Encore career - the journey continues

Sometime around fall of 2011, I met an alumni association representative from The Kellogg School of Management.?I’ll call her “Carol”.?She was in Atlanta making the rounds meeting with area alums and this was our chance to meet.?Her job seemed like a dream job of sorts in that it was based on the beautiful campus on Chicago’s lake front and she could bike to the office.?I wondered how long she had been doing “this type of work” and?to my surprise it had been only about one year.?Carol then explained that she lived near the university for decades and would drive by there often.?Often when driving by, she’d think - gee wouldn’t it be great to work on the campus one day.?Well, that “one day” had arrived and she was loving her job.?She described her Alumni rep role?as her “encore career”.?That was my first time hearing that phrase as such but it resonated because I thought I could use a name for my post corporate career - one I had been targeting since 2005.?Up till that conversation with Carol, I had been calling my plan the “15 year plan” and my family had heard me count down the years religiously - as if speaking it into existence is a thing (wink).?

As I reflect on the years from 2011 through 2020 I couldn’t have written a better script - 5 cities, 5 jobs, 3 countries, 3 promotions and two continents.?During those years and prior, I had the pleasure of teaming up with people that I still call friends and am honored to say that in any given quarter of a year,?I’m in contact with one or more people from each of those 5 jobs over the decade.?Looking back on the actual jobs, in select instances, the work we did and successes we had have since vanished into oblivion due to re-orgs or management changes, etc.?But to this day, the trust, mutual respect, and desire to help each other and share family moments or career accomplishments continues.?THAT’s what’s UP !!

Aside from the fact I am sharing my own encore career update in this post, I’m also sharing a view that a career well-lived is one where you:

• Do your very best - all the time.
• Care - even in times of distress.?Cared about your team, colleagues and your mission.
• Compartmentalize - and this is a big one!?Bad day in traffic, cool at work.?Something goes wrong with your analysis or presentation - still keep that lunch commitment with a colleague who needed some help.?Passed up for an opportunity, promotion, or big project; still show up strong every day.
• Focus on others around you - their story, their lives, their struggles.?And when someone opens up about an issue, resist redirecting to “me too” and keep the focus on them.?Almost organically, the person talking gets around to asking something along the lines of “have you ever faced a situation like that”.?NOW tell your story.

I could go on, but I suppose it’s clear that the above list is mostly about interpersonal behavior.?Marshall Goldsmith’s book, “What Got You Hear, Won’t Get You There” states the bedrock thesis of his book is that

"interpersonal behavior is the difference-maker between being great and near-great, between getting the gold and settling for the bronze”.?

Russel Reynolds. The global executive search firm’s podcast “Redefiners” June 2023 episode titled “What top companies ask during executive interviews” makes the similar point - that soft social skills such as high levels of self-awareness, and the ability to listen and communicate, are clearly?more in demand?than ever before.?

Encore Career

In line with my desire to coach others up, build trusting relationships, and create mutually respectful and lasting friendships - I’m excited to begin the next phase of my journey focusing on helping others unlock their leadership potential.?Rise Above Executive Coaching, a VC Barnes & Associates company.?

While the name includes “Executive”, I'm happy to say I’ll allocate a meaningful portion of my time to help young professionals - versus exclusively “Executives”.?A dear colleague from my time in Canada, Carolyn Novick ?a Career Coach for young professionals, said to me in our last chat that she hoped I’d “help those who need it most -?executives have many many resources”.?She wasn’t lying.?I’m glad to say that part of my focus will be partnering with game changers like Monica McCoy who’s?company "Monica Motivates" (among other?things)?helps woman and underrepresented communities close the funding gap?for their entrepreneurial ventures.?I'm also plan to seek partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help fill skills development void that hybrid/virtual work isn't helping.?Also glad to say?I’ll be?coaching 2nd-year?Emory University MBA students starting Fall 2023.?

I’ll wrap this up with a request... if?there's been a memorable?quote, nudge, or saying?I shared with you?- shoot me a note in the comments here or a direct message.?I’d love to hear from you as I'm gathering thoughts for testimonials.?Lastly,?currently have capacity for about?5 coaching clients?during?the back half of 2023.?Maybe we’ll connect soon :)