The Working Ant: Recent Episodes
Ramy Ballout
Dedicated to hard working professionals who pull above their weight every day and yet struggle to get ahead in their careers. It is your RIGHT to live out to your fullest potential!
Philosophical. Psychological. Practical. I'll give you insights from hundreds of my 1-1 clients that have created successful careers for themselves by finding empowerment, increased likability and influence, and being deliberate in how they pursued passion in their professions to yield the kind of profitability they aspired for. Join me, your Host and Coach, Ramy Ballout recording from San Francisco, CA.
We’re hired for our experience. Every day in some way, we are applying our experience. We’re praised for our experience and compensated for the perceived level of experience we possess. We’re rewarded for the promise of applying our future experience by investing our time to create new experiences.We respect one another for our experience but also judge others based on their experience they have - a quality we seem to have little trouble assessing based on our own experience. So what is experience anyways? We’re always chasing after it and we get paid because of it, right? Might as well define it since we’re so emotionally invested in it. What is experience? Events we’ve learned from. Tools we’ve accumulated and sharpened. A way of thinking. A belief or conviction built over the course of time. Emotional maturity. Environments we’ve worked in. Goals we have achieved. Learnings passed to others who have in turn been activated to apply our experiences to their own lives. And much more… How diverse of a definition is that? What experience is, in reality, is highly subjective. Awards, accolades, and accomplishments reflect and validate the quality of our experience to others who question its impact. In reality though, we must not only feel we are in a place where we are effectively applying our experiences, but also recognized and respected for them. That’s what keeps many of us here - in many ways it’s contributed to keeping me here. What about future experiences? We equally mustn't forget to position ourselves to create new experiences that enrich us and align with our principles and professional goals. This is the difference between being paid and feeling fulfilled. The great Stoic Seneca once said, “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”
In uncertain times and under exceptional circumstances, leadership is strained and stressful. In "peacetime," where work is quite clear and career aspirations appear realistic and achievable, all this becomes thrown out the window when one has to operate in an environment that is equivalent to a battleground for relevancy, power, and survival. One must then ask themselves, how they can keep people inspired and motivated when everything in arm's distance from the island they operate on says "run for the hills!" And so one must ask, "Are you one with the people?" And if not, how do you even get there, or get back there after a prolonged passage of time? That's in this episode of the Working Ant.
There’s an old stoic saying that saying what is unnecessary, often leads to saying more than it is necessary. And so one must act as though he/she is the moderator of what they choose to say over what may be a natural byproduct of their personality.
Context is everything. And so when you find yourself sharing something that may be an off the cuff remark, ask yourself if what you’re about to share is relevant, and more importantly, if it will lead to a better outcome – a more immersive and intimate relationship, an action that is ready to be made, a coaching opportunity for someone who may not be aware of his/her audience and is ready to deliver an important presentation.
Keep your tongue warm means that you can control what is said knowing full well of the consequences and influence it may have on others.
If you don’t have something nice to say, not saying it may also be detrimental to the person you’re trying to help or make a point to. Instead think about the words you choose carefully and deliberately.
Keeping your tongue warm and being aware of its placement in your mouth can regulate your language, word choice, tone, and delivery in a way that is more impactful and deliberate.
And so, the next time you choose to let your tongue out “into the cold” or “out for a walk,” think through how you can bring it back safely indoors!
We often forgo the closest things to us, but we don't lose character, we simply lose sight of it. The quality of one’s character is what gives birth to one’s personality. It’s the bedrock to the base and the beacon in the light of careers and contributions. Character channels charisma and character powers craft.
Through it all, character at its core is what enables our ability to count on ourselves – the person in the mirror, the one staring at his/herself in the rearview pondering life’s givings and misgivings. If you feel you've lost the way, let character center you. Call on it and count on it with the conviction that it gives you.
Our expectations stick to us like a shadow to the body - always following us as a reminder of the presence and power they hold over our life satisfaction. Little do we reflect on why they are there nor do we contemplate reassessing their content and quality. Since we're almost at the half year mark, it's important to revisit the origins of where they've come from and the power they yield over us in how we conduct our day to day. Understand that these expectations are reflections of who you believe your potential to become. While this can cause a great amount of unnecessary stress, it can also deliver much needed joy in the journey. My hope is that you achieve the latter. Here's my approach to it.
It's a common theme to strive to have a voice in the workplace. Everyone wants a voice (well most people). With that voice carries a feeling of being heard and acknowledged as a focus vs. that of having influence of opinion and sway. I ask you to consider aiming for the latter which yields much greater power. This subtle difference is a game changer. Rather than ensure the decibels of your tone carry to the ears of empty space and time, ensure that it lands with gravity and substance. Aim to have a say - this is true power. When you can change culture, sway opinion, and feel the presence of your persona even when speaking few words, this is the essence of influence. Have say. This is the way.
