Stop outsourcing your career

Welcome to issue #014 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 want to show you why traditional development paths in SMEs are failing project professionals and what you can do instead.

Let’s be honest: most development inside small and mid-sized engineering or construction firms isn’t really designed for you. It’s built for the company.

That’s a problem… especially if you’re someone who wants to grow, lead and thrive on your terms.

Why this matters

When development is shaped by budgets, box-ticking, or whatever’s left over from delivery - it fails the people doing the work.

By shifting your focus from what your company provides to what you actually need, you can reclaim ownership of your growth and start building a career that makes sense for your life.

Why most people stay stuck

Too many project professionals wait for someone to ask:

“What do you really want next?”

But here’s the truth: in most SMEs, that question never comes.

And even when leaders care, they’re often trapped in their own delivery pressures i.e. not investing in your long-term future, just your short-term output.

Data from the APM backs this up:

The top challenges?

• Inadequate technology infrastructure (35%)

• Not enough people with the right project-skills (33%)

• Lack of investment in training and professional development (31%)

• Poor understanding of future project needs by team leaders (31%)

54% said they were the only project specialist in their organisation and Only 38% said their SME even had a dedicated project team.

No wonder so many feel isolated, under-supported, or stuck… even when they’re doing the work and delivering results.

But wait

This isn’t about blaming your manager. Or expecting your company to suddenly change overnight.

It’s about recognising a hard truth:

If you want to grow - really grow - you can’t outsource your career.

Because most companies will only invest in what they need from you.

Not what you need for you.

That’s where Pathfinder comes in.

Pathfinder

Pathfinder is:

• A membership space for reflection and capability

• Built for real project professionals (not just future execs)

• Designed to help you grow, lead and thrive - on your terms

Pathfinder isn’t:

• A course

• A one-size-fits-all CPD scheme

• Another empty framework

You don’t need fixing.

You just need support that fits you.

If you’re ready to take ownership of your career - and stop waiting for permission - we’d love to have you with us.

Yours,

Gerwyn

PS – What we’re building at Coron Projects

We’re 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.