Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy

You Are Unique

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:08:13 GMT

You Are Unique

Before you dig into the never-ending flood of information AI can offer, I encourage you to internalize your Elevations career assessment results first. Understand who you are and why you do what you do at the deepest level. Your innate capabilities are the one element that will remain stable in this ever-changing world.

Once you know yourself well, take your entire Elevations customized report and drop it into your favorite AI engine.

Ask the following questions:

What are the best-paid, highest demand careers that align with my capabilities?
What is my competitive edge in the labor market?
What do I need to work on, personally and professionally, to excel in my career?
What makes me a great leader?

If you think Elevations is amazing, you are right! And, with AI, it’s even more powerful. Explore the AI-driven career development resources emerging on the market ( pelgo.com , tealhq.com , jobtest.org ). The list is endless.

But they are limited, because they do not know you as deeply or completely as they could.

No matter what resources you use to deal with career indecision or job loss, your first step is Elevations. In just 15 to 20 minutes, you prioritize what matters to you, what you enjoy doing, what interests you, and who you are, from a temperament standpoint.

Elevations generates a detailed report describing you in detail. This is your blueprint to prompt AI. Ask anything and be amazed.

Targeted and Deliberate

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:42:27 GMT

Targeted and Deliberate

Is the labor market frozen, or are you? Or both?

Lately, I’ve met a slew of people sitting on the edge of a career change but afraid to take the plunge. One has a rock-solid idea for an entrepreneurial venture, and another needs to find a job closer to home but worries there are not enough options. Others are settling for entry-level work when they could do so much more.

You have your own reasons for holding back on your much-needed transition. Perhaps the steady drumbeat of the “frozen labor market” has dampened your enthusiasm. Today I have a message for you. Let’s figure out how to get you unfrozen!

Step One: Stop Mass Applying—Start Precision Targeting

Instead of 50 generic applications, aim for 5 to 10 high-quality ones per week. Tailor your resume to each role, write short, specific cover letters, and focus on roles where you meet 70 to 80% of the requirements (not 100%).

Step Two: Treat Networking as Your Main Channel (not a backup)

A frozen market often means jobs are still filled—but through referrals. Reach out to former coworkers, classmates, or industry peers. Message people at companies you’re targeting (short and respectful). Two or three real conversations each week will outperform dozens of applications.

Step Three: Create Signals That You Are Active and Relevant.

Do small projects that align with your longer-term career goals. Share insights or lessons on LinkedIn. Take targeted certifications or courses if they are respected and recognized by prospective employers.

Finally, please bet on you. Your faith in your capabilities and vision is the single most important factor in the success of your career change. Get a career coach if needed (you guessed it, I’m ready to help). Support, strategy, and resources will all be needed for you to step into your next, best future.

What's In It For You?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:14:07 GMT

What's In It For You?

Finding a good listener can be a challenge. You are surrounded by people who talk over you, change the subject back to themselves, and develop their answers while you are still talking. It’s frustrating and rampant.

But what if you turned this lack of human connection into an opportunity ?

Let’s look at the benefits of making your living as an exquisite listener:

You Get Paid for Your Emotional Intelligence: Listening isn’t passive.

It’s a high-value skill. Professionals who listen well help others process their emotions, make decisions, and resolve conflicts. In our noisy, distracted world, professional listeners are an indispensable resource. The coaching industry in the U.S. is large and growing, estimated at around $18 billion in revenue in 2025 and slated to exceed 20 billion in 2026.

You Develop Deep Emotional Intelligence: When you actively listen every day, you naturally improve. You refine your empathy, patience, emotional regulation, and nonverbal awareness.

People Trust You More: Being known as the person who really listens builds stronger personal relationships and professional credibility.

Holy cow, it’s profitable, helps you grow, and inspires trust. I would add one more thing that means the most to me. Listening for a living is deeply rewarding. At the end of an initial session with a new client, I often hear that they now have hope. I’ve given them space to access their own wisdom.

I encourage you to focus on your listening skills and find ways to improve them. Start by remembering people’s names when you meet them for the first time. I know—you are terrible at that. We all are. Prove you can do better, and you are on the road to being a genius listener.

You Might Be Surprised

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:17:25 GMT

You Might Be Surprised

The first evening at coaching school can be unsettling. The first surprise comes when students learn the role of a coach, as distinct from a consultant or a therapist. For many, they feel lost, stripped of their accumulated knowledge and expertise.

Here are some definitions to help you understand what the role of an ICF ( International Coaching Federation ) credentialed coach is:

Coach: A credentialed professional who partners with clients in a structured, ethical, and competency-based process to unlock awareness, action, and sustainable growth.

Consultant: An expert providing advice, solutions, or recommendations based on specialized knowledge in a particular field.

Therapist: A licensed professional who addresses psychological, emotional, or mental health issues, often focused on healing past trauma and resolving dysfunction.

In presenting the three definitions, it’s important to honor and respect each role. The key is to understand the difference and stay in the optimal lane to benefit the client. This can become even more confusing as a career coach because we integrate aspects of consulting and therapy into our work.

Let me be more specific. Many clients come to a career coach feeling anxious and discouraged. They may be stuck in a toxic or unrewarding job. This has real emotional consequences. A great career coach honors those feelings. If the client is severely distressed, then a referral to a therapist is warranted.

Additionally, career coaches offer expertise and information. They administer career assessments , assist with resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and teach job search strategies. The key is integrating coaching with consulting, so the client owns the process and is accountable for it.

If you have been thinking about becoming a career coach, this mini tutorial will help make your first day in class much easier. The next cohort of the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy starts March 17, 2026 ��

Please reach out to me directly to learn more about our program

Improve the Outcome

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:12:47 GMT

Improve the Outcome

Sure, the word controlling is strong. But when it comes to networking to find a job, I find it best to be blunt. You benefit from controlling the conversation, the impression you leave, and, perhaps most important, your follow-up.

Your number one goal is to make each person you meet feel successful. Most people want to help, but the way you frame your strategy and approach to your job search can limit or eliminate their ability to help you.

Let’s break this down:

Control the Conversation:

If you don’t guide the conversation, it can drift into small talk. To avoid this, ask targeted questions that reflect the excellent research you have done into your desired industry and role. Keep the exchange focused on your career goals and strengths.

Address any Baggage Directly:

If you are meeting with someone you have a history with, be sure to clear up any past conflicts or misconceptions. Leaving them lurking in the background will undermine your efforts and theirs.

Control the Impression you Leave: Position yourself clearly by sharing relevant achievements. Frame your experience strategically. People are more likely to help someone who seems purposeful.

Control the Follow-Up:

Here’s where the biggest pitfalls lie. Many people you network with will offer to send your resume to an influential person they know. They think this is helpful, but it’s not. You lose control. You don’t know if they sent it, and you have no good way to follow up. Ask them to call the influential person and pitch your amazing qualifications. Then you send the resume to a warm lead. Things go much more smoothly, and you remain in charge.

If you are trying to find a job, you already know that applying for listed jobs is mostly useless. Online job sites make it easy for hundreds or thousands of people to apply. At some point, humans need to narrow the pool down. Their favorite default is to hire someone they already know and skip the overwhelming listed job scenario.

So, focus on networking and be a control freak about it. You will save time and improve the quality of your outcome.

Manage Your Mind

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 23:33:42 GMT

Manage Your Mind

Affirmations work well when they are aligned with a strategy. For example, if you are heading into an important interview, you might be willing to say positive things to yourself to improve your performance. You are not lying to yourself; rather, you are leveraging your intelligence to elevate your self-esteem.

The science behind affirmations is compelling. Here are a few reasons why they work:

Your self-concept shapes your perceptions and behavior: Your brain is constantly filtering reality. What gets through that filter depends on your self-concept (your internal story about who you are). Affirmations can reinforce positive identity beliefs, such as “I am capable” or “I belong here.”

Thoughts are not just abstractions—they’re neural activity: Repeated thoughts strengthen specific neural pathways. Thus, certain interpretations and emotional responses become more automatic over time. Affirmations are repetitive mental exercises. Eventually, they rewire your brain.

You create the expectancy effect: Beliefs change physiology and behavior. If you genuinely expect to handle challenges well or believe you can learn new things, you will persist towards your goal for longer periods of time and interpret setbacks as temporary.

In the midst of a career transition or a job search, many factors are out of your control. However, you can choose to manage your thoughts and incorporate self-statements into your daily routine to increase your confidence and creativity. I think that’s worth doing.

Start Seeing Options

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:16:32 GMT

Start Seeing Options

Career violations like layoffs, power-hungry bosses, and toxic workplaces are real—and can be devastating. If they persist over time, you begin to feel wronged and powerless. If that’s not bad enough, there is a secondary impact. You shut down mentally.

Let me break it down for you. Here are ways the victim perspective narrows your thinking

Limits perceived options : Your focus shifts to asking, who caused this or why is this unfair? This reduces attention to questions like, what can I control right now or what small action can I take to improve my situation?

Shifts responsibility outward : You may, in fact, have experienced a real external threat or violation. But focusing on outward causes reduces your sense of personal agency. As a result, problem-solving may stall because action feels pointless or impossible.

Increases emotional load : Feelings like anger, fear, shame, or resentment take up mental bandwidth. You may resort to short-term venting rather than sustainable fixes. Additionally, you can begin to burn out your support system.

These are all problematic impacts. But the one that hurts my clients seeking career satisfaction and success the most is the erosion of creativity. When you feel stuck and victimized, you don’t see options. You can’t think outside the box. The best next step (which might not be that hard) eludes you.

For all these reasons, I want you to take back your agency and your brilliance. If you feel victimized by an aspect of your current career situation, I invite you to shift your mentality to massive accountability. Now you are in charge.

You Are Not Alone

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:34:04 GMT

You Are Not Alone

The science of stuckness (yes, there is such a thing) has found that when you are stuck, you also feel utterly alone. Newsflash ��, the opposite is true. Most people report being stuck in some aspect of their lives. You are far from alone!

From a career development perspective, I call this your crossroad . You are not where you want to be and are paralyzed by anxiety. You worry, struggle with self-esteem, and see few options. You stay with your current situation because it’s the devil you know. Also, the consequences of changing your career and making a mistake further thwart your potential progress.

Here are some steps you can take to get unstuck:

Step One: Calm Down

When you feel stuck, your brain interprets the situation as uncertain or risky. This activates the amygdala, shifting you into threat mode, which includes narrowed thinking, reduced creativity, avoidance, and procrastination. As difficult as it might be, you need to start breathing and settle your nerves. Take a long walk, talk to a chicken soup friend, or make an appointment with your career coach . Get support and stop isolating.

Step Two: Shrink the Problem to Restore Agency

Large goals overload the prefrontal cortex. Small goals work because they reintroduce predictability, create fast dopamine feedback, and rebuild a sense of control. So, identify micro-actions, such as meeting with a colleague for coffee or taking a career assessment . Build on your success and reboot your confidence.

Step Three: Change the State, Not the Thought

Stuckness is a state of being, not a belief. Some good ways to shift your state include physical movement, novel environments (even a different room), and temperature shifts (cold water on your face). These state-shifting actions reset neural firing patterns and interrupt your thought loops.

As you feel less stuck and in the flow of a journey to the next chapter in your career, you can harness your intellect, creativity, and resources to design what’s next.

Make Up Your Mind

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 19:59:17 GMT

Make Up Your Mind

Last night, one of my students in the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academ y asked me if I believe in New Year’s resolutions. I firmly responded “no”. Upon reflection, that’s not accurate. I enter 2026 having made some important decisions that I am firmly committed to. And I am using my resolve to follow through to completion.

A decision is the act or process of choosing among options. It is the product of thinking and judgment. In my case, I’ve decided to transition my company from an S Corp to an LLC. This means I no longer run payroll (or pay for a payroll service), simplify my tax payments, and generally streamline my operations.

Unfortunately, this change also generates a lot of busy work I hate to do. Here’s where the resolution comes in. A resolution is a formal expression or firm commitment that follows a decision. So, I am diligently opening new bank accounts, canceling insurance, and updating a slew of auto payments that flow into my checking accounts—well, you get my drift—lots of minutiae.

Perhaps the reason so many New Year’s resolutions end up fading away is the lack of a decision up front. Ask yourself, what do you want to accomplish, and why are you doing it? Determine if you have the energy and resources to follow through on your commitment. Think clearly about the sacrifices you will need to make to reach your goals. Then, let your rock-solid resolution kick in.

Please accept my sincere wish that your 2026 is filled with joy and great decisions, fueled by resolutions. Let’s do this��

Open Up Dialogue

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:51:40 GMT

Open Up Dialogue

Students in my coaching school are often surprised to hear they should avoid the word why. I thought I’d take some time today to dig into the pitfalls surrounding this popular, but potentially problematic word.

Let’s start with the basics. A question with the word “why” can trigger defensiveness and shut down open dialogue. This is especially true if you add an aggressive tone of voice and forceful body language.

Even if your tone is warm and you are not pointing a finger, the person you are speaking to may still feel less safe when the word “why” is used.

Let’s dig into some reasons:

“Why” can sound like an accusation. Why did you do that?” can sound like “you were wrong.”
It activates the brain’s threat response. Why questions can put people into self-protection mode.
It focuses on past behavior. Why often digs into causes and mistakes, which can keep the conversation stuck in the past.
It encourages rationalization, not reflection. People rarely know the true “why” behind their behavior. When asked why, they tend to invent a logical-sounding story instead of accessing deeper motivations or emotions.
It can imply a power imbalance. In workplaces, parenting or an interview, “why” can feel like an interrogation, reinforcing the hierarchy instead of collaboration.

The fix is pretty easy. Work on starting questions with the words how or what. They are far less triggering. The next time you enter an important conversation, notice your use of the word “why” and try to replace it.

Design Your Future

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 21:17:52 GMT

Design Your Future

You have likely heard to trust your first instinct when taking a test. The research supports this guidance if you are assessing your knowledge of facts or taking a multiple-choice exam. But this advice does not hold up when completing the Elevations career self-assessment .

In a state of ambivalence, you may be tempted to rush through prioritizing your values, skills, and interests. If you do this, your results will reflect your confusion. In the hunt for clarity and career direction, you might get the opposite outcome.

So, here are a few quick tips to help you get the most out of Elevations:

Take Elevations when you are well rested. Limit distractions. You need to think deeply about who you are and what you want in the next chapter of your life.

As you determine your top 15 values and enjoyable skills, make sure you are tapping into what matters to you—not what society, your family, or your culture is telling you to do.

Notice you can move items from the thumbs up, to the OK, and to the thumbs down column easily. In other words, feel free to change your mind as you get more options to consider.

When you get to the Interest section, don’t analyze each career from a practical standpoint. Imagine the career options are a stack of magazines. Select as many as you would like for the thumbs-up column, reflecting the full range of your interests.

Slow down and engage both your heart and your head. You are designing the foundation for your future.

Take advantage of your 30 days of access to revisit your assessment. You can refine your choices and get the best results.

While Elevations can be purchased by anyone without special training or a license, it is a powerful platform that can be optimized if you follow the guidance I offer here. If you are in a career crossroad and need additional help, please visit our career coach directory found at the ElevateYourCareer.com website.

This newsletter is hitting your inbox on New Year’s Eve. Perhaps this is the nudge you’ve been needing to level up your career in 2026.

On the Eve of Christmas

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 23:22:43 GMT

On the Eve of Christmas

Thank you for taking a moment to read this newsletter. I'm so very grateful. Your support means the world to me. On this Christmas Eve, I'd like to share a little inspiration with you.

The Light of Christmas

When nights grow long, and cold winds sigh,
And stars feel closer in the sky,
A gentle light begins to rise—
Not loud or proud, but warm and wise.

It glows in hands that choose to give,
In hearts that forgive and let hope live,
In quiet acts, both small and true,
In seeing the world made new by you.

Christmas isn’t just bells or cheer,
Or gifts wrapped bright once a year—
It’s courage found in darkest days,
It’s love that shows us kinder ways.

So carry this light where shadows fall,
Let it answer each silent call,
For when you shine with peace and care,
Christmas lives—because you’re there.

Source: Anonymous

Beginnings Are Messy

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:22:15 GMT

Beginnings Are Messy

Much has been said about the job search. The phase that follows successful re-employment is less discussed. The first weeks and months of a new career, role, or business start-up are a mix of excitement and confusion. In my Elevate Career Cycle Model , I call this the Emerge phase.

Each new beginning is unique, but a few things are predictable:

If you have worked hard to craft your transition, you enter the new job with a burst of healthy pride. It takes guts to navigate a career change. When you arrive at your new situation, you have every right to pat yourself on the back. Take a moment to bask in your elevated self-esteem; you’ve earned it! ��
Your new role serves up a ton of new responsibilities. Sometimes you have someone to ask, other times you are left to figure stuff out. You are slower than you want to be and inevitably make mistakes. It’s humbling and frustrating.
The emotional undercurrent is unsettled. You have high hopes and excitement. At the same time, you feel untethered and lost. You might miss your previous role where you were the master of your tasks. Now you wonder what to do first, who to trust, and how long it will take for you to feel comfortable.
Occasionally, a job change might be accompanied by a new home, a new location, and a million decisions to make. Where is the grocery store? How will I find a dentist? The infrastructure of your life needs to be built.

If you don’t understand or prepare for the rocky new beginning, it can leave you feeling both sad and anxious. You want to emerge from your previous role ready to rock the world. But you can’t. Like a newborn baby, you are messy and beautiful.

There is no magic strategy or fix for this emergent phase in your life. When I navigated the biggest career transition in my life, I was aware that my first few months would be scattered and unpredictable. No matter what I was feeling (up, down, or shaky), I gave myself grace. I knew it would take time. I built my new life step by step, celebrating the small stuff.

If you or someone you know is navigating a career emergence, be patient. Take long walks, share your feelings with someone you trust, and ask for help. Focus on your strengths and give yourself credit when you get something right. Shut down your inner critic. Small wins will lead you to stabilize and shine.

It Depends...

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:45:58 GMT

It Depends...

Leaving your job is stressful. You feel guilty about burdening fellow employees with more work. Saying goodbye to a great boss can weigh on your heart. And, you might feel loyal to the organization, whether you should or not.

In the middle of this complex scenario, you wonder when, or if, you should tell your boss you are looking for another opportunity. It’s not a clear-cut situation.

Here is some advice to follow if you, or someone you know, plans to leave but does not know what to do:

Do Not Tell Your Boss You Plan to Quit If:

Your boss has proven to be unsupportive, unreliable, or flat-out terrible. They will likely use the information to make your life more difficult.
Your company has a policy of walking employees to the door upon termination. Your employment may be in jeopardy if they find out you are ready to leave.
You cannot trust your boss to keep the information confidential.

