How Micro Courage and a Resume Rewrite Can Change Everything

Have you ever stared at your resume and thought, "Who even is this person?" Maybe it listed all your "achievements," but none of it felt like you anymore. If you're nodding, you're not alone.

Most of us build our careers like a house designed by committee. You take the "smart" job offer, say yes to "safe" promotions, and before you know it, you're living in a house you never actually wanted.

The Moment Everything Changed

Sometimes, there's a moment where you open your resume, intending to polish it up for recruiters, but as you read it line by line, something snaps. It isn't just outdated. It feels like a story written for someone else.

You're not "passionate about operational excellence." You're not "committed to cross-functional team alignment." (Ugh.) Maybe you're a creative at heart—an artist who got lost in spreadsheets. Maybe you're a builder, a dreamer, a strategist.

Instead of updating it for recruiters, you do something radical: you rewrite your resume for yourself. Gone are the buzzwords. Gone are the "strategic initiatives." Instead, you highlight your real strengths: designing intuitive workflows, storytelling through data, mentoring junior creatives—the things that light you up, not weigh you down.

That moment isn't just updating a document. It's reclaiming your story.

Micro Courage: The Secret to Big Change

Here's the truth: Career reboots don't usually start with quitting your job dramatically on a Tuesday. They start with "micro courage." Micro courage is that tiny, shaky "yes" you whisper to yourself when everything feels uncertain. It's:

• Admitting you want something different.
• Writing one honest sentence on your LinkedIn profile.
• Saying "Actually, that's not my strength" in a meeting.

It's scary. It's small. But it's mighty. Because one act of micro courage leads to another. And another. Until suddenly, you're not playing the old role anymore. You're writing a new one.

Reclaim Your Story Before You Tell It

Here's a little homework for you (and it's a good kind): Open your resume, LinkedIn, or even just a blank document. And ask yourself: "If I wasn't trying to impress anyone, what would I actually say about myself?"

No jargon. No corporate-speak. Just the real, electric, beating-heart truth of what you love doing. Write it down. Even if it's messy. Even if it feels "too much" or "too soft" or "not impressive enough." This is the story that matters.

Only after you believe it—only after you own it—can you tell it powerfully to others.

Your Next Move

Now, take one more step.

Look at that rewritten resume. Let it guide your next decision. Not a huge leap—just a shift. Maybe you update one section of your LinkedIn to match your real voice. Maybe you reach out to someone doing work you admire and start a conversation. Maybe you find one opportunity—just one—that aligns with the story you're starting to tell. This isn't just a resume exercise. It's a re-alignment. A reminder that you have a say in the story you're telling—and the path you're walking.

Start with that truth. Let it grow from there.

Writing after work, with lukewarm coffee. Like what you read? Buy me a coffee ☕