You're a high performer, working hard, pushing through. 

You're expected to lead teams, hit ambitious quarterly targets, and make high-impact decisions. 

All while trying to:

• Have a life and be present for your family
• Eat healthy between back-to-back meetings
• Keep your energy up without reaching for another coffee
• Sleep well with racing thoughts about tomorrow’s pitch
• Maintain relationships despite rescheduling dinner plans

But your energy is depleting faster than your to-do list.

In 2019, I was you - the typical corporate high-achiever. Leading global change initiatives. Always "on." Ignoring every signal my body sent. The perfect professional on the outside, exhausted on the inside.

My wake-up call wasn't gentle - it forced me to rethink everything. But I never imagined that burnout would lead to my biggest breakthrough.

And that breakthrough sparked a mission. I founded Rising Yellow with one belief: We all deserve more energy, and every day is a new opportunity to make better decisions for our health.

Here’s how I turned it around:

• Took full ownership of my health journey
• Stopped trying to fix everything at once
• Turned every setback into an experiment
• Studied functional medicine and behavior science

Now, I guide professionals to do the same and reclaim their energy and integrate healthier habits into their demanding lives. I leverage my 15+ years of corporate experience and expertise in functional medicine and coaching to co-create practical, personalized solutions. 

Most people know what they “should” do. But the real challenge is closing the gap between your "intentions" and "actions".

Interested?

📌3 Ways to Work Together:

1. 1:1 Coaching Program 
   • 5 focused sessions
   • Personalized health goals
   • Sustainable habit building

2. Group Coaching Program - The Energy Shift
   • Deep dive into 5 lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, sleep, relationships, rest, and more) over six weeks
   • Weekly actionable strategies
   • Community support

3. Corporate Inquiries
   • Project work
   • Brand partnerships 
   • Training/Keynotes/Team Workshops

🎁 Free Resources
   • The Energy Shift Newsletter 
   • The Peak Energy Guide 
   • LinkedIn content

✨ Remember: we’re not here just to get through the day - life feels better when you have the energy to enjoy it.

Ready to collaborate? Let’s connect and build a plan that works for you. I’m one DM away. 💛

More info is available here:

https://risingyellow.com/

Gözde İmamoğlu

We're all dopamine addicts. 

The question is what kind.

Fast dopamine is easy. Scroll, click, swipe. The hit is instant. The crash is guaranteed. And five minutes later, you're back for more.

Slow dopamine is different. It’s the reward you feel after finishing a long book. 

The pride in cooking a meal from scratch. The glow from a real conversation. It asks more of you, but the reward actually lasts.

Thank you to my friend Colby Kultgen for this reflection. Make sure to follow him. 

Here’s the problem:
Most of us are so hooked on fast dopamine that slow dopamine barely registers anymore. 

Silence feels uncomfortable. 
Boredom feels painful.

If something isn’t instantly stimulating, we bail.

The solution isn’t to try and go cold turkey.
It's to slowly change where you’re sourcing your dopamine from.

This week, pick one fast dopamine habit and replace it with something from this list. 

Just one swap. 

Instead of scrolling before bed, read a chapter. 
Instead of background noise on your walk, try silence. Instead of takeout, cook one meal.

Your brain will resist. It'll tell you this is boring, that you need your phone, that you should quit. That's not failure. That's withdrawal.

Stay with it anyway.

Then next week, replace another one. And another. 

You're not trying to be perfect. You're trying to retrain your system to recognize what satisfaction actually feels like.

The shift happens slowly. But it does happen.

🔄 Repost if it resonates.

Gözde Imamoglu

Follow me for career, well-being, and personal growth strategies | 15+ years driving change for people & workplaces | Get the energy to match your success | Board-certified functional medicine health coach

I used to think leading meant directing everything.

Turns out, people thrive when you let them own it.

In the past I’d give detailed instructions, check in constantly, and make sure everything was done “the right way.”

It drained me - and everyone around me. 

Then someone on my team took a work package I’d been overthinking and delivered something far better than what I had in mind.

All I did was give them the goal and step back.
That’s when I realized when someone owns the outcome they start thinking differently. 

They care. They go extra mile.

Here’s how I build trust that creates ownership:

1/ Start with the why, not the how
↳ Explain the goal and why it matters. Skip the step-by-step instructions.

