Evaluating Personal Career Objectives

Do not outsource your career My mentor always emphasized a crucial mantra: "Do not outsource your career to your employer." This resonated deeply – a job is what your employer provides, but your career growth is your responsibility. If your employer is invested in your growth, consider it a bonus. For young professionals navigating the corporate landscape, the key is to take ownership of your career – a distinct entity from your job. This involves understanding your aspirations, mastering the intricacies of your industry, and, crucially, mapping the trajectory to reach the pinnacle. The following steps are outlined to help you take proactive ownership of your career. Strategic Planning: Develop a strategic plan for your career. Identify your long-term goals, the qualifications needed, and the steps required to achieve them. This plan serves as a roadmap guiding your professional choices ensuring that you do not merely coast through your firm and also get to the pinnacle faster than your peers. Resource Utilization: Acknowledging that resources, including time and money, are limited, underscores the importance of strategic decision-making. Invest in training, courses and conferences that align with your career goals. I remember investing 2 months' salary into a course that I knew was needed to move into Senior Executive Management and it did work, I was promoted 6 months into passing my exams. Mentorship: Seeking mentorship is a powerful tool for career growth. Learning from someone who has navigated a similar path can provide valuable insights, guidance, and a support system to help you make informed decisions. Saying Yes or No: Understanding your career goals allows you to evaluate job opportunities both within and outside your organization more effectively. You can confidently say yes or no based on whether the opportunity aligns with your overarching career objectives. Cross-Functional Mobility: Don't hesitate to explore cross-functional opportunities within your organization. Discussing career goals with HR and exploring different departments can help you find the best fit for your skills and aspirations. Continuous Learning: Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Stay informed about industry trends, new technologies, and evolving best practices. This commitment to learning enhances your adaptability and competitiveness in the job market. Networking: Building a professional network is essential. Engage with professionals in your field, attend industry events, and participate in networking activities. These connections can open doors to new opportunities and perspectives. Reflection and Evaluation: Periodically reflect on your career journey. Evaluate whether you are on track with your goals and adjust where necesary. Regular self-assessment ensures you stay aligned with your aspirations. Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. How have you owned your career, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

Many amazingly talented PMMs make wrong career decisions because they believe what works for someone else will work for them - whether it’s chasing a prestigious company, a higher salary, or a fancy title. But here’s the thing: what works for others might not work for you. In fact, focusing on extrinsic motivators or what “looks” good is, in my experience, one of the biggest sources of unhappiness. I’ve made those mistakes in my career too. Every time I went against what I truly value, I regretted it. Over time, I developed a system to help me make better career decisions. One exercise in particular has been a game-changer: the balanced wheel (inspired by the balanced life wheel). Here’s how it works: ✅ Draw a circle and divide it into 8 slices. ✅ Label each slice with areas of your work life that matter most to you—things that truly reflect your values. Be honest with yourself! ✅ Rate your satisfaction with your most recent full-time job for each area on a scale from 0–10 (0 = the center, 10 = the edge). ✅ Connect the ratings to create your “wheel.” Now, take a step back. How bumpy is your wheel? What patterns stand out? This exercise is helpful for evaluating both your current role and future opportunities. To take it a step further, you can create a weighting system to assess jobs more objectively - I’ve built a decision matrix based on this. If you want a copy, send me a DM! After coaching over 200 clients through this process, the three most important values people highlight (and often rate the lowest) are: 🧑 A great manager: People quit managers, not jobs. 🧠 Learning potential: Growth keeps you engaged and excited. 📈 Company stability: No one wants to be stuck on a sinking ship. If you’re feeling uncertain about your role or career, I highly recommend giving this exercise a try - it’s been transformative for so many people. Let me know what you think! #career #productmarketing #growth #coaching #tech

