Career Confessions

Too many top performers miss an opportunity in your end-of-year performance reviews.

If you're not mapping out your key achievements in a methodical way, your manager doesn't have the evidence they need to support your ranking in review calibration. And it's up to you to remind them of the impact you make in the company.

So, what can you do to prepare for your upcoming performance review and get the ranking you deserve?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I share the six pillars of a strong performance review, explaining why it's crucial to take your time and weave your brand into the document.

I challenge you to highlight your mic drop moments and examples of personal growth throughout a performance review, so you stand out as a top performer.

Listen in for insight on including projections for projects in progress and learn how to showcase your efforts clearly in a strong end-of-year performance review!

Key Takeaways

How mapping out key achievements helps your boss support you in calibration

My 6 pillars of a strong performance review and how to prepare for it

Why you shouldn't wait until the end of the year to start writing your performance review

How to weave your brand value prop into your performance review

How to highlight your mic drop moments in the text of a performance review

Why I suggest including projections re: the impact of projects in progress

Examples of how to demonstrate personal growth in a performance review

Why next steps to achieve your goals should be part of any end-of-year conversation

What to do if your performance in 2021 was not up to your standards

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Text (424) 610-8471

Resources

Join the Success Blueprint Group Coaching Program

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

What separates those of us with good intentions from those who actually achieve our goals?

The secret is effective goal planning. It's about creating a game plan that fits into the rest of your busy life.

On this episode of Career Confessions, I walk you through the four steps to effective goal planning, sharing my exercise for identifying how many hats you wear and prioritizing the ones that matter most.

I explain why it's crucial to work toward your goals one step at a time and describe the compound effect of committing to daily action.

Listen in for insight on the connection between sustainable goals and self-care and learn how to set and stick to weekly goals, holding yourself accountable to do the next right thing each day!

Key Takeaways

How to identify the number of hats you wear and prioritize the ones that matter most

Why it's not a good idea to wear all your hats at once

Why it's crucial to take things one step at a time (rather than thinking 10 steps ahead)

The compound effect of focusing on doing the next right thing

The relationship between sustainable goals and self-care

Why I recommend adding one healthy habit at a time to your calendar

The benefit of writing down your goals on a weekly basis

How sticking to our goals helps us build trust with ourselves

What it looks like to hold yourself accountable to taking consistent action every day

How to audit your progress toward your goals at the end of each week

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Text (424) 610-8471

Resources

Learn More about Andrea's Wealth Accelerator Blueprint

Join the Success Blueprint Group Coaching Program

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

International Latina Engineering Week

Are You a Peak Performer in ALL Aspects of Your Life? on Career Confessions EP044

75 Hard

Are you so consumed by work that you're neglecting other areas of your life?

Yes, getting promoted is exciting, and you should advance in your career as fast as you want. But not at the expense of the things that are most important to you.

So, how do you gauge whether you're navigating healthy pressure or teetering on the edge of burnout?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain what I did to find harmony when I realized I was not showing up for my family the way I wanted.

I challenge you to do a weekly audit of how you are performing in every aspect of life, describing the health consequences of living a high-stress life for too long.

Listen in as I share my top strategies for relieving pressure at work and get inspired to rewrite your story and achieve career success without letting go of what really matters.

Key Takeaways

How top performers get so consumed by work that we neglect other aspects of life

What I did to find harmony when I realized I was not showing up for my family the way I wanted

How to think about the pressure you are taking on and gauge whether it's healthy

My top strategies for relieving pressure, e.g.: crucial conversations, boundaries, support, etc.

What you'll remember about your current overwhelm in 20 years (and what won't matter)

How to give yourself the power to rewrite your story if it's not going according to plan

The health consequences of living a high-stress life for too long

Why I recommend a weekly audit of how stress is impacting all areas of your life

What it looks like to take action to reduce the pressure you're putting on yourself

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Text (424) 610-8471

Resources

Andy Frisella on Success Zombies

Join the Success Blueprint Group Coaching Program

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

We're moving into Q4 of 2021. And if you haven't made progress toward your goals the way you wanted, it's tempting to let yourself off the hook and wait to start fresh in 2022.

But here's the thing. There will never be a perfect moment to start executing on your plan.

You CAN go after your goals now, regardless of what's happened so far this year and end 2021 with insane momentum. The kind of momentum that will set you up for success in 2022.

On this episode of Career Confessions, I challenge you to choose a goal that seems unattainable or that's been falling through the cracks and make it a priority in Q4.

I share my ongoing commitment to the 75 Hard mental toughness challenge, describing the no-excuses mentality that's getting me through it and how that's translating to other areas of my life.

Listen in for insight on building an inner circle that won't let you give up and learn to commit to taking consistent daily action toward that goal you've put off—until now!

