The Exclusive Career Coach

Greetings and Happy New Year! My wish for all of you in 2023 is that you experience lots of love and laughter, that a long-held dream becomes a reality, that you experience the discomfort of growth, and that you are able to look yourself in the mirror at the end of each day and honestly say “I did my very best today.” And when that “very best” isn’t up to your usual standards – you give yourself a break and love yourself anyway.  Let me start by saying I’m a planning geek. Goals and strategies excite me, and I love realizing the aggressive goals I set for myself. Today, I’m inviting you to pick an area of your professional life that you would like to see massive change in. Step 1 – Choose the general area Some possibilities: -Get a promotion -Get a substantial raise -Get a new job -Get a new certification -Complete a degree -Learn how to _____ -Get better at _____ -Stop _____ -Develop a better relationship with _____ -Win _____ award -Become a subject matter expert in _____ -Write an article for _____ publication Of course, there are many more possibilities than these, but hopefully this gets your brain moving.  Step 2 – Set a SMART goal As a review, SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Sensitive. Let’s do a few examples. If your area is to get a substantial raise, your SMART goal might be: -Ask boss for 20% raise at my performance evaluation in June. Specific: 20%Measurable: Did I, or did I not, ask?Achievable: I can absolutely make this askRealistic: Based on my salary and the market rate for what I do, a 20% raise is very realisticTime-Sensitive: I already have my performance review scheduled for June 19th; that’s when I will ask. Here’s another example: If your area is to get better at delegating, your SMART goal might be: -Delegate the annual report copyrighting to Dana and the QA for the annual report to James, which is due on 3/01/2023. Specific: Delegate the annual report copyrighting and QAMeasurable: Did I just supervise, rather than work hands on – yes or no?Achievable: Dana and James are both fully capable of doing this work and would enjoy the challenge.Realistic: It makes sense for Dana and James to be involved in this project for their professional development.Time-Sensitive: Project is due 3/01/2023  Step 3 - Write down all the ways this WON’T work.  Going back to the example of asking for a raise: -I’ll be too nervous to ask -My boss might get mad -My boss might fire me for asking -My boss will tell me I don’t deserve that much more money -My boss will laugh at me -My boss will counter with a much lower raise -My boss will tell me that it isn’t possible to give me that much  In the example of delegating the annual report: -Dana or James might refuse -Dana or James might not do a good job -I may spend more time supervising them than if I did it myself -I might end up having to do it all over again at the last minute -Dana or James might leave before the project is due, and I’ll be left picking up the pieces -Others on the team may be jealous of Dana or James because they got this important assignment  Step 4 - Use your list of problems to come up with action steps to solve. Going back to the example of asking for a raise: -I’ll be too nervous to ask – I will practice with my significant other or friend -My boss might get mad – I can’t control how my boss reacts, but I will deliver my request as politely and respectfully as I can while standing up for myself -My boss might fire me for asking - I can’t control how my boss reacts, but I will deliver my request as politely and respectfully as I can while standing up for myself -My boss will tell me I don’t deserve that much more money – I will have data to back up my request -My boss will laugh at me – I won’t make this mean anything about me -My boss will counter with a much lower raise – I will practice how to counteroffer -My boss will tell me that it isn’t possible to give me that much – I will have examples prepared that refute this if my boss brings it up  What if your goal is more long-term? If, for example, your area is to become a better leader, your goal might be: Attend 3 leadership seminars/events in 2023. The problems and solutions might be: -I don’t know where to find the best events – I’ll mark off time on my calendar in January to research upcoming events and vet them out -My boss might not want me gone that much – I’ll speak with him and get his support to attend -I don’t know if my company will pay for that much training in one year – I’ll check with my boss on this; I’ll pay out of pocket if I need to -I can’t take that much time off work – I will identify a 2nd in command for my function to be in control when I’m out; I will train that person prior to the first training I attend  Step 5 - Calendar in your steps to success If you need to research trainings, books to read, or how to set something up, block out times to do so. Give yourself sufficient time to complete the task – not too much or so little that you become frustrated. If you plan to return to school, block out time to attend classes, study, etc. If you want to improve a working relationship, schedule lunches or other out-of-office time with that person.  Step 6 - Choose an accountability partner – carefully I love mastermind groups for this purpose, because I know that in two weeks, they will ask if I did what I said I was going to do.  