Stop Waiting for a Better Job: How to Create One Where You Are

March 21, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In 2017, Elizabeth Lotardo recorded a LinkedIn Learning course called Leading Yourself. It was a modest offering in the early days of the platform, aimed at people who had no direct reports and needed to take charge of their own careers. Then the pandemic hit, and the course exploded. By 2020, it became obvious that no manager was going to hold your hand through the uncertainty. Lotardo tracked the course's data against public events and social discord, and the pattern was clear: the message that "it's on you" has been building steadily ever since. The Great Resignation followed, and then more employment uncertainty. Now, she argues, the question is not whether you need to lead yourself—you already are. The question is whether you are doing a good job.

The Fear Behind Ownership

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What you'll learn

1 (03:10) **What Self-Leadership Changes for You** - Elizabeth promises practical strategies to make your current job better, more empowering, and more optimistic.
2 (04:37) **Defining Self-Leadership** - Taking full ownership of your work experience, regardless of your boss or company.
3 (05:34) **Ownership as Freedom, Not Burden** - Personal responsibility is freeing, not harsh; it puts you in the driver's seat.
4 (08:35) **Why Self-Leadership is Now Essential** - The pandemic and "Great Resignation" proved you can't count on external certainty.
5 (12:49) **The Great Resignation Proof Point** - Two-thirds of people who quit regretted it; circumstances don't determine engagement.
6 (16:57) **The Single Most Powerful Tool: "This Is My Chance"** - A four-word brain hack to reframe any setback into an opportunity.
7 (25:40) **Elizabeth's Personal Story of Blame** - She hated her early ad agency job and blamed everything except herself.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

What if the key to loving your work again isn’t changing jobs — but changing how you show up?

In this episode, workplace strategist and bestselling author Elizabeth Lotardo reveals why fulfillment at work isn’t something your boss, company, or circumstances can give you. Instead, it’s something you create through self-leadership, mindset, and personal ownership.

We explore why so many people leave jobs searching for meaning — only to discover the problem follows them — and how reclaiming control of your work experience can transform everything from your energy to your opportunities.

You’ll learn practical strategies to:

Navigate difficult workplace dynamics without damaging your reputation
Set boundaries and advocate for yourself effectively
Turn everyday frustrations into opportunities for growth
Rediscover purpose and engagement in the role you already have

Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed by workplace politics, or simply craving more meaning in your career, this conversation will challenge how you think about work — and empower you to take the driver’s seat in your professional life.