We discussed mindset shifting tools in my group coaching program this week. I like to dive into this topic early in the process because it’s often mental blocks that are keeping us stuck, rather than more tactical things like resumes and interview skills.

One of my favorites in this set of tools is forgiveness.

Identifying areas where you may be holding shame and offering up acknowledgment and compassion and forgiveness.

I often talk about how this shame showed up for me when I knew I wanted to make a change while in my marketing roles, but felt like I should stay in a safe, flexible role because I had two small children. I stayed in an “it’s fine” career for too long, even while I hungered for a change.

The truth is that this feeling of career shame wasn't new to me. I felt it even before I had a career.

College was not an easy time for me. I struggled to find my way. I transferred after two years, switched my major FIVE times and nearly took time off after my junior year. Finally, I decided to identify my easiest path to graduation and took it--rather than spending the time expanding my mind, learning, growing and challenging myself to think in new ways about what was possible for my future.

I held onto tremendous shame about this period of my life for many years.

Feeling like I squandered an opportunity.

Like I wasn’t smart enough or built for grad school.

Like I learned in pockets here and there, but don’t remember much.

After some deep work thinking about that kid I used to describe as flailing…

I now see her as a human who was grieving.

As you may remember, my parents died in a car accident when I was nearly 12 and while college came several years after this loss, I see now with adult eyes--I was in acute grief, untethered and in survival mode.

I did the best I could. So did all of the grownups surrounding me who were also grieving.

Would I do things differently with my own kids? Absolutely. I would love them where they are. I would advocate for their mental health needs knowing that achievement and credentials can wait. And that’s how I continue to re-parent that part of me.

I acknowledge her struggle. I show her forgiveness and compassion and love. I cheer her on for trying new things where she’s not an immediate expert. I remind her that lifelong learning is what keeps my mind active and alive. I can both fill in some of the gaps of what I may have missed and learn new skills that weren’t even invented at that time.

I can also be grateful that she/I prioritized putting one foot in front of the other in that tough moment. That I got the support I needed. That I was optimistic more would open up for me after graduation. And it did.

What shame are you holding onto in your career and in your life?
Where can you show that younger you some acceptance of her humanity? Some love? She’s ready and willing and very curious about what may come next.

Colleagues, clients and friends who are leaders in their organizations are hungry to know...how do I retain employees right now when they have so many options?

How do I keep them hungry, engaged...dare I say, happy in their jobs?

The answer is both complex and simple. The complex part - it’s different for everyone. You’re not going to get at everyone’s challenges with one blanket solution.

I’ve been seeing this approach in various organizations. Offering up free subscriptions to professional development or fitness tools. Or giving one extra Mental Health Day off to the whole staff. These are all lovely and generous perks. Yet, they most likely don’t address the challenges most employees are facing.

One powerful way to retain employees right now is to courageously ask them…

What do you need?

To listen with curiosity and openness.

And then collaborate with your employees on solutions.

Is it the opportunity to delegate a piece of the role that doesn’t match up to her strengths?

Is it starting work at 9:30 twice a week so she can drop off her son at school?

Is it the ability to speak openly about what a longer term career path looks like?

Is it a 20% raise to bring her up to market rate - a number she has the research and evidence to back up?

If you truly want to retain employees right now, listen to them and act accordingly.

One of the most popular ways I’ve helped organizations with a customized and empathetic approach to supporting their employees in the past is to offer Virtual Coaching Days. I provide a day of 50-minute, 1:1 sessions to multiple employees who are not eligible for longer coaching engagements.

In the past I’ve worked with clients like American Express, Brookfield Properties and the Council of Urban Professionals to support leaders and teams with Coaching Days and the reviews were both heartwarming for me and powerful for clients in the respective organizations.

If you’re currently leading a team and looking for some support around year-end reviews, planning, professional development or internal career pathing, feel free to reach out via email at rachel@rachelbgarrett.com!

As you may remember, earlier this year, I launched my first official group program. It was a huge milestone for me and all the women who joined me on the journey.

And if you’re a long-time reader, you also know that in my first five years of business, I focused exclusively on 1:1 coaching. I loved (and still love) the intimacy, the connection, the magic that happens when my intuition tips me off to ask just the right question, unlocking new insight into how my client can make her way through the mud to find ease and confidence on the other end.

I’ve felt immense pride when client after client walked through my career pathing process and not only discovered her answers, but also allowed her answers to be worthy of living and breathing, of becoming a reality right in front of her.

