Austin Belcak

I Teach People How To Land Amazing Jobs Without Applying Online // Ready To Land A Great Role In Less Time (With A $44K+ Raise)? Head To 👉 CultivatedCulture.com/Coaching

CultivatedCulture.com/Coaching // I teach people how to land jobs they love in today's market without traditional experience and without applying online.

In 2013, I graduated from college with a biology degree, terrible grades, and a job in healthcare that paid me next to nothing.

Two years later, I scored interviews at Google, Microsoft, & Twitter and I accepted an offer from Microsoft with a $70,000 raise

All without “traditional” experience and without applying online.

Today, I teach people (just like you!) how to use the same system to land their dream job without applying online.

That system has helped thousands of job seekers land offers at places like Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Twitter, Uber, Spotify, Deloitte, Accenture, Sequoia Capital, Tesla, SpaceX, ESPN, The NFL, & more.

The people we work with don't just land offers at great companies. They also get:

💰 Average Raise: $44,000+ 
🧭 Average Time To Offer: 3.5 Months
⭐ Satisfaction Rating: 9.52/10
🤝 End-To-End Job Search Support
✅ 3X+ ROI Guarantee

Ready to land your dream job? 

Head to 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.𝗰𝗼𝗺/𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 and book a *FREE* 30 minute Career Clarity Call.

These calls are 30 minute, one-on-one sessions with our team where you'll learn:

1. The exact reason why your current job search strategy isn't working

2. Why traditional hiring processes are broken (and what you can do instead)

3. How to overcome the biggest challenge that's preventing you from achieving your job search goals

4. How to pick and choose where you land job interviews (seriously!)

5. Exactly what you need to do to land your dream job and salary

Don't just take my word for it though. Here's what a few of our clients have to say about working with us:

“I recently left a job with nothing else lined up. My visa was tied to that job so I had 60 days to get hired and land visa sponsorship. Austin helped me land a Program Manager role at a leading tech company, a 30% raise, AND H1-B sponsorship.” - Jasleen

"I was unemployed and close to losing my house. Working with Cultivated Culture helped me land multiple interviews and two offers for senior-level roles in less than 70 days." - Karina

"I spent years struggling to take the transition from vendor to full time employee. Austin helped me land a job in Product Marketing at a Fortune 30 tech company with a $40,000+ raise." - Amyr

Learn more and book your free Career Clarity Call here 👉 CultivatedCulture.com/Coaching

Founder

I teach people how to use unconventional strategies to land jobs they love in today's market (without connections, without traditional "experience," and without applying online).

My strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., Fast Company, and more. My students have landed interviews and offers at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Uber, Deloitte, Accenture, ESPN and more. 

Ready to take your career to the next level? Check out my step-by-step breakdown of the process that has helped hundreds of people like you land amazing jobs at the world's best companies (it's totally free): https://cultivatedculture.com/dreamjob/

Want to chat? Shoot me an email at austin@cultivatedculture.com

Cultivated Culture is a carbon negative business. Our contributions help remove 60+ tons of CO2Es from the atmosphere and plant over 2,000 new trees every year 🌲

7 ChatGPT Prompts (That Will Get You Better Results Than A $500 Resume Rewrite):

1. The Achievement Extractor

Most people struggle to tie measurable outcomes to their work.

Grab the content from one of your roles and ask:

“What are 10 different ways I could quantify the impact that I made in this role?”

Follow up with, “how do I get that data?” if you don’t have it.

2. The Jargon Eliminator

Jargon muddles value.

Take a bullet that feels overly complex.

Then ask ChatGPT:

“Rewrite this resume bullet for a non-technical hiring manager: [Insert Bullet]”

Alternatively, try: “Rewrite this bullet at a 5th grade reading level without losing the impact of the value: [Insert Bullet]”

3. The Skills Translator

Changing careers?

ChatGPT can help you find gold in your transferable skills.

Upload a copy of your resume, then ask ChatGPT:

“I’m switching from [Industry A] to [Industry B]. Review my resume and translate my existing skills from [Industry A] to their counterparts in [Industry B].”

4. The Action Amplifier

Language matters.

Don’t let weak verbiage dampen your value.

