Episode 171: An Introvert's Guide to Success
Lisa Rangel had been working hard for four years at a hotel in Pebble Beach, California. A self-labeled "people pleaser", she did what was asked of her and did her very well, always exceeding expectations. But she isn't a schmoozer, and was overlooked for promotions.
At some point we have to learn to promote ourselves, we must face the reality that we are all in sales in a way, and getting comfortable with that understanding is the key to making transformative career shifts.
Lisa Rangel Says: Your Success Must Include Embracing Who You Are
Working hard doesn't mean you'll get ahead.
"People didn't necessarily get promoted because they did the work well."
Lisa Rangel had been working hard for four years at a hotel in Pebble Beach, California. A self-labeled "people pleaser", she did what was asked of her and did her very well, always exceeding expectations. But she isn't a schmoozer, and was overlooked for promotions.
At some point we have to learn to promote ourselves, we must face the reality that we are all in sales in a way, and getting comfortable with that understanding is the key to making transformative career shifts.
After completing a degree in hotel management and spending four years in that industry, she was ready for something different. So when Lisa Rangel was told by someone she admired that she'd be great in the world of recruitment, she did what she always did - she worked hard, researched companies, and applied for jobs in the city where she was about to move, New York City.
Chloe was the voice Lisa listened to, she had a message that resonated with Lisa. When a future boss suggested Lisa wouldn't be a good at a particular job, she simply didn't believe him.
This pattern continued; when a potential business partner didn't believe Lisa would be able to make a successful business out of resume writing, she disagreed and took her own path - again.
The people we listen to are the people we believe know us, who see us for who we are. The messenger matters when we're getting guidance or advice, which is why it's so important that we see the potential for positive inspiration vs. limiting, arbitrary boundaries we set for others.
Lisa's career appears to be a complete contradiction or disjointed, going from hotel and food service roles to becoming a recruiter on Wall Street, but when you hear how she describes her magic, what she sees in people and understands about their needs and talents, you'll understand that her career trajectory makes so much sense.
Throughout her career, regardless of her job, she was in a place to fulfill and satisfy her desire to care for people, to serve them by innately understanding their needs.
This conversation was enlightening, here are some highlights from the episode:
When you know your core values, where you find meaning in your relationships and in how you spend your days, and can combine those with your natural talents, you can be satisfied in many different industries and jobs.
The messenger matters. The people who influence us most effectively are the ones who we believe truly know us, who see us for who we are. That makes these relationships critical parts of our lives, and they hold serious responsibility. We must choose to influence by seeing the magic in others, and avoid limiting beliefs and language when we're guiding them.
In interviews and hiring situations, we must approach them less as transactional and hierarchical, and more as an exploration into what each person brings to the table, a time for discovering how these relationships can complement and benefit the organization.
Ready to learn more about Lisa and her work? Connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on Facebook, and visit her website.
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ABOUT SARAH:
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
Your Stories Don’t Define You audiobook promotional image
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Episode 160: When You Feel Honored to Do the Work You Do
This woman is absolutely compelled to improve life for people she encounters. She sees the best in people, and has a beautiful way of bringing out the most endearing qualities. At the same time, she doesn't hesitate to let them know when they're getting in their own way.
Her number one talent in the StrengthsFinder assessment is Includer, which means that she is compelled to include others, and to be included herself. Sarah is the kind of woman who walks into a roomful of people and has a sixth sense in finding the most uncomfortable person, knowing exactly what to say to make them more comfortable, and nurturing that comfort to the point of that person actually enjoying themselves.
Life Just Makes More Sense When Your Work Lights You Up
Image of Sarah Johnston for podcast cover art.
Have you ever interviewed or been interviewed by someone with your name? Boy can that feel strange and awkward.
This conversation with Sarah Johnston was anything but awkward. She dropped some insights here that kept my brain in gear and spinning for days afterward.
This woman is absolutely compelled to improve life for people she encounters. She sees the best in people, and has a beautiful way of bringing out the most endearing qualities. At the same time, she doesn't hesitate to let them know when they're getting in their own way.
Her number one talent in the StrengthsFinder assessment is Includer, which means that she is compelled to include others, and to be included herself. Sarah is the kind of woman who walks into a roomful of people and has a sixth sense in finding the most uncomfortable person, knowing exactly what to say to make them more comfortable, and nurturing that comfort to the point of that person actually enjoying themselves.
When Sarah works with a client, she listens with an intensity to hear what is not being said. Her story about the medical student who had given up on applying for a residency, and instead decided to focus on applying to be a medical technician or physician's assistant provides a crystal clear image of what she hears and how she compassionately presents her thoughts to others.
Sarah's work most definitely has huge impact on individual job seekers, but the true gift in her work is the ripple effect it has. For a person who has been out of work or under employed for a significant length of time, simply getting an interview can create a positive shift in mindset. Getting a job means a huge impact on that person's family and friends, and can shift the lives of others through the decisions to pay it forward.
The way that Sarah transitioned between jobs, and then into her own business is inspiring.
*Correction at approximately 20 minutes, I referred to Heather Younger's book, The Art of Caring Leadership, which will be released in Spring, 2021, but her first book is, The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty, and was published in 2017. Listen to her podcast here.
When Your Heart is In It, You Bring Great Value
Stories of Understanding the Value of Your Work
Going into the resume and job search business, John Sattler underestimated the impact he could have on the lives of others. His interest in starting this business had more to do with using the knowledge and skills he had developed as a recruiter to make his income, and less to do with the “why” behind it.
His “ah ha” moments came when he opened his mind and heart to really get to know a few of his clients. John realized that each client had a completely different and interesting story to tell, they just didn’t know how to tell it.
He’s not a soft-skills guy, in terms of how he approaches his work. John isn’t the guy you go to cry on his shoulder; he’s the guy who will tell you exactly what he thinks, and will not sugar coat his advice and suggestions. That’s why he won’t take on every client that knocks on his door. If he gets the impression that the client isn’t going to put in the work and effort it will take to get a job, and if he gets the impression that the client won’t choose to be self-reflective about his or her past challenges, he will refer that client to someone else. And that’s what makes him such an asset to the clients who retain him.
It’s magical when you realize that your skills and competence can make a real difference in a person’s life, and that they realize your value and will invest in themselves to benefit from those skills and competence.
Embracing Life Transitions as the New Normal
We are Living in Transition Now, What Stories Help Us Navigate this New Normal?
Kris Macchiarola left the corporate world because her activities there just didn’t align with her core values and priorities. What she discovered after leaving that world is a community of women in varying types of transitions in their lives: Divorce, empty nesting, career changes, priority changes, and a general desire for something different in their lives.
There appears to be three responses to these major life adjustments:
People see an open door and choose to turn back around to the known dynamics of their previous jobs, industries and types of partners, regardless of happiness and fulfillment.
People see an open door and freeze, not knowing which opportunity to take because there seem to be too many options.
People see an open door and leap across the threshold, choosing risk over safety and comfort because there are simply no other options for them.
In this podcast episode, we share some of our own stories of transition, the stories of some of our friends, and some important strategies and thought processes to consider in this changing world of transition.
Kris Macchiarola is a consultant, speaker, leader, and coach. She specializes in helping organizations create a culture where employees feel energized, enabled, and engaged, ultimately, giving them a competitive advantage. She is an EQ champion and specializes in Human to Human. Connect with her on LinkedIn, check out her Patreon profile, and visit her website to learn more.