Step 7 - Check in on your progress at least weekly Create a system to keep track of what you’ve done and what you still need to do relative to your goal. Anything from notes in your calendar to an Excel spreadsheet to a formal project management tool will do the trick, as long as it is a) easy for you to use, b) accessible to you. Part of checking in is making mid-course corrections. Is there a new step you need to introduce into your process? Has the goal changed slightly as you have progressed? Do you need to adjust your timeline (ideally due to circumstances outside your control).  Step 8 - Celebrate the win This is the fun part – and the part so many people forget. This is your opportunity to give yourself a pat on the back, recognize the people who helped you achieve the win, and reflect on how you grew in achieving the goal. What if you weren’t successful? Then celebrate the growth and learning. Remember my saying: It isn’t winning or losing, it’s winning or learning. If you weren’t successful, do you want to go for the goal again? Are you satisfied with the movement you did have – and are ready to move on to a new goal?  Step 9 - Use the momentum to choose another goal One of the major benefits of setting, and achieving, goals is how you improve your relationship with yourself in doing so. You are learning to have your own back – “when I say I’m going to do something, I DO IT.” Leverage that improved relationship to select another goal right after you’ve had a moment to stop and enjoy the view from your previous goal.  One final note: I recommend starting with something small, if goal setting and goal-achieving is a new concept for you. You’re building muscle around your ability to do what you say you are going to do, so don’t try to life a 250 lb. dead weight right off the bat.  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2  

Happy Holidays! Whatever you celebrate – and whoever you have the blessing of celebrating with – I wish you Peace, Joy, Love, Laughter…and lots of good eats! I wanted to revisit a topic I covered way back in episode #82 on how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” interview question. That episode aired on June 5th, 2019, so I thought it was time to go over how I coach my clients to answer this question. There’s a phenomenon call the primacy effect, which states that people remember whatever came first in a sequence. There’s also the recency effect – people remember whatever came last in the sequence. Because the “tell me about yourself” question is asked first if it is asked at all, it holds considerable weight in the interviewer’s mind. It also gives you the opportunity to start the interview off on the best possible foot. Here’s what a lot of coaches will tell you: Tell them your work history, your strengths, why you want to work for them…they want you to make this a full-on sales pitch. Here’s why I DON’T recommend this approach: I have interviewed hundreds of candidates over my years in higher education, and I had a structured interview process. Meaning: we asked every candidate the same questions and had a pre-determined scoring system to try to keep the evaluation process as fact-based and non-partial as possible. Not to mention: If you provide them with your life history, it’s likely to be loooong and you might find the interviewer nodding off. Not a great start. In a structured interview process, which most employers use (often for legal reasons), they will ask you about your strengths. They will ask you why you want to work for them. They will ask you why they should select you over the other candidates. If you answer ALL these questions in your response to “Tell me about yourself,” you will have thrown off the cadence of the entire interview. The interviewers will have to scramble to evaluate you on questions they haven’t yet asked you. Here’s why I ALWAYS ask the “Tell me about yourself” question: I want to see what will come out of your mouth when asked such a broad, non-specific question. I have had candidates tell me about their abusive ex-boyfriend, their three preschool kids, their spouse’s job, what’s going on in their family of origin. Oh – and my personal favorite – how they can’t come to work when they are tired. ALL THINGS I CAN’T ASK ABOUT. I also ask this question as a nice “soft pitch” before getting into the more technical or behavioral questions. I am surprised by how many are completely unprepared for this question. I’m also surprised by how many people answer in a way that puts the interviewer to sleep and/or overloads them with too much information. Here then, are my top 8 tips for developing your answer to the “tell me about yourself” question: 1.    Structure your answer in a past – present – future format.Give the interviewer a bit of information about where you came from, where you are now, and where you want to go.  2.    Stay at the 40,000-foot level.This is not the time to provide details about your accomplishments, work experience, or skills – they will ask questions about these things later.  3.    Keep it to 2-3 minutes.By staying at a 40,000-foot view and not getting into the weeds with specifics, it is easy to keep your answer to the “tell me about yourself” question to no more than 3 minutes. This will also help the interviewer keep on track with the questions he/she wants to ask without going over time and will keep the interviewer’s interest high.  4.    