Instead, upload your resume to ChatGPT and ask:

‘Identify all the ”weak” verbs in my resume, then replace them with stronger verbs. For example, adjusting “Responsible for” to “Spearheaded.”’

5. The Gap Explainer

Career gaps can feel scary to explain.

ChatGPT can help. First, give it context:

“I have a 7 month gap on my resume due to layoffs. I’ve spent that time skill building via Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning.”

Then upload your resume and ask ChatGPT to reframe your gap as skill building.

6. The Role Customizer

Before applying to a new role?

Upload your resume and the role to ChatGPT and ask:

“Here is my resume along with a job I want to apply for. Rewrite my resume so it’s personalized for the skills, experience, and value the role is looking for. Share the specific changes you made.”

Now you can see the updates and make any adjustments before applying.

7. The Highlight Reel Generator

The first few lines of your resume are the most valuable real estate.

Don’t waste them.

Upload your resume, the job description, then ask ChatGPT:

“Here’s the job description for a role I’m applying to. Which bullets from my resume should I showcase in a 3–5 bullet “highlight reel” at the top?”

🎮 Robert was unemployed for months.

We helped him reframe his gaps, extract his wins, and tailor using these same prompts, he landed an Associate Manager role in gaming industry role in <90 days.

👉 Want the same blueprint? Book a free call here: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 These 7 ChatGPT Prompts Beat A $500 Resume Rewrite:

The 5:50:5 Method Job Search Method (For More Interviews & Offers):

Consistency is a cornerstone of job search success.

But with jobs, friends, family, and all of life’s stressors?

It’s not always easy to do.

Enter the 5:50:5 Method.

It’s a simple framework to help you stay consistent with the job search so you can see better results.

Here’s how it works:

What Does 5:50:5 Stand For?

It’s simple:

5 job search tasks.

50 minutes per day.

5 days per week.

The tasks you choose are important!

Here are the ones we recommend:

Task #1: Apply To 3 Jobs

Not just any jobs.

Find ones that truly fit the criteria you’re looking for in a new role.

Then personalize your materials!

Use ResyMatch to score your resume vs. the job description and make the recommended updates.

Use ChatGPT to craft a personalized cover letter, then review and edit it.

Task #2: Network With 3 New People

Find 3 new contacts who could influence your ability to get hired at a target company.

Brainstorm a few ways you could reach out to them.

Aim to add value.

Then press “Send” on those messages and log them in your networking tracker.

Task #3: Touch Base With 3 Existing Connections

Think on the contacts you’ve already connected with.

Choose 3 of them and brainstorm ways you can follow up with value:

Mention a recent news story
Ask how a project is going
Etc.

Keeping those relationships warm is key!

Task #4: Comment On 3 LinkedIn Posts

Commenting is one of the single best ways to get visibility on LinkedIn.

Scroll through your feed until you find a post that resonates with you.

Leave a comment that’s genuinely supportive, positive in nature, and aims to add value.

Repeat two more times. 

Task #5: Comment On Target Company Posts

Did you know employers can see if you’ve comment on content from their Company page?

Review the Company pages for your target companies.

For any with recent posts?

Leave a thoughtful, value-driven comment.

Do This 5 Days / Week

Job searching isn’t a 24/7 activity.

Take the weekend off to recharge your batteries.

Then do this the other 5 days. 

That’ll net you:

15 applications
15 potential connections
15 relationships continued
15+ comments for more visibility

Every single week.

⬇️ Want to see how the 5:50:5 can help you land jobs 40% faster with a 7x raise?

 👉 Grab a free 30 min Clarity Call with our team and we'll show you how: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 The 5-50-5 Method For More Job Offers:

8 Steps To Personalize Your Resume For Any Role (In Less Than 10 Minutes):

Personalized resumes win more job interviews.

But most job seekers don’t know how to do it quickly and effectively.

Here are 8 steps to personalize your resume for any role (in less than 10 minutes):

1. Start With A Master Resume

This is a version of your resume where you have all of the content and experience from your career.

The idea is to keep it in one place so you can easily save a new version of this doc and adjust your experience.

I recommend creating yours in ResyBuild.io for easy duplicating and editing.

