The Magic of New Beginnings

"And suddenly you just know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings.” 
—Unknown

Happy New Year, Audie!

I love new beginnings as they’re often filled with excitement and the anticipation, hope and vision of what the future will bring.  

For me, 2021 will be filled with new beginnings on a personal and professional level. Professionally, I am excited to share that I am expanding my offerings and will be launching several new coaching programs for executive-level professionals who are actively seeking a new role at another company or looking to start their own business. 

First up is running my inaugural group coaching program called Accelerate! Executive Job Search and Networking Program. Having been a participant in a number of group coaching programs, in addition to the invaluable content and knowledge transfer from the coach facilitator, I have greatly benefited from the collaboration, support, coaching, and being part of a community of like-minded professionals. Accelerate! will include all this and more! Details of the program and the application process will be sent in a separate email. 

This month’s featured article is focused on new beginnings (i.e. re-invigorating your existing job search) and how to decide when it may be time to make a change in your professional life. Enjoy!

Warm regards,

P.S. I invite you to share my newsletter with anyone you feel could benefit from receiving valuable content and insights specific to mid- to senior-level executive job seekers/career changers. 

P.P.S. To learn more about Your Call To Action, LLC and how I help my clients go from being frustrated and struggling with their search, stuck in a toxic work environment or worried about being downsized to feeling excited, valued and re-energized at work (and in their life) again, take a look around my website.

The above phrase is one of my all-time favorites, as it applies both personally and professionally and helps you stay focused on the end-result you’re seeking. At this time of year, like many New Year’s resolutions, you could apply it to losing weight or getting more fit. Professionally speaking, it could apply to your goal of writing a book, achieving your sales quota, creating and running programs, campaigns or projects, deciding to make a job/career change, etc.

This phrase has played a key role in my professional life for as far back as I can remember. Having been in corporate sales for most of my career, there were daily and weekly activities I needed to consistently focus and take action on in order for me to achieve various monthly, quarterly and annual sales quotas and KPIs. I quickly learned that being consistent and focused on revenue generating and client attraction activities every day would make a dramatic difference in whether or not I achieved/exceeded my sales and financial goals.

As a business owner, I am keenly aware of the importance of doing something today that my future self will be thankful for. For me:

• It’s creating a business and marketing plan and executing on daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual strategies and tactics (and course correcting, as needed).  
  
  
• It’s continually learning, researching and staying abreast of what’s going on in executive job search and within the coaching community, so I can continue providing relevant information, strategies, and coaching practices that will help my clients achieve their goals.

For my clients, it’s my ability to consistently:

• Provide value and deliver results-oriented and effective programs that will help my clients stand out in a crowded field and continually moving forward in their job search journey.
  
  
• Be a supportive, encouraging and empathetic coach, guide and resource for my clients as they execute an effective search and secure an exciting and challenging new position at a company that’s a great fit for them.
  
  
• Lead with integrity and be a trusted advisor, accountability partner, and confidante to my clients (and be fun to work with!).
  
  
• Share best practices with my clients so they can consistently execute on them and achieve their job search goals.

Nothing has power over you, like the power you have
to influence yourself. 
—Stacie Martin

So, Audie, what is something you can do today that your future self will thank you for?

If you’re actively looking for a new position and you’re struggling or frustrated with your search, now is a good time to take an honest look at the type of activities you’re doing each day, the volume of activity, and the time you’re investing in your search.  

Take a look at the following, and see where you could improve:

• How much time are you networking with former colleagues and others in your industry? 
• How often are you asking your network for introductions to new people so you can expand your network?
• How often are you reaching out to Executive Recruiters/Headhunters in your industry? How many conversations are you having each week with them? What are you doing to stand out in a crowded field of prospective candidates?
• How much time do you spend searching the job boards? Applying to jobs?
• How often are you practicing your responses to common interview questions so you are well-prepared for unplanned calls from recruiters or potential employers? (i.e. tell me about yourself? What are you looking to do next? How would you describe your leadership style? Why are you looking for a new position? What kind of salary are you looking for?)
• What do you do to prepare for interviews?  
• What do you do to prepare for networking conversations?
• How is your attitude toward your search?  
• What are you doing outside of your search that brings you joy and re-charges you?

