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Weekly Newsletter Vol. 128 - February 11, 2026

Generating your Lead Story…

When Your Career Potential Meets the Wrong Working Environment

Most careers don’t stall because of a lack of talent.
They stall because of where that talent is placed.

Sam Darnold’s story (QB of the Superbowl Champion Seattle Seahawks) is a powerful reminder of this and it mirrors what I see every week with high-performing professionals.

Darnold entered the NFL as a top draft pick. The kind of prospect organizations build futures around. The expectations were enormous, the talent undeniable, and the opportunity real.

But instead of landing in a stable organization with strong leadership and a clear development plan, he stepped into chaos. Rebuilding teams. Constant coaching changes. Systems that weren’t designed to support a young quarterback.

In other words: high expectations, low support.

Over time, the narrative shifted as it often does in careers.
The conversation stopped being about the environment and started being about him.

“Maybe he’s just not that good.”

That’s a familiar feeling for a lot of professionals.

You take a role with huge upside. You’re promised growth, mentorship, and opportunity. But once you’re inside, you realize the manager is overwhelmed, the team lacks direction, and the culture rewards survival more than development.

You work harder. You stay longer. You question yourself.

And slowly, your confidence erodes, not because your ability disappeared, but because the system never allowed it to show up consistently.

What makes Darnold’s story interesting isn’t the early struggle but it’s the decision he made next.

Instead of clinging to status or forcing relevance, he took a step back. He accepted backup roles. He stopped chasing optics and started prioritizing learning, stability, and coaching.

Quieter rooms. Better leadership. Healthier environments.

Then opportunity came knocking again.

When Brock Purdy went down in San Francisco, Darnold stepped in and reminded everyone of something important: the talent was always there.

What changed wasn’t his skill.
It was the environment around him.

That moment unlocked trust, momentum, and renewed opportunity. Not because he suddenly became someone new—but because the system finally matched his potential.

This happens far outside of football.

I’ve worked with incredible operators stuck under weak managers. High-potential sellers buried in broken GTM motions. Leaders labeled “not ready” simply because they were never coached, supported, or given clarity.

Careers aren’t linear. They’re contextual.

Sometimes it’s not your work ethic.
Sometimes it’s not your capability.
Sometimes it’s not your ceiling.

Sometimes you’re just in the wrong system.

And the bravest move you can make isn’t pushing harder—it’s choosing a better environment, even if it looks like a step back on paper.

Because the right leadership, the right culture, and the right support don’t just improve performance.

They change careers.

Talent doesn’t disappear.
It waits for the right environment to let it breathe.

You can’t make this stuff up

_{(*Disclaimer: these are real experiences provided by RME's community of job seekers and hiring managers)}

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