2. The 10-Minute Optimization Process

When you see a new role you want to apply to:

- Save a new version of your resume
- Remove irrelevant content
- Identify and weave in keywords
- Update your Highlight Reel

Let’s break down each of these into more detail:

3. Save A New Version Of Your Resume

When you see a role you want to apply to, save a new version of your resume.

Use this naming convention for easy referencing:

[Name] Resume - Job Title - Company - Date

4. Remove Irrelevant Content

Review the job description and identify the key responsibilities and goals for the role.

Next, review your resume and remove any content that isn’t relevant to this particular role.

If you’re struggling, try uploading your resume and the JD to ChatGPT and asking it to remove irrelevant content.

5. Identify Keywords & Skills

Pull up the job description and copy the content.

Head to ResyMatch.io and scan your resume vs. the job description.

Identify the top 5–10 skills where you have a “Skill Gap.”

Keep these handy.

6. Personalize Your Content

Go through the bullets on your resume and identify areas where you can naturally weave in your target keywords.

How many should you add? 

Aim to close the “Skill Gap” from your ResyMatch scan for the top 5–10 keywords.

7a. Update Your “Highlight Reel”

Every resume should have a “Highlight Reel.”

This is a section at the top of your resume where you include the 3–5 most relevant pieces of experience.

You can (and should!) customize it for each role you apply to.

More on these at: https://lnkd.in/eUn8D4tx

7b. Update Your “Highlight Reel” (Continued)

First, update the section title to align with your target job. 

Ex: [Job Title] Summary

Next, update your bullets so you have the most relevant experience up top.

Finally, layer in any additional keywords you’re missing.

8. Run A Final ResyMatch Scan

Before you apply, run a final scan in ResyMatch.

Make any adjustments you need to get a score of 70–75+ (you don’t need to go higher).

Once you’re there, your resume is fully personalized and ready to be submitted!

🔵 Our client Jeff used our ResyMatch x Highlight Reel framework for each role he applied to. That led to a dream job offer at Amazon.

👉 Want us to apply the same resume personalization system to your search? Book a free 1:1 call: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

8 Steps To Personalize Your Resume In Under 10 Minutes:

This daily LinkedIn strategy will help you win more jobs.

The best part? It takes less than 10 minutes per day:

Context: What Is It?

This strategy revolves around comments.

Comments on LinkedIn are networking and visibility at scale.

But only if you use them the right way.

I call that way "Value Driven Commenting."

Here's how it works:

1. Value Driven Comments Are A Triple Threat

Investing in daily Value Driven Comments (VDCs) is a 3-for-1 deal.

They help you:

1. Get noticed by post authors
2. Get noticed by the author's audience
3. Find your own voice on a platform

Best of all?

They take 10-15 mins / day.

2. Map Out Your Prospect Criteria

You want to aim for a minimum of 20 contacts.

These people should meet 3 criteria:

- They work at one of your target companies
- They can influence the hiring decision for your target role
- They consistently share content on LinkedIn

3. Use LinkedIn To Find Them

Here's how:

- Go to LinkedIn
- Search for role-related keywords
- Click the "Posts" filter
- Click "All Filters" > "Author Company"
- Add target companies

Now you have a list of people at your target companies writing about your target job.

4. Bookmark Their Post Feed

It's a pain to click through individual profiles to find new posts.

Do this instead:

- Go to their LinkedIn profile
- Under "Activity," click "Show All"
- Click on "Posts"
- Bookmark the page!

(Big thanks to Justin Welsh for that tip).

5. Leave VDCs On New Posts

When a contact shares a new post?

Leave a Value Driven Comment!

Don't write, "love this" or "thanks for sharing."

Instead, try this 3 part formula:

- Tag the post author
- Reiterate their point
- Add your own unique value

Aim for 2-4 sentences.

6. VDC Example

Here's a quick example of a VDC I recently left.

The parent post was focused on 4 types of content any creator could use to build a following.

I replied with:

"Start with these and create 10 posts for each.

Share 1-2 per day.

When you're close to running out, analyze the top 10% of your posts.

What topics, styles, and deliveries did best?

Write 40 more posts incorporating those insights.

That's how you grow!"

