How many times have you been at a party, a conference or an interview and you hear the words…

"Tell me about yourself."

Hot face. Sweaty palms. Chest constriction. All the panic.

If this is you and your reaction – I see you.

You may be feeling this way because you’re bored with your work, you’re ready for a change or you’ve never sat down to think about – what do I even do well?

Many of us have a hard time talking about ourselves, our gifts and the kind of work we want to do in the world. This is completely normal. Especially when we’ve been taught to tamp down any bragging or boasting since childhood.

You don’t want to be THAT person, right?

Well, if you want to connect with new people who are going to help you figure out what’s next for you in your career – THAT’S exactly the person you want to be.

And you can absolutely do it in your own authentic way. By talking about the things you’re proud of and what you want to learn. What energizes you and who in the world you want to help.

If you’re still having trouble envisioning what you might say, or if your palms are still sweaty just reading this, let me offer up simple solution that will leave you with a unique and memorable pitch in just an afternoon. It’s my...

Nail Your Elevator Pitch Mini Course

The mini course is best for people who:

• Are thinking about a shift, but fear networking and sounding “flakey” because they don’t have it all figured out yet.

• Are returning to the workforce after a gap.

• Are in active job searches and career shifts, but are not yet landing the right next roles or even the right conversations to get those roles.

️ The course includes:

• Five short videos that walk you through:

  • ...A welcome and setting you up for success

  • ...Identifying your strengths

  • ...The strategy and approach to writing your pitch

  • ...The formula for 3 different types of pitches based on YOUR situation

  • ...Getting into action with your pitch (How to start using it in networking)

• ️ A workbook where you can write the first drafts of your pitch

And now you can pair it with single 60-minute virtual session with me to discuss your pitch and anything else related to your search! You can learn more about the Mini Course at rachelbgarrett.com/pitch.

As a coach who helps people design careers on their own terms, I’m a huge proponent of talking to your network BEFORE you have all of the answers for what’s next. In fact, it’s those conversations that help you form the ideas and possibilities for what you want.

So, with this Mini Course, you can get out there and talk to your advocates – early in your process with some hypotheses and clear ways they can be on Team YOU from the very beginning.

I look forward to helping you stand in your power. Own your strengths. And give yourself permission to want what you want.

The news of layoffs across the tech and media sectors is disheartening. If your LinkedIn feed looks anything like mine, announcements of former colleagues and clients who have been impacted by yet another RIF seems like a daily occurrence.

Outside of my 1:1 client work, I’m hoping to do my part to help these folks by sharing A LOT of open roles on LinkedIn and connecting them with relevant contacts within my network.

And yet there’s another group of people struggling, seemingly invisible behind the scenes.

The ones who “survived” the layoff.

The employees being asked to perform two and even three roles at once.

Those who have dramatically increased their hours without an increase in pay.

The loyal team members who are burnt out and feel they should stick it out and be grateful they have jobs.

If this is you or someone you love, I have two recommendations for navigating this challenging situation.

#1: Acknowledge your grief.

• You’re experiencing the loss of partnership and collaboration with your former colleagues who are no longer part of the team. Yes, you can stay in touch and if they’re important to you–you absolutely should make an effort to do so–but you know and you are correct. It will not be the same.
  

• You also may be feeling loss around what you thought this team, this year, this work would look and feel like. It’s not what you envisioned or hoped it would be and in order to create something new–it’s important to be truthful about what no longer is.

#2. Honor and own your boundaries.

• You may be asked to push beyond what’s possible for your energy, your mental health, your worth. Get quiet with yourself and the people who love you. What do you need in order to make this work for your organization and for you? Practice asking for what you need. And ask again when the request doesn’t stick. If your boundaries are not respected, you have some data to help you know whether or not this situation can be navigated on your terms.

• You may be asked to step back into work you’ve moved on from, work that’s more junior and is not energizing for you. Get creative in how you can set boundaries here. Work that is not energizing for you may be a professional development opportunity for others. Also, you can use your strategic expertise to build better systems and processes so you can minimize time spent on these tasks. Practice saying no to taking on these tasks while offering another solution for how it can be handled.

Lastly, I would go forth with compassion. Assume best intentions from all parties. And most importantly, do all of the things you do to refuel when you’re in a challenging situation.

Admit to yourself, yes you have a job, but you’re still in a rough patch – and you need to take care of the only person that can get you through it. That’s you, friend.

If you’ve been following along with me for awhile now, you know…I write myself a lot of letters. They help me connect with my inner wisdom, my brokenness and the bridge I build daily between the two.

One letter I wrote to myself in January was to my 2024 self. Because it turned out to be a bit of a love letter, I decided to share it with you on this day that’s all about love.

I highly recommend you write your own love letter to you – whether it’s past, present or future you. I learn something new each time and the quiet reflection allows me to silence all the experts and thought leaders living in my brain and tap into the person who knows me best of all.

Here we go…

Hello my Friend,

2023 was the year I learned how to truly be a friend to you. And I found a calm and a peace knowing I'm always with my friend. Not an asshole boss. Not a strict teacher policing and critiquing my actions and choices, expecting perfection. Nope. My friend. Who’s learning an acceptance for all of me and all I’ve been through.