Introduce your brand, right up front.If you’ve done the personal branding work I’ve talked about on other podcast episodes, you should be very aware of your personal brand. Here’s your chance to introduce your personal brand right at the top of the interview…and reinforce it throughout the interview.  5.    Provide personal information.If the interviewer would be your new boss, he/she is going to want to get to know you as a total person. Even if the interviewer is from HR, giving the interviewer a sense of who you really are will help him/her to decide if you would be a good fit for the available position. The caveat here is that the personal information should be neutral or positive. Some examples: -A foreign language you are learning-A hobby you are passionate about (as long as it doesn’t scream death-defying danger)-A personal goal you are working towards (such as building a home or training to run a marathon)-A recent travel experience What constitutes negative personal information? Here are some I’ve been given in actual job interviews: -Number and ages of children-Health conditions-Marital status (recently divorced)-The fact of, and reasons for, being recently terminated  These tips apply to the “tell me about yourself” question as well as the entire interview: 6.    Pay attention to nonverbal cues.One of the best ways to make sure you are proceeding with your answer to any interview question in the proper way is to watch for nonverbal cues from the interviewer. Note that I’m not saying there is a “right” or “wrong” answer to an interview question. What I’m saying is that sometimes candidates misunderstand the interview question and aren’t providing the interviewer with the information he/she is looking for. It is perfectly acceptable to stop, ask the interviewer for clarification on the question or to verify that you are providing him/her with the desired information.  7.    Relax.You may think it is impossible to relax in an interview, but I promise it will serve you well to develop this ability. I’m not suggesting that you be so relaxed that you’re practically asleep, but rather that you aren’t so tense that you are struggling to communicate effectively and look like you are about to jump out of your own skin. This first question is a great opportunity to you to relax into the interview so you can put forth your best effort.  8.    Let your personality shine through.Many people I have interviewed over the years were stiff, all business, and showed no sense of humor. If you have a sense of humor – let it shine through, as long as you remain in good taste. If you love to do nice things for your co-workers to create camaraderie and a sense of team – tell the interviewer about this. If you are too buttoned up because you think this should be a serious affair – and you are naturally a fun and personable creature – the interviewer isn’t really getting to know you. In other words, there’s a bit of false advertising going on.  An ExampleI thought I’d end with my “Tell me about yourself answer.” We’ll pretend I’m applying for a job back in higher education as Director of Career Services. “One of the most important things to know about me is the breadth of experience, skills, and credentials I bring to the table. “As you’ve probably already seen on my resume, I spent 10 years as Director of the Career Center at Columbus State University, followed by 12 years in the same role at Truman State University. At Columbus State, I led efforts to separate career services from the Counseling Center and became the new entity’s first Director. In that capacity, I created the university’s cooperative education program, which was successful enough to be able to hire a full-time co-op coordinator the next year. “At Truman, I took a career center that was underutilized and underwhelming into a highlight of the university – touted in admissions material and to employers and donors. When I was hired, my boss told me that if I could turn the Career Center at Truman into a showpiece for the university, I would have worked a miracle. When he left Truman for another university, he told me I had worked a miracle. In 2012, I left higher education to work in my practice full-time. In this capacity, I have worked with clients on all continents except Antarctica on resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, job search strategy, interview techniques, salary negotiations, and career management. I am one of 23 Master Resume Writers in the world, and a Certified Job Search Strategist, Certified Executive and Leadership Development Coach, and Master Practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. While I have loved owning my own business, I am excited about the prospect of leading a team again – and being part of a team as well. I am motivated to help each team member reach their full potential and create a team that is cohesive and engaged. On a personal note, I am an avid reader and love to listen to true crime podcasts. I have two hound dogs who love to take me for walks.” Time: 1:50  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2    

