What Will You Do Today That Your Future Self Will Thank You For?

"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, 2022 will be filled with new beginnings on a personal and professional level. I’m continuing to invest in myself by joining a CEO Mastermind. I’m looking forward to being part of a community, learning from and networking with other forward-thinking CEO coaches and entrepreneurs, and, most importantly, gaining some great insights, strategies and tips from the community that I can use to help my clients achieve their goals.

I'm also “re-swizzling” (one of the many words I make up!) how I'll coach, guide and support clients through their executive job search using my proven Executive Job Search methodology as the core framework.

Up to now, I’ve primarily been providing 1:1 coaching programs, which has been extremely impactful and effective for my clients as the coaching focus is uniquely tailored to each individual - where they're at, what they're looking to do next, what their needs are, what they're struggling with, etc.  

I realize 1:1 coaching program may not be for everyone -- whether it's due to a client's budget, need/desire for community where they can learn from and network with like-minded professionals, or something else.

As such, in 2022, I will be offering other types of training/coaching modalities to enable me to guide and support my clients through their entire job search journey and landing a fabulous new position in a way that works best for them.  Stay tuned for additional information in the coming weeks.

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

In closing, Happy New Year and I wish you and your loved ones good health, happiness and prosperity in 2022. 🎉

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.

What Will You Do Today That Your Future Self
Will Thank You For?

The above phrase is one of my all-time favorites, so much so that it’s on my business email signature! 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 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.
  
  
• Being 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!).
  
  
• Sharing 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, your messaging and the time you’re investing in your search.  

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

• How is your attitude toward your search? 
  
  
• 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?
  
  
• What do you do to prepare for networking conversations?
  
  
• 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? [Hint: if you’re a VP/SVP/EVP/GM/C-level – more than 10% of your time is too much!]
  
  
• How much time 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 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 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.
  
  
• Identify and 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.
  
  

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 corporate executives through every step in the job search process including:  helping them identify what’s next in their career, strengthen their messaging and update their brand collateral (resume/LinkedIn profile), sharing proven job search strategies, tips and insights that help them secure meaningful conversations and interviews, helping them through the highs and lows of their search, and evaluating and negotiating their offers without struggle, frustration and overwhelm.  

Click here to schedule a complimentary strategy call with me.

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.