2/ Set clear expectations upfront
↳ Define what success looks like. Be specific about deliverables and deadlines.

3/ Give resources, not directions
↳ Ask "What do you need to succeed?" instead of "Here's exactly what to do."

4/ Step back and resist the urge to jump in
↳ Let them figure it out. Challenges build ownership.

5/ Celebrate the outcome, not the method
↳ If they hit the goal their way, that's a win. Period.

The less I control the how, the better the results become. People exceeded expectations I didn’t know I had.

Leadership isn’t about control.

It’s about empowerment. 

P.S. Does your leadership give people energy? (Be honest 👀 )

🔄 Repost if you believe in trust-based leadership.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on leadership, growth, and high-energy teams.

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

We often try to earn self-worth.

More hours; more certifications. 
More, more, more, more. 

Thank you to my friend Dr. Heather Maietta for this reflection. Make sure to follow her. 

A title change might make us feel good in the moment.

But it doesn’t erase feelings of low self-worth. 

Choosing to see yourself as credible before the world fully does.

That’s self-love. 💛 

Self-love shows up in high-impact moves like:

➠ Not minimizing your wins
➠ Replacing “I got lucky” with “I earned this”
➠ Owning your ideas
➠ Negotiating from a place of self-respect

I make it sound simple.
But it’s not.

Practicing this type of advocacy creates a different relationship with yourself.

One that lets you become the person you’ve been working so hard to be.

Give yourself a big hug. 🫶 
You deserve it!

🔄 Send this to your network if you agree! 
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on leadership, growth, and high-energy teams.
 
Quote: Brené Brown

How to stay calm when pressure hits.

Use these 9 phrases👇 

When deadlines hit and stakeholders push for answers, most of us flip into panic mode.

 ↳ We react too fast.
 ↳ We agree too quickly.
 ↳ We let emotion take control.

The real difference between thriving and surviving at work?

The ability to pause before you respond.

Here are 9 phrases that help you stay in control during high-stress moments:

1️⃣ “Give me a second to think this through.”
 ↳ Take three slow breaths to reset your focus.

2️⃣ “I want to make sure I get this right.”
 ↳ Plant both feet on the ground to steady your nervous system.

3️⃣ “Help me understand what’s most important.”
 ↳ Lean in slightly to stay engaged while you process.

4️⃣ “I can sense this feels urgent, what’s the real deadline?”
 ↳ Notice where tension shows up in your body.

5️⃣ “Let’s zoom out for a minute.”
 ↳ Picture the conversation from a distance to reduce emotional load.

6️⃣ “I need a moment to wrap my head around this.”
 ↳ Count to five before replying.

7️⃣ “What does a good outcome look like for you?”
 ↳ Visualize the desired result to shift into problem-solving mode.

8️⃣ “Let me repeat what I’m hearing to make sure I’ve got it.”
 ↳ Paraphrasing buys time and creates clarity.

9️⃣ “What are our options here?”
 ↳ Drop your shoulders and unclench your jaw.

You get to choose how you show up - especially under pressure.

P.S. Which phrase will you try this week?

🔄 Repost to help someone handle pressure better.
💛 Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on protecting your energy and mental space.

Perspective is your hidden power.
99% of people never use it.

During the hardest year of my life, 
I thought everything was falling apart.

Years later, I realized
everything was falling into place.
I just couldn't see it yet.

Perspective isn't about being positive.
It's about being precise.

Thank you to Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey for this inspiring reflection. Follow her. 

Watch what happens when you shift your lens:

1. Obstacles become opportunities
Every closed door teaches you to build your own.

2. Struggles become strength
The weight that nearly breaks you builds muscles you didn't know you had.

3. Setbacks become stepping stones
Each failure shows you what doesn't work.

4. Rejection becomes resilience
Every "no" redirects you. It’s protection in disguise.

5. Shadows reveal hidden truth
Your shadows hold your compass. Pay attention.

6. Mistakes become masterclasses
Your biggest errors become your greatest teachings.

7. Fears become fuel for courage
What scares you most shows you where to grow.

8. Pain becomes purpose
Your deepest wounds can be the most valuable gifts.

After decades of working with leaders around the world, I've learned:

The hardest season prepares you for your highest calling.

