Paul Upton

LeaderUP

👉 Message me on LinkedIn

I am one of the few career coaches who has Fortune 50 leadership & hiring manager experience. This gives me the perspective to know exactly what hiring managers (not just recruiters) are looking for in a Manager, Director, VP+, how to stand out, and what it really takes to be a top 1% Leader & Candidate!

I have partnered with recruiters, HR leaders, hiring managers, and leaders to understand and distill the most important qualities and traits of successful leaders and how to find these in candidates and develop them in leaders. 

Through all this and hundreds of interviews, I have learned what the Top 1% of candidates do and built a system that works to help leaders, aspiring leaders, and high performers learn these skills and get the jobs & opportunities they really deserve!

► I help YOU master YOUR resume + LinkedIn so you STAND OUT and get NOTICED

► I help YOU learn how to ROCK your interviews and build real, memorable connections with hiring managers & GET OFFERS!

► I help YOU learn the skills to negotiate like a PRO to get the best total compensation package possible

► I really care. My sole reason for LeaderUP is to help YOU find success and fulfillment in your career. Success YOU DESERVE and have earned by working harder, learning more, and putting in the effort to SUCCEED!

I have created the LevelUP Leadership Top 1% Candidate Coaching Program to help leaders get promoted and land their dream jobs using Top 1% Applicant Strategies, leveraging the top SECRETS learned from Expert Resume Writers, Recruiters, Hiring Managers, Leaders, and Top Candidates, as well as many failures, successes, and continuous improvement!

► LevelUP Leadership Top 1% Candidate Coaching Program

MESSAGE me on LinkedIn to learn more and how I can help you!
Email me at Leaderup.Program@gmail.com

Founder, CEO & Chief Career Officer - Career Expert | Career Success Coach | Leadership Coach

MTFH Solutions

Making the Future Happen Solutions was created to help move forward innovative ideas, services, minds and leaders. More info coming soon!

Feel free to reach out directly for more details, we look forward to potentially working with you!

Current Focus Areas Includes:
- Consulting Services
- Leadership/Executive Coaching
- Pre Sales, Sales Strategy & Execution
- Start-up Coaching & Mentoring

Founder & CEO - Lead Consultant & Managing Principal

CenturyLink

Was recruited and brought in to lead the transformation organization of over 150+, consisting of 3 main groups the Data Science & AI/ML team, Business Transformation & Portfolio Management team and lastly the System, Tools and Integrations team. Tasked with using data, automation, cutting-edge innovative technologies to transform the way Lumen North American operations operate.

Scope included all Copper and Fiber networks, national and international, consumer as well as enterprise products and solutions.

Our task was simple, to plan, execute and deliver large-scale transformation efforts, removing over $200M of cost savings and revenue acceleration per year. The complexity came in how to actually do this, having a laser-sharp focus on execution and delivering results, while fostering & maintaining the culture and spirit of innovation.

This included partnering, pushing the limits and innovating with the best minds, companies and consultants in the industry!

Executive Director Transformation & North America Operations

Comcast

Tapped to do what I did in the Xfinity Mobile organization but across all of Comcast's Products and Operations, including TV, Internet, Voice, Xfinity Mobile, Xfinity Home and more.

This new role expanded responsibilities and direct leadership of two additional teams, managing all digital data operations and Adobe Website Tagging and Analytics for all of Comcast Cable.

Consumer Experience Transformation - Director Strategic Enablement and Data Operations

SCOPE:  All of XM Operations | Strategy and Innovation for Data, Product, Design, UX, Customer Support, Retail and Marketing to take the business to the next level |  Delivery of Operational & Data Solutions | Customer Experience Insights and Customer Journey Deep-dives

◾️ Tasked with transforming XM to be customer focused and data driven in all our operational and strategic decisions

◾️ Built out the strategy, plan, change management and delivery of this vision:
      ◽️  Created processes, capabilities and building out a team to enable our data first goals
      ◽️  Defined Requirements, Building ETL and Aggregating OMNI Channel Customer Experience Data
      ◽️  Made data relevant, error free, available, understandable and giving access to everyone in XM
      ◽️  Identified, built and launched tools to enable self-serve analytics & insights
      ◽️  Established structured listening mechanisms to understand what’s most important to our customers 

◾️ Identified and quantified our top business-wide opportunities in our customer experiences and operations

◾️ Delivering cross functional programs and strategic solutions to the top issues across XM saving over $5M annually

Xfinity Mobile - Director Customer Experience Delivery, Operations and Analytics

SCOPE: National Responsibility | +5 major annual programs | $150M Budget | 18 matrixed reports | Leadership of Strategy & Operations of 5,000 Security Technicians | Quality & Performance of Over +600,000 Installations/year

◾️	Lead capital and opex programs to drive key operational and quality metrics including: Tech Availability, DOJ Tech & Order Support, Repeat Rates M1 Churn, Time in Home and NPS, Customer Experience & Install Quality