My guest today is Dr. Amy Mednick, a New York City psychiatrist who specializes in the overlap between the humanities in neuroscience. Today, Amy and I talk about Zoom fatigue – what is it, why is it so prevalent, and the warning signs you want to pay attention to. We also talk about how to make Zoom meetings more humanizing if you are in charge. You can check out Amy’s book, Humanizing the Remote Experience, at www.htre-book.com You can find Amy on Instagram or Facebook at amymednickmd, on Twitter @Amy Mednick, or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/amy-m-794363174.  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2 

This week, I have a return guest – Robert Jordan. Robert is CEO of Interim Execs, which matches interim, project, and fractional executives with opportunities. When I had Robert on the podcast back in episode #235, we talked about matching your leadership style to the right organization. Today, we’re talking about the role of an interim executive – and who is the right fit for these types of opportunities. Robert shares the characteristics he looks for in interim executives and how you can best present yourself for these roles. You can take a leadership assessment on Robert’s website at rightleader.com You can find Robert at:https://www.rightleader.com/ https://interimexecs.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjjordan/https://twitter.com/interim_execshttps://www.youtube.com/user/interimexecs Here is the link to episode #235 with Robert, where we talk about how to make sure your leadership style meshes with the right organization: http://exclusivecareercoaching.com/posts/2022-07-20-235-235-matching-your-leadership-style-to-the-right-organization-with-robert-jordan Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2 

Each year since the inception of this podcast in 2017, I have done a Five Unusual Things to Be Thankful For episode during Thanksgiving week. This episode is never one of my most-downloaded episodes, but it is one of my favorites. It is also one of my most personal and vulnerable episodes each year. The purpose is two-fold: To get you thinking about the things in your life that you could look at differently – and to show gratitude for those things that maybe didn’t feel so good at the time they were happening. I like to put it this way: Why is this happening for me? Not to me, but for me – for my benefit. The universe isn’t out to get me…I’m not a victim here. Here, then, is my 2022 list of unusual things to be thankful for: 5. A great Virtual Assistant (VA). This one’s maybe not so unusual, except that I had previously tried to find a VA with zero success. My VA, Robin, has been a game-changer for my business…and she’s an absolute delight to work with! I am so very thankful for Robin. My message for you: When we look backward and determine our future based on our past, we are missing the point. If I had decided Robin wouldn’t work out because the others hadn’t, I would have missed out on one of the most beneficial investments I make every month into my business. Circumstances will be different this time…people will be different this time…YOU will be different this time.  4. When there are no options. In my world of making dozens of decisions every day, it’s nice when there really is no decision to be made…when the path is clear and obvious. This year, this happened early on when I found out I had to have major surgery at the end of May and wouldn’t be able to walk my dogs for at least six weeks. I was living in an apartment at that time. I really had no option other than to move to a house with a fenced-in backyard. This also happened back in 2020 when my 12-year-old Honda Odyssey all but stopped working. I took it to my mechanic, who couldn’t find the electrical problem that was causing the battery to drain daily, back doors not to open and close…and don’t even get me started with the haunted interior lights. No option but to purchase a new vehicle. I’m really good at making decisions and having my own back about those decisions. HOWEVER, it’s nice to know exactly what you need to do. My message for you: Let easy things be easy. Don’t overcomplicate things. Don’t assume moving or making a major purchase is going to be hard…just maybe, it won’t be.  3. Growing pains. This has been a year of refining my systems and processes to take my business to the next level – along with the mindset needed to see myself differently as my role within the business changes. Of course, I could have kept on with “business as usual” – nothing wrong with that. Except that’s not how I roll. I want bigger…I want to serve more clients…I want to have more influence in the world. So these growing pains are absolutely necessary – and it won’t be the last time I experience them. My message for you: Don’t let yourself stagnate. Be brave and willing to experience the growing pains of seeking a promotion, a new job, a new relationship, new friendships…whatever you desire. Don’t expect it to be comfortable or easy or without a few hiccups. Know that the discomfort and difficulties are part of the deal…and that’s okay.  2. Reviving a past interest…and finding it’s still there. In the process of moving, I knew I wanted a new dining table – I’ve always hated the one I had. I ended up getting a high-quality table from a local thrift store for $75 that needed a lot of love. After putting about that much money into supplies and a lot of time and elbow grease, it is now my pride and joy. I was coaching a client this week about her job dissatisfaction. I encouraged her to have fun – try some new things, revisit some old things she used to enjoy, be willing to NOT have fun in an effort to have A LOT of fun. This will make her job dissatisfaction have less of an impact on her life. My message for you: Exactly what I coached my client to do. Have you always wanted to make cheese, or learn salsa dancing, or take a Japanese cooking class? DO IT. Did you used to love riding your bike, or horseback riding, or painting? DO IT AGAIN. Step outside your comfort zone. The further, the better.  