Career Fixer LLC | Executive Coach | Career Coach | Interview Coach | Resume Writer
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[ A few thoughts on putting your best foot forward vis-à-vis career coaching, executive coaching, resume writing + professional development ]

Everything you do is out of love... or fear.

3/17/2024

 
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Spartan Race, c. 2018
"There is no greater torment than the war we wage between love and fear."*

Everything you do--everything--can be traced to either love or fear. And this is just as true with personal life as it is with professional life. Change my mind; prove me wrong:

Pursuing a career you're passionate about (love) vs. staying in a "stable" but unfulfilling job (fear).

Speaking up about a new idea in a meeting (love) vs. remaining silent due to fear of rejection or criticism (fear).

Investing in your professional development (love) vs. avoiding learning opportunities because of the time or effort required (fear).

Collaborating with colleagues and sharing knowledge (love) vs. hoarding information due to fear of competition (fear).

Providing constructive feedback to help others grow (love) vs. withholding feedback to avoid potential conflict (fear).

Taking on a challenging project that stretches your skills (love) vs. sticking to familiar tasks to avoid failure (fear).

Networking and building professional relationships (love) vs. isolating yourself due to fear of rejection or social anxiety (fear).

Negotiating for a well-deserved raise or promotion (love) vs. accepting the status quo out of fear of losing your job (fear).

Embracing change and adapting to new technologies like AI (love) vs. resisting change due to fear of the unknown (fear).

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance (love) vs. overworking out of fear of falling behind or losing your job (fear).

Doing my first full-length mud race (love), vs. feeling jealous of fit and active people on TV/social media while being a coach potato myself (fear).

How long have you been acting in love?
How long have you been living in fear?

1010 WINS has "You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world." 

My version as a coach is: "A 15-minute conversation can change your life."

BOOK a no-nonsense (free) 15-minute conversation. I promise to be as kind (or tough) as you need me to be.
---
*For anyone wondering, AI did not write that quote. I found myself waxing philosophical recently, and the notion came to me during a free-write/journaling exercise. 

I also have a painting in my home of a human being torn between a heart and a brain, and this feels very apropos...

🫀 vs. 🧠 
Love vs. Fear

AI skeptic? You're actually already using it... but is it working for you?

3/17/2024

 
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How some folks feel about AI (photo by author, not AI-generated)
Have you seen Billy Joel's music video for his new single ‘Turn the Lights Back On’? It was generated largely by AI.

As an executive coach, I don't create music videos, but I do have meaningful experience helping professionals harness the power of AI. I can't say it's been decades-long, because I've only recently started leveraging Artificial Intelligence effectively, but I've observed a common thread of apprehension and curiosity among those who are new to this transformative technology.

What many people don't realize is that AI is already an integral part of their daily lives, quietly working behind the scenes to make tasks more efficient and personalized.

You may not have been aware (or cared), but from the moment you open Google Maps for directions or perform a search, AI algorithms are processing vast amounts of data to provide you with the most relevant information. When Amazon recommends products tailored to your interests, that's AI learning your preferences and making intelligent suggestions. Even the spam filter in your email inbox is a likely leveraging AI, diligently working to keep your messages focused and clutter-free.

I am reminded of my late grandmothers (who each lived until nearly 100 years of age, in Poland) and how fascinated they were with the iPod that I brought on a trip from the US many years ago. I played this incredible song 
with these alarmingly meta lyrics and placed the earphones in their respective ears. They were absolutely amazed that such a little piece of metal (or plastic, or whatever) contained an entire universe of songs, images, and other data.

If my grandmothers did it, you can, too. I'm also reminded that you probably don't ride in a horse and buggy--that you drive a modern car, own a modern phone, and watch TV on a modern-enough screen. So even if you "tell yourself" that you're not good with technology, or you don't use technology, we both know that is probably not true. And that's okay. We all have blind spots.

But back to artificial intelligence specifically. AI is not a force to be feared (though, yes, there are plenty of reasons to criticize, guardrail, and legislate it), but rather an invaluable tool that can enhance your work and personal life in countless ways.

You might be thinking: how is it useful for me? I'm not in tech."

​Well, it's simple: Whether you're brainstorming ideas for a project, organizing your daily or weekly calendar, creating engaging visuals for a presentation, writing a challenging email, conducting research, synopsizing a long meeting, or simply looking to streamline your daily tasks, AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Claude.ai, DALL-E, and Midjourney can help you work smarter and more efficiently. It can even, dare I say, help you be more empathetic to coworkers (email me if you're curious how).

