Join us as we delve into the power of self-awareness and the vital internal work that paves the way for career advancement. It's not just about climbing the corporate ladder. In this episode, we explore the intricate dance of behavior, language, and energy that can distinguish you in the professional world.
As we navigate the complexities of professional growth, we share personal stories, including our own transformative experiences from our past and present jobs. We dissect the concept of "pivot jobs" and the surprising satisfaction they can hold. Our discussion is steeped in the belief that by nurturing your current role with a leadership mindset, you're setting the stage for future triumphs. It's a conversation that challenges you to look beyond the job title and to the heart of your value and contribution to every task.
To wrap up this thought-provoking episode, we tackle the multifaceted nature of preparing for that next big career move. Professionalism isn't just about showing up on time and dressing the part—it's a holistic approach that includes internal development. We share insights on the importance of dressing for success, even in virtual settings, and how to adopt the mindset that will have you primed and ready for the leadership role you're chasing. This episode is an empowering guide that is set to inspire action and confidence in your journey to the top.
CareeRise: www.careerrise.org
CareerConfidence: www.mjcareerconfidence.com
Follow Us on IG!
Follow Us on LinkedIn:
Join us as we delve into the power of self-awareness and the vital internal work that paves the way for career advancement. It's not just about climbing the corporate ladder. In this episode, we explore the intricate dance of behavior, language, and energy that can distinguish you in the professional world.
As we navigate the complexities of professional growth, we share personal stories, including our own transformative experiences from our past and present jobs. We dissect the concept of "pivot jobs" and the surprising satisfaction they can hold. Our discussion is steeped in the belief that by nurturing your current role with a leadership mindset, you're setting the stage for future triumphs. It's a conversation that challenges you to look beyond the job title and to the heart of your value and contribution to every task.
To wrap up this thought-provoking episode, we tackle the multifaceted nature of preparing for that next big career move. Professionalism isn't just about showing up on time and dressing the part—it's a holistic approach that includes internal development. We share insights on the importance of dressing for success, even in virtual settings, and how to adopt the mindset that will have you primed and ready for the leadership role you're chasing. This episode is an empowering guide that is set to inspire action and confidence in your journey to the top.
CareeRise: www.careerrise.org
CareerConfidence: www.mjcareerconfidence.com
Follow Us on IG!
Follow Us on LinkedIn:
Welcome back everyone. I'm excited you have the biggest smile on your face.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I'm excited about the topic we're going to talk about.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I am leaning more towards excitement. Okay, does it sound like I'm trying to believe myself?
Speaker 2:Yes, Well, we are going to talk about manifesting a promotion at work.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a lot of different feelings, I think, individuals who are looking to climb up and just are not sure where to start or where to begin, or what does that even look like for them. We're not even thinking about it, but I think this is going to be a really good episode for a lot of people.
Speaker 2:Yes, let's hope so and, by the way, if you love what you hear, please let us know in the comments. So, mj, what does it even mean to manifest a promotion?
Speaker 1:Okay. So from our last episode of manifesting right, it begins with the person. You want to make sure that you are in a mindset that you have a clear vision and goals right of what it is that you're thinking about. So it's not like you are an entry. So in this concept of manifesting a promotion, let's say I'm an entry-level employee. If I think I want to be the CEO, or I'm dreaming I want to be the CEO, that's not the only step I'm taking. There's so much more intention and purpose and self-assessing that has to do and work, working a lot of work that has to be done if I want to climb that ladder to eventually be in the C-suite.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, and when you say work, the first thing I'm thinking about is internal work, right, and also external, but let's talk about the internal work. Yeah, that, first of all, I think, is the hardest part of this process.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right but it's the most crucial part yeah, when you say internal work, what? What immediately comes to my mind? It's like a light bulb, it's like the confidence is how you speak to yourself, what you think of yourself, where you see yourself, because one thing is saying you want to be somewhere, another thing is believing that you can be somewhere.