It was the year of allowing for polar opposites. Wild expansion in my business. And deep inner work to heal childhood wounds. It was the year I learned you can do both things at one time if you create space, set boundaries and tell the truth.

Beyond my client work, I focused on my writing this past year. And while I wasn’t always the most creative, inspired or prolific writer…I did my best. I committed. I showed up. I’m really proud of this because while I love writing, it’s challenging work. I was up for that challenge – even though I didn’t know (and still don’t know) what will happen with any of it or if it will indeed become a book.

2024 Friend, I hope you continue to be an open and curious student of how to mother teenage daughters with compassion for them and you. You did not have a model so this is all new territory. I’ve never learned more about myself than in my relationships with my kids in 2023. I love how we finally figured out you don’t need to bake and craft to be a great mom for them. You can use your gifts. You can write them letters too and I did – often. And yes, friend – they were damn good and cherished by their recipients.

I dream for you, friend. That you continue to connect with the people who energize you. People who celebrate you and people who give you the space to fall apart. You are loved by your people and you and I are finding our way to that love too. It’s a prickly path and while we weren’t always responsible for installing the landmines, we are in charge of deactivating them. That’s part of our life’s work. So go ahead and rally 2025 Friend and the rest of them to let them know we come in peace and acceptance and love.

Love,

2023 Friend, Rachel

Now your turn – feel free to share your letter or how you’re showing yourself love today!

Happy Valentine’s Day All!

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To kick off the start of Black History Month tomorrow, I’d like to share the profiles of five Black Influencers on LinkedIn who are broadening our perspectives and helping organizations think differently about how we break down systems of oppression. 

Blessing Adesiyan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/blessingadesiyan/
CEO, MH WorkLife | Building work-life care infrastructure for today's workforce

Talks about #futureofwork and #futureofhome

Rocki Howard
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockihoward/
Bold diversity advocate | Passionate voice for the excluded | Creating high performing, inclusive and equitable cultures

Talks about #leadership, #inspiration, #workingmoms, and #diversityequityandinclusion

Jodi-Ann Burey

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaburey/

Speaker. Writer. Disruptor. | Author of AUTHENTIC (Flatiron Books, Fall 2023) | TED Speaker | Creator + Host of the Black Cancer podcast

Desiree Adaway

https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiree-adaway-4373265/

Principal at The Adaway Group

Talks about #training, #inclusion, #racialequity, #racialjustice, and #diversityandinclusion

Danielle Coke

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellecoke/

Activism Through Illustration | Social Justice Advocate & Founder of Oh Happy Dani

Talks about #art, #dei, #justice, and #activism

I encourage you to go ahead and follow these courageous innovators who are saying the hard things. I’m grateful for all of their work as it has deeply influenced and inspired my own and I’m honored to continue to spread their respective messages and help to amplify their voices. 

Job searchers often seek me out for a few reasons:

1. To connect them with recruiters.

2. To send them tons of job listings that are relevant for them.

3. To tell them which type of role is the exact right choice for them.

It’s understandable that they would want all of these things. I mean, haven’t we been taught with any problem – seek out a guru who has all the answers and can tell us what to do?

There’s just one itty bitty snag with this approach. I don't do any of that.

Going straight to the tactical work of job searching based on what somebody else told you is right for you, will leave you going after roles that are on someone else’s agenda.

Either you won’t get them because you have a hard time feigning interest in the interviews – or perhaps worse – you will get one and think to yourself…”how the f*ck did I get here” on day one.

Instead, I work with clients as a guide.

I share tools that help them reflect and tap into their own career desires.

I ask the right questions so they can find their answers.

I help them identify their terms and priorities so they can find roles and leaders and cultures that are on their own terms.

I say the hard AND compassionate truths about what I’m hearing and seeing as they share their fears and desires out loud.

I hold them accountable to stay on the path even when it’s hard, even when they’d prefer to think about any other thing rather than what’s next in their careers.

I am their cheerleader who helps them believe in themselves again, believe in the possibilities that are waiting for them, believe they are worthy of those possibilities.

Yes, I know the landscape of many industries so I have my own hypothesis of options and roles for you when we begin. But we don’t start our work there.

We start with you. Your agenda. Your goals.

We do the deep work of reconnecting with you – and then we make connections to in-demand roles and opportunities that align with who you are and what you want.

If you’re interested in learning more about 1:1 Coaching, feel free to check out my program and set up a complimentary 30-minute Zoom call.

I’ve gone inward. I’ve been planning for my year and listening to some smart and inspiring humans to keep me motivated on these short winter days.

Plus, I had a rare weekend afternoon to myself and I decided my pup, Taco, and I would snuggle on the couch and watch a movie…a non-Marvel, non-animated indie movie I wouldn’t need to sell anyone else in my family on. Yet, here I am recommending it to you because it was beautiful and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Here are the two podcast recommendations for your chilly walks, commutes and laundry folding evenings:

Work Appropriate featuring Laura Mariani (a neuroscientist-turned-recruiter)

New Year, New Job, New Me

This is one of my favorite new podcasts for obvious reasons. I binged them all in December and was instantly excited to share this episode about tactics to find a new job in 2023. The emphasis on networking in your own way is very aligned with the process I share with clients. I hope you find a nugget or two that can open up some possibilities for your own job search.

