“The Hudson Model of the Cycle of Change solves the pain of losing yourself in transition—by showing you it’s not the end, it’s a season.”
— JD Meier
During my humps and hurdles at Microsoft over two decades, I hit seasons where I felt lost.
I’d question my direction, my motivation—even my identity.
I was achieving on the outside, but something inside felt off.
Then one day, Bruce Leamon—one of the greatest executive coaches of all time—shared the Hudson Model of the Cycle of Change with me.
It’s a simple model, but it helped me see the invisible map beneath the chaos.
It gave me language for what I was feeling, clarity on what season I was in, and most importantly—permission to honor it.
I wrote this guide to pass that same gift to you.
Because you’re not broken.
You’re just in a different season.
And when you know your season, you can lead yourself forward—with wisdom, not just willpower.
Feeling Lost, Stuck, or Broken During Change
Many high achievers, professionals, and leaders hit moments where:
- Their motivation vanishes
- The old success formulas stop working
- They feel guilt, shame, or fear because they’re “not performing” or “lost their edge”
- They’re unsure if they’re burning out, breaking down, or becoming irrelevant
This Leads To:
- Quitting jobs or relationships prematurely
- Pushing harder in the wrong direction
- Identity confusion (“Who am I now?”)
- Emotional suppression (“I can’t let anyone see this part of me”)
Who Feels the Pain Most?
- Midlife leaders who’ve “made it” but feel empty or bored
- High performers hitting burnout, but too wired to rest
- Change agents cycling through reinventions without a map
- Anyone in identity transition (career change, divorce, empty nest, retirement)
The Hudson Model of the Cycles of Change
The Hudson Model of the Cycles of Change, created by Frederic M. Hudson is a powerful framework for understanding personal and organizational transitions.
It maps change as a cyclical, nonlinear process, rather than a single straight path.
The Hudson Model gives people a map through the messy middle, when the old story is over but the new one hasn’t fully emerged.
It validates pain.
It normalizes the mess.
And it helps people move forward with grace, not guilt.
1. Go For It (The Heroic Self)
- Energy: High
- Focus: Purpose, action, and results
- You feel: Motivated, engaged, and aligned
- What’s happening: You’re in flow. This is a season of building, scaling, and executing.
- Risk: Burnout or drifting into autopilot without reflection
2. The Doldrums (The Disenchanted Self)
- Energy: Low
- Focus: Uncertainty, disconnection
- You feel: Stuck, restless, bored, or disillusioned
- What’s happening: The old way is no longer working, but you’re not yet clear on what’s next.
- Risk: Denial, distraction, or pushing forward when you need renewal
3. Cocooning (The Inner Self)
- Energy: Very low, but focused inward
- Focus: Reflection, healing, letting go
- You feel: Withdrawn, contemplative, sometimes confused
- What’s happening: This is the inner reset—grieving the old, discovering the new
- Risk: Rushing the process or staying too long in isolation
4. Getting Ready (The Passionate Self)
- Energy: Rising
- Focus: Reimagining, prototyping, experimenting
- You feel: Curious, hopeful, maybe tentative
- What’s happening: You’re forming a new vision and testing fresh ideas
- Risk: Fear of failure or perfectionism blocking action
The Cycle Repeats:
After Getting Ready, you re-enter Go For It—but it’s a new version of you or your work.
It’s a spiral upward, not a circle—you’re evolving with each loop.
Key Insights from Hudson:
- Change isn’t always initiated externally—it often starts internally.
- Peak performance (Go For It) always fades, and that’s normal.
- Cocooning isn’t weakness—it’s preparation.
- The most sustainable growth comes from inner alignment.
How to Use the Cycle of Change Model:
- For personal development: Spot where you are and what you need.
- For coaching: Identify where a client is stuck and guide them forward.
- For leadership: Understand team or org-wide transitions and adapt your leadership style.
What the Hudson Model Solves
1. Normalizes Disorientation
“You’re not broken—you’re between seasons.”
It tells you: you’re in a cycle, not a crisis.
You’re not alone.
You’re not weak.
You’re evolving.
2. Restores Self-Compassion
People in the Doldrums or Cocooning often feel shame.
The Hudson Model says: this is inner work time.
It’s legit.
Necessary.
Powerful.
Rest and reflection are not wasted time—they’re the work.
3. Reframes Progress
Instead of linear growth → plateau → decline, it shows a spiral of renewal.
Your past success isn’t being erased—it’s becoming compost for your next season.
4. Reveals the Hidden Value of Down Cycles
Without understanding, people resist or rush the low-energy phases.
But Hudson reframes them as:
- Identity reconstruction
- Value realignment
- Source-code upgrades for purpose and direction
5. Empowers Smarter Life Design
By mapping the phases, you can make better choices:
- Don’t launch a big initiative in the Doldrums
- Don’t mistake Cocooning as depression—it might be transformation
- Don’t sabotage Go For It by skipping reflection
Where are You in the Cycle of Change?
1. Energy + Momentum
“Do I feel clear, energized, and in flow—or drained, stuck, or restless?”
If energized and focused: Likely in Go For It
If drained or bored: Likely in The Doldrums
2. Direction + Drive
“Do I have a compelling direction I’m moving toward—or am I questioning what’s next?”
If clear and building: Go For It
If uncertain or exploring: Getting Ready
If you’ve lost direction entirely: The Doldrums or Cocooning
3. Emotional Tone
“Am I excited, numb, grieving, or hopeful?”
Excited and aligned: Go For It
Flat or restless: The Doldrums
Grieving or withdrawing: Cocooning
Curious and experimenting: Getting Ready
4. Inner Voice
“Am I listening to my intuition—or ignoring it to stay busy?”
If you’re pulled inward, asking deep questions: Cocooning
If you’re acting fast, but aligned: Go For It
If you’re pushing hard, but off-purpose: You might be forcing Go For It from The Doldrums
5. What Wants to Happen?
“Am I in a season of building, breaking, becoming, or beginning?”
Building → Go For It
Breaking → The Doldrums
Becoming → Cocooning
Beginning → Getting Ready
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Stage |
Signal Questions |
| Go For It |
“Am I clear, driven, and delivering results?” |
| Doldrums |
“Am I stuck, bored, or unsure why I feel off?” |
| Cocooning |
“Am I pulled inward, reflective, or letting go?” |
| Getting Ready |
“Am I exploring, curious, and testing new paths?” |
Final Thoughts
“Your next breakthrough isn’t at the edge of your hustle—it’s in the wisdom of your season.”
— JD Meier
The Cycle Is Not the End—
It’s the Upgrade
You’re not stuck.
You’re in a season.
And seasons change.
When you name where you are, you reclaim your power.
Every phase—yes, even the hardest—is an invitation to evolve.
Clarity Comes from Honoring the Season You’re In
Don’t force Go For It if you’re in Cocooning.
Don’t rush out of the Doldrums without learning what’s breaking down.
Don’t skip Getting Ready—it’s where you shape your next bold move.
You Don’t Need to Be Fixed—
You Need to Be Realigned
You’re not broken.
You’re being reshaped.
Most people try to perform their way out of disorientation.
The Hudson Model invites you to transform through it.
Growth Doesn’t Always Look Like Growth
Sometimes it looks like stillness.
Sometimes confusion.
But those moments?
That’s your future taking root.
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