think quiet quitting means doing the bare minimum. But for executives and high performers, it looks very different.
It happens when:
• You stay busy but aren’t moving forward.
• You hit your goals but stop pushing for bigger impact.
• You let months—or years—pass without leveling up.
And the cost?
❌ Regret: You wake up wondering, Where did all that time go?
❌ Lost opportunities: The most exciting projects and promotions go to those who stay engaged.
❌ Career drift: One day, you realize your skills are outdated—and the market has moved on without you.
Quiet quitting doesn’t just stall your career. It steals your future.
5 Signs to Recognize Quiet-Quitting Before It’s Too Late
Sign 1: You’re managing, not leading.
You’re running teams, hitting targets, and keeping things moving—but you’re not shaping the future.
The Consequence:
➧ Leaders who don’t drive strategy get sidelined. The ones who set direction, influence culture, and push bold ideas are the ones who get tapped for the biggest roles.
➧ If you’re only managing the present, someone else is deciding the future.
⚡Your Move:
• Ask yourself: What’s one change I want to lead in my company this year?
• Make a visibility plan—who needs to see your leadership in action?
Sign 2: Your network is becoming narrow.
You’ve built strong relationships inside your company, but you’re not actively expanding your network outside of it—or vice versa.
The Consequence:
➧ Inside the company: Without internal advocates, you miss out on high-visibility projects and promotions.
➧ Outside the company: When you need a career move, your options are limited because your external network is cold.
⚡Your Move:
Inside Your Company:
• Identify the top decision-makers and influencers in your organization. Who knows your work? Who doesn’t—but should? - Set up one strategic conversation this month.
Outside Your Company:
• If you lost your job tomorrow, who are the five people you’d call? If your list is short, start fixing that now. Reach out to one industry leader this week.
Sign 3: You’re executing, not innovating.
You’re great at delivering—but you’re not challenging the status quo.
The Consequence:
➧ Execution keeps you relevant today—but reinvention is what keeps you indispensable tomorrow.
➧ Leaders who don’t question, evolve, and create new value get replaced by those who do.
⚡Your Move:
• Identify one inefficient process in your team. How can you challenge it?
• Look at AI, automation, or industry trends. What’s one big shift coming that you need to prepare for?
Sign 4: You’re comfortable with stability.
You’re good at what you do, your role is secure, and you don’t feel the urgency to shake things up.
The Consequence:
➧ Today’s comfort is tomorrow’s vulnerability.
➧ Many executives don’t realize they’ve fallen behind until it’s too late to pivot.
⚡Your Move:
• Ask: If my company restructured today, would they fight to keep me?
• Audit your market value—if you had to find a new job tomorrow, how strong would your positioning be?
Sign 5: You’re reacting instead of designing your career.
If someone asked, Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years? your honest answer would be “I have no idea.”
The Consequence:
➧ The longer you stay without a plan, the harder it is to leave.
➧ If you don’t actively design your career, you’ll end up following someone else’s agenda.
⚡ Your Move:
• Write down three career paths you could take in the next five years.
• Start testing options before you need them—the best career moves come from a position of power, not panic.
⏳ The clock is always ticking.
Most careers don’t crash overnight.
They fade into irrelevance one passive year at a time.
“Ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.” – William G.T. Shedd
YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT
✅ Identify one sign you recognize in yourself and take action this week.
✅ Share this with someone who might need a wake-up call.
Have you seen these signs in your own career? Hit reply and let me know.
To what's next,
Misha Rubin
What's-Next Coach
What's-Next Coach
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Here are a few ways to further level up your career when you’re ready:
Here are a few ways to further level up your career when you’re ready:
NEW!
Executive Positioning Audit: In just 5 minutes, uncover what most execs never pause to ask—how you’re truly positioned for your next big role.
It’s a shortcut to clarity: where you stand, what’s missing, and how to shift it—fast.
Career Clarity Call: Tap into my experience leading 100s of executives, leaders, and CEOs to fast-track or reinvent their careers and find the answers to your most pressing issues (next steps, solving current challenges, decision-making, etc) in a 1-hour session with me.
Executive Positioning Audit: In just 5 minutes, uncover what most execs never pause to ask—how you’re truly positioned for your next big role.
It’s a shortcut to clarity: where you stand, what’s missing, and how to shift it—fast.
Career Clarity Call: Tap into my experience leading 100s of executives, leaders, and CEOs to fast-track or reinvent their careers and find the answers to your most pressing issues (next steps, solving current challenges, decision-making, etc) in a 1-hour session with me.