We Can Do Hard Things featuring Tracee Ellis Ross

How to Make Peace in Your Own Head

I know, I know – I always have a Glennon/Abby/Amanda pod episode on my list. It’s because they truly are saying the hard and vulnerable things you don’t hear elsewhere AND this one is a gem. Tracee Ellis Ross is her full self and tells the truth about how hard it is to be so all the way herself in a culture still so dominated by patriarchy and racism. It’s a beautiful conversation I may or may not have listened to more than once (not saying how many times).

And if you get some time to yourself or with another grown up who wants to adventure off the beaten path with an indie film…

Aftersun

Written and directed by Charlotte Wells, starring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio

This is Charlotte Wells’ first feature film, she reluctantly calls - emotionally autobiographical – about a young father and 11 year old daughter who go on a holiday together to Turkey. Their bond and closeness is so tender and real –something you don’t see on screen between a father and daughter…really ever. Beyond the beauty and creativity of the storytelling, the looming loss of this struggling father is something that has stuck with me. Paul Mescal’s performance is so vulnerable and honest. I’ve been a fan of his since Normal People and I do hope he gets recognized and the film gets a wider release…so I’m doing my part.

What is keeping you motivated and inspired during these short winter days? Drop your recommendations in the comments below!

How are you easing into 2023? Things are same same over here and that’s by design.

As I mentioned in my email last week, 2022 was my best yet in business.

I felt a flow and an ease in my work. I was energized by the mix of products and services I was offering, the types of clients I was supporting and the free time I created in my days to focus on my own wellbeing.

Yet, in my downtime over the holidays, I had a gazillion ideas about new ways to serve my clients and new work to bring into the world.

It’s all very on-brand for me.

I love possibilities and potential and bringing new ideas to life.

I love starting something completely new to see what happens.

But, alas not this year.

I’m writing them ALL down. The gems. The epiphanies. The transformative solutions.

And I’m NOT doing them.

My mantra for 2023 is: Focus. Stay the course.

I built solid systems last year and I’m grateful to say – I want more time to enjoy what I’ve created!

Every time I use my mantra to “not now” my new idea, I think about how I can channel all of that creativity, energy and time into my 2023 writing project.

With all this Big Change Energy of January, I wanted to share that it’s ok to also say:
I like what I’ve got going on and who I am.

I don’t need to exercise more or set big audacious goals.

I can simply continue to do more of what’s working and less of what’s draining.

For me, not going after the next big thing IS actually the next big thing.
So, if that’s where you are, I see you. I’m sending compassion your way and I’m happy to share my mantra.

Wow, happy 2023!

Holidays can be both joyful and hard AF and I honor you for making it all the way through to the other end. Now, we just need to brave another winter.

I know many of you share the tradition I love of choosing a word as a theme for your year – instead of unsticky resolutions.

For 2022, my word was RECONNECT.

I selected it late in 2021 after a challenging year both personally and in my business. As an extrovert and relationship builder, I was still feeling the isolation of the pandemic and was taking on way too much on my own. I was depleted and burnt out. Full transparency – I was feeling truly lost about what to do next in my business. At times, I considered walking away.

So, I set out to do my reconnecting thing and I told myself I would see what happened. It was ok not to have answers. I believed the answers would be revealed.

• I met with colleagues and mentors who energize me and pump me up.

• I reached out to former clients to check in and get updates on their inspiring careers.

• I joined a community of BRILLIANT coaches through my work with CHIEF.

• I built a roster of talented coaches, therapists, organizers, tutors, designers (and the list goes on) and I referred them often. I was reminded how much I LOVE connecting people. It’s my jam.

• I held two inspiring panels of former clients who shared vulnerable stories of moving through fear and wisdom that supported dozens of job searchers and career changers.

• I returned to my weekly emails to you and all of my advocates and supporters who have been following my journey. This writing is my place of reflection and peace.

I reconnected with my colleagues, my community, my clients, the humans in the world who most inspired me and something intense happened.

I reconnected with my love for my work.

I just wrapped my turnaround year and my best in 8 years of business. And I truly did it without hustle. Hustle was not working for me and I knew I would have to leave altogether if I continued on that path.

Instead, I trusted my own gifts. I reorganized my time around my energy, only took on clients and projects that were a “hell yes!” and built systems to take on the draining parts of the work I actively dislike.

In fact, I’ve built enough infrastructure and space into my business that I now feel (mostly) confident that I can jump into this year’s theme - TRUTHTELLING.

I’ve made the commitment to myself (I know I may have said this one before – but I’m really in this time!) to write my first book. A guide for career transitioners and job searchers to design careers on their terms. A way for people to access my work and process without signing up for coaching.

With this work out in the world, I can continue to broaden my impact and connect more people with their inner career desires. YESSS! I’m here for all that 2023 has to bring.

Looking forward to continuing to reflect with you through this weekly email and I’m always happy to support you in your own career journey.