Bradley Stair, PMP’s Post

The best part of being a photojournalist is meeting super nice people and capturing joy.

I was guilty of this during my corporate career. And it's a huge regret. Saying I wanted something different. Yet my actions said otherwise. I said to myself: 🗣️ I want more from my career. 🗣️ I'm ready for the next challenge. 🗣️ When will someone notice me? Yet, I: ❌ Continued doing the same things. ❌ Got really good at the role I had. ❌ Didn't speak up. Didn't advocate for myself. Until I had a light-bulb moment. No-one was coming to rescue me. I knew I had to take the wheel if I wanted career progression. I started: ✔️ Giving myself time to work on my next move. ✔️ Getting more visible. Leveraging my network. ✔️ Improving my personal brand. Doing my own PR. ✔️ Asking questions. Positively impacting other other work streams. ✔️ Having open conversations. What would it take for me to progress? ✔️ Who do I need to become? and how do I get there? I strategically positioned myself and landed my new, exciting role within weeks. More responsibility, more visibility, more opportunity. You'll never have the job you want next, if you are too busy with the one you have now.

Reflecting on a 20-year journey in retail, I'm filled with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment. My career began in accessories, where I learned the art of detailed craftsmanship and customer service. Moving to a globally renowned fashion retailer was a thrilling challenge, demanding adaptability and a keen understanding of trends. Each role honed my skills and broadened my perspective. The biggest leap was transitioning to a globally well-known furniture company, specifically in children's furniture. This role combined creativity and practicality, pushing me to innovate and cater to the unique needs of families. Each challenge was met with determination, and every obstacle became an opportunity for growth. To anyone navigating their career path, remember that every step, even the most daunting, is a building block towards your success. Embrace the challenges, learn continuously, and never underestimate the power of resilience. Your journey, with its ups and downs, is what makes you unique and capable of achieving remarkable outcomes. Here's to the next chapter and the adventures it will bring! 🚀 What has been the most challenging yet rewarding experience in your career journey?

After a well-deserved break even if I do say so myself, it's time to get back in the game! As I consider my next career move, I'm reminded of the importance of learning from past experiences. When evaluating potential opportunities, there are a few key factors that I have taken into consideration. First and foremost, I need to know that the company is stable and trustworthy. Without a solid foundation, it's impossible to build a successful career. Additionally, I look for organizations with a clear strategy in place. It's important to know that I'll be working towards a common goal with my team. Of course, the product or services offered by the company also plays a critical role in my decision-making process. I want to be sure that I'm joining a team with a product / service that's ready to take the market by storm. Finally, I need to evaluate the senior leadership team. Are they competent and capable of delivering against the strategy? Will they support me in my role and help me succeed? With all of these factors in mind, I'm happy to say that I've found my next opportunity! I've ticked off all the boxes on my list and am excited to see where this new adventure takes me. Stay tuned for updates!

Trying to find my next role has proven to be more challenging than I expected. My career journey has been unusual, which is making it harder for me to find the right fit. In an effort to put myself out there and share what I’m learning, I’ve started a blog: www.inf0rmav0re.com. If nothing else, hopefully my content will help others find the confidence to learn hard things and share what they’ve learned. 🤞

✨ "Lisa, how's life treating you at your new job? 👩🏻💻" has definitely been the question of the month, without a doubt. 🚀 Closely followed by inquiries like, "Have you considered coming back?" and "How do I land a job there?" 🫣 Now, after what feels to me like a month-long road trip of coffee dates ☕️ and dinner reservations 🍜, here's the verdict: I love it. ♥️ Though I'll admit, it's only been three weeks, so let me break down my experience into three reasons for those three weeks. 👉🏽 Firstly, I'm constantly challenged. Mentally, it's like my brain's buzzing with all the new things I'm learning and experiencing. If you know me, you know I thrive best when I'm pushed out of my comfort zone. In fact, I feel like part of my role is to push some of my colleagues out of their comfort zones too. 👉🏽 Secondly, the products they're working on are just incredible. I use Co-Pilot every single day, and being customer zero is incredibly fulfilling. It allows me to craft far better communication strategies when I personally believe in the product. I've witnessed the development process, engaged in discussions, heard critiques, and felt the genuine drive to create products that empower every person and organization. 👉🏽 Lastly, it's the people. It's not just about the work; it's the community I'm surrounded by. Supportive 🙌🏼, inspiring ⭐️, and driven 🧠. It truly feels like more than just another great place to work. While I appreciate all the incredible benefits the company provides and the incredible events and workshops I am so lucky to have been allowed to attend, at the end of the day, it's about creating opportunities for growth for me as an individual and collectively for the organization. 📈 So, if you were to ask me today, "How's your new job?"👩🏻💼 My answer would be: For now, where I am is exactly where I want to be. 💕 In regards to joining me in the revolution 👇🏽: https://lnkd.in/duPSZMqF

Happy New Year! I’m so excited to finally announce my new role! It’s an incredible fit for my background personally and professionally. Here we go, in story form. Personally: I was a philosophy professor from 2016-2021, having finished my PhD in philosophy in 2016 and worked full time in that area afterward. A couple of years in, I wanted a career change but I had no idea where to look. I scrambled and struggled a lot during that time. Job searches are just hard. It’s even harder as a pivoter. I want to make the whole thing easier and more effective for candidates. I want to help people feel empowered to drive their careers where they want them to go, and not struggle so much, like I did. Professionally: I eventually landed at Stack Overflow, where I was able to leverage my experience in analysis and improving online courses to focus on user metrics: activation, retention, and conversion. I learned a lot about defining, measuring, analyzing, experimenting to improve those metrics, and implementing changes to do so. Putting it together: In my new role as Growth Product Manager at Teal, I am helping to build an amazing product that helps job seekers and I’ll be doing it by improving user metrics! (I know! I was blown away too! It sounds too good to be true! Personal goal ✅ Professional fit ✅ ) I’ve used it myself. The product is awesome. The people are awesome. And it’s only going to get better. And if you’ve been following Teal, I can proudly say that they practice what they preach. I received interview questions in advance, an open door to ask questions, and the time from the first interview to an offer was only 6 business days! Here we go!

🚀 Don't Throw in the Towel on Your Dreams! 🚀 🌟 It's easy to feel disheartened when your current job doesn't align with your dreams. But remember, your journey is just getting started, and success often comes to those who persevere. 💡 Consider the inspiring stories of individuals who didn't let age or circumstance hold them back from pursuing their passions. Take Vera Wang, who transitioned from a figure skater to a renowned fashion designer at the age of 40. Or Colonel Sanders, who founded KFC at the age of 65 after facing multiple setbacks. 🔥 Your dream job may require further study, skilling or a career change, but it's never too late to pursue what sets your soul on fire. Embrace the challenge, stay resilient, invest in skills development, and keep pushing forward towards your true calling. 💼 So, don't throw in the towel just yet! Your dream job could be waiting for you right around the corner. Keep striving, keep believing, and never give up on your aspirations. The world is yours for the taking! 💪 #DreamJob #NeverGiveUp