One to One with Octavia

Is the loudest critic in your life the one in your own head?

In this episode I talk about why it's so easy to underestimate our wins, how we can become consumed by everything that isn't going right, and what happens when we stop making time to recognize our progress.

I get real about why we resist tracking our wins, why you don't need to wait for a major milestone to recognize what you've achieved, and how habit stacking can help you build a 10-minute routine that sticks. 

Want a weekly reminder from me to keep tracking your wins? Sign up for free here: https://firememos.beehiiv.com/

What would the person you were six years ago think about where you are today? 

In this episode I explore how pairing a recent win with a look back at your life six years ago can change the way you see your growth.

I share the exercise I use to revisit a specific moment in time, my own examples of what I discovered, and how to identify actions you can take now that your future self will appreciate.

Want a weekly reminder from me to keep tracking your wins? Sign up for free here: https://firememos.beehiiv.com/

Are you measuring your success against someone else's perception? 

In this episode I talk about why two people can look at the exact same achievement and come away with completely different perspectives on whether it was successful.

I share six ways to measure success and how I've learned to use a combination of different measures to define what success looks like for me. 

If you want to become more intentional about how you define success and know your worth, read the first chapter of my book, Prep, Push, Pivot: https://www.amazon.com/Prep-Push-Pivot-Strategies-Underrepresented/dp/1119789079/

What happens when the work you’re doing no longer feels right? 

In this episode I talk about why understanding your career values is so important, and how getting clear on what matters to you can provide a compass for making career decisions.

I share a series of reflective questions to help you think more deeply about what you want, why your answers deserve honesty, and how this process can move you closer to work that feels rewarding.

If you're ready to fully commit to your next steps, I discuss how to use your responses to accelerate your career in my book, Prep, Push, Pivot: https://www.amazon.com/Prep-Push-Pivot-Strategies-Underrepresented/dp/1119789079/

You asked for a promotion. What happens if your manager says no?

In this episode I discuss how to handle the pushback that can follow a promotion request, whether your manager tells you they can’t make any promises or thinks you’re not ready to take the next step.

I share how to prepare for those responses in advance and why pushback can provide useful information about your next steps.

If you’re getting ready to ask for a promotion, I go deeper on how to prepare for the conversation here: https://firememos.beehiiv.com/p/how-to-ask-for-a-promotion

You want a promotion, but how do you actually ask for one?

In this episode I share how to structure a promotion conversation that highlights what you’ve achieved, communicates where you want to go next, and makes clear how your growth can continue to add value.

I talk about why you shouldn’t wait for your performance review to make the ask, how to separate the emotions you may have about the outcome from the conversation, and why practicing the ask will help you feel more prepared.

If you’re aiming for a promotion, I go deeper on how to ask for what you want here: https://firememos.beehiiv.com/p/how-to-ask-for-a-promotion

Have you ever achieved something you really wanted, only to find yourself procrastinating over what to do next?

In this episode I talk about why a win doesn’t always create instant momentum, and what to do when reaching a milestone leaves you second guessing whether you can achieve something new.

I share why there is gold in understanding what got you to your win, how to restart before you feel ready, and why your next step doesn’t have to be another big goal.

If you’ve been wondering why it feels so hard to get moving again after a win, I go deeper on what might be happening and what to do next here:

https://firememos.beehiiv.com/p/the-freeze-that-follows-a-win

What if sharing your wins didn’t have to feel like bragging?

In this episode I talk about why getting comfortable with sharing what you’ve accomplished matters, and why you can’t assume the people around you will automatically know what you’re doing.

I share why talking about how you achieved something can help others see what’s possible and how to keep showing up even if someone dismisses what you’ve achieved.

If you want to become more comfortable sharing your work and expertise, I go deeper on how to do that here: https://tinyurl.com/BYFS-guide

What do you do when it feels like nothing is going your way?

In this episode I talk about how I navigate the bad days when it feels like I’m failing, and why the way you respond to yourself in those moments matters.

I share what helps me reset during a tough phase, how to recall your own before and after stories, and what Novak Djokovic taught me about motivation.

If you’re finding it hard to see beyond what isn’t working, I go deeper on what to do when you can’t name a single win here: https://firememos.beehiiv.com/p/when-you-can-t-name-a-single-win

What if you stopped waiting for someone else to recognize your progress and started doing it yourself?

In this episode I talk about why validation starts with you, and what can happen when you stop downplaying your success and find your own ways to mark the wins that matter.

I share how I've celebrated incremental wins, created personal reminders of milestone moments, and learned to handle the resistance that can show up when recognition starts to feel uncomfortable.

If you find yourself minimizing your accomplishments or waiting for validation from others, I go deeper on how to stop shrinking your own success here:

https://firememos.beehiiv.com/p/stop-shrinking-your-own-success