Hello, Reader!

You don't have to decide your whole future before you take the first step.

When I decided to publish my first book in English, I treated it as an experiment.

I wanted to find out whether I could turn years of coaching materials into a book, whether I'd enjoy the process, and what it would be like to put my work in front of readers I had never met.

The experience taught me things I couldn't have discovered by thinking about it alone.

My new book, Why Smart People Stay Too Long in the Wrong Career, grew out of a different kind of experiment.

I wrote 40 Letters of Change between September 2025 and January 2026 and observed how readers responded to them. Then I developed The Next Chapter Journey, and listened to people who took part. Gradually, I began to notice that understanding what was happening often mattered before deciding what to do next.

These experiences didn't give me a complete answer. They helped me ask better questions.

And that, I think, is one of the most useful things an experiment can do.

When we're uncertain about what comes next, we often try to make the whole decision in our heads. We want to know whether an idea will work before we give it a chance.

But how can we know what a different future will feel like if we never try any part of it?

Clarity doesn't always arrive before action. Sometimes it develops through contact with reality.

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What a small experiment can look like

When we hear the word experiment, we might imagine launching a business, enrolling in a new degree or making a significant investment.

But the most useful experiments are often much smaller.

If you're curious about a different field, you could arrange a conversation with someone who works in it. Ask about an ordinary working day, the parts they enjoy and the parts they find difficult.

If you wonder whether you'd enjoy teaching, writing or consulting, you could try a small project before making it a professional commitment.

If you're tired of your current role, you could test a different way of working: take on a new responsibility, ask to participate in a project, or change how you organize part of your week.

And if you're considering working independently, you might speak with potential clients or offer a small service before investing in a complete business.

The purpose isn't to prove that an idea will succeed.

It's to get closer to reality.

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Three questions to guide your experiment

You don't need a detailed plan. Start with three questions.

1. What do I want to find out?

Be specific. Instead of Would I enjoy a different career?, try Would I enjoy the day-to-day work of helping small businesses with their marketing?

A useful experiment begins with a question you can actually explore.

2. What's the smallest realistic way to test it?

Look for an action that is manageable, affordable and reversible. A conversation, a short project or a practical task may tell you more than weeks of reading and imagining.

You aren't committing to a new direction. You're giving yourself an opportunity to experience a small part of it.

3. What will I pay attention to?

Notice what happens while you're doing it.

• Does the activity give you energy or leave you drained?
• Does it feel interesting once you get beyond the initial excitement?
• What feels natural, and what requires more effort than you expected?

Pay attention to what you learn about the activity, the environment and yourself.

And remember: one experiment isn't a verdict. A difficult first attempt doesn't mean you lack ability. A disappointing conversation doesn't tell you everything about an entire profession.

It's one piece of information. You can adjust the next experiment accordingly.

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Let experience inform the decision

One of the reasons we hesitate to experiment is that we fear getting it wrong.

We may worry that an unsuccessful attempt will confirm our worst suspicions about ourselves. Or we may feel that trying something new creates an expectation that we must follow through.

But testing an idea isn't the same as promising to pursue it.

You can discover that you don't enjoy the work. You can realize that the practical costs are too high. You can find that the idea needs to change, or that you're more interested in one part of it than another.

These are useful discoveries, too.

The aim isn't to keep moving simply for the sake of movement. It's to make your next decision with a better understanding of what you're choosing.

You may discover that you want to change careers. You may find that a different role, a new project or a change in your life outside work would be enough. Or you may learn that the direction you imagined isn't right for you after all.

You don't have to know which outcome you'll reach before you begin.

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A question to take with you

Think about an idea you've been returning to for a while. It doesn't have to be a career change. It could be a different way of working, a project you'd like to try, a skill you want to develop or an interest you'd like to explore.

Instead of asking yourself whether you should pursue it, try asking:

What could I test before I decide?

Make the experiment small enough that you can actually do it. Then let the experience tell you something your imagination cannot.

You may not discover your next chapter in one attempt. But you might discover the next step.

Until next time,

Elena