A Career Do Over - Rather Than Career Déjà Vu
Discover how networking can be approached as transformational, rather than as transactional.
This networking scenario — and path-to-solution — is from my new book The Social Billionaire: A Networking Roadmap for Women Seeking to Flourish and Achieve More. The book is research-backed and draws on the real career experiences of ambitious women. It's designed to show you where the most powerful shifts in your networking approach can be made — and how to reach the career milestones you're after.
Networking Scenario: The Accidental Pause
DJ is re-entering the workforce after the surprise retirement of her employer. The sudden pause has given her time to reflect on a career she was too caught up in to question, and the space to consider what she liked — or didn't — about the career path she was on. DJ hopes to re-enter the workforce without resorting to accepting a new job doing the same old, same old she was doing before.
Networking Prescription for DJ:
- Searching For What's Possible (Chapter 3 - Focus: What Are You Networking And Why?): This exercise is for anyone staring at a blank page wondering "what next?" It invites you to look broadly — and creatively — at what someone with your skills, experience, and degrees could actually do, beyond the obvious.
- Retrace Your Steps (Chapter 6 - Networking: Three High Impact Practices): This timeline exercise maps how you got where you are — the milestones, the choices, the people who showed up. The past can be a reliable guide to what's worth keeping - and what needs to go.
- What Ideas Do You Have For Me? (Chapter 6 - Networking: Three High Impact Practices): A single question — suggested by executive coach Joyce Sullivan — to put to your trusted connections when you're between careers, and need fresh direction. If you don't like the answers you receive - toss the question out more broadly.
- Info Networks Canvas (Chapter 5 - Unlock Your High-Achieving Network): A planning tool borrowed from the planning canvas used by startups. This iteration fo the tool is designed to map the networks, connections, events, and information sources you need to be tapped into — essential when you're charting a new course and need to get in new or different networking rooms.
- Two Questions To Ensure You're In The Right Networking Room (Chapter 5 - Unlock Your High-Achieving Network): Two clarifying questions to cut through networking confusion: what information do I actually need, and who or what is the best source for it?
🗝️ If you’re planning events designed to boost women’s professional connections, let’s talk, as I’d love insights from The Social Billionaire to be part of these conversation.
📖 The Social Billionaire: A Networking Roadmap for Women Seeking to Flourish and Achieve More is full of exercises, reflections, and networking prescriptions to help you network your ambitions. Grab your copy - along with a pen, as this is no admire and simply aspire book. Put it to work in your career!
⭐️ And once you've read The Social Billionaire — an honest 5-star review on Amazon and/or goodreads would mean a great deal. Reviews are how books get found - and with this book, how career trajectories will be changed.
