Recovering Corpoholics

In today's episode, we're going to talk about coaching and confidentiality.Find the Full Notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/40.Did you ever want to work with a coach but then think, I don't want my business getting out there?! This is especially true if your employer is paying for the coaching. Since coaches are not bound by a medical board and that anyone can claim to be a coach these days (AKA why it's so important to work with qualified coaches these days!), it can be hard to let your guard down and trust that what you say will be confidential. But I am here to tell you that is just not the case. I want to assure you that when you work with a professional coach, especially a coach who is accredited through the ICF or the CCE, whatever you say is 100% confidential. It is actually our duty as a coach to not disclose any confidential information you tell us during the course of our sessions, unless we have your permission. There is only one circumstance where confidential information may be shared without your permission is if you were to say something that puts your life at risk. Now there are other times where confidential information may be shared, however, we must have your permission to do so. For example, if you are sitting for your ICF coaching credentials, sometimes you are required to submit a coaching session recording. This shows to the coaching accreditation board that you have the skills to coach.But a coach would never record you without your permission! Otherwise, they violate the coaching code of ethics.I would ask in advance if it would be OK to record a future session. And if you are comfortable doing so, I would state at the beginning of the recording the date, the purpose of the recording and who it will be shared with (a coaching board that will keep the recording confidential).This is just one example but I want to assure you that you are in the driver's seat with your information. You can say no to anything! That is why it is so important to discuss this prior to starting your coaching relationship. When you begin your relationship with a coach, confidentiality is a topic that will always be brought up by your coach and discussed… if you are a good coach that is, again that's why it is so important to work with a trained and certified coach.  Discuss this with your coach. Look at your contract (and there should always be a contract) and see what it states.Maybe the contract states information may be shared for training purposes only, maybe it states that only your name will be shared for hourly tracking purposes (that is for credentialing), but, whatever the case may be, just ensure you know!This is especially important when working with a coach hired by your employer. Just know what information can be shared. And when you are unclear about anything, don't like what you see and / or If you don't see anything on confidentiality on the contract (which is a red flag in my opinion), ask your questions, have it added!  Do whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable.Go to RecoveringCorpoholics.com/40 to see some standard contract language you can ask your coach to add.Coaches are professionals and our only goal is to help you achieve your goals. I do this work full time and take my job very seriously and I would never compromise my relationships with my clients. And every other professional coach should think the same. Your information belongs to you and you alone and I will always protect that.....FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES + EXAMPLE CONFIDENTIALITY CONTRACT LANGUAGE HERE.

In today's episode, we're going to talk about goal planning.Find the Full Notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/39.This episode is all about goal planning. Because if you don't have a plan, you don't have a goal, you have a wish. And if you don't know where you are going, you will end up someplace else! You may have a goal in mind but if you don't have a plan in place to achieve that goal, and I'm talking about all the steps and everything you need to do to achieve that goal, then you may not reach it. Let's take a second to be real with ourselves. I mean, Just think about 2020. That was an unprecedented year that no one expected. We may have started out with goals but with everything that happened that year, your goals may have taken a hit. Instead of being strategic about your time, we all turned on our survival modes and had to deal with things we never had to deal with before. I know that was totally unexpected but so is life. Having a child sick, you getting sick, having more work to do, dealing with daily life... I mean things happen! We get busy. Moral of the story, if we want to achieve our goals, we need to be strategic in our actions and take control of our future. Aka have a plan!Without goals, we can drift from one thing to another resulting in a feeling that time has been wasted on things that are irrelevant, irresponsible or just  unimportant. Having goals, we get to choose the direction of our lives and create our future. Goal setting gives us something to look forward to. I don't know about you but I get excited when I have things I want to achieve.One thing that I especially love about goal setting is that it triggers new behaviors or habits, helping guide our focus and helping us sustain that momentum in life. I think the most important thing to note here is that the process of working on our goals makes us happy. We are for sure happy when we achieve our goal, but it's the pride in ourselves that we actually did something we committed to that lights us up. Just take a moment and think back to a time where you wanted to do something and you actually did it. How did you feel? Amazing right?! Well I want you to feel that again because that's exactly what we're doing this week!OK so let's get into it!Now that you have your goal down and it is SMART and gives you a SPARK, I want to show you the process of planning your goals. First, take your top goal you identified and set a date for how long it's going to take you to achieve.  Maybe it's to lose 20 pounds so you decide you want it to take 6 months.Second, I want you to break that down by monthly milestones. For example, if your goal is to lose 20 pounds in 6 months, how much do you need to lose each month to lose 20 pounds? Around 3-4 pounds. Then for each month, write down what it would take or look like to lose 3-4 pounds. That's a pound a week! What do you need to eat each week, what exercises do you need to do? Take all the guesswork out!You can even be extra and write down what you will eat each day and when you will work out. That will for sure set you up for success. And the same goes for a life goal. Say you want to write a book and you say it will take you one year. OK, well, where do you need to be at 9 months, 6 months, 3 months, etc., in order to complete your goal? Now it depends on how you want to break it out. Maybe the goal is to write a chapter per month. Then what do you need to do each week in order to complete that chapter?Maybe it's to have the book completed by 6 months and then have it edited by 9 months so it is finalized by month 12. Whatever the case may be, take your goal and figure out how long it will take and t

In today's episode, we're going to talk about How to Develop Goals You'll Actually Want to Achieve.Find the Full Notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/38.There are all things that we want to achieve in this life. However, sometimes, we just aren't clear with what that is, we get stopped along the way or sometimes we actually don't want that goal even though we may think that we do.But what if there was a way to set goals that we actually wanted to achieve so we were more motivated to get to the finish line?Let's get into it.A Goal is a desired result that one plans and commits to achieve. Now a lot of you may know this, but if you want to be truly successful in achieving your goals, you need to be very clear on what your goals are. Here is the criteria your goals should meet:First, your Goals should be Outcome focusedWhat is it that you really want to achieve? And that outcome should make you feel excited!  If you have a goal you are excited about, I promise you that you're 90% of the way there.Second, Goals should also be In line with your WHY and your valuesThe more a goal aligns with your inner or core values - the EASIER it will be to achieve. The more your goal will Drive you! This way, if you get wrapped up in the day/week, your goal is something you love and want to do. It will be easier to keep going or pick back up.  Note: You can achieve goals that don't align with your values/your WHY but it's usually harder and less satisfying. For example, your job may require you to take some accreditation test. If you're not crazy about your job, you may not have the same passion and excitement to keep your momentum to study going. It may feel more like a chore. But think now that you have to take a test to be the best in your field, a field where you are so passionate about, how do you feel about studying now? Challenged? Excited? Third, Goals should be stated in the positiveInstead of saying: “I want to stop snacking”, say “I want to eat healthy”Instead of saying: “I want to quit smoking”, say “I want to be healthy, be able to breathe and live a long life”. Instead of saying: “I want to quit my crappy job”, say “I want to be in a career that I can impact millions, that I am passionate about, that I am recognized for”. See the difference? —-----Fourth, your Goals should be SMARTI'm sure you've heard this so many times so I will just briefly go into this.SMART Stands for.....FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

In today's episode, we're going to talk about 3 reasons why you're not achieving your goals. Find the Full Notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/37.If you're ready to achieve big things but are having trouble finding the time to do so, you're not alone. According to Forbes, when asking Leaders if they successfully completed their goals for the day, the majority of them responded with “I have no idea”. (I believe) There are three main obstacles that keep us from achieving our goals. First, that we aren't clear or are realistic on what your goals actually are. Second, that we just can't find the time to work on them (there's just so many fire drills these days!). And third, that we actually have too many goals (and we don't know where to focus). So how do we solve those three obstacles so you can start achieving your goals today?Keep Listening. You aren't clear / realistic on what your goals areThe first obstacle I want to talk about is not being clear or realistic about what your goals actually are. Sometimes we have no idea what we want to achieve, we just have things we want to do (aka we are not clear on what we want).  For example, I have the goal to record an episode of my podcast each week. However, that is not a goal. That is an action step for a goal. The goal here would be to gain more attention, become a thought leader, use it to later write a book, etc. But I didn't put that together until one day I stepped back and thought to myself, why am I taking up so much of my time for my podcast. I'm not someone famous and don't have a big following so is it even worth my time?And when I had a lot of things to do, I would choose doing that vs my podcast. But now I am clear on what I am trying to do! I want to use this for my clients and eventually put it together for a book. And now I make time for my podcast!And for being realistic, I believe you should dream big, for more info on that, go listen to episode 26. But you also need to be realistic with how big your goal is and how much time you have to achieve it. Saying you want to win a fitness competition in a month when you haven't worked out in years may not be the best. But 3, 6 months or a year, that's definitely doable! Set yourself up for success.So to avoid this obstacle, here are some of the other things you can do:For every goal or dream you have, ask yourself: “Why do I want to achieve this”?And if you don't know, start thinking of the big win you want to achieve for that year. Think about why that is important to you and how it's going to benefit you? On the opposite spectrum, you can also think of what the risk is for not achieving your goal. And don't skip this! I know there is a lot to get done and you want (and like) to get stuff done. But being clear on what you're trying to achieve is going to make you feel way more accomplished than if you didn't. You can't find the time to work on them The second obstacle on why you're not achieving your goals is that you just can't seem to find the time to work on them. Life is crazy these days and there is so much to do. From all the things we need to get done at home to work to everything in between, we can be spread thin. FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