◾️	Develop requirements for new products and product enhancements based on field, customer insights & NPS data

◾️	Manage field launch of new products, development of install processes and quality controls for professionally installed XH products to drive improved customer experience, NPS and truck roll & call reduction 

Key Achievements:
◾️	DROVE QUALITY & REDUCED CHURN: Designed new metrics, led and nationally launched updates to the installation verification score (IVS 2.0) run on every install, utilizing a structured change management approach.
◽️	Reduced M1 Churn by 50 bps and drove 65% increase in mobile app downloads on day of job
◽️	68% improvement in sensor signal strength quality on new installs, reducing M1 Calls & Truck Rolls
◽️	Developed a dashboard in Tableau for field leads to improve management and performance of KPIs

◾️	REDESIGNED INSTALL PROCESS & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: Led strategy, planning and execution of the initial Perfect Install Program to review the end-to-end sales through installation experience.
◽️	Program delivered 20+ recommendations and 11 core projects to improve the Tech & Customer Experience

◾️	IMPROVED AVAILABILITY & PRODUCTIVITY: Drove the best 0-5 day tech availability and average time to install results in XH history EOY 2017 through strategic project planning & execution 

◾️	REDUCED DEFECTS: Reduced 37% of calls through root cause analysis of DOJ Tech call data, development of solutions and support of the program management of 3 functional work streams.

Xfinity Home - Sr. Manager Tech Operations and Strategy

Verizon

SCOPE: 8 Core Verizon Telecom Functions | 11 major programs | $400M Reduction Goal | 5 Matrixed Leads & 9 indirect reports | Business Transformation Project & Program Lead | Large Scale Change Management & Execution

▪	Internal business consultant working with executive leaders to drive large scale growth & opex reduction programs

▪	Led matrixed & cross-functional teams focused on strategic process, functional and organizational changes and transformational improvements contributing to deliver over $21.5M in hard savings in 2016 and projected $120M.

▪	Led, co-facilitated and participated in over 12 Kaizen and Lean Six Sigma workshops

Key Achievements:
◾️	TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: Transformation program lead to reduce $1B of WIP to over $400M and intervals from 229 days to 69 days, involving over 8 functional organizations.
◽️	Lead one program pillar and 5 key solution teams to re-engineer project creation, engineering milestones, automation, triggers and KPI’s to reduce +60 days in process time and $16.1M in hard savings.
◽️	Completed complex financial and operational analyses used to develop the strategy, scope and benefits of this large scale executive sponsored initiative.

◾️	DEVICE QUALITY MANAGEMENT: Successfully led a DMAIC program to create and implement a new vendor centric method of testing and validating products, platforms and services reducing overall testing durations and defects by over 75% and an estimated yearly savings of $4.4M.
◽️	All previous attempts had been unsuccessful due to system, reporting and organizational complexities.

◾️	DEVELOPED LEADERS: Coached 3 Green Belts on LSS methodology, tools and project management practices to successfully complete DMAIC and DMADV (Design) projects, leading to two of these green belts becoming fully certified and promoted to full-time black belt roles.

Business Transformation - Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

3rd Rotation - Verizon Leadership Program

SCOPE: Led Prepaid, Tablet Internet Channels, Chat Strategy & Execution and Advanced Analytics & Customer Insights

◾️	OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE: Designed and led a prepaid chat project to utilize specialized sales chat reps on prepaid pages resulting in a 27% gross add lift and improved customer satisfaction ratings. 

◾️	VENDOR & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: Led vendor management, project design, compensation model, training, implementation strategy and execution for the Verizon Wireless Sales Chat Program 

◾️	BIG DATA: Led BlueKai and Big Data adoption at VZW and developed strategic A/B testing for personalization and landing page optimization utilizing MECLABS, resulting in 20% lift in high-value customer segments.

Internet Sales, Marketing, Chat Strategy and Operations

2nd Rotation - Verizon Leadership Program

SCOPE: Led cell site planning & capacity for over 1200 sites, $400M in assets and $50M in mass calling event initiatives

◾️	BUDGET & FORECASTING: Led mass calling events planning for all of Houston-Gulf Coast region including network capacity planning, budgeting and equipment dimensioning of 85 events / event areas and over $50M in resources and assets.

◾️	CREATIVE INNOVATION: Saved over $9M by leveraging current assets in the maintenance of ALL HGC cell site’s CE, 1X, EvDO and backhaul capacity.
◽️	Co-led 2012-2015 LTE Interface capacity planning of over 1200 NB sites, sector-splits, and small cells.