It's surprising how many people have never had meaningful career conversations with their managers (or their direct reports). I don't mean conversations that are solely backward-looking about recent performance or forward-looking about the next promotion. I mean holistically taking stock of the journey: where you've come from, where you are now, where you're headed, where you'd like to go, the tools you need in your toolbox to get there, and the people you need in your support crew. Several years ago, I created a framework to guide career conversations with my direct reports. It's a somewhat cheesy framework, but it leads to rich conversations and strategic, as well as tactical, action plans. It's not meant to be prescriptive, but rather a guide for meaningful reflection and action. I offer it in case it's helpful to anyone here. (I'd also love to know how others approach leading or engaging in career conversations. Do you have your own framework that you'd be comfortable sharing?) Here’s mine: GROWTH G is for Goals. Personal and professional aspirations: How do you think about these today, and how have they evolved over the past 2, 5 years? What matters to you when you reflect on your career adventure thus far? What do you want to build on and carry forward, or leave behind? R is for Reflection. Self-awareness and feedback: What significant milestones or achievements have you accomplished in your career so far? When have you felt strongest and most fulfilled? Least? Where are you currently stretching and reaching the most? Where do you feel most uncomfortable – both positively and negatively? O is for Opportunities. Skill development and growth path: Together, we’ll identify the skills needed to develop further on the current path, or to strike out on a new path. W is for Wellbeing. Personal and professional balance: How are you balancing your work and personal life? What strategies do you use to maintain your wellbeing? Are there any areas where you feel you need more support or resources to ensure a healthy balance? T is for Team: Collaboration and mentorship: Who are the key people in your professional network? How are you leveraging relationships for growth? How are you contributing to others' growth? Who can and should we expand your network to include? H is for Holistic Action Plan. Actionable steps and accountability: What specific actions will you take to move toward your goals? How will we track your progress? What milestones will we set to ensure accountability and continuous growth?

Hey there, it’s me, your coach Nina, how are you today? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the exciting but vast possibilities in your career? Society, your parents, friends, strangers on social media, and even your own expectations have all been suggesting paths you “should” take professionally. If you're intellectually curious and enjoy learning, you likely have a strong drive to grow already. You might already have some ideas about where you want to go and how to get there. However, with endless possibilities and only 24 hours in a day, it's important to have a focused and sustainable approach to your career development, one that prevents overwhelm and burnout. Here are some strategies to consider: 1️⃣ List out your career goals: What do you really want in your career? Is it money, title, creative freedom, influence, fame, or making an impact? In my early career I wanted to get promoted because the society says so, but after a few years I started to optimize for learning new experiences (hence jumping from corporate to startup to stand up a new team.) 2️⃣ Figure out your why: understand why you want to achieve something adds meaning and boosts motivation. Are you aiming for FIRE (financial independence to retire early), seeking respect as a manager, or craving intellectual exploration? 3️⃣ Define success: know your destination helps you figure out what resources or skills you need to get there. For instance, aspiring to be a people manager might require learning how to inspire others. 4️⃣ Identify the resources you need: Just like planning a trip, you need to know what to pack for your career journey. Determine the skills or knowledge necessary for your dream role. 5️⃣ Choose how to learn: Different people prefer different learning methods—reading, visual cues, podcasts, or hands-on experience. Find what works best for you and experiment if you're unsure. 6️⃣ Practice: Apply your new skills whenever possible. Shadow others, volunteer for projects, and actively develop the competencies you need. 7️⃣ Reflect regularly: Set a monthly reminder to assess your progress and adjust your strategies if needed. 8️⃣ Seek accountability: Remember the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Find a mentor, friend, or a coach friend to support and hold you accountable. What strategies have you used or would you recommend to feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in your career growth? #careerdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #midcareer