Do Tell Your Boss If:

There is ample evidence that your boss is trustworthy. A great leader will encourage you to grow in your career in any way that suits you. They can support you when you need to go to job interviews, and you will feel less conflicted about your exit.
You are motivated to train your replacement. This might seem nuts on the surface, but you’ve worked hard to create solutions and positive relationships in your current role. You might enjoy protecting the investment you’ve made as you move on.
Your boss is an important part of your professional network and will be willing to open doors for you. A great boss has taken the time to get to know you and understands your strengths. They can be an important ally in your search and in your career over the long haul.

Most people feel they need to keep their job hunt secret, and as I mentioned, sometimes this is the best choice. But take a moment to step back and ask yourself if an honest, transparent conversation is warranted. It can reduce your stress and give you more creative energy to make an amazing transition.

Do It Your Way

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:53:09 GMT

Do It Your Way

I’ve been a full-time business owner for twenty-five years, so I’ve done quite a bit of networking. Let me add that I am a bona fide introvert and don’t enjoy small talk. That limits the kind of networking I enjoy.

I do attend conferences, Rotary meetings, and chamber events, but it’s extremely rare. If I do go into this kind of arena, I need to have very specific goals. I will set a target for the number of contacts, conversations, and follow-up meetings I plan to secure. I will not let myself leave until the goal is met. This is achieved through pure determination.

While I accept that my marketing strategies will not always be enjoyable, I have found a way to tip the balance towards pleasant interactions and excellent results. I’ve achieved this by knowing myself very well and being selective.

Here are the networking strategies I don’t avoid:

My Current Favorite: Pickleball!

Yep, I drank the Kool-Aid. I’ve joined two local clubs, one is indoors and the other is outdoors. I am a beginner, putting my pride in my pocket and trying not to kill myself. Having said all that, I am surrounded by people who are comfortably retired. When I say I must go home after a couple of games, they ask why. I tell them I’m still working, and they ask, “what do you do?” When I explain I am a career coach and the founder of a coaching school, the foundation is laid for referrals.

Public Speaking

I enjoy inspiring people and telling stories. I also appreciate the efficiency of public speaking. Whatever the size of the audience, I promote what I do and who I am through my bio or my expertise. Then I can go home and enjoy the evening.

Weekly Newsletter

I send this bit of myself to each of you every week. About 50% of the 2300 people who receive this newsletter read it. Thank you for that. My topic comes from my heart, not AI. This is my ongoing drip campaign, staying in front of people consistently. About 50% of the 2300 people who receive this newsletter read it. Thank you for that.

Here's my point. Whether you are a business owner, job seeker, or professional building your network, you must do things you enjoy and are good at. Otherwise, you won’t do it.

Don't Let it Stop You

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:15:25 GMT

Don't Let it Stop You

Do you:

Know what you’d love to do with your career but feel paralyzed by the unknowns and hurdles you face?
Fear the financial or time risk you will have to take to reach your goal?
Feel lost without direction, unsure what career would make you happy?

If you saw yourself in one or more of the above statements, you are dealing with anxiety. Not because you are weak or broken, but because it’s normal. Your career impacts everything that matters, you’re self-esteem, finances, relationships, and much more. Your elevated anxiety is there to protect you, but it’s also holding you back.

Here are some steps you can take to walk through the anxiety, not letting it stop you in your tracks.

Step One: Root Your Decision in Self-Awareness

Your capabilities and interests are stable and in your control. Getting clear about your strengths is a confidence booster. It’s also strategically smart. Start by taking a self-assessment to clarify your values, skills, interests, and personality. Use your results to guide your choices. Now you have a road map you can trust.

Step Two: Do Your Research

Explore your interests and discover careers that leverage your skill set. Utilize AI to research all your dreams and career assessment results, and explore what is possible. Anxiety might be keeping you from the simple act of exploration. Uncover pathways you never imagined.

Step Three: Evaluate the Stories You Are Telling Yourself

This is the biggest anxiety producer and one of the most difficult to tackle. The stories likely start with thoughts like: “I can’t because…” or “That won’t work because…” You might need a good friend or a coach to help you uncover and re-author the stories that keep you stuck.

Bottom line, anxiety is going to be your partner, whether you like it or not. It does not need to stop you; it can be part of the fuel that propels you forward. Shake hands with it and get moving!

You Are Not Alone

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:16:28 GMT

You Are Not Alone

Being stuck underemployed or unemployed at any stage of life is tough. But recently, my heart goes out to young men trying to find their way into rewarding careers. Their stories vary dramatically, with some lingering in low-paid jobs, unable to find work in their chosen profession. Others spend time playing video games and hiding in their rooms, unmotivated because they have no idea what they want to do.

As they grow older, they feel more behind and discouraged. Anxiety and depression creep into the equation, making it even harder to discern the best strategy or the right path.

Let’s be real. This is a complex problem with no one-size-fits-all solutions. But, for those of you who are in this boat, please read on. If you are a parent, friend, or relative of an amazing young man struggling to find their way, this one’s for you.

Tip Number One: Stop Looking for the Silver Bullet Career

It’s only natural to be drawn to careers offering stability and income potential. But deciding you are going to go into the latest hot job is a mistake. You must choose a profession that matches your values, skills, interests, and personality. Step back and calm down. Take a solid career assessment and meet with a career coach . You need to get out of your head, regain your emotional strength, and select a role, industry, and field that matches your natural talents.

Tip Number Two: Be Prepared to Make a Sacrifice

Any career field you choose will have a downside. The required education is expensive and takes years to finish, the entry-level salary is too low, or the competition is intense. The list goes on. It does make sense to minimize risk and cost. But, in the end, you will have to accept the inevitable hurdles and focus on work that matches you.

Tip Number Three: Stop Isolating

Depending on how long you have been struggling to find your path, it is likely that you are spending too much time alone. This is a bad choice. It will intensify your depression and reinforce the feeling that you are failing. Join any kind of group of other people your age. Soon, you will discover you are far from alone. Once you realize that your situation is both normal and common, you can start networking. In the process of meeting other people, sharing what you learned from your self-assessment , you will uncover the opportunities that can only come from interpersonal relationships.

Finally, decide on your first step. Pick one of the tips above or follow your own wisdom. Take action every day, and momentum will build. If you need further support, grab a copy of my e-book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes Job Seekers Make . Your brave decision to live up to your potential makes your life better and enriches the world.

It's a Gift

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:26:47 GMT

It's a Gift

As a little kid, I used to pass the time in church, praying for the other people in the pews. I would imagine what challenges they might be facing and silently send my support. It was my deep, sensitive self-emerging early on.

I wondered about the meaning and purpose of my life—not in young adulthood but, rather, again as a child. I was a raw nerve, responding to the people and feelings around me. I was a sponge without coping skills.

About 20% of the general population is identified as highly sensitive. It’s nice to have a term for it now, but it was unavailable in my formative years. Frankly, it was both emotionally painful and exhausting. If you happen to be a highly sensitive person, you know what I’m talking about.

When it was time for me to pick a major in college and prepare for a career, I was lost. I was interested in interpersonal relationships and personal growth. I also loved to read and write. I tried studying psychology, but the courses I took focused on Pavlovian responses and boring studies.

Additionally, I feared that I was too sensitive to help other people. I would be heartbroken by every tragedy others would face.

In a moment of foolishness, during college, I told my Mom I thought I wanted to be a counselor of some sort. She looked at me like I had two heads and asked, “Why would you want to sit around all day and listen to other people’s problems?"

In the end, I was lucky and found a way to employ my sensitivity. In fact, I think it’s the key to any success I’ve had. As a career coach, I listen deeply and hear both what is said and unsaid. I’ve learned how to be both compassionate and set boundaries, not taking on the pain that belongs to others.

I have a number of clients right now that are highly sensitive. They can all (eventually) articulate an interest in coaching or therapy as a career, but vacillate because of the time it takes to get trained or the cost. They know the demand for both career coaches and therapists is sky high, but still, they resist.

I’m reaching out to you today to encourage you to take the bold step to become a career coach if you’re heart is telling you this is a perfect fit. The next cohort of the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy is enrolling now. Check out the information on the Academy website and set up a time to get your questions answered .

I love training career coaches, and I love highly sensitive people!

Get Angry

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 20:37:55 GMT

Get Angry

I’m not a therapist; I’m a career coach. In my role, I help individuals find a career direction, refine their job search strategy, and overcome challenges as employees or business owners. Fear is dripping off every one of those scenarios.

Your career is central to your security and your self-esteem. When it’s off track or flat out broken, your anxiety spikes, for very good reasons. However, fear also clouds your judgment, so you must find a way to calm down and think clearly.

I know, easier said than done. You can’t just flip a switch and control your fight or flight reaction to complex problems. Or can you?

Long ago, a wise mentor responded to my anxiety about not knowing what to do with my life with a question. “Are you angry?” I found this question a bit annoying and mostly irrelevant. Angry about what? No, I’m afraid, afraid of making a mistake, of living a miserable life, and never reaching my potential. What does anger have to do with it?

Fear kept me paralyzed. I kept waiting for the anxiety to evaporate or dissolve. It never did. It was my companion, draining me of energy and efficiency. I felt stuck.

One evening after several months of poor sleep and persistent anxiety, I got an idea. What if I get angry about being anxious? I set out for a walk in the relatively safe confines of the college campus where I lived. I marched into the darkness, down a path by myself.

I got mad and I was loud. Fortunately, no one heard me, and I was able to rant and rave in private. I was genuinely fed up with fear. I spent about two hours walking a spewing my rage, and then calmly returned to my dorm and went to sleep.

It worked; my free-floating anxiety was substantially diminished. It turns out that anxiety and fear are connected. Fear keeps you trapped, where anger moves you forward. I share this hoping it helps you consider a different approach if anxiety is holding you back.

Invest in Networking

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:05:05 GMT

Invest in Networking

Regardless of your circumstances, your career success and job security ultimately depend on your personal and professional relationships. If you are unemployed, your strategy must be centered on networking. If you are in a job (happy or otherwise), your circle of friends and colleagues is your most valuable resource.

While the importance of networking is often discussed, it is consistently neglected. I get calls from job hunters bemoaning their fate. They complain that they have sent over 500 resumes and have been looking for work for months or even years. I will bravely ask them if they are focusing on networking, knowing the answer will be “no”.

There are some good reasons why people don’t network. Here are a few:

It’s tempting to shop for employment without a clear focus, leading to a scatter campaign that produces little or no results. Without a strategic focus, you don’t know where to network or what to say when you meet people.
It takes self-confidence and effort to meet people. It also requires preparation, presenting yourself as both informed and qualified. It’s a lot easier to put together a generic resume and apply for jobs online, hiding from the pressure of face-to-face communication.
You might have reached out to the people you know early in your job search, again without a clear focus, asking for leads. Your network could not help you because you did not give them a clear target. Now you feel shaky about calling them again.

Ok, now that I have depressed you, let me offer some guidance and motivation to start networking. People can open doors for you, they can fall in love with you, even if you don’t have all the qualifications. People hire people they like. Thus, you must build networking into every week and month of your life.

In the process of connecting with others, you learn about opportunities. You uncover pathways revealed through conversations, introductions, curiosity, and interpersonal dynamics.

There are some easy ways to start networking. Take a class, online or in person. Attend events, conferences, and become involved with your local chamber of commerce. If that sounds too stuffy, take up a new sport and join a club. If you are not a “joiner”, then throw your own party. Start a networking group yourself!

I know I’m asking you to be strong and brave, and that is challenging. The alternative is worse. Letting your dreams falter because you are afraid to get out into the world is heartbreaking. Find a way to connect with people in a meaningful way. Enhance your life and your job security.

Are You Ready?

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:57:45 GMT

Are You Ready?

Hello loyal newsletter readers ��! Many of you are committed to your personal and professional growth. I always have that in mind when I’m writing my weekly message to you.

Today I want to let you know the next cohort for the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy starts Tuesday, November 18 ^th , 2025. Perhaps it’s time for you to decide to follow your dream to open your own career coaching business and get your ICF (International Coach Federation) credential.

Check out these emerging opportunities in the career coaching industry: Strawberry.Me , a career coaching service launched by the founder of Better Help, is a massive opportunity for you to incorporate contract work in your career coaching business. To be one of their coaches, you must have your ICF credential. They are holding the standard high. I know this because I have become one of their coaches. It’s an amazing platform where you can change people’s lives without the hassle of marketing your services.
The concept of working with a career coach virtually has matured in this post-pandemic era. Not too long ago, you needed an office and could only service people who could drive to your place of business. Now you can help anyone, anywhere in the world. Wow, that’s amazing, and it massively expands your consumer reach.
The labor market is both frozen and erratic. Combine this with the existential hangover people are dealing with after working from home during the pandemic. Folks are longing for freedom and meaningful work. They are reaching out to career coaches in large numbers, seeking a solid process to follow to determine who they are and what they want.

I’m talking with you directly today about the opportunity to become a career coach because it’s an unprecedented opportunity. If you are currently a career counselor, recruiter, or leader in an organization, you know how rewarding it is to deeply listen to a person’s aspirations and help them find the courage to pursue their dreams.

If your toes are tingling, please give me a call. I’m sure you have questions, and I’d love to answer them.

Jump on my schedule and let’s talk.

What's Your Preference?

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:07:47 GMT

What's Your Preference?

Informal

You like keeping your options open, ready to change your plan as things evolve.
You often underestimate how long things will take.
You appreciate flexibility when scheduling things.
You are often a bit late, having tried to squeeze too much into your schedule.
Interruptions or last-minute changes don't freak you out.
You troubleshoot well.
You struggle with long projects or commitments, preferring variety and short-term tasks.
You wish folks would be less hung up on getting things done on time and more focused on enjoying the process.

Formal

You like working on a single task or project, seeing it from beginning to end before starting on something else.
You get great pleasure from crossing an item off your to-do list.
You are usually on time or early.
You enjoy finishing up loose ends or tidying up before starting something new.
You get overwhelmed and stressed when things keep changing, and you can't focus enough to get things accomplished.
You are known to be dependable and good at following through on your commitments.
If someone shows up late, you see them as disrespectful or unreliable.

Your relationship with time is wired upon birth and remains stable throughout your lifetime. You can develop skills to become more versatile, but when it comes to making a career choice, it's critical to consider your time-related preferences.

For example, emergency services personnel like firefighters and ambulance drivers have an informal relationship with time. They remain calm in a crisis, use their amazing ability to focus in the moment, and brilliantly take action under pressure. Other careers that support informal approaches to time include athletes, sales professionals, and lobbyists.

If you have a formal relationship with time, you appreciate a more structured work environment, like elementary education, accounting, or public service in the government. You are attracted to a steady paycheck in a stable environment.

Other careers that capitalize on a more formal time preference include civil engineers, patent attorneys, and estimators. You work well within a clear structure, often satisfied to stay with a career direction for long periods of time.

Courage is the Key

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:53:28 GMT

Courage is the Key

Feeling stuck in a job you hate or suffering through a prolonged job search is painful. So many parts of your life are affected. You worry about finances, your self-esteem erodes, and your relationships suffer. And it’s lonely. It feels like the rest of the world is humming along while you struggle.

You might have noticed I have been focused on the dark side of career transitions lately. It’s because I have so many clients who are grabbing tissues in my office. I’m hearing stories of job searches that have been going on for years, not months. Clients are staying in jobs that are making them miserable, unable to afford to quit, and afraid to make a change.

It may be time to offer a silver lining. During tough career transitions, grit can be manufactured. The tougher it gets, the more determined you become. Consider the possibility that career derailments can make you stronger, wiser, and more aware of your strengths.

Here are a few ways it can work:

In a long-haul job search, you may ping pong between taking what you can get (settling) or shooting for a future you deeply desire. It’s a slippery slope. If you go after a career that matches your talents and interests, your job search pulls out of its stall. You show up less desperate, your brain starts working, and you are willing to do the networking or get the extra training required to reach your goal.

If you feel stuck in your job, dreading your work, your boss, your clients, etc. You are growing increasingly burnt out and discouraged. So, where is the grit in this scenario? You start considering options that were previously off the table. You might sell your home, renegotiate college options for your kids, or ask for a loan from a family member. The story about what you can’t do becomes the story about what you are willing to do.

Then there’s the explosive option. You get mad. You refuse to accept less than you want and deserve. You fly into action, finding the energy and mental clarity that have been eluding you. You take risks, you ask for help, and you stop accepting your mediocre existence.

I have seen each of the above scenarios play out. You can break out of your career prison if you harness your grit. Your struggle can help you find the courage to move through what you are facing and stop feeling stuck.

It’s Just Out of Sight

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:47:21 GMT

It’s Just Out of Sight

As a career coach, I’m in the business of helping folks find a career direction. Here’s the weird thing I’ve discovered: most of my clients know what they want (or have a sense of it) but cannot see it clearly. The answer sits on their shoulder, just out of sight. It’s maddening!

It takes several levels of validation for you (or anyone) to get a clear career vision. It starts with a deep conversation , tapping into what you already know about yourself. You build on that with a career self-assessment , research, networking, and, eventually job search.

But, even with all that work and information, you still might feel lost. Here are some common scenarios:

You are afraid. Afraid of making a mistake, failing in the new venture, or worried you won’t find secure employment. All the “what ifs” pile up in your brain, leaving you paralyzed, unable to take a step in a specific direction.

Your negative past experiences suck the hope out of your soul.

You lack role models or support.

You just don’t know where to start.

These real impediments are substantial, but they can be overcome. Here are some tips to consider if you want to move in a direction but feel stuck.

Step One: The only way to it is through it. Waiting until you feel ready will keep you immobilized. You must feel fear and move forward anyway. Action is the key.

Step Two: Trust your gut. You know more than you give yourself credit for. Take a long walk or sit down with a piece of paper and start constructing your future. Be honest about who you are and what you want. Bolster this with a c areer self-assessment . Self-knowledge is one thing you can focus on and control.

Step Three: Stop comparing yourself to other people or listening to people who cannot or will not be supportive. This is your life. Only you can decide how you want to live and work.

Finally , take small steps and focus on interacting with people. You will not find your future in your living room. Take your curiosity for a ride and see

Hit the Reset Button

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:54:28 GMT

Hit the Reset Button

Every day, week, and month you hunt for a job, the costs add up, impacting both your bank account and your self-esteem. Even if you know what you should be doing to secure employment, you find it harder to put in the time and effort.

The circle of people around you can make things worse. You see your kids worrying or complaining because finances are tight. Your spouse is losing patience, and I would like to ask what you are doing to fix the situation. Your friends have grown weary of your story.