Traffic, Capacity and Data Performance Engineering

1st Rotation - Verizon Development Program

◾️	ROLE 1 - Led new features, products, quality, reliability and customer experience of the FiOS product
◾️	ROLE 2 - Led the launch, operations, expansion, automation and performance of FiOS Self Install initiative

◾️	OPERATIONS LEAD: Created and led operational activities for the FiOS self-install project which directly led to reaching stretch goals of 11,000 self-installs acceptances by EOY 2011 and an expense savings of over $1.6M. 
◽️	Developed processes, call scripts, M&P’s, trained & led two out-bound call centers for self-install options
◽️	Led transitional & automation efforts of the self-install initiative to improve and scale this project nationally to a projected 70,000 self-installs by EOY 2012 and yearly savings of over $25M.

◾️	QUALITY, RELIABILITY & NEW PRODUCTS: Supported the launch of new FiOS products and improved quality & reliability of existing products and services reducing calls, truck rolls and customer affecting issues by over 40%; including X-box streaming, MRDVR, Flexview enhancements, widgets, Samsung Streaming, MoCA 2.0, MPEG4 and IPTV.

In Home Network Engineer & National Operations Special Assignment

McCreary Roofing Company Inc

•	OPERATIONS EXCELLENCE: Increased speed and accuracy of all new jobs and bid requests by 40% by standardizing the work flow process & increased productivity by implementing a Microsoft Access Database

•	MARKETING INNOVATION: Created a new value added marketing plan & bid presentation pamphlet resulting in 35% lift on accepted jobs.

Engineering, Marketing and Sales Lead

GE Transportation

◾️	BUSINESS PROPOSALS: Managed engineering technical proposals for new and existing markets including the Freightliner Guinea ES44ACi Locomotive worth over $40M; Co-managed all Superskids for ASIA & Russia

◾️	VENDOR & SUPPLIER OPTIMIZATION: Led a cost-benefit proposal to re-engineer GE equivalents to 14 Union Pacific cables, projected to reduce replacement cable costs and lost productivity time by 45%.

Locomotive Proposals Engineer

◾️	LEADERSHIP ROTATIONS: Completed 5 functional rotations in Material, Process, Lean, Quality and Engineering

◾️	PROCESS INNOVATION: Developed and successfully implemented a comprehensive material management and inventory tracking system utilizing Lean Kanban and JIT strategies to systematically automate inventory management resulting in a yearly savings of over $15M. 
◽️	Consolidated over 800 parts and eliminated an average of +5 hours and ~3.5 takt stopping shortages per/wk.

◾️	PROCESS AUTOMATION: Created a material-tracking and process tool that identified and prioritized backlogged high profile items in a continuously moving lean line resulting in Maincab ending 2nd Qrt 2008 on schedule for the first time in over 3 years.

◾️	SAFETY & ERGONOMICS: Led safety and ergonomic projects including installation of pneumatic vices to eliminate 90% of repetitive motion and increasing productivity by nearly 50%.

Manufacturing and Operations Lead

Want to get to your next Career Level? Or into a role you'll Love? ◆ We help you get there! | Sr. Leads ► Managers ► Directors ► Exec Directors | $150K/$250K/$500K+ Jobs

"With no exaggeration- Paul and the LeaderUP program changed my life!" – James
(See more in recommendations)

👉 Message me on LinkedIn

Why Senior Leads, Managers, Directors & VPs choose to work with me:
▶️ You want to break into your next leadership role, get promoted, or move to a promotional opportunity. Maybe you are seeking to break into your next level or senior leadership.

▶️ You're stuck in your current role, not much company growth, or growth opportunities. Or you do not like your current company/role and want to find a better one and level up your career to the one you deserve!

▶️ You're in a job search, you know you are good, but something is missing, you are not getting interviews, or are not getting offers!

▶️ You're tired of being frustrated & wasting time!

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞: I've spent the last 14+ years working at top Fortune 100 companies.
◾️ 10+ jobs over this time and 2 highly competitive leadership programs
◾️ 7 times promoted/found promotional opportunities (often they found me)
◾️ Most recently an executive director at a telecom leading an organization of 150+ people.

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
◾️ What it really takes to stand out in the Top 1% of leaders
◾️ How to be a great leader and more importantly how to develop this in others
◾️ How to hire the best, I've done over 500+ interviews and hired multiple high performing 10X teams

I am one of the few career coaches who has leadership/hiring manager experience and knows what they are looking for!

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒!

I have put these learnings together and have created the 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐔𝐏 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐩 1% 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 to help leaders and aspiring leaders reach the next level and land their dream jobs/promotions. 

Are you someone who wants...
✅Wants more MONEY, TIME, FLEXIBILITY, and GROWTH?
✅Gets multiple offers and CHOOSES the best one for them?

And would rather...
✅Follow a proven step-by-step process that works!
✅With the 1:1 support, you need along the way!
✅That takes 70% less time & effort and 99% less frustration!
✅And finally, get that dream job that they deserve and are excited to jump out of bed for?

► LeaderUP Job Offer System & Coaching Program -  Reach out to learn more!

👉 Learn more: message me!