My comment got 32 reactions and a bunch of replies.

7. Rinse & Repeat Daily

VDCs work best when performed consistently over time.

When you show up daily with positive support?

The post author recognizes that.

So does their audience.

I'd recommend planning for 2-4 weeks of consistent VDCs before you see any reciprocity.

Happy commenting!

📣 Our client Rose used VDCs and landed a $15k raise in 90 days.

This is just one of many strategies we teach our clients to help them get an edge on LinkedIn.

We'll show you the rest on a free Clarity Call: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 One LinkedIn Strategy For More Job Offers:

7 Tips For Managing Rejection In Your Job Search:

1. Realize You’ll Hear “No” Most Of The Time

Job searching is a game of tails.

This means that you’re going to be told some form of “No” the vast majority of the time.

But the upside from getting a single “Yes” is large enough that it can outweigh hundreds of “Nos.”

Realizing this will help normalize all of the “Nos” you may be running into.

Keep your eye on the prize.

2. Set The Right Expectations

Continuing that thread, take it one step further and use data to see how many “Nos” you should expect.

Look up benchmarks for:

 - Online application reply rates
 - Networking message reply rates
 - Interview success rates
 - Etc.

That data will show you just how many “Nos” are normal before you get that coveted “Yes.”

3. Rejections As Lessons, Not Failures

When a rejection happens, reflect on what you could have done differently, or better.

Oftentimes, rejections mean we’re missing a piece of the puzzle or we need to level up in some area.

Maybe it’s how your resume conveys your value, how you’re approaching networking, etc.

If you find the lesson in each rejection, it will take you one step closer to success.

4. Track & Gamify The Process

This is what helped me overcome rejection in my search.

I started tracking every aspect of my job search (# apps, # networking messages, replies, interviews, etc).

I leveraged the data to A/B test different strategies at every stage.

That meant each “No” transitioned from a failure to a data point I could use to tangibly improve my process.

5. Find A Community Of Active Job Seekers

Oftentimes, when we’re doing hard things, we just need to know that we’re not alone.

Finding a community of like-minded job seekers can make all the difference.

It could be one you build on your own or one that you join.

But having a space to vent, share ideas, get help, and connect with others is key.

6. Take The Space You Need

You’re a human being, which means you are crazy resilient. 

But also that you have a limited capacity for handling negative emotions.

If the rejections are piling up and feel like too much?

Take a day off. Take two! Do something just for you.

All of the opportunities will be here when you jump back in.

7. Leave The Door Open

If you’re rejected during an interview process, don’t cut ties.

Instead, message everyone you engaged with, thank them for their time, wish them well with the hire, and ask to stay in touch.

This is how I landed my job at Microsoft. It’s also how many of our clients have landed offers.

Rejection isn’t permanent. It’s simply one more step in the journey.

🧠 Managing rejection is easier with the right system and community behind you.

We help peoples bounce back faster and land offers they’re excited about, while offering support along the way.

 👉 Book a free 30-min Clarity Call and let’s map it to your search: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

 7 Tips For Managing Rejection In Your Job Search:

Helping 9-5 pros build their Corporate Offramp | Land 1st client in a 1-person business you control

You’ve outgrown your 9–5. 
Now what? 

You’ve built a solid career. Maybe even a great one. But lately… 

The Sunday scaries hit a little harder.
You keep wondering, “Is this really it?”

You don’t hate your job. You’ve just outgrown it. And the money is the only part that serves you. 

You’ve done everything right.
But you still feel boxed in by meetings, org charts, and the constant anxiety of “restructuring.”

You know your skills are worth more – but no one’s shown you how to turn them into something of your own.

You're not trying to blow up your life.
You just want to know it’s possible.

That’s what the ‘Corporate Offramp’ is for.

It’s my step-by-step system to help high-performing professionals:
→ Package their skills into a client-ready offer
→ Build a simple audience of people ready to work with them
→ Land their first client in 120 days—without quitting their job

You’ll start earning outside your 9–5 and finally take control of what’s next.

This isn’t about quitting tomorrow.
It’s about progress. Building something – before you need it. 
And when you’re ready to start having control over your time. 