These pressures impact your mental clarity and strategic focus. A cascade of behavioral and psychological missteps can follow:

You develop theories about the labor market and your employment prospects based on your lack of success. In the early days of your search, you customized every application, explored networking options, and followed up whenever possible. Now that several months have gone by, you are discouraged. You tell yourself it did not work and stop putting in the extra effort.

You start slipping into a scatter campaign, applying for jobs that do not interest you or that are below your capabilities. As the bills pile up, you sacrifice focus with fear.

Eventually, you lose an understanding of who you are and what types of employment would be fulfilling. All you can see are the downsides of the path that would be best for you.

You are unwilling to get the extra training you need or join the appropriate professional association. Any investment that seems too expensive or time-consuming can leave you feeling stuck.

When you do get an interview, you appear desperate. You are no longer capable of selling yourself convincingly.

I share this gloomy narrative to wake you up. There is no way around the realities of navigating a career transition. You must know yourself well, understand how you fit into the labor market, and invest in training that will position you to succeed. You must dig deep to find the courage to organize your job hunt. Could you reset your strategy today?

Set Yourself Apart

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 19:39:52 GMT

Set Yourself Apart

Employment interviews set up a power imbalance. They ask questions, and you answer. You prepare a couple of questions for the close of the interview, but don’t think about asking questions during the interview. This is a mistake.

Include the intention of asking questions in your interview preparation. As you do your research, learn about the requirements for the job, the company culture, and the demands of the role you are seeking. Also, identify the company's competitors, their future goals, and potential threats they are facing.

The knowledge you gain allows you to join in the conversation during the interview, rather than respond passively. You explain how you’ve solved problems in the past and achieved extraordinary results. You also integrate your achievements with their needs, goals, and potential opportunities.

Your research creates opportunities for you to bridge the gap from outsider to insider. Then you take it a step further. You gracefully ask a question addressing their core needs or opportunities. Your questions show both your knowledge and your level of motivation for the position. You cared enough to get smart.

Ultimately, your best interviews will be more like a meeting between colleagues than a one-sided ping-pong match. You can’t be sure your arsenal of information about your employment target will pay off, but it’s a worthy gamble. One or two well-crafted questions based on solid research sets you apart from your competition.

In case you are reading this and don’t have an interview in the wings, use this approach for any interaction that matters. Whether you are buying, In case you are reading this and don’t have an interview in the wings, use this approach for any interaction that matters. Whether you are buying a new car or hiring a personal trainer, your ability to ask relevant, insightful questions will increase the likelihood you will get the outcome you desire.

Blocking You

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 21:08:37 GMT

Blocking You

I’ve recently developed a new perspective on my relationship with dreams and disappointment. As an entrepreneur, I’ve invented an assessment , written a book , and founded a coaching school . Each of these efforts was launched with optimism and expectations. Frankly, none of them has reached the levels of success I hoped for.

My aspirations have pushed me to keep taking risks, seeking new avenues to reach my self-imposed goals. It’s left me with a “not good enough” feeling, which is sad because I love what I do. It’s time for me to ditch my dissatisfaction and be deeply content with things, exactly as they are.

I came to this realization several weeks ago. Since then, things have changed. First, I’m more relaxed. I find it much easier to cross the “shoulds” off my list. Previously, I lamented that I did not have enough videos on my YouTube channel or failed to post regularly on social media. Now, I do it if I want to.

Second, my blood pressure has gone down to a normal, healthy range. I mean this literally. Since April, I’ve gone through a series of health assessments because of a family history of heart disease. Since I stopped wanting more than exactly what I have, my blood pressure is normal.

Finally, and the most pressing reason I wanted to share this with you, is the flood of unexpected opportunities. I’ve gotten new clients, contract leads, and improved sales. My dissatisfied energy was a door, blocking the flow of abundance.

What's Your Motivation?

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:13:45 GMT

What's Your Motivation?

Advice can be invaluable if offered at the right time, for the right reasons. If you are asked to give your input, most of the time, the outcome will be positive. But there are murkier levels of motivation to consider.

Consider these perspectives:

To Feel Powerful: Giving advice can be a way to assert dominance and a sense of control over another person or situation. It can make you feel knowledgeable, influential, and superior.

To Boost Your Ego and Self-Esteem: Offering advice can be a way to validate your experiences, intelligence, and problem-solving abilities. It can make you feel wise, useful, and that your experiences have had a significant purpose.

To Avoid Dealing with Your Own Problems: Giving advice can be a distraction from examining your challenges or shortcomings. By focusing on another person's problems, you can avoid facing your own.

Criticism: Unsolicited advice can be laced with judgment, subtly communicating to the recipient that their current approach is wrong or needs fixing.

Manipulation and Attempts to Control Behavior: In some cases, advice can be a veiled attempt to influence or manipulate another person's choices or actions to align with your desires or personal preferences.

In thinking about writing this today, one more motivation to be “helpful” crossed my mind. If you find yourself surrounded by people who don’t solicit your input or consider your needs, you can feel lonely. Giving advice might be an attempt to be seen and heard in your relationships.

I kicked off another cohort of the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy last night, and we started where we always do, working on not giving advice. I share this with you today to encourage you to reflect on the value and motivation of your advice. It might be a waste of time or, more substantially, a need inside of you that requires attention.

Does Not Mean You Should!

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:30:59 GMT

Does Not Mean You Should!

When you don’t know what’s next in your career, it’s understandable to ask:

What am I good at?
What experience do I have that an employer might want?

A trap lies in those questions. They ignore the possibility that you are good at things you don’t enjoy doing. This leads you down a trail of unrewarding, draining employment.

Here is the solution. Start your career transition with a solid career assessment . Take the time to think deeply about who you are and how that fits into the labor market. If you need a partner to help you, select a career coach. Whether you are early in your career, mid-career, or heading into retirement, you don’t want to settle. Make a solid choice.

One of my clients demonstrated how to focus on what you want, not what you can do. She is employed in a telecommunications company in a high-pressure sales role. She is very good at what she does and well paid—and miserable. She wakes up dreading her job every day.

We began by discussing her vision. She wants to slow down, to find more life balance and be in a support role, not facing difficult, unpredictable customers. Her career assessment showed strong technical and mentoring skills. She is also drawn to meaningful work.

This inspired a round of informational interviews, during which she shared her vision and the activities that give her energy. She was pleased to find that one conversation led to another, helping her design the next step based on her aspirations, not her accumulated work experience. Her company is designing a new role that will fit her perfectly.

So often, you take jobs randomly, letting fate unfold. Before you know it, people see you in that role or field, and it can be hard to escape. Trust your gut. If you are not where you want to be, or don’t know where you are going, act. Your career is a central aspect of your health and happiness. Find the career that fulfills you!

Be a Thought Partner

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:21:52 GMT

Be a Thought Partner

Think about an important conversation you plan to have shortly. Here is my question: How much time do you spend helping the person you are speaking to determine the focus of the conversation?

This question may be confusing because most conversations are like a ping-pong game where advice is given (whether it was requested or not). Or one person starts talking and the other person relates their own story, rather than listening deeply.

Starting conversations with a clear agenda is a powerful alternative. The underlying assumption is that the person you are speaking to is wise and can solve their problems. You are their thought partner, helping them find new perspectives.

Let me offer a caveat. This only works if you both trust each other. If you have been framed as the enemy or the individual you are interacting with is unwilling to be accountable, this approach will not work.

However, let’s assume you have a solid relationship and want to enhance the quality of your conversation; here is a guide to follow.

The first step is simple. You ask the person you are meeting with what they would like to focus on or address. They might answer with something like, “I’d like to understand myself better, or I want to feel less overwhelmed.” You could proceed directly into the conversation based on that prompt, or you could dig deeper.

You could ask:

How does this matter to you?

This tiny bit of structuring avoids a surface conversation or a bitch session. But you are not done yet. Now it’s time to invite your colleague or friend to define a successful outcome for your time together. You ask, “What, specifically, would you like to achieve in our time together today?”

Usually, it takes some time to process this. They might define success as a plan of attack or clarity. They might want to determine a step they can take to expand their self-awareness or structure their life more efficiently.

The final part of setting the agenda is reflective listening. You summarize the focus of the conversation and the targeted successful outcome. This sets the stage for a meaningful interaction. A little bit of clarification up front can take communication from a transaction to a transformation.

Make a Brilliant First Impression

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:41:05 GMT

Make a Brilliant First Impression

Job interviews are anxiety-producing, no matter how many you have under your belt or how long it’s been since you’ve been in the hot seat. You must perform under pressure.

If you view the interview as a single block of time, you will likely be overwhelmed. If you break it down into stages, you can pace yourself. Today, I want to focus on the first stage of the interview, which is breaking the ice.

Simply put, it’s the first impression. On a video call, it’s your appearance, the quality of your video/audio, your office or background, your energy, eye contact, and smile. If you are meeting in person, consider your posture, handshake, and the level of confidence you convey.

The cognitive bias developed by the interviewer in the first few seconds of the interview has been rigorously studied. The research is overwhelming. If you show up strong, the interviewer starts skewing their impression in a positive direction.

Alternatively, if you appear bored, worried, or disinterested, the interviewer may hold that view. They judge your responses harshly and are less likely to ask follow-up questions. If you can’t shine right off the bat, they assume it’s all downhill from there. They don’t want to bring your negativity or lack of commitment into the company.

Here’s the good news. You have the power to make a great first impression ��.

You must focus on it:

Dress for success. Wear professional clothing and be impeccably groomed.
Push your energy level up, especially if you tend to be quiet or serious.
Make eye contact in a friendly way, then add a smile.
Show up with a mixture of warmth and intelligence. Interviewers are attracted to both, but when they are out of balance, it can be a turn-off.

One more thought to motivate you. Most of your competition will not consciously focus on the first impression. They will probably try to look their best, but without the knowledge of the importance of the first few seconds, they will squander the opportunity.

So, be smart. Show up brilliantly and get the momentum rolling in the right direction.

Get Your Mojo Back

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:55:30 GMT

Get Your Mojo Back

Being accountable is tough. Standing strong in the face of an unexpected layoff or a diabolical boss can be devastating. Feeling bad is human. Here’s my question: how long do you rail against your offender, and what are the consequences for your self-esteem?

Every week, I meet with clients who are stuck and struggling. Typically, it’s due to a combination of external circumstances and related internal struggles. If it’s been going on for a while, it strips away your confidence. It becomes the double whammy of having bad things happen and feeling bad about yourself.

The turning point is addressing your identity. A big blow in life can ignite memories (conscious or unconscious) of previous trauma. In the case of a highly critical boss who rarely gives you positive feedback, you might regress to the ways a parent made you feel when you were a kid. You reignite feelings of powerlessness when, in fact, you are a highly capable adult with abundant resources at your disposal.

A little self-coaching might offer a new, self-affirming perspective.

Ask yourself:

Who am I (what is my identity) in this negative situation?

Give yourself some time. You are digging for a trigger that can be elusive. Once you identify who you are in the stuck and struggling space, you can name it and realize you are giving your power away to a distant memory or experience.

Who do I want to be in this situation?

Now you are inviting your current resourceful self to show up. You become much more creative and empowered. You embrace accountability. Even though something bad has happened, you can stand strong and make choices about your future.

The relationship between self-confidence and accountability is powerful. I invite you to shift your perspective if you have been feeling stuck in helpless circumstances. The identification of who you are and who you want to be can wake up your mojo. Now you can make the right choices with confidence.

Step Up, Get Hired

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:12:23 GMT

Step Up, Get Hired

Knowing what keeps hiring managers up at night will supercharge your job search strategy. In the competitive job hunt landscape, it can feel overwhelming. However, there is a tremendous opportunity.

Here are the three things every manager worries about and faces daily:

1. They have someone on their team who is underperforming or causing problems. They want to get rid of them, but they don’t have a good alternative.

2. They have too much work and not enough time. If they could just find a person with the right talent and work ethic, they could cut back on the blood pressure medicine.

3. They have dreams stuffed in their drawer, collecting dust. They are so busy that they cannot exercise their creativity. If only they could find a competent aspiring leader to manage the team, freeing them up to explore big ideas.

These ever-present needs are the essence of the hidden job market. If you are a proactive, brave job seeker, you will find ways to have conversations with leaders in organizations, knowing they have these three problems.

The key to this strategy is your willingness to go for it. It requires ingenuity and hard work. Most of your competition is sitting behind their computer, looking at listed jobs. They apply and wait for a response. Over time, they become bitter because they can’t get hired. I’m sorry about that, but my goal is to fire you up and arm you with the biggest secret out there.

Interact with managers who have the authority to hire. Research the needs of both the organization and the hiring manager. Offer your ideas. Show you can hit the ground running. Find out what the hiring manager wishes they could be focusing on, but don’t have the time.

Hear the Said and Unsaid

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:27:49 GMT

Hear the Said and Unsaid

For as long as I can remember, I have been told I am intuitive. It was far from a gift when I was younger. I was a sensory sponge, picking up on the said and the unsaid. If there was tension, I felt it. And there was plenty of tension where I grew up

My deep emotional capacity and tendency to overanalyze everything made life exhausting. However, I was not aware of an alternative. I felt isolated, alone, and weird.

When I was twenty-two years old, having just started my first job out of college, I had a revelation. I was working in downtown San Francisco in an administrative job. I worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 52 weeks without vacation. There was no time for navel-gazing. I just worked.

One Saturday, I was walking on Ocean Beach, shrouded in fog. My mind was blank. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I could not remember the last bout of emotional angst. I had not pondered my purpose, aspired to personal growth, or empathized with others who were suffering.

In that moment, I realized I could live a balanced life that included laughter, hard work, and periodic, chosen disconnection from my sensitivity. About four years later, I abandoned the office job and secured my master’s degree in counseling. I shook hands with who I am and doubled down on my intuitive gifts.

Over the years, helping people find the courage to follow a career path that aligns with who they are and who they aspire to be, I have employed my sensory radar. It’s not a matter of doing things or saying things. I provide a safe space for people to be vulnerable.

I share this today because a good chunk of amazing humans are highly sensitive and intuitive. Studies indicate it’s about 15 percent of the population. If you can relate, I’d like to share a few key tidbits that have served me well:

Find a career that capitalizes (literally) on your intuitive gifts.
Work in a healthy culture or become self-employed. You cannot work in a toxic environment.
Embrace humor, music, and laughter. Your depth must be balanced with joy.

Being sensitive in my childhood made me feel weak. Now, every day, I feel like my intuition is my superpower. I value and trust the subtle whispers that inform my work and my life. I invite you to do so as well.

Let Them Struggle

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:50:54 GMT

Let Them Struggle

Whether you are a coach helping a client overcome an obstacle or a friend supporting a buddy through a difficult time, you know what it feels like to try to help someone stuck or struggling.

You might go straight to the issue, asking, “What have you tried?” or “How can you move forward?” On the surface, they seem like helpful inquiries, but chances are, you will get the three dreaded words, “I don’t know.”

Your direct questions are too harsh. They require commitment and don’t allow space for the individual to struggle. Your desire to be helpful or your impatience can corner them and close off creativity. They don’t want to be vulnerable or weak, so they just shut down.

In situations like this, consider asking a soft-edge question. Preamble your questions with words like:

Just suppose…
Imagine…
What if…
Is it possible…

Opening the conversation this way invites exploration rather than an explanation. It becomes safe to throw out ideas. There is no pressure to give the right answer or an answer they are going to be held to. You invite the stuck person to think through the possibilities and put them on the table.

Add one more skill to further expand the space. Use silence. Do not fill the pauses with noise. Silence shows you are equal to your stuck person’s struggle. Stay with them in discomfort.

Also, be aware of your tone. Your words might be saying one thing, but your tone conveys another. You come off sounding condescending or superior. Be an explorer with no attachment to the outcome. Stay calm, curious, and engaged. This approach will offer subtle support and encouragement.

Soft-edged questions help your spouse, daughter, or co-worker relax. They can shift from “I don’t know” to excavating, experimenting, and exploring. When you welcome the struggle, it does not have to be pushed away. The muddled brain has time and space to become resourceful.

Take Control of Your Future

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:37:37 GMT

Take Control of Your Future

Both confidence and clarity are essential, especially when your career is off track. But these magic elixirs can be in short supply. You don’t know what the future holds, and you worry you won’t be happy or successful. You're caught in a rip tide, trying to believe in yourself as you walk forward in uncertainty.

It’s tempting to seek reinforcement from sources outside yourself. You look at other successful people and try to emulate their approach. You do what your family, friends, and society tell you to do, wanting to impress or please them. You go along with the crowd, doing what is easy or popular. You are not taking control of the situation because you don’t know how.

It reminds me of a bit of wisdom my dad shared with me when I was a kid. He said, “It's hard to hold a bag of groceries with your arms outstretched. Pull the bag towards you, it’s much easier.” Clarity and confidence will not come from distant sources.

If committed internal exploration is the answer, it begs the question: how do you come to understand who you are and what you are wired to do? The answer is the Elevations career assessment .

Follow this guidance to get the best results:

Elevations will help you organize your wisdom, not give you the answers. Read the instructions in Elevations carefully. Be prepared to think deeply. This is your self-authoring tool. Don’t rush or be impulsive.
What matters to you is your true north. Identify the values you want supported in your career. Memorize your most important values and prepare to share them with your network and in your employment interviews.
Dig into the skills that give you energy. You can get good at doing just about anything. Utilize the skills section of Elevations to uncover and define your genus skills.
Explore the 120 careers in Elevations with a focus on what interests you, not what is practical. Your interests can be combined to create a customized career, supercharging your success and satisfaction.

If you are at a crossroads, nearing retirement, starting in your twenties, or stuck in a job you no longer enjoy, take action. You can design the next step in your journey. Confidence and clarity will follow.

Hobbled By Your Past

Wed, 28 May 2025 16:53:25 GMT

Hobbled By Your Past

Your career is at a low point. You hate your job (or you have already quit), your self-esteem tanks as your job search lingers on, and rejections are piling up. Disappointment and frustration simmer just below the surface, but you must keep going.

You try to appear positive. You network with colleagues halfheartedly. You put on a show in job interviews, frequently leaving feeling defeated. You don’t have the energy to take care of yourself or reach out for help . You are just getting by.

I hate to break it to you, but prospective employers can likely see right through your facade. The question is this: how do you regain your strength and composure so you can secure a job with an awesome employer?

Here are a few steps for you to consider:

Check How You Are Coming Across with Someone You Trust

Hopefully, you have an Aunt Pearl or a best buddy who knows you well.