1.                Listening to my gut. I find that my gut is always right. In this incident, I was considering a major purchase for my business. I had an initial sales call that I found difficult to follow…and then the follow-up he promised didn’t happen. Then I got a free trial but couldn’t utilize it. When I reached out to them for help, they never responded. Then I spoke with two people using the software and heard less-than-glowing reviews. Most recently, I am receiving multiple client referral emails from them every day despite the fact that I am NOT NOR HAVE EVER BEEN THEIR CUSTOMER. It’s taken three contacts to get these to stop. My message for you: Listen to your gut. If the facts line up with what your gut is telling you, great. If the facts don’t line up with what your gut is telling you, go with your gut. Stop with the rationalizations and accommodations. This works for people too: If someone is showing you who they are, BELIEVE THEM. Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s to another year of unusual things to be thankful for.  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2  

Let me start by saying that not all job searches should look alike – and the important thing is that you launch the type of job search that makes the most sense for you. When clients get coached by me on their job search, it is an Active job search. If they are employed, I require they spend a minimum of 5 hours per week in their job search; if they are unemployed, I suggest 30 hours per week – if they want to get employed as quickly as possible. If they have fewer than 5 hours per week they can devote to a job search, I suggest a Passive job search. Let’s break these terms down: An Active job search focuses on networking-based activities. A Passive job search focuses on job boards and company websites.  An Active job search can have Passive strategies in it. Here’s the ratio I recommend: If you are just out of college: 25% Active and 75% Passive If you have been out of college for a few years through mid-career: 50%/50% If you are at a more senior level: 75% Active and 25% Passive If you are at the C-level: 100% Active  A Passive job search might include some networking, but due to time constraints is almost completely job board- and company website-focused. I have covered specific Active and Passive strategies in previous episodes, so I’m not rehashing that here. One of the things I do with clients in one coaching session is create their customized job search strategy. They leave that session with a plan they can calendar in – that gives them their marching orders. The question we want to answer in this episode is: Which type of job search should I launch? Here are some considerations: Are you unemployed?If you are unemployed and want to become employed as quickly as possible, then an Active job search is your best option. I recommend 30 hours per week of job search. Using the ratios above, here’s how you would break out your time: Right out of college: 7.5 hours per week on networking; 22.5 hours per week on job boards and other passive strategies. Mid-career: 15 hours on each Senior: 22.5 hours per week networking; 7.5 hours on job boards  Are you currently employed, but want to change jobs relatively soon?To change jobs relatively quickly, you’ll need an Active job search. This will require you to carve out at least five hours each week for your job search. Here’s how you would break out your time: Right out of college: 1.25 hours per week on networking; 3.75 hours per week on job boards and other passive strategies. Mid-career: 2.5 hours on each Senior: 3.75 hours per week networking; 1.25 hours on job boards  Are you currently employed and want to change jobs, but you aren’t in a hurry?If you can carve out at least five hours each week for your job search, then an Active strategy is still your best option. If you don’t have the bandwidth to commit to at least five hours per week, then a Passive strategy is probably all you’ll be able to do – with the occasional networking meeting or event thrown in.  Are you not really looking to leave your current job, but want to be open to speaking with recruiters?This is what I call the ARFO strategy – Always Ready For Opportunity. I’ve spoken about this in other episodes – you have all your ducks in a row, such as an updated resume, current credentials, and an appropriate education level. In an ARFO job search, you are simply “opening the door” to recruiters – this is primarily through your LI profile. I strongly recommend having an expert like me write your LI profile for you so it is impactful to the reader AND has the right things in the right places to serve as “recruiter flypaper.”  In summary, the variables for this equation are Time and Urgency. If you have Time and Urgency = Active job search If you don’t have Time but do have Urgency = Passive job search with some networking in the mix if at all possible If you don’t have Time or Urgency = Passive job search If you don’t have Urgency = ARFO  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2

