In light of the shit show of unprecedented proportions that is academia at the present moment, post-ac coach Kel Weinhold and I have launched a a new 12 part series on leaving academia called, Twelve Steps To A New Job.

Welcome back to our 12 Steps to a New Job series, where we use the 12-Step model (completely secularized, we promise) to guide you through leaving academia.

I’m Kel Weinhold, productivity coach for The Professor Is In. I work with postdocs and academics at every stage of transition, and if you’re interested in talking through your options with me, you can always reach me at postac@theprofessorisin.com.

And, of course, each week on our free webinar, I’m joined by Dr. Karen Kelsky, founder of The Professor Is In and The Professor Is Out, who’s been helping academics both stay in and get out since 2011.

Below is the synopsis!

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“Before you can step into something new, you need to see—clearly—where you’ve been.”

We’ve been loosely following the 12-Step framework to guide the journey of leaving academia and stepping into something new. Today, we arrive at Step 4, which is all about taking a fearless moral inventory—but in our version, it’s a searching and fearless inventory of your professional self.

This is a big one. It’s emotional. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s absolutely necessary.

While we  go through it quickly, don’t feel like you have to rush. Take notes, come back later, and go at your own pace. This is about awareness, not atonement.

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Why Do This?

In traditional AA, this step separates the person from addiction. In our version, it separates you from the toxic systems, distorted narratives, and harmful norms of academia.

Academia convinces us that:

• Its rules are natural laws.
• Approval defines worth.
• Overwork = success.

Over time, these beliefs take root and shape every decision you make.

If we don’t examine them, we carry them forward—and repeat the cycle. This step helps break that cycle.

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How to Begin Your Inventory

Think of this as three layers:

1. External Patterns & Structures
2. Internalized Beliefs
3. Impacts and Outcomes

Start here:

• What felt dehumanizing, extractive, or unsustainable in your department, discipline, or the academy at large?
• What behaviors were rewarded—and what was punished?
• Who held the power, and how was it used?
• Where did you comply, resist, or try to adapt?

Write down specifics. Don’t just say, “It was all awful.” Get granular. That’s where clarity begins.

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Internalized Beliefs to Examine

• What did you come to believe about your worth or capacity?
• In what ways did you silence yourself, or over-function?
• What fears did the job plant or reinforce?
  (“I’ll never find anything better.” Sound familiar?)

Naming these beliefs is hard, but it’s the first step toward undoing them.

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The Impacts Are Real

• Overwork ? Burnout ? Exhaustion
• Distorted goals and narrow definitions of success
• Isolation and fractured relationships
• Loss of joy in the work you once loved

And let’s name this: The belief that saying “no” means you’ll be punished.

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Now, the Pivot: Resistance and Resilience

This isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s about clarity.

Ask yourself:

• What were your acts of resistance, however small?
  • Did you say “no”?
  • Build friendships that sustained you?
  • Name dysfunction, even quietly?
• What qualities helped you survive?
  • Creativity? Humor? Adaptability?

These are strengths, and they matter.

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Practical Tools for Your Inventory

Here are three journaling prompts to start with:

• The moment I realized something was wrong was…
• What I couldn’t say out loud was…
• I kept going because…

Or, try a mapping exercise:
Create a timeline of key moments: wins, wounds, wake-ups.

And then, speak it out loud. Share it with someone safe, a friend, a therapist, or even with us if you want a platform. Sometimes this work needs to be witnessed.

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One Big Caution

This is not a guilt trip. You’re not making a list to critique yourself. This is about awareness, not atonement.

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Looking Ahead

Step 4 sets you up for Step 5, where you’ll begin to speak your truth and practice living into a new identity. But first, you need to see the patterns clearly, so you don’t repeat them.

Take your time. This step is hard, but it’s the foundation for everything that comes next.

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Your Turn:
If you feel comfortable, share in the comments:

• The moment you realized something was wrong.
• One act of resistance you’re proud of.

Let’s start naming (and reclaiming) our stories

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