Take an Accountable Perspective

There’s a good chance you have been mistreated. As a career coach, I’ve heard every scenario. Your previous boss kept you trapped because you filled a key need. Your job was eliminated or replaced after you gave everything to a job you loved. This list is endless. Your resentment boils, but you don’t know what to do about it.

The solution lies in radical accountability. Today, you start fresh. You choose your future and create opportunities. What happened in the past no longer controls or defines you. Take a pair of imaginary scissors and cut the energy from your past. You may need to use the scissors repeatedly to regain your sovereignty.

Re-Construct Your Forward Strategy

Every aspect of your job search was likely infected by your resentments and frustrations. Start with your employment target. Determine your industry and job focus. Then go back and edit your resume and LinkedIn profile. Prepare for your interviews, ready to attract multiple offers. Rebuild every aspect of your search and notice how doors start to open.

Career transitions can be brutal. I decided to write this today because too many of my clients feel broken. They blame themselves for their job search failures without realizing the deeper issues that are holding them back. If this reaches you today at the right time, please let me know or share it with someone else who is struggling.

Stop Beating Yourself Up

Wed, 21 May 2025 16:42:53 GMT

Stop Beating Yourself Up

Determining your career path is confusing. You might have some ideas about your strengths and sources of satisfaction. But you’re not sure where to start or what, exactly, you should do. You explore some options, compare yourself to others, and feel behind. It’s a lonely place to be.

This pattern is normal and common. For example, I have a twenty-eight-year-old client who loves interacting with people, helping them grow and achieve their goals. She is a confident communicator and skilled at social interactions. This set of capabilities feels vague. She is lost.

To add to her distress, she has detested her first couple of jobs out of college. This led to a deep depression mixed with anxiety. She fears she will never find career satisfaction.

This is common—in fact, I call it the twenty-six-year-old crisis. You might be twenty-four or fifty-two. It does not matter. This is a deeply troubling dilemma, leaving you wondering if you’ll ever find work you enjoy and are good at.

Take these steps to stop swirling:

Step One : Find an Amazing Listener

Sit down with someone who is trained to draw out your brilliance. Let them be your thought partner. This support will lower your anxiety enough for you to proceed through a well-constructed career discovery process.

Step Two : Learn More About Yourself

Clarify what matters most to you. Understand what activities give you energy. Understand your natural-born temperament. Identify occupations that interest you. A clear picture of who you are and what career fields align with you will emerge.

Your light bulb moment will be both subtle and maddening. It might be a direction you considered and discarded. Or it could be something you did not even know existed. There will be a click, an alignment, a feeling of hope that gives you the confidence to move forward. You can get unstuck—but you can’t do it staring at the wall in your living room. Take action, you deserve to find a future you can be proud of.

Data Does Not Dream

Thu, 15 May 2025 16:51:03 GMT

Data Does Not Dream

Job tests are popular and are increasingly being marketed as a solution for the 3 out of 5 workers (58%) in the US labor market desiring a career change in 2025 (source: LinkedIn). The most popular job tests draw results from AI, dumping mounds of data on an already confused career changer.

When it comes to life’s most important decisions, a dissatisfied worker might be tempted to believe that a job test is a great solution. It’s quick and relatively inexpensive. So, they pay for membership or a quiz, learning little or nothing about themselves.

Let me add that free AI tools provide the same information that a job test provides. For example, I entered the question, “What else can a career coach do for a living?” using my free ChatGPT account. The result was impressive. Six industry segments were identified along with a range of roles and job titles.

Here is the problem: it’s just a list. It does not offer clarity about the best alignment for the individual. Bottom line, it’s data that can be very useful after a well-designed career exploration process. It’s a great research tool, not an assessment of an individual's potential and aspirations.

I am pleased to have brilliant career development professionals who read this newsletter every week (thank you ��). You help early-stage career seekers and career changers explore their inner wisdom, draw on their life experiences, and consider their dreams. It’s a human interaction.

If you know someone who is stuck in a soul-sucking job, encourage them to use a preference-based career assessment that offers both self-awareness and career-related information. Also, please encourage them to use a career coach who is specifically trained to administer the assessment.

With more than half of the US labor market yearning for change, it’s important to get the word out about what works!

Close the Deal

Thu, 08 May 2025 17:38:40 GMT

Close the Deal

The day has come. You are scheduled for the final interview for your dream job. You want to secure an offer, but the competition is intense. You enter the interview with research-based methods, setting you apart from all other candidates.

Here is your playbook:

Understand your goal in each interview stage (breaking the ice, general sharing of information, patterned questions, and the close).
Prepare a strong opening and closing statement.
Understand that the final hiring interview usually focuses on fit more than qualifications.
Come prepared to talk about the culture and mission of the organization.
Attend to your body language and level of energy. Make great eye contact and smile frequently. Your body language makes up 55% of your impact in face-to-face communication (virtual or in person).
Listen more than you talk, focusing exclusively on your potential contributions, not your personal or professional needs.
Come prepared to ask two or three questions near the end of the interview, designed to inform your powerful follow-up email. Ask questions focusing on the first six months on the job. Try to get quantifiable information about project targets, productivity goals, and ways your role fits into their mission.
In your closing statement, ask for the job, not in a pushy way but in a very professional manner, like: "I would be honored to be selected for this opportunity."
Get the correct spelling of the hiring manager's name and email.
Leave the interview with high energy and appreciation for their time.

Now the interview is over, but you are far from done. It's time to blow them away with your follow-up email. Draft a three or four-paragraph mini-proposal or business plan expressing, again, your interest in the position. Lay out an articulate explanation of your vision for your first six months on the job. Combine your accumulated expertise and knowledge with their goals. Put key actionable targets in bullet points to make it easy for them to read. Use your subject line in your email well. Put your first and last name, candidate for (enter the job title and employer). Help them see you in the job.

Finally, have someone else edit and proofread your email before you send it. It must be impeccable. Put your ego aside and let someone help you close the deal.

Take Action

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:43:56 GMT

Take Action

Career crossroads are elusive. You have glimpses of clarity amid frustration, dissatisfaction, and worry. You consider doing something about it, but it feels overwhelming. So, days and weeks go by with no resolution.

A crossroad is like a box. It keeps you stuck, feeling guilty that you want more. Or disillusioned because you no longer enjoy your job. You are anxious, moody, and unfocused. You feel like a failure, alone, while the rest of the world seems to be humming along.

In the middle of the night, unable to sleep, you ponder. You focus on the parts of your career you appreciate. Perhaps you remind yourself that the money is good or your co-workers are friendly. But then you connect with your deeper dissatisfaction. You think about something you would love to do, but the obstacles seem insurmountable.

I am exploring this topic today because I’ve had so many people reach out, stuck in a crossroad, but unaware of the steps they will need to take to move through and beyond it. The Elevate Career Cycle Model offers a smart strategic path forward.

Step One: Introspection

Pull the curtain back and be brutally honest with yourself. Stop beating yourself up for wanting more. Recognize that you have a great deal of anxiety buzzing in your body. Take a long walk, talk to a chicken soup friend, and get calmer.

Step Two: Journey

Thank your previous situation (career, school, or your spot on the couch). Accept that it is time to take action. You are stepping into the unknown with a mixture of fear and hope. The Journey will involve reconfiguring your identity, self-assessment , research, and connecting with people. It’s a big job, and it’s worth it. You are worth it.

I’ve only scratched the surface here, but I hope it’s been helpful. Sharing information about career crossroads over the years has been deeply rewarding. If you want to learn more, grab Elevate Your Career: Live a Life You’re Truly Proud Of . The Elevate Career Cycle Model is the foundation of the entire book!

Your Concerns Are Real

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:01:39 GMT

Your Concerns are Real

“What’s stopping you?” This question is designed to push you. It assumes the reasons you are stuck are not a big deal. When it comes to your career, let me be the one to say, there are very real, big reasons why you are not diving into the career of your dreams.

Reason Number One: You don’t know what the dream career is.

The world of work is vast. It takes time and the right resources to clarify the right career path. You are immobilized if you don’t know what would make you happy and fit your talents. The fear and anxiety bubble up, and you stop making forward progress.

Here’s what you can do: Take the Elevations career assessment . Use this amazingly accurate tool to clarify your values, identify your enjoyable skills, learn about your personality, and determine the field and function that will align with your unique talents.

Reason Number Two: Knowing what you want is not enough.

Even if you are armed with a goal, the possibility of failure still looms. What if you can’t find a job? What if you are not good at it? Will it pay enough for you to survive? I’m not trying to discourage you here. I just want to address the real obstacles you are facing.

Here’s what you can do: Hire a Certified Career Coach Entrepreneur , specifically trained to interpret the Elevations Career Assessment. Don’t go it alone. Get the support and perspective a coach can offer. Remember, your career pays for everything else in your life. Investing in a qualified career coach helps you manage your anxiety and operate from a clear strategy.

Career success is not magic. It requires courage and good resources. Today, I suggest you stop asking, “What’s stopping you?” and start asking, “What resources and support do I need to move forward with confidence?”

#elevateyourcareer, #elevations, #careercoachentrepreneuracademy, #elevationscareerassessments,

Messy and Magnificent

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:28:03 GMT

Messy and Magnificent

As you contemplate your career situation, you may long for change but don’t know where to begin. Perhaps you’d like to flip a switch and presto, you are in a fantastic new job. Deep down, you know it’s not that simple. So, you procrastinate.

The longer you stay, the more stuck you feel. So, let’s work through the stages you will encounter as you embark on your beautiful career emergence.

Stage One: Gestation

A period of self-reflection starts the process. You need to calm your emotions and develop a vision for your future. This may involve facing some difficult facts.

Such as:

You’ve been waiting for someone to leave, retire, or change.
You got trained/educated in a field you do not enjoy. The money and time you invested did not pay off.
You do not know what you want to do, and don’t know how to find out.

The only person you can influence and change is you. Start by taking the Elevations career assessment to determine who you are and the careers that match your talents. This will elevate your confidence and get you on a path aligned with your strengths. If you need support, hire a career coach .

Stage Two: Birth

Finding a career opportunity matching your vision is messy and beautiful. You might think it’s all about your resume, job postings, and your LinkedIn profile. It’s not—and never will be. Your best future is found through relationships.

Here’s why:

Only 7% of job hunters find a career opportunity through listed jobs.
People hire folks they know and like, even if they are not the most qualified.
You look like your past until you build a new network.

If you already have a broad network, great! If not, you need to establish one. Think about attending courses that will connect you with people in your target field. Seek informational interviews and attend conferences or local events. Get out there. Like birth, this might not be easy, but do it anyway.

Stage Three: Emergence

Once you have gotten your new job or started your new business, or whatever is next for you, there is an adjustment period. Give yourself some grace. Allow for some self-doubt, maybe a dose of impostor syndrome. You are human, give yourself a break. Over time, you will adjust to the new normal and thrive.

The path to your best future is winding and unpredictable. I know you don’t want to hear that. But it’s my job to help you stop wasting time with poor strategies or false hope. Gather your courage to live fully. What are you waiting for?

#careerchoicecareerchange, #elevateyourcareer, #elevationscareerassessment, #elevations, #makeacareerchange, #careercoachacademy

Embrace Balance

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:44:03 GMT

Embrace Balance

There are many misconceptions about self-employment, primarily rooted in unfounded stories about what it takes to be successful.

These include:

Being a type A personality (impatient, competitive, and work-obsessed).
Working 24/7 on your business, including nights, weekends, and vacations.
Taking huge risks and obsessively looking for the next big opportunity.

The list could be longer, but the three common assumptions listed above are the ones that bug me the most because, simply put, I can’t relate to them. I have been self-employed for over twenty-five years. None of these traits have propelled me forward or been necessary to achieve my goals. They would have taken me out of business long ago.

The number one reason I quit my full-time job in 1997 was a desire for autonomy. I wanted to manage my time, implement my ideas when and how I wanted, and manifest my potential without limitations. I was willing to accept a certain level of instability and uncertainty in return for self-determination.

I share this with you to support readers who dream of self-employment but don’t think they have what it takes to be successful. Take it from me, the self-proclaimed unlikely entrepreneur, you can do it.

Here are the characteristics I rely on to sustain and grow my small business.

Check out this list of qualities and see how many you can relate to:

Self-awareness: Knowing what you stand for, your natural strengths, and things that drain you.
Belief in Abundance: A deep-rooted understanding that there is enough—enough work, money, and opportunity. I don’t need to be stingy or undercut other people.
Communication Skills: The ability to connect, listen and compromise. A bonus is the ability to write (even with the advent of AI, I believe your ability to write is invaluable).
Willingness to Learn Anything: This is your secret weapon. Your competition gets stuck because they are unwilling to learn. You will be a success if you are a thirsty learner.

So, are you an unlikely entrepreneur? If the answer is yes, you have my full support in pursuing your dreams and contributing your gifts. In return for the inevitable ups and downs of self-employment, you will enjoy massive autonomy.

#elevationscareerassessment, #careercoachentrepreneuracademy, #selfemployment, #elevateyourcareer,

Weston 2008 - 2021

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:34:02 GMT

Weston 2008 - 2021

It was March 17 ^th , 2010. My yellow lab named Weston was 14 months old, full of piss and vinegar. I was working long days so I needed a support resource. I chose a local doggie daycare center and dropped him off early that morning.

At 4:30 p.m. I entered the lobby to pick him up. The vibe was weird. Then the owner launches in. “We had a problem with Weston today.” I wondered what that could be—and I would soon find out. “Weston was playing outside in the dog park with the other dogs. We accepted four new dogs into the center, and the pack attacked Weston. We took him to the vet. He was put under, stitched up with a wound deep into the muscle area on the left hip, slightly less serious on the right hip. Lots of abrasions.”

She took a breath and finished offering to take care of Weston for free for the next 10 days and administer antibiotics. Because I listen for a living, I remained silent except to say no thanks to the offer of free care. As you are reading this, I’m sure you are appalled, and you should be.

As I drove home, I got angry. I thought about calling a lawyer, judged them, blamed them, and vowed some sort of revenge. I was firmly planted in the victim perspective.

Once home, he curled up in his doggie bed and fell into a deep post-anesthetic sleep. As I stood there, I realized I had a choice. I could keep villainizing the daycare center or I could focus on helping my injured dog. This shift changed everything.

My brain started working. I realized they sent him home with no pain medicine. I launched into accountability mode. I had pain medicine left over from when he was neutered. I grabbed it out of the cupboard. I decided I would take him with me to work as he healed and supervise him closely. I got my priorities straight.

I share this today to remind you that the accountable perspective gives you far more capacity to make things better. Weston recovered on both a physical and psychological level because I decided to focus on him.

Life is not fair or within your control in many cases. I encourage you to be accountable, even when the worst happens. I never went back to that business, I do not disparage them by name. I moved on to enjoy the 14 years of joy Weston brought to me and my family.

#takeanaccountableperspective, #elevationscareerchoice, #elevations, #careercoachacademy, #elevateyourcareer.com, #elevationscareerassessment

Are You Settling?

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:08:51 GMT

Are You Settling?

How would things change for you if anything was possible? What do you dream about doing, but lack the confidence to do it?

Perhaps you feel stuck. You may be carrying the baggage of horrible bosses, overwhelming workloads, and mind-numbing jobs. Or, you’re just ready for something new.

Let me stop here and mention why you might not want to pursue your deepest desire. It’s not just fear of failure. It’s the fear of failing at something significant. Setting goals that feel achievable is smart, but it flirts with settling. It is a self-protective stance that limits your vision.

So, what can you do? Break down your aspirations into manageable steps without backing down on what you want.

Consider the following steps:

Learn About Yourself

It is hard to feel confident when you are motivated by external pressures or societal judgments. Take time to review your values, the things you get energy from doing, and your current interests. Even if you have taken every assessment on the planet, you may still need a current view .

Check the Stories You Are Telling Yourself

When you think about going after an audacious goal, what are you saying to yourself? Are you positive and encouraging? Or do you immediately put yourself down? Fact-check your thoughts and eliminate self-imposed barriers.

Ask for Help

Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Coaching , friendships, or interaction with a mentor can lead to improved outcomes, stronger relationships, and personal growth. Leverage the knowledge and support of others.

#careercoaching, #careercoachacademy, #elevateyourcareer, #gettingunstuck

Abundance or Scarcity

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:59:38 GMT

Abundance or Scarcity

Do you allow yourself time to rest and recover after a long-haul effort? Can you take a break to do some self-care? And, on a regular and daily basis do you prioritize pleasure? I suspect you are saying no to one or more of these questions.

In a world where the message, hard work pays off, permeates our lives, it’s difficult to relish the rest you want and deserve. The resistance to downtime shows up in several ways. Perhaps you:

Interpret rest as a lost opportunity.
Worry all your drive will evaporate if you take a break.
Feel you are being selfish when you prioritize your needs.

The one thing all these perspectives share is scarcity. Plenty of support exists for this fear-based way of viewing the world. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking you are missing out, getting behind, or just plain lazy. If you don’t keep running at top speed, you are simply not good enough.

All of this negativity becomes heavy. Your energy depletes as you push harder and harder. So how do you flip this script? Perhaps you need to replace the scarcity perspective with abundance. This opens the door to a positive belief system. You can:

Stop pushing and start pulling, your energy is attracting all the good things you want and deserve.
Manifest outcomes that are even greater than you imagined.
Experience comfort and joy as success flows in your direction.

As you read this today, you might think I’m naive but I’m not. After twenty-five years of running my own business, the one thing that has kept me both healthy and viable is my deep belief that there is more than enough for everyone. I don’t need to hide my ideas or compete aggressively. I can be humble and generous. I carve out time for self-care and pleasure.

I invite you to do the same. Spend the rest of your day pulling in everything you want and deserve. Consider the possibility that you can manifest abundant opportunities with little effort. Worry and fear leave you vibrating at a very low level. When you take care of yourself, you maximize your capacity and potential.

#career #careercoach #careercoachcertification #abundance

40-Day Plan in an Instant

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:45:41 GMT

40-Day Plan in an Instant

What do you do in an employment interview when they hit you with an impossible question about your process and plan for your first 40 days on the job?

This exact scenario played out for one of my colleagues last week. It inspired me to share a simple technique for scenario-based questions. It’s called the scientific method. Technically this method involves seven steps, but you can boil it down to four and it works perfectly.

It does not matter what the job entails. You could be interviewing to become a business developer or a software engineer. The logical structure of the scientific method will work no matter what career you are pursuing.

Interview Question: What is your process and plan for your first 40 days on the job?

Step One: Observe and Question

Start your answer by indicating that your first 10 days on the job would focus on noticing what is working and what could be better. You plan to ask lots of questions and be open to learning everything you can. Gathering information, building relationships, and earning trust will be key to the initiation of the plan.

