A Lawyer at a Crossroads
Rafael, a legal consultant managing multinational outreach programs, has always prided himself on strategic thinking. He trains teams who support vulnerable groups in Spanish-speaking regions. His role demands frequent travel, constant communication, and the ability to navigate complex situations efficiently. Recently, however, he’s been reconsidering his long-term path.
After leading a major workshop in Chile, he returned home feeling different — not burnt out, but deeply unsettled. He keeps replaying a moment when a young volunteer asked how he stays motivated. He gave a polished answer, yet internally he felt he was simply going through the motions. The realization caught him off guard.
He mentioned it casually to a friend, saying he feels at a fork in the road, but the conversation ended before he could fully unpack the thought. Since then, he’s been questioning whether to continue on his current trajectory or pivot toward something new. He hasn’t shared these thoughts with his team, and he’s unsure what’s holding him back.
List all unfamiliar words and phrases.
Review them before paraphrasing the story.
Discuss the following phrases and idioms:
strategic thinking
vulnerable groups
navigate complex situations
reconsidering his long-term path
deeply unsettled
replaying a moment
polished answer
going through the motions
caught him off guard
at a fork in the road
fully unpack the thought
current trajectory
pivot toward something new
Explain the story in the present tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Explain the story in the past tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Explain the story in the future tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Your Thoughts:
What factors make someone question their career direction even when they appear successful?
Why might professionals hesitate to express uncertainty to colleagues?
How can internal doubts become the starting point for meaningful change?
