Becoming the CEO of You

In today’s complex job market, landing executive roles demands more than talent and experience; it necessitates a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset. Often, aspiring executives approach their career transitions with goals such as "I want to make VP" or "I want to run my own P&L." While these are commendable objectives, they should not be the sole drivers. Instead, a deeper understanding of personal mission is crucial. This mindset is one of the key things we work on with Executives intent on job search.

Where Is Your Job Security?

In executive job searches, clarity of personal and professional goals is essential. Common aspirations like climbing the corporate ladder can be misleading if not anchored in a broader context. Such singular focus on status can detract from recognizing important cultural or organizational warning signs, which can ultimately affect short-term impact and long-term career satisfaction and success.

Leadership demands a different type of relationship with work, one that involves discerning when to say "no" to roles that do not align with personal values or organizational fit. Grounded executives distinguish themselves by defining their own career arcs and missions.

Consider the perspective of Elena Verna, former SVP Growth at SurveyMonkey and Malwarebytes, who transitioned into a solopreneurial career. She's writing here after returning to solopreneurship from a re-entry into the corporate world. Her insights are telling: “Most people equate a full-time job with stability, and so they gravitate towards it. But that’s just not true. Especially in the U.S., where employment is at-will, a contract doesn’t protect you. You can be let go at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all. Building a diversified business around your skills is actually the most secure way to work. You own your skills, your reputation, and your distribution. To me, that looks like security.”

By thinking of their search as building a diversified career around one’s skills, executives can ensure they are soliticing opportunities that fit their goals, not just a job title. Ownership of one's skills, reputation, and distribution becomes the foundation of job security. Fred Moesler, former CTO at Renmatix and Global Thermostat, echoes a similar sentiment: “I think many people get a false sense of security that the system is going to look out for them. You know, I've built a pretty big network of people that kind of know what I can do for them, and I know what they can do for me. And that's what I consider my job security these days. Ventures can come and ventures can go. There are plenty of other places that you could land because the network is thick. So your job security isn't really tied so much to the actual company you're in as much as to the network that you've built up over time.”

A major takeaway from both Elena and Fred's insights is the importance of becoming the 'CEO of You,' meaning taking the helm of your career direction with a resilient personal business model. And this goes beyond any role or title, and it’s as equally true for corporate roles as entrepreneurial ones.

Wait, Do I Have to Pivot?

Executives like Fred and Elena have gained their invaluable perspectives by stepping outside traditional corporate environments. Striking out as a solopreneur often necessitates a transition in mindset, one that prioritizes personal value creation over organizational reliance. I often get asked the same about my own solopreneurial journey. However, embarking on an independent path has it’s own risks, and isnt’ for everyone either. The good news is it’s not the only avenue to develop this key mindset.

The shift towards becoming grounded in one's values and career objectives is pivotal for executives seeking roles within corporate structures too. That’s usually where we start with execs focused on a new search. Viewing the latter half of a career as an independent arc allows for strategic moves aligned with personal and professional goals. Each role becomes a "tour of duty," requiring full commitment, yet fundamentally driven by personal choice, allowing for tactical entrances and exits.

Actioning this Insight - What Am I Willing to Leave For?

Job hunting while currently employed is an incredibly effective way to maintain a proactive stance, and keep your personal bar raised high - because it entails less risk. Engaging in a job search with a keen understanding of what truly motivates you makes it easier to recognize and pursue opportunities that align with your long-term objectives.

Ask yourself: If a headhunter approached me today, what kind of opportunity would compel me to make a significant change? Consider this not just in terms of the job title, but in a comprehensive manner. What opportunity would you be willing to relocate your family for? What position would you ask your partner to support, or change your children's school for? Such reflections not only motivate but also clarify your priorities.

This raises your own internal bar and centers your approach, even though the headhunter’s is not likely to show up with that role for you. (but that’s a topic for a separate post) Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean you can’t win the role yourself, but you’ll have to raise that bar yourself in your search.

Identify what truly motivates you to set a precise target for your job hunt. By doing so, you can create a focused search strategy and present yourself compellingly for desirable opportunities. With this target, you can meticulously craft a search strategy and package that positions you to win that opportunity.

In today’s complex job market, landing executive roles demands more than talent and experience; it necessitates a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset. Often, aspiring executives approach their career transitions with goals such as "I want to make VP" or "I want to run my own P&L." While these are commendable objectives, they should not be the sole drivers. Instead, a deeper understanding of job security, career arcs, and personal missions is crucial. This mindset is one of the key things we work on with Executives intent on a job search.

Until next week,

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