Step Two: Generate a Range of Solutions and Possibilities

In the next 10 days, you will be developing ideas/strategies/solutions based on what you learned in the first 10 days. This is a creative process where you hope to offer new eyes and new perspectives. You will share your ideas with colleagues and management as appropriate, narrowing down the possibilities and selecting your initial approach. You will set measurable goals and set the foundation for future evaluation.

Step Three: Experiment and Implement

After 20 days on the job, you will be ready to select a specific strategy and implement it. You will utilize all the resources at your disposal. You describe an approach and explain the steps you would take. Hopefully, you know enough about the opportunity you are interviewing for, allowing for customization of your answer to the employer's needs.

Step Four: Evaluation and Adjustments/Conclusions

The last stage of your 40-day plan is an analysis of what went well and what could have been done better. You will solicit input from stakeholders and customers, measuring your achievements against the goals you initially set. You might finish this with a comment about your commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Here is the bottom line. The interview panel does not expect you to know every detail of a job you’ve never done. But they want to know you understand the bones of a logical process.

#career #careercoach #jobinterview #employment #interviewtips

Inventive Innovators

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:54:58 GMT

Inventive Innovators

Let’s dig into the Innovator preference which is dominant in 12% of the global population. If you have an Innovator preference, you are a thirsty learner. As far back as you can remember you had a wide range of interests and a deep desire to understand why things work the way they do.

School might have been a mixed bag for you. It was a place where you could uncover information and explore. Yet far too often you were bored. Or worse, you came up with alternative answers to problems only to be shut down by teachers who lacked confidence and creativity.

You are independent and original. The road less traveled is your favorite pathway. You explore science, philosophy, history, and art. You have a gift for seeing how complex systems work together, creating repeated patterns in life and nature. You are visionary, curious, and driven. Conversely, if the problem or project has become routine, you quickly lose interest.

Here are some other common traits or capabilities of a true Innovator. You are:

Logical, able to remain objective.
Able to engage in debate, enjoying intellectual sparring with a worthy opponent.
Drawn to work with highly competent co-workers.
Enjoy mentoring up-and-coming professionals with great potential.
Unfazed in the face of highly complex, challenging problems.
Most motivated when starting a new project with many unknowns ahead.
Irritated by excessive expressions of emotion.

Your natural ability to set your emotions aside and focus on the problem makes you a great attorney, surgeon, or scientist. You are constantly inventing new solutions to everyday problems. Like Steve Jobs, you know what could make the world better, before we even know we need it.

If you relate to what has been said here, you are the master of asking “Why?” You push the boundaries and yearn for extraordinary solutions. But sometimes your questions generate a defensive reaction. Developing sensitivity and patience with others who do not work at your speed is a key learning opportunity for you.

Many of the most brilliant inventions ever conceived and implemented were generated by Innovators. You challenge us and make us better.

#careercoach #elevateyourcareer #elevations #careerassessment #temperament #careercoachacademy

Fulfilled by Facilitators

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:44:58 GMT

Fulfilled by Facilitators

I hope you are enjoying my review of the four temperaments. They are the foundation of the Elevations Career Assessment for students or adults.

I have already covered the Liberator and the Organizer in previous posts. Today, I want to focus on the Facilitator. This preference shows up in 12% of the global population and is sometimes called the Idealist.

If you have a Facilitator preference, you are people-centered and concerned with helping others grow and reach their full potential. You need to do meaningful work that makes the world a better place. You might be drawn to help individuals overcome obstacles in their lives, tap into their internal reservoir of resilience, and use their courage.

You probably did not get far into your life before you were told you are over-sensitive. You take things personally and struggle to remain objective in the face of criticism. As a balance point, finding people who listen to you with understanding and unconditional love is essential to your happiness and health. Your capacity to read people, support emotional expression and encourage others makes you a superior helping professional.

Here are some other common traits and capabilities of a true facilitator. You are:

A skilled communicator who values teamwork and collaboration.
Authentic and non-judgmental, naturally supporting diversity and inclusion.
An outstanding listener, willing to embrace a range of perspectives.
Respected for your interpersonal skills.
Committed to balance in your life, needing to take time to regroup and recharge.
Effective in seeing the big picture and developing a vision for yourself and others.

Your natural ability to support and nurture others makes you an outstanding coach, teacher, or healer. You are curious about multiple ways to gain insight and grow. This might include astrology, psychic readings, or traditional religious pathways. Understanding your purpose is essential to feeling fulfilled and aligned.

If you relate to much of what has been said here, you might yearn for moments of lightheartedness or an escape from your deep emotional capacity. Your love for walking, gardening, or cooking are examples of ways you ground yourself. Taking the time to wiggle your toes in the grass will balance you and give you energy.

Every person on the planet is grateful to you, the Facilitator. You expand our hearts, help us grow, and give us a soft place to land on a rough day. Thank you!

#careercoach #elevateyourcareer #elevations #careercoachnearme #careerassessment #careercoachacademy

Ovation for Organizers

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:51:22 GMT

Ovation for Organizers

The four temperaments are the foundation of the Elevations career assessment. Today, I want to share the characteristics of the Organizer!

If you have an Organizer preference, you are goal-oriented, practical, and function best with clear direction. You are a list person. You might add something to your list that you have already done just for the joy of checking it off. You appreciate the structure, show up on time or early, and have a plan. Winging it or functioning in a constantly changing, unpredictable environment will stress you out.

The clear milestones in your school years were easy for you to navigate. Once you completed your education, you likely made a practical career choice. Your job satisfaction is rooted in your ability to be a solid, loyal contributor. You gravitate towards larger, well-established employers and avoid risky start-ups. You love the security and stability that allows you to plan for your future and reach your goals.

Here are some other common traits or capabilities of a true Organizer.

You are:

Practical, making choices that align with realistic goals.
Most satisfied in a career that offers advancement.
Conservative with your finances, focused on saving for your future.
Driven to do things excellently and frustrated by others who slack off or do a sloppy job.
More comfortable doing things yourself than delegating to others.
Adept at problem-solving, creating efficiency, and organizing just about anything.

The ethos of the United States culture is well aligned with the Organizer preference. Concepts like working hard, following through, saving your money, and planning for the future are deeply American values. If you travel to other countries, you may be challenged by different attitudes or standards related to things like time, cleanliness, or goal achievement.

Your natural ability to make plans and conserve resources is essential to our survival. From an evolutionary standpoint, you make sure we have enough wood to stay warm and food to survive the long winters.

If you are relating to much of what has been said here, you may be a bit surprised to find out that folks with other temperaments don’t care about the same things you do. They also do not have your gift for getting stuff done, on time and within the budget.

Take a moment to thank the Organizers in your life. They never forget your birthday; they have the best Christmas decorations ever and are superior bargain shoppers. What could be better than that?

#careercoach #elevateyourcareer #elevations #careerassessment #careercoachacademy #temperament

Praise for Liberators

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:17:57 GMT

Praise for Liberators

In 400 BC the Greek philosopher Hippocrates identified four temperaments. He called them Phlegmatic, Sanguine, Melancholic, and Choleric—yes those are a mouthful. When I decided to use temperaments as the foundation of the Elevations career assessment I called them the Liberator, Organizer, Facilitator, and Innovator. A twenty-first-century spin on ancient wisdom.

Today I want to focus on the temperament that is most misunderstood, the Liberator. Children who have this dominant preference are always on the move. They may have a short attention span, enjoy being outdoors going fast, pushing the boundaries, and taking physical risks. Their parents pray they will survive to adulthood.

As they grow into their teens and early adulthood, school may have become boring. They prefer short-term projects that have tangible results—the opposite of school. They love their friends and playing sports. Getting a car is a huge priority as it gives them the freedom they yearn for. They are fun, casual, and loyal.

Here are some other common traits or capabilities of a true Liberator. They are:

· Mechanically inclined, fixing things without reading the directions.

· Calm in a crisis.

· Detail-oriented and observant.

· Skilled using their fine motor skills (drawing, tattooing, car detailing).

· Drawn to careers that are action-oriented, dangerous, and intense.

· Able to focus their attention if there is noise in the background or if they have something they can hold in their hands.

· Casual, quick to bring humor to a situation, and adaptable.

Are you thinking about someone you know? I bet you are because 38% of the global population has the Liberator preference. Liberators are our firefighters, emergency service personnel, professional athletes, chefs, mechanics, and welders. Evolutionarily, they are naturally adapted to stand in front of the cave and fight off the saber-toothed tiger.

If you have found this eye-opening, I encourage you to learn more about the temperaments. I am particularly fond of explaining the Liberator preference because, at all stages of life, we might not fully understand or appreciate the remarkable capability of these individuals.

Take a moment to thank the Liberators in your life. They make you laugh, keep you safe, and show up ready for anything. What could be better than that?

#careercoach #elevateyourcareer #elevations #careerassessment #careercoachacademy #temperament

Sneak Peak: 23 Years in the Making

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 19:32:52 GMT

Sneak Peak: 23 Years in the Making

In 2002 I purchased the ElevateYourCareer.com website domain. I had a dream of providing a single destination for anyone, at any age, seeking career direction and support through career transitions. I never dreamed it would take 23 years for it to come to fruition.

I need to level with you. My late-bloomer life pattern drives me nuts. But, today as I share this with you, it all seems to make sense.

Over these twenty-plus years, I invented customized versions of the Elevations assessment for adults, students, and organizations. I created a workshop and coaching program called Elevate You, I wrote the book Elevate Your Career: Live a Life You’re Truly Proud Of, created the Elevate Your Career YouTube Channel, and started an ICF-accredited coaching school training career coaches, giving them a logical delivery methodology using my models and methods.

Any one of these resources is valuable on their own. But collectively they create an amazing circle of support for the average human wondering what’s next in their life.

As we enter 2025 I’m confident this timing is perfect. The pandemic has left a lasting, deep existential impact. Massive numbers of people are unwilling to suffer a miserable job or sacrifice life balance. People all over the world want to live up to their potential and find work they are talented to do.

Sadly, most of the resources that exist for people seeking career support are massive job boards or thinly veiled technology companies using AI to address a deeply human issue. Career alignment is not simple or easy. It requires a logical self-discovery process and coaching support—it requires ElevateYourCareer.com.

I am beyond proud of what my team has created. I invite you to take a sneak peek. Explore the information about the Elevations career assessments, find out what we do in our Elevate You programs, explore the coaching directory and information about the coaching school, and check out all the free downloads. And, let me know what you think!

#careercoach #elevateyourcareer #elevations #careerassessment #careercoachacademy

Why Career Crashes Are Inevitable

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:26:30 GMT

Why Career Crashes Are Inevitable

Historically you can look back on times when a farmer, a merchant, or a welder could expect long-term career stability. But these days industrialization, technology, and the speed of change have all but annihilated career predictability. You never know when your career might crash.

This fact is disturbing. Your career pays for everything. It’s the engine of your life. But it’s easy to put off the care and feeding of your career. And then the crash comes!

Crash Number One: You Are Overly Loyal

If you pass on the opportunity to attend your annual professional association conference because you’ve got too much work to do, you are in trouble. You probably have a dated resume and a neglected LinkedIn profile. You identify strongly with your work and are loyal to your employer. So, when a merger, pandemic, or downturn happens, you are unprepared. The pink slip arrives, and you are devastated.

Crash Number Two: The Boss From an Alien Planet

Everything about your career is great. You are good at what you do, and you enjoy it. But most of all you love your boss. One morning you arrive at the virtual weekly meeting and your boss informs the team he is leaving. Several months later a new manager is hired. This evil micromanager is controlling, manipulative, and unethical. You never dreamed things could go south so quickly.

Crash Number Three: Your Personal Life Intervenes

It is natural to separate your work life from your personal life. You can be rolling along feeling pretty darn good about your career. And then, you find out your husband is cheating on you, or your mom falls down the stairs. You did not see it coming and you have no idea what the future will hold.

Let me apologize here. I’m usually a source of optimism (and occasionally inspiration) but I’ve gone a bit dark today. I decided to highlight the inevitability of career crashes because they are so disruptive and potentially disastrous.

If you are familiar with the Elevate Career Cycle model, you know that the Evolve strategy reminds you to nurture your career and have a plan b. And, expect unexpected endings. If you are prepared and understand careers will occasionally crash, you will bounce back much quicker.

The Ugly Truth(s) About Listed Jobs

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 01:34:55 GMT

The Ugly Truth(s) About Listed Jobs

Why is it a waste of time for you to use job boards to find a job or change careers? Here are a few ugly truths:

Job listings on major boards often receive hundreds or even thousands of applications, increasing your competition.
Job postings often remain listed long after the job is filled.
The listing can be vague or overblown, and you cannot determine the real opportunity.
Employers are not excited to see you, and the sea of other candidates flooding their applicant tracking system (ATS).
Employers often list a job to meet legal posting requirements but they already have someone in mind for the job.
You are very limited in your ability to sell yourself.

And, the list goes on.

The biggest ugly truth is the allure of job boards. It seems so much easier than taking a strategic approach. You spend hours hunting for listings, filling out applications, and customizing your resume. It feels like you are getting something done. But you are kidding yourself.

Granted, some people do get their job from a posted position. The research tells us this happens about 10% of the time. 90% of jobs are secured through strategic networking. Thus, you should minimize the time staring at your computer and get out/get involved.

I’m sorry to be a bit heartless, but it does not matter if networking is fun for you or difficult. It simply is the only way to access the best jobs. My number one piece of advice is this: let your curiosity drive you.

Identify the career field and industry that interests you by completing a solid career assessment and then go for it. Attend classes, interview people currently in the role, attend conferences, and volunteer. Any time you are in front of another human, you increase the chance you will uncover a career opportunity that fits you perfectly.

If this information can help a friend or family member who is in the middle of a job hunt, please share it. Being stuck in a long-haul job search is demoralizing. Let’s help as many people as possible employ their talents and regain their dignity.

Happy New Year friends and colleagues!

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 23:51:41 GMT

Happy New Year friends and colleagues!

As you enter 2025, you might be contemplating a career change. A range of emotions flows through you: excitement, anxiety, and a bit of overwhelm. The road to this moment has been filled with ups and downs, just like a wild rollercoaster.

Let me see if I can describe the ride to date. There have been lows when you felt stuck, undervalued, and frustrated. These down days led you to dust off your resume and register with a job site. The jobs you saw missed the mark or you didn’t meet the qualifications. You shut down your computer and went to bed.

Upon waking up the next morning, you pulled back. The devil you knew felt safer than the unknown ahead. You took stock of the things you appreciated/tolerated about your current situation and returned to work.

This was the first of many good days and bad days. You tried to stick your head in the sand, but your dissatisfaction got more intense. Now that you have arrived at the New Year, you are determined to make a change.

Good for you! You are not meant to be living a marginal life. The one thing you must know is this: your rollercoaster ride is not over. Career changes are hard work, on both a psychological and a strategic level. Expect the following:

· Your career change will take longer than you want it to.

· Your identity will become muddled.

· You will be tempted to settle.

· You will need support!

What if I told you I am launching an amazing career change resource on January 23, 2023? You will be able to watch videos, access free resources, hire a coach, take a career assessment, and read books—whatever you need when you need it.

This is my New Year's gift ��to you. You don’t have long to wait. Take the next 23 days to put your career house in order. Pay attention to your intuition, telling you what’s next. Assemble a list of your accomplishments, quantifying them when possible. Share your dreams with the most positive people in your life. Fill your heart and soul with strength and resilience. Get ready for an amazing new beginning.

Why We Need Elevations

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:40:13 GMT

Why We Need Elevations

There are a massive number of career assessments on the market. This was true back in the early 90s when I was the Associate Director of a college career center. Back then (and still today), most career counselors and coaches used several different

assessments to help their clients. I did that too, but I was frustrated.

Let me paint the picture. A client comes to you at a crossroad. They need to identify a college major and/or determine a career path. You encourage the student to engage in a career assessment process so you:

Administer the Strong Interest Inventory, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, a skill card sort, and a values assessment.
All have their own cost, foundational theory, time to complete and, in the old days, postage and time delays waiting for scoring and returned reports.

When all the data is collected you schedule time with a busy student and spend hours going over the uncorrelated data. You’ve taken a client who is, by definition, confused and deliver an overwhelming assessment process.

I began to hunt for a single assessment that addressed values, skills, interests, and personality. I was sure it was out there because it made so much sense to me. But I could not find it.

Fast forward to the early 2000s. By then I had quit my job at the university. Now I was serving adults making career transitions. I was still slugging through an array of tools, complaining about the lack of a single comprehensive assessment.

Then the opportunity arose. I secured a contract to administer career development services for 12,000 employees working for a local government agency. I was ecstatic. I shared my good fortune with a friend, and he said, “Now you can create that assessment you keep talking about.”

While the idea of inventing an assessment was intimidating, I had a design in mind that would integrate all the key elements of the career assessment process into a single platform. I spent three years in development and released a manual version of the Elevations career assessment in 2003. Just one year later, I released an online version that has serviced over 70,000 adults and students to date.

I share this with you today to let you in on my journey and to announce a big reveal that will occur on January 23, 2025. Over the next six weeks, I will share more about the tools and resources me and my team have created for you. Hang in there, more to come soon!

The Secret to Screening Out Dependent Clients

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:19:38 GMT

The Secret to Screening Out Dependent Clients

A foundational principle in career coaching is the belief that the client is whole, capable, and resourceful. News flash, this is not always true. Sadly, some clients make excuses, blame others, and drain you with their endless poor me stories. Their lives are filled with drama and repeated patterns of poor judgment.

If you don’t screen these folks out early, you will be in for a painful and potentially expensive ride. Here is my foolproof method for sending them packing.

Step One: Install a scheduling link on your career coaching website offering a free 15-minute consultation. Listen carefully as the prospective client explains their situation. Are they complaining? Do they become defensive when you ask pointed questions? If so, establish clearly that career transitions are hard work. Clarify that you will not do the work for them.

Step Two: Offer a 90-minute initial session for $90. It gives you a substantial amount of time to hear red flags. Clarify what career coaching is and is not. Explain that 80% of progress is made between sessions by the client. Add that you or the client can end the coaching relationship at any time, giving you a way out.

Step Three: Be honest and kind. If you are convinced this client is a dependent personality who will make little or no progress, offer your observations. Give them examples of behaviors they have shared that will impair their ability to make a successful transition.

Setting these kinds of boundaries is tough. A person stuck in the victim mentality may lash out at you, resenting the fact that you are not going to save them from their self-made plight. Yet, over time, they may look back at you as the one person who had the backbone to tell them the truth.