Okay…I’m determined not to get mushy here, but I do want to take a moment to congratulate myself. I don’t know the stats on how many podcasts make it to 250 episodes…or even how many make it to 20 episodes. I do, however, know it is a great accomplishment – and one I am exceedingly proud of myself for. I’ve told this story before, I’m sure, but before I started my podcast – way back in 2016 and early 2017 – I had it in my head that it would cost $5K to start a podcast. I had no facts to back that up, mind you…I just arbitrarily decided it was too expensive for me to become a podcaster. One of my earlier “coaches” suggested I do a teleseminar. You know – I talk on the phone, people sign up ahead of time to attend, and they listen on their phone. You had to attend live to get the content of the teleseminar. I had ZERO energy around this idea…in part because a group I was involved in disseminated their weekly content via teleseminars, and I hardly ever attended. I just wasn’t willing to commit an hour of my day at 9:00 every Wednesday morning. So I tried to make myself take steps toward producing a teleseminar series…but I never really made it out of the starting gate. Remember: I had ZERO energy around this idea. The thought in my head? Probably something like “Yuck. Teleseminars. Yuck.” The feeling that thought produced? Disengagement. Disinterest. Boredom. The actions those thoughts and feelings produced? Lesa, doing anything OTHER than working on a teleseminar series. Then, one fateful day, I was listening to…wait for it…a podcast. After all, I LOVED listening to podcasts. This particular podcaster was talking about challenging our assumptions. You know, those beliefs we have that hold us back from moving forward in our life. She could have been talking directly to me. She hit me right between the eyes. Her suggestion was to gather the FACTS, then make an informed decision about the best path forward. You mean, like the FACTS of how much it ACTUALLY costs to produce a podcast? What a novel idea. BTW – at the same time, I decided to challenge my belief that getting the undercarriage of my minivan fixed so it wouldn’t scrape the ground was going to cost a gazillion dollars. So I drove my Odyssey to the nearest body shop, they identified the problem and said they could order the necessary part and fix the problem the day after tomorrow. The cost? $50. And because of my faulty belief system, I waited for a full year to fix that minor problem. So…back to me and podcasting. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, so my first step was to find…wait for it…a podcast on podcasting. Back in early 2017, there were probably only a few options available, but I found a good one. He talked about the resources available on his website, so off I went. It told me what I needed and gave best options at three price points – entry-level, mid-level, and highest quality. I opted for the mid-level, because he said this may be all I would ever need. (I haven’t upgraded since then, so I guess he was right.) I needed a microphone, headphones, a podcast host, and an editing program. I took his mid-level recommendations on the microphone and headphones, then began researching his options for hosting and editing. (I’ve kept both of the options I chose for hosting and editing since then, so again – good advice from him.) What was the new thought in my head about podcasting? “I can do this. This is possible for me. I AM going to do this.” What feeling did that thought produce? Excitement. What actions did I take? I bought the necessary equipment, I came up with the topics for the first 12 or so episodes, determined my process (weekly, about 30 minutes or less most times, dropping on Wednesdays, no guests initially) and then I got after it. Result? I became a podcaster. A fact, BTW, that I’m still very proud to share with people. And when I tell them there are 250 episodes in my catalogue? They are super impressed. But more importantly, I am impressed with myself. Now that I’ve told you my podcasting genesis story, I invite you to think of something you have been putting off because you don’t think you have enough. Enough money.Enough education.Enough time.Enough knowledge.Enough youth/experience.Enough information. Take a hard look at where that “not enough” has gotten you. Most likely, as it did with me…not very far. And, like me, you may be frustrated with yourself for not moving forward. Or worse, you may be “bleeding.” There may be other areas of your life where your “not enough” is sabotaging you. If you believe you don’t have enough money to start a podcast, maybe you also don’t believe you don’t have enough money to go on that trip of a lifetime. If you don’t believe you have enough education to seek that promotion, you may also believe you don’t have enough education to seek other opportunities outside your current employer. If you believe you are too old to learn to ski, you may also believe you are too old to start dating again.What’s the solution? Here is a four-step process: 1.    