What others are saying:

“What really stands out about Brian is his authenticity. And his responsiveness is in a league of its own. His mix of broad entrepreneurial knowledge, specific expertise in areas like LinkedIn strategy, and straight-talking advice puts him at the top of my list.” 
– Melissa, ex-ed tech exec

“I started building while still in my 9-5, and landed my first client within 3 months (..before being let go by my company!).”
– Cassie, former tech manager

Here’s how to get started:

📥 Grab the Free 5-Day Solo Business Blueprint in my Featured section – and get the exact roadmap to land your first client without quitting your job (or even changing your LinkedIn profile). 

🎯 Want a faster path?
Join me for the Fast Track to Freedom Workshop – where I’ll walk you through:

• What to focus on (hint: not your website)
• Where 90% of your effort should go
• How to build an audience (without posting daily)
• The path to your first paid client – in 120 days

🎟 Save your seat: simplemanguide.com/workshop

Your 9–5 got you started.
Your next move is on your terms.

Brian Gallagher

The real risk isn’t leaving your job.

It’s staying just long enough that the comfort…

Becomes overwhelming.

People frame risk as walking away from stability. But stability’s not real. Just ask the people who thought they were ‘safe’ at Amazon or Microsoft.

The real danger is slower. Quieter.

You start caring a little less. You’re no longer motivated by what you're doing. You move through your days on autopilot.

You get lulled into sleep. Unsure what even makes you feel alive anymore.

You let people steal your time with fake urgency and pointless meetings.
You tell yourself you’ll make a move when things calm down.

But that moment never comes.

I remember when it started happening to me. The pay got better. The hours eased up.

On paper, everything looked fine.

But I didn’t like what the years ahead looked like.

I watched people higher up the ladder still asking permission for the simple things — a doctor’s appointment, a softball game, a random Tuesday.

And I knew if I didn’t draw a line, I might never draw one. I’d wait for the next bonus. Then the next. Then the next.

And 20 years later, I’d be so deep in it that walking away would feel impossible.

That’s how comfort works.
It feels just good enough that you stop questioning it.

Comfort doesn’t just keep you in the job.
It keeps you from becoming the person who’d ever leave it.

It’s a slow slide toward a life you never chose.

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In my last role, I was a VP in investment banking.

On paper? Looked great. But in real life… 

Yikes.

I’ll admit – the instant status it gave me when I told people what I did made me feel important. 

But I was constantly stressed. 

If I wasn’t at the office, I was dreading the next email ping from a managing director. 

Why? Because I had no visibility as to how my week would look. 

One minute I had a long weekend train trip planned. And an email ping could mean having to cancel everything. 

Honestly, it was chaos. 
But I kept telling myself it was “worth it.” 

Everyone seemed impressed with my title, so I was on the right path. That’s what I thought. 

Eventually I caved and said yes to something different. 

I started a fitness studio concept with a friend (while still at my job). 

Just a few classes a week. Nothing fancy.
But it was ours. We made the calls.

It didn’t make me rich. And unfortunately, it didn’t become my forever thing. 

But besides being the most fun I’ve ever had ‘working’, it did something else for me: 

It broke the cycle.

And once I got a taste of calling my own shots,
I couldn’t go back.

Now I help other people build something of their own too.

Because I’ve experienced both sides: 

Waking up dreading the work day. 
Waking up excited about what I get to build. 

And know I’m certain on which I’ll keep choosing.

I did a breathwork session last week.
Two words kept repeating.
And they stayed with me all week.

Kindness.
Vulnerability.

Two simple words. But they are the difference between forcing connection and creating real connection.

Kindness reminded me that everyone I talk to is carrying something I cannot see.

Clients. Prospects. Friends. Family members.
People on here scrolling through their day.

When I remember that, I show up better. My coaching is better. My conversations are better. My patience is better.

Vulnerability reminded me that the people I trust most are the ones who let me see the full picture.

Not the “everything is amazing” picture.
The human one.

So I am choosing to bring more of that into how I show up here.

And I will start today.

I am going through a breakup.

It has been difficult, but being around family, and keeping my schedule full, helps.
Movement helps. And so does work.

And during that breathwork session, something small set me off, and I realized how much I had been holding.