Speaker 2:Yes, oh, my gosh, the believing. I think that's probably the most common challenge that I see among everybody, like my students, my clients ourselves Right, we talked about even like just doing this podcast or being entrepreneurs and growing our own brand, like, even then we're we're working on that, right. There's a lot of internal work, too, that we have to do to be able to do this work, and the same goes for anybody that I talk to who's wanting to advance in their career. It all starts with how we see ourselves.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It's the not only the person you see in the mirror, but who you believe that person is to be.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So let's say I am, I come to you and I'm like, okay, I'm, I feel, stuck in in the current job that I have and I want to move up, Um, but I don't see myself in that role or I don't know how to do it. What would be? What would you tell me?
Speaker 1:Okay, if you are feeling stuck, first I would say, tell me in what area you feel stuck. What does that look like for you? What does that feel like? Is it you sitting at your desk and your job, your boss, is passing by and you're like, oh, I feel like I'm never going to be there, I'm never going to see that. Or is it the type of work you're out? What are the output you're doing? But I would also say I want to know where that's coming from or that feeling and that sounds very like therapeutic counselor, but we can't help it.
Speaker 1:That's who we are Um.
Speaker 2:that's where I would there, I would kind of go, I'd want to poke at the situation just to know a little bit more about what you're going through. Yeah, yeah, I would say nine times out of 10, it's going to be that. Um, poking at that like, where is this coming from? Why don't you see yourself as someone who can be a leader or a boss or CEO? Why, Um, I guess it's like seeing yourself small you know.
Speaker 1:That's really interesting that you say that, because I feel like a lot of people don't really know where they land. I think your titles are one indicator of where you are in like a company or an organization or institution. But it's until you do that self-reflection of like, oh, where am I actually? When you start to feel small, big or medium, right, when you start to feel that role, yeah, yeah, what's going to help you see yourself like that, right?
Speaker 2:Is it the title, or is it the company you work for, or or what is it that's going to make you feel like you're enough to to be a leader? Um, so, for anyone out there who is wanting to advance or get promoted or, um, maybe even switch jobs but go to a higher position, right, the first step we would really encourage is, like, think about how you see yourself. Do you see yourself as a leader? Do you see yourself as someone who's ready internally to be in that kind of position?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think it's more than just what we think about realistically, so meaning like oh, leading a team doing the morning agenda, planning the large work event, right, it's so much more. It's the behavior, it's the language, it's the appearance, it's how others perceive you, it's the energy that you bring as well. So there's so much more behind than just that leadership title and work.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely. It's how you walk into a room Absolutely the presence you leave, yeah. Or when you walk in I think I heard this somewhere Like when you walk in, do you immediately think about, like what are other people thinking of me?
Speaker 2:Or do you think of it as what am I thinking about? Everybody in this room? Oh, I think that's like a perspective shift. I um saw that. I heard that. I read it somewhere in in the context of confidence. Okay, right, and I remember I was like, oh, when I was younger, when any room I would walk into it was immediate what are people thinking of me? Now it's, over time, becoming more of like what do I think about what's happening in this room?
Speaker 1:that's interesting because I've I've lately, um noticed my mind, has my mindset and a lot of the things, the way I think, is very different than how I used to a few years ago, and I'm, I'm I'm now understanding what you're saying. Not what you're saying, but you know what I mean. Like I'm getting it and I'm like, yeah, me too. That used to be me. I mean, I feel like there's ebbs and flows, right, like any rollercoaster of life, but, um, I'm starting to feel that a lot more of like what's MJ thinking, what's going on, like what do I think is a priority versus like what do others? You know?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, the confidence, yeah, the confidence and the self-image. That is the first place to really start working on. If you're ready or wanting to get promoted or move up in your career, I would say we start there. What other tips would you want to tell someone? Yeah.
Speaker 1:I would say, for your confidence, it's how, so, yes, it's what you're thinking and what others are perceiving, but it's also how you're communicating with yourself. A big is the language you use with yourself and the work that you do and how you're working on yourself simultaneously, as well as working on getting that role and doing that work. Tips wise, I would say, use your network right to help you grow in that sense of confidence. Yeah, those would be two additional things I would say.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, with that, like so doing the external work right. So as you're doing the internal work, you're also you got to output like do good work on the job. Basically, you got to do good work on the job. So the first thing I think of when I think of somebody doing good work is initiative Right, taking initiative on different projects, or when you find a problem at work, to really speak up about that problem and find solutions to the problem.
Speaker 1:Yeah, initiative is something that I have naturally.