Find something you have wanted to do in any area of your life, but have believed you don’t have enough money, education, time, knowledge, experience, youth, or information to do. 2.    Decide on a new thought that will serve you. For example, “I will explore what it actually costs to become a podcaster.” Make sure it is a thought you can fully believe – and begin practicing it regularly. Write it out on index cards; put it on your screen saver. 3.     Map out your first steps, then get after them. You may not yet know every step you need to take, but at least get started and the next steps will reveal themselves. 4.    DECIDE. Then decide you’ve made the right decision – in other words, have your own back. If, after all the steps above, you decide not to proceed with the thing, that’s okay. Just don’t waffle.  I would love to hear from you about the area of your life you looked at!  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2     

I have recently finished Jen Sincero’s book, You Are a Badass. One of the chapters in the book is on The Almighty Decision, and I wanted to dive into this topic for this episode. One of the things I talk with my clients about is the three-step process of decision-making. Those steps are:1)    Give yourself a limited amount of time to explore options. 2)    Make a decision based on the information you’ve gathered AND what your gut is telling you. If the two disagree, ALWAYS go with your gut. 3)    Decide you have made the right decision. No waffling, second-guessing, or changing your mind. Have your own back as to the decision you made.  Why does this matter? So many people take FOREVER to make a decision… sometimes, even over small, fairly inconsequential things. Decision-making is a muscle, and the more you exercise that muscle, the stronger and more dependable it will become. In my work as a career coach, job search coach, and Master Resume Writer, here are some of the indecisions I see clients grapple with: -Should I leave my current employer and go elsewhere, or should I stay? -Am I qualified to apply for this position? -Should I ask for a promotion and/or raise? -Is my dissatisfaction with my career path – or just my current employer? -Should I make a career pivot or completely reinvent my career?-Should I reach out to X for help with my job search? -Should I stay employed, or start my own business? -Should I fully retire, or just downshift to a less stressful, more rewarding job? Of course, there are hundreds of micro-decisions I help my clients with, but these are some of the big ones.  What are some of the decisions you might make in other areas of your life? -I WILL lose XXX pounds. -I WILL begin an exercise program. -I WILL eat healthier. -I WILL begin dating again. -I WILL buy a home. -I WILL stop smoking/drinking/doing drugs. -I WILL clean out the clutter in my home. -I WILL make new friends. -I WILL learn how to do XXX.  In her book, Jen Sincero tells the story of Henry Ford, who was determined to have all eight cylinders of the engine cast in one block. His engineers told him he was crazy – it couldn’t be done. They came back sometime later, with even more evidence that it couldn’t be done. Henry Ford rejected their “evidence,” and ordered them back to the drawing board. Of course, they eventually figured it out by creating the V-8 engine like the workhorse I had in my 1970 Ford Torino. (Let’s not talk about the gas mileage, but man could she GO.) Sincero’s point? “So often, we pretend we’ve made a decision, when what we’ve really done is signed up to try until it gets too uncomfortable.  What do you have to be willing to withstand in order to truly make a decision? -Family and friends laughing at you, questioning your decision, expecting you to fail -Deciding to avoid/minimize your interaction with others who don’t support your decision – at least for now -Avoiding social media, print, or other content that presents evidence that your decision is the wrong one, doomed to failure -Recognizing that your own doubts are merely your primitive brain, trying to protect you from the certain death you’ll face as a result of your decision (“nothing has gone wrong”)  What steps will you need to take to develop this muscle? -Deciding ahead of time what you will do each day towards making your decision a reality – then doing the things even when you REALLY, REALLY don’t want to -Willingness to be uncomfortable – sometimes VERY uncomfortable -Becoming comfortable with “failure,” and reframing it as “learning opportunities” that show you one more way NOT to achieve your goal-Training your brain to resist immediate pleasure in favor of your big picture  Here, then, are Jen Sincero’s tips for decision-making: 1.    Want it badYou have to want it more than the alternative. As she says, “You need to have a ten-ton gorilla of desire behind your decision or else you’ll wimp out the second things get hard.” This requires you to be honest with yourself about what you really want to do, not what you think you should do – and believe it is available to you regardless of any evidence to the contrary. 2.    