One to One with Octavia

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

What does it take for you to do your best work, and how can you protect it?

In this episode I talk about why tracking your wins isn't just about remembering what you've accomplished. Your past wins give you clues about the conditions, actions, resources and mindset that enable you to perform at your best.

I explore how to get clear on what success means to you, and use the insights from your wins to build your own success system moving forward.

If there's something you know you want to do but you're struggling to take the next step, I go deeper on closing the gap between wanting and doing here:

https://firememos.beehiiv.com/p/closing-the-gap-between-wanting-and-doing

What if one of the most valuable things you could do for your career didn't require anyone else's permission?

In this episode I talk about why tracking your wins is so powerful, how to start doing it, and why waiting for other people to recognize your progress can leave you overlooking just how far you've come.

No one else knows exactly how your work feels. Your career doesn't come with a manual, and learning to recognize and validate your own progress enables you to really see what success means for you.

And if you have a habit of downplaying what you've accomplished, I go deeper on how to stop shrinking your own success here:
https://firememos.beehiiv.com/p/stop-shrinking-your-own-success

Your voice has more power than you think, even when the results aren't instant.

In this episode I share two stories, one from a coaching client and one from my personal experience, that show why you should never underestimate who is paying attention.

If you've been hesitant to be more visible, I share why comparing yourself to others can hold you back, and what to measure instead.

Want to keep building on what we explore in this episode? Join me every Friday for practical tools to help you track your wins, grow your confidence and make meaningful progress.

Sign up for free here: https://firememos.beehiiv.com/