Career Confessions

Who do you want to be when you get to the top?

Many women feel pressure to play the political game at work. To sacrifice family time to schmooze at networking events or play golf with colleagues.

But I'm here to tell you, you can be both true to yourself and well-connected. You can rise through the ranks at your company and build political capital—without becoming someone you don't like.

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain why you don't have to be someone else to have a successful career, challenging you to get clear on your core values and stand by them as you climb the corporate ladder.

I share what I do to foster connections in a way that feels good to me, describing how one-on-ones with senior leaders lead to meaningful, targeted discussions and why it's beneficial to build relationships with people outside your group.

Listen in for insight on providing value as you build political capital and learn how to forge your path to the TOP in a way that's authentic to you!

Key Takeaways

Why you shouldn't have to be someone else to be successful in your career

How to get clear on your core values (and live by them!)

Why some women feel they have to make sacrifices to be part of the boys' club

What I do to foster connections in a way that feels good to me

How one-on-ones lead to better, more targeted discussions than networking events

How to provide value in a one-on-one with a senior leader

The benefit of building relationships with people outside your group

Why it's better to find a new opportunity than play the political game

The responsibility that comes with being an example for others

How to climb the corporate ladder in a way that aligns with your values

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Join Success Blueprint Vault Group Coaching

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

What beliefs are holding you back from making BIG money? For me, it was the idea that making good money required big-time sacrifice. Sacrifices I wasn't willing to make.

Some don't think they're worthy of a big paycheck and feel guilty for wanting more. And others don't have a very positive picture of what it looks like to have a lot of money.

So, what can you do to shift your money mindset and start setting ambitious salary goals?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain how to uncover your belief system around money, exploring the cultural biases and bad habits you might carry.

I offer advice on building money goals around the lifestyle you want and the people you could help, challenging you to overcome any guilt you might feel about getting paid what you're worth and start claiming what you deserve.

Listen in for insight on finding positive examples of people who represent money to you and learn how to build the kind of money mindset that leads to long-term wealth!

Key Takeaways

How to uncover your belief system around money and the biases and bad habits you carry

How the desire to build long-term wealth inspires me to create multiple income streams

Why you should never feel guilty for investing in yourself

The belief that was holding me back from making big money (and what I did to overcome it)

How to develop the belief that you're worthy of a big bank account

How to build money goals around the lifestyle you want to have and/or who you could help

Why it's important to find positive examples of people who represent money to you

The benefit of being willing to learn from your past money management mistakes

How to overcome any guilt you feel about wanting more or getting paid what you're worth

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

Are you waiting for your end-of-year review to ask for a raise? Or hoping that someone else will advocate for you?

Here's the thing: You are capable of having difficult conversations. And you are worthy of earning the salary you deserve.

So, what's the best way to talk to your boss about a raise?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain what you need to know to ask for a raise, sharing why it's your responsibility to understand the financial health of your company and where to find that information.

I offer advice on giving your boss a heads up before you initiate the raise conversation and articulating your current workload and level of responsibility with the posture of a professional.

Listen in for insight on explaining how your role makes money for the company and take on my challenge to practice the fine art of negotiation and start getting paid what you deserve!

Key Takeaways

Why you don't have to wait for your end-of-year review to ask for a raise

Why it's your responsibility to understand the financial health of your company (and how to do it)

The power in conveying your current workload and level of responsibility with the posture of a professional

Why I suggest giving your boss a heads up before you initiate the raise conversation

The value in securing a raise with or without a promotion

The importance of practicing the art of negotiation

How to prepare examples that demonstrate the way you operate at a higher level

How to time the raise conversation with the success of your company

How to tie the work you do into a financial metric

The power in affirming that you are worthy of being paid what you deserve

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Andrea's Instagram Post on Asking for a Raise

Yahoo Finance

Andrea's Success Blueprint Mastermind

Apply for Private Coaching with Andrea

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

Has your career taken over your life at the expense of your health?

When you're all-in on your work, it can be challenging to put yourself first. But it's up to YOU to make your health a priority.

And you may have to take something off your plate in the near and now to make space for what's important long term.

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain why I paused my private coaching offering to take care of myself, sharing what I've done to prioritize my health and how it's improving other areas of my life.

I discuss the value in working with a health coach to drive better decision-making and making optimal health the focus of your journey—not weight loss.