Then the pandemic began. With it came sickness, loss, fear of the unknown, fear of the known. There was a hunger for connection and also a calling to be all things for our families. Protector, provider, teacher, spinner of a china cabinet’s worth of plates.

The women in my world were struggling. They were critical of themselves for their inability to make an impossible situation work. Many were laid off. For some their caregiving breaks were extended way beyond their level of comfort. Their job searches, career transitions, and dreams were put on pause with the rest of life.

In this moment, I was called to serve them, to see them, to show up for them in an entirely new way. From this chaos, Career Command was born.

The intention of Career Command was twofold:

1. Share my proven career pathing process with the women who needed it most, expanding my impact WAY beyond the number of clients I could serve with 1:1 coaching.

2. Provide a brave space for women to share both their struggles and wins as they build careers on their own terms (the opposite of what our culture tells us is possible...*rolls eyes*).

I’m not going to lie. I was both 100% committed to this program AND I was filled with more fear than my 15lb Schnoodle pup when he sees a German Shepherd. I moved through my fear with all of my coaching tools, supportive friends and family, and a kickass team who filled in for all of my "less energizing strengths."

And I could not be more proud of what we’ve built.

We’re now halfway through with our 2nd three month cohort of Career Command and the women are making big shifts, sharing their wins and diving into all the content like it’s their job...because their biggest insight in the program is that investing (time and money) in themselves matters. Their career dreams matter.

With all of the experience of these first two groups and their helpful feedback, I’m so excited for some of the tweaks we’re making to the program so that it’s even more powerful.

As it always has been, Career Command will continue to be for mid-career women who are looking to step into work that is more meaningful to them and is on their terms. It is for women who are either in an active job search or career transition OR those who are simply feeling that nudge that they want something more and don’t know where to begin.

In this next version of the program, we have...

• Reshaped it into a 6-month program...because that’s how long career shifts take and I want to support you through each step of the process!

• Added more virtual hands-on workshopping for ALL of the modules...so you have a space to share your insights and feelings around each one.

• Provided more space to connect with this amazing community of women by adding curated Career Pods (based on either industry, discipline, or other connective threads).

If this sounds like it’s for you and you’re ready to make the shift with us, I can’t wait to see you there. I’m opening the doors for this program on September 13th and I've created a waitlist so you can be the first to know when and where to join.

Sign, me up for that waitlist, please!

And you may have seen that the week before we open up Career Command, I’m going to offer a free week of group coaching and support in a pop-up podcast called, Being Me At Work. I’m still fleshing out the details but will be back in your inbox next week with more information on how you can join us. Stay tuned!

I’m sending this to you from my first vacation this year. Bad coach and woman business owner! Hey, even though I’m the boss, I still must give the boss feedback. With all that happened this year for the world and for me personally, I can tell you, waiting until August is unacceptable.

To be totally transparent, I wrote this the Friday before I left. My last day of official work before disconnecting. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what my to do list looked like for this day. Holy hell, to call it unrealistic is an understatement.

I have so much goodness coming your way for fall (I can’t wait to share!) and I’m spending my summer pouring all of my love and care into my programs, into my work with clients, and my latest group of women in Career Command.

Now, it’s time to do the same for me. A new forgiveness letter is writing itself in my head.

Speaking of letters, I’ve loved yours! Thank you for sharing your letters of forgiveness and career love with me. Keep them coming!

In fact, your letters have inspired me to offer a free week of group coaching and support in one of my FAVORITE formats - a pop-up podcast called - Being Me At Work. That’s one more check on the bucket list for me, friend.

You know how I feel about the beautiful, all powerful podcast but this one will be a little bit different. This pop-up podcast will only be five episodes, each episode will be less than 30 minutes long, and it will only be available for a limited time! Think of it as personal daily pep talk from yours truly as we dive into who you want to be in your work, how you want to feel, the impact you want to have AND what’s holding you back from getting ALL OF THAT.

More details coming soon, but before I sign off (because all I can think about is drinking a cup of coffee on the deck of our AirBnB in the woods with my pup, Taco), I wanted to tell you about an exciting shift in the making for my Career Command Group program.

The incredible feedback from both cohorts has filled my heart. I know this program I’ve built from my years of coaching hundreds of women through transitions is career transformation gold. The pride. All the feels. I also know that it will be even more powerful as a six month group program, rather than a membership.

Career Command is the safe space you’ve been looking for to practice bringing all of who you are to your conversations and actions in your career. The place where you will unearth the confidence, creativity and belonging that’s been missing in your work.