And yes, for a bit, I pulled back on some things while I got my footing again (work included).

But this experience is giving me something important.

A deeper appreciation for how much our personal lives shape the way we show up in our work.

A deeper understanding of what my clients feel when they are trying to build something while holding the rest of their life together.

And a deeper commitment to lead with kindness and vulnerability in every part of my life. Not just my business.

I want the people who follow my work to feel that they are seen, not judged.

And I want them to know that building a solo business is not separate from real life. It happens inside real life.

Work does not happen in a vacuum. Life does not pause while you build something meaningful. 

Who you are matters just as much (if not more) as what you do.

That breathwork session reminded me of that.

And it marked a change how I plan to show up here moving forward.

My brother’s dog, Norman, always helps too :)

There’s a point where learning stops helping — and starts hiding you. Brad was there too…

He’d been reading, thinking, and planning for months, but none of this got him any closer to his goals. 

Until he decided to stop collecting information and start building momentum.

One small shift – a few simple strategies, some accountability, and the courage to share his ideas publicly – changed everything.

The moment that started it all? He hit publish.

From there, things opened up fast.
Conversations he’d never had before.

And new confidence hammered home the realization that he didn’t have to get it perfect to make progress.

That confidence led to real connections, online and in real life.

Soon, Brad was turning his interest in health and leadership into work that actually paid him.

In fact, he’s earned income from three separate and distinct businesses he’s started. 

And now, if a layoff ever came, he wouldn’t panic. He’d have options. And the proof that he can create his own.

You don’t need more ideas. Or more knowledge. You need a first step.

If you’re ready, send me a note and I’ll share what that could look like for you.

The most motivated I’ve ever felt in my work didn’t come after a big win or a big paycheck.

It came on an ordinary morning in New York, with a plan, a coffee, and a blank page.

I remember the first time that feeling hit me.

I’d just gathered feedback on my first product – a simple ebook on slimming down in 30 days. I knew what to fix. The best days were still ahead.

I’d wake up, head to Gregory’s Coffee on 31st and 6th, order a cold brew (jet fuel!), and get creating.

It was the first thing I sold completely on my own. No extra work to deliver.

And when that first email pinged – a stranger had bought my book while I was sitting on my couch reading – I’ll never forget it.

It wasn’t about the size of the sale. It was about the shift it created.

I found the thing that I’d wake up early to build. And I had the plan to do it. 

Finding that bridge is a massive turning point. 

That’s when the work becomes exciting.
That’s when building something of your own becomes the most motivating thing you’ve ever done.

That’s when you stop being an employee in your own career. 

And start being the CEO of it.

At some point, you stop saying you’ll figure it out later – and realize you’ve been circling the same thought for years:

I want to start my own thing, but I don’t know where to begin.

And then the questions start to pile up: 

What would I even do?
How do I start without risking what I’ve built?
What if I fail and regret it?

So, you wait. I see it all the time.

People reach out, we talk about what their next move could look like, and then they disappear. A year later, sometimes more, they come back – same job, same questions, same stuck feeling.

Sure, they saved money by waiting. But they lost something more valuable. 

Time.

Until one day, they look up and realize a decade has gone by in a job they knew stopped fitting years ago.

I get it. I was there too. 

At first, there’s doubt.

You scroll through other people’s posts, quietly wondering if you could ever do what they’re doing. You change jobs, hoping a new title will make it feel different. It doesn’t.

Then comes curiosity.

You start exploring what your skills are really worth. You tinker with ideas. Maybe you even earn a little money on the side. Enough to prove it’s possible.

After that, something subtle changes.

You stop asking if you’re capable and start noticing opportunities everywhere.

People ask for your help. You begin to realize your job isn’t your identity anymore. It’s just your funding.

Eventually, confidence replaces doubt.

Your one-person business starts bringing in real income. You feel in control again.

And one morning, you sit down at your laptop and think, this is my life now.

That’s when you understand: you had it in you all along. 

You just needed a plan.

If you’re somewhere between doubt and confidence, the live workshop starts in a few hours – a free working session to map your first steps toward your off-ramp.

Join us here → https://lnkd.in/dbBue_6h

I had an eye-opening call with someone last week. 

