Company of One with Dale Callahan
You’re a high-achieving professional—maybe in tech, engineering, or leadership—but your career feels stalled. You’re paid well, but it’s not enough. You want more: more purpose, more income, more control over your life.Company of One is a podcast for professionals who want to grow their income, make strategic career moves, or even build something on the side. Hosted by Dr. Dale Callahan—engineer, entrepreneur, and director of a top-ranked graduate program—this show gives you real strategies to take ownership of your future.Whether you’re climbing the ladder or considering stepping off it to build your own thing, this is your place to get unstuck and take action.
Company of One with Dale Callahan
Running on Idle: Why Doing Everything Right Can Still Leave You Stuck #228
Most people who feel stuck at work aren’t burned out.
They’re still capable.
Still producing.
Still paid.
They’re just running on idle.
In this episode of the Company of One podcast, Dale Callahan names a quiet but common experience among people who did everything right but no longer feel challenged or pulled forward.
This isn’t quiet quitting.
It isn’t burnout.
And it has nothing to do with age.
It’s what happens when the engine still works, there’s gas in the tank, but the role or system no longer allows forward motion.
What We Cover in This Episode
- Why capable people can feel stuck without being exhausted
- What “running on idle” actually feels like in real life
- How people outgrow roles long before they run out of energy
- What it means to be “retired in place”
- Why staying put isn’t a neutral decision over time
- The difference between confusion and internal conflict
- Why advice and motivation often miss the real issue
Key Takeaway
Burnout is overheating.
Running on idle is being fully functional with nowhere to go.
The danger isn’t failure.
It’s letting time pass while momentum quietly decays.
About the Podcast
The Company of One podcast is about ownership — not just owning a business, but owning your direction, your income, and your next move.
No hype.
No pressure.
No generic career advice.
Just clear thinking for people who want more control over where their work and life are heading.
Dale Callahan, Ph.D.
Business Coach for Professionals Ready to Take Control Helping you move from stuck to in-demand — or start something of your own.
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Director of Engineering Management @ UAB (205) 790-8447
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