We've all been there - myself included - when our job leaves us sick, scared, and looking for an exit. At the time, the weight of my confusion felt draining, my stress levels felt paralyzing, and nothing seemed to ignite even the faintest degree of passion in me. But even in these moments where we feel stuck, how often do we pause and deeply assess WHY? What I wish that someone had told me at that time was that the key to re-evaluating my career path was in understanding my own inner motivations and aligning them with my own actions. If this resonates, I want to share a strategy to help you understand your discontent and aspiration through my recent blog post titled "Using the 5 Whys to Re-Evaluate Your Career Path." The 5 Whys is a powerful tool borrowed from problem-solving methodologies, perfect for mission-driven professionals who are looking to find their next steps. This exercise will push you to go beyond the superficial and reach the root cause of your feelings. Here's a brief glimpse from one of my recent coaching conversations as an example: 1. WHY are you unhappy with your job? “I don’t feel engaged.” 2. WHY don’t you feel engaged? “Tasks are repetitive and don't challenge me.” 3. WHY do you want to be challenged? “It makes me feel like I’m growing and contributing.” 4. WHY is growth and contribution important to you? “They give me a sense of purpose and achievement.” 5. WHY do you need a purpose in your job? “I want my work to align with my personal values and passions.” From a vague sense of unhappiness to an eye-opening realization about alignment and values, this reflective process can be transformative. Once you've uncovered your core values through the 5 Whys, then it’s time to realign. Maybe it's autonomy or creativity that drives you. Or maybe your motivations lie in social impact. How can your career best cater to these values? Remember: your professional journey is not just about 'doing' but understanding 'why you do it'. In thinking about your own next steps, consider Steve Jobs’ advice: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle." 📌 Check out the full blog post for more insights: https://lnkd.in/eHJDUqDc Not sure how to use this exercise to reflect and realign? 📞I’d love to connect with you further on a complimentary call: https://lnkd.in/dZJ2Agzq Interested in other free career insights and job search advice?  📩 Subscribe here to my weekly newsletter: www.ki-coaching.com #CareerCoaching #5Whys #CareerChange #FindYourPurpose #SelfDiscovery #CareerCoach #FindYourWhy #FindYourWhy

Determining if you are on the right career path can be overwhelming and confusing. 🛣️ They don't teach us how to design a career or do a job search in school. I think it is normal to experience uncertainty about whether we are on the "right path" or not. 🚷 I have certainly experienced this during my career. 😣 💡💡This is why I recommend regularly thinking about your career whether you are happy in your current role or already know you need to change. Start by assessing your: 🔆Strengths and weaknesses 🔆Level of engagement 🔆Level of motivation 🔆Compensation requirements and if they are being met 🔆Level of enjoyment Then ask yourself questions that lead to reflection. Such as: ❓Do your current responsibilities leverage what you do best? ❓Do you constantly feel drained and depleted? ❓Is there internal career growth at your organization? ❓Do you feel valued and fairly compensated? If you answer NO to these questions, it could be time to consider what to do next. 👎 And you don't have to go it alone. Don't hesitate to engage mentors, coaches, your network, and recruiters. It might take a while to transition but if you are patient, willing to take action and committed then the process can unfold and be rewarding. What are your career goals for 2024? #careers #personaldevelopment #entrepreneurship

Navigating career decisions isn't a walk in the park, especially when you have options and uncertainties. But don't worry, there's a way to bring clarity to the chaos with a structured approach that considers both logic and emotion. Let's dive in. 1. Clarify your decision: Start by pinpointing what decision you need to make. Are you choosing between job offers, or are you contemplating a new career path? Having a clear objective is crucial. 2. Define your priorities and values: List your top 4-7 priorities for your career, such as career growth, impact potential, and personal satisfaction. Also, identify your core values and what truly matters to you. These can guide you to choices that align with your long-term fulfillment. 3. Generate more options (if possible): Don’t limit yourself to a couple of choices. Use your priorities and values to brainstorm additional options, considering both immediate and long-term possibilities. Talk to people you admire, explore job boards, and think outside the box. 4. Rank and test your options: Once you have a list, rank them based on how well they align with your priorities. Then, dive deeper into your top options—talk to people you know, check YouTube, or even test the waters through short-term projects. This helps in reality-checking your assumptions and understanding the true landscape. 7. Assess risks, regrets, and reversibility (a critical step, in my opinion): Evaluate the risks and potential regrets tied to each choice. Consider what could go wrong and whether you're prepared to handle those challenges. Also, think about how easily you could switch paths if necessary and what opportunities you might miss by not choosing a particular option. As my wife wisely suggested, try tossing a coin and pay attention to your immediate reaction to the outcome—it can reveal your true preferences. 6. Incorporate emotional insights (gut feeling): Pay attention to your emotional responses and gut feelings. They can provide important insights into whether a decision aligns with who you are at your core. Balance these with your systematic analysis for a well-rounded decision. 7. Make your best guess and look ahead: At some point, you'll need to make a decision. Trust the process you’ve followed and don't look back. 8. Take action: Once you've decided, focus on execution. Break your plan into actionable steps and set milestones to track your progress. Career decisions are part of an ongoing journey of growth and exploration. They are not linear and don't have to be. Just focus on what is best for you and your life; the rest is just noise.