This isn't wishful thinking.
It’s strategic thinking.

Nothing is happening to you.
Everything is happening for you.

You just need the right lens.

Your current struggle isn’t your story's end.
It's your story's turning point.

Choose your lens wisely.
Your future depends on it.

Share this with someone who needs it.

🔄 Repot if you found this valuable.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more insights.

You can optimize 100% of your calendar...
and still run on 0% energy.

You know that feeling when you worked all day…and still don’t feel accomplished?

That’s not a time problem.
That’s an energy problem.

Here are five practical ways to manage and protect your energy this week:

1️⃣ Map your energy peaks
Track when you feel most focused, creative, or drained for 3 days. Then schedule tasks accordingly: deep work during peaks, admin during dips.

2️⃣ Build in micro-recovery
Between meetings or tasks, take 5 minutes to step away. Walk, breathe, stretch. Small resets prevent big crashes.

3️⃣ Audit your energy drains
What tasks, people, or habits leave you depleted? Eliminate, delegate, or batch them when your energy is higher.

4️⃣ Protect your morning momentum
Don't start your day reacting (emails, Slack, social media). Start with intention. One meaningful task before the chaos begins.

5️⃣ End your day deliberately
Close loops. Write down tomorrow's top 3 priorities. Your brain needs permission to stop. Give it that signal.

When you manage energy instead of time, you don't just get more done. You feel better doing it.

P.S. This builds on my circadian rhythm framework. If you haven't grabbed my free guide, it breaks down exactly when to do what for maximum energy → https://lnkd.in/dSyrer5Z

🔄 Repost this if you're done with burnout productivity.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on energy, performance, and working smarter.

5 Practical Steps To Protect Your Energy All Week

I made the most intentional gift list. 🎁

Because every year, I feel the same stress.

I promise myself I’ll keep it simple - but somehow I still end up scrolling, comparing, and thinking, “Will they even like this?”

And when I first experienced Christmas gift madness in Germany, I was honestly shocked.

As someone who loves giving gifts in unexpected moments, the December chaos felt… a lot.

Of course, I did what everyone else did.

But by the end of it, all my energy was gone - not because I didn’t care, but because I was trying so hard to find something that actually meant something.

So this year, I changed my approach.

I made a list of 25 intentional well-being gifts - for every personality, every budget, and every kind of love language.

Here are the categories 👇

💛 Health & Wellness
🌿 Growth & Learning
🌙 Sleep & Relaxation
🏡 Home & Environment
🎹 Connection & Experiences

Gifts like these say:

“I care about how you feel. I want you to have more energy, more peace, and more joy.”

This weekend, think of someone you love.
 
Ask yourself:
“What would bring more energy, joy, or calm into their daily life?”
 
Start there.

I shared the full 25-item list in my newsletter - and why each one supports energy and well-being.

If you want all the details, here’s the link to read it: https://lnkd.in/dJ4AvFfv

🔄 Repost for others.
💛 Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more.

Heather Maietta, Ed.D., CDFI

Director of Career Services/Asst. Director of the Professional Development Seminars Program

Career In Progress

⭐️ Coach professionals in the career services delivery space to grow and develop their own coaching talents. 
⭐️ Career and Executive coach for mid to senior level professionals in career transition.

Coach for Career Coaches

📌Want to level up your coaching game? 
Register today for my free career coaching masterclass.
https://bit.ly/CIPfreecareercourse

Career Certification Instructor (FCD)

In this newsletter, you'll get actionable career advice, industry insights, and professional development resources to help you advance your career coaching business and coaching craft.

Ask the Career Expert columnist

Career In Progress Newsletter

Why You'll Love This Newsletter:
💡  Proven coaching frameworks and tools.
💡  The latest research, and labor market data.
💡  Free coaching worksheets to enhance your toolkit.
💡  Weekly tech reviews and curated coaching resources.

Editor in Chief

Archimedes

An exclusive club for business professionals and educational content creators

Educational Content Strategist

National Career Development Association

🌟 International Career Certificate. 
🌟 Course leads to 7 recognized career coaching credentials. 
🌟 Fully online course. 
🌟 ideal for career professionals at all levels in business and industry, private practice, higher education, K-12, government agencies, libraries, mental health and wellness, and community-based organizations.