Listen in to understand the consequences of sacrificing your health for your career and learn how to STOP making excuses and START structuring your life in a way that puts self-care at the top of your to-do list!

Key Takeaways

Why I paused my private coaching offering to make space to take care of myself

What I did to prioritize my health over the last two months and how it's improving other areas of my life

The importance of communicating your health goals with your partner

My choice to work with a health coach to drive better decision-making

Why optimal health is the focus of my journey (not weight loss)

What inspires me to let go of the income I could be making right now to make space for what's important long term

Why you can't be there for other people if you don't prioritize self-care

How to determine what optimal health looks like for you

How to STOP making excuses and START structuring your life to get what you want

The consequences of sacrificing your health for your career

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

Andrea's Success Blueprint Mastermind

Dress for the Job You Want on Career Confessions EP005

If you're applying for a leadership role, you have to level up your interview prep.

But what does it look like to get ready for multiple rounds of interviews? How do you tell your story in a way that sets you apart from the other prospects?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I'm sharing what I do to help clients prepare for the interview process, discussing how to use LinkedIn to search for roles and apply quickly.

I offer advice on how to showcase your leadership abilities with concrete examples in an interview, challenging you to practice answering tough questions around how you resolve conflict and why you want to leave your current opportunity.

Listen in for insight on discussing your target salary in an interview and find out how to use a job description to reflect on your accomplishments and tell your story in a powerful way!

Key Takeaways

How playing 'what if' scenarios in your head adds unnecessary overwhelm to the process

How to use LinkedIn to search for roles and apply quickly

Why it's crucial to be prepared to interview right away after you apply

Why I suggest recording your answers to common interview questions

How to answer the 'tell me about yourself' question (and why you should already have it memorized)

How to showcase your leadership abilities with concrete examples

My approach to explaining how you handle conflict and why you want to leave your current opportunity

What to expect in the first and second round of interviews

How to use the job description to prepare for the interview process

Why it's important to give a range for your target salary and how to determine that range

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

Andrea's Success Blueprint Mastermind

Turn the Pain of Rejection Into Purpose on Career Confessions EP20

Do you want to WOW people at work? Would you like to perform at a level that puts you on the map for promotions, raises and leadership roles?

Then you need to build a few key habits to help you avoid overwhelm and stay inspired—even on the days you're struggling.

On this episode of Career Confessions, I share my top four success habits of high performers, explaining how getting in tune with your energy levels allows you to better manage your workload.

I weigh in on why it's crucial to make yourself a priority, describing the connection between what you feed your brain and how you feel.

Listen in for insight on learning from people who inspire you and learn how to create a clear WHY that keeps you going through difficult times!

Key Takeaways

The distinction between being an overachiever vs. a high performer

How getting in tune with your energy levels can help you better manage your workload

Why it's crucial to make yourself a priority and make space to let your brain rest

The connection between what you feed your brain and how you feel

How to motivate yourself by learning from people who inspire you

The value in admitting you have room to grow

How I define success not as having all the answers but having the tools to figure it out

Why you need a clear vision of what you want out of life

How your WHY serves as an espresso shot on days you're struggling

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

Andrea's Success Blueprint Mastermind

Andrea's Instagram Reel on Personal Development Books

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott

Accelerate Your Growth with a Career Coach on Career Confessions EP018

How to Bring Yourself Back from a Funk on Career Confessions EP019

Want to fast-track your career growth? Then you need to stop playing it safe and start applying for stretch assignments that are one or two levels above your current role.

But putting yourself out there for higher-level positions comes with the risk of rejection.

So, how do you bounce back from the disappointment of being turned down for a job? How do you turn the pain into purpose and grow through the process?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I offer insight on accepting rejection, describing the danger in dissecting every job description as if it were a checklist and explaining how to prepare for challenging screenings and interviews.

I weigh in on how to acknowledge the disappointment of rejection without letting it consume you, discussing why it's a disservice to overanalyze what you could have done differently when you get close but don't get the job.

Listen in for advice on leveraging rejection to identify gaps and improve your skills and learn my top strategies for staying connected with the companies that are a good fit for you!