Three years, 60-hour weeks, and all I got was anxiety meds and a pizza party.

That’s not a joke. That’s my review of their “employee experience.”

Here’s the dirty secret about “professional” notice periods-companies can cut your job with zero warning. But when you decide to leave, they expect you to train your replacement. Two weeks. Smiling. No complaints.

How much notice do they deserve when they’ve been burning you out for years?

I watched someone start a new role Monday. First day, her boss listened to her idea and said, “Let’s go with that.” She got a 40% raise. She got real work-life balance. She got respect on day one.

She didn’t apologize for leaving dysfunction. She didn’t feel guilty for protecting her mental health. She didn’t give courtesy to a company that never would have done the same for her.

Stop believing you owe loyalty to companies that don’t value you.

Stop thinking you have to “tough it out” for the sake of professionalism.

The truth is: companies protect their bottom line. You have to protect your well-being.

If a company can let you go with no warning, you owe them the same. No more. No less.

Has a company ever asked you to give more than they’d ever return? How did you handle it?

Share if it’s time to normalize protecting ourselves the way companies protect themselves.

#leadership #mentalhealth #workplace

The hardest part of my career was admitting I needed help.
That night, surrounded by tissues and doubt,

I decided to ask for help. That changed everything.

I didn’t see it coming.

Years ago—after months of late nights and hitting impossible goals—I walked through my front door, hugged my wife, and cried.

Not a little.

The kind of crying where your whole body shakes.

I felt like I'd failed.

Despite pouring myself into every project, there was no promotion. No recognition. No “thank you.”

Instead:
➝ I was told to “improve.”
➝ I was told I wasn’t ready.
➝ I was told I wasn’t enough.

I started asking myself the hard questions.

What am I missing?
Am I a bad leader?
Why does this keep happening?

Fast forward six months—everything flipped.

→ 4 job offers
→ 2 internal promotions
→ $34K pay raise
→ A dream role leading a team

How?

It wasn’t luck. It wasn’t working harder.
It was a single turning point.

That night, surrounded by tissues and doubt,
I decided to ask for help.

Not easier said than done. HARDER than done.

(And for me, big-time ego. What if people thought I was weak?)

But I followed through.

Here’s what admitting I needed help looked like:

1/ I dropped my ego.
What got me here won't get me there. Sometimes career success requires admitting you can't figure it all out alone.

2/ I faced the truth.
I was fixating on the next role while neglecting my current job and actual capabilities. Time to work on ME!

3/ I sought guidance.
I committed to change and got a coach. They identified growth areas I'd missed or avoided—truths I needed to hear.

4/ I took action.
Despite initial fear, I trusted the process. Took massive action and IT WORKED!!!

The results?

→ Promotions.
→ A fulfilling career.
→ Clarity like I’ve never felt before.

The truth is, success isn’t about staying strong.
It’s about knowing when to lean on someone else.

If you’re stuck… don’t wait for a breaking point like mine.

Take the step.

(You might just surprise yourself.)

Since then, I've earned multiple promotions and built an amazing career!

This journey inspired me to become a career coach myself—now I help others achieve the same transformation!

Comment "Transform" below ↓
If you'd like to learn more about how we could help you!

♻️ Repost to help someone who’s ready for their breakthrough.

Upskilling isn’t optional anymore.
If you’re not growing, you’re falling behind—fast.

And here’s the harsh reality:

Many people don’t.

They stay in their comfort zone.
They avoid challenges.
They hope their current knowledge will be enough.

But it won’t be.

Growth isn’t just “nice to have.”
It’s your survival strategy.

The professionals crushing it right now?

→ They’re learning new skills every week.
→ They’re adapting faster than ever.
→ They’re building momentum—not excuses.

The ones struggling?

→ They think their past success will carry them.
→ They hesitate to admit what they don’t know.
→ They wait too long to pivot, then the opportunity is gone.

Here’s the truth:

The leaders who thrive in this fast-changing world are the ones who say, “I don’t know this yet—but I will.”

They act BEFORE it’s urgent.

They lean into being a beginner again.

They go ALL IN on leveling up their mindset, their skills, their careers.

It’s not magic. It’s discipline.

Want to know how to start?

1/ Admit you're stuck.
↳ Example: “I don’t understand AI, and I’m behind on it.”

2/ Pick one skill that will make you more valuable.
↳ Example: “I’ll learn AI to streamline processes in my work.”

3/ Break it into bite-sized steps.
↳ Example: “I’ll spend 10 minutes daily watching tutorials before work.”

4/ Find resources that match your style.
↳ Example: Visual learner? Watch videos. Prefer hands-on? Try free tools.

5/ Track your progress.
↳ Example: “After one week, I’ll summarize the basics in my own words.”

6/ Stay consistent.
↳ Example: “Every weekday at 8 AM, no excuses.”

This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about showing up every day and refusing to settle for “good enough.”