International Career Coaching Certificate (FCD) Instructor

Regis College

Professor, EdD in Higher Education Leadership

⭐️ Chair of NECHE Governance planning committee, IRB board member, and dissertation advisor. 

⭐️ Courses Developed/Taught:
➡️ Qualitative Research Methods
➡️ Career Development for Doctoral Students: Beyond the EdD
➡️ Organizational Theory, Strategy, and Change 
➡️ Advanced Academic Writing
➡️ Leadership in Higher Education

Associate Professor, EdD in Higher Education Leadership

Commonwealth Corporation

⭐️ Curriculum and Content Specialist for YouthWorks Signal Success signature curriculum. 

⭐️ Develop career and skills curriculum for ages 14-22.

Curriculum and Content Specialist

Transition Solutions

⭐️ Provided a range of career solutions for clients that address today's complex career landscape. 

⭐️ Worked in an executive coaching capacity for fortune 100/500 and mid-large size companies, offering senior leadership the strategic support to grow and advance 

⭐️ Customized programs to meet the objectives of organizations of all sizes, industries, and locations.

⭐️ Provided employees in transition with a supportive, personalized and comprehensive program that met their employment needs.

Senior Consultant

Merrimack College

⭐️ Authored a 1.7M matching gift to reinvent the Career Center. 

⭐️ Created a wrap-around support program for first generation college students; an academic to career program for undeclared undergraduates; and a career passport program, embedding career education as part of the general curriculum. 

⭐️ Transformed the career center into a career and corporate engagement hub whereby our center operated as a single entry point for all corporations doing business with the college.

Associate Vice President, Career and Corporate Engagement

Nichols College

⭐️ Led the office of Career Services for a population of 1,750 traditional and no-traditional students.

⭐️ Managed quality recruitment program resulting in a 90% job acceptance rate for graduating seniors with average starting salary of $40K for the Class of 2010.
                                                               
⭐️ Instructed Professional Development Seminars Courses for Students, First - Forth Year and an MBA Graduate Course: Managing the Sports Enterprise.

⭐️ Provided faculty development to those assigned to teaching PDS courses; create and develop course curriculum.

⭐️ Co-planned and hosted the 1st Annual PDS Conference: “Four Critical Years: Proactive Solutions for Today’s Students and Tomorrow’s Leaders” and 1st Annual Women’s Leadership Conference.

Town of Arlington

⭐️ Interim Superintendent in 2006.

⭐️ Planed, developed and managed comprehensive recreational programs for 42,000+ residents.   

⭐️ Recruited, hired, trained, and supervised 2 full-time and 100+ part-time and seasonal employees.

⭐️ Researched and managed grants, fundraising, and marketing for recreation and ice rink.

⭐️ Managed division budget: vendor services; recreation programming; ice rink; field and facility rentals; capital campaign.

⭐️ Set program fees; managed scholarships.

Program Coordinator

Coach for Career Coaches | Delivering Internationally-recognized Career Coaching Certifications | Follow Me for Daily Career Insights

I train professionals in the career coaching space on how to LAND MORE CLIENTS through better coaching. 

📌 Trained and certified over 1,000 career coaches.
📌 Guided over 10,000 clients through career development and coaching.
📌 Author of Coaching for Coaches Handbook (NCDA, 2023).
📌 CMCS Credential Commissioner 

For the past 20 years, I’ve trained career coaches how to get actionable results from their coaching. 

My clients span private practice, career services, workforce development, academia, HR, and talent acquisition. 

My mission is to help career professionals generate a steady base of clients by developing and honing their coaching skills.

🔑 How I Can Help You:

Career professionals who master coaching techniques, integrate cutting-edge tools, and refine their approach consistently land more clients and deliver better results for their ICP.

✔️ Training & Certification – Courses that deliver practical, real-world coaching strategies and resources you can use immediately.
✔️ Personalized Coaching – Whether you're launching your coaching career practice or refining your coaching approach, I’ll help you generate more clients by strengthening your coaching muscles, improve your techniques, and grow your toolkit of strategies.

🌏 Why This Work Matters:

My own career path wasn’t linear. I tried 14 different jobs before finding what truly fit. That journey taught me how critical the right guidance is during career transitions.