This kind of guidance is the hallmark of the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy. We are enrolling for the next cohort starting January 7, 2025. If you are interested, please visit the Academy website and schedule a call with me to get your questions answered.

BTW, the Academy is an ICF-accredited Level One school. It's the first step towards achieving your ICF coaching credentials.

Why 6 Out of 10 Employees Plan to Switch Jobs in 2025

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:20:59 GMT

Why 6 Out of 10 Employees Plan to Switch Jobs in 2025

As students are enrolling in the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy for the cohort starting January 7, 2025, I am watching the projected labor market trends for 2025. According to multiple sources, droves of workers are ready to ditch their current jobs.

An article in Inc. Magazine published in October 2024 cited a study conducted by ResumeTemplates.com that found “56 percent of full-time employees in the U.S. want a new job in 2025, and 27 percent have already started searching. One in three plan to quit their current job next year even if they don’t have a new one lined up.”

Employees are seeking new opportunities for varied reasons. Topping the list are frustrations around compensation, burnout, feelings of underappreciation, and limited growth opportunities in their current roles. Additionally, a deep desire for balance and stability was stated as critical for 98 percent of study respondents.

Returning to office (RTO) mandates are contributing to the exodus. In November 2024 the Kadence company reported that “RTO mandates are stirring up conflict within leadership teams. Employees, meanwhile, are voting with their feet—opting to leave rather than lose the flexibility they’ve grown to love.”

If you currently work in an organization in the areas of talent development or employee retention, you are aware of these trends. Directly addressing career dissatisfaction through career coaching will be key to stemming unwanted turnover.

Outside the walls of organizations, career coaches in private practice will be an invaluable resource. The focused attention of an ICF-certified career coach will accelerate the efficiency and quality of the career transition.

I bring this to your attention today, offering a bright future for those of you yearning to expand your career coaching skills and knowledge. Please be aware that the early bird deadline for the January cohort is rapidly approaching. Reach out to me before Tuesday, December 9 ^th to secure your discount.

How Your Curiosity Hijacks Client Insight

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:47:40 GMT

How Your Curiosity Hijacks Client Insight

Last week I observed a coach in training use the phrase, “I’m curious” over and over again. The focus was on him, not the client. He was driving the client to enrich his mind and to be entertained. This is not coaching—this is a conversation without a purpose.

You may already know that a coach does not give advice or tell their own stories. The coach is not in the relationship to learn or grow. They are there to help the client articulate a powerful goal and use their curiosity to see avenues to reach that goal.

This is a bitter pill for coaches in training to swallow. Coach curiosity can originate from good intentions. You might want to demonstrate your interest in the client’s situation. But, in reality, you are driving the client towards your interests, not theirs. Your ego is in the driver's seat limiting or eliminating the emergence of client insight.

This slippery slope is made worse when the coach does not take the time to refine the client’s agenda. It’s key for the client to make sure the goal is connected to their deeper values and beliefs—not a goal imposed by society or people in their lives.

If you take the time to unearth a well-explored, well-articulated goal then you can help the client use their curiosity to explore avenues to reach a goal that matters. You are digging into client wisdom under the surface of their current awareness.

The first step to resolve this misdirected focus is to eliminate the phrase “I’m curious”. Next, remember that coaching is never about you. It does not matter how you feel about the direction the client chooses. Your values, judgments, and life experience are irrelevant.

A solid next step towards enriching your client's curiosity is the use of silence. A well-timed pause lets the client hunt around in their mind. You are the thinking partner, staying out of the way and letting the client’s insights emerge.

Coaching is a generous interaction built on reflection, asking strategies, silence, and focused goal achievement. The learning you enjoy as a coach is witnessing your client’s brilliance.

Why Autonomy is so Powerful

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:37:55 GMT

Autonomy is Even More Sought After Than Flexibility

There are many misconceptions about self-employment, mostly rooted in unfounded stories about what it takes to be successful. These include:

Being a type A personality (impatient, competitive, and work-obsessed).
Working 24/7 on your business, including nights, weekends, and vacations.
Taking huge risks and obsessively looking for the next big opportunity.

Here are the characteristics I rely on to sustain and grow my small business. Check out this list of qualities and see how many you can relate to:

Self-awareness : Knowing what you stand for, your natural strengths, and things that drain you.
Belief in Abundance: A deep-rooted understanding that there is enough—enough work, money, and opportunity. I don’t need to be stingy or undercut other people.
Communication Skills: The ability to connect, listen and compromise. A bonus is the ability to write (even with the advent of AI, I believe your ability to write is invaluable).
Willingness to Learn Anything: This is your secret weapon. Your competition gets stuck because they are unwilling to learn. You will be a success if you are a thirsty learner.

So, are you an unlikely entrepreneur? If the answer is yes, you have my full support in pursuing your dreams and contributing your gifts. You will enjoy massive autonomy in return for the inevitable ups and downs of self-employment.

The Benefits of Replacing But With And

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:27:37 GMT

Get Rid of But!

Exquisite communication requires subtlety. One word you probably use often is “but”. It implies a limitation or obstacle to whatever you say in front of it. For example, “ I’m interested in becoming a coach but, I don’t really understand what coaching is.” The but negates or diminishes the first thing you said.

Today I would like to encourage you to remove the word but completely. Ok, that’s a big ask. And, I’m going to give you an alternative. Substitute but with the word and. You’ll be surprised how well it works!

Let’s go back to my example, “I’m interested in becoming a coach and I’m not really sure I understand what coaching is.” This is so much more engaging. You invite the listener to support you without having to overcome your implied objection.

I’ve become a bit famous for my use of the word and. Sometimes I will respond to a question or concern by saying, “this is an and conversation.” My brief statement slows the interaction down. It illuminates ambiguity and invites a creative exploration of the topic.

Here are some more examples of and conversations:

I want to get a puppy and I’m worried it will be too much work.
I want to change careers and I’m not sure where to start.
I love eating toffee ice cream before I go to bed and I know it’s not a great choice for my health.

One more thought to help motivate you to toss your buts. You will find your conversations are richer. They invite an explorative conversation rather than a debate or persuasion to one side of the coin or the other.

Have some fun with this one. Commit to but annihilation for the next couple of days. I think you see yourself inviting fuller, more creative interactions. If you are a leader in your home or your workplace, you’ll love becoming the master of and conversations.

How to Be An Effective Thought Partner

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:16:36 GMT

How To Be An Effective Thought Partner

Generally, you enter a conversation with an idea about what you want to say or what you want to achieve. This is a good starting place but I’d like to explore an even more powerful approach. Consider becoming a thought partner.

In this role, you do not have an agenda, an opinion, or advice. Your only objective is to help the other person (let’s call them your client) gain a clear perspective about their thinking. The underlying assumption is that the client has their own wisdom and you are there to help them tap into their brilliance.

If you are familiar with coaching, this is not new information for you. But, sadly, it’s so darn easy to fall into giving advice or even arguing. So, I thought I’d take a moment to walk you through a thought partner approach.

Step One: Help your client get crystal clear about the issue at hand. If you ask “How can I support you today?” your client will likely present a problem or obstacle they are facing. I encourage you to probe. Ask some questions like:

How is this situation/challenge affecting you?
What makes this a priority right now?
How does this connect with what matters most to you?
If this was resolved, how would that change things?
How might you need to change to transform this issue?

As you move through these questions, you are helping your client get internally centered. They are aligned with their needs, values, and beliefs. Now you can dig in.

Step Two: Define a measurable outcome for your conversation. Ask:

How will you know you have reached a solid conclusion regarding this matter?
Can you suggest a way we can make the outcome measurable (like on a scale of 1-10)?
Describe success for me as it relates to this issue.

Step Three: Be a thought partner. This has two elements. The first is to reflect and/or summarize what you are hearing. This allows the client to hear and explore their thoughts and feelings. You are a powerful mirror.

Next, ask a question grounded in genuine curiosity. Your goal is to help your clients see gaps in their logic or unfounded assumptions. You are also inviting a high level of accountability. You help them see their role and explore new alternatives.

I am inspired to share this with you hoping it gives you a new perspective on a situation in your life. Find an awesome thought partner to help you or be there for someone who needs your support. We just can’t have enough of this in our world today.

Ways to Manage a Major Career Crossroad

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:06:50 GMT

What To Do At An Inflection Point

You stand at a crossroad. You can take the easy way out and settle for a future that falls short. It’s easier, quicker and less expensive. But it leaves you feeling empty. You know you could do more, but fear keeps you stuck.

I’m guessing there is an inflection point for you right now. You want:

To start your own business.
Go back to school or earn a certification .
Step up to leadership in an organization you care about deeply.
Open a sandwich shop.
Join a rock and roll band.
Fill in the blank__________________.

There is a real price to pay for stepping up to your dreams. That’s why you don’t take action. But, your soul keeps nagging at you. You are caught in a rip tide and need a way forward. Here are the steps you can take:

Find a Thought Partner: This is a friend, career coach , or therapist who listens to you and reflects the stories you are telling yourself. They help you see a new perspective and tap into your wisdom. They validate your vision and give you the support you need.

Take a Comprehensive Career Assessment : Clarify your strengths and values. Your confidence is boosted as you read about your temperament and your interests. The assessment is a mojo-boosting source of validation.

Plot Your Escape: Your starting point will shape your strategy. Determine what you need to do first and take that step.

Leverage Your Assets: If you want to upgrade your life, you need to acknowledge your resources and gifts. From this vantage point, you can creatively determine how you will get where you want to go.

I was inspired to share these ideas because it seems everyone I speak to (clients, family, and friends) is at significant inflection points. Whatever is stirring your soul, I encourage you to honor your aspirations. The world needs what you have to offer.

How Listening is Key to Being an Effective Thought Partner

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:55:25 GMT

How Listening Makes You an Effective Thought Partner

I’m a fan of listening. It’s an art that is tough to master. To your credit, perhaps you are trying to stop:

Interrupting.
Developing your answer while the other person is still speaking.
Shifting the focus back to you.

These are all worthy efforts but, by themselves, you may be missing the root issue. Most of the time you are impatient. It takes discipline to allow the speaker to explore their thoughts and feelings. You are held in receiving mode. It can feel like sitting at a red light that never turns green.

This begs the question; how do you slow down? Here are a few tips that can help:

See yourself as a thought partner. Recognize that the speaker is usually caught in their own story, unaware of logic gaps and assumptions. If you stay curious and focus on the speakers’ works and thoughts, you are starting at a good place.
Embrace the mindset that the speaker is whole, creative, and resourceful. They do not need to be fixed. They need the perspective you offer but not your advice.
Consider a three-part approach. Start by pausing. When the speaker provides an avenue for you to contribute, take time to gather your thoughts. Next, reflect/acknowledge what you heard using the speaker’s exact words. Let them hear what they said. Then, finally, ask a probing question guiding the speaker into further discovery.

Your ability to pace yourself will take some practice, especially if you are abundantly verbal or super high energy. No matter what speed you like in day-to-day conversations, you might want to consider slowing down when the stakes are high and listening matters.

Discover Your True North--Your Values

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:43:34 GMT

Keep Your Values Both Visible and Memorable

About ten years ago I began a simple practice. Every morning as I rise from bed and swing my feet to the floor, I reflect on my top three personal values: meaningful work, helping others, and having fun.

My overall goal is to increase my awareness and experience of these three things in every part of my day. The impact has been substantial. Here is what I have learned:

I have to have my values posted so I see them periodically throughout the day. I have them listed as part of my e-mail signature line. This keeps them top of mind no matter what happens.
My personal values make the biggest impact when I am fearful, angry, or about to make an impulsive decision. With my values in mind, my emotions are checked and I proceed with integrity and strength.
I make my best decisions when my actions and mindset are filtered through my personal core values.

Finding the courage to step up to any challenge is the key to success in all aspects of life. I do not want to waste energy beating myself up about my fears and insecurities. I want to draw from a much deeper well of strength, namely my values.

I’m excited to also share a values-focused podcast that dropped this week. Check out the The Aspirant Podcast. Natasha Clawson interviewed me about How to Make Smarter Business Decisions by Tapping Into Your Values. Here is a link to learn more about how I use both my personal and professional values as my true north.

Guide to Your Deeper Motivation

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:31:35 GMT

Why Knowing What to do is Not Enough

Here’s the situation. Your doctor offers you a choice. You can lose weight or increase the dosage of your cholesterol medicine. You hate taking medicine. You walk out of the office numb and depressed. You told the doctor you would lose weight—but your past diet failures haunt you.

You get home and start thinking about what you need to do. The list is long:

Eliminate carbohydrates and sugar.
Manage your portion sizes and minimize bad fats.
Drink lots of water.
Take a probiotic and get enough fiber.
Get enough sleep and keep your stress level low.
Walk three miles each day up and down hills.
Get support from friends and family.
Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Here’s my question for you: If you know what you need to do, why do you consistently fail to achieve your goal? The answer is within you. All the steps and targets won't help you without getting to your deeper motivations and concerns. You need coaching.

I offer this today because you are surrounded by experts who tell you what to do. They smugly suggest that, if you follow their simple, easy solution you will get amazing results. On a gut level, you know you are getting sucked into an empty promise. So, what can you do?

Start coaching yourself! Here are a few questions for reflection that will tap into your inner wisdom, strength, and discipline:

How does this goal matter to you?
How does it align with your values?
What will need to change about you to achieve your goal?
What worries you about this situation/challenge?
How will you celebrate your successes?

You are the engine for change in your life. Once you start supporting your internal wisdom, you will be unstoppable.

How to Nurture Your Career

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:59:42 GMT

How to Nurture Career Health and Satisfaction

I’ve always had live plants in my office. There’s a bunch of reasons. They are pretty, they have a calming effect, and they produce oxygen. All those things being true, there is one more important reason. Plants are the perfect metaphor for a healthy, rewarding career.

As a career coach, I work with people who feel stuck. They’ve failed to network and grow professionally. They have planted their career in neglected soil. Just like a wilting philodendron, depleted workers are starving for sustenance.

This is not entirely your fault (if you can relate). Perhaps some of these are factors:

You get the evil eye when you leave at 5 p.m. (or whenever your standard workday ends).
Your co-workers (and leadership) brag about needing little sleep.
Training or certificate programs that feed your passions (but are not directly related to your current position) are not reimbursable or allowed.
Your well-being and career are secondary to the mission of the organization and/or profits.

Because you need to pay your bills and meet your obligations, you put your head down and work. You don’t do the things that would nurture your health and your soul. You are not feeding yourself, your career, or your potential future.

Generally, there are two avenues out of the dead plant zone. One is an internal awakening—a realization that you cannot keep trudging forth. You are empty and worn out. The other path is even more detrimental. It’s the wake-up call of an accident, serious illness, or getting fired.

So, what do you do? The first step is to realize you have a choice. Start making small incremental shifts in both your focus and your activities. Take a career self-assessment that will enlighten your awareness of who you are and what you want.

Envision yourself thriving, healthy, and beautiful. Give yourself the care and the attention you need and deserve. And, maybe buy a stunning plant for inspiration.

How to Start a Coaching Conversation

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:10:15 GMT

Learn about the power of self-reflection before the session starts.

Coaching is an amazing process that works wonders because it is structured, intentional, and brilliant. A key component of the coaching methodology is the requirement that you come to coaching with a topic in mind.

You might struggle to identify the focus of your coaching session. It requires preparation and thought. You might toss several ideas around in your brain, trying to select a worthy topic.

This requirement flips the way you think about helping relationships. Traditionally, the teacher, counselor, or doctor tells you what the focus of the session or appointment will be. They are the expert, and you follow their lead.

Coaching puts you in the driver's seat. The resolution of the topic starts before the coaching session. You contemplate the challenges and opportunities in your life. Questions like:

What is the most important topic I want to work on?
How does this topic matter to me right now?
How might I need to change or adapt to achieve success in this area of my life?
How brave are I willing to be?
Am I going to select a focus that gets to the biggest, most audacious goals I hope to achieve?

This self-reflection is essential and magical. It presumes that you have the questions and answers within yourself. It also makes you accountable for the success or failure of the coaching relationship.

I encourage you to use the brilliance of coaching in other areas of your life. If you are going to a meeting or sharing time with a friend, take a moment to consider what you want to focus on and what you hope to achieve. Intentionality and preparation can enrich the quality of the interaction. Be the author of your outcomes.

How to Launch Your Career Coaching Business Your Way!

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:57:53 GMT

How to Launch Your Career Coaching Business Your Way!

When I started my career coaching business twenty-five years ago, I got a lot of advice. Don’t invest in a logo, don’t worry about a website, and most of all, don’t rent an office. Without much hesitation, I ignored every piece of advice and did all those things.

My other choice was to throw an elaborate grand opening at my newly rented Victorian office in downtown Sacramento, CA. I was following my instincts and my passion. I wanted to celebrate the establishment of my new business. I sent out formal invitations to family, friends, colleagues, and allied businesses like outplacement firms.

To my surprise and delight, I had a huge response. It was held in the evening several weeks before Christmas. I decorated the banisters leading up to the front door with live garlands. Each room was lit with candles and the kitchen overflowed with yummy salads and desserts. There was plenty of wine and laughter. It was perfect.

My over-the-top grand opening was one of the smartest moves I made. I quickly established myself and built my network (long before the days of social media).

As I help other career coaches launch their businesses through my coaching school , I encourage them to be authentic and creative as they let others know they are open for business. Additionally, they need to accept all the good advice they receive but, in the end, do what makes their heart sing.

Here is my question for you today: what new venture in your life deserves a grand opening? I strongly encourage you to celebrate in any way that makes you happy.

How to Find the Courage to Coach

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:42:52 GMT

How to Find the Courage to Coach

Last Tuesday evening we finished the Tuesday Together cohort of the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy . As a closing activity, students coached each other, reflecting on their growth and key learnings. It’s eye-opening because I never know what challenges a prospective coach faces when they join the Academy.

A portrait of courage unfolded as I discovered one student, Sharon Olbeter, came to the Academy with substantial hurdles to overcome.

First, and probably most significant, Sharon had attended other coaching schools and didn’t receive the support she needed to develop her coaching skills. Her confidence in coaching was very low. But, it was important to her to become a masterful coach, so she put herself into yet another coaching school.

Sharon’s second challenge was the transition from traditional employment to an entrepreneurial venture. She had been highly successful in the structure of her career, rising to senior executive roles. Now, starting her own business she felt isolated and unsure.

Finally, she battles the plague of perfectionism, which is an insidious problem when you enter the coaching profession. By definition, coaching is dancing in the moment with no attachment to the outcome--a nightmare for anyone who needs to be prepared and perfect. Add the need to accept “good enough” when it comes to self-employment, this woman had her hands full.