Because the skills you sharpen today will set you apart tomorrow.
What skill will YOU commit to learning this week?

♻️ Repost to inspire someone to start growing today.

If you want to learn the skills to level up your career and income?
Comment "LevelUP" below! ⬇️

3 years stuck. 12 rejections. Zack kept asking, what am I doing wrong?

He followed every rule.

Worked harder than anyone.
Delivered 30% over target.
Took every high-profile project.
Built skills nobody else had.

His reviews? Stellar.
His bonuses? Impressive.
His promotions? Nonexistent.

Managers kept saying, “Be patient.”
Feedback was always vague.
“Not quite executive material.”
“Need more seasoning.”
“Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Zack felt trapped.
He did everything right.
Still, doors stayed closed.

The truth is:
Performance was not his problem.
Positioning was.

LeaderUP’s assessment showed what was hiding in plain sight.

He spoke as a specialist, not a leader.
His resume listed effort but not impact.
He solved problems but didn’t move strategy.
He was seen as reliable, not visionary.

The better he got at his job, the more they kept him in it.

LeaderUP helped him break the pattern.

We identified the leadership stories he never told.
We reframed his wins to spotlight business results.
We changed how he spoke to executives.
We built his authentic leadership voice.

Twelve weeks later:

He interviewed for Senior Director.
They made a new role just for him.
His pay jumped 45%.
His team size tripled.

The lesson?

Excellence alone won’t get you promoted.
You must be seen as a leader before you get the title.

The system is built to keep high performers in place.

If you don’t position yourself differently, you hit the same ceiling again and again.

What invisible ceiling is holding you back?

Comment “CEILING” if you want to learn how to position yourself for your next level.

I watched others get promoted while I waited.  
Then I changed my approach-and my career exploded.

Here’s what no one told me:

• Hard work alone does not get you noticed  
• Loyalty does not guarantee progress  
• Job boards rarely deliver real results

Most people do what they know:  
• Polish the resume  
• Send more applications  
• Wait for luck to show up

But waiting is not a strategy.

When I wanted to break out, I did what top leaders do:

1) Get clear on your VALUE  
→ Write down three true strengths (no buzzwords)  
→ Ask trusted peers how you drive impact  
→ Figure out what sets you apart

2) Stop job-hunting. Start NETWORKING  
→ Reach out to decision-makers directly  
→ Share wins, ideas, and vision-not just your CV  
→ Connect with peers at the next level up

3) Build your personal BRAND  
→ Show how you solve problems others cannot  
→ Share stories of leading teams or driving results  
→ Let the right people know your goals

I used these steps myself:
• Seven promotions  
• Multiple leadership programs  
• Doors opened that I never saw before

Hundreds of clients have done the same.

The uncomfortable truth:  
Results speak louder than hours worked.

You deserve a job where you feel valued-and where you grow.

Ready to stop waiting and start leading?  
I built a free training on what hiring managers *really* look for.

Want a copy?  
Message me with “TRAINING” and I’ll send it over.

What would shift in your career if you focused less on resumes and more on relationships?

I stopped trying to be perfect in interviews. I started listening instead. That’s when the offers came.

Picture this-70 interviews, zero offers. Each one felt like an exam. I studied, rehearsed, tried to give flawless answers. I left every room feeling defeated.

The truth is: interviews are not tests. They are conversations.

What changed everything for me?

I heard: “People don’t hire skills. They hire humans they trust.”

That hit hard. I realized my mistake. I was trying to impress, not connect.

I shifted my approach:

• I asked what THEY needed
• I listened to their biggest challenges
• I made it about THEM, not me

Instead of performing, I connected. Instead of reciting, I listened.

Next 5 interviews?

4 offers. No change to resume. No fancy script. Just a new mindset.

Here’s what matters:

→ If you’re in the interview chair, you are already qualified
→ Rapport wins over rehearsed answers
→ Solve THEIR problem-not your anxiety about being perfect

Hiring managers want someone who understands, not just someone who answers.

I built the LeaderUP Interview System around this truth. It’s helped me-and hundreds of clients-stand out and get offers, fast.

Your resume gets you in the room. The way you connect gets you the job.

How do you approach tough interviews? Has connection helped you stand out?

Stuck in a toxic job? You’re following old rules that keep you trapped.

You know you’re a talented leader in tech.
But you’re still using the same playbook that got you here.
Now-those rules hold you back.

Here’s what I see every week:

• You polish your resume for the 100th time.
• You wait for your boss to notice your value.
• You hope HR will offer you something better.
• You keep working harder, hoping for a break.

Truth is: Companies changed. Hiring changed. Leadership changed.
But the job search strategies most people use? Still stuck in 2010.

The fix is simple, but powerful.

The LeaderUP 3 Keys Proven Framework:

1. Decision Maker Marketing - Position yourself as the solution to their biggest problems. Your resume and LinkedIn must scream impact at the level you want, not just the job you have.