Now, I help career professionals become that guide for others.

Career coaching changes lives. Every coach deserves top-tier training and support to attract clients and make a lasting impact. Over the years, I’ve worked with professionals worldwide, helping them build thriving careers while making a difference in others’ lives.

📩 Let’s Connect:

Ready to elevate your coaching practice? I’d love to help.
📧 Email me: heather@careerinprogress.com
📅 Register for the FCD Course or book a consult today

Owner

Executive career and professional development coach for aspiring and seasoned career coaches and career changers. 

Coach and mentor professionals in the career services delivery space to grow and develop their own coaching talents. Work with organizations to train their workforce development and career services staff members on career delivery and industry trends. 

Certified MA Small Business and Women-Owned Business. Certified by MA Dept of Education to award PDP for professional development.

Dr. Heather Maietta

Your health is not a business expense:

Sleeplessness.
Crippling anxiety. 
Diminished mental capacity.
Grinding away until you’re unable to function.

Your week should not be a slow-motion health emergency.

The World Health Organization now classifies long working hours as a serious health hazard.

In fact, working 55+ hours a week is linked to a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from heart disease. 

If your job is a ticking time bomb that causes:

➔ Sunday dread
➔ Constant headaches
➔ Snapping at people you care about
➔ Feeling like you have nothing left after 5pm

You need to step away before your body forces you to.

Job stress is real. 
But there are ways to reduce the mental and physical toll it takes: 

➤ Take one real break (no scrolling). Even if it’s 10 minutes with your eyes closed. 
➤ Kill one non-essential notification. Seriously, cut the noise. 
➤ Take a walk without turning it into a step count challenge. 
➤ Swap a productive podcast for silence.
➤ Gift yourself one career-free evening (comedy does wonders).
➤ Read something purely for fun (bonus points if it’s not in digital). 
➤ Put your laptop in another room for an hour (it won’t go anywhere, believe me). 
➤ Say no. 

These aren’t gifts.

They’re how you stay strong enough to keep showing up.

I know your jjob (or job search) can be stressful.

But you doesn’t have to pay the ultimate price.

Share this message to raise awareness.

And make one decision to lessen your work pressure this week.

Before your body or mind does it for you.

🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for career conversations that don’t ignore your well-being

Video: Jason Brooks, TikTok

Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches 

Award-Winning Coach for Career Coaches | Delivering Internationally-Recognized Career Coaching Certifications | Follow Me for Daily Career Insights

You can be successful on paper.
And still feel restless:

Like you’re living someone else’s life.

Content.
But not quite yourself.

(For this and other career coaching topics, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJ6WdeWB)

If you're feeling this way, it can mean your career and your ikigai are misaligned.

Ikigai is a Japanese idea meaning “reason to get up in the morning.”

It’s the intersection of 
- what you love
- what you’re good at
- what the world needs
- what you can be paid for.

I recently worked with a coach of 15 years. She had a reliable salary, but was deeply dissatisfied.

Together, this is how we applied Ikigai to her career:

1/ Align work with purpose
➺ Reconnected her career path with her core values.

2/ Stay professionally engaged
➺ Identified meaningful contributions she still wants to make.

3/ Take calculated risks
➺ Explored new directions with a strategy.

4/ Avoid burnout
➺ Created space for rest and recharging.

5/ Build a professional network
➺ Clarified who could support her next steps.

6/ Invest in skill development
➺ Outlined a learning plan to stay current and challenged.

7/ Maintain a positive outlook
➺ Shifted focus to possibilities instead of regrets.

8/ Find work-life blend
➺ Made time for joy and life beyond her job.

9/ Express professional gratitude
➺ Honored how far she’d come, not just where she was going.

10/ Focus on present tasks
➺ Practiced being fully engaged in today’s work, not just chasing the next thing.

She redesigned her career around these principles.

And now she’s living it day by day.

If your work feels out of sync with your deeper purpose, applying career ikigai might be the shift you need.

Want to walk through it together?
DM me.
_____
🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for life-changing career support
♻️ Share to encourage deep career reflection using Ikigai

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

We often try to earn self-worth.

More hours; more certifications. 
More, more, more, more. 

A title change might make us feel good in the moment.

But it doesn’t erase feelings of low self-worth. 