Speaker 1:I think it's because I was just raised by three independent, strong Latinas that just always have led me to just lead whatever I'm doing, and just find like, just get up and do it. So for me, initiative is one of those key things that I really enjoy to see in leaders and people that I work for. If we have an initiative and that's what motivates me as an employee I'm going to love my job and I'm going to like. That motivates me extra to do the work. So initiative is huge. And for the problem solver, right.
Speaker 1:It's almost like I don't know if any of you listening have a colleague or have been in a room or in a situation where there's individuals who can find a lot of different concerns or areas of support right, but that's all they can offer, whereas maybe the leader is expected to solve the problem. But for you, if you're wanting to grow, you need to be both right. You need to be someone, right. You need to be someone who can say, hey, so-and-so is lacking, we didn't meet our target goal last quarter. I mean whatever, it's very business, corporate talk, but you know what I mean. And this is how. This is a proposed idea. What do you all think right? So there's different styles of leadership Servant leadership and initiative and problem solving is kind of what comes to my mind as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I'm thinking of when I first learned how to learn the importance of initiative. I think it's a combination of I love that you said it's because you were raised by Latinas, strong women. Part of it is how I was raised. My mom, my mom, was a pretty hard ass. When I was growing up I told her too. I was like I used to think you were really strict. Over time, as I grew up, I realized we developed more of a friendly relationship. But when I was a kid I used to think she was strict and I think it's because she was, she had really high expectations. So it was always I would joke and be like so if she would see me sitting around doing nothing, she would literally find something to make me do. She'd be like go like, fix the tablecloth I don't like the stupidest thing right like something small. But it was her high expectations that I think like made me learn to take initiative. But also it was my first job, my first job, when I realized the importance of initiative at work, and I remember I was a.
Speaker 2:I was working at a preschool and I my title was preschool teacher. There was a small, family-based, home-based preschool, and so it was myself and my boss who was the director, and she had given me feedback, like after a couple months of working at the job. She had given me feedback of like, when you come to work, I expect you to like, look at our shelves and identify, like, the materials that were shored on and like, let me know, organize the shelves and like, let me know what we need to buy, and all of that. And I was a college student, right? So when I would go to work, it was nap time for the kiddos and so I would be studying for my exams and things like that until they woke up and then I would start my shift.
Speaker 2:But that was her feedback was like, I expect you to come and like, do these extra things until they wake up, right, and I was like, oh my gosh, that like opened up this whole different perspective of, okay, what, what do I need to do on the job? Right, it was like the smallest little thing feedback that she gave me, but it made me realize the importance. And when I did it, then I was like, oh, this is this, is this feels good. Because then she was like, okay, you're doing a really good job, and then made me want to do more and I started coming up with new projects and like doing all these other things with the kids.
Speaker 1:That makes a lot of sense to your behavior now, like as a colleague. I'm just thinking about like, just refilling the printer room with like copy paper, you know.
Speaker 2:It's so silly, but like, do you remember you and me carrying like eight reams of paper? Yeah, yeah, that's a whole other story. I was thinking about that the other day. I'm like I wonder how the printer room is doing, since I haven't been there. Yeah, but yeah, no, like, literally, I'll like look at, okay, what, what do we need to do? Or the flyers that in the office, you gotta refill these flyers, you are I yes, it's, it's dang.
Speaker 1:I can't wait for you to come back to work. Okay, so that story really made me think about so. I never I've never seen myself as a leader, and I've said that before. You're making me reflect on my job at Old Navy and how I was so quick to move up in responsibility. But, I never. I never saw myself as a leader, even though I was getting more responsibility.
Speaker 1:But I never saw myself as a leader, even though I was getting more responsibility. So, you know, in other people's eyes I was becoming more of a leader right, eventually, you know, being a lead of a department and knowing sales and training people and doing all these things. But that initiative that I naturally brought into the space allowed for so much more organization, collaborative work, allowed lot more for a flow in the type of work that I was doing that naturally, like I wasn't really, I know, as a college student I wasn't like I was not hoping and praying to be an old Navy manager, right, like that was yeah, that was not like I'm good at folding jeans and t-shirts.