Now, set SMART goals for each of the areas and track them daily (or weekly), taking time on Fridays to review, evaluate and set intentions for the next week. Rinse and repeat each week.  

There comes a day when you realize turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because you realize there’s so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on.  
—Zayn Malik

If you’re still employed, yet feeling unsettled, bored or working in a toxic environment, now may be the time to actively begin looking for a new position at another company. Over a period of time, each of these — much less a combination of them — can take a huge toll on you emotionally, psychologically and even physically. It often takes a toll on your family, as well.

Looking for a new position while working full-time is very doable, although it’s a juggling act and you’ll want to hone your time management skills. It’s critical you continue performing at your highest level at work — make a commitment to yourself to make you and your future a priority!  

Here are some tips and strategies to begin focusing on:

• Update your resume.
  
  
• Update the About Us and Experience sections of your LinkedIn profile to mirror your resume (for now, leave everything else untouched). IMPORTANT – to ensure you don’t draw public attention, be sure you FIRST turn off the setting so your network will NOT receive notifications of updates on your experience, job changes, etc.
   
• Craft your messaging and practice responses to common interview questions frequently so you are well-prepared for interviews, networking conversations, and unplanned calls from recruiters or potential employers (i.e. Tell me about yourself. What are you looking to do next?  How would you describe your leadership style? Why are you looking for a new position? What kind of salary are you looking for?).
  
  
• Create a list of trusted colleagues and peers in the industry who are well connected, supportive and will keep your search confidential, and begin reaching out to them.
  
  
• Begin contacting Executive Recruiters/Headhunters in your industry. Don’t rely exclusively on email (everyone else does that!). To stand out, try to secure an initial phone call with them – learn about them, the type of companies they have relationships with and the level of people they’ve placed there in the past year. If there seems to be a ‘good fit’, make time to establish and build relationships with them so they’ll keep you in mind as opportunities arise. It’s important to establish a healthy call cadence with them (without being a stalker!) so you remain top of mind.

Regardless of where you are in your search, you don’t have to do this alone!  

Through my coaching programs, I partner with mid- to senior-level executives through every step in the job search process from helping them identify what’s next in their career to helping create their messaging and branding (resume/LinkedIn profile), sharing proven job search strategies, tips and insights that help them secure meaningful conversations and interviews, to helping them through the highs and lows of their search and helping them evaluate and negotiate their offers without struggle, frustration and overwhelm.  

Click here if you or someone you know is interested in scheduling a complimentary strategy call with me.

Whether you’re just starting out with your search or you’ve been at it a while, take this quiz to find out the most productive job search approach for you along with helpful strategies, tips and pitfalls to avoid.  

🎁 Who do you know is also in job transition (or considering making a change) and could benefit from this? Help out a friend, business colleague or relative by sharing this quiz and newsletter with them.🎁

If you are a mid- to senior-level executive and motivated to find your next opportunity (or know someone who is), I'd love to speak with you to better understand your situation, what you're looking to do, and see how I can be of help.

Book your complimentary 40-minute Strategy Session here.

Prior to launching Your Call To Action, LLC in 2015, Audie spent over 30 years in technology sales and sales leadership roles working with C-Level and other key stakeholders at Fortune 1000 companies utilizing a consultative and value-based approach to addressing her clients' needs.

Due to the evolving nature of the technology industry, it was common to change companies due to M&A, new leadership coming in and bringing their own team, corporate restructurings, or as a way to advance one's career. Audie became very proficient — and successful — in landing multiple offers each time, and was frequently complimented on how she stood out (in a good way!) from other candidates throughout the interview process.

She leverages her business acumen, consultative and value-based approach to sales, and professional coach training (ICF Certified) in working with clients and delivering her proven methodology, strategies and tips for successfully landing a new position (after all, one needs to sell oneself, right?).

Audie is intuitive, nurturing, and compassionate yet firm—all of the qualities you should want in a coach. She is your accountability partner with a focus on helping you get real results ... and you’ll also have fun along the way!

Want to learn more? Click here to book a Complimentary Strategy Session.