There Is Always, Always, Always Something To Be Grateful For

"Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside.  No matter what is going on outside of us, there’s always something we could be grateful for."
—Barry Neil Kaufman

Hi Audie,

It’s the beginning of November and the autumn leaves are still quite colorful and beautiful, and there’s a crisp in the air. Here in the US, this month also brings us Thanksgiving — my most favorite holiday! It’s a time to spend with family and friends and eating way too much delicious food! 

Boy, what a difference a year makes! This time last year, we were still hunkered down and not traveling to or getting together with friends and family for the holiday. It’s a wonderful feeling to once again be anticipating and planning for family get-togethers.

Having said this, I am well aware that some people feel anxious about this time of year and the approaching holidays. 

As a friendly reminder, you never know what people are going through, so I encourage you to heed this advice: “Be kind and be sensitive to what others may be feeling, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

This month’s newsletter is focused on the power of being thankful and grateful — in good times and in more challenging times.

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m so grateful and thankful you’re in my life!

What are you grateful for? (Click reply and let me know!)

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 ready to take their career to the next level to feeling excited, valued and re-energized at work (and in their life) again, take a look around my website.

There Is Always, Always, Always Something to Be Grateful For

I feel fortunate that I’ve had many wonderful experiences and times in my life, amazing life-long friends, colleagues and clients from every stage of my life, and an awesome family. However, like many of you, I’ve had plenty of disappointments and distressing situations in my life, including being downsized twice from positions I loved and excelled in.

What I found to be extremely beneficial and helped pull me through challenging times are:

• Focus on the positives in your life. At bedtime, reflect on your day and come up with 3 things you’re grateful for in your life or the positive things that occurred throughout your day.
  
  
• Who do you know who’s experienced what you’re going through? Identify 1 or 2 people you feel you can confide in and reach out to them. Seek their advice on what they did to help them overcome this situation, what they would have done differently if they were going through the situation again (hindsight is 20/20), etc.
  
  
• What are some logical next steps you can begin taking to move you forward? Grab a pen and paper and do a brain dump. Don’t judge or second guess yourself! Step away for a period of time and come back and review your list. What is the first step you can take? What’s the next one? What’s the third one? Now take action, and make sure you evaluate as you go along. If need be, course correct … but keep moving forward.
  
  
• Don’t let your foot off the accelerator. Without fail, I hear people saying “no one is hiring over the holidays so I’m going to take it easy on my search.”  This is a myth and the furthest thing from the truth! Use November and December to network, proactively reach out to executives at companies on your target list, get back in touch with people you previously spoke with, etc. Many companies are actively interviewing and offers are still being made! And, you never know who you may meet at a holiday party that could hold the keys to your next position!   

Here are some pitfalls to avoid when you’re experiencing challenging times:

• Overstaying your welcome at your pity party! Depending upon the situation, it’s important to acknowledge how you’re feeling and take time to deal with it. For example, if you’ve been downsized, take time to deal with the shock, anger, disappointment or grieve your loss, but the best thing you can do is to put a plan in place and move forward as soon as possible.
  
  
• While in job search mode, try to keep any frustrations or negative feelings to a few ‘chosen’ people. It’s so important to be positive and upbeat outwardly as you never know who you may meet or run into who could be helpful to you in your search.
  
  
• Avoid (or minimize) surrounding yourself with negative people during this time. It’s fairly common for downsized professionals to meet (virtually or in person) and gripe about their situation. Instead, use this opportunity to help each other with introductions or referrals, share strategies that are working, and/or act as accountability partners for one another.

If you are a mid- to senior-level executive looking to make a job/career change yet aren’t sure how best to go about it in today’s environment OR you’re struggling and frustrated that your search isn’t gaining traction, please contact me. You don’t have to do this alone … and with my proven strategies, coaching, guidance and support you’ll land your dream role quicker by working with me! To schedule a complimentary 40-minute strategy session, click here.  

Referrals and introductions to mid- to senior-level executives within your network who could benefit from my services is the greatest compliment you can give me. 

Thank you for your trust!

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.