Key Takeaways

Why you should be chasing stretch assignments that are a level or two above your current role

The danger in dissecting every job description as it if were a checklist

What to do if you don't have the years of experience a job description calls for

Why it's a disservice to overanalyze what you could have done differently when you get close but don't get the job

The power in interview mock trials and coaching sessions to prepare for a screening or job interview

Why it's crucial to acknowledge the disappointment of rejection (without letting it consume you)

How jotting down exactly WHY you're disappointed helps you uncover what you DO want

How to leverage the pain of rejection to identify gaps and improve your skills

My advice on staying connected with companies that are a good fit

How to decide whether to apply for other roles even if you're happy with your current company

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Download Andrea's Free LinkedIn eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple

We all have off days. But there are things you can do to work through a funk and start feeling like yourself again!

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain why it's crucial to address it when you're feeling down, sharing my Petty Corner strategy for venting when things don't go my way and confiding in a go-to person outside of work.

I challenge you to walk away and give your brain a rest when you're in a downward spiral, describing what I do to unplug—and why indulging in a few minutes of a guilty pleasure is a better option than pushing through.

Listen in for insight on how your off days impact others and learn how to peel back the layers, identify the true cause of your negative mindset, and get back to being yourself!

Key Takeaways

Why it's crucial to address the situation when you don't feel like yourself

My Petty Corner strategy for venting when things don't go my way

How to peel back the layers and identify the real cause of a negative mindset

Why you should walk away and give your brain a rest when you're in a funk

What I do to unplug when I'm in a downward spiral (and why that's better than pushing through)

How your off days impact others as you climb higher on the corporate ladder

Why you should have a go-to person to confide in outside of work

The stories we tell ourselves when we feel like we've let someone down

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Brene Brown

Dare to Lead Certification

If you want to climb the corporate ladder faster, you have to be willing to do things that others are not. To take your development into your own hands. To go above and beyond for yourself, even when no one is looking.

So, what if you hired a coach to help accelerate your growth?

On this episode of Career Confessions, I explain why I invested in an executive coach early in my career, describing how my level of confidence went through the roof as I raised the bar for myself.

I discuss what to look for in a career coach (and how to find one who's the right fit for you) and when to bring in a coach for support.

Listen in to understand how having a coach differentiates you in the interview process and learn the benefits of working with a mentor to prioritize your growth and get to the next level faster!

Key Takeaways

What inspired me to invest in working with a business coach

Why I hired my own executive coach early on in my career

The benefit of working with a coach who is both knowledgeable and inspiring

How my level of confidence went through the roof as I worked with a coach

Why it's not your years of experience but the experience in those years that matters

Why I plan to work with a coach for the rest of my career

What to look for in an executive coach who's the right fit for you

How having a coach differentiates you in the interview process

When it's a good time to bring in a career coach for support

How a coach helps you prioritize your growth and get to the next level faster

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

Success Blueprint Group Coaching

Corner Office Accelerator Course

If you're shooting for a promotion at work, your internal network is a key resource.

But how do you connect with your colleagues on a human level? And how do you cultivate those relationships over time, so you don't feel like you're intruding when you do reach out?

Rachel LaVoie is the creator of The Limit DNE, a STEM lifestyle brand designed to support the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering and math. She is also the newly-promoted Senior Software Product Manager at a leading global trade and development company.

On this episode of Career Confessions, Rachel joins me to describe the roller coaster of going through a reorganization at your company and explain how she leveraged the circumstances as an opportunity to land a promotion.

We discuss how being an entrepreneur is helping Rachel in her new corporate role and weigh in on why you can't really thrive at work if you're hiding part of who you are.

Listen in for insight on cultivating a human-first approach to business and learn how to create an internal network at your company—and work it in a way that feels good!

Key Takeaways

The stress of going through a reorganization at your company (and how to see it as an opportunity)

Why Rachel reached out to me for coaching as she worked toward a promotion

How Rachel landed her new role as Senior Software Product Manager

Why I recommend applying for roles that are two levels above your current position

How Rachel created an internal network at her company

Rachel's advice on taking a human-first approach to business and fostering relationships with your colleagues

Why you can't thrive at work if you're hiding part of yourself

How being an entrepreneur is helping Rachel in her new corporate role

The hate you get online when you own your expertise and how to reframe it so it doesn't shake you

Why you need to showcase your wins so that other women/minorities know what's possible

Connect with Rachel

The Limit DNE

The Limit DNE on Instagram

Connect with Andrea

Andrea Martin Consulting

Andrea on Instagram

Andrea on YouTube

Andrea on LinkedIn

Resources

lAndrea's Free LinkedIn eBook