Key Takeaways

The value in going for your goals in Q4 and ending the year with momentum

My ongoing commitment to the 75 Hard mental toughness challenge

Why you can't wait for the perfect moment to execute on a plan

How we make time for the things that are really important to us

Why it's a disservice to judge your past self for the decisions you made then

My challenge to go after a goal that seems unattainable or that's been falling through the cracks

How to put other things on pause to make room for your big goals

What to do if your inner circle gives you a way out when it comes to your goals

Why becoming who you're meant to be is the ultimate gift

The no-excuses mentality that's getting me through 75 Hard (and how it's translating to other areas of my life)

How to commit to taking consistent daily action toward a goal you've put off

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Text (424) 610-8471

Resources

Real AF with Andy Frisella EP014: #75HARD

75 Hard

75 Hard App

Join the Success Blueprint Group Coaching Program

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

Do you have ambitious career goals? Are you saying them out loud?

Aneri Desai contends that sharing your big dreams with the world is the best way to build a support system. And once you've made your vision public, the universe will conspire to get you there!

Aneri is the Immigrant Career Coach behind Aneri Desai Coaching, a practice dedicated to helping immigrant women and international students build an independent life and fulfilling career in the US or Canada. She spent eight years in the corporate world before becoming a full-time entrepreneur.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Aneri joins me to discuss the job search challenges immigrants face and explain how she helps clients land their first job in the American market.

Aneri describes what she did to stand out in the workplace and invites us to think of career coaching as an investment rather than an expense.

Listen in for insight on setting a vision for the life you want to build and take on Aneri's challenge to be vocal about your ambitious goals and see what happens!

Key Takeaways

What inspired Aneri's shift from corporate America to career coach

The top 3 ways for immigrants to get to the US

How Aneri helps her clients get their first job in the American market

Aneri's invitation to think of career coaching as an investment rather than an expense

The 3 key things Aneri did to stand out in the workplace

The value of setting a vision for the life you want to build

Aneri's challenge to be vocal about your ambitious goals

Why it's crucial to bring your partner in on your goals

Aneri's struggle with the decision to go all-in on entrepreneurship

Connect with Aneri

Aneri on Instagram

Aneri on LinkedIn

Aneri's Website

Email [email protected]

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Learn More About Success Blueprint Group Coaching

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review Career Confessions on Apple Podcasts

In corporate America, we're taught to fend for ourselves. To solve problems on our own. And that asking for help is a sign of weakness.

But what if we're wasting time trying to figure it all out on our own? What if a coach could help us fast-track our career growth and earn more, more quickly?

Dezarai Shepherd is a Product Development Engineer in the automotive industry and runs her own career coaching business. A first-generation college graduate, she earned a degree in Product Design Engineering Technology from Central Michigan University in 2018.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Dezarai joins me to explain how growing up in poverty informed her identity of self-reliance and why she initially resisted career coaching.

Dezarai shares the nagging question that inspired her to connect with my community of women engineers and eventually join a coaching program, describing how the support of a career coach helped her through the process of finding a new job.

Listen in to understand who Dezarai serves through her coaching business and find out how YOU can benefit from the accountability and encouragement of your own career coach!

Key Takeaways

How growing up in poverty informed Dezarai's identity of self-reliance

Dezarai's background in engineering technology and product design

What inspired Dezarai to switch industries and start her own coaching business

The nagging question that made Dezarai look for help with career strategy

Why Dezarai resisted hiring a career coach to begin with

The benefits of hiring a career coach in terms of time and money

How a coach provides accountability and support through the process of finding a new job

What motivated Dezarai to start her own career coaching business

How Dezarai serves people who are uncertain about the next step in their career

The integral role LinkedIn has played in helping Dezarai advance her career

Connect with Dezarai

Dezarai on Instagram

Dezarai on LinkedIn

Dezarai's Website

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Learn More About Success Blueprint Group Coaching

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review Career Confessions on Apple Podcasts

We don't expect runners to win a marathon the first time they lace up their shoes. And yet, most of us are waiting for a promotion to start practicing our leadership skills.

What if you started showing up as a leader regardless of the role you have right now?

Andy Karesa is a successful engineer with a decade of experience in the oil and gas industry. He also runs Karesa Consulting, a leadership coaching practice dedicated to equipping and empowering the next generation of leaders.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Andy joins me to explain how playing high-level sports taught him what good leadership looks like and challenge you to show up as a leader no matter what title you have right now.

Andy discusses the importance of understanding WHY you want to be a leader, describing how it helps you 'embrace the suck' of making difficult decisions once you do have the corner office.

Listen in for insight on employing the be-do-have methodology for achieving your goals and find out if Andy is the right fit to help YOU grow your leadership competency.

Key Takeaways

Andy's mission to equip, enable and empower the next generation of leaders

How playing high-level sports taught Andy what good leadership looks like

Andy's advice on showing up as a leader no matter what title you have right now

How Andy defines leadership as providing direction without force

How to employ the be-do-have methodology for achieving your goals

Why Andy focuses on helping clients understand WHY they want to be a leader

How your WHY helps you 'embrace the suck' of making difficult decisions

What questions to ask to make sure you want to lead for the right reasons

Why it's crucial to determine what success means to you

How Andy serves young people who want to grow their leadership competency

Connect with Andy

Karesa Consulting

Karesa Consulting on Instagram

Karesa Consulting on LinkedIn

Andy on LinkedIn

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Embrace the Suck: The NAVY SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life by Brent Gleeson

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review Career Confessions on Apple Podcasts

Communication is critical to our career success. And yet, many of us expect people to just know what we're dealing with and respond in kind.