It will include six months to create a lasting community and network of women supporters and get the professional development tools you need to choose the right next career move. A next step that will be on your terms, where you can be your true self in your work.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about the Career Command: Six-Month Shift Program and how you can be a part of the next group of women shifting and making moves to redesign their careers on their terms.

Since I’ve been hearing from many of you who are already interested, I’ve started a waitlist and will be reaching out to this group first when we’re ready to open our doors again. Feel free to join the waitlist here or reach out to careercommand@rachelbgarrett.com with any questions.


Sending love and currently hugging a tree,
Rachel

I heard a really good litmus test for career shift timing.

If when you leave, it doesn’t feel bittersweet, you’ve stayed too long.

I love that it honors the fact that even when you know the change is the right thing for you, it will still be hard. There are people you’ll miss. Projects you’ll leave unfinished. A reputation that earned you respect and flexibility.

And yet, even with all of these gems in place within your current situation, there’s a nudge to move on. It’s hard to explain to your people AND also it grows to the point of being tough to ignore.

As I share with my clients, exploring your next move DOES NOT mean you’re quitting tomorrow. It simply means, you’re open to something new and you’re willing to take the steps to figure out what it is.

A thoughtful process includes getting clear on WHAT YOU WANT instead of responding to all the boring job descriptions YOU THINK YOU CAN DO. You must start inward to find the role that is on your terms, based on your priorities.

So how do you know if it’s the right time to start this process? I ask potential clients these three questions to see if they’re ready.

1. Are you hungry for something new (a company, different type of work, level of impact, company culture, way of working)?

2. Are you open to a period of time where you are exploring, where you don’t have all the answers right away?

3. Are you ready to make your needs, dreams, aspirations a priority--like truly making some time for yourself and this process each week? Hot tip: It doesn’t have to be A LOT of time. Even with 1-2 hours a week, you can make progress and gain momentum.

If you answered yes, to all of these questions...what are you waiting for? Let’s talk!

I’m now offering a 6-month, Career Transition 1:1 Coaching option that combines 1:1 Coaching Sessions and access to my online course, the Career Command Process. This online course is comprised of video modules, worksheets, and prompts - my Career Command Crew Members are RAVING about these resources. I’m thrilled to be able to bring my most powerful tools and private coaching together for one transformational program.

Only 5 spots are available for this new Career Transition 1:1 Coaching program so grab yours now!

Learn more about the program and feel free to schedule a call.

I’ve been talking to many women lately who know they’re ready for a change, but they’re worried…

They won’t be able to figure out what they want.

It will be hard on their families.

They’ll walk away from things they like in their roles and never find them again.

They’re not good at change.

I know these thoughts intimately.

This is where I was before I made my own career transition. All of these thoughts compounded my feeling of hopelessness.

They were the beliefs that made me want to prioritize my partner’s career. He seemed to have more momentum, so why not focus energies on helping him thrive while I simply maintained a career that kept us afloat financially?

In all of this overwhelm of being a working parent to two small children, there was a kernel of agency that began as an itch, moved into an ache, and then grew to flood my body with despair.

I wanted more.

And I was embarrassed to admit it.

Instead, I focused on my gratitude for two healthy children, a partner who loved me, and just enough money to live the lifestyle we wanted to live (though it didn’t feel that way at the time).

But even with all the goodness in my life, I wanted to have something of my own. To contribute to the world in some way. To wake up energized by my work and my impact.

I wanted all of that, but I didn’t know how to get through the stuckness to have it. That stuck, lost woman was and is a part of me and she was trying to get my attention. One of the most powerful ways I’ve learned to tap into what she wants over the years is to connect with her directly, to see her, to believe her.

I show her love with words, with letters that give her a space to want what she wants. At the beginning of my transition, I wrote a forgiveness letter to myself, an exercise that I now include in my career pathing process with clients. While the original version is in some journal somewhere that was no doubt, Marie Kondo’ed, here’s how I remember it so you know how to write your own letter if you so choose. You know I like to give homework!

Dear 30-something Rachel,

I’m sorry I’ve been ignoring you. You’ve been sending me signals with tears, overwhelm, boredom, tantrums, mindless eating, and insatiable devouring of the Twilight trilogy. You want more in your career, but you don’t believe you’re capable of anything else. I’m so sorry you feel that way. I’m sorry I let you believe that. We’ve survived unimaginable things together and we haven’t made it through these tragedies so you can live an “it’s fine” life. No fucking way. I want you to know, I’m listening now. We may not know what it is that’s next, but I’m open to believing there is something else and that our dreams are worth exploring.

