December 31, 2024 • 22 mins
This episode reflects on important lessons from 2024 to help mid-career professionals navigate the job market and elevate their careers as they enter 2025. Key insights include the necessity of networking, the importance of flexible work arrangements, embracing leadership, committing to lifelong learning, and prioritizing personal well-being.
• Reflecting on the frustrating job application process
• Emphasizing the role of networking
• Understanding the importance of flexible working arrangements
• Recognizing the need for leadership at all levels
• Promoting lifelong learning and adaptability
• Highlighting the significance of personal and professional well-being
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
John Neral (00:00):
We made it.
As 2024 comes to a close, I'mtaking some time in this episode
to look back on the job marketand share with you some insight
and trends that we've seen thisyear and what it means for you
heading into 2025.
If you've been looking for anew job or seeking a promotion,
chances are you have beenfrustrated with some part of, or
(00:23):
the entire process.
So what are you supposed to do?
Let me offer you this what if2025 was the start of your
second act?
Stay tuned, because I've gotfive lessons to help you
reevaluate and elevate yourcareer trajectory in 2025 that
will help you find the job youlove or love the job you have.
(00:47):
Let's get started.
Happy New Year.
My friends.
This is the Mid-Career GPSPodcast, and I'm your host, John
Neral.
I help mid-career professionalslike you find a job they love
(01:07):
or love the job they have, usingmy proven four-step formula.
I'm recording this episode onMonday, december 30th Now.
Normally I have some thingsbanged for a while, but for
whatever reason, it was a littledifficult for me getting this
episode out there and right offthe bat.
I'm going to try to get throughthis with my voice, because I
feel like I'm getting the end of2024 cold, but yesterday we
(01:32):
learned that President JimmyCarter passed away at the age of
100.
And when I think about hislegacy and I think about his
brand and what he means to somany people, is that in that
second act, you have anopportunity to redefine, reshape
(01:54):
, strengthen, whatever it isthat you want to do.
He is more often known for whathe has done outside of his
presidency than what he didduring the four years he was in
office, and so I open today withthis, very simply because what
if?
What if?
(02:15):
This new year was anopportunity for you to play
differently, stronger, moreintentional than you have ever
done in your career?
If there's something you wantto reshape or redefine, we can
(02:35):
do that.
If there's an opportunity foryou to focus in one particular
area, go for it.
If there's one theme that Ihave going into 2025 for myself,
it's about keeping thingssimple, right, not
overcomplicating things, whetherit be in my business or in my
(02:55):
personal life, I feel like thispast year has been like we had
to do so much, and we don't.
We just need to be more focusedand concentrated on what is
immediately and directly aheadof us.
So, with that, if you arelistening to this podcast for
the first time.
(03:15):
So glad you're here.
We start season five next week.
We have over 275 episodesbanked.
Hope you'll go back and picksome favorites and check them
out If you've been here for awhile.
Thank you so much for beingalong this journey with me.
I am excited for what I have instore for you on this podcast
in 2025.
(03:35):
So what have we learned thisyear?
Well, the first thing is thatapplying for a job has been more
frustrating than ever.
If you are the person who isapplying for jobs excuse me on
LinkedIn or Indeed, you knowthat you are having to navigate
an AI tool called an applicanttracking system.
(03:58):
You are coming up against bots.
You are coming up againsthundreds of people who are
applying for the same position.
More than likely, these areautomated responses and you are
getting lost.
And so then, all that work andthat effort that you're telling
everybody well, I've applied forso many positions and all that
(04:23):
becomes futile.
And you're sitting there andyou're asking yourself how do I
get noticed?
How do I get to the top of thelist?
Well, one thing that we haveabsolutely learned in 2024 is
that the power of your networkand how your network talks about
you is more important than everIf you do not have a core group
of people who are advocatingfor you and supporting you.
(04:45):
What I want to offer you inthis new year is to start
building one, build that corefour, core five individuals and
dig deeper into their network tosee who might be a great
connection for you and viceversa.