There's something about the allure of the person who can see light in the midst of darkness. These days, optics of optimism are a rarity but a necessity. Without clarity on our motivations, we're spinning and spitting out work with little to speak for and celebrate. As a working professional you must go beyond your fellow peers and understand that if you are to get out this funk ahead, seeing opportunity when there is none is what will be your key differentiator. Look at your world not from the lens of its inhabitants, but from from its colonizers. See the efforts and painstaking demands of today as a small cost to your greater goals. Doing so elevates the primary reason for your success - motivation - which in turn produces unlimited will power to capitalize opportunity in the darkness. Like the lynx, you will see things others cannot. And like the lynx, your target will be clear when there is no light.
Do I want your life?
This is more than a fair question to ask, but rather a necessary one, not to compare yourself to others, but rather to anchor on the possibilities for yourself based on theirs.
For the sake of the conversation, let me double down on the latter half of the statement above and say that to compare yourself with others is often a theft of happiness when you look at your current circumstances from a perspective of deficiency rather than one of opportunity.
Understand: You shouldn’t be ignorant and oblivious to the direction you are heading in your career. Often this anchor comes from the power of proximity of those around us and the limited but influencing and impactful visibility we have in their lives.
Someone’s life may seem ideal for you and their style of influence and leadership can inspire you – this is wonderful.
Other times, it’s the opposite. And that’s OK.
Consider: Building an ability to audit personal satisfaction through conversation and interaction. Rather than focus on what a person in power is saying, focus on what they are feeling beyond the subject matter itself.
If this person was on mute and you were disengaged from the subject; would they appear content with their lives? Would they be pleased with the accomplishments they have made in their careers? How would you perceive their character if you did not know them?
Acting like a stranger to what you interact with, gives you new perspective and can often be the most objective.
Do I want your life?
This is a subjective question but asking it can be quite telling.
I’m personally one that believes that the quality of our lives is dependent on the quality of relationships we have. When I look at people I aspire towards, I look it from the lens of the relationships they have with their peers, teams, friends, and family.
What is one primary quality you value in people? What individual do you interact with today that lives out this quality? Do you aspire to have more of those qualities yourself?
Remember: Achievement and Failure are based on the goals you set out for yourself. No one has more control over this than you. And so when you see someone who has appeared to “achieve,” ask what this really means to you – you may be surprised to see this person’s life (and your own) very differently after doing so.
You need not a reminder that if you want to get the lift back into your feet and the lightness in your walk, you must have a goal that is focused and enlivening - something that excites you, brings you closure or comfort in the present and injects confidence in the uncertainty around you. You also must accept the reality of resources in that you may not have the space or time to think through how to turn the influx of work, tasks, projects, and processes into something profitable. What is profitability anyways other than what you define it? It can be about money, title, scope, learning, impact, relationships, and personal growth - this is for you to define. However, you must make what you do profitable. Make this a must. Return on your own investment to the services you rendered through a paycheck by taking what you do and turning it into what you always wanted it to be. You may think this is an impossible task - but it's no more impossible than the tasks you are working on day in and out with turning in projects on time and with the quality indicative of the greatness that you are. And yet do not rely on anyone to take your possible and make it profitable. I urge you to make your possible, profitable. Here are few ideas how. Keep believing in yourself. You know your value and worth. There is still time. Thank you for investing your time with me.
In a time where competition is at its fiercest. A time where Generative AI has so many use cases that it feels like the “boogey-man” is coming to find a way to do what we do better, there more frequent moments where we can’t help but wonder, “How is this all going to play out in the next few years and where am I going to land after this recession and contraction in the market sorts itself out?” An alternative to consider? Activate your inner stupid and primitivity.If you didn’t know it already, your curiosity carries you.Ask for context before a vote of confidence in group-think.Give confidence only when you’ve been shown care for craft.Appeal to people’s incessant yearning to dominate their fields by resetting your expectations to that of student vs. a teacher or competitor.If you were competing for smarts, this approach sets you far ahead of the curve - away from the field, and in a league of your own, and best of all, on your own terms!
Imagine who you would define yourself as if you lost the pressure to please. These days we're constantly under a barrage of tests and trials over what's being asked of us to produce - especially those of us in teams that are no longer the same size but are left with the same scope. If the constant asks and barrage of demands keep coming your way, the likelihood of proving your capability, strategic thought, and impact must also bring anxiety and stress to maintain the perception of value you have built and brought with you over the course of time. Ironically, this overwhelming amount of work may have once come as a blessing to prove one's worth, but the incessant demands that have been brought in our economic climate, now bring a source of tension and unhealthy emotional well-being. One saving grace is the result of your response to the question of who you would define yourself if you indeed could lose the pressure to please. Those meetings where mouths move but you cannot process and where everyone has an opinion but yours feels mute is precisely when you should consider shedding the need to please from your modus operandi - that's in this week's episode of the Working Ant.
Remember when you wanted to grow up so fast because adults apparently had it all figured out? Look at yourself now, at whatever stage in life you may be. Are you at the beginning? Or are you near the end? These two questions can fundamentally change your entire experience of life. It's exceptionally challenging to close a door even when it might be the best thing for you. It also may be equally challenging to feel you are just at the beginning of something where you may have to struggle and sacrifice as you once did in the past all over again. On the other hand, the beginning can feel exceptionally enlivening and you may feel like you've been given a chance to correct things and make them right. While it could be overwhelming for some, it could be exactly what you needed to spark a new or renewed generation of thought. Use these two questions as structured interventions to interact with life again as you once did as a child.
With so much on the line and so much pressure to preserve what you've built, it's so easy to be blindsided about opportunities that pass you by. When the competition is all about finding a new job or keeping the one you have, creativity gets killed and fatigue takes over physically. In times like these you must not compete over what everyone is after, but rather shift the mound of your thinking towards places others are not looking. Your place of prosperity is determined by how you view events as is the quality of your life in how you perceive it and interact with it. Armed with this mindset, develop optics that see and seek opportunity through what you supply and receive every day. Be deliberate with your time, carve out space to reflect but also to detect the numerous opportunities that crave your attention. The time to capitalize is now.
Hello there Working Ant fans and subscribers, I've been feeling emotionally charged with so many imminent layoffs, economic uncertainty, and the power of bad becoming more prevalent now in the new year than ever before. It's hard to believe we're only in March, three months into the year, and facing a fervent reckoning with an unstable system and unreliable decision making that has led to a lot of pain and uncertainty for many of us. Today's episode is about having a choice when choice does not seem imminent and far from prevalent over how to conduct ourselves in our current professional circumstances. This episode is how to create that choice when it's most difficult to do so. Ironically, it is precisely at this time when choice over how we conduct ourselves today, matters most in the long game future we are playing for.
One of my favorite quotes of all time by Marcus Aurelius, "Love the Discipline You Know and Let it Support You," has been around for generations in his best selling memoir "Meditations." I explore this quote and what it means for our careers. How did we come to love the work we do? Was it a forced love? Or perhaps a learned love over time? These questions of our relationship with work are very similar to the same questions we ask of ourselves in our personal relationships. The expectations we have of our work should very much determine what we intend to extract from them and the meaning they bring into our lives. This podcast poses some very prominent questions to consider.
Likability remains one of my most talked about subjects here on the Working Ant. Today let's dive deeper into the topic of Likability - specifically how 3 attributes create lasting and authentic likability - Self Efficacy, Authenticity, and Opening the Doors of Childhood. The more likable you are, the more likely you'll close your next deal, nail your next interview, and build critical rapport in the workplace.
It's hard to believe but we all need a wake up call to what is the obvious, and that is, "What is your job?"
In times like these it couldn't be more important and yet it's precisely in times like these that we struggle to define what we do outside of our title. And you don't need me to remind you that your title says little about what it is you actually do and the value you bring to your role.
This existential but fundamental question should be the very first thing on your mind.
Ask yourself, "What is my job?"
"What do I do?"
and, "What do I really do?"
Move from process to benefits, from ownership to operator, and align your aspirations once and for all to the role you seek for yourself.
Whether out of necessity or out of principle, ensure you have a response to that question that is compelling, personalized, and quantifiable.
Your career deserves nothing less!
I've often wondered why we consume so much of what doesn't move the needle or at best is neutral in contributing to our personal and professional development. Often times it's because the consumption of what is good for us simply isn't as "feel good" or compelling in relation to the necessity to change and grow. And yet, it bothers us when performance evaluations are inconsistent with how we view ourselves. More so, when we're tasked with projects and programs not of our choosing deep down we knew all along that if we had taken charge when we were supposed to, we probably wouldn't have found ourselves in that type of predicament. Ironically and hypocritically, our appetite for consumption becomes even greater, subconsciously consuming even irrelevant nonsense with a belief that we'll consume our way out into a better place. This appears like such irrational behavior and yet we rationalize it continuously in our lives. Make no mistake about it. What you consume you become.
It's that time of year when feedback starts to trickle through. While feedback is so important towards our career, it also is a cause for anxiety and fear of rejection. What's most important is that we don't fall to the mercy of other people's feedback for our own well-being. Do not compromise yourself simply for the approval of others. This is the perfect time to understand that your greatest feedback and approval comes from within. While we do need good feedback to keep our jobs and maintain the quality of life we have built for ourselves and our family, take heed towards truth and moral obligation to yourself above all else.
Happy New Year!! It's incredible how the new year has come upon us. Many of us feel compelled to make a decision - perhaps something that has been hovering over our minds for quite some time. And many of us want to make a decision knowing that something needs to change but have no idea how to do so. This episode of the Working Ant addresses these two scenarios with a very unconventional approach using cognitive distortion techniques from the world of psychology. This basic technique, never once talked about from a career perspective will have you thinking...and then acting...getting you closer to making a decision for yourself in 2023. It's better to make a decision with the right intentions over not making a decision at all. Move away from comfort and create something compelling for yourself. Your time has come.
One of the strongest forces of human nature is to be consistent with the identity we have developed for ourselves. This identity which has been built over the course of our lives holds within it our strongest values and beliefs about life and our experience of it - what we should and shouldn't do, what makes us proud, and most importantly, the expectations we have of ourselves.
While there may be other mental "pulls" we have tendencies to pursue, the force in which we align ourselves with our identity, is one of the most prominent of all.
On the most basic of levels, we believe we're "this kind of person..."
We've made decisions in our lives a long time ago that "we're not the type that..."
In other instances, when we think of our inner circles and an emotion surfaces of the type of people we surround (or do not surround) ourselves with, it also meets the expectation of the identity we have embodied as sacrosanct.
And then there's the more obvious: Our culture, color of our skin, sexual orientation, religion, where we grew up, country of origin.
In many ways this identity has helped us navigate our experience of life. It's rationalized our behavior and reinforced beliefs. This of course is a great thing because writing this today with an audience (you) to read it, shows just how far we have come to be in our positions and work for such a great company. Something to be grateful for and celebrate.
This is not to say however that our identities should be immovable and unshakable.
The bamboo tree, although slim and wobbly withstands multiple storms much better than the oak tree that is firmly in its roots. Adaptability to changes that are in and beyond our control is what tests our ability to forge new identities - these could be situational, personal, professional, and everything in between.
Holding on too firmly to your identity can hold you hostage to opportunities. Contracting at the slightest attempt to think of new possibilities for yourself is limiting what could potentially be a defining moment for your career. And who wants that?
As von Goethe famously said:
"The hardest thing to see is right in front of your eyes."
As we head into the new year, I ask that you celebrate your identity for achieving everything you have in life up to this moment, and yet keep in mind that a new identity for yourself in the future is always possible, even necessary and overdue for some of us! Recognizing this takes great courage.
In whatever you should choose, in the least choose for yourself.
Be the master of your own identity. Own it. Flex it. Amplify it. Protect it.
It's so easy to have passive, transactional conversations.
The plethora of short, surface-level interactions we encounter leave much to be desired if our goals are to pursue more meaningful connections with others.
Your ability to shift these conversations, irrespective of the level or circumstances of those you are speaking with is a tool that is seldom activated or utilized - until you now.
Deliberately evoking anchoring statements, opening yourself up to more empathetic stories, sharing strong convictions, and ascertaining what has been implicitly said allows a depth of conversation to flow that facilitates stronger relationships for the future.
Your ability to have more meaningful conversations should be a priority for yourself in both your personal and professional career.
It starts with you.
This time of year, we reflect, we ponder, we anticipate, often hyper focusing on "If only..." in some form or another:
• If only I had a larger paycheck
• If only I was working on what I believe in vs. what I've been asked to do
• If only I had more time! (Guilty)
• If only my team was...
• If only I made that decision
There are SO MANY situations and circumstances where "If only" paired with "X" dominates our thinking and emotional capital, robbing us not just from reaping the rewards of appreciating the present moment, but preventing us from thinking clearly beyond "What would happen if I had what I was asking for?"
The reality is, we're more focused on thinking about what we wish, could, should, and deserve to have that we stop focusing what would happen if we actually have them.
Conversely, most of us lack self-awareness due to a collective illusion that because we don't have X -> insert vague, little thought out, unclear outcome, how did I even think that in the first place, reason! This means that we turn our wants into needs primarily because of social influences outside of our own individuality. This just means that we're prone to a level of reactivity based on the influx of "crap" that invades our purview everyday.
Then again, I challenge you to focus on the question "What would happen if?"
Seriously. What would happen if you attained those items on your wishlist?
What would that mean beyond the moment of achievement?
If we forget what we're truly fighting, striving, and sacrificing for, then how much more of "If only's" will we have vs. "What would happen if?" Truth be told, I would imagine the former question dominating.
And so we need to...you need to...remind yourself what you're in this for and what really will give you the fulfillment in your life long term. This may take time to realize and for some longer to crystalize. That's OK.
The most noble of efforts is to know thyself. Nosce te ipsum (Latin)
As we grow in our careers, our intelligence takes over imagination and yet it was imagination that got us here in the first place. Here's how to get your imagination back and recognize its key to your future.
Don't wait for the wind of fortunes to change your career path. Either you evoke an urgency for action, or become a sitting duck for others to take target at. Choosing the latter is not an option!
We celebrate other people's accomplishments but rarely do we ever tap into how they feel about them. Transition having joy "from" to having having joy "with" another person's success and reap the benefits both in your relationship with that person, but more importantly, with yourself!
Are you on the right team? Are you learning from the right people? How obsessed should you really be with your work? Here's how to begin thinking about whether or not you're running the right race with your career.
Inspired by a former manager, an over 15 year mentor, and a prominent technology leader here in the San Francisco Bay Area, this statement is perhaps one that lingers most with me as it has with hundreds of others I have had the privilege to coach. Often one cannot find the words to structure thought when thoughts are currently battling for our attention. What do we do? Do we take the path of greatest risk and resistance in pursuit of our passions in a profession that may or may not yield profitability? Or do we stay put, head down, sacrificing so much of what we desire for stability and certainty.
Do stability and certainty promote sanity for you or do they not?
Marcus Aurelius once said, "You may leave this life at any moment. Let that then determine your thoughts and actions..."
Alas, we discuss a topic that will constantly be in the background before it surfaces to the foreground from the recesses of our mind.
Understand: Often what we want most may not be what is best for us and yet, what should prevent us from pursuing what we love even if the destination is unknown?
Realize: Allure of the unknown and the desire to pursue our professional passions can elevate our happiness just as much as it can torment our souls. Therefore you must act decisively. What will it be? How will it be? Where should you be? Who is it you want to be!?
Who ever said you needed to be in a position of power to influence a team, an organization, or your manager? Most of us feel we need to show up wearing a white robe or have a specific title so people can listen to us when it couldn't be further from the truth. Maybe you want your voice to be heard more often or feel you want to be fully respected and appreciated for the value you bring. Perhaps you have some great opinions that you wish others would take more seriously. If you find yourself constantly wondering how you can stand out, be more respected, and be heard, this is an episode your ears wouldn't want want you to miss.
Understand: Mastering the art of influence without authority is possible. When decisions are made at the top, it's the ears of your leader that are lended to those most trusted.
Know this: Those that are masters of influence are often not visible to the public eye. Don't shy away from the spotlight when you can also choose to maneuver around in the shadows.
You see it all the time. Managers and leaders demand excellence. Your KPI's, OKR's, SMART objectives, and so on, keep you on your toes and in the know of what gets you to the next level. What's not measured is heart, passion, and intent. There seldom is enough time to identify rising talent because we're too in the weeds trying to stay afloat.
There is a way forward through this - if not through you than it's with those around you. Working to promote your colleagues, even your mid-level manager to a higher position will do you an enormous amount of good for your career.
Know this: Your accomplishments can take you only so far - your relationships can take you further. Bet on the right people to help progress in your career and you'll find enormous rewards in the long-term.
An incredible deep dive into the psychology of creating winners so you too can win. That's in this week's episode of the Working Ant.
We all strive for a level of stability. We wish for a sustainable, predictable lifestyle. The hustle requires too much muscle and we tire out quickly expecting results, which when not apparent, make us default back to predictability and sustainability. Getting through the day is the obstacle in the way when you know things could be different for you. What's worth the effort? The paycheck? The weekend? The house over your head?
Understand: All of these goals are noble and necessary, but they lead us to operate at what is sustainable whereas if we adopted a mindset of sustenance, our wheels would be spinning differently, our outlook would have more rigor, and our pursuit would be overflowing with passion.
Know this: Sustenance is what carries you to new heights. Sustainability will not. That's in this weeks episode of the Working Ant!
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Your Host and Coach, Ramy.
Need I say much more? We work so hard to get ahead and some of us can't seem to rise above the surface for air when it's already performance review time. Wiping away the sweat, sitting upright in our chairs, deep breaths and in an instant the year has gone by. It's performance review time and with a stroke of a pen we're marked, graded, laddered, evaluated, and formally given a category of associated measured value. And yet all this time we've been closing things out, whacking error moles, fielding support, presenting, managing, leading, sacrificing and so much more - we find ourselves evaluated not over output, but outcome. Dazed and frayed we freeze into a numb state unknowingly realizing that outcome is what truly mattered and what gets measured all along.
Know this: You will be measured (and more than likely remembered) by your outcomes, not output.
In this week's episode of the Working Ant, you will walk away enlightened (at least temporarily) knowing what is truly important in your role.
*Know this: Whatever job or role you currently have that you don't believe adds any significant value to the company can in fact be transformed into an integral role that many depend on.
*Understand: Perception matters.
*Realize: Most people will benchmark you off of feelings, not facts.
If you're loving the Working Ant, please connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know!
What comes through habit, seems completely natural. If we tell ourselves something over and over again, it probably may start sounding more true even if at first we called it into question. So why rationalize instead of accept a reality, even if temporary? It's hard to see the truth of our situations, but harder to accept it. Our quest to grow and progress is marred with temporary appeals and diversions from meaningful change - and yet in moments, when the time is right, we embrace what is necessary to move us forward. Rationalization is different from being rational. One is responsible while the other is reckless. That's in this week's episode of the Working Ant.
"He who is self absorbed may temporarily protect himself in his mental castle of preserved self image, letting no one near his sphere to penetrate influence - but when exposed to the ocean of abundant possibilities and alternative thought, the barriers of the mental castle become nothing more than sand washed away by water." The Working Ant. The mental barriers of your fortified mind may appear to give you the peace of mind and ease of fortified solace, but solitude which will occur as a result serves you no other purpose but solidified justification for everything you have while preventing you from achieving your true potential. Long term satisfaction then, demands a new harvest!
No shying away from challenging topics here on the Working Ant. Have a fabulous week and stay safe!
Our "Undisturbed Inner Voice" (UIV) exists in each and everyone of us. It may surface, but only when called on, only when asked to deliberately be activated. Like any mental muscle that is rarely ever flexed, it is difficult to really understand and utilize our UIV when in reality, the progression of our career is so dependent on it. That's in this week's episode of the Working Ant.
Connect with me on LinkedIn and share your thoughts! Your work, life, and circumstances inspire me.
"If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?" Rumi. In this bonus episode of the Working Ant, let's combine what we know and do not know (and choose to ignore) in order to achieve our goals. When we're in this mindset, this aloofness and innocence breeds the mental bridge between what are just mere retained facts to true learning. We'll do this through self-revelation where we don't just admit what we do not know but instead use our ignorance as an actual tool to pursue our goals! Have a great week! :)
You have just one boss, but your boss has many direct reports. You have infrequent scheduled 1-1's with your boss, but your boss has several 1-1's with his directs each day. Such limited interactions on our side, and such an abundance of interactions on our leader's side means we must be more deliberate and intentional about these very infrequent conversations - our career progression depends on it! With such limited time with those who hold power over our progress, I'm going to coach you on how to build stronger, more meaningful, and deeper conversations with your boss. Be the one to bell the cat! That's in this week's episode of the Working Ant.
“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” Marcus Aurelius. When we think about building relationships at work, we often don't think about the future, we think about the now. How can this person accelerate my career today vs. how can I grow with this person to partner with for an unknown opportunity tomorrow. Will this person remember me more for the quality of my work, or the joy in working with me? Self consumption with what we believe is a benchmark for success is often far from the reality. It's no wonder why most of us don't keep in touch with former colleagues when in fact they are an equal (sometimes greater) asset than those we work with today. The secret is that positive associations with ourselves need to be strong and they need to be compelling - making others not know precisely what your vocational value add will be, but sure as day and certain as light of the value your presence alone brings in an organization. Invest in positive associations now and secure your career in this ever so uncertain world - that's in this episode of The Working Ant!
"Constant misfortune brings this one blessing: to whom it always assails, it eventually fortifies." Seneca
As we progress in our careers, many of us find ourselves inevitably in leadership positions commensurate with our hard earned experience. Naturally, we become better at solutioning while directing others from our team to solve. Yet when we've reached the precise level we aspired for early in our careers, we find ourselves struggling in interviews to execute on, let alone comprehend why we are asked to solve for such granular level problems of the individual contributor role we successfully transitioned from years ago! Are they hiring for a manager/leader or an individual contributor?! So what then becomes of us at this level? Do we stick around longer in the certainty of our current company despite our yearning to transition? How do we prepare for the circumstances ahead of us while staying relevant and effective in our day to day? In this week's episode of the Working Ant, I'm going to coach you on how to avoid the trap of becoming what I dub, "Date Rich, Execution Poor." You'll thank yourself years later for listening to this episode!
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“You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.” Marcus Aurelius. Give an opinion swiftly and you turn out to be right, you'll be praised. Give an opinion too fast and you're wrong, you'll be thought of unfavorably, the "peak end rule" will become activated, and you'll have a very tough uphill climb ahead of you. Remember: Opinions are inescapable. You must have them in order to progress professionally and the reality is that opinions are necessary for our lives to function. On the outside, it may appear as if giving your genuine opinion only has an upside, but does it really? On this week's episode of the Working Ant, let me coach you on what to consider the next time you're asked to give your opinion!
Understand that people's deepest desires are not only to be appreciated, but to be understood. The faster you can get past the formalities of the fortifications of the facade in front of you, the more opportunities you'll have for reaching the outcome you're often yearning for.
Use your ears, eyes, and focus much more than just what comes out of someone's mouth. That's in this week's episode of The Working Ant!
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"In your actions, don’t procrastinate. In your conversations, don’t confuse. In your thoughts, don’t wander. In your soul, don’t be passive or aggressive. In your life, don’t be all about business.” – Marcus Aurelius
In one of my most compelling coaching sessions yet, learn how to become a supply and demand epicenter connector. Making this a priority for yourself will elevate you to professional heights worthy of legends!
What are you focusing on today? What will the goal you have your mind fixated on, mean to you once you've achieved it? These two questions seem quite obvious, but a third more critical question is where we spend most of our time: What are you going to be doing about achieving your goals? This of course means your actions! If you choose to measure something as a metric of success, won't your actions then bend to that metric? You may not realize this, but you might have to reconsider (or reaffirm) how you define the measurement of success first, so that your actions align to the person you truly are! Remember Passion + Purpose + Profession --> yield Profitability! That's in this week's episode of the Working Ant!
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Your words shape your reality. Your reality is shaped by your words. To succeed in elevating yourself to new heights, you must understand the significance of the words you choose, the analogies you use to avoid misspeaking and losing out on opportunity in your journey. Acquiring knowledge and experience over the course of your career is not enough. Language is the key - that's in this week's episode of The Working Ant.
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Make no mistake about it, you are an emotion in human form - an idea, a thought, a truth. Take the ultimate perception you want others to have of yourself and create it from within! Let me coach you on how to manage the perception you want others to have of you in your next meeting, formal conversation, and interview. That's in this week's episode of The Working Ant.
Want to appear as if you were naturally gifted at your craft? Did you ever consider not sharing how long it took you to complete an assignment instead of communicate how hard you worked to achieve your goals? In this week's episode of "The Working Ant," I'll coach you on rethinking your strategy when it comes to your perception, impression, and association both in the workplace and in your next pitch or interview. Perhaps the practice of Sprezzatura can give you the appearance of what you wanted all along - a natural talent born of the ages!
Perhaps it's your language, the sound of your tone, your personability, or your approach altogether that needs some fine-tuning. In this week's episode of "The Working Ant," I'm going to coach you on how to become more accessible to those you'd like to target and hear back from. Become more accessible, by appearing more approachable!
In every transaction, persuasion of some form is the primary driver. No action is ever possible without it. Let me, your Host and Coach show you how to master your next interview or pitch by focusing on the elements, not the outcome - The Alchemy of Persuasion. Get to a YES faster than you thought possible. That's in this week's episode of The Working Ant.
Imagine you could view Time purely as an emotion. What would that do for you? Would you generate it more often if you needed it? Time can feel fixed or infinite. It can also feel limited or managed. As we get the wheels moving in 2021, let's use time as an ally in pursuit of our goals. In this week's episode of The Working Ant, I'll talk through how time, if accepted as an emotion, will immediately liberate you from the confines and limitations you view of it as you pursue your aspirations in the new year.
You push. You sacrifice. You strive to get ahead. "The only way up is by taking action," they say. Ah, your rigorous and noble pursuit for better days ahead! All this action can be your biggest distraction - apply here, reach out there, create a use-case here and try to get on someone's schedule there. Don't take a spray and pray approach - take a deliberate and intentional approach! I'll coach you how to do just that in this week's episode of "The Working Ant."
Endless possibilities await at the gates of your mind, ready to flood it with fantasies and alternate realities of yourself. It seems so crystal clear - what you need to do, how things must be different this time around, and the actions you will partake in to make it so. Soon, with interruptions of obligations you'll find yourself against an uphill battle again. In this episode of The Working Ant, let me coach you on how to psychologically ready yourself to steer clear of "the land of if only" but rather a reality filled with possibilities into the new year.
Thank you for making The Working Ant such a resounding (and early) success in 2020.
Just a short message of love and support from your Host and Coach.
Just like you only see one side of the moon at night, you too only show one side of yourself at work. And so, it's no surprise that others only show their deliberate (or best) versions of themselves to you as well. Your ability to influence others must then be somewhat equivalent to your ability to understand others. In this episode of The Working Ant, I'm going to coach you how to deepen any conversation while simultaneously observing emotions. The power, is YOURS!
Certainty breeds an ego that appears strong and enduring, but at its core, is fragile and often false. While it may appear that certainty is rewarded, in the long term, it falls flat when called out or questioned - it breeds ignorance, quells debate and innovation, but most importantly, it'll probably keep you an individual contributor for life. Let me coach you on how to transition from a "certainty mindset" to that of a "confidence mindset." A subtle difference that pays massive dividends in your career (and life). That's all in this episode of The Working Ant.
Like a Honeybee that lost its sting, a lizard who lost its tale, as we mature in our professional careers, our emotion expressions are more prone to tone down, even become stale. Most of us confuse this with emotional maturity, but the reality is that our inability to experience emotions (and express them) prevents us from capitalizing on professional opportunity, when ironically its precisely that professional opportunity that we seek! In this episode of The Working Ant, I'll coach you on how to bring back those emotions, practically and authentically.
More than your skill set and your expertise, your Social Capital is the truest and surest gateway to your success. If you don't have it, let me teach you how to create. If you think you have it, let me coach you exactly how to expertly (and authentically) utilize it in today's digital world. That's in this week's episode of The Working Ant!
“He shows a greater mind who does not restrain his laughter, than he who does not deny his tears.” Seneca. Rarely would you get a statement more powerful than that. Why so serious? Don't take for granted the power of associating yourself with positivity and humor. In this ever so serious world, it's not the smartest person that wins but the person who associates himself favorably with the audience. You see it everywhere, but rarely does that feeling transcend into that of your own. This Career Holiday Season, allow me, your Host and Coach to inject some humor into the conversation in this week's podcast on The Working Ant.
In this session of The Working Ant, I'm going to walk you through some incredible statistics on impressions that will baffle you but will now know how to navigate around (and use to your advantage) with me on your side! Let's talk through them together and let me coach you on my strategies to up-level the next impression you'll make at your next meeting and during your next interview. So excited to share this with you!
Liberate your mind from narrated nonsense. In this episode of the Working Ant, I'll coach you through common Cognitive Distortions that divert us from reality and away from our ability to flourish as a progressive professionals. Cognitive distortions exist everywhere and they can kill dreams by conflating, confusing, and conditioning a fabricated reality. Remember, we are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality (Seneca). Do not yourself fall into an abyss of monsters and goblins that don't exist.
Conformity can only go so far. If you lose too much of yourself (your identity), you'll inadvertently blame more of yourself later in your career. Stop this now by using the most amazing things about yourself and amplify their application elsewhere. What can you do with these fundamental elements of your personality other than find an environment and a career (or passion) to apply them? A mindset of deficiency and a habit of colossal misguided consumption is what stands in the way of a favorable outcome. In this session of The Working Ant, I'll coach you on a little known alternative on how to practically and authentically begin to take accountability for your future (and professional happiness). Let's do it together.
Deliberateness unsupported by intent is like a shield without its sword. Although sturdy and compelling, the inability to strike leaves the other party only dazed, slightly phased, and more than likely to walk away. In this episode of The Working Ant, I'm going to coach you how to be preemptive in your next crucial conversation. It's not enough to be deliberate, you must be intentional. Yes there is a clear difference between the two! Seize your next bounty through preemptive intent.
Narrate your own story. Seeking validation? Create your own! Do not seek permission and learn how to be great at being your own source of inspiration. This week, I'm a little unabridged in how I feel about becoming your own hero. In this episode of The Working Ant, expect motivation aligned with aspiration because I'm going to coach you (and push you) into practically becoming the version of yourself you've always aspired to be. Enough already! BE YOUR OWN HERO.
Most of us default to speaking like operators, talking up our process when in fact we're losing out on massive opportunity when we don't speak in terms of benefits. Want to play the game well? Learn to speak the language of impact - the language of BENEFITS. That's what I'm coaching this week on The Working Ant.
In this episode of The Working Ant, I'm going to coach you on how to RADICALLY differentiate yourself in a way most of your peers would never even think of and it ironically starts with using our past experiences (and memories), as assets rather than liabilities.
This is practical stuff. No fluff. Let's do this!
Don't wait for the positive signs in the interview, CREATE them! Want to ascertain live feedback in your next interview and deliberately showcase the compellingness and consistency you intended? Well, these are just a few strategies of what I'll be coaching in this episode of The Working Ant.
Your professional future should never be defined by the fear of a new path! In this episode of The Working Ant, I'll coach you on an alternative way of thought - a mind shift through narrative and practical tips to start your week. Learn how to let go of bad past experiences and free yourself from the emotional shackles that hold you back.
Is it a gift or a setback? You choose. Is the silence deafening, or is it an awakening? You choose. Should I pursue it further, or is the writing on the wall? YOU choose. This is all about the power of beliefs - the beautiful creations they make and the destruction they inadvertently cause. The power of beliefs are yours. YOU choose. Choose wisely.
Society imposes much on us. It's stressful initially, but we've gotten so used to masking it and living out an alternative image of ourselves that we fail to recognize the power we have to use a lost self-consciousness, resurrect it, mold it, and shape the true character we were destined to have. An aligned character gets us closer to an aligned life - one of awareness and necessary agility, but one that never compromises the secret you hold, your unique character. Either you learn to master your image or others will do it for you.
Overcoming the mental block that tells you you're not good enough, not qualified enough, not ready to make the most out of this short life. Not for you and not on my watch!
Do you want to improve the perception people have of you? Are you clear about the impact you have on others? The only way to truly respond to this question is to know what other people perceive you as already. The reality is that you need to take an active approach rather than one of passivity in how you build an image of yourself and for yourself. If you don't want to follow your fellow working ant whose only security is that of colony, you must differentiate yourself deliberately and mindfully. Let me teach you how through the power of feedback.
What is the ultimate perception you want others to have of you? Did you ever think about this question and how it has impacted your career?
In this episode I'll teach you how to find what truly empowers you to brand yourself deliberately and genuinely with practical methods you can put to use immediately in the most compelling and authentic way.
There's a big difference for those that feel constrained and confined with that which they cannot control and those who seek to seize what they can control and maximize its yield. Do not fall into the folly of the fainted heart! Determined and deliberate you can master a narrative through the on-going mastery of yourself.
I've been asked this question a lot lately. It turns out this was a long time coming. I prolonged the inevitable, but inevitable is now here, and I intend for it stay.