Love,

Almost 40-year old Rachel

PS. Are you really going to make me run a fucking marathon to figure this out? Well, I’m signed up, so here goes.

Now that I’m 47 as of last week (happy belated birthday to me!) I am present to the power of addressing the hurt parts of me with compassion. I can acknowledge their pain instead of beating them into submission. Yes, I’m resilient, but I don’t always have to be surviving something. I want to be thriving.

I encourage you to write your own Career Love Letter. In this practice, you can create a space to forgive and acknowledge yourself and trust the nudges you’re getting to go for more.

I’d love to hear how it goes. Feel free to write back to this email or set up a time for a clarity call if you’re ready to honor your curiosity for what’s next.

Sign Up for a 30 Minute Complimentary Call Here!

As I typically do during summer, I’m taking some extra time to think...and also absorb a fairly ridiculous number of podcasts.

I have a 30 minute walk to my new office (which I love--more on that another time) so I fill that time with the treat of podcasts. Sometimes they relate to my work and sometimes not, but I’m constantly brimming with new insights, inspiration and some audible laughter that tends to make some heads turn on my commute.

It’s made me think (yet again) about starting my own podcast about women and careers, envisioning what we want to feel in our work and creating it in our lives. What do you think?

While you’re waiting for me to put this crazy dream into action, here are some of my recommendations for summer listening:

We Can Do Hard Things - Glennon Doyle
Episode 10 - Our Bodies: Why are we at war with them and can we ever make peace?
Episode 6 - Overwhelm: Is our exhaustion a sign that we’re CareTicking time bombs?

How I Built This - With Guy Raz
Filmmaker Ava Duvernay

In Support Of (on Armchair Expert podcast feed) with Kristen Bell and Monica Padman
Episode 3 - Oprah Winfrey

The Ezra Klein Show
Critical Race Theory, Comic Books and the Power of Public Schools (with Eve Ewing)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Kathryn Hahn
Daniel Radcliffe

Wild and Holy Money with Megan Hale
Episode 38 - Healing Transgenerational Money Stories
Episode 33 - The 5 Love Languages of Money

If you’re still hoping to find more creativity, calm and ease in your career this year...it's possible! And hopefully you will continue to build in podcast listening time.

Feel free to reach out for a chat. While I’ve closed the latest cohort of Career Command, I will be opening the doors again this fall...and I still have a few 1:1 coaching spots available.

Sign Up for a 30 Minute Complimentary Call Here!

As a business owner, I am grateful that I am in charge of my time, when I rest and how and when I make my money. 

Yet, this concept has not and does not come easy for me. It’s something I must continue to remind myself. 

Part of this process is in investigating...where the hell did I come up with my beliefs about money, about career, about wealth? Are these beliefs relevant for my life and the time in which I’m currently living? Are these beliefs serving me for the life I’m creating?

According to my serial entrepreneur father, you always have the ability to make a lot of money when you’re doing the thing you’re best at, on your own terms. Check...this one is working for me. 

That said, he also believed, if you have it, you can and should spend it...even if you don’t have it in hand yet. This one has taken some time to unravel...and over the past six years I’ve become grounded in the reality of my money, stewarding it in directions that are in synch with my values and planning for expenses rather than spending beyond my means.  

On the flip side, most of my parenting team—my aunt and both grandparents subscribed to the, “hard work will build you enough money to survive plus a few extra’s that should only be bought on sale” mantra. This meant after growing up very poor, they spent years in stressful and unfulfilling jobs to have enough for their families. Career was a means to an end and not an outlet for satisfaction or creativity. 

As I dig deeper into these questions, the answers make me uncomfortable and also they build my awareness of whose stories I’m using to define my path. At this point in my adult life, I’m more than capable of writing my own beliefs about money and career that may be different from those passed on by my family and also those of my friends with different life experiences and different goals. 

The more I learn about my relationship to money, the more curious I get about how this is impacting the women I serve. How’s it driving their career choices and decisions? 

That’s why I’m excited to host Money Mindset Coach, Rose Wu, as our July Guest Expert in my Career Command Membership on July 14th at 8 PM! Rose is a money coach who helps people create healthy, stable, and trustworthy relationships with money. She’ll show you how to release your emotional baggage with money so you can openly receive abundant wealth.

If you’re in a job search or career transition, looking for community, tools and a roadmap in your search—and you’ve been considering the Career Command Membership, join now so you can attend this transformative evening unpacking all that’s holding you back in your relationship to money. Making it, saving it and enjoying what you have instead of fearing what you don’t. 

Here’s how to join Career Command: http://www.rachelbgarrett.com/career-command