In this week's episode, we're going to talk about how we want to be remembered as it is a great tool to think about our goals and push ourselves to dream big!Find the full show notes at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/36.Sometimes when we are thinking about our goals and what we want for our lives, we unconsciously tend to think about only the next 5-10 years of our lives. Some of those questions that we ask ourselves may be, “What do I want?”, Where do I want to go?”, or “What do I want to achieve?”. But sometimes those questions fall short. Why? Because those questions assume we know what we want and only have us focus on the now and the short-term future. And what may end up happening is that we go after things we thought we wanted, only to later discover we actually didn't want them. So how do we turn this around to be more purposeful and find goals and dreams that will last our lifetime? It's to ask ourselves a different question: How do I want to be remembered?And I love this question because it allows us to think in a different way, it shows our values, how we want to show up and it allows us to start working on that now vs thinking we need to have a plan in place in order to achieve it.So for this 3rd exercise, I want you to think of yourself as someone who is retiring, turning 70, getting a life achievement award, aka, any situation when you are older and there is going to be a party to celebrate your life and all your accomplishments. People will be giving speeches of your life's work and the impact you made on the world and on them. I want you to think about, ‘What are these people saying about you?' ‘What impact do you have on them or the world?' How do people remember how you made them feel?' Write down the speech of what they would say about you.Just a quick caveat here, I want you to think of the message alone, not who the people giving  the speeches are.This exercise may help you focus on what's really important to you. And what's great is that you can do this for every area of your life, too. How do you want to be remembered in your career? As a son or daughter? As a parent, etc.There is no wrong way to do this so just think about the legacy you want to leave behind and what's truly important to you. Then once you have that, take a look at your current goals and see if they align. Maybe they do or maybe you'll want to think again about what you want to achieve.That's all I have for this week's episode. I hope you liked these past 3 episodes on exercises to help you dream big. If you did, please rate this podcast or share with your friends.Stay Inspired and Live Powerfully, Felicia

In this week's episode, we're going to talk about how to create a bucket list as it is a great tool to think about our goals and push ourselves to dream big!Find the full show notes at Recovering Corpoholics.com/35.A Bucket list is made up of all the things you want to achieve, do, learn, see in your life - basically, all the things you want to experience in your lifetime. This exercise is great as you can really think about what you want out of life and how you can start doing those things now. There are no rules here. If you want to have tea with the queen, go dog sledding, become a doctor, etc., amazing! This is your list and what you want for yourself - not for others.Once you're done with this list, put some timelines on it. If you think you can do the list item in a year, indicate that with a 1, 5 years, put down a 5. Same with 10 years, 15 years, etc.Now you have a plan of everything you want to do and when. Now start looking at the items you can do in a year and think about how you are going to get them done. Maybe make a vision board with it!Note, if you're stuck between doing a bucket list and a vision board, I love doing a bucket list first as sometimes when we think about what we want to achieve, we put restraints on ourselves. However, with a bucket list, we tend to just put down everything (i.e. mind dump)!In addition, it doesn't take as long to do and it allows us to really dream big - and that is the whole point to this episode.That's all I have for this week's episode. Stay tuned to next week as we go further into pushing ourselves to dream big by writing how we want to be remembered.Stay Inspired and Live Powerfully, Felicia

In this week's episode, we're going to talk about how to create a vision board as it is a great tool to think about our goals and push ourselves to dream big!Find the full show notes at Recovering Corpoholics.com/34.A vision board is a collage of images and words that represents your goals and dreams. Vision boards are great as they allow you to take your goals and dreams out of your head and allow you to visually see them. With a vision board, you not only have the goal in mind, but now you have a picture in your head to motivate you in a different light. You may have a goal to lose 5 pounds this month. Great! But with a vision board, you now have a picture of someone in skinny jeans, buttoning their jeans, or just looking great and happy.And you know what they say, a picture is worth 1000 words!In addition to having the image now in your head, a vision board also allows you to see your goals on a consistent basis so you are reminded of what you want to achieve (assuming you put the board in place you can see). You still need to obviously still put in the work and take action to achieve your goals but this is a great first step in doing the preliminary work that is going to set you up for success. Start by thinking about your values. If your goals are not aligned with your values, then achieving those goals won't really resonate with you, keep you going when it gets tough or make you feel accomplished when you achieve them. When starting your vision board, think about the following questions: What's important to me? What do I enjoy?What inspires me?What would I do if there were no limits (i.e. time, money, etc.) or no judgment?What kind of life do I want for myself; my health; my family; my career, etc.?Am I putting restraints on my goals/wants or am I dreaming big?What do I have to do for my life to be what I want it to be?Where do I need to go? Where do I want to go?How do I get there?What am I missing in my life?Why do I want this?Tip: You can write the answers down (I prefer a spreadsheet) so you can really get organized and think about what you want....SEE THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE!

In this week's episode, we're going to talk about how we've stopped dreaming big. Find the full show notes at Recovering Corpoholics.com/33.When we were young, we all had the wildest dreams and goals for our life. But somewhere along the way, as the realities and responsibilities of life grew, the size of our dreams diminished. We have learned to settle and tell ourselves that we are happy with where we are. Yes, we are grateful for everything we have but when did it become OK to not have grand dreams and goals for our lives like we used to!Yes our priorities shift but when did we lose our imagination and drive to be and do anything!That's why this week, I want to reispire you all to dream big!You may have heard me say, you don't know you are checked out until you check back in. And the same goes with our goals. You may not realize that you not living your goals or have realistic goals until you think, is this really what I want for my life?I know for me I had a 20 year vision in HS with what I was going to do. Become a CEO. I had to get into a good school, get the internships, land the NYC job, get promoted fast, find a partner, make Partner, have or make this much money, buy the house, have the kids, go on fancy vacations, etc. But when I wanted to leave the Corporate world and become a coach, I realized that I either achieved all of that or didn't want it anymore. And then I was left with now what? Yes, I still wanted to go on nice vacations, I still had financial goals, but there wasn't anything big that was pushing me like there was when I was younger. Yes, I wanted to become a coach, but I just wanted to make the same money I was making. Yes, I wanted a house, but a house that was just bigger than where I was. But if you asked my younger self, you would have heard me say: “I am going to be the best coach, I'll be like Oprah or Tony Robbins. I'll have my main house on the water with a big boat and houses around the world so I can travel. I'll be a billizionaire and be able to feed all the children in the world!I realized then that I was putting limits on my goals. Yes I wanted a big house (so I could have an even bigger family), but I wouldnt be able to get that unless I did this or did that. Or it wasn't possible as the market is so overpriced now, it would be impossible!I had so many considerations baked into my dreams that they were no longer dreams. Just things I wanted or hoped to happen. Somewhere along the way of life, we let our current reality shape what we think our life should be like and by accepting that way of thinking, we allowed our dreams to become realistic.But why is that? Aren't our dreams possible? Aren't there people out there making a killing and living out their best life? Why is it unrealistic for us but possible for them?FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

In today's episode, we're going to talk about why there is nothing wrong with you!Find the Full Notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/32.Feeling stuck in your job is not an easy feeling. Especially when you have no idea what you want to do next. Even if you do have an idea, it's not easy to switch when your friends and family think you're crazy for leaving a good career behind. This is also true for the people that have multiple passions and want to explore them all and for the people who knew exactly what they wanted and don't anymore. So what ends up happening is we start to question ourselves. We can't help but think “why can't I be happy or content like them (or my coworkers)”. And then we start to doubt ourselves and think: “will switching really make me happy” or “will I ever be happy”.And thinking this way leads you to believe that something is wrong with you. That you will never figure it out, that if you do, you won't succeed (for numerous reasons such as you don't have the skills, the experience, the attention span, etc.) and you're going to be kicking yourself for leaving in the first place. But let me stop you right there and tell you NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOU!If anything, something is wrong with THEM! You are meant for more and you want your life to be filled with meaning, with passion and to me, that is a life to be lived. You are an exceptional human being with so much potential and interest, and people like you change the world.In reality, there is nothing wrong with either side. It just is that we are all different, we all have different wants and needs and live different lives, no matter how similar we both seem.Who cares if you want to change careers to do something you're passionate about. Who cares if you have to switch jobs multiple times until you find something you love. Who should care anything about your career, other than you?People used to think that you should stay in one job, that women shouldn't work, that learning disorders were actually people who were lazy, but times have changed. People have stood up to these silly presumptions and have changed the world.Changing misunderstandings starts with you. Be the change you want to see. Your life is too valuable to settle for anything less. And the more people that go out and do this, the more life will be better for those to come. The working world is starting to see a shift toward meaningful careers and it is an amazing time to be in the workforce. You don't have to stay in one job. You may have loved something one time, but just like how we change, so do our passions, job interests and therefore, careers!You are more than qualified to do what you love. You are more skilled than most people out there. You just have to start believing it.Maybe you don't have the exact skills just yet, but if you have the desire to do something, that is worth more than any skill. I know I would hire someone who is willing to go the extra mile anyday over someone who has the skills but no desire. So stop hiding your talents, stop not believing in yourself and just start doing what you love today......FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

In today's episode, we're going to talk about how to use music to motivate yourselfFind the Full Notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/31.Feeling down at your job, discouraged about your job search or just feeling downright unmotivated? One simple solution to lift your mood is to listen to music!Studies show that listening to music is like a workout for your brain. Not only does it ignite creativity, but it is a valuable tool for reducing stress, improving your mood and creating a more happy mindset. It's like a workout for your brain (as long as the music is upbeat and you like the music you're listening to). And a happier mindset brings more benefits beyond just feeling good. It can make you feel better about your job, give you the motivation to keep going in your job search and just downright feel good!I won't go further into the stats or studies of listening to music but if I were to give you any advice for this week, is to take the time and create a playlist of happy, encouraging music that you like so if you do feel down, you have your happy playlist to lift you back up!I know that if I feel stressed, anxious, or even nervous, I put on some happy jams, stand up and rock out. Even moving your body helps!  I know I do this before any interview or new client call. It just makes me feel ready to win!I put some of my favorite songs along with proven happy songs in the full show notes at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/31 so head over there now to check out that list now!Remember, my list of songs could not work for you - you have to find what makes you feel like getting up and dancing!That's all I have for this week so hit the play button and start jamming!Stay Inspired and Live Powerfully,FeliciaSongs I love to listen to...SEE HERE FOR THE FULL SHOW NOTES (& SONGS)

