Define & Quantify Your Values

In recently launching RAKU, my goal has been to build a unique coaching business rooted in leadership integrity to support the growth of others through discovering what they value at their core and integrating this into their professional life. In short, RAKU serves as the change agent to inspire and galvanize career transformation. 

RAKU leverages coaching best practices and offers professional development services to those in their mid-career to advance careers and support those embarking on a professional transition or new venture. What has been unique about launching RAKU are the market conditions and the emotional sentiment individuals currently possess when reflecting on their careers. 

Currently, we are all adrift on the waves of this pandemic and the business landscape continues to shift at a rapid pace. These conditions have led to the acceleration of cloud-based technology, the popularity of the distributed workplace, and of course, more openness and interest in remote work. A further trend, dubbed "The Great Resignation," has resulted in over 4 million Americans quit their jobs in July alone. Further, those in mid-career (ages 30 - 45) are the fastest-growing resignations segment and represent an increase of more than 20% between 2020-2021. The rationale depicted in the media is that employees desire to find more "fulfilling work."

To do so, I boil this down to one word. Values. 

In working with my clients as a coach, I believe that our work together is about the whole self. We may focus on smaller agendas, such as crafting a positioning statement about one's career arch or weigh opportunities and define the path to find more fulfillment and do meaningful work. However, the most important work we do together is to identify the values which are the foundation to finding fulfillment and can act as the compass for this journey. 

As a former product leader, I believe wholeheartedly in making data-driven decisions and bring some of these methodologies to my coaching practice. You may ask, how does value clarity and being data-driven work together? 

Data comes into play in a career transition in multiple ways. The most obvious, of course, is compensation. Although, as the saying goes, "money isn't everything."  I would argue it may be one of the less critical data points when evaluating the kind of company to pursue, the best-fit role, and the team culture within which one will thrive. 

As a coach, I work as your partner to uncover these values and develop guiding principles. I hold you accountable for being true to yourself and provide a set of tools to support data-driven decision-making even when numbers may feel intangible or soft-skill values are difficult to quantify. Thus far, I have seen my clients blossom due to the new clarity of what they most value, brought out by our engagement and the RAKU exercises and tools provided. 

Their growth continues by gaining a deeper understanding of their urge to transition. We then establish clear criteria against which companies and roles can be evaluated to efficiently prioritize which opportunities to explore and interviews to accept. Lastly, my clients have developed a newfound confidence and have dared to turn down offers when they were not well suited to their values – regardless of compensation. 

Are you feeling the itch to resign? Do you feel under-appreciated or "unfulfilled" in your current role? I would love to partner with you to uncover your values and support you with the tools to make the best decisions in synchronicity with your values and without haste. 

Don't hesitate to get in touch with me for more information on how we can get started. 

Stop “should-ing” yourself.

During a practice coaching session within one of my workshops, a peer trainee said to me, "Can I pause you here? You keep should-ing all over yourself!" We laughed; however, this served as an aha moment for me. I recognized that my saboteur was driving my inner monologue, and it was time to rework my vocabulary.

First, let's examine the definition of should as stated by Dictionary.com:

      - auxiliary verb

1. simple past tense of shall.

2. (used to express condition): Were he to arrive, I should be pleased.

3. must; ought (used to indicate duty, propriety, or expediency): You should not do that.

Inherently, the use of the word "should" is a form of critique or judgment. By "should-ing" ourselves, we evoke regret, shame, self-blame and enter the dangerous territory of crafting limiting beliefs. 

As I thought more about my inner saboteur and the belief system I wanted to create for myself, I recognized that a simple mindset shift needed to take place. For example, "I should be spending more time on my website content" repositioned as "I'm excited to spend more time on my website content" would replace the negative mindset of defeat and instead fill me with the energy to get started. 

While this isn't groundbreaking stuff, it is something we are all likely to trip over once in a while. The result of using this dirty little word is that we operate from a place of judgment rooted in the past. Doing so creates unnecessary anxiety and stress, which ultimately limits our ability to be creative and solve problems. By shifting our perspective and focusing our word choice on the future, we become ready for action. 

Next time you catch yourself forming the word "should," think about what you truly want. The pressure that you are putting on yourself may be rooted in the expectations of others and not authentic to what you want or who you are. The practice of reworking these statements not only will help you become more positive and action-oriented, but it will also allow you to journey on your path. 

Hello World.

Over the last 20 years, I have had the privilege to work with many individuals in my industry network as a mentor and advisor in support of their career growth and critical professional transitions. While this mentor and coaching experience was more of a "side hustle" to my Product Management career, I have always dreamed of transitioning to this more formally.

It is no secret that the pandemic has been a catalyst for transformation and accelerated the pace of change in our professional and personal lives. For me, this manifested in the opportunity to spend quality time with my young daughter while also enrolled in the CTI (Co-Active Training Institute) coach training program.

I am excited to share that I have now completed my CTI training and am in the process of solidifying my skills through their rigorous certification program that will result in both my CTI CPCC certification and the ICF ACC certification. To that end, I'd like to invite you to visit my new site and reach out to me if you are interested in coaching services. I will be offering discounted coaching rates while I fulfill the required 100 hours in the CTI Certification program.

I look forward to working with you!