Going Nowhere

Welcome to issue #007 of Under the Surface. Each week, I share one thoughtful piece to help you grow, lead and thrive in the messy reality of project work. If something lands - or misses - I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’re exploring what’s next, you can join the Pathfinder waitlist to go deeper with others on the same journey.

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I know that feeling.

You’re busy. Flat out. Tasks, or even projects, piling up. Emails never stop. You’re giving it everything… But somehow, you’re not moving forward. It’s like running on a treadmill with the incline cranked up - sweat pouring, lungs burning, legs aching - but you’re still in the same spot.

I’ve been there.

In the military, in corporate life and even in my own business. There were times I was working 12+ hour days, firefighting, chasing deadlines and juggling project noise. I was everywhere, but nowhere. I wasn’t progressing, just surviving. And worse, I couldn’t even tell you what “progress” would have looked like. I had no scoreboard. Just a vague sense of frustration.

I knew something was off, but I kept pushing. Until my body and later my mind forced a stop.

The illusion of progress

the truth is hard: activity doesn’t equal progress.

James Clear says in Atomic Habits:

Problem is, many of us are not even getting 1% better. We’re just getting 1% busier. The world of projects, especially in engineering and construction, is brutal for this. We reward firefighting, not forethought. Being reactive gets you praise. Being strategic gets you ignored.

And if you’ve ever tried to slow down to speed up, you’ve probably been told: “We don’t have time for that.”

It’s exhausting.

The hidden trap: reactive mode

Stephen Covey called this the “tyranny of the urgent” in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He described it like this:

You’re answering every message. Fixing every fault. Saying yes to things you should’ve declined. Your calendar looks full, but your career feels empty. And you start asking painful questions:

• What am I actually building?

• Does anyone notice what I bring?

• Am I stuck?

I’ve asked all three. The answers weren’t easy, but they were necessary.

The shift that changed everything

The turning point for me came when I stopped measuring progress by output and started measuring by alignment.

In High Performance, Jake Humphrey said:

It clicked for me. I stopped aiming for inbox zero and started aiming for energy clarity. I asked myself:

• Which parts of my day give me energy?

• Which drain it?

• Who am I doing this for?

• Am I living my values… or someone else’s?

That’s when I made space to build Coron. Not overnight and not without cost. From alignment.

What this means for you

You might not be able to change your job tomorrow. But you can change how you show up inside it.

Try this:

1. Audit your week.

   For five days, note down what you actually spend time doing, then ask which tasks gave you energy and which didn’t.

2. Define “progress.”

   It’s not about more hours. What would a meaningful week look like to you? Define it on your term, not your boss’s.

3. Set “aligned” goals.

   Pick one 90-day goal that lights you up. Even if it’s small. Something that’s for you, not just your employer.

4. Ask: “Who’s in my corner?”

   If you’re trying to figure this all out alone, it’ll take longer. Find people who think like you, but live like the future you want.

You’re not broken. The system is.

If you’ve ever thought: “Maybe I’m just not good enough…” stop. The truth is, the system you’re in may be optimised for busyness, not growth. You’re not the problem, you’re just not aligned with a solution.

Adam Grant reminds us in Think Again:

So think again. Maybe you’re not lost. Maybe you’re just being called to go a different way.

You don’t need a new job yet. You don’t need a new title yet.

You just need a new direction and the space to walk it.

Yours,

Gerwyn

PS – What we’re building at Coron Projects

I’m building something for project professionals who want more than just tasks and titles. Pathfinder is a new kind of membership built for people in engineering and construction who are ready to grow, lead and thrive on their terms. No corporate bullshit. No gatekeepers. Just the tools, support and mindset shifts that help you take ownership of your career.

It’s currently in development and if that sounds like something you might want in your corner, you can join the waitlist here and include “Pathfinder” in the message.