In today's episode, we're going to talk about how to search for a job when you have no idea what to search for.Find the Full Notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/30.As a full time employee, your time is valuable. You don't have time to waste applying for a bunch of jobs that you're only semi interested in, hoping they're better than where you're at. That's why it's so important to take the time to explore and research positions that you would actually want to do and use your time to apply for those jobs.However, how do you search for something when you have no idea what to search for?It may sound like an impossible task but trust me when I say it's easy. All you need to do is give yourself time and work backwards. As long as you have an idea in mind, you can use job sites, such as LinkedIn, to make specific searches to really drill down to find a career path that you'll love.Not sure how that works? Well listen in as I take you through the steps of how you can just search for a new career when you're not sure what you want to do next. Make a List of keywords The first thing you're going to want to do is to make a list of jobs, job responsibilities, interests, industries, company names and any other keywords that you can use to then search for jobs. Nowadays, most job sites allow you to be very specific in your job search, allowing you to search from almost anything you choose, such as company name, position, years of experience, salary, qualifications, education, and so much more.You can even filter on jobs to ensure only jobs that meet your needs come up. For example, you can search for marketing and then salary over $100k to ensure only those types of jobs come up.Now I do want to caution you here on filtering too much because you can leave a great job on the table (as I believe if you have the skills or desire, companies can be flexible on salary). In addition, the goal here is to explore. I have my MBA so when I filter on jobs with Master degrees, I get a lot of high level job openings, which is great. However, if I take education out, so many more jobs come up that I can explore from so I can really see what is out there. Plus, maybe you might have to take a step back, but then you want to think about what the job is after that. I know I had a client that had to take a slight pay cut but was going to be making more than she made now in just 2 years (doing what she loved). So again at this time, keep an open mind and explore!......SEE MORE AND FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

Last week, we talked about how important it is to send a thank you note. In this week's episode, I want to talk about when to send a thank you note. Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/29. Sending a thank you note is an opportunity to show your gratitude for someone and their time. In addition, it shows that you take time out of your day to appreciate people and express that you care.  We all know (hopefully!) how important it is to say thank you after a job interview with a hiring manager. But what about all those other steps in the job interview process? What about networking or just casual conversations?As we learned last week, only 25% of people at most even send a thank you note after an interview so in this week's episode, I want to go over all the opportunities you have to send a thank you note in the career space to make an impression and land that job.. The Formal InterviewI will start with the most common answer, an interview! And I am not just talking about the final interview with the person who says ‘Yes' or ‘No' to hiring you. I am talking about sending a Thank you to everyone that you are in contact with throughout the entire process. Talk to someone who is just scheduling the interview, send a thank you note. Talk to the recruiter quickly, send a thank you note. Talk to the hiring manager, definitely send a thank you note. Some might think it's not necessary to send a thank you note to everyone, and even a waste of time, but let me tell you, all of the people in the process talk and if you want to be remembered as someone who goes the extra mile. And honestly, even though you want to show people you care, it's also important to just care! You want to be someone who is thoughtful and wants people to know that they are appreciated. Now the thank you notes to the people earlier in the process don't need to be as detailed as the final interview Thank You, but they do need to be thoughtfully done. For example, it's not: Dear X, Thanks for scheduling the interview. Best, X. It's Dear X, Thank you for taking the time to schedule the interview for the X position with me. I am grateful for your time to do this for me and excited about the opportunity. Looking forward to the interview with X on xyz, Best XSee the difference?And just a quick tip, if any of the interview process is done over the phone, always ensure to ask for the person's name and their email address. Not having someone's email is not an excuse to not send a thank you note!Informational InterviewsThe next topic I want to talk about where you should send Thank you notes are after information interviews. FYI, I did a deep dive on everything you want to know about information interviews. To listen to that episode, go to RecoveringCorpoholics.com/26. An information interview is an opportunity to connect with someone to learn more about a specific area of interest to you. Information interviews are helpful as it allows you to take your research to the next level and learn from someone who is actually doing what you want to do.Now, you can do these informal interviews with anyone, peers, people in positions you want to be in, however, you should still send a thank you note to anyone you talked to, even if you didn't like them or like what they had to say.And it doesn't have to be as drawn out as a formal interview thank you note. It just needs to be ...FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

Today's episode is a quick one on why thank you notes are so important.Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/28. When someone makes time to help you with your career, whether it be networking, an information interview or a formal interview, it's important to always show your appreciation and gratitude for that person by sending a thank you note.Seems like a simple concept right? However, according to CareerBuilder.com, fewer than 25% of interviewees send a thank you note after a job interview. In addition to that, 22% of employers are less likely to hire a candidate who doesn't send a quick thank you note. Sending a thank you note is an opportunity to show your gratitude for someone and their time. It shows that you take time out of your day to appreciate people, know how the professional world works, that you follow through, and that you know how to communicate. It also can be an opportunity for you to make another impression, say something that wasn't covered or to clarify something you didn't think was communicated well.We may think a thank you note is pointless or even a waste of time, but I believe a thank you note is something to always set you apart and helps build deeper relationships. And what's the harm in it? If you send a thank you note out, it's not going to hurt your chances of getting the job (if done right). If anything, it's just going to make an impression on the person, making you stand out. And worst case scenario, you'll be ignored but that's it!When you reach out to someone, you want them to remember you as the person who was nice and that you enjoy talking to. And not with the impression: What does this person want this time? Just think...FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

In today's episode, we'll discuss how your definition of success is holding you back. Find the show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/27. I've been chasing success for as long as I remember. From early on, I wanted to get the best grades, get into the best schools, get the job with the best employer, and so on. And if you are in Corporate America, most likely, this is something that you may feel or have felt, too. Success is deeply personal and everyone has their own definition. However, some of our definitions of success are not our own. They may be our parents, our mentors or even what we think is success based on society. And if you're not clear on what success is to you, then you may get stuck in a career or doing work that actually doesn't matter to you. That's why today, I want to talk about how your definition of success is holding you back.Why our definition of success in wrongAccording to society, we have been taught that the higher we perform or the higher the value of things we have to show for our actions, the more successful we are. For example, from a young age, we were all taught that the higher the grades, the smarter and more successful we were. And as we grew up, that translated into the higher the salary, the the higher # of likes or followers we have, the more expensive our car is, the bigger the house, the better/bigger company we work for, the higher up the position, and I can go on… the higher the success. And in my opinion, this leads us to having a competition mindset. You want the best grades, you want to make the most money, you want the highest positions, you want to be the smartest in the room and so on. That is at least until you get to a level where you feel like you made it. But in order for that to happen, you need to do or be better than others. And even though you don't want people to necessarily lose, you do want to win so therefore, something has to give. This competition mindset also makes us fear losing. And not just that you did better than me on a test, losing. Losing then feels like anything less than what we have or what we want. And we then directly feel like we lost our value or we're not as good enough. It's like we're all in a race and we're scared to come in last place. Like in the Olympics, only the top 3 get rewarded.We start to think, “if I don't get the best grades, I won't go to the best school. If I dont go to the best school, I won't get the best job. If I don't get the best job, I won't make the best salary. If I don't have a good salary, I won't be able to have the lifestyle I want. And if that happens, no one will respect me and I'll be alone.” Unless we finish in a top place, nothing is good enough and we are scared of the worst case scenarios. We are scared of being mediocre. And when we are acting this way, competition and being the best becomes our life.And how successful we feel directly correlates to how we feel about ourselves. The more successful you feel, for the most part, the happier you are. The more fulfilled you are.Success is not our ownAnd if you think about it, success is then something we don't have control over. We are letting others decide what success looks like for us. We may say that we don't care about what others think about us but in reality, we are living our lives based on what others do think about us... FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

In today's episode, I'm going to talk all about informational interviews.Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/26. An information interview is an opportunity to connect with someone to learn more about a specific area of interest to you. Information interviews are helpful as it allows you to take your research to the next level and learn from someone who is actually doing what you want to do.Informational interviews can expand on your level of understanding and it helps build your network. Not only do you get answers you need to help make your next career move, but you also get to meet potential people who could refer you to roles (a win, win!).It may feel strange reaching out to people you don't know, however, most people like taking time out of their day to talk about their career and to give advice. Studies show that people love talking about themselves!According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 85% of jobs are filled by networking. So it's important to be building and nurturing your network. And what better way to do that then to hold informational interviews!From preparing to wrapping up informational interviews, this episode will go through everything you need to know in order to conduct successful information interviews.1. Determine your main outcome/goalBefore reaching out to anyone, you'll want to determine what it is you are trying to achieve. Do you need a referral or a recommendation, do you want to just expand your network, do you want to learn more about different career paths or industries?Depending on the goal, the question types, the # of people to reach out to, how long the process will take, etc., will all change. So set yourself up for success by knowing what you need to do and how you will know you have reached your goal.For this guide, we are going to assume the goal is to help narrow down career paths and potentially get a referral.2. Find the jobs / companies / industries you want to apply forOnce you know your main goal, it's time to find jobs / companies / industries that you want to explore. Now if you're not sure what you want to do, but you know the type of firm or the type of career path you want to go down, it's super helpful in this stage as your research is going to be more targeted.For example, if you know you want a career in marketing but are not sure what, do your research; google: 'marketing roles' or 'marketing firms' and write down all the jobs you like. You can even look at the job descriptions and pull out all the responsibilities you like and search on those to see if other jobs come up. Same thing If you want to do something in art, finance, teaching, etc.Now, if you're not sure what you want to do, don't worry! This is where I come in. I hardly have a client who knows what they want to do next, I mean if they did, they wouldn't be reaching out to me! So just know, you are not alone!!If you are not sure what you want to do, the first thing you need to do is...FIND THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE.