I am beyond pleased to report Sharon has become a first-class coach with blooming confidence. This was achieved through hours of coaching practice in a safe, supportive environment. Smart, determined, and dedicated, she is ready to help countless clients in her career coaching practice.

Coaching School Challenges

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 23:16:47 GMT

Coaching School Challenges

I founded the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy in January 2021. The list of things I did not know or expect is very long. After graduating 25 students, and with 5 more done with their training next week, I am reflecting on the most surprising aspects of coach training—the struggle to come up with a coaching topic.

The only way to learn how to be an excellent coach is to practice, so every one of the 14 weeks in the Academy includes real-life coaching sessions. It’s not role-playing. I insist students bring significant topics, personal or professional, from their life, they would like to explore.

In week one of coaching school we learn the difference between coaching, consulting, and therapy. Then it’s time to start coaching. I pair students up and ask one to be the coach, the other is the client, and the client needs to have a topic. This is a hurdle that throws most folks off. They expected to be trained, but not to be sharing and exploring their own lives.

Reactions have ranged from relative comfort to feeling exposed and awkwardly vulnerable. Frequently students will choose a topic they think is simple, like carving out time for a walk in the morning or taking better care of the dog. But, as they get going, they find out that coaching, even with a novice, will uncover deeper feelings.

Coaching is magic.

Throughout the Academy, students embrace both coaching and being coached. They achieve clarity about the challenges they face in daily life. They work out their anxieties about starting a career coaching practice, attracting clients, and finding the confidence to pursue their dreams.

I love sharing details about the Academy, especially ones that are unexpected. If you’ve been reading this newsletter and feeling drawn to enroll, please set up some time to get your questions answered . It would be an honor to guide you through the coach training journey.

Epic Endings

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 23:07:40 GMT

Epic Endings

Often, a career transition is triggered by a dramatic ending. It could be a layoff, divorce, health crisis, or other life events that change everything. As you design your next chapter, you are confronted with the feelings and consequences of an epic ending.

I have found that three steps, taken consciously, can significantly assist you.

Step One: Grieve

Taking account of your losses is like cleaning a wound. It hurts a lot, but it prepares you to heal. Your approach to grief will be personal. No one can tell you exactly how to address your losses. You will determine if it’s journaling, therapy, meditation, long walks on the beach, or all of the above.

Step Two: Ground

Ask yourself, “How am I right now?” You are breathing, you have people who love you and people you love. You might be able to see the sunshine or feel the breeze. You are alive. Ask yourself again, “How am I now?” Moment by moment you regain your faith in yourself and your future.

Step Three: Go

Yep, there is a time for action. But, be aware you may cycle back to grief and may need to ground yourself along the way. Endings are unpredictable and take longer than you want them to. Meanwhile, you must move forward, both for yourself and for others who might love you or depend on you. Taking the Elevations career assessment at this juncture is brilliant. It helps you refocus on who you are and who you want to become.

While career coaching is not therapy, as a coach, I do important healing work. I can listen, offer support, and perhaps most importantly, observe and describe the improvements I witness. Being a career coach is both fulfilling and challenging. I’m so grateful to do this work.

Open to Abundance

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:58:05 GMT

Open to Abundance

What if you were not afraid? What if you deeply believed there would be enough love, money, health, and career opportunities for you in the days ahead? How would this certainly change your life?

Living in a state of abundance invites positivity, both on the practical and the spiritual levels. You see opportunities and are open to pursuing them. Over time the abundance flows naturally to you.

Sounds great, but in daily life, holding space for abundance can be challenging. You are choosing the path less taken in general.

In the short run, people who operate from a position of scarcity might look like they are winning. But, in the end, I think their world gets smaller and smaller. They become Gollum, searching for the precious ring that will make them happy—and they never find it.

How can you live in a state of abundance? Here are a few ideas to consider:

What you pay attention to gets bigger. So, if you are consistently grateful and deeply satisfied with what you have, you will attract more of what you want in life.
Surround yourself with authentically self-confident people. They will help you grow to your potential.
Be generous without violating healthy boundaries.

I hope this information lands perfectly with you today. Take the road less traveled and be amazed by the doors that open for you.

Giving Green Advice

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:48:52 GMT

Giving Green Advice

Twenty-five years have passed since I started my career coaching business . I clearly remember the anxiety flowing through my body as I saw my first few clients. I worried I would not deliver and would not be worth the money I was charging.

This normal, but incredibly uncomfortable bout of imposter syndrome, fed my advice monster. Rather than asking powerful questions and tapping into the wisdom of my clients, I got into expert mode. I shared my knowledge and told perfectly capable people what to do. I gave “green advice”.

When you get started as a career coach, the temptation to show your clients how much you know is enticing. Compounding the problem, your clients might think you have the answers, or worse, expect you to do the work for them.

How do you integrate coaching into your career services and keep your clients happy? Here are a few tips I wish I had known when I got started:

Your clients are desperate to be listened to. They will be impressed when you ask brilliant, probing questions that produce deep clarity and self-awareness.
The coaching approach promotes client autonomy, confidence, and motivation. If you position yourself as the expert, you are undermining your client’s growth and ability to succeed.
Your green advice is influenced by your needs, your life, and your experiences. The best answers for your clients can only come from them.

Hopeful for Home

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:42:49 GMT

Hopeful for Home

Have you lost hope—wondering if job satisfaction is possible? You are in the crossroad of the Elevate Career Cycle , dealing with misalignment, frustration, and fear. You are stuck.

How do you get from hopeless to home? This question looms large, especially at the beginning of the career transition process.

I listen to your story. You have been out of the labor market for many years or have been doing a job that has hit a dead end. You’ve left the military, and your experience does not seem to transfer to the civilian market. You need to figure out what’s next.

Worry grinds down your self-esteem. You are overwhelmed by the vast number of career options. The question you face is simple: How do I get started?

There are three steps you can take to tamp down your anxiety and unleash your creativity (which you will need to make a successful mid-career shift).

Step One: Change Your Perspective: Stop talking to the negative, unhappy people in your life. Connect with people who are thriving and believe in you. Consciously listen to the positive perspectives a person who has found their career home enjoys.

Step Two: Embrace Your Work Ethic: Are you a hard worker? If the answer is yes, this is your golden ticket to an amazing career transition. You will be willing to do the self-reflection and self-assessment needed to wisely inform your choices. You will invest in training, conduct your research, and learn how to market your unique career brand. Yes, it’s hard work—I invite you to step up and do it.

Step Three: Elevate You: As you complete your career assessment , you become intimate with your values, enjoyable skills, interests, and temperament. This is your talent suitcase, unique to you. Your commitment to employing the best version of yourself is essential. Let other people settle, you deserve to find your true career home.

A combination of psychological perspectives and solid career transition tools will be your ticket. Unlock your creativity and curiosity. It’s your time to shine.

The Secret to Client Attraction

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:32:55 GMT

The Secret to Client Attraction

Too many coaches spend money and time to get certified and then struggle to get clients. What sets the successful coaches apart from the many who give up? The secret is a combination of consistency, effort, and utilization of free online tools. My favorite is the Google Business Listing .

Imagine you have taken the leap to start a career coaching practice. You’ve got your training and secured your International Coaching Federation (ICF) credential. You are ready and willing to help people level up their career satisfaction but worry you won’t be able to attract clients.

I’ve been a career coach in private practice for over thirty years. I’ve networked at hundreds of rubber chicken lunches, spoke in public, wrote a book, and invented an assessment . All of those contribute to client attraction. But, nothing has been as easy and effective as my free Google Business Listing.

Let me briefly note here that I have no relationship with Google. This is simply my experience in the potentially challenging and overwhelming sphere of client attraction. So, how do you get started?

Here’s what you need to know:

Establish yourself as a business and sign up for your Google Workspace.
Display several professional photos that scream credibility.
Write compelling text about your services.
Solicit recommendations from your clients as they complete your services.

The last step is the most important. Your five-star ratings and great testimonials will help you get more visibility. The SEO algorithms love your beefy client accolades. You will be the first listing to show up organically when they search for your services. That’s a huge advantage for you!

The Skill Drain

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:21:12 GMT

The Skill Drain

How do you feel at the end of a day when you have been doing things you do not enjoy? I’ve asked this question thousands of times. I always (yes always) get the same answer: drained and exhausted.

I ask this as a prelude to discussing your skills. I care much less about your aptitude; I want you to focus on enjoyment. What skills boost your energy and leave you invigorated? Sometimes it can be a struggle to get in touch with skills that satisfy you deeply, but it’s worth doing. Because, sadly, your employer won’t.

Employers are focused on your ability to perform and execute at a high level. I understand this perspective but there is a huge blind spot. Your employer is pushing you uphill, forcing you to do things that drain you.

Motivated by a desire to succeed and please others, you squeeze yourself into the box of your employer’s expectations, diligently working harder and harder to satisfy others, neglecting yourself. This is a guaranteed road to burnout.

And, it’s a flawed strategy for employers. They might want their workforce to magically have the key skills to improve productivity and reap higher levels of profit. The truth about humans undermines these desires. It would be wise for employers to get curious about skill enjoyment—unleashing the untapped energy source in each of their unique employees.

Ask yourself today, how much time am I spending doing things I enjoy? Maybe this question seems too simple, but I think it's potentially life-changing.

Shift Your Focus

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:11:49 GMT

Shift Your Focus

As you contemplate your next career move, it’s wise to keep an open mind and explore the full range of your options. You want your next role aligned with your values, enjoyable skills, interests, skills, and personality. You also want to consider your ideal location, financial goals, life balance, health considerations, and overall family needs. Wow, that's a lot of stuff.

The front end of a career change is complex. It tempts an impulsive choice, taking the first thing that comes along. Having the wisdom and patience to craft a highly customized career change takes work. It also allows you to blossom into a career you enjoy and can grow into.

Having said all of that, the actual job search part of a career change requires laser focus. Your LinkedIn profile, resume, cover letter, reference statements, job interview, and follow-up need to communicate a singular industry, role, and vision. The prospective employer sees and hears exactly what matters to them—you arrive as the perfect fit.

How do you balance these two opposing realities? An elegant, perfectly timed shift of your focus is the key:

Temper your impatience as you complete a self-assessment and research your options. Take the time to be brutally honest with yourself. Be cautious about allowing others to influence you to move in a direction that pleases them but leaves you unfulfilled.
Get yourself to an 80% level of clarity about your career goal. Live through the ups and downs of your exploration. Accept a reasonable level of risk remembering nothing is perfect.
Now switch gears to a singular focus. Your job search (or the creation of your entrepreneurial venture) must be clear, well-defined, and deeply informed by who you are and who you want to become.

As always, I hope this message arrives perfectly timed for you. The shifting dynamics of your career focus can be confusing—and lead to poor decisions if you don’t pay close attention to the delicate balance.

Job Satisfaction Plummets

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:09:59 GMT

Job Satisfaction Plummets

Are you one of the millions of working adults who are miserable, chronically isolated plugging away behind your Zoom screen or being forced back to the office? Sorry to say, you are not alone. A report from BambooHR found that the overall average employee satisfaction score in December 2023 dropped to the lowest overall average score since 2019.

With so many people stuck in career misery, I thought I’d offer a simple roadmap for you, or anyone you know, to put their career back on track.

Start with Your Mindset

Understand where you are in the Elevate Career Cycle . Chances are, you are at the Crossroad, dealing with declining self-esteem and overwhelming uncertainty. Your anxiety is spiking, and you cannot focus.

You cannot make great decisions in a state of mental confusion. You must settle down, get support from a great listener, and ground yourself. When you feel you are back in your body, breathing normally, you can proceed to the next step.

Engage in Self-Assessment

Your understanding of your career-related values, enjoyable skills, interests, and natural-born temperament are the foundation of great career choices. If you move forward without an up-to-date review of your talents, you will likely make an impulsive, fear-based move—and end up worse off. Thoughtfully complete the Elevations Career Choice, Career Change assessment.

Communicate Your Vision

Great careers are not found on job sites. People you know or people you are introduced to are the key to a powerful job search . Communicate your intentions (field, function, industry, location, and passion) both in writing and interpersonally. The more focused and clear you are, the quicker you will be negotiating offers.

My final piece of advice is related to your perspective. Your career is an essential aspect of your identity, financial security, and life satisfaction. It is worth every ounce of effort you expend to put yourself in the ranks of the few who truly love what they do.

Your Fear Roots

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:57:36 GMT

Your Fear Roots

I had the privledge of attending my first TEDx event in Folsom this weekend. All the speakers were wonderful. One speech lingered, feeding my curiosity. Her topic was fear, and her big idea was to tackle one massive fear each year.

Impressively she described the fears she has overcome. They include running a marathon, participating in a women’s body-building contest, and delivering stand-up comedy. I should note she is forty-one years old.

While I was deeply inspired, something nagged at me. I realized none of the challenges interested me. I have never wanted to be a runner, a bodybuilder, or a comic. Why did she pick those?

This led me to think about the four temperaments . Is it possible that the speaker’s temperament informed her choices when deciding how to become fearless?

Here’s how fear and temperament interact:

Organizer
Deepest fears: Scarcity, lack of stability, unpredictable change, financial ruin.

Strengths: Consistent, reliable, methodical, detail-oriented, loyal.

Liberator
Deepest fears: Lack of choices, immobilization, boredom, restriction of movement.

Strengths: Competitive, action-oriented, intense, calm in a crisis.

Facilitator
Deepest fears: Abandonment, isolation, disconnection, conflict, lack of purpose.

Strengths: Interpersonal communication, empathy, collaboration, inspiring.

Innovator
Deepest fears: Restricted learning, lack of intellectual challenge, incompetence.

Strengths: Analytical, logical, objective, driven, curious, life-long learner.

I’m guessing the speaker is a dominant Liberator so, when building her confidence, she chose tasks that were physical, action-oriented, and intense. Probably without intending to, she leveraged her strengths to overcome her fears.

Overcoming fear is an admirable goal and tackling one every year sounds brilliant. If you plan to borrow this big idea, I suggest you consider your temperament.

Elevate Encouragement

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:47:16 GMT

Elevate Encouragement

Encouragement is more important than appreciation (while I need and value both). As I set challenging goals, and occasionally feel overwhelmed by the uphill climbs I face, there is nothing more helpful than a sincere vote of confidence from someone I trust.

Encouragement can also beat back doubts and exhaustion. Every day you have a quotient of energy to expend. In the absence of encouragement, your energy becomes depleted. The inevitable frustrations and roadblocks become insurmountable. Unfortunately, over time you might give up.

I share this with you today to give you a chance to reflect on how you experienced encouragement in your life/career. Do you have an abundance of encouragement or are you living/working in a vacuum, with only your inner strength to help you power through?

If you could use a dose of ongoing encouragement, consider the following ideas:

Join a self-help-oriented group. I’ve done this over the past year participating in a WomenSpeak group. I’m sharpening my public speaking skills but also getting abundant encouragement to help me pursue my goals.
Schedule time to talk to the most encouraging person you know. I also do this. I can’t wait for my Sunday morning chat with my long-standing friend who always has my back.
Pay attention to your self-talk. Words of encouragement also need to come from you. Limit self-criticism. Notice when you do something right. If you are your own worst enemy, it’s going to be tough to reach your potential.

Volumes have been written about the importance of appreciation and recognition. I think we should give equal attention to the power of encouragement.

Flawed Singular Aspirations

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:27:50 GMT

Flawed Singular Aspirations

What are you going to do with your life? You probably were asked this question when you were younger or, if your career is currently off track, you ask it of yourself. This is the wrong way to think about your options and potential.

Figuring out what to do at any stage of life is a design problem. There is no one job title or career field that will deeply satisfy you. You need to take stock of:

Your values: What matters most to you?
Your temperament: What are your two dominant preferences and how do they play together?
Your enjoyable skills: Where do you get your energy?
Your interests: What fascinates you? What do you want to learn more about?
What the market will pay for? What is currently in demand? Where do you want to live? Do you want to be remote or in person?
What are you good at?
What are you willing to sacrifice?

I’m not making this easier, am I? Well, no, because making a career transition is a complex design problem, which is why you might be stuck. You look at the world of options and don’t know where to start. Here is my guidance:

Step one: Understand you are not seeking a singular passion or opportunity. There is no one perfect relationship, house, or career. There are many good fits. You need to identify the options that align with your needs and desires.

Step two: Dive into the Elevations career assessment and get a great career coach. Elevations provides a platform to prioritize and identify your temperament, values, skills, and career-related interests. It also reveals how you communicate, lead, and function in a team setting. It will validate what you already know about yourself and clear up the clutter.

Step three: Co-create your future with your career coach. Get support in researching your options, determining the details of where you want to live and work, and, most importantly, dealing with the inevitable downside of anything you choose.

Step four: Eliminate your competition. Your effort to design a highly customized, unique career puts you in a strong position. You are going after something born of your strengths and desires. Most people are drowning in the Indeed.com listings, trying to find themselves. It’s a flawed strategy.

One way thinking will lead to a poor choice or a dead end. Embrace the complexity and design a truly rewarding next chapter.

Crossroad Evaporation

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:11:07 GMT

Crossroad Evaporation

Most people believe career crossroads suck (and, for the most part, they do). But they can be the launching pad for mind-blowing opportunities. I learned this most profoundly when I was twenty-six years old. I fondly refer to this as my twenty-six-year-old crisis.

I was stuck working in a clerical job I hated and was terrible at. My self-esteem was in the toilet, I was living paycheck to paycheck, just getting by. I fantasized about doing something in the field of psychology, but those jobs required a master’s level education, and a passing score on the GRE (graduate record exam). Based on my dismal history with standardized tests, I knew I would fail.

I was filled with anxiety and despair. I could not imagine working in a cubicle illuminated by fluorescent light, pushing paper, and making mistakes for the rest of my life. It was an epic existential crisis and I saw no way out.

Often, in the middle of intense crossroads, you are thrown a lifeline. Mine came in the form of a random trip to Sacramento, CA with a friend who was considering moving. As we pulled into the downtown area, I noticed it cost twenty-five cents to park for an hour. Wow, cheap!

I took it a step further and bought a copy of the Sacramento Bee, the local newspaper. I flipped to the apartment listings and saw how inexpensive the rents were. This would be where I could afford to attend graduate school. The dream began to take shape.

I made an appointment with the Chair of the graduate counseling department at Sacramento State University. The Chair, Ray Banducci, was patient and encouraging. I mustered the courage to ask about the dreaded GRE. Ray let me know it was not required. I stared at him in disbelief.