Speaker 1:That's how I found the love of my life, right, um, but that naturally allowed me to be promoted, like I mean, it wasn't official, but like get more risk. Like be a cash lead, right, a cash handler. Count all the checks, all the money. Um, be a lead of all of the kids departments. Um, talk and be in the meetings with managers, train the new employee. Like. Do so many other things that I'm now reflecting. I'm like, wow, I've naturally always brought that energy into wherever I work. It's a burden. It's a two-flipped coin, because it gives me a lot of responsibility, but two, it's allowed me to have so many different experiences that have allowed me to grow as a human being Develop new skills right, and that goes on your resume and all of that too.
Speaker 2:So I think what I realized too with the initiative is that it's a perspective thing about how you see your job like if you're just thinking of it as a job like I'm just going to work.
Speaker 2:Especially this is really easy to do with those entry-level jobs like that, retail or whatever if you're just thinking of it as this is just a job, you naturally don't even like do the extra thing because you're not focused on it.
Speaker 2:But like when you go in with an open heart and like you feel like this is home, these people are like family, this is, you know, this is, this is my part, a big part of my life right now, even if you don't want to stay there forever and that's not your long-term career goal. But if you like go to the to work with an open heart, you naturally start to like do things like you would do at your home, right. Like, silly example, if your toilet paper you're out of toilet paper in the bathroom, you're going to go refill it, right. The same thing like, if you see your work as like a big part of your life right now, you're going to naturally start to see like those little things and those add up to then your energy and then you start to take initiative on other things and you get more responsibility and then, before you know it, you're like already acting like a leader. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And Armine and I do acknowledge too that a lot of people have entry-level jobs and funny enough, we were I was we were recently talking about it this in the office no, not in the office I was having sorry, not in the office I was having a different conversation with a group of people who were talking about sometimes, when we work with clients, we advise, like you're going to need to take that pivot job that's going to be entry level to get you to where you want to be, and how do you still find satisfaction and are you able to demonstrate that same skillset of who you want to be later on in that job?
Speaker 1:So I think that also really aligns with what you're talking about and how these are also temporary opportunities that you're doing and you're gonna move up. And you'll feel, when armin is talking about open-heartedness, we're not talking about like walk into your whatever you know job you have currently that you're not super happy with and oh, I love this place. Like you will get there too. Yeah, it's, it does not always happen on the first opportunity. You, you know, like I did not walk into Old Navy like that. I really love the people I worked with and I love the customers. But that's, you'll find your way, you'll find your opportunity.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think when you start seeing yourself your entry level jobs in that light, it makes it easier. Like you know, this is not a permanent thing, right? And instead of like making it harder on yourself and like dragging your feet to work, you start to see it as like okay, what skills am I gaining from this job that is gonna help me in my long-term career? That perspective shift is really gonna like change the energy that you walk into the room with yeah, it's, it's growth mindset yeah yeah, are you fixed mindset or limited mindset, or your open mindset?
Speaker 2:yeah, the other thing. So you're talking about problem solving right and being a problem finder and solver. So I'm thinking about that and I I realized like early on in my career when I would notice problems, I wouldn't speak up, and I think it was a confidence issue, because it goes back to the self-image, like I used to feel like maybe this is just a problem for me and it's not it, like maybe that's how it's supposed to be and I'm the one like who's wrong and everybody else is right and nobody else is noticing this as a problem. So it's, it's got to be my issue, so I wouldn't speak up isn't that funny, that's insane.
Speaker 1:Knowing you, you now I'm like what? This is the woman who, who once said in a meeting I don't care, I mean, given you were like nine months pregnant, yeah, um, but like I, you didn't.
Speaker 2:I say I'm not doing that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you were like I'm not doing that, and then I remember you telling me I don't care. But but it's funny because you were the one who taught me. You helped me find my voice in the workplace, Wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I swear, if you guys can see my face right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, that shocks me, yeah, that really shocks me, that early I mean. But it makes sense though, right, because you were navigating the space too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, it was my first big girl job. No-transcript is like, yes, you find a problem and you speak up, but you gotta go um to your boss, let's say, with a solution in mind. Yeah, I think that's really important, especially in the corporate world. Like that's really important because, like, bosses in the corporate world are going to be a lot more hard ass too, they're going to be like expecting you to come up with the solution.
