I was let go from my employer nearly nine years ago. This left me at a crossroads; continue in a comfortable leadership career in high-tech, retire or shift gears and look at doing something else. I had the opportunity to think outside the box, and I needed to take a hard look at what I really wanted to do with my life. All the very normal, yet pesky emotions enveloped me. My self-esteem took a hit, and a foreboding about what would be next settled in—along with a serious worry about being able to put food on the table.
But that was short-lived. I am a survivor, and my resilience kicked in.
I approached my very good friend, and now business partner, Luis Velasquez. After a few chats about working together, he took a chance and challenged me to partner with him at his leadership coaching practice. I had the industry experience he could use to build out an executive coaching business.
The risk of failure was high. I was leaving a comfortable world of six-figure incomes and I had no formal background in coaching. My incredible wife talked me out of my impostor syndrome. She reassured me that because I had been in leadership positions most of my career, I had actually been coaching many amazing staff members as part of my teams–many of whom have gone on to be incredible leaders themselves. Yes, and this is still one of my passions to this day–seeing others grow and thrive.
I recognized an opportunity to help many other new and successful leaders grow and develop, so I decided to go for it.
My first step was to learn as widely and deeply as I could about leadership coaching. I talked to many coaches and coaching firms. I took courses and gained certifications and even signed on with an online coaching firm to practice the coaching methodology.
Turning the page, starting a new chapter
I now do what I love. Working side by side with my business partner, I’ve coached hundreds of leaders and leadership teams at all levels from mid-managers up to CEOs across all industries and markets.
For those entrepreneurs and leaders looking for that "next gig," consider these five important points I challenged myself with nine years ago, as I broke through to my "next great thing."
Reassess and realign your values
What is your purpose in life and work? Over the years, my values–a blend of both personal and business–have remained relatively unchanged. Concern for others, lifelong learning, self-reliance, teamwork and leadership are the five values that have driven many of my behaviors and actions both in and out of the workplace. No two individuals will have the same set of values. But truly understanding and living your values helps you chart a path in times of uncertainty and stay the course in whatever you plan to do next.
Did losing my job affect or change my values? Not necessarily. However, it was important for me to look at other values that may not have been as important ten years ago, like taking care of my family and making a reasonable income. These values also needed to be considered as I looked at my next steps.
There are many great career and work inventory assessment tools out there to zero in on your critical few values. I’d strongly encourage you to start with one of those if you have not yet aligned your vision and goals with your values.
Re-establish and expand your network (and start connecting)
I have an extensive network of people in different industries, at various career levels, and in a wide range of positions–with over 3,500 contacts on LinkedIn alone. Susan McPherson, a renowned communications consultant, notes, “Many people feel strange reconnecting with colleagues after an extended period.” Rather than focus on the discomfort, prioritize finding those connections–and reconnecting–with people who can help you succeed and grow.
As I was looking at the next thing, I started reaching out in earnest to my contacts and established myself in online groups that aligned with my professional goals and interests.A very personal example comes to mind from when I reached out to a very successful coach at a major coaching firm for advice on how to break into coaching.
His advice? “Learn as much as you can, gain some hours with a smaller firm, and then come back to me in a year or so.” He was honest and sincere, so we kept in touch. I came back to him after that year, showed him what I had done and he introduced me to his firm. Now I’m on his firm's roster for coaching very high-level clients.
Relationships are all about trust, something you can build by being curious about the people you’re connecting with. Just remember to be mindful of people’s time and capacity. Josh Turner points out in his book “Connect” that, “Personal messages, messages from people who care, are not long. They are short, simple and to the point.” Look critically at your past and present contacts. Reach out. A phone call still goes a long way, but in the case of LinkedIn, a brief yet thoughtful message can open the door to a rich conversation.
I do it all the time. I reach out to one or two people a day: “Jim, it’s been a long time! Hoping you are well and would love an opportunity to catch up.”
As Josh Turner further points out, “It all comes back to this. Regardless of where you start, the most important thing is that you make a start.” Make it happen!
Market to your brand
When switching out of a typical job and pursuing an entrepreneurial path, it’s crucial to have a clear picture of your brand and get very comfortable marketing it. You can figure that out by asking yourself a couple of reflective questions.
How do people perceive you—both personally and as a leader? Once you’ve understood your strengths, and how others see you, your goal is to ensure that the narrative about you is accurate, coherent, compelling, and differentiated.
Next, consider your brand assets. What do you want people to see and know about you? Build your story and make it compelling and authentic. Then you can use your network to practice putting yourself–and your story–in front of as many people as possible.
Self-promotion isn’t always easy, especially for introverts. But it’s essential for others to see your value-add and how that will translate into any new venture you are pursuing. As Dorie Clark points out, “In a fast-changing world, it requires both a strategy and disciplined execution to stand out and remain relevant.”
While it’s not the only digital platform or tool, I find that LinkedIn is my go-to source for brand awareness and it allows me to reach a wide audience. I include all my certifications on my profile as well as testimonials from clients who both celebrate and critique my work. Keep these testimonials current, preferably within the past three to five years.
Build your expertise
Life-long learning is another one of my values, and it’s pushed me to reinvent myself several times. In another life, I taught school, then transitioned into a tech career and now enjoy the very rewarding executive leadership coaching partnership.
The knowledge and skills I acquired throughout my professional journey in tech, allowed me to understand the complex nature of engineers and leaders in that space. This allows me to easily adapt to current clients working in those spaces, who feel at greater ease because I can relate to their challenges.
I’ve also adopted a systematic approach to ongoing professional development, using new learning to enhance my brand by:
- Integrating continuous learning into my routine (through courses, reading, podcasts, and conferences)
- Routinely seeking advice and insights from experts and mentors in the coaching field
- Acquiring respected professional certifications that boost credibility and trust in my craft
I also never tried to hide my gaps. Instead, I attacked them head on and learned through practice and mentorship. Learning is a journey that never really ends. Once you hit a major milestone, aim for another one. This approach weaves learning into your everyday habits, and as you keep doing it, you’re far less likely to slow down.
Tap into your Resilience
My brand of perseverance and resilience has kept me optimistic and focused in this ever-changing world of adversity. We only truly recognize our resilience when we have no choice but to confront unavoidable hardship. By facing that reality, and examining ourselves and our responses, we uncover the core of our strength.
In looking back, it’s almost like I have welcomed fear–sometimes intentionally–and change.
I’ve navigated several career changes, divorce, and the early loss of both parents, all while moving through life without the support of siblings. These experiences have shaped my perseverance and resilience, enabling me to maintain a positive outlook on life. My business partner Luis puts it well, “In admitting our fear, we open the door to figuring out how to act in spite of it.”
We fear failure. It’s human nature. Setbacks cause our confidence to wane. Experiencing fear and plowing forward anyway is the right road towards achieving what you want in life and work.
I’ve built a new career that would not have been viable had it not been for setbacks outside my control–and I’m a better person because of it.
Take that next step. Get knocked down, get back up and go after it. You have it in you, we all do. So go make it happen.