2. Interview Pipeline Process - Build a personalized outbound plan. Reach out directly to decision makers. Use tools and automation. Stop waiting, start driving interviews.

3. Interview Process Certification - Learn how to become the answer hiring managers need. Consistently get offers by showing you solve real pain.

But that’s not all.

We dig deep to uncover your key unlocks:
→ What makes you unique?
→ Where do you deliver value no one else can?
→ Which growth areas will move the needle?

Then, we use the MASE Approach:
• Mindset: Growth over fear.
• Attitude: Show up with energy.
• Skills: Level up-hard and soft.
• Effort: Daily, focused action.

Imagine the shift:
You land the role you want.
You triple your impact, income, and satisfaction.
You wake up excited-recognized for your true worth.

The uncomfortable truth:
Success starts when you break old patterns and choose a new strategy.

What would change in your career if you stopped following outdated rules and started using a proven framework?

I see growth where others see only trouble. That’s my secret.

Most people scan the headlines, scroll through complaints, and get stuck on what’s wrong.

They say:
• The world is a mess
• My job is draining me
• Nothing ever changes

But here’s what they miss-what you focus on becomes your reality.

When you zoom in on pain, you get more pain.
When you point your lens at growth, you see new ways forward.

I’ve been there. Years ago, I hit a wall in my career. Stuck, frustrated, looking for someone to blame.

The truth is: I was feeding the problem with my attention. I was growing more stuck, not less.

Everything shifted when I started asking:
• What can I learn here?
• How can I grow from this?
• What part of me needs to change?

That’s when the doors opened. New roles. Promotions. More energy. Better teams. Not overnight-but every day, a little more.

The uncomfortable truth: The world will always have trouble. Pain. Problems.

But you choose what grows in your life. Your focus is the fertilizer.

If you want to be in the top 1%, start with your mindset-focus on growth, not trouble.

What would shift in your career if you focused less on pain and more on possibility?

Melissa Coloton Coaching and Consulting

Business Consultant and Coach

Lexitas Pharma Services

Senior Vice President Business Development

Traveling Restoration

Traveling Restoration is a family owned and operated business whose mission is simple, to breath new life into retired furniture. Traveling Restoration sits in the heart of the furniture capital of the world, High Point, North Carolina. There is no better place on earth to find unique, custom painted, pieces of furniture.

Owner

Scout Clinical, part of the Meeting Protocol Family

Executive Vice President Business Development

Executive Director, Regional Commercial Lead 

Senior Sales Optimization Director, Business Development

PRA Health Sciences

Senior Director Business Development

Randstad USA

Senior Staffing Manager and Business Development Associate

Childress Vineyards

Operations/Sales Manager

Catawba College

Athletic Trainer/Instructor/Advisor

North Carolina State University

Assistant Athletic Trainer

When I graduated from college, I felt lost. 

After six years of studying what I thought I'd do forever, my first job paid me $25,000 a year. This didn't pay the bills and made me feel like a loser.

I wanted more from life, so I spent time figuring things out. 

Figuring things out took work. There were lots of ups and downs and tons of frustrations because I felt like I wasted time in school - I had two degrees and no idea what to do with them! 

Ultimately, I had to figure out who I was, where I was, and where I wanted to go. 

This is why I help ambitious young professionals who want to LOVE what they do, find their purpose, and make money with it.

It's what I didn't have but so desperately needed.

I hope to help you, too! And if you want more serious stuff about me, below are my credentials. 

I have a B.S. in Athletic Training, with a Masters in Adult Education, with an Emphasis in Health Professions. I am also a certified health and wellness coach and trained in life coaching under Tony Robbins. 

If you want help figuring out what to do after graduation or just want help growing your career, please click here and sign up for my exclusive content. https://dawn-smoke-6941.ck.page/34011b5888

Melissa Coloton

Decided to get real today.



I was going to write a typical inspirational post.

But decided it wasn’t real, and if I’m going to sit on the LinkedIn inspo throne…

I need to be real.

Otherwise, it’s fake.

And I hate fake.

So, here it is.

This week, I yearned for a steady paycheck.

Like, reeeesaaaalllll bad. 

My mind was so desperate for the safety, security, and comfort. 

And my mind was also afraid.

Lots of fear of:
-the unknown
-not saving enough 
-no work friends
-judgement 

And I need to share …

I’m wildly uncomfortable pursuing my dreams and doing exactly what I preach: pursuing happiness over comfort.

This is not easy, and anyone who says it is….isn’t telling the truth.

I’ve been on my own for two and half years now and I’ve sacrificed:

-my house
-my car
-my steady check
-some of my retirement savings 
-my comfort 

So moments like this are real for any business owner. 

And they’re not talked about nearly enough.

So why am I sharing this?

Because I want to be super clear with my audience: I’m not always rainbows and butterflies.