Walking back to my car, I felt a sense of destiny and wonder. I was so sure the GRE was an immovable roadblock, and now it was gone.

Over the ensuing years, I have helped thousands of people face their fears and obstacles at crossroads. I still smile when the impossible becomes possible through the courageous process of self-assessment and research.

What dreams have you avoided or taken off the table because you don’t have the time, the money, or the opportunity? Have you convinced yourself that it’s too late, too difficult, or simply exhausting?

Your crossroads are a catalyst for growth. Your biggest obstacle might evaporate if you find the courage to face it.

Performance Friction

Tue, 28 May 2024 17:38:29 GMT

Performance Friction

You are called upon to deal with friction in public settings almost every day. It could be big-time friction like a job interview, medium friction like starting a conversation with a stranger, or tiny friction like speaking up in a routine meeting.

This is sometimes referred to as performance anxiety, but I prefer to call it friction. You rub up against people all the time, worried about what they will think about you. Will you get hired, will you make a good impression, or will you blow it? Pressure mounts as you ponder the consequences.

The key to calming the friction is redirecting your focus away from you. Easier said than done, I get it. But, if altruistic values drive you, it might not be as hard as you think.

For example, I am deeply driven to help others. If I feel I’ve made things better for a client, an audience member or my family, I am deeply satisfied. I also feel in control and focused. I’m in my happy place.

The redirection of focus away from your potential public failure to the good you can do for others is not an original idea. Athletes and performers do it all the time. They might close their eyes and imagine the thrill or joy their audience will experience as a result of an outstanding performance.

Let’s take an employment interview as an example. The pressure is on. You need the job and so do people who count on you. Your reputation, your self-esteem, and your pocketbook weigh in the balance. The friction is intense, and you are terrified.

In this situation, it can be difficult to visualize the positive outcome for others, but it can be done. If you deliver an award-winning interview you will:

· Make the interviewer’s day.

· Provide security for you and your family.

· Serve as a role model for others who respect and admire you.

As you embark on your next anxiety-producing challenge, I invite you to shift your focus away from yourself. Stand strong knowing you are confronting friction head-on, confidently performing for the benefit of others.

#confidence #performance #coach #careercoachcertification #jobinterview

She's Un-Coachable

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:47:02 GMT

She's Un-Coachable

Confidentiality is critical in all aspects of my work. But, it becomes even more important when I coach employees in organizations. From an ethical and professional perspective, I’m obligated to keep anything I hear in the coaching session confidential. But, what about my comments?

I ran into this recently in one of my current projects. I have been working with this organization for over 15 years, so there have been lots of private coaching sessions touching on delicate topics. And each employee has an excellent memory regarding what went well, and what did not.

As I opened a session last week, I shared my commitment to confidentiality, as I always do. The employee looked at me with suspicion. She then shared that another coach, about five years ago, told her boss she was un-coachable. Her boss proceeded to share this comment all around the organization. The coach's comment was the breach that did the damage.

As I have the privilege of teaching up-and-coming career coaches in the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy, (link to Academy website in comments below) we talk about protecting the integrity of the coaching relationship at length. But do I ever mention that the coach's comments can be devastating?

It’s a bit like a leader going to their team and vomiting all their frustrations. The team is poisoned by the data dump and the leader loses credibility. Similarly, when a coach misreads the relationship they have with a client’s supervisor and overshares, they set up a viral toxin that will be relentlessly spread within the organization.

The word impeccable comes to mind. As a coach, every word matters. If you are a coach or aspire to become one, you will be challenged in many ways. The most foundational practice you must commit to is both protecting your client's comments and monitoring your own.

Diminishing Imposter Syndrome

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:40:20 GMT

Diminishing Imposter Syndrome

Recently I’ve had several clients dealing with imposter syndrome. Simply put, these amazing, high-performing individuals feel fraudulent and doubt they deserve their accomplishments. Or they are at the precipice of a new opportunity and fear they will be uncovered as unworthy and incompetent.

It’s hard enough to find the courage to step up to a high-achieving career. It’s even harder if you are working against yourself. In my experience, it’s not a conscious choice. The fraudulent feelings creep in, almost before you can catch yourself.

One of my distinctive memories of imposter syndrome was in the first few days of opening my career coaching business in 1997. I had left my reliable, secure job at the university and was going it alone. I plugged in my princess phone ready for business.

As I unpacked my boxes, the phone rang. I stared at it, frozen. I no longer had the safety net of being an employee. If I picked up that phone, it was just me. Fortunately, I grabbed the phone before it stopped ringing and I ushered in my first client.

It’s confusing to admit you have doubts and to embrace your amazing capabilities at the same juncture. Here are a few tips to help you beat back your uncertainty:

Know You Are Not Alone

According to the Harvard Business Review “ Around one-third of young people suffer from it, and 70% of everyone else is likely to experience it at some point in their lives.” Recognizing the prevalence of imposter syndrome helps you feel less alone.

Distinguish Humility and Fear

Perhaps you have been told it’s not polite to brag or think highly of yourself. This equates to humility, and it’s an honorable trait. Fear is the real culprit when you are facing imposter syndrome. Sorting these two feelings out can help you select the most helpful course of action.

Be Gentle with Yourself

It’s likely your aspiration for excellence is feeding your lack of satisfaction with yourself. Give yourself a break. You are not perfect, and you are probably your own worst enemy.

If you are reading this today and know imposter syndrome is getting in your way, tackle it head-on. The negative consequences of fearing you will be uncovered as a fraud will be diminished as you regularly and relentlessly acknowledge your gifts.

Validating Bravery

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:52:56 GMT

Validating Bravery

Think back to one of the biggest career transitions you’ve made. How did you find the courage to move forward in the absence of guarantees it would all work out?

Over the years in my career coaching private practice, I’ve developed a three-level system of validation designed to lower risk and strengthen outstanding decision-making . Here’s how it works:

Level One: What You Know About Yourself

I interview my clients as we start our work together. I hold a space for my clients to uncover their inner wisdom and awareness. I listen to what is both said and unsaid—offering perspectives and observations that deepen the discussion. We explore their current situation (levels of job satisfaction, obstacles, and opportunities). We review employment history, educational background, strengths, dreams, special skills, family background, sources of motivation, and health.

Level Two: Self-Assessment

A well-executed career transition is built on a keen awareness of values, enjoyable skills, career-related interests, and the client’s temperament (or personality). I like to use Elevations for Career Choice and Career Change because it includes all four of these elements in an easy-to-use, affordable instrument. It produces an eight-page report we review together, synthesizing the information. The impact of the self-assessment process includes improved self-confidence, self-awareness, and clarity. Additionally, it provides a concrete path to identify career fields and functions, getting us much closer to a clear vision for the future.

Level Three: Research and Connection

At this point, themes begin to emerge. Perhaps teaching, strategic planning, and public speaking have come up in both the initial interview and in the self-assessment. This offers the client direction as they research career options and conduct informational interviews. Confidence and courage are bolstered as new information is uncovered. Other influential people can now help my clients identify job opportunities or help them launch their entrepreneurial endeavors.

If, by chance, you are reading this today and you are standing at the precipice of a major life or career transition, don’t beat yourself up if you feel paralyzed or stuck—that is normal. Allow yourself a period of introspection and then engage in the three levels of validation outlined above.

5 Ways to Bolster Your Career

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:33:25 GMT

Five Ways to Bolster Your Career

Even though the world is open for business, you might still be suffering as you emerge. The pandemic may have left you torn between working at home or being in the social network of an office. Or, like so many, you are dealing with anxiety and depression you can’t seem to shake. Maybe your career has not returned, and you are seeking a new direction. No matter your situation, I’d like to offer some foundational direction to keep you motivated and focused as you heal and grow into the next chapter:

Number One: Understand that Careers Naturally Cycle

The first step is to recognize that you are at a crossroad, off your familiar path, and challenged to find the way forward. Shake hands with your anxiety and step into a period of introspection.

Number Two: Take an Accountable Perspective

Taking an accountable perspective is difficult to do when you have, in fact, been the victim of circumstances. Your first instinct might be to blame others or make excuses, not wanting to accept your reality. This “victim trap” stifles your creativity, limits your resourcefulness, and eventually poisons everyone around you.

Number Three: Operate From Your Career-Related Values

Your values are your superpower, but you may not be paying enough attention to them. Under pressure, your values may be ignored as you are busy putting out fires. Again, this is perfectly natural but it saps your strength and undermines your ability to lead your organization.

Number Four: Utilize Your Enjoyable Skills

If your day is virtually filled with demands that bring you little or no joy, you are on the road to burnout. Your level of energy is key to your ability to deliver excellence. So, step back and notice the aspects of your daily activities that light you up, and that you look forward to. Find ways to expand your involvement in enjoyable skills activities. Delegate or minimize skills you do not enjoy.

Number Five: Find Your Voice

Your ability to be successful in your life, and in your career, hinges on your authentic expression of who you are. Your voice (meaning your confident, congruent self) informs what you say, how you say it, and the impact it has on others. Under stress, you might lose access to your voice, delivering faltering or even misleading messages.

While all these tips are especially important in times of tumultuous change, they also apply to your career development throughout the course of your life. Embrace the days and months ahead as an opportunity to emerge into a level of growth and achievement you can be proud of.

Mountain Moving Methods

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 16:23:47 GMT

Mountain Moving Methods

How many huge projects do you have on your list that you move week to week, month to month, never getting started? I have a bit of experience in this area (for better or worse). I have invented an assessment , written a book , and started a career coaching Academy . Completing a task that is complex and time-consuming can be daunting.

Here are some ways I get out of my own way and get big stuff done:

Step One: Clear the Deck

It’s difficult to focus on big stuff when you have a messy desk and lots of unfinished business. I allow myself the time to cross the smaller items off my list before I tackle the bigger ones. You might interpret this as a form of procrastination, but, for me, it gives me a clear launching pad, reduces my anxiety, and sets the stage for productivity.

Step Two: Focus on the Process, Not the Product

The product is the fully actualized achievement of whatever you are trying to accomplish. Examples might include eliminating all your credit debt or starting a new business. You envision all the work, habit-changing, and sacrifice needed to succeed. The enormity of the task stops you in your tracks.

The process, on the other hand, is the method you plan to employ to get you to your goal. For example, paying a specific amount on your credit debt each month or writing a business plan. As you make progress, you add additional strategies to your process.

Step Three: Avoid Seeing the Outcome as Overly Special or Unattainable

When I want to accomplish something big, I can find myself idealizing the achievement. The best example was writing a book. It seemed like something other people did. I felt small in the shadow of my book-writing dream.

Perhaps you do the same thing. You reflect on what you want to change or accomplish and doubt that you can do it. Worse, you might even think you don’t have the right stuff, are not good enough.

Usually, the answer for me is a process of normalizing the dream. I notice that lots of people have been able to do what I want to do. I remind myself the outcome is worth it and aligned with my purpose. And, then I can break it down into a process and start making progress.

I leave you with a quote that has always inspired me:

“You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.”

― Richard Bach

Crossroad Catalyst

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:53:24 GMT

Crossroad Catalyst

Most people believe career crossroads suck (and, for the most part, they do). But, actually, they can be the launching pad for mind-blowing opportunities. I learned this most profoundly when I was twenty-six years old. I fondly refer to this as my twenty-six-year-old crisis.

I was stuck working in a clerical job I hated and was terrible at. My self-esteem was in the toilet, I was living paycheck to paycheck, just getting by.

I fantasized about doing something in the field of psychology, but those jobs required a master’s level education, and a passing score on the GRE (graduate record exam). Based on my dismal history with standardized tests, I knew I would fail.

I took it a step further and bought a copy of the Sacramento Bee, the local newspaper. I flipped to the apartment listings and saw how inexpensive the rents were. This would be a place I could afford to go to graduate school. The dream began to take shape.

I made an appointment with the Chair of the graduate counseling department at Sacramento State University. The Chair, Ray Banducci, was patient and encouraging.

I mustered the courage to ask about the dreaded GRE. Ray let me know it was not required. I stared at him in disbelief.

Walking back to my car, I felt a sense of destiny and wonder. I was so sure the GRE was an immovable roadblock, and now it was gone.

Your crossroads are a catalyst for growth. Your biggest obstacle might evaporate if you find the courage to face it.

Enjoy the Journey

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:32:55 GMT

Enjoy the Journey

Have you ever been overwhelmed or up against significant obstacles when a colleague encourages you to enjoy the journey? I find this well-intentioned advice so annoying. Think about it—long-haul projects are draining. The joy factor is limited.

But I must admit a similar thought came into my brain a few days ago as I was taking my morning walk. I was thinking about the flood of work I am facing as I spearhead a new venture (more details to follow in the weeks ahead).

I have 13 learning modules needing curriculum development, I am working through brand development (which I know nothing about), and I want to produce an audio version of my book (which is both expensive and time-consuming). As my stomach tightened, the smaller voice inside said, “Enjoy the journey” and I was predictably irritated.

It did catch my attention though and it inspired some creative thinking. What if I was stepping onto a lovely yacht, splashing through beautiful blue water heading to the fruition of a long-held dream? I saw myself settling into a lounge chair where, magically, I could get my work done in peace and tranquility.

The sense of anxiety and overwhelm evaporated. I began to reflect on what was different about this venture. For once I am surrounded by brilliant, motivated people who have the same vision I do. And, doors are flying open, almost effortlessly. I feel the time is right and I need to trust my gut.

I wonder if you are at a similar threshold. Are you at the inception of a new venture or are you stepping up to a challenge that has kicked your butt in the past? Either way, I invite you to customize a magical lounge chair on a beautiful vessel. Know that the journey will be safe and fruitful. Hold this image as you tackle the tasks ahead. Maybe, then, you can enjoy the journey.

How to Love a Micromanager

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:32:25 GMT

How to Love a Micromanager

Your tolerance for micromanagement is probably low. Excessive direction and relentless follow-up leave little space for career growth or creativity. But recently I met a buoyant employee who offered a different perspective regarding his hovering, over-involved boss.

He described how every morning his manager goes over his duties and priorities in detail. My client is a Senior-Level lead stationary engineer for a large local utility. He’s been in his job for years and does not need close supervision. But his experience and capabilities have not changed his boss’s behavior.

I was curious how this employee coped with his helicopter boss. He has three strategies:

First, he accepts his boss as she is. He smiled as he explained he did not expect her to change and had come to terms with her daily detailed involvement with his job.

Second, he considers the unpredictable nature of his work. Every day new challenges arise, and his boss feels she needs to offer guidance. While he could work much more independently, he understands her anxiety.

Finally, he has chosen a positive perspective in general. He is a people person through and through. He seeks to have collaborative relationships with all his co-workers. He does not see himself as a victim. Rather he chooses to enjoy his job every day, despite his overly involved boss.

I was so inspired by the level of reasoning, positivity, and perspective this guy has signed up for. He could boil in a pot of resentment and dissatisfaction but that’s not his jam. He inspired me to reframe any frustration I may have in my career regarding difficult personalities.

Is there anyone you work with or for driving you nuts? Borrow a page from my client and choose a different perspective.

#careersuccess #careeradvice #careergrowth #opportunities #careerdevelopment #careersearch #jobtips #careerchange #pandemic #jobhunt #careertips #careeropportunities #careercoach #workgoals #findyourpassion #dreambigger

Setting the Agenda

Tue, 16 May 2023 18:39:45 GMT

Dig For Clarity

When a colleague or client comes to you seeking career coaching, how much attention do you give to setting the agenda? You are not alone if you just dive in with a generalized opening of some sort and see where things go. This approach is not the end of the world, but it’s also not likely to produce an optimum outcome.

Here is a brief guide to follow:

The first step is pretty simple. You ask your client what they want to work on. They might answer with something like, “I’d like to work on my frustration with my boss.” You could proceed directly into coaching based on that prompt or you could dig deeper.

You could ask:

· How does this matter to you?

· What aspect of your relationship with your boss bothers you the most?

· Where do you feel the frustration in your body?

· How is this impacting you?

· What, specifically, about your boss, do you want to explore?

· What else….

This short list of exploratory questions will clarify what aspect of the situation is most important to focus on. Perhaps you might learn that the boss is a terrible listener and your client does not have the opportunity to contribute new, creative ideas. This violates your client’s desire to grow in their position and be challenged.

This tiny bit of structuring avoids a surface conversation or a bitching session. But you are not done yet. Now it’s time to invite your client to define a successful outcome for your time together. You ask, “What, specifically, would you like to achieve in our time together today?”

Usually, it takes a bit of time for your client to process this. They might define success as a plan of attack or clarity. They might want to determine a step they can take to get their ideas heard.

The final part of setting the agenda is reflective listening. You summarize the focus of the coaching session and the targeted successful outcome. Don’t be surprised if you see your client smile and relax all at the same time. Being head at this level is rare and precious.

We Are Celebrating Our ICF Level One Accreditation

Fri, 05 May 2023 17:31:20 GMT

How the Academy Got Started

Today I'd like to take a walk down memory lane and share the reasons why I launched a career coaching certification program--and why I'm beyond excited to have received the news yesterday that my level one accreditation was approved!

About three decades ago I received my Master of Science of Degree in Career Development. After school, I was hired as the Associate Director of the career center for a small private liberal arts college. I spent eight years helping traditional college-age students. It was rewarding and comfortable--and I had the itch to do more.

In 1997 I quit my university job and opened my career coaching business. Soon after, I invented and released Elevations, an integrated career assessment helping you prioritize your values, enjoyable skills, interests, and temperament preferences. In my private practice, I worked with mid to upper-level professionals and delivered training for talent in organizations.

Over time, I deepened my love for the career coaching craft and polished my skills. This eventually led to the development of the Elevate Career Cycle Model and the publication of my first book, Elevate Your Career: Live a Life You're Truly Proud Of.

All of this culminated in one pivotal moment in early 2020. I was walking through the open space near my home, shut down from all my work due to the pandemic.

It was a stunning, sunny spring day. My mind was empty and my heart was open. The thought occurred, "What am I going to do?" The answer was immediate--I would use my expertise and resources to launch a career coaching certification program.

Where did that crystal clear idea come from? Honestly, I cannot tell you but I was sure it was the right next step. Like so many of my ventures, I had no clue how much work it would entail.

That brings me to this moment. We are on our way to my vision: to be the premiere ICF-accredited career coaching certification program.

If you are reading this and feel you want to join this movement toward career coaching excellence, give me a call. I would be so honored to share my love of this work and fully prepare you for success.

#careercoach #careersuccess #businessconsulting #entrepreneurtips #consultinglife #businessskills #yourbusiness #careercoachforwomen #careercoaches #careercoachingtips #careercoachingonline #careercoachingservices

Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy

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