Get good at itSo many people have terror around decision-making because they are so afraid of making the “wrong” decision. This is where waffling, making hasty decisions just to get it over with, and choosing to do nothing come into play. (By the way, choosing to do nothing IS a decision.) A good strategy is to begin practicing on small decisions…making them quickly and changing them slowly. We’re not talking about making hasty decisions here, but rather gathering the facts as quickly and efficiently as possible to be able to MOVE FORWARD. Also – give yourself a deadline for making the decision. Finally – quit telling people (and yourself) that you are terrible at making decisions. Talk about confusing the universe! 3.    Eliminate the negotiation processDecisions are simply not up for negotiation. Remember what I said at the outset – have your own back. The decision-making process is an excellent opportunity for you to improve your relationship with the most important person in your life – YOU. As you have your own back on decisions you make, you begin to trust yourself more and more. Not only that – others will notice that you are following through on your decisions, and THEY will begin to trust you, as well. Let’s say you have decided to buy a vacation home on the beach by a certain date. You know how much money you need in the bank…and a friend comes along with an invitation to go to Bali for two weeks. Of COURSE, Bali sounds wonderful – who wouldn’t want to go there? But you decided to buy a vacation home on the beach by a certain date. You KNOW that going to Bali will delay your ability to buy that home. SO…you have your own back about your vacation home-buying decision. You thank your friend profusely and tell her that you hope she’ll ask the next time she wants to travel. But this time…you have decided to become a vacation homeowner! 4.    Stick like glueIt takes tenacity…stick-to-it-iveness…to achieve your goals. I like the analogy of giving birth. I clearly remember, when I was in about hour 12 of trying to exit a 10-pound, 1 ounce, human out of my body, that I told my then-husband, “I can’t do this anymore.” His response? “You don’t have any choice, Lesa.” And he was right; I had no choice but to see this child-having decision through to the birth. Let’s have this same sense of “you don’t have any choice” with other decisions in our lives. Focus on the result you desire, recognize that the inevitable bumps and bruises along the way are supposed to happen, and STAY THE COURSE. I love this quote from Sincero: “In order to change your life and start living a new one that you’ve never lived before, your faith in miracles, and yourself, must be greater than your fear. However easy or rough your birthing process is, you have to be willing to fall down, get up, look stupid, cry, laugh, make a mess, clean it up, and not stop until you get there. NO MATTER WHAT.” 5.    Love yourselfBecause you can do ANYTHING. And it’s much easier to get there by loving on yourself along the way than by hating on yourself.  So, I invite you to make a decision TODAY. It can be a small one…or it can be you, finally getting off that non-existent fence and making a decision about something big. And congratulate yourself for changing your life forever. Because in the process of making that decision and going through the necessary steps to realize your goal, you will be forever changed. Way to go, you!  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2    

This week my guest is Marcelle Yeager of Career Valet, and we’re talking about navigating remote work. Our focus is on managing and being managed in “the new world order” with in-office, remote, and hybrid employees all working together. We also cover how to ensure you are setting yourself up for success as a remote worker – and how, if you are a manager, you can set your employees up for success in a remote environment. Prior to starting Career Valet, Marcelle worked in strategic communications at APCO Worldwide, Booz Allen Hamilton, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State. She holds and MBA and is a former regular contributor to U.S. News and World Report’s On Careers blog and ClearanceJobs.com. She’s been featured in MONEY Magazine, Business Insider, and FlexJobs. You can download Marcelle’s free resume handbook, which covers the 10 items you need to change on your resume right now:Careervalet.com/cv-resume-handbook You can find Marcelle at:careervalet.comlinkedin.com/in/marcelleyeagerInstagram.com/career_valetFacebook.com/careervaletTwitter.com/careervalet  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2  

Our guest today is Katrina McGhee, and we are diving into the idea of taking a career break. NOT a run-away-as-fast-as-you-can because you hate your job, but a planned, strategic break with goals. Katrina tells us her career break story and how she has coached more than 50 clients to have successful career breaks. We also delve into how to successfully “re-enter” your career after your break. You can find Katrina at www.kmcgheecoaching.com She is offering a 3-part video series on her website to help you conquer your fear and stop waiting for “someday.” She walks you through the basics of taking a career break and just how possible it can be. Find this FREE series atwww.kmcgheecoaching.com/career-break-training  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.  If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2