I don’t want pitty - so I hope that’s not what it seems like - pitty is the last thing I want. 

But what I do want to be clear…

….when I encourage honoring yourself above all else, I want the world to understand that it’s not as easy done as said.

It might take sacrifices…

Your ego will scream on the daily …

You may have to go against society’s standards.

And yes, it might feel incredibly scary and lonely at times.

Want to know why I’m not going to pursue a comfortable job despite how I feel today?

Because every time I think about it, I feel depressed, anxious, and I instantly get emotional.

And this is a great example of knowing yourself, hearing yourself, and pursuing a purpose of fulfillment of your souls desires…

And not fulfillment of the generic, boring, societal expectations that leave you miserable, wanting more, and stuck on the road to regret city. 

So, if you’re thinking of leaving your comfort (whether that’s a job, a relationship, a city, or a lifestyle) this is something you need to know. 

If you’ve already left and you’re questioning everything, I get it. 

And I want to say, you’re not alone.

Hang in there because following what’s internal and not the external is where life’s greatest gifts for you live.

This message is for me as much as it is for you. 

And cheers to being real because let’s be honest, LI is full of the highlight reels! 

Ps, if you’ve made a major change in your life, how did you get through doubting yourself? Leave in the comments to help others with their journey! ⬇️

Life Coach for the Life Sciences || Sales Consultant || Host of The Honor You Podcast & Founder of The Honor You Method

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I wanna quit. 


And more than I care to admit. 

But it’s not for the reasons you’d expect.

It’s not from: 
-daily interuptions from Chad 
-lack of freedom 
-lack of time 
-sitting at a desk all day 
-high stress
-big work loads that don’t stop 
-endless back to back meetings
-wayyyy too many emails 
-being asked for my opinion but the answer never really mattering 
-being undervalued and overworked 

That’s not why I want to quit.

I want to quit because I’m afraid I’ll never “get there”.

I’ll never get to a point where my biz doesn’t feel risky. 

Because when there’s risk, the mind runs wild. 

So - 
Every.
Single.
Day.

I must face the ultimate Chad -my mind… which is full of interruptions, rude comments, fear mongering, and bullying.

Each day she says, “hey, wouldn’t it just be easier if….. _______(fill in blank with any number of anxieties).

How I overcome this is knowing, deeply, that for years, I’ve been asked to lead the way from my heart to a place that doesn’t stress me out every day, one where I get to express through writing, and one where my job is to help others.

And this road isn’t easy - that’s for damn sure.

But it’s easier than me regretting some day what I could’ve done….or never knowing what might have been.

The regret scares me more than any bs nonsense my mind decides to come up with on the daily.

So, I hope it scares you too. Not that I like to lead from fear, but, if you know deep inside you’re not doing what you should be, act. 

Don’t wait. Because regret is heartless. It’ll be sure to be in your face if you don’t move toward what is you, instead of doing what you’re “supposed to do”.

Ps. One of my goals this year was to spend more time at my favorite place with my favorite people - the beach! 🏖️ this was taken this summer for our anniversary, and we spent it at, yep, the beach ☺️🙌🏻. 

Pps - where’s your fave place??

When I first got into the lifesciences I was on a high. 


I knew I’d found my place. 

My home. 

An industry I could stay in and be proud of the work I was doing. 

Making people’s lives better mattered to me back then and is still high on the list of what’s fulfilling and purposeful to me today.  

Unfortunately, working in this industry eventually came at a cost.

I don’t wish anxiety or panic attacks on my worst enemy. 


So I had to reset and rethink what I was doing and why I was doing it. 

It wasn’t easy because it’s all I’ve ever known (aside the few years I floundered trying to find where I belonged). 

And what I know now after a lot of soul searching and reconnecting to myself, is, we can’t do anything monumental in a stressed out state. 

Especially a chronically stressed out state.

And we deserve to do work we know is important and have our sanity too. 

So, if you’re someone in this space who’s heart is in it but you’re struggling, let’s chat. 

I’ve found a great place for me now - and not suprisingly:

-my anxiety is gone
-my stress levels nearly non existent 
-my back pain gone
-migraines are limited 
-I have more time and energy for friends and family 

I even had someone tell me, “You look so light.”

It was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.

I know it’s a stressful environment so I’m not saying you’ll never feel the pressure.

But what I am saying is, how you deal with it matters.

How you support yourself matters.

And if you’re going to do work that matters, you deserve to ensure YOU matter as well.

Because what’s the point of doing work that matters if you can’t be present in your life outside of that work? 

If I can help, just DM me. Let’s chat! 
 
Ps - this once New Yorker is just trying to survive the elements this past weekend 😂. Safe to say I won’t be moving back from the south any time soon. ⬇️
—————————————————
Hi 👋🏻 I’m Melissa. A certified life coach who’s spent 15+ years in the life sciences in high pressure roles. I’ve learned the art of honoring myself so that I can do my purpose without all the stress and the strain. And now I teach others how to do the same. If you want to explore how to support yourself and still do amazing work, ping me here on LI or feel free to email me for a connect. info@melissacoloton.com

I hope all my US friends have a lovely Thanksgiving! ❤️🦃🍁🍽

You’ve lived your entire life doing what you were supposed to do.