But if you are not networkingin this job market, whether you
are actively looking or not, myfriends, you are missing a
(05:08):
pivotal and essential componentin building your mid-career GPS.
You must be networking.
That means you need to behaving conversations with people
.
Right, it's going to meangetting away from the microphone
and the screen and getting outthere and meeting people in
person, going to events or workfunctions where you get to
(05:30):
network and have conversationswith people.
But it is about building astrategy to network and, again,
keeping that as simple andintentional as possible.
For my clients this year, whatI've seen what we've seen more
often than not has been whenthey have tapped into their
network, doors opened.
(05:50):
But it was coaching them on howto open those doors and how to
dig more deeply into theirnetwork that was able to get
them those results, all right.
Lesson number two, and this one.
This one's going to be a littlecontroversial, but I will tell
you it is not going to go away.
(06:10):
Number two flexible workingarrangements remain a priority.
What's been going on?
You know there is a lot ofconversation around people being
back at the work site five daysa week and there are benefits
and advantages and disadvantagesto all of that.
(06:34):
What I want to offer you in thisis you have to know your needs.
If you have situations whereyou need that flexibility, that
is an opportunity for you todecide how important is that
need and how quickly andeffectively do I need to have
those conversations with myleadership about exactly what it
(06:56):
is that I need.
The same thing is true ifyou're interviewing for a new
position, if you're leaving acompany and you're seeing things
on a job posting that says youknow 50-50 working arrangement
and you want 100% work from home.
What I want to offer you inthis is put some filters in to
determine if that is anon-negotiable.
Don't waste your time, mostimportantly, and don't waste
(07:21):
theirs and don't waste theirs.
That's something to considerbecause, as we look at what
corporations and the federalgovernment will be doing in the
early part of 2025, we know thatthose things tend to trickle
down and go to other companiesas well.
You are responsible for yourcareer and your career path and
(07:46):
you have to know your needs.
I have clients I work with whoneed flexibility because of
their children or their agingparents, or they have a longer
commute.
There is no harm in asking.
It doesn't mean the companyautomatically or absolutely will
say yes.
That is about the agreementaround you have around your
(08:07):
working arrangement.
I had someone recently say tome that they were concerned that
you know, if they had to take adoctor's appointment and they
were going to take, say, threeor four hours off in the day,
does that mean then they have togo back into the office?
Are they allowed to work fromhome or do they have to take the
entire day off?
I can't answer that.
What I can help them with iswhat would work best for you and
(08:31):
is that amenable or agreeableto your leadership to help you
do that.
Okay, all right.
Number three, this one we'regoing to talk more about this in
2025.
For certain, leadership isneeded now more than ever, and I
(08:53):
want you to listen verycarefully to this, because
everybody has an opportunity tolead.
You do not need the title of amanager director, vice president
, senior vice president, seniordirector you don't need the
title in order for you to lead.
People are watching.
They are watching to see howyou show up as a leader.
(09:15):
It is your job to stand out anddo that.
How are you showing up as aleader and what does that mean
for you?
What I want to offer you hereis that, heading into 2025,
leadership will be more at theforefront of every conversation.
(09:36):
Whether you are interviewing fora new job or not, If you are
looking to elevate your career,I want you to think about where
are you leading within yourcurrent organization and where
could you be leading?
And why is leadership needednow more than ever?
(09:56):
And why is that leadershipnecessary?
You and I both know that it'sso easy for us to get wrapped up
in Instagram reels and sittingthere with the popcorn and
reading through the comments,because on some level, we sit
there and go oh, look at howeverybody's upset and
everybody's frustrated.
(10:17):
We know that doesn't help.
What I'd be looking for is I'dbe looking for the people who
are strategically andintentionally having the
conversations within theirorganization to solve the
problems by demonstrating theirleadership, rather than tearing
everything down.
We can become so reactionary inthis climate right now, and I
(10:40):
get it On some levels.
It's absolutely understandableand warranted.
It may seem, but when you thinkabout how you are looking at
your leadership and what you'resaying about leadership, turn
that around and ask yourselfwhat are you saying about your
leadership?
Are you the person who'spouring gasoline on the fire or
(11:02):
are you the one trying to put itout?
Leadership will absolutely beat the forefront of our
conversations in 2025, and wewill see examples within
organizations of people doingexceptional jobs, like we always
have been, and people who arefalling short.
How do you want to show up asthe leader, and what does that
(11:25):
leadership from you look like?
Within your organization or toa new organization?
All right, lesson number four.
Lesson number four is aboutembracing lifelong learning and
adaptability.
So where are you investing inyourself?
(11:47):
And the thing to keep in mindhere, especially as we think
about the economy and how wehave a little less in our
pockets than what we did before,or maybe you've got a little
extra money and you're trying tofigure out where is that going
to go to?
And everything Investing inyour learning doesn't have to be
(12:10):
a five-figure investment.
In some cases, it doesn't evenhave to be a four-figure
investment.
It could right your investment.
It could right, but where areyou actively thinking that you
want to invest in yourself tohelp you be a better mid-career
professional?
Is it a book?
Is it a course?
(12:30):
Is it a blog that you'rereading?
Is it a section of YouTubevideos that you enjoy watching?
Are there people you follow?
Is this podcast part of yourlifelong learning?
This podcast doesn't cost you athing, okay, like, what is it
that you're doing?
How are you feeding yourselfwith information that you then
(12:51):
in turn, get to make that ofvalue to your team, clients,
leaderships and organizationsbecause of how you are being fed
, just like last week, a coupleweeks ago, I launched a brand
new.
It's a journal.
I put it out on Amazon.
It's called 30 Self-CoachingQuestions for Mid-Career
(13:15):
Professionals.
Right, the journal's doingreally, really well.
So, if you've gotten thejournal, thank you so much.
If you've gotten it, do me afavor.
Please leave a rating andreview on it.
The journal is $7.95, okay, forthe price of a really expensive
cup of coffee, you could get atool that could help you this
(13:39):
year.
Figure out what may be the nextstep for you so you can find the
job you love or love the jobyou have.
There are so stressed that thedefault becomes I'm going to let
(14:01):
my manager or leadership takecare of that for me.
If they want to develop me,they'll figure it out.
That is absolutely the wrongthing to do.
If you are depending onsomebody else to be responsible
for your professionaldevelopment, you will be left
behind.
You will not be considered forpromotions, you will not be
(14:26):
considered for opportunities,because your leadership will
look at you as a checklist ofthings they believe you want
them to do for you.
And I can tell you time andtime again that's a huge mistake
.
You must be responsible foryour own learning and
development, right, and so,whatever your situation or
(14:50):
circumstance is, acknowledgethat, but focus on what you can
control and what you can do,right.
So one of the things that I'mcommitting to for next year is I
got out of reading, like I justgot so consumed with everything
, with the business and the workand stuff that I stopped
(15:10):
reading, whether it be forenjoyment or it be for my own
professional development andthings like that.
So I'm setting a goal formyself to read more.
Okay, whether I get it onKindle or I buy the book,
whatever that is, it's a fewdollars every month, but that's
for my own professionaldevelopment, right?
So I will have some things foryou in the new year.
(15:33):
If you are new here, pleasemake sure you go check out my
website at johnnerrellcom.
There's a whole section of freeresources, as well as low
ticket courses and products thatare all like under a hundred
bucks right now that you couldtake a look at and invest in.
Whether it be about your careerclarity or it be about helping
(15:55):
you prepare for an interview,your professional development
needs to be at the forefront ofyour career and leadership plan,
or what we call here themid-career GPS, number five more
than ever, and it came to anabsolute head in 2024, and it's
(16:21):
not going to go away.
The number five lesson that wehave learned this past year is
that you must be payingattention to your personal and
professional well-being.
Stress is a reaction.
(16:43):
It's a physical reaction tothings that are going on.
Where does stress start?
Stress starts with a reaction.
It's a physical reaction tothings that are going on.
Where does stress start?
Stress starts with a thoughtI'm going to lose my job, I
can't get everything done, myspouse is angry with me.
It all starts with a thought.
Once we have that thought, wehave a feeling associated with
(17:05):
that thought.
Once we have that thought, wehave a feeling associated with
that thought.
Once we have that feeling, wethen create an action.
Sometimes that action isdisassociation.
Sometimes that action isknocking things off your to-do
list.
It's working harder, notsmarter.
Whatever that is, I want tooffer you in 2025 to really
(17:30):
think about and take action onhow you are taking care of
yourself better than ever.
And to start with one tinything.
This is something I'm going tobe working on as well, but the
goal here is to find balance.
This is something I'm going tobe working on as well, but the
(17:52):
goal here is to find balance.
Where can you find balance inyour professional and personal
life that makes each day alittle more manageable or easier
for you?
If you are dealing with burnout, I cannot recommend highly
enough.
Please go check out my friend,kate Donovan,
(18:13):
c-a-i-t-d-o-n-o-v-a-n.
She hosts a podcast calledFried the burnout podcast an
absolute foremost leader in thisdiscussion on corporate and
personal burnout, and I cannotrecommend her highly enough.
(18:35):
I think the world of her andher work.
But if you are dealing withburnout Kate says this all the
time.
I completely agree with itburnout is not your fault, right
, but there are ways to dealwith your burnout that can help
you get through it and manage itand be more aware of when the
symptoms come up.
For that, right.
(18:56):
But if you are not payingattention to your professional
and personal wellbeing, it's soeasy to dismiss and put all that
off on the side.
Okay, so let's just go back andwrap this up.
So the five lessons I sharedwith you today, right, no
particular order.
Number one was applying forjobs right now is more
(19:17):
frustrating than ever.
Build your network.
Number two flexible work willcontinue to remain a priority.
Know what your needs are.
Number three leadership isneeded more now than ever.
How do you want to show up as aleader?
How do you want to be seen assomeone who's solving problems
(19:37):
instead of fanning the flames?
Number four is embrace lifelonglearning.
You are completely responsiblefor your professional
development.
Take charge of it.
Are completely responsible foryour professional development.
Take charge of it.
Take one simple step to betteryourself professionally heading
into 2025 and through it, andthen, lastly, continue to focus
on your personal andprofessional well-being.
(19:59):
Mental health is so important.
So, as we go to wrap up, I wantto wish you and your loved ones
a very safe, happy and healthynew year.
This is always one of thosetimes we turn the calendar, we
turn the page.
It's just another day In thescheme of things, it's just
(20:20):
another day.
But if 2025 was supposed to beor you want it to be the start
of your second act, what wouldthat look like?
I'm here for you.
I hope you will continue tocome back and listen to this
podcast, share it with people inyour network that you believe
they would get something from it.
(20:41):
Let's make 2025 the year thatyou take more control of your
career so you can find the jobyou love, or love the job you
have.
If I can be of any further helpor assistance, the easiest way
to do it?
Two things.
One, you can go to my websiteat johnneral.
com J-O-H-N-N-E-R-A-L or connectwith me on LinkedIn.
(21:03):
Easy to find me over there aswell.
I'd be honored to have you partof my network and see you and
support you over there as well.
So until next time my friends,remember this you will build
your mid-career GPS one mile orone step at a time, and how you
show up matters.
Happy New Year.
Make it a great rest of yourday.
(21:24):
Thank you for listening to theMid-Career GPS Podcast.
Make sure to follow on yourfavorite listening platform and,
if you have a moment, I'd loveto hear your comments on Apple
Podcasts.
Visit johnnarrellcom for moreinformation about how I can help
you build your mid-career GPSor how I can help you and your
(21:45):
organization with your nextworkshop or public speaking
event.
Don't forget to connect with meon LinkedIn and follow me on
social at John Darrell Coaching.
I look forward to being backwith you next week.
Until then, take care andremember how we show up matters.
Thank you.
We made it.
As 2024 comes to a close, I'mtaking some time in this episode
to look back on the job marketand share with you some insight
and trends that we've seen thisyear and what it means for you
heading into 2025.
If you've been looking for anew job or seeking a promotion,
chances are you have beenfrustrated with some part of, or
(00:23):
the entire process.
So what are you supposed to do?
Let me offer you this what if2025 was the start of your
second act?
Stay tuned, because I've gotfive lessons to help you
reevaluate and elevate yourcareer trajectory in 2025 that
will help you find the job youlove or love the job you have.
(00:47):
Let's get started.
Happy New Year.
My friends.
This is the Mid-Career GPSPodcast, and I'm your host, John
Neral.
I help mid-career professionalslike you find a job they love
(01:07):
or love the job they have, usingmy proven four-step formula.
I'm recording this episode onMonday, december 30th Now.
Normally I have some thingsbanged for a while, but for
whatever reason, it was a littledifficult for me getting this
episode out there and right offthe bat.
I'm going to try to get throughthis with my voice, because I
feel like I'm getting the end of2024 cold, but yesterday we
(01:32):
learned that President JimmyCarter passed away at the age of
100.
And when I think about hislegacy and I think about his
brand and what he means to somany people, is that in that
second act, you have anopportunity to redefine, reshape
(01:54):
, strengthen, whatever it isthat you want to do.
He is more often known for whathe has done outside of his
presidency than what he didduring the four years he was in
office, and so I open today withthis, very simply because what
if?
What if?
(02:15):
This new year was anopportunity for you to play
differently, stronger, moreintentional than you have ever
done in your career?
If there's something you wantto reshape or redefine, we can
(02:35):
do that.
If there's an opportunity foryou to focus in one particular
area, go for it.
If there's one theme that Ihave going into 2025 for myself,
it's about keeping thingssimple, right, not
overcomplicating things, whetherit be in my business or in my
(02:55):
personal life, I feel like thispast year has been like we had
to do so much, and we don't.
We just need to be more focusedand concentrated on what is
immediately and directly aheadof us.
So, with that, if you arelistening to this podcast for
the first time.
(03:15):
So glad you're here.
We start season five next week.
We have over 275 episodesbanked.
Hope you'll go back and picksome favorites and check them
out If you've been here for awhile.
Thank you so much for beingalong this journey with me.
I am excited for what I have instore for you on this podcast
in 2025.
(03:35):
So what have we learned thisyear?
Well, the first thing is thatapplying for a job has been more
frustrating than ever.
If you are the person who isapplying for jobs excuse me on
LinkedIn or Indeed, you knowthat you are having to navigate
an AI tool called an applicanttracking system.
(03:58):
You are coming up against bots.
You are coming up againsthundreds of people who are
applying for the same position.
More than likely, these areautomated responses and you are
getting lost.
And so then, all that work andthat effort that you're telling
everybody well, I've applied forso many positions and all that
(04:23):
becomes futile.
And you're sitting there andyou're asking yourself how do I
get noticed?
How do I get to the top of thelist?
Well, one thing that we haveabsolutely learned in 2024 is
that the power of your networkand how your network talks about
you is more important than everIf you do not have a core group
of people who are advocatingfor you and supporting you.
(04:45):
What I want to offer you inthis new year is to start
building one, build that corefour, core five individuals and
dig deeper into their network tosee who might be a great
connection for you and viceversa.
But if you are not networkingin this job market, whether you
are actively looking or not, myfriends, you are missing a
(05:08):
pivotal and essential componentin building your mid-career GPS.
You must be networking.
That means you need to behaving conversations with people
.
Right, it's going to meangetting away from the microphone
and the screen and getting outthere and meeting people in
person, going to events or workfunctions where you get to
(05:30):
network and have conversationswith people.
But it is about building astrategy to network and, again,
keeping that as simple andintentional as possible.
For my clients this year, whatI've seen what we've seen more
often than not has been whenthey have tapped into their
network, doors opened.
(05:50):
But it was coaching them on howto open those doors and how to
dig more deeply into theirnetwork that was able to get
them those results, all right.
Lesson number two, and this one.
This one's going to be a littlecontroversial, but I will tell
you it is not going to go away.
(06:10):
Number two flexible workingarrangements remain a priority.
What's been going on?
You know there is a lot ofconversation around people being
back at the work site five daysa week and there are benefits
and advantages and disadvantagesto all of that.
(06:34):
What I want to offer you in thisis you have to know your needs.
If you have situations whereyou need that flexibility, that
is an opportunity for you todecide how important is that
need and how quickly andeffectively do I need to have
those conversations with myleadership about exactly what it
(06:56):
is that I need.
The same thing is true ifyou're interviewing for a new
position, if you're leaving acompany and you're seeing things
on a job posting that says youknow 50-50 working arrangement
and you want 100% work from home.
What I want to offer you inthis is put some filters in to
determine if that is anon-negotiable.
Don't waste your time, mostimportantly, and don't waste
(07:21):
theirs and don't waste theirs.
That's something to considerbecause, as we look at what
corporations and the federalgovernment will be doing in the
early part of 2025, we know thatthose things tend to trickle
down and go to other companiesas well.
You are responsible for yourcareer and your career path and
(07:46):
you have to know your needs.
I have clients I work with whoneed flexibility because of
their children or their agingparents, or they have a longer
commute.
There is no harm in asking.
It doesn't mean the companyautomatically or absolutely will
say yes.
That is about the agreementaround you have around your
(08:07):
working arrangement.
I had someone recently say tome that they were concerned that
you know, if they had to take adoctor's appointment and they
were going to take, say, threeor four hours off in the day,
does that mean then they have togo back into the office?
Are they allowed to work fromhome or do they have to take the
entire day off?
I can't answer that.
What I can help them with iswhat would work best for you and
(08:31):
is that amenable or agreeableto your leadership to help you
do that.
Okay, all right.
Number three, this one we'regoing to talk more about this in
2025.
For certain, leadership isneeded now more than ever, and I
(08:53):
want you to listen verycarefully to this, because
everybody has an opportunity tolead.
You do not need the title of amanager director, vice president
, senior vice president, seniordirector you don't need the
title in order for you to lead.
People are watching.
They are watching to see howyou show up as a leader.
(09:15):
It is your job to stand out anddo that.
How are you showing up as aleader and what does that mean
for you?
What I want to offer you hereis that, heading into 2025,
leadership will be more at theforefront of every conversation.
(09:36):
Whether you are interviewing fora new job or not, If you are
looking to elevate your career,I want you to think about where
are you leading within yourcurrent organization and where
could you be leading?
And why is leadership needednow more than ever?
(09:56):
And why is that leadershipnecessary?
You and I both know that it'sso easy for us to get wrapped up
in Instagram reels and sittingthere with the popcorn and
reading through the comments,because on some level, we sit
there and go oh, look at howeverybody's upset and
everybody's frustrated.
(10:17):
We know that doesn't help.
What I'd be looking for is I'dbe looking for the people who
are strategically andintentionally having the
conversations within theirorganization to solve the
problems by demonstrating theirleadership, rather than tearing
everything down.
We can become so reactionary inthis climate right now, and I
(10:40):
get it On some levels.
It's absolutely understandableand warranted.
It may seem, but when you thinkabout how you are looking at
your leadership and what you'resaying about leadership, turn
that around and ask yourselfwhat are you saying about your
leadership?
Are you the person who'spouring gasoline on the fire or
(11:02):
are you the one trying to put itout?
Leadership will absolutely beat the forefront of our
conversations in 2025, and wewill see examples within
organizations of people doingexceptional jobs, like we always
have been, and people who arefalling short.
How do you want to show up asthe leader, and what does that
(11:25):
leadership from you look like?
Within your organization or toa new organization?
All right, lesson number four.
Lesson number four is aboutembracing lifelong learning and
adaptability.
So where are you investing inyourself?
(11:47):
And the thing to keep in mindhere, especially as we think
about the economy and how wehave a little less in our
pockets than what we did before,or maybe you've got a little
extra money and you're trying tofigure out where is that going
to go to?
And everything Investing inyour learning doesn't have to be
(12:10):
a five-figure investment.
In some cases, it doesn't evenhave to be a four-figure
investment.
It could right your investment.
It could right, but where areyou actively thinking that you
want to invest in yourself tohelp you be a better mid-career
professional?
Is it a book?
Is it a course?
(12:30):
Is it a blog that you'rereading?
Is it a section of YouTubevideos that you enjoy watching?
Are there people you follow?
Is this podcast part of yourlifelong learning?
This podcast doesn't cost you athing, okay, like, what is it
that you're doing?
How are you feeding yourselfwith information that you then
(12:51):
in turn, get to make that ofvalue to your team, clients,
leaderships and organizationsbecause of how you are being fed
, just like last week, a coupleweeks ago, I launched a brand
new.
It's a journal.
I put it out on Amazon.
It's called 30 Self-CoachingQuestions for Mid-Career
(13:15):
Professionals.
Right, the journal's doingreally, really well.
So, if you've gotten thejournal, thank you so much.
If you've gotten it, do me afavor.
Please leave a rating andreview on it.
The journal is $7.95, okay, forthe price of a really expensive
cup of coffee, you could get atool that could help you this
(13:39):
year.
Figure out what may be the nextstep for you so you can find the
job you love or love the jobyou have.
There are so stressed that thedefault becomes I'm going to let
(14:01):
my manager or leadership takecare of that for me.
If they want to develop me,they'll figure it out.
That is absolutely the wrongthing to do.
If you are depending onsomebody else to be responsible
for your professionaldevelopment, you will be left
behind.
You will not be considered forpromotions, you will not be
(14:26):
considered for opportunities,because your leadership will
look at you as a checklist ofthings they believe you want
them to do for you.
And I can tell you time andtime again that's a huge mistake
.
You must be responsible foryour own learning and
development, right, and so,whatever your situation or
(14:50):
circumstance is, acknowledgethat, but focus on what you can
control and what you can do,right.
So one of the things that I'mcommitting to for next year is I
got out of reading, like I justgot so consumed with everything
, with the business and the workand stuff that I stopped
(15:10):
reading, whether it be forenjoyment or it be for my own
professional development andthings like that.
So I'm setting a goal formyself to read more.
Okay, whether I get it onKindle or I buy the book,
whatever that is, it's a fewdollars every month, but that's
for my own professionaldevelopment, right?
So I will have some things foryou in the new year.
(15:33):
If you are new here, pleasemake sure you go check out my
website at johnnerrellcom.
There's a whole section of freeresources, as well as low
ticket courses and products thatare all like under a hundred
bucks right now that you couldtake a look at and invest in.
Whether it be about your careerclarity or it be about helping
(15:55):
you prepare for an interview,your professional development
needs to be at the forefront ofyour career and leadership plan,
or what we call here themid-career GPS, number five more
than ever, and it came to anabsolute head in 2024, and it's
(16:21):
not going to go away.
The number five lesson that wehave learned this past year is
that you must be payingattention to your personal and
professional well-being.
Stress is a reaction.
(16:43):
It's a physical reaction tothings that are going on.
Where does stress start?
Stress starts with a reaction.
It's a physical reaction tothings that are going on.
Where does stress start?
Stress starts with a thoughtI'm going to lose my job, I
can't get everything done, myspouse is angry with me.
It all starts with a thought.
Once we have that thought, wehave a feeling associated with
(17:05):
that thought.
Once we have that thought, wehave a feeling associated with
that thought.
Once we have that feeling, wethen create an action.
Sometimes that action isdisassociation.
Sometimes that action isknocking things off your to-do
list.
It's working harder, notsmarter.
Whatever that is, I want tooffer you in 2025 to really
(17:30):
think about and take action onhow you are taking care of
yourself better than ever.
And to start with one tinything.
This is something I'm going tobe working on as well, but the
goal here is to find balance.
This is something I'm going tobe working on as well, but the
(17:52):
goal here is to find balance.
Where can you find balance inyour professional and personal
life that makes each day alittle more manageable or easier
for you?
If you are dealing with burnout, I cannot recommend highly
enough.
Please go check out my friend,kate Donovan,
(18:13):
c-a-i-t-d-o-n-o-v-a-n.
She hosts a podcast calledFried the burnout podcast an
absolute foremost leader in thisdiscussion on corporate and
personal burnout, and I cannotrecommend her highly enough.
(18:35):
I think the world of her andher work.
But if you are dealing withburnout Kate says this all the
time.
I completely agree with itburnout is not your fault, right
, but there are ways to dealwith your burnout that can help
you get through it and manage itand be more aware of when the
symptoms come up.
For that, right.
(18:56):
But if you are not payingattention to your professional
and personal wellbeing, it's soeasy to dismiss and put all that
off on the side.
Okay, so let's just go back andwrap this up.
So the five lessons I sharedwith you today, right, no
particular order.
Number one was applying forjobs right now is more
(19:17):
frustrating than ever.
Build your network.
Number two flexible work willcontinue to remain a priority.
Know what your needs are.
Number three leadership isneeded more now than ever.
How do you want to show up as aleader?
How do you want to be seen assomeone who's solving problems
(19:37):
instead of fanning the flames?
Number four is embrace lifelonglearning.
You are completely responsiblefor your professional
development.
Take charge of it.
Are completely responsible foryour professional development.
Take charge of it.
Take one simple step to betteryourself professionally heading
into 2025 and through it, andthen, lastly, continue to focus
on your personal andprofessional well-being.
(19:59):
Mental health is so important.
So, as we go to wrap up, I wantto wish you and your loved ones
a very safe, happy and healthynew year.
This is always one of thosetimes we turn the calendar, we
turn the page.
It's just another day In thescheme of things, it's just
(20:20):
another day.
But if 2025 was supposed to beor you want it to be the start
of your second act, what wouldthat look like?
I'm here for you.
I hope you will continue tocome back and listen to this
podcast, share it with people inyour network that you believe
they would get something from it.
(20:41):
Let's make 2025 the year thatyou take more control of your
career so you can find the jobyou love, or love the job you
have.
If I can be of any further helpor assistance, the easiest way
to do it?
Two things.
One, you can go to my websiteat johnneral.
com J-O-H-N-N-E-R-A-L or connectwith me on LinkedIn.
(21:03):
Easy to find me over there aswell.
I'd be honored to have you partof my network and see you and
support you over there as well.
So until next time my friends,remember this you will build
your mid-career GPS one mile orone step at a time, and how you
show up matters.
Happy New Year.
Make it a great rest of yourday.
(21:24):
Thank you for listening to theMid-Career GPS Podcast.
Make sure to follow on yourfavorite listening platform and,
if you have a moment, I'd loveto hear your comments on Apple
Podcasts.
Visit johnnarrellcom for moreinformation about how I can help
you build your mid-career GPSor how I can help you and your
(21:45):
organization with your nextworkshop or public speaking
event.
Don't forget to connect with meon LinkedIn and follow me on
social at John Darrell Coaching.
I look forward to being backwith you next week.
Until then, take care andremember how we show up matters.
Thank you.
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