It made me realize what a job interview really is… 

It’s an audition for your own career. 

The person on the call said: 
“I’m done. I never want to go through another interview again.”

They’re tired of pretending and of being told no by people who never really saw them.

The anxiety. The prep. The “hope you get lucky.”

The rounds of interviews where you give your best self, only to get ghosted, rejected, or land in a role nothing like what you were promised.

You’re totally auditioning. And I remember that feeling well.

Always second-guessing and doubting myself. 
Wondering if one wrong answer or one bored hiring manager was going to cost me the life I was hoping for.

That’s why twenty years without a job interview feels like a milestone.

It’s not just freedom from a boss, but freedom from depending on someone else – for them to reply, to notice, to choose you.

You start moving on your own terms again.

Building your own business gives you a different kind of safety. The kind that comes when you stop waiting to be chosen.

That moment when you realize you’re done interviewing is quiet, but it changes everything.

If you’re there now, I’ve put something together that might help:

Free workshop tomorrow → https://lnkd.in/dbBue_6h

And just maybe – you’ve already had your last job interview.

“It’s been four months and I still feel stuck.”
Someone told me this the other day.
Here’s what many underestimate when starting out: 

Just how easy it is to waste time trying to figure everything out on your own. 

And when building while still employed, it’s not helpful to see 15 different paths. All promising places to start, but unsure as to which is most viable. Which leads to revenue fastest. Which has the least speed bumps. 

So what do I see most people do? 

Dabble. Start researching. Build a website. 
Try one thing, then second-guess themselves and switch. 

And four months go by. Then six. Then a year. 

And somewhere quietly in the background, they’re thinking:
“I thought I’d be further along by now.”

Time spent stuck doesn’t just slow you down.
It starts to convince you maybe you weren’t meant for this.

You can figure it out alone. Lots of people do. 
But it usually takes them 18–24 months of guessing, circling, rebuilding, and trying to reverse-engineer the right sequence.

Or…

You get help. You get a map. You talk to someone who’s already walked the road.
And you collapse that timeline down to a fraction of what it would’ve been.

Some of my clients have signed their first client in less time than most people spend thinking about how to start.

Most people don’t fail.
They just run out of time and energy they didn’t know they were burning.

So if you’re four months in and still stuck, nothing’s wrong with you.

You’re most likely trying to navigate a process in the dark that someone could’ve lit up in a single conversation.

The question is no longer:

Can you do it alone?

It’s:

How much is the extra 12–18 months worth to you?

The hard part isn’t choosing.
It’s what happens before that: 

The limbo.

You go back and forth, trying to anticipate what you’ll lose with each option. You imagine every scenario, weigh every angle, and start thinking in circles.

Eventually, the pressure of not deciding becomes heavier than the decision itself.

And in the middle of all that, it’s easy to lose sight of what you might gain – not just from the path you choose, but from the clear vision and calm that comes after you choose it.

Once the decision is made, things get lighter. You can focus again. You’re no longer trying to live in two futures at once. You can stop running through pros and cons and finally begin shaping a plan around the direction you picked.

Starting a business is like this for a lot of people.

They think about it for months. Sometimes years. They wait for perfect timing, or a sign. They watch others do it but tell themselves they’re not quite ready.

What could be a season of momentum turns into a season of idleness. Moving – but not really going anywhere. 

Either way, you’re expending energy.

One way, you’re using it to your advantage.
The other – it just drains you. While nothing changes in your life.

And the longer you wait, the heavier it gets.

If you’ve been struggling to figure out the right next steps, and feel like you’ve just been swirling around in uncertainty… 

I’m hosting a free, live workshop this Tuesday to help lay out the roadmap for you. 

It’s for the ones who feel the pull to build something real – but also value the stability they’ve worked hard for.

We’ll cover:
• How to craft your elevator pitch
• Who to help, and how to reach them
• What to do first to land your first client

Join us here: https://lnkd.in/dbBue_6h

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The Battle

Austin Belcak

Brian Gallagher

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taplio

The Battle

Austin Belcak

Brian Gallagher

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Austin Belcak's LinkedIn Performance

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Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreAustin Belcak's LinkedIn Performance