This month’s newsletter goes out to anyone who’s ever panic-applied to 50 jobs they didn’t want just to ease the ‘omg I gotta get out of here’ stomach pit.

If consulting taught me anything, it’s: solve the right problem (or risk a lot of re-work).

This month’s reading time: < 4 minutes

1. Career building: Define the problem

2. Life update: I’m doing the damn thing

3. Don’t do it alone: Work with me

1. Career Building: Define the Problem

Humans like answers. We like solutions. We dislike uncertainty.

It’s why we’re bad listeners - we like to solve problems, not sit with discomfort.

Our knee-jerk reaction to ‘I hate my job’, ‘I hate my boss’, or ‘I can’t do this forever’ is to act quickly - not listen to ourselves.

The process:

• Frantic applications: Get me out!

• Guilty confusion: It’s not always bad

• Analysis paralysis: Do I stay or go?

• Self-doubt: Who do I think I am?

The results:

• Stay put until you hit another rough path (then rinse & repeat)

• Jump to another job that’s only marginally better (see you in 2 years!)

• Get lucky and stumble upon your dream job (hey, it’s possible)

But you’re tired of living career groundhog’s day, and you don’t want to leave work fulfillment up to luck.

So please, stop applying & start listening.

Define the problem before trying to fix it:

1. If you haven’t already, complete the values assessment exercise.

2. Review your top 3-6 values and assess the following:

   1. How well do you live each value in your current job? (1-10)

   2. For low-rating: How well do you live this value overall? (1-10)

   3. For low-rating in work and life:

      • Is this a value that you want your job to fulfill?

      • If not, where in your life can it be fulfilled?

   4. For values fulfilled outside of work only: Is this a value that you’d like to see more at work?

Output: You’ll know where the problem lies (work or another part of life) and where it stems from (which values are missing).

If the issue is work-related, use my job assessment tool to further pinpoint it (and figure out what changes could help).

• Reflect on what’s most important to you in a job

• Identify the biggest gaps between current state and needs

• As a bonus, use the second tab to assess fit with future roles

When you tackle career problems from a purely emotional state, the data you’re putting in is biased - it’s garbage.

As any good data analyst knows, if you put garbage into a system - you get garbage sent right back.

Use the tools above to inform thoughtful, intentional change by feeding your decision-making center with high-quality input.

THEN, you can apply to roles that meet your needs - not just any that are available.

(Pssst… read on for a super cool AI-enabled platform that can help you do it!).

2. Life Update: I’m Doing the Damn Thing

I first thought about leaving consulting in December 2021, and, two weeks ago, I finally made the change.

These two years were not spent ignoring the problem, spinning back and forth, and abruptly sending in my two-week notice.

They were two years of reflection, testing, learning, and fun.

For some people, stopping at side hustle - or even hobby - is enough. At one point, I thought it was for me.

But the more I invested in coaching, the more opportunities started to emerge. My full-time job felt like a distraction from my real goals.

So, I left the big-company-401k-life behind (don’t worry, mom, my retirement plan is fully vested) and made the ‘official’ switch.

In addition to growing Stanton Coaching, I also joined a pre-seed start-up, Offered.ai, as Head of Coaching (throw us a follow!).

• It’s an ideal blend of coaching, strategy, and program building

• It optimizes for people and words instead of PPT and Excel.

• I have a (scary amount) of ownership given our scrappy nature.

• I can build my brand and the company’s at the same time.

• I’m helping create a scalable form of supporting others.

I didn’t get this role by applying to 102 new roles (but Offered can help you do that!).

I got it because I started doing things I liked and telling everyone about it.

I’m excited to practice what I preach, so that I can continue to tell you with the utmost confidence that this coaching stuff - it works.

I can’t promise infinite happiness or your perfect dream job right away.

I can help renew your optimism, faith, and resilience while injecting your career with a whole lot more meaning.

(Pssst… read the next section to learn more about working with me!).

3. Don’t Do it Alone: Work with Me

Life is more than our careers, but, man, do we spend a lot of time at work.

I want you to feel like yourself at work. I want you to end the day with energy to do the things you love.

Work with me because you want a job where you look forward to Monday, you don’t change the subject when asked ‘what do you do?’.

• Follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram for that free content

• Review my current offering to assess if we could be a good fit

• Take advantage of my free 30-min consult call to ask questions

I’d love to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to send questions, thoughts, feedback, or requests my way.

With gratitude,
Alex

Alex is an Executive Coach helping managers, founders, and entrepreneurs at all levels boost their decision-making power to have more impact in less time.

She helps you overcome the self doubts & untested assumptions holding you back, so that you can stop second-guessing and start acting with confidence.