In today's episode, I'm going to talk about 2 mistakes you're making in your job search. Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/25. When you are in the process of job searching, one mistake could cost you the opportunity. Since you're a professional (and probably an over-achiever), you spend every free minute trying to do everything by the book to land the perfect opportunity.But what if the mistake you're making is something that you don't even realize you're doing? Something that is going to have you back in the same place as where you are now in just a couple months or even years down the road.That's why this week, I wanted to talk about the 2 mistakes you're making in your job search that are holding you back from career fulfillment.And FYI, I created a spreadsheet to help you avoid these two mistakes. Just go to RecoveringCorpoholics.com/25 to download that now.The first mistake - focusing on the external factorsThe first mistake I want to talk about is focusing your job hunt only on the external factors. Whenever I talk to clients about what their dream job is, 95% of what they say are around the external factors of the job (such as flexibility, benefits, pay, etc.) and 5% is about what the job actually entails. I always like to follow up with the question, “Great, so if you were to have all the flexibility and pay in the world, you would do accounting work”? And since most of my clients are coming from a professional services background, the answer is 99% of the time ‘No way'. That's why it is so important to know what it is you actually want to be doing. It's good to know what external factors you.....Find the Full Show Notes Here.

This week, I want to talk about the importance of taking time for yourself so you don't burnout.To find the full show notes for this episode, go to RecoveringCorpoholics.com/24.Burnout is a real thing. It's a special kind of stress that can knock us off our game. It occurs when we feel constantly overwhelmed, drained and just unable to keep up with life's demands. As stress continues, we slowly begin to lose interest or motivation that usually keeps us going.It makes you feel like you just can't give anymore and if you do, you'll think ‘what's the point?' And because burnout can spill into every part of your life, it's important to deal with stress right away before it gets to that point.And one way to do that is by taking time for yourself. I know it's easier said than done. Between work, family, friends, life(!); we can all make excuses on why we don't have any time. That's why taking time for yourself is something you need to be intentional about. You need to make yourself a priority. The work isn't going anywhere. But your sanity can if you let it.There are so many ways to make time for yourself and it's all about finding what makes you happy, relaxed and what makes you feel accomplished in your personal life. Whether it's working out, getting a massage, meeting with friends, listening to music, doing art - whatever, you'll be so much happier when you make the time for it. And it's more than just turning the TV on and fading out. In my opinion, it needs to be something you want to do. Something that makes you feel happy. Now TV can fit that description for you. I know I love watching SVU, but when I put TV on for the sake of being stressed and needing to turn my mind off, TV is just not going to cut it (at least not for me).So first things first, I want you to make a list of all the things that make you happy or relaxed. It could also be working on the goals you have for yourself. Whatever it may be, write it all down. And if you don't know, call up a friend and see what they say! Maybe even take a walk and think about it. I know whenever I feel like I can't think of anything, I take a walk with nostalgic music. When I lived in London during my study abroad, I listened to Coldplay and thought about where I was in life and where I wanted to go. When I do this now, it takes me back and allows me to be in that space again.Again, you need to find what works for you. Challenge yourself to come up with at least 10 things.Once you have a list of all the things that make you happy...Find the full show notes here.

In this episode of Recovering Corpoholic, we are going to talk about why you need to stop being an overachiever at work if you're on the job hunt/ trying to change careers.Find the full show notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/23.Whether you are productive at work or not, you will still get paid your normal salary at your 9-5. Therefore, unless you want to be promoted, there is no reason to work more than you have to. AKA Stop overachieving!Some of you feel the need to go above and beyond, and that's OK. However, if you're looking to change careers or start your own business, you're going to need to find the time to work on that. Time that you might be spending on side projects that aren't helping you get to where you want to be. You might be thinking, “I can't do that! I'm an overachiever and I love going above and beyond”. Let me clarify… I'm  not telling you to not do your job, because you should still do your job well. All I am saying is to shoot for a solid B and not try for all As. Just like a pass/ fail class, you'll still pass. So if you want to find more time in your day, here are 6 ways you can start working less at work so you can spend more time doing what you want. Start Saying NoIf you want to free up time at work, the first tip I have for you is to start saying no to the things that aren't part of your job. Because the more you say no, the more time you'll free up for the things you want to say Yes to. Can you help on a proposal? If you're on a project then the answer is no. If you're asked if you  can help with recruiting or some other thing that isn't part of the job description, then the answer is no. Get good at saying no!I know it seems easier said than done and may not be as some people are very persistent so start thinking about how you can say no. For example: “Hi Bob, I'd love to help but I have a full workload right now and don't have the capacity. Could I reach out to you in the next couple weeks when things settle down?”Or “Hi Bob, I have a lot of project work I need to catch up on and I have some family things I am dealing with at the moment? Can we catch up in a week or two? I'd really appreciate it.”Whatever you want to say is fine, but just have something in mind so you're not trying to come up with something on the fly and saying something that doesn't make sense. Like, “sorry I have to feed my cat? What, sorry I guess I can…”That may be a very corny example but sometimes when you're nervous you say things you don't want to say so just be prepared with how you're going to say no. It could be as simple as saying “Sorry I can't work on that right now” but you also want to be a team player so just find the balance that works for you.Protect your timeFor the second tip, I want you to start... Find the full show notes here.

This week, I wanted to talk about the differences between a career coach, a career counselor and a recruiter so you can choose the best professional to help you when wanting to change jobs. To find the full show notes, go to Recovering Corpoholics.com/22.We've all been there - feeling stuck or feeling like something is missing in our career. Sometimes we want to start our own business, sometimes we just flat out hate our jobs and sometimes we love what we do but we just need better opportunities. Whatever the case may be, hiring a professional can be one of the best things you can do for yourself. Not only have they done it themselves (most of the time), but they know the tools and tricks to get you the job quicker and most likely, into a job that you'll love. But with all of the career roles out there, how do you know which one to hire? Listen in as I go through all the 3 roles regarding career change so you can pick the best one which fits your needs. And FYI, this is all my opinion so if you have any questions, comments or corrections, please let me know!Before I begin there is a quick note I want to stress. You may be stuck and looking for someone to tell you what you should be doing. None of these roles will do that and if they do, I wouldn't listen. Why? Because the only person who knows you best is you. It would be like going to a restaurant and asking the waitress, ‘what should I eat for dinner'? I don't know! What do you like? What do you feel like having? Everything that goes on between these 3 roles, the advice, guidance, tips, etc., should only be used to help empower you to make a decision. That's why it's important to know what exact help you need.Career transitions aren't always easy but they go so much smoother when you have the right support during the way. That's why I am going to discuss 3 roles that help professionals during a career transition.Now that we have that addressed, it's time to jump in.Career Counselor / Career Services ProviderI will start off with a Career Counselor or a Career Services Provider. FYI I will use Career Counselor vs saying both Career counselor or Career services provider as they are both the same thing, the only difference is a career counselor has a background in psychology. A Career Counselor is someone who provides you information and advice to help you find a job. They take an educational approach, using....Find the full show notes here.

In today's episode of Recovering Corpoholics, we're going to talk about 4 better ways to show interest and apply for jobs other than blindly applying online.Find the full show notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/21.Looking for a new job can be tough! Although companies are hiring at a record pace, getting your resume in front of the right eyes can be challenging.So other than blindly applying online, which has a 5% success rate, how else can you show interest and apply for a job?  Here are 4 better ways you can show interest and apply for jobs that are better than applying online. 1. Use your network.First, and if you've been listening, then you know the first way I'm going to say that's better to show your interest in a position than applying online is networking!Think about all the people you know, the people who your network knows and so forth! Leverage your network! They are going to be the highest chance of success for you as they can connect you directly to the hiring managers or recruiters as referrals. And if you were listening to last week's episode, you know how far a referral can go! Ask your network if there are any positions open, to refer you, everything! Well everything depends on your relationship. For more on how to networking, see my networking series that I did - Episodes 14, 15 and 16. 2. Reach out to the Hiring Manager/Recruiter directly.The second better way I want to share with you is to reach out to hiring managers or recruiters directly. You may want to be considerate and not do this but if you think this way you are missing out! Remember, people want to fill roles fast. The faster they fill, the more work can get done. And the better the recruiters metrics are. There is no time to waste in the corporate world! To me, it shows just how ambitious you are and how willing you are to go above and beyond.Now there is a strategic way to go about this. You want to make sure your messaging is on point and creative enough to stand out. And you also don't want to be annoying. You only want to send one message or two at max. Start out by making a list of the companies you want to work for and try to find the recruiter or hiring manager for the job requisite. Sometimes they are even listed right on the job req or maybe you'll have to do some research. 3. Leverage LinkedInAnd that leads me to the third option I want to share with you and that is to use LinkedIn. If you want to reach out to a recruiter or a hiring manager and are not sure who that is, search for the company, then look for a recruiter and reach out to them. Maybe you can even find the job req on linkedin or someone who has shared it and reach out that way.  You can also look for the company you want to work for and reach out to Partners or other people who are in a high up position. Or anyone for.......Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode of Recovering Corpoholics, we're going to discuss if applying online is a waste of time.  Find the full show notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/20.So, you want to find a new job. As you've probably done in the past, you start looking at job sites such as Monster.com or Indeed.com, LinkedIn, or even the career pages of those companies you want to work for. When you find something that catches your eye, you apply (which is uploading your resume and then basically retyping the same information from your resume). And then you wait and hope that someone reaches out to you. But is this worth your time? To me, it's not. And I am going to share with you 4 reasons why I think that it is. Now that's not to say you shouldn't be applying for jobs online. All I want to say is this shouldn't be your main or only strategy to get a new job. That's why I believe networking is so important (to learn more about networking, listen to the Networking series I did, episodes 14, 15 and 16).So, what are those 4 reasons?  1. High Competition / Low success rate.First, the success rate for applying for jobs online is at most 5%, meaning that 95% of applicants will not get hired by applying online. Why is this? Well, applying for jobs is pretty much a straightforward and easy process. There are some people who want the job and some are just applying to see what happens. Whatever the case may be, the competition is high, hence why the success rate is so low!We honestly could end this episode right there but let's continue with more reasons. 2. The process sucks.The second reason in my opinion that applying for jobs online isn't worth your time is that the system doesn't work in your favor. You may be the most qualified for the job but depending on when you apply, recruiters may never see your resume. According to Inc.com, on average, every corporate job listing gets 250 applicants. However, only 4 to 6 of the applicants will be called for an interview. Why is this?It's just how the process works. When I did a tour in recruiting during non-busy season, I saw it first-hand. The hiring manager would ask for 10 resumes and I just went in the system and went from who applied first down the list. Once I found 10 good resumes, I didn't even look at the rest of them. So, if you are #20 to apply for the job, your resume may never be seen if they already reached the number of resumes requested. So, unless you apply as soon as the requisite comes out, is it even worth your time. Now, if you are an internal candidate or internal referral, they have to look at your resume (hence why referrals are so important). But if there are 10 good internal candidates or a mix of internal and internal referrals, you could still be the best qualified external applicant but again, you won't get seen so it doesn't matter.Now they do have Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), software that scans resumes for selected information the hiring manager wants, but according to Forbes.com, 75% of applicants are still rejected with this software. I will do another episode on how to make your resume ATS reviewable. Sign up for my email updates at RecoveringCorpoholics.com to be the first to know when that comes out!...... Find the Full Show Notes Here.

This week, we are going to talk about how to make big decisions seem easy and simple using the DRIVE Decision model.For a template of this model and to find the full show notes to this episode, go to RecoveringCorpoholics.com/19.As we go through life, our values, goals and priorities change. And when that happens, we are sometimes faced at a crossroad that calls for us to make a difficult decision (i.e., should I change careers, should I quit my job, etc.?). These big decisions can be tough as they impact not only our lives, but also the lives of those around us.  So how can you make these big decisions seem simple and easy? Keep listening!So last week, we talked about 8 great tips to help us become more effective decision makers. The one tip I am going to drill down on is tip #4.Tip #4 I gave was to make a pros/cons list as when we have a big decision to make, we can sometimes get lost in all the details and scenarios running in our heads. So, to avoid getting lost in the options, it's so helpful to create a pros and cons for each choice and compare. But sometimes a pros/cons list doesn't do it. Sometimes we forget to incorporate our values, what's important to us, what skills we have, our level of motivation, our fears to overcome, etc. Pros and Cons are just the beginning. And that is why I created the DRIVE Decision Model. Again, go to RecoveringCorpoholics.com/19 now to find a free downloadable template with the DRIVE Decision Model that you can save and use for when you have those big Decisions to make. So, I already explained this is different than just a normal pros/cons list but let me explain more about it. DRIVE stands for the following: Determine the outcome you want to achieve from making the decisionResearch your optionsIdentify your best choiceValidate against your values and main outcome desiredEnvision it like it's already happened Now let me explain each step. Find the Full Show Notes Here.

This week we are going to talk about 8 tips to help make you an effective decision maker.Find the full show notes to this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/18Everything we do in life, from getting up in the morning until we go to bed at night, is made up of making decisions.Some of our decisions are small, such as getting a glass of water and some are huge, such as deciding to change careers. No matter the size, good decision-making skills are critical as they can determine your growth and opportunities in life.  In addition, good decision-making skills also makes you feel confident. When you prolong a decision, you may end up feeling indecisive, which gets you down. You feel in limbo. You can be overwhelmed, stressed, confused, distracted, you name it.  And because indecisiveness can have a negative effect on how we're feeling, it's critical that we learn how to effectively make decisions, especially those tough ones like changing careers!  And that is why we are going to talk about 8 different tips that are going to help make you an effective decision maker this week. Tip #1: Relax and don't let stress winThe first tip I have is to not let stress get the best of you. Easier said than done, right?When you are facing a tough decision, like should I quit my job and do something else, it's easy to feel stress! It would be weird if you didn't! But when we get stressed, we tend to make quick, sometimes not thought-out choices or we just put the decision off for later. When you are feeling stressed when making a decision, I want you to take a step back. Go for a walk, exercise, meet with a friend, whatever you do to destress and get your mind back in the game. When you feel stressed over overwhelmed, I want you to ask yourself, are you in the game giving it your best? Or are you just trying to do anything to get to the finish line? Are you choosing what you really want or are you just picking the easier option?I know for me when I am stressed, I may choose the easiest option vs what I really want because I want to be done with it. I literally have no more brain capacity to make any more decisions. Think about when you're stressed and it's time for dinner. Do you want get take out or to cook a delicious homemade meal? For me, I would prefer the homemade meal as I know it's going to be healthier.However, if I have a lot to do or just had one of those days, it's so easy to just want to get take out. But when I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I know I have to work through that. So, in summary, figure out how to destress so you make the choice you want to make vs your letting your stress decide......Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, We'll discover and define our ‘why'! Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/17.Each one of us has a ‘why'. It's not a statement of who we are, or who we aspire to be, but it states what sets our soul on fire and how we stand out. It's OUR story.  Ever wonder what your reason is for getting up every day? Well today it might be to wake up to go to work as you need the paycheck but after this week, we'll be getting out of bed each day to fulfill our ‘why'!Some of us spend all of our days searching for our “‘why'”, some of us stumble upon it while looking, and others know exactly what it is. Every scenario is OK as long as we are actively looking for our ‘why' and continuing to grow.If you don't think you know what your ‘why' is, that is OK! The only thing I will ask of you is to open your mind and try new things and explore new possibilities until you find it.When you feel stuck and think ‘I'll never have a ‘why' or I'll never find my purpose, what you are doing is closing your mind to so many possibilities. So, open your mind, open your heart and be willing to explore this for you. And for all your corporate over achievers, who think their ‘why' isn't good enough - your ‘why' doesn't have to be perfect!! There are no wrong or right answers in this work so stop comparing yourself and your ‘why' to others. Some people's ‘why' may to feed the hungry or to make money and your ‘why' could be to travel the world, understand all cultures. They are all beautiful and unique.  So, why is your ‘why' important?Knowing your ‘why' is an important first step to achieving the goals that excite you and creating a life you want to be living (versus merely surviving!).......Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're going to end our 3-part networking series going over 10 tips to make you an extraordinary networker. Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/16. Everyone knows the power of having a strong networking on one's career. When done correctly, networking can help you gain access to opportunities and give you a competitive advantage throughout your career. Networking isn't about trying to charm strangers into being your best friend or just getting what you need out of certain people. Networking is about consciously building and nurturing those relationships. It's about creating long-term relationships. There are some people that make networking seem so easy and for others, networking is just another thing on the to-do list that feels so daunting and time consuming.  If you want to be an extraordinary networking, listen in as we discuss 10 tips that can make you stand out and have people actually want to connect with you.  Tip 1: Be Sincere aka be real with your intentions.The first tip I can't stress enough is to be sincere, aka, be real with your intentions.There is nothing worse than building a strong intro with someone then to realize they had it out to sell you the entire time. If your goal is to grow your business, say that. Even though you may turn people away, you make connections with people are actually interested in helping you. For example, I had someone reach out to me wanting to know more about what I did and how they can enhance their career as they looked up to me and wanted to be where I was one day.  A very nice complement, right? She wasn't asking for a job referral, which most people did at the time, she wanted to get to know me. Which is rare in the big 4 world – everyone just wants a referral. I told her I'd be happy to have a call as I love helping people with their careers. Well, after about 10 minutes or so into the call, she started talking about products she sells and I realized that she was only trying to sell me vs genuinely get to know me.  If that happened to you, how would you feel? I know I felt so fooled. And even if she was selling me gold for half the price, I wouldn't ever want to give her my business out of principle. Again, as I say time and time again, you want to be thinking: how do you want the other person to feel with you. Not just initially, but the whole relationship.  Now if the person reached out to me and then stated she needs help with her career and she is working on proposals she might get involved with, after she took the time to build our relationship, I would have heard her out.Maybe I would have even purchased something from her as I wanted to support her. But for me, as soon as she did a 180, I disengaged. Remember, trust takes time to build and seconds to break.  Tip 2: Be proud of who you are. The second tip I have is to be real and proud of who you are. Don't have an MBA, graduate from a top business school or have a high position? Who cares! Don't try to hide who you are because those things don't matter at the end of the day. Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we'll continue in our 3-part series on networking and dive into how to get out there and network in 5 easy steps.  Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/15.As a recap from last week, episode 14, we talked what is networking, how to get clear on your networking goals and how to make networking fun and easy.If there was anything that I wanted you to get out of last week's episode, were these 2 things:Networking is a 2-way street where everyone, had the ability to give something and everyone has the ability to learn and gain something. And two, Setting a networking goal saves you hours of your time of going to events or doing activities that won't serve your purpose and therefore, you'll be more strategic and much more likely to reach your goal.  So now that we have that out covered and are feeling good about networking, let's talk about execution, aka How are we going to go out there and network!  According to LinkedIn, almost 80% of people agree that that networking is valuable to their career, however, 50% of people say they don't have time for it. So how can you make networking something easy to do that you can actually incorporate into your schedule? Listen in as I talk now about 5 steps that will make networking something easy to do. And I want to start off by saying that I titled this episode how to network in 5 easy steps because once you do this work, networking will be easy to do. Just like making a plan, all you need to do is put it in motion! So let's get started. Pre-work: Drill down your goal into something specificSo, I mentioned last week in episode 14 that you need to have an overall networking goal. Before we get to networking, I want to reviewing your main networking goal quickly as I want to ensure it's something really specific - if you haven't already. For example, you may be looking for a new job. That's great but not helpful to someone. They need to know what exactly you're looking for so they can really understand how they can help you.It's not a new job, it's a social media marketing job in the tech world somewhere in NY, NY. And if you're not sure what you want but know the field, say you love marketing but not sure what job you want, make your goal – to learn all about the different career options in marketing that you can do remotely, etc. This makes your objective when reaching out super clear. Make sure that you have your main goal specific and clear before moving on.  Step 1: Determine your AudienceOK so now that you have your main goal specific, it's time to get to networking!The first thing I want you to think about is who you want to connect with. Your target group are going to the people who can best support your overall networking goal. You want to connect with people who are going to help you succeed and that you can help them succeed. So do this, I want you to make a list of everyone you want to build a relationship with that's going to support your goal. Start with close contacts/acquaintances as this is going to be the easiest to start with. They already may know of you or know your network and are more likely to respond.  Even make a note of who could refer you to those people for a warm introduction. ......Find the Full Show Notes Here. 

In today's episode, we'll begin a 3-part series that goes into everything about networking. Today we'll discuss what is networking, how to get clear on your networking goals and how to make networking fun and easy.Next week's episode, episode 15, will go into Networking Strategy and how to network in just a couple easy steps and Episode 16 will talk all about tips to make you stand out when you're networking. Now, Everyone knows that networking is important, almost crucial for career advancement and success. But with the craziness of day-to-day life, sometimes it's hard to find the time to actually network and build relationships! So how can you make networking something that is easy to do, that fits in your schedule and something that you actually want to do? Listen in as I am going to start this 3-part series off by talking about making networking fun and setting the initial goal. Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/14.Networking helps you build your network. And your network is what gives you access to opportunities that will advance your life. Not only opportunities, but insights that you may have not of though of. People they can put you in contact with that may get you ahead. I can go into all of the benefits of networking but if you're in a Big 4, you already know that networking is key. The real question in my mind is how. What is networking?And I want to start off by saying that when most people think about networking, they think about who they can reach out to when they need a job or a favor. You know, a random opportunity drops in your lap and you need a recommendation letter. You know who the best person to reach out to is but you haven't talked to them in so long!So, you try to play it cool – “Hey Joe, how's it going…. Great, so I was wondering……”And this is what gives networking a bad rep. You may feel uncomfortable asking and the person you reach out to may feel as though you only want to talk to them for one reason. And that's not always the case but this is what causes people to shy away from reaching out when they could use the help. It's because they only reach out when they need it vs keeping those relationships up.Networking is more than sales and people to help you land than next job. Networking Is a 2-way street. It's a way to get to know someone, build a relationship and see how you both can fulfill each other's needs. And it doesn't have to be so transactional - as you refer me, I refer you. It could also be just someone where you both enjoy each other's company, like making a friend!Your network is the people who are going to support you and lift you up when you think you can't go any further. The people that will help get you to your finish line. Your network is made up of the people that give back to you and that you also give back to them. And I just want to caveat this by saying, that other than being shy to reach out to someone because it's been some time, some people also shy away from networking because they feel that they have nothing to share or give to someone. I want to stop you and say you always have something to give to someone. Even if it's the CEO of a big company, with all the resources in the world, you still have your perspective, you still have relationships they don't and you give them the best gift, which is the gift of allowing them to give back to you... Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're going to discuss the how to resign and the infamous resignation letters! Find the full show notes for this episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/13.Congratulations! You've decided to quit your job. What can be an exciting time can also be scary as know you need to tell the world that you're leaving. As excited as you may be, you also need to be professional as possible as you want to leave on good terms. So how do you tell your boss you're leaving and still leave on a positive note? Follow these steps for making the perfect exit.  Note, this episode is all about resigning once you know for sure you want to leave, i.e. you've already weighed out all your options and you are ready to change. There is nothing worse than giving your notice and then saying, Just kidding!Give Ample TimeOK, so First things first, you need to ensure that you give adequate notice whenever is possible. Unless some other firm has poached you and said I need you to start Next Monday, there really shouldn't be a reason for you not to give at least 2 weeks' time. When I left my firm, I actually gave 2 months. I was leaving to grow my business so I had more flexibility but it was important for me to leave on good terms. Now you have no obligation to stay longer than 2 weeks if asked, but just keep in mind what kind of job you do and what time of year it is. For example, to quit during busy season with short notice may not go well. Same thing if you are mid-way through a project and are leading key deliverables. Plan your exit so that it works for everyone.Make Your PlanYou also need to make your exit plan. When you're leaving, most likely you are going to have to do some kind of knowledge transfer and/or figure out who is going to take over for the things your responsible for. Have a plan in place before speaking to your boss.For example, I led a couple of projects when I left the firm. When I talked to my boss, I knew that it was going to be a hard hit as I was responsible for a lot of projects. Since I wanted to make it easier on everyone, I made a list of everything I did and who I thought it should best be transferred to.....Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're going to discuss why you should write your resignation letter in advance. This is going to be a quick episode but the message is powerful.Find the full show notes for this episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/12.Wanting to change careers is a scary thing. While some people know exactly what their next move is, some have no idea where to go next. And even if you do know where you want to go next, actually taking action to leave can be scary.When I wanted to leave my job, I was always coming up with excuses on why I should stay. That was until I wrote my resignation letter and put a date on when I was going to send it and start having those conversations. It made me leaving real. It wasn't just a thing I wanted to do – It was a think I was GOING to do. It was completely mental and is now a tip that I share to all of my clients. It seems so simple but honestly this is a game changer when changing careers. Having my thoughts down on paper made me feel more in control. I knew what I was going to say to my Partner, I had a date planned, I knew what I needed to do from now until then. It took all the what if's and I don't knows out of the equation. It was something that was going to happen. Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we care going to talk about finding the right time to change careers. Find the full show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/11.Finding a fulfilling career is a journey. Though some people find their dream career young, most people switch jobs at least 12 times before finding the right one. If you are thinking of changing careers, you're not alone. Even though it can be exciting, finding the right time to change careers can be so scary.If you want to be confident in making a switch, take the time to explore your current role and if now is really the best time for you to make the move.   Sign 1: You dread going to work I'll start with the most obvious. You dread going to work. But I want to go further in saying that this isn't a new feeling, this is something that has been going on for weeks, maybe even months.  I had a friend who loves her job one minute and then the next hates it. It all depends on the feedback she gets from her Partner. If this was the only factor, I'd say it might be better for her to work on accepting feedback and team communication vs changing jobs.  It's time to change jobs when you feel undervalued, that your skills aren't being used, or that you aren't learning anything new – basically anything that you feel like you are wasting your time there.  If any of that sounds familiar, then it's time to find a new job that allows you to be valued, contribute and offers opportunities to learn. You don't have to love your job, but you do deserve to have a job that works for you.    Sign 2: You could care less about your job.The second sign is one that slowly creeps up on you. It's that you stopped caring.  Maybe you totally forgot the reason for taking the job in the first place or maybe things are so different now from when you first started that you are so disconnected from the original reason you took the job.Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're going to discuss 9 things you can do to help you find a new career when you have no idea what you want. Find the full show notes for this episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/10.Wanting a new job is easy. Some people know exactly what their next move is while some people have no idea where to go next. So how can you figure it out? Here are 9 things you can do to help you find a new career when you have no idea what you want now. 1. Make a list of everything you want in a careerThe first thing you can do to help you find a new career is start making a list of everything you would want in a career. From salary to team dynamics to the work you'll be doing, it's important to get it all down.  It's OK if you have no idea what you want, just try to be as specific as possible. If you are in audit and want to do something totally different but don't know where to start, categorize things. Do you want to work on a team? If so, how big? Do you want a big company or a small company? Or do you want to start your own business?How much money do you want to make? Do you want to sell work or just work? Do you want to make crafts and sell on Esty? Do you want to do something fitness related?Do you want to travel or do you want to work from home? Put down everything you can think of that you'd want in a career. No detail is too small. 2. Make a list of everything you don't want in a careerThe next thing I want you to do is make a list of everything you don't want in a career. This is just as important as figuring out what want so you can identify if your current dissatisfaction in your role is temporary or not. Maybe you don't like your team right now but think back, do you always not like working in teams or is it just this certain team? Do you not like the work or is it just year-end so you're stuck in that before the creative work can be done? Really go through the things you don't want at any time.  3. Figure out who you are. This next step is key. And it seems so simple but a lot of people overlook. If you want to find a new career, you need to take the time to find out who you really are.  Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're going to discuss 4 reasons why you'll never leave your big 4 job. Find the full show notes for the episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/9.There are many reasons you may want to change jobs. And as much as you want to leave, actually doing is tough. Especially one where you make a great salary, have great benefits, have a big brand behind you and now for some, never have to go into the office again.However, for those who are still thinking about leaving and feel stuck, here are 4 reasons holding you back from leaving and tips to work through each.   1. You have no idea what you wantThe first thing that is keeping you at the job you hate is that you have no idea what you want. This is the thing that kept me stuck for so long. I knew that I didn't want to be in my current job anymore but I had no idea what I wanted to do next. Too many people who want to quit their job don't have a next step planned. And if they do, it's only half thought out. Let me explain. If you aren't happy in your job, must likely, you are looking for a job that improves upon the thing that is making you miserable. Don't like you team or boss? Well, moving to a new team or getting a new boss will do the trick. Don't like that you travel a lot, or don't like that you don't travel at all? Well, switch to the opposite. I mean this in no offense to anyone, but most people will look for the quick, easy solution to their problems. It's like putting a band aid on the real problem. I used to be no different. When I was in audit, I hated the hours and that the work was so boring. The solution? Going into consulting where the work was always different! When I was in consulting where I couldn't do the travel anymore, what did I do? I went internal. But when I was internal and couldn't do the work as I wanted to make more of an impact, I finally decided to take a look at my career and figure out what I actually wanted – instead of just taking another job to check the box. So, if you are unhappy and don't know what you want, sit down, make a plan, and take the time out to figure it out.  2. You're too busyThe second thing that is keeping you at the job you hate is that you're too busy to look for another job. Sometimes we are too busy and things come up but to me, you spend time on things that you prioritize. Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're going to discuss how to increase your value and stand out at a Big 4. Find the full show notes for the episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/8.If you want to be the best, have the best performance/roundtable reviews, get the top bonus', etc., you need to be good at what you do – it's obvious. You can play all the Corporate games you want but if the quality of work isn't there, your performance won't be either. However, working at a Big 4, everyone, well, mostly everyone is good at their job. So how can you stand out? And especially If you want to leave the Big 4, how can you create the most value to stand out against the competition? It's simple… you add a new tool to your toolbox. If you want to be even better, you add even another tool. What I want you to do and become is a double, triple, even quadruple threat!One Skill - $Two Skills - $$Three Skills - $$$Four Skills - $$$$And so forth…Even though it sounds simple, actually gaining the skill takes some time.  Now I know you have learned so much from working at your job, and you still are learning everyday (hopefully that is). But that learning is still mostly all associated with your job. These new or additional skills to make you stand out should be different and distinct from what you do. For example, if you are an operations consultant, getting your project management license is great, but it's not going to set you apart. Why? In my opinion, most people already have project management skills as a consultant (and I'd also say that employers would expect you to have this as part of your job) so this isn't really helpful, unless you want to project manage full time and need it.  What would be even better is to get a technology skill under your belt. Something that is going to make you stand out even at your job. See the difference? And on top of a technology skill, you could also add marketing or coaching or even writing skills under your belt. All of these are going to make you more valuable as you can do more jobs.  It's also my opinion that these skills are something you learn outside of what you do. Now, you could be on a project with a different team where you get exposed to this but from my experience, this is something you learn on the side.   So how do you learn a new skill? There are so many ways to do it, you just need to find the time and passion to do so.  I'll give you three ways to do so. First, you can go back to school, second, you can start a side hustle or three, you can join a volunteer organization. I've done all three! I will share with you how I did each one.  For the first way to learn a new skill, go back to school, I want to note that you can go back to school (like school school), but you can also take a one-off course that will help you explore the topic of interest before determining if you want to spend thousands of dollars on the topic/new skill. This is how I learned about coaching. I could have jumped straight into a coaching program, but I wanted to see what coaching was all about. Not because I wanted to be a coach, but I wanted to learn how I could have a better life and be the best version of myself.  I am so passionate about this that it eventually turned into something I wanted to do every day.  Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're continuing the Corporate Games Strategies but this week, its strategies that can be used for employees at every level.Again, these strategies are going to be a little different from what you've heard as I want to give you strategies of how to play the game while still owning who you are. It's a practice but if you want to stay in the corporate world, or at least make it a bit more manageable until you can leave, this episode is also for you. Find the full show notes for the episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/7.We all have tough situations at work and sometimes we feel like there are all these games to play to get ahead. So, what can you do if you hate the games but still want to succeed.I'm providing you these 8 strategies to help you along the way in your career, so you can use them to not feel like you are selling your soul to the corporate world. Now last week we went over 8 strategies to play and win the corporate games as a leader but these next 8 strategies are for everyone.  And you don't have to be a leader to listen to last week's episode and you don't not have to be a leader to listen to this weeks episode.FYI, I talk about giving and receiving feedback for one of the strategies and to help, I've created a free step by step guide that goes into everything you could need to learn how to give and receive feedback. To download, go to RecovingCorpholics.com/7.  1. Don't talk smackThis first strategy seems obvious but don't talk smack about people. Sometimes we let our guard down and just want a shoulder to vent to. You don't know how many times I received pings in meetings such as is, “Are you hearing this? I can't believe it” or “this person is so full of it!”. But it is so unnecessary. And it goes back to episode 6 when I say, you never know who you can trust! That person may go tell that person you said that, or you could ping the wrong person, you never know!Not only does it show that you don't like certain people, it also makes you look better than them. Yes, everyone may be thinking the same thing. But be the person who is known for finding the good in everything. I remember there was a senior associate who presented at a lunch and learn. It was not a great presentation.  There were many people talking about it, from, “she has no skills”, to “how does she work here” and on the other side I also heard, “I can't believe she was able to present that after working 70 hours weeks for the past 2 months – that's pretty great”.  I never talked smack at work or ever (and that is because I learned my lesson the hard way when I was younger) so, being the person who always listens, you hear things from everyone.  I like to work more with the people who were nice and respectful, it was just that plain and simple. We spend 1/3 of our lives working, more at a Big 4, for sure, so we should try to get along with the people we work with as best we can. To give another example, I remember when I was promoted to Manager, I had another Manager who was so upset. So much so that she made it a point to tell others. Obviously, there are no secrets in a Big 4 so I found out.  After that....Find the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, I wanted to share with you 8 strategies on how to play the Play and Win the Corporate Games as a Big 4 Leader. I will have another episode next week continuing this topic, but for employees at every level.These strategies are going to be a little different from what you've heard as I want to give you strategies of how to play the game while still owning who you are. However, if you are playing the corporate games, you still have to hold back just a little (aka smiling and agreeing with someone vs not telling them off). It's a practice but if you want to stay in the corporate world, or at least make it a bit more manageable until you can leave, this episode is for you. Find the full show notes for the episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/6.We've all had to deal with tough situations at work. Otherwise, you probably wouldn't have found this podcast! There could be a Partner or colleague who is just a nightmare to work with me. Maybe you work with people who throw you under the bus, or people who make you feel like you're not good enough. Maybe the workload is just unattainable. Or maybe you just don't like all the games you have to play to be accepted or get ahead.The Corporate Games are not fun but there are some people who thrive in it. How do these people do it? Here are 8 strategies that those people know how to do and what you can learn, too, if you want to play and win at the Corporate Games.FYI, I talk about giving and receiving feedback for one of the strategies and to help, I've created a free step by step guide that goes into everything you could need to give and receive feedback. To download, go to RecovingCorpholics.com/6. 1. Be open to others' ideas The first strategy I have for playing the corporate games is to be open to others idea, aka Listen! There is nothing worse than a Partner or a colleague who is stuck on one idea, one solution or one way to do things. You may have something to add but as you know with some people, it will go in one ear and out the other. Do you like working with these types of people? I know I didn't. What does this look like? We'll I remember I reported to a Director early in my career and we had to provide an update to the client. He told me everything to create for the deck. I asked if we could change up one of the sections to include a couple a couple thoughts I had and I was immediately turned down. And this happened every single time. Funny thing is I would talk to the client one on one about those ideas, they really liked it. He just always wanted to be in control. And when I rolled off that project, I ensured I never worked with him again (as best I could)If you want to succeed in the corporate world, you need to know how to play the game. Maybe you only see one solution for doing things, but still hear everyone out. Ask questions and see where they're coming from. This makes people feel heard and respected. If possible, you even say things such as “I like that idea, I'll incorporate it when talking through slide 2” or “we can add a bullet on that, I like that”. And even if you don't like the idea, you explain why it may not be the best fit but say to save those points for the next presentation and to keep the feedback coming. Most people don't want you to change up the entire presentation or idea or solution, they just want to feel like a valued team member. So, in summary, listen to your team. Be open to what they are saying. 2. Be genuine and curious about hearing others outFind the Full Show Notes Here.

In today's episode, we're going to discuss 4 more great tips to help you job search while you are busy working full time at your Big 4 job. And these tips are my favorite as they are specific to my experience leaving the Big 4 world.  Find the full show notes for the episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/5.So, last week we discussed the first 4 tips on how to job search while working your big 4 job. As a quick recap from last week, the first 4 tips were:1.     Update LinkedInThe first tip is all around LinkedIn. Make sure you are keeping your profile up to date and when you do make changes, that you turn your profile notifications off. Also be careful about what information you put out there and I'd also suggest not tagging your profile with Looking for opportunities.2.     Keep your job hunt a secret at work The second tip I have and what would seem obvious to some is to keep your job hunt or dissatisfaction at work to yourself. It's competitive in the big 4 and you never know who is going to use that info to try to get ahead.We also talked about how to talk to your Partner or Director in case they ask you if you are job hunting and I gave some tips and a sample of what you can say back to that ask. 3.     Be Smart on Social MediaThe third tip I had is similar to not sharing your job hunt at work but goes further to say - be smart on social media. You may be on private but you may have some people in your work network online or at least friends of friends and as you know, gossip spreads like wildfire in a big 4. 4.     Don't publicly post your resumeThe fourth tip I have is to be smart about where you upload your resume. I know you want to leave your big 4 job, but don't post your resume somewhere publicly where someone can find it. Big 4 recruiters are looking for candidates all the time and may stumble across your resume. Be smart about how you apply. So now that we have a recap of the first 4 tips, lets jump into the next 4 tips.  5.     Stop going above and beyondThe fifth tip I have on how to job search while working is my favorite. It's to stop going above and beyond. If you know you want to change jobs and you need more time to do other things, then start saying no to extra projects or other things that take you away from your actual job. I mean, what are they going to do, fire you? Never – you know they don't do that and honestly, it would make it so much easier if they did. Now, saying no may not be easy, as I know you're probably an over-achiever like I was, but think about what that extra work is going to do for you. It's only going to get you stressed and give you less time to job hunt and interview. And to be real, that extra work isn't what gets you promoted. It's the actual work your rated on. That extra work helps you stand out only if your work doesn't do it for you. So start saying no. So if you never said no, how do you start?Find the Full Show Notes Here. 

In today's episode, we're going to talk about some great tips to help you job search while busy working full time at your Big 4 job. As you know I promise short and quick episodes for you as I know you all are busy, so I will be going over 4 of those tips today and 4 of them next week. So Make sure you tune in as I'm saving my favorite tips for next week!Find the full show notes for the episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/4.Now, Looking for a job while still working has its advantages but it also has its disadvantages. On one hand, you get to stay employed, which means you keep getting your paycheck. On the other hand, finding the time to apply and interview all while playing it cool and perform can be tough. So how can you make job searching easier on yourself while working full time? Let's get started with tip #1. 1.     Update LinkedInThe first tip is to update your LinkedIn profile. Even if you're not sure what your next move is, it's always better to have your LinkedIn profile updated. You never know what employers are looking at you and may offer you a dream opportunity. I know when I was working at a Big 4, I would get at least 1-2 recruiting messages each week on LinkedIn as I always kept my profile updated. Now, people are always looking for big 4 employees, so even if you just said Manager at Big 4, or whatever your title is, you may still get those messages but you get what I mean. Always show your value and what you bring to the table. In reality, you should make reviewing and updating your LinkedIn profile a monthly/quarterly thing as changing your profile up dramatically can send signals to your employer and collogues that you're ready to jump ship.There are three quick tips I like to give with LinkedIn. First, before you start editing away, make sure you turn off profile notifications so your updates aren't shared with your network. Unless you are getting promoted, you don't want to share that you updated your job responsibilities. That tells people right there you're thinking of changing it up.Second, don't tag your profile ‘looking for new opportunities'. If you subscribe to LinkedIn (where you can see who viewed your profile), you can see who has this tag on their profile and you don't want anyone to find out that you are looking for a job. I know most of the Partners & Directors I worked with had this feature on their profile so just be smart and don't add this tag unless you don't care about people finding out. Third, remember that you are still employed with your current job. Another dead giveaway you are looking for a new job is to change your profile so much that it may not match your current job at hand. For example, maybe you're a finance consultant and you want to break into the technology space. Highlighting tasks that you do only 10% of the time may send signals that you want someone to see you in a different light.Now it's OK to show this but this is just a tip to be cautious on what and how you share your information. Find the full show notes here.

In today's episode, we'll going to talk about your finances and how to financially prepare for quitting your big 4 job.  Find the full show notes for the episode at RecovingCorpholics.com/3 and don't forget to jump over to Apple Podcasts and hit the subscribe button and leave a rating or review.Ok so let's dive in!If you're listening to this episode, that means you are ready to call is quits. But being ready doesn't necessarily mean that you're prepared to leave your job. You may be dreaming of telling your boss that your leaving (queue in the famous half-baked movie scene), but before you tell everyone to FU, FU, you're cool, I'm out, - it's so important that you have your finances in order. I get it, you may be working on another boring project, with a terrible team or are working 100 hours weeks and just need a break- but whatever the case may be, let's take a step back from how were feeling and get prepared. Although it is tempting to just quit and have that huge weight lifted off your shoulders, what may be more stressful is trying to figure out how you're going to pay your bills or having to move back home if you make the move to soon. So, if you must quit your job in order to job search or just want a break now, here are 5 steps to help you get financially ready to quit your Big 4 job.Step #1 – Know what you spend money onThis is key, you need to track your spending. Even if you weren't going to leave your job, this is oh so important. You may not realize just how much money you spend on things and when you look it all up, you might be quite surprised. That $5 latte you get every day? Well, that's $100 a month, or $1,200 a year. Now if you go to Starbucks, you're probably spending more than $5 but you get what I'm saying. And $1,200 may seem relatively small compared to your salary but this is just an example. Think about how much you go out to eat, or if you're spending on new clothes, gadgets, whatever– everything adds up! And being used to making a big salary, you never had to think about these things but let me tell you, the sooner you do this, the easier it will get. And I want to caveat this step by saying this is not about saving money, this is all about budgeting and setting expectations on the lifestyle you live.  You all know how to do this. You all are smart – you have to be if you're working at a Big 4 so you know this isn't something new. And I stress this because working at a Big 4 long enough, you get comfortable. You know the money is always coming in. You know you're always going to get a bonus but when switching jobs that's outside of this world, or if you want to save for a house, etc., it's time to get real with your finances. Step #2 Analyze your expensesWhen you're going through your finances, the first thing you want to look at is all of your fixed monthly expenses. This would include your rent or your mortgage/insurance, car payment, utilities, student loans, phone bills, etc. These are the most important to go through as they are not going away, You can choose to not get your latte everyday but you can't just decide not to pay your rent. Total that up and keep it to the side. Then look at how much you are spending on other expenses each month, such as groceries, eating out, going out, purchases, etc. Also look at those sneaky monthly subscriptions as sometimes we forget about them - I'm taking about Netflix, Hulu, LinkedIn Pro, More apple or Google storage space, iTunes, Spotify, you name it!  Find the Full Show Notes here.

In today's episode, we'll going to talk about why you may feel stuck in your Big 4 job and some tips on how to feel freer and more decisive. Find the show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/2. And if you like what you hear, please share this podcast with 5 of your friends to help spread the word. Ok so let's get started.This episode is going to be a bit personal for me as I felt stuck in my career for years. And if you knew me, you wouldn't have had any idea as I never told anyone. I just kept my head down and kept working.  I knew I wanted to do something else but had no idea where to go next and was scared that making the wrong move would set me back in my career. Sound familiar? There are a couple reasons why you feel stuck at your job and haven't left yet. First, and the most obvious, financial reasons. Working at a Big 4 job, you make a great salary, which increases every year, you get a nice bonus, have full benefits, unlimited sick days (that you probably never take), and you receive random gifts throughout the year. And it's great but it's also very hard to give up. And this is especially true if you have a family to support.  Second, is the Fear of the unknown. Working at a Big 4, you have great job security. Through the financial crisis in 08-09 and the pandemic happening in 2020 till now, Big 4 firms made announcements that they were going to be there for their people. Personally, the firm I worked at actually said they weren't going to let any us go and made cuts elsewhere in order to protect their staff. On top of that, I've only known 2 people to get let go after 12 years of working at a Big 4 and to be honest, it was years coming. I'm saying this as when working at a Big 4, you know what you need to do to keep your job and what you need to do if you want to be that A player. But working at a new company is tough. You don't know the rules, you don't know the people. And they don't know you. You're going to have to make a name for yourself again, maybe even hustle like you did when you were younger. So here comes the fear of the unknown. Some of the questions you'll ask yourself are: ·      What if it doesn't work out? ·      What if I left my safe job for nothing? ·      What if I can't pay my bills? ·      What if my boss or team sucks? ·      What if I'm even more miserable? Also included in this category is: ·      What do I even want to be doing with my life? ·      What is my passion? ·      Will I ever even find my passion? ·      Also, what will people think of me? ·      Will they think I'm a loser if I quit for something silly, I like? I mean the list can go on and on. And the Third reason why you feel stuck is the fear of loss. On top of the fear of the unknown, you question that leaving now in your career will cause you to lose everything you've worked for in your career thus far. Some of those questions you may ask yourself are: ·      What if I everything I did was for nothing? ·      What if I don't use my degree? A degree that you may be still be paying for each month?·      What about all that time you spent working at your current job. Did you just waste all your good years?So how do you move past this so you can get unstuck and finally make a decision you've been wanting to make? Here are 4 strategies to help you:Find the Full Show Notes here.

In today's episode, we'll discover what is a Corpoholic and how you can start recognizing the signs if you are one so you can quit playing the corporate games and have a career on your own terms. Find the show notes for this episode at RecoveringCorpoholics.com/1. Ok so let's jump right in in and answer the question you all are wondering, what is a Corpoholic? But first, let me explain the difference between a Corpoholic and a Workaholic. A workaholic is someone who works like crazy. They are constantly busy and always feel like there isn't enough time in the day. They get stressed when things stop them from working and they just can't seem to relax as there is always something more they could be doing. Being a Corpoholic is similar and has all the symptoms of a Workaholic, but with one difference… your identity is tied to your work and what you do. I'll go more into this but let me share with you how I first identified this. When I first started my journey from my 15-year corporate career to entrepreneurship, my eyes opened up to things I had no idea were happening. I knew I was a workaholic, but I also loved the corporate world, especially in the Big 4 where you have a great salary, bonus, random gifts, the status you have everywhere, the benefits, the success) aka everything but the work, but I had no idea just how "corporate" and how much of my job I had become. And it all started when I met someone new who said, “Tell me about yourself”. For the longest time, my reply would be, "Hi, I'm Felicia, I'm a consultant at one of the big four accounting firms. I have been there since 2009. I work on this type of work for these types of clients." Sometimes I even threw in that I have my MBA or add in some of the extracurricular things that I was doing if I really wanted to impress. And you know working at a Big 4, you can really get caught up with all of your accomplishments and amazing things you're working on. But when I left my corporate career and was asked shortly after to "tell me about yourself," I had to catch myself. Who was I? What could I say? Of course, I had scripted a perfect response to the question (because #Corporate), but it was the first time where I hesitated as I thought I didn't have some overly impressive thing to say (and it did not help that the person I had met just stated they received their MBA from Harvard). So it got me thinking, who was I now outside of my corporate career and more importantly, why did I care so much about impressing this other person. This person didn't even know me! Or was it that I was trying to impress myself? I realized in that moment that my career had made up a huge part of who I was. And that's OK, but for me, without my big 4 name and title behind me, I almost felt like me on my own wasn't good enough. No wonder why people don't leave miserable jobs! It's like losing a part of yourself. I knew I had a problem and that's what led me to start Recovering Corpoholics. So, What is a Corpoholic?A Corpoholic is a person who experiences a strong desire to succeed. So much so that they place success above all other obligations, including family, friends and their personal life. Their identity is usually tied to their corporate role and achievements, and some may experience identity issues if their role or achievements are ever compromised...Find the full Show Notes here.

You worked your ass off to get to where you are and now, that pursuit of success feels hollow. You're proud of what you've accomplished, but the pressure inside to be perfect, play the corporate games and complete a never-ending workload with a smile just isn't working for you anymore. It's time to play by your own rules. This podcast will have a lot of practical guidance and inspiration to help Big 4 Professionals quit the corporate games and break free into a meaningful career. Through solo episodes and special guest interviews, you'll walk away with how to find a career on your terms, making transition plans that work, designing a stand out brand, and other topics from job search to job hire. We'll also explore what's holding you back and how to breakthrough.  Recoving Corpoholics is hosted by me, I'm Felicia Shtivelman, 15 year career veteran turned career strategist. I'm so exited to be with you on this journey. Go to RecoveringCorpoholics.com/1 - and don't forgot to subscribe on your favorite app so you don't miss a thing. Stay Inspired and Live Powerfully!