Speaker 2:So you want to go in already prepared with some ideas and and maybe you can work through that with your boss as to what the best idea is yeah, but you want to have some ideas when you're going and don't just go in and complain about a problem. You know what's crazy?
Speaker 1:I recently my frontal lo just go in and complain about a problem. You know what's crazy. I recently my frontal lobe kicked in and, for those of you who know, you know what I'm talking about. Um, but I have so much more started, I think, within the last year. But again, I think it's also the professional development how much I've grown as a person. My confidence has really. I mean career confidence, career, like all these different things that have really happened to me over the last year.
Speaker 1:But this specifically, using my voice to create an impact and create change in the workplace, is something that I'm using it as such a strategic manner where it goes back to also the problem finding and the problem solving. Right, I, I right. I'm finding myself now saying a lot like okay, I see this gap, here's my proposal for this, let's propose this so we can fix this. Oh, over the course of this year I wasn't able to do X, y, z because I'm one human being. Okay, let's fix that. Let's hire an intern, all of the different type.
Speaker 1:My mind is really shifting into this mindset and it's funny because someone said to me that's admin thinking and I was like, don't say that, like that's so scary, um, but it's true, it's how you use your voice and I'm being very mindful, too in what space I'm using my voice to advocate to. I'm a very social justice oriented person, so I also be very thoughtful and very intentional and purposeful. Those that's just the way I think and speak at work, and for me, this is really something that has become a lot larger part of my role on our team.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I'm starting to pay attention to. What role do I play in my career? What role do I play in my office? What role do I play for my students? What role do I play in our center and in the institution?
Speaker 2:Wow, I know, I told you, frontal lobe it keeps in hard yeah. Well, with all things MJ, it's like 0 to 100 extreme.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I with all things, mj. It's like zero to a hundred extreme. Yeah, I swear, that's how my brain has been starting to think. But you were the one who taught me. You were the one, I think, who like pushed me far enough so I would break free, like that.
Speaker 2:Wow, I had no idea yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm telling you that you've had all types of impact on my life. I love it.
Speaker 2:You're so sweet and same. Likewise, Thank you. Okay. So that was a lot in terms of the things we got to do to manifest that promotion right, and it ain't easy. So the internal work just to summarize up until this point internal work, self-image, working on that image, going into your workplace with the perspective of, like, what can I learn? How can I learn and grow from this experience? So you're going in with more of an open heart and really feeling like you're part of that team, that center, wherever you're working, taking that initiative and going in, finding problems and solutions to those problems yeah right.
Speaker 2:The other piece that we want to talk about here is acting the part yeah, all of us.
Speaker 1:I feel like there's a lot of. We can all think of someone who acts like a leader, behavior is like zero, has no behavior like can front to be a leader, yeah. Confronts to be in the c-suite can just work.
Speaker 2:The title, yeah, but not work the work, yeah and you know what the saddest part about that is that people see through it like you know that whole thing, fake it till you make it. That is what I'm talking about it. I don't believe it. It doesn, because, yeah, you might get the title, let's say, but you're not going to be good at it. You know what I mean. So do you really want to fake it, get the title, suck at your job and then, like, everybody notices that you suck at your job, but you have the title Like, is that what you want to be?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, I would tell if. If that is, I would challenge that person to think about why that's the case and where is that coming from. But from the work that I've done with clients and students, I really don't see people wanting to fake it till they make it. People genuinely share that. They want to care about the work that they do right and so hoping that that is all of our listeners too. You don't want to fake it till you make it. That's not career fulfillment.
Speaker 1:That's not.
Speaker 2:yeah, it's not going to find you the happiness that you're looking for.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know what's funny and that's very different. I want to make clear that that's very fake. It till you make it is very different than you being not fully qualified for a position, yeah Right. So when you're applying for opportunities, there's that gap of like oh, I'm not fully qualified, but I'm more than halfway qualified. There's room for growth. Buddy. Like still apply to the job. That's far on the other side. Then I have no opportunity, I have no passion and I'm just going to do the work for to get this title, to do whatever Like that's. It's just totally different. I don't want people to get confused, but I, because I know I'm like that's one way I was thinking about.
Speaker 1:it was like well, what if I'm underqualified and I'm