Jessica Maring spent years writing for other people’s businesses before she let herself write her own book. Four months into working together, she had a mystery novel series underway and a clear five to ten year direction for her career. Here’s what changed, in her words.

Hey everyone, it’s Jessica Maring. I want to walk you through what’s happened in the last four months, because it’s been a real shift from burnout to launching a mystery novel series.

At the start of this, I was burnt out. I’m a self-employed content writer for tech companies, and the projects had piled up to the point where I hit a wall. I needed someone to think through the next five to ten years with me. Keep going the way I was going, or make a real change?

One thing had been sitting in the back of my mind for a long time: writing fiction and non-fiction books. What held me back was a belief that I couldn’t make enough money as an author to support my family. Working with Kori through the Career Clarity Accelerator gave me the space to actually examine that belief instead of just carrying it around. I could look at the decision from every angle and start making choices on purpose instead of by default.

Four months later, I’m about to release my first book, with a mystery series already in the works. The biggest shift wasn’t the book itself.

That was the moment I let myself fully claim the author role.

What Changed

Two things came out of this that stand out to me. First, real clarity on where I’m headed over the next five to ten years. Second, stepping into “author” as something true about me now, not just something I hoped for someday. That shift built on itself. Once I claimed it, it got easier to keep acting like it was true.

If you’re on the fence about a process like this, here’s what I’d tell you: it gives you the clarity you’re looking for. This isn’t only about your next job title. It’s about understanding yourself, from what you wanted as a kid to what you’re actually capable of now. If your career path feels unclear, this is the process that clears it.

If you’ve ever felt like having too many options is its own kind of stuck, this post breaks down what that actually looks like.

Curious what four months of clarity could look like for you? Book a free Career Alignment Audit and find out.

More Client Stories

• Katherine’s story, on finding the clarity to pivot into a new industry
• Jillian’s story, narrowing 100 ideas down to a real plan

Watch the full interview to hear more about Jessica’s story: