How to Choose a Business Career Path

One of my coaching clients just called me with a career dilemma. "Marcus, I have three offers on the table. One pays $25K more than the others. It's a no brainer, right?" Wrong. Over the last decade, I've watched too many sales professionals chase the highest initial offer only to burn out, get laid off, or quit within 12 months. Why? Because they never looked at the full picture. Here's the exact decision framework I shared with him (and use myself): 1️⃣ Leadership Quality: Will your direct boss push you to grow? Will they advocate for you? Will they teach you? The quality of your leader will impact your career trajectory more than any other factor. 2️⃣ Company Trajectory: Is this company on the way up or down? What's their financial position? What's their reputation in the market? A 10% pay bump means nothing if the company does layoffs in 6 months. 3️⃣ Values Alignment: Can you authentically represent this company? Do they make decisions you respect? Will you be proud to tell people where you work? 4️⃣ Growth Ceiling: What's the highest position you could realistically achieve at this company? What skills will you develop? How marketable will you be in 3 years? 5️⃣ Work-Life Integration: Will this role support the life you want to build? Will it demand 80-hour weeks? Will it require constant travel? My client ended up taking the middle offer ($150K) because the leadership was elite, the company was growing 70% YoY, and the path to director was clear. The right career decisions compound over time. $25K might seem like a lot today, but the right leadership, skills, and trajectory can be worth millions over your career. Make decisions with the long term in mind. — Hey sales pro…are you prepping for a job interview? Lemme help you: https://lnkd.in/gQvZJZsk

7 Simple Steps To Figure Out What Jobs Are Right For You: 1. Many Job Seekers Struggle With Clarity They don’t know which career path is right for them. Or they don’t know what specific jobs in which industries are a good match for their skills. If that resonate with you, this process is going to help you get answers (and build relationships that can lead to referrals)! 2. Start With An Energy Mapping Exercise Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Label one side “energy creators” and the other “energy drainers.” Now make a list of every task, project, and initiative you’ve been part of over the past 2-5 years. Assign each to the category that best describes the flow of energy you felt while working on that project. 3. Identify Connections In “Energy Creating” Roles Carve out time to reflect on your list of connections - colleagues (past and present), friends, classmates, etc. Who is working in a role that seems or feels like it might focus on the tasks that bring you energy? You don’t have to nail it 100%, you can simply go with your gut feeling. The important thing is to come up with a list of about 5-10 people. 4. Reach Out To Those Connections Send them a note and mention that you’re currently working through some career exploration. You’ve always admired their job and you feel it aligns in X, Y, and Z ways. Then ask them if they’d be up for a quick conversation so you can learn more about the role, the industry, etc. 5. Ask Good Questions Make sure to prepare a list of questions that will allow you to get a deeper sense of what this role is all about:  - What’s your favorite part about working in [Job Title]?  - What’s something most people don’t know about [Job Title] that you feel strongly about?  - What are the biggest drawbacks of working as a [Job Title]?  - What’s the coolest thing you’ve worked on in the last 6-12 months? 6. If You Feel The Role Is A Fit? Ask This. If you feel like the role might be a fit? Let your contact know! Then ask them if they’d be willing to introduce you to 1-2 more people in the same field so you can keep learning. That will get you warm introductions to other people in the space who can give you a new perspective and help you build your network. 7. If You Feel The Role Is Not A Fit? Ask This. If you feel like the role might not be a fit? Be honest with your contact, share what you’re looking for, and ask if they know of a role or discipline that fits. Ex: “I love X part of this role, but I feel that Y and Z don’t align with my strengths. Is there a role or field that focuses more on X?” Now they can point you in the right direction. 8. Set The Right Expectations You’re going to find many, many more roles that aren’t a fit. It’s going to take some time to hone in on the ones that are. Don’t expect completely clarity in one or two conversations. Instead, set the expectation for 10-20 conversations before you really begin to find things that feel like a fit.

Hey there, it’s me, your coach Nina, how are you today? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the exciting but vast possibilities in your career? Society, your parents, friends, strangers on social media, and even your own expectations have all been suggesting paths you “should” take professionally. If you're intellectually curious and enjoy learning, you likely have a strong drive to grow already. You might already have some ideas about where you want to go and how to get there. However, with endless possibilities and only 24 hours in a day, it's important to have a focused and sustainable approach to your career development, one that prevents overwhelm and burnout. Here are some strategies to consider: 1️⃣ List out your career goals: What do you really want in your career? Is it money, title, creative freedom, influence, fame, or making an impact? In my early career I wanted to get promoted because the society says so, but after a few years I started to optimize for learning new experiences (hence jumping from corporate to startup to stand up a new team.) 2️⃣ Figure out your why: understand why you want to achieve something adds meaning and boosts motivation. Are you aiming for FIRE (financial independence to retire early), seeking respect as a manager, or craving intellectual exploration? 3️⃣ Define success: know your destination helps you figure out what resources or skills you need to get there. For instance, aspiring to be a people manager might require learning how to inspire others. 4️⃣ Identify the resources you need: Just like planning a trip, you need to know what to pack for your career journey. Determine the skills or knowledge necessary for your dream role. 5️⃣ Choose how to learn: Different people prefer different learning methods—reading, visual cues, podcasts, or hands-on experience. Find what works best for you and experiment if you're unsure. 6️⃣ Practice: Apply your new skills whenever possible. Shadow others, volunteer for projects, and actively develop the competencies you need. 7️⃣ Reflect regularly: Set a monthly reminder to assess your progress and adjust your strategies if needed. 8️⃣ Seek accountability: Remember the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Find a mentor, friend, or a coach friend to support and hold you accountable. What strategies have you used or would you recommend to feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in your career growth? #careerdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #midcareer