And yet?

You’re not happy.

Toooo many people are living a life they just simply don’t like.

And it pains me.

On top of the unhappiness?


They’re stuck too.

Why? Well, because they did what they were supposed to do.

They got a good job.

They bought a house they technically could afford but not own for 30 years.

They bought the car they thought was cool and would make them happy.

Alllll the things and still - not happy. And now? The finances around all the things keeps them stuck in all those things. 

So the question I have for you is:

How long?

How long are you going to keep doing what you’re supposed to do even though you’re not happy?

I hope it’s not a second longer because you deserve happiness! 

It’s really the only thing in life to pursue! 

—————————————————
Hi 👋🏻 I’m Melissa - a certified life coach that’s had all the things I thought I wanted and found out the hard way that those things don’t actually make you happy. What I know now is life isn’t about them it’s about me. It’s about pursuing what my heart desires and that’s how my North Star. And I want it to be yours too! DM me to set up a consult today - or, click link in bio!

The word "rich" has multiple definitions.


In my 20s and some of my 30s, it = make as much money as possible.

The problem?

That drive for money overrode my understanding of what I wanted in life.

Which led to a major reconciliation and questioning it all.

This is scary (if you're there now, I want to say, you'll get through it, friend, trust me. It may not feel like it, but you will!)

Now, my definition is:
-As much time as possible doing what I love
-As much energy as possible
-As much simplicity as possible
-As much freedom as possible

If you define rich in a way that does not honor you and your soul's true desires, you'll likely end up successful, but not happy.

Unfortunately, I had to learn this the hard way.

How about you? What does rich mean to you?

[Sales Saturday] 


What percentage of your sales reps hit their targets YoY?

Most organizations run in the 75/25 range.

75% don’t hit target 
25% do hit target 

The concern is obvious.

You have a handful of reps that carry the company’s quota.

If this is you, my next question is, what’s your best rep doing that your worst is not?

Unfortunately most can’t answer that question.

And if they do it’s anecdotal - and depends on who you ask.

The solution?

Implementation of a force multiplier.

1. Outline core competencies 

2. Align specific behaviors 

3. Deploy a 360 review of each rep

4. Compile the data 

5. Provide rep and manager with a customized report  

6. Create a custom development and coaching plan for each rep 

7. Collate data so you can see team deficiencies then map your team trainings throughout the year 

Rinse and repeat every 6 months.

Now your bottling your best reps competencies and associated behaviors.

There’s no longer a question mark on what your best reps do.

You have a roadmap for other reps to follow.

This force multiplies instead of accepting that only 25% of reps will hit quota each year.

It turns your 75/25 into 75 hitting and 25 not (or better)! 

____________________________
Hi 👋🏻 I’m Melissa - sales consultant that gives you the tools to stop wasting time and money on underperformance and instead, force multiplies your sales team. If you’re struggling to have a sales force that’s hitting their targets, book a free consultation - link in bio. Or email me at info@melissacoloton.com.

[Sales Saturday]: Are you missing sales due to a lack of curiosity?


My husband and I drive semi-gas guzzlers.

So, we decided to sell my car.

I spent a whole weekend detailing it, getting it ready for pics.

Then I posted and it and yay! I got a few hits and the best one was through a dealership.

The whole process was smooth.

One step after the other - no hiccups.

Except for one major error.

THEY DIDNT TRY TO SELL ME A CAR! 

I was literally sitting smack in the middle of their showroom, not a single person said, “what are you buying next?”

On top of it, they asked me to take less for my car due to needing new rear brakes.

An even more perfect opportunity to say hey, take less as a trade in and I’ll give you deal on a car in the lot.

But, nothing.

Not even an ounce of an attempt to sell me.

Wow.

Listen….

This isn’t rocket science, and even though I’ve been in sales for a long long time, I don’t consider myself a guru.

I consider myself good at sales because I make sense.

But you don’t need a guru or a rocket scientist to tell you, if a potential customer is sitting right across from you, at the very least:

BE. CURIOUS.

Just a few questions and they would’ve discovered I had zero back up plan.

Yes I’m carless right now.

And could’ve had an amazing moment of service by saying, “what are you getting next”? 

This didn’t even have to be sales, it could/should have been service. 

It would’ve saved me a lot of headache to drive off with a car instead of being carless. 

Anyway, don’t be so sucked into your process you miss a stupidly obvious sale.

And always, always, be curious and service oriented  - especially when a potential customer is sitting right in front of you. 

Do you have any stories of a similar situation??

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The Battle

Paul Upton

Melissa Coloton

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