Choosing to see yourself as credible before the world fully does.

That’s self-love. 🩵 

Self-love shows up in high-impact moves like:

➠ Not minimizing your wins
➠ Replacing “I got lucky” with “I earned this”
➠ Owning your ideas
➠ Negotiating from a place of self-respect

I make it sounds simple.
But it’s not.

Practicing this type of advocacy creates a different relationship with yourself.

One that lets you become the person you’ve been working so hard to be.

Give yourself a big hug. 
You deserve it!

➡️ Send this to your network if you agree! 
——
🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for more support built for coaches and their clients.
 
Quote: Brené Brown

I’ll let you in on a secret:


Discipline doesn’t have to feel difficult. 

I get it.
Doing hard things is annoying and inconvenient.

And almost always worth it.

My friend Colby Kultgen demystifies our resistance to accomplishing difficult things.

Our resistance to hard is often resistance to change. 

Change asks us to leave what’s familiar, even if the familiar isn’t working anymore. 

Change disrupts routine and puts us in that awkward in-between where nothing feels settled.

Change is hard. 
It takes discipline.

But change is also where the good stuff lives.

The discomfort you feel means you’re building something that fits.

And outgrowing what doesn’t. 

In doing so, you may just discover you actually enjoy putting in the work.

Here are 7 ways to train your brain to do hard things…
___
Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for work strategies that lighten the load.

Train your brain to do the hard stuff

Most career advice sounds like a checklist someone else wrote:

➤ Graduate on time
➤ Climb quickly
➤ Avoid gaps
➤ Chase titles
➤ Stay loyal
➤ Don’t rock the boat

Real careers don’t follow neat timelines or straight lines.

Real careers include: 
➢ restarts
➢ wrong turns
➢ pivots
➢ pauses
➢ second chances
➢ "this isn't what I expected"

I’ve seen how much stress comes from internalizing rules that were never made with your unique life in mind.

I work regularly with people feeling behind when really, they’re just outgrowing outdated career narratives.

As a coach, here’s what I remind them 
(and maybe you need to hear this too):

You don’t need permission to take a different path.
You need space to define success on your terms.

Your career belongs to you.
Live it exactly how you want to live it.
______
🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for award-winning career advice.
♻️ Share to help elevate the narrative.

Tiny experiments build billion-dollar courage.


Life doesn’t come with a rulebook.
It hands you mistakes. Setbacks. Burnout.

And lot’s of hard-won truths.

Before Sara Blakely built Spanx, she sold fax machines door-to-door.

She didn’t have a business degree or a fashion background.

Just one idea.
And relentless progress.

She studied the industry. 
Pitched her idea. 
Faces countless rejections. 

Giving up was not an option she let herself consider. 

Instead, she focused on the small things: 
✦ improving the product 
✦ refining the pitch

She was all in. 
And it paid off.

You might not be building a global brand, but the principle is the same.

Show up for your idea.
Consistently, imperfectly.

You’ll make progress.

When doubt surfaces, mindset shifts help you inch forward.

A few that continue to ring true for me when the going gets tough:

➔ Rest isn’t quitting
➔ Put your own mask on first
➔ Setbacks train your comeback
➔ Strength shows up when it’s tested

I am a firm believer in the real win is in the effort.

Next time you feel yourself stalling out on the job or in life.

These codes can meet you exactly where you are.

And help you push forward.
_____
➡️ Forward to someone who will benefit from this message.

🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for workplace strategies that land.

Are you hugging onto your job for dear life?

I don’t blame you. 

This past week, over 700 people told me they were doing the same. 

Job-hugging is hot right now. 

The market is in flux and the economy is uncertain. 

We hear about layoffs and restructuring daily.

People are clinging to their current job for security, even though they’re disengaged or underpaid. 

I am hearing a lot of ...

► "I can't afford to leave," 
► "The job market is too scary" 
► "I feel relieved to have stability, even though I’m not moving forward.”

All valid reasons to hold onto that job for dear life. 

But… 
The thaw is coming.

63% of hiring managers say their companies will ramp up hiring in the next year.

Here are a few ways you (or your clients) can work through job hugging so you're prepared when the great thaw hits:

1/ Name the transition
➙ Don't just stay by default. 
➙ Rename it your strategic stability season.
➙ Define what this job makes possible (e.g., paying off debt, saving a for an exit).

