How Do Top Executives Get Amazing Jobs Without Chasing Titles?

"Chief Executive Officer at a Fortune 1000 company." That was my client's dream title for 20 years. They spent countless hours networking, polishing their resume, and chasing that perfect role. Then, a conversation with me changed everything.

"Stop telling me what you want to be called," I told them. "Tell me what million-dollar problems you love to fix."

That hit them hard. Really hard.

The Hidden Cost of Title-Chasing

Last month, I spoke with a room full of C-suite executives. Everyone had the same story: perfect resume, impressive titles, stellar achievements. Yet they felt stuck.

Why? Because they kept asking the wrong question.

Instead of "How do I get that VP position at Google?" they needed to ask "Which business challenges light me up inside?"

What Harvard Got Wrong About Executive Success

A recent study shocked me. Only 15% of executive positions get filled through traditional job applications. The other 85%? They come from executives who position themselves as problem-solvers first.

Think about that.

While most leaders waste time trying to fit themselves into pre-written job descriptions, the most successful ones create their own opportunities by:

• Identifying critical business problems.
• Showing how they've solved similar challenges before.
• Building networks around specific expertise, not job titles.

The $2 Million Question That Changes Everything

When I coach senior executives now, I ask them one question worth $2 million (literally - it helped one client land exactly that):

"What expensive business problem do you get excited about solving?"

Not:

• What title do you want?
• What industry interests you?
• What's your dream company?

The answers reveal everything. Some light up talking about fixing broken sales processes. Others come alive discussing merger strategies. A few get excited about turning around struggling divisions.

That's gold. Pure gold.

The Truth About Executive Value

Here's what 10 years of placing senior executives taught me:

Companies don't hire titles. They hire solutions to expensive problems.

When you understand this, everything changes:

• Your network conversations shift from "I'm looking for a COO role" to "I specialize in scaling operations from $10M to $100M".
• Your LinkedIn profile stops listing jobs and starts showcasing problems you've solved.
• Your interviews change from defending your experience to discussing solutions you're passionate about.

A Simple Test Worth Trying

Open your calendar. Look at your last 10 meetings. Which problems in those meetings got you excited? Made you lean in? Had you sketching solutions on napkins?

That's not just job satisfaction. That's your market value.

The 90-Day Challenge

Here's what I tell every executive I work with: For the next 90 days, stop chasing titles. Instead:

1. List the top 3 business problems you love solving.
2. Connect with 2 people weekly who face these problems.
3. Share your experience solving these problems (via LinkedIn, industry events, articles).

The results? My clients report:

• Better job offers.
• More meaningful conversations.
• Higher satisfaction in their roles.

Ready to Shift Your Strategy?

If this approach interests you, I'm offering a free guide: "The Problem-Solver's Playbook: How Senior Executives Create Their Own Opportunities."

DM me "GUIDE," and I'll send it your way.

Remember: The best jobs don't go to the best title-seekers. They go to the best problem-solvers.

What expensive problems do you love to solve?