Are you frustrated that you keep getting passed over for a promotion? Or that your colleagues don't recognize your accomplishments?

Well, did you tell your boss you wanted to move up? Or mention the extra work you did on a project to your team?

Brenda Denbesten is a successful chemical engineer and career empowerment coach on a mission to inspire more women to become engineers and advance to positions of leadership in STEM fields. She has 15 years of experience in the mining and manufacturing industries and hosts the YouTube series Chronicles of a Female Engineer.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Brenda joins me to explain why it's crucial to communicate what you need in the workplace, offering advice on how to manage expectations as a new mom and initiate strategic conversations based on business needs.

Brenda describes how she developed her inclusive, open leadership style and what she does to build credibility with her team.

Listen in for Brenda's insight on building confidence through action and learn to communicate your value in a way that will advance your career!

Key Takeaways

Brenda's career path as a chemical engineer in mining and manufacturing

How an experience with a breast pump inspired Brenda's coaching practice

The mom guilt Brenda felt coming back to work after maternity leave

Brenda's advice on managing expectations in the workplace as a new mom

Why you must communicate what you're going through with your boss, peers and partner

How Brenda developed her inclusive, open leadership style

What Brenda does to build credibility with her team

The 3 things Brenda works on with her career coaching clients

What inspired Brenda's YouTube Channel—Chronicles of a Female Engineer

Brenda's go-to advice that confidence comes through action

Connect with Brenda

Brenda on LinkedIn

Brenda on Instagram

Brenda on Facebook

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Chronicles of a Female Engineer on YouTube

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review Career Confessions on Apple Podcasts

Is there an area of your life you've been neglecting? A goal you're talking yourself out of? Are you ready to commit to making a change?

Even though I really want to be in great physical shape, I've made excuses in the past. Told myself that it wasn't that important. And that it was okay to overlook that part of my life because I was succeeding in other areas.

But I don't want a 9 out of 10 life, and I'll bet you don't either. So, what are we going to do about it?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I open up about how I have justified neglecting my health and fitness goals and explain why I am publicly committing to the 75 Hard mental toughness challenge.

I explore how we tell ourselves a goal isn't important when we don't think we can do it and describe how a coach can help you stop making excuses and open your eyes to what's really possible.

Listen in to understand what happens when you realize that your thoughts and beliefs are the only thing in your way and take on my challenge to stop settling and start working toward Level 10 in your life!

Key Takeaways

Why I am committing to the 75 Hard mental toughness challenge

How to motivate yourself to go after your goals (even when it's not convenient)

How I have justified neglecting my health and fitness goals

Why we can't perform to our full potential if we don't take care of ourselves first

The power of making a public commitment to a goal

How we tell ourselves a goal isn't important when we don't think we can do it

How a coach can help you break patterns, stop making excuses and open your eyes to what's possible

Why we show up differently when we've invested in a coach

What happens when we realize that our thoughts are the only thing in our way

My challenge for you to work toward Level 10 in your life

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Text (424) 610-8471

Resources

75 Hard

75 Hard App

F45 Training

The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion

Join the Success Blueprint Group Coaching Program

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

Leaders innovate to solve problems in an organization.

But innovation requires imagination. And Alexander Klebanov contends that the best way to push the boundaries of imagination is to first push the boundaries of knowledge. To let go of control and let the data drive you.

Alexander is a data scientist and AI expert with experience in the transportation, utilities and oil and gas industries. We were colleagues at Chesapeake Energy for many years before Alexander moved on to his current role as Customer Engineer in Analytics at Google.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Alexander joins me to explain how data science helps teams and organizations become the best version of themselves.

We explore how data analytics can spark innovation in any industry, and Alexander offers advice on learning data science skills by anchoring into a discipline you already know.

Listen in to understand how growing your professional network expands your perspective and learn about the power of collaborating with the data science team to solve problems in your organization!

Key Takeaways

How Alexander leverages data to help organizations become the best version of themselves

The power of collaborations between operations and data science teams

Alexander's insight on why it's crucial to let go of control and let the data drive you

How AI helps you prioritize what's important and what isn't

How data analytics can be used to spark innovation in any industry

Alexander's advice on learning about data science by anchoring into a discipline you already know

Alexander's current role at Google and how he feels aligned with the company culture

How Alexander keeps up his skills in an industry that changes so quickly

The value in managing your career with intention around a long-term goal

Why Alexander is passionate about expanding his perspective and professional network

Connect with Alexander

Alexander on LinkedIn

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review Career Confessions on Apple Podcasts