2/ Develop a job hugging plan 
➙ 6–18 months with clear financial targets.
➙ Identify specific skills to build and how.
➙ Set a firm deadline to reassess your stay-or-go.

3/ Treat it as a paid apprenticeship
➙ Your job is now a low-risk training ground. 
➙ Focus on stretch projects that build marketable skills.
➙ Dedicate time weekly for exploration (courses, info interviews).

4/ Track readiness
➙ Don't just chase relief, track options. 
➙ Regularly check: Am I learning? Am I visible? Do I know my next 2-3 realistic moves?

5/ Build the exit runway now
➙ The market will shift. 
➙ The most prepared professionals will have the most choice. 
➙ Warm network, update skills and get your finances in order.

📌 Want to ensure your clients are ready when it's time to move? SHARE this post and I’ll send you the Ultimate Job Hugging Coaching Guide.

________
🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for award-winning career advice.
♻️ Share to normalize (temporary) job hugging.

Stat: ZipRecruiter, 2025

Putting your job search on ice until January might be the most expensive vacation you ever take.

Last year, Indeed Hiring Lab found that job searches fell 34% between Dec. 1 and Christmas Day.

📌 Grab my newsletter for a deeper dive into important career topics: https://lnkd.in/eJ6WdeWB

During the holidays, roles are still getting posted and filled.

And there are fewer people going after them.

Good news for you if you decide to double-down this holiday season.

Use my “12 Days of Christmas: Job Search Edition” for inspiration.

🎄 Start with updating your LinkedIn profile 
> Be honest: When is the last time you really looked at it?

🎄 Develop 2 strong elevator pitches 
> One for networking; one for interviews.

🎄 Build 3 résumé templates 
> Use variations to cut down on job-by-job tailoring time.

🎄 Treat coffee chats, STAR stories, and follow-ups as small, doable actions 
> Strategically schedule between family time, travel, and rest.

I want you to enjoy the holidays.

I also want you to position yourself at the front of the candidate line while everyone else disappears.

If you’re job searching this month:
Save this as your December checklist.

And PLEASE share to spread job search cheer!

Happy holidays; happy hunting 🎄 
_____
Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for festive career advice

Job scams have tripled since 2020. Don’t be this year’s statistic:

If a job offer feels like winning the lottery, it’s probably a scam. 

Job scammers have turned the job market into their side hustle. 

Recent reports show job scam losses have more than tripled since 2020, with victims losing thousands per scam.

Job scamming isn’t a hobby.

It’s a hundreds-of-millions-per-year business model.

Recruiter company impersonations and fake job postings is one in particular that’s hot right now and should be on the radar of job seekers and career professionals. 

Last week, I was offered a opportunity to coach individuals at an average profit of $100k pp with an unlimited stream of clients. 

Now, I’m good. 
But….

Here are 10 red flags:

1/ You never applied 
► A recruiter contacts you with “the perfect role."
► You don’t remember applying… ever.

2/ “You’re exactly what we need!” 
► No real interview, no questions.
► That’s flattery, not hiring.

3/ The pay is wild for the work 
► Entry-level role, a few hours a week, $75K+ guaranteed.
► If the numbers don't add up, run. 

4/ The schedule is magically flexible 
► Work whenever, from wherever, for serious money.
► Real flexibility exists-with structure and expectations. 

5/ The job description is mush 
► Vague duties, almost no detail.
► That’s a fishing net for 'all apply.'

6/ They ask you to pay 
► Training fees, equipment with crypto payments.
► Legit employers pay you, not the other way around. 

7/ Get-rich-quick vibes 
► Passive income and earning thousands in your first month.
► No clear explanation of how you’re actually paid. 

8/ Sloppy or strange communication 
► Incorrect grammar, weird phrasing, pushy tone.
► Bad communication red flags.

9/ No solid company trail 
► No real website, no address, personal Gmail.
► If it doesn't exist, it's not real.

10/ They want your personal data
► Requests for SIN/SSN, banking info, copies of ID.
► Huge red flag.

What to do if something feels off: 

● Pause. Scammers rely on urgency. 
● Independently research the company.
● Never send money or sensitive information.

In the U.S., report suspected scams to the FTC.
In Canada, to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. 

📌 If you’re a career coach: 
Make “spotting job scams” a standard part of your job search coaching. Your clients need protection. 

If it feels too good to be true,
It’s not your lucky day. 

It’s your cue to walk away.

Lost in a sea of sameness? 3 ways to make you too unique to ignore:

In my line of work, we talk a lot about the importance of fit. 

The good news is there is only one YOU.

The real win is figuring out what makes people remember you.

And turning your uniqueness into your advantage. 

When I first started coaching, I thought I had to sound like every other “expert” out there. 

Serious. 
Buttoned up. 
Robotic. 

That got old real fast. 
Because it wasn't me.

Now I educate coaches on how to show up authentically.

Because clients don’t connect with robots. 

They connect with people. 

If you’re stuck trying to figure out what makes you different, you’re not alone.

Most people spend their whole career hiding the exact trait that makes them stand out.

We've been trained to hide our uniqueness.

Not highlight it.

Here is a 3-part scan to help you showcase your unique you:

1/ Look back: 
+ What did people always come to you for as a kid or teen? 
+ Clarity? calm? humor? big ideas? a comforting ear?
+ That's your superpower clients want to connect with. 

2/ Ask around: 
+ Text 3 friends or past clients and ask, “What’s something I bring to a room that most people don’t?”
+ This is your coaching sweet spot that makes people gravitate to you.

3/ Track what ticks you off:
+ Often, the things that bug us in others show what we VALUE MOST in ourselves. 
+ My daughter despises disorganization. She is one of the most organized people I know.

You don’t need to copy someone else.

Your difference is your advantage. 

And that’s how clients want you to show up! 🩵

What’s one unique quality you’ve learned to embrace? ⬇️
——
🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for unique career messages.
♻️ Share with someone who values your unique jam!

In a world where you can be anything, be yourself

7 investments that 10x your coaching impact:

Investing in your coaching practice looks different for everyone.

Maybe investing is
+ developing a new coaching technique
+ creating a system that optimizes your work flow
+ redesigning a tired program or process for deeper reach

Here are the 7 investments to 10x your impact:

1/ Compound skills
➤ Combine and package your abilities to increase value. 
✔Identify the top three skills that make your coaching unique and develop something no one else offers.

2/ Reputation capital
➤ When people trust you, attracting clients gets easier.
✔Publicity share one authentic story that establishes your reliability and relatability.

3/ Quality of network
➤ Quality over quantity. A few solid relationships will open doors. 
✔Reach out to one person you've lost touch with and have a meaningful exchange.

4/ Repeatable processes
➤ Use templates and routines for sessions and follow-ups to save brainpower and increase scale. 
✔Choose one task or template to automate immediately.

5/ Client experience
➤ Remove any barriers in the booking to feedback process, making every step feel doable. 
✔Ask one client what felt confusing and fix it.

6/ Integrity & boundaries
➤ Protect yourself by being clear about what coaching is (and isn’t).
✔Review your coaching agreement to ensure crystal-clear wording.

7/ Personal brand assets
➤ Create a simple guide that works while you’re off the clock. 
✔Turn one idea you teach into a downloadable tool or desk reference.

I've helped hundreds of career coaches implement these assets, leading to greater confidence and more profitable, sustainable businesses.

Need help choosing where to start?

Join my free masterclass: Biggest mistakes coaches make and how to fix: https://lnkd.in/epyeuSwU
_______-
♻️ Share to elevate the coaching industry.
🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coachesfor award-winning advice for career coaches.

Investments that Elevate your Coaching

You didn’t become a coach to be a freelance resume editor.

But somehow half your week disappears into bullet points and margin adjustments.

The resume is just the vehicle.

Your real value is the clarity and strategy that actually changes a client’s life.

If you’re still doing all the document tweaking by hand, you’re draining your energy and diluting their transformation. 

It’s time to let AI handle the paper so you can get back to the coaching. 

In this week's newsletter, I teach you how.
Subscribe now:

Every coach knows the feeling: You open a client’s resume “just to glance at it,” and two hours later you’re still tweaking verbs and adjusting margin

Open article: The smarter way to write resumes by Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches • 2 min read

Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches

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