If you're ever feeling stuck, you can just start with ChatGPT or Claude.ai. They're great points of entry (I'm not affiliated with them in any way, and I've used both free and paid versions of their services). But if you are looking for something specialized and specific, that's great, too. For example, you can Google "best AI tools for teachers" or "best AI for writing emails" or "best AI for biotech sales" or whatever comes to you mind, and go from there... the possibilities are endless.

I've trained, coached and introduced many people to the power of AI in just the last few months alone. People's jaws drop--every single time.

Embracing AI doesn't require a deep technical understanding or a complete overhaul of your workflow. Not at all. Indeed, most AI tools are designed with user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for anyone to get started. By approaching AI with a spirit of openness and curiosity, I'm not exaggerating when I say that you can discover how it can help you gain a competitive edge in your field--no matter your job or industry.

I've had the privilege of coaching and training a diverse range of professionals, from finance executives and marketing leaders to HR specialists and everyday individuals, on how to effectively integrate AI into their work and life. I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of AI in delivering tangible results and creating a more fulfilling, productive experience.

If you're ready to explore how AI can benefit you personally and professionally, I invite you to take the first step by booking a focused, 60-minute session AI coaching session with me. During our time together, we'll cut through the noise and develop a tailored action plan to help you harness the power of AI for your specific needs and goals. With a clear roadmap and expert guidance, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the full potential of this game-changing technology.

To schedule your personalized AI strategy session, click here and select a time that works best for you. I look forward to helping you embrace the future of work and empowering you to thrive in an AI-driven world.

The Heart-wrenching stuff...

3/17/2024

 
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Photo by author (not AI generated)
Last March, one the first day of spring, I ambled through one of the most challenging days of my professional life. My beloved Nacho (picture him: a chihuahua-pit bull mix) who had been my faithful 24/7 work-from-home companion + Assistant Career Coach extraordinaire for eight beautiful years, passed away after a sudden one-day-he’s-normal-and-the-next-day-he’s-not illness that left him completely blind and largely incontinent for 3 months.

Three brutal months.


Picture it: dozens of Zoom coaching sessions with high-powered executives each week, with Nacho hyperventilating (or napping) at my feet, and my eyes subtly watering—not just when clients shared truly profound experiences and insights in the session.


The day Nacho transitioned was no doubt a heartbreakingly craptastic moment, and I found myself grappling with the acute pain of loss while also preparing for a TV news appearance--the very next day.


It was a stark reminder of how life can present us with dark moments and exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the same relentless breath. Oh, Universe, I dare not curse you, but you sure know how to thrash us humans about like rag dolls on a rollercoaster…


For a few minutes I considered skipping the news show altogether, but I had been working my behind off for years—years, not months—for such an opportunity, and I decided I couldn’t squander the moment. So, I showed up…

Barely.

If you watch the news reel closely, you can spot the uncharacteristic stress zit that appeared out of nowhere on my neck. I had other things on my mind, I didn’t care, but luck just wasn’t on my side that day.


Many months later, the night before filming the very last episode of the same news series, tragedy struck again: my neighborhood sustained a devastating once-in-a-hundred-year flood. I don’t think I slept 30 minutes that night, and in the morning I had to be in NYC and camera ready once again.

I sat in the corner of a nearby cafe getting ready, holding ice cubes under my ginormous eye bags, and it kinda worked. Well, see for yourself. The smile was real, but so was the exhaustion and fear that you may not have noticed had you been watching the news that day.

This is why I never let a smile deceive me on social media. Plenty of my new clients arrive at my proverbial doorstep, their LinkedIn profiles picture-perfect, but their work lives (and personal lives) in shambles, or just not in a great place.


If you’ve ever had an “IRL” conversation with me, you know there’s more to that iceberg than meets the eye, but let’s leave those stories for another day (I’m an open book, so feel free to say hello and ask anything you wish to ask).
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    About Dawid

    Poly-creative and complex human who fills up his days as a career coach, executive coach, resume writer, and personal brand / communications specialist. Conqueror of excuses and doubts. Bakes a mean éclair and snaps thought-provoking photos, but is best known for helping clients achieve personal + professional growth and fulfillment. 

    Has met the world's best executive coaches and career coaches, and has learned a ton from them.

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