The Work That Counts When No One's Watching: A Career Coach's Marathon Lesson

You're already doing something that most people won't do.

You're here, reading about career growth on a Tuesday morning. That tells me you're serious about change. You're putting in the work, even when it doesn't feel dramatic or Instagram-worthy.

And I want you to know: That work counts.

It's 5:47am on a random Tuesday. I'm lacing up my running shoes in the dark, about to head out for five miles. The city's just starting to wake up. Nobody will see this run. No one's going to celebrate it on social media.

But here's what I've learned from half-marathon training: The runs that change you aren't the ones people see.

Everyone shows up on race day. But champions are built on Tuesday mornings at 5am.

Your career transition works the same way. Let me show you what I mean.

The Miles No One Celebrates

When I was still at the Wall Street Journal, I spent two years taking coaching certification courses in secret. Tuesday night classes after work. Practice sessions on weekends. Books on coaching read during my commute.

Nobody knew I was training for a completely different career.

Those were my invisible miles. The work felt unremarkable in the moment, but it was building something real underneath.

Here's what this means for you: The networking coffee that felt awkward? That's a mile. The online course you're taking over lunch breaks? That's a mile. The boundary you set at work last week because you're prioritizing your transition? That counts, too.

These moments don't get a lot of engagement on LinkedIn. They don't come with medals or announcements. But they're creating your transformation.

The Danger Zone: Miles Eight Through Eighteen

In marathons, there's a grueling stretch from miles eight through eighteen. You're past the excited start. The finish line isn't visible yet. You're just... in it. Tired, but not done. Working, but not yet arriving.

Career transitions have the same danger zone—usually months three through nine of your reinvention, sometimes longer.

You're not where you started. You've done real work. But you're also not where you're going. This is the messy middle, and it's where most people need this reminder: This is exactly where the transformation happens.

The practical value for you is understanding that feeling stuck in the middle doesn't mean you're failing. It means you're in the part that builds champions.

When you're updating your resume at 6am before your kids wake up, that's middle-mile work. When you're practicing your pitch for the third time this week, you’re not spinning your wheels—you’re making progress you can't see. Yet.

What You've Already Accomplished

Take a moment right now and count your miles.

Maybe you've had three networking coffees this month. Maybe you finally figured out what kind of work you don't want anymore—that's a mile, too. Maybe you spruced up your LinkedIn profile and got more views than usual.

These aren't participation trophies you’re being handed. These are the building blocks of your breakthrough.

Here's the thing: You can't skip the middle miles. There's no shortcut from "I need something to change" to "I landed my dream role." The messy middle—the networking that feels awkward, the skills that feel basic, the conversations that don't lead anywhere right away—these aren't failures.

They're miles. And they all count.

The Tuesday Morning Truth

Right now, somewhere, a runner is out in the cold darkness on mile seven of twelve. Legs are feeling tired. No one on the sidewalk cheering. Just them, their breath, and the work.

And tomorrow morning, they’re gonna be out there again. Not because today was easy. But because they know race day glory comes from Tuesday morning discipline.

Your career transition follows the same truth. The work you're doing right now—the unsexy, invisible, consistent work—builds the breakthrough.

If you're in the middle miles of your reinvention right now, I see you. You're not at the starting line anymore. You're in it. You're doing the work. You're logging the miles.

And that deserves recognition.

The miles no one sees are the ones that matter most.

What invisible miles have you logged this week toward your career goals? I'd love to hear what progress you're making that no one else sees. Share in the comments.

I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career coach specializing in helping mid-stage professionals gain clarity on their career journey. I’ve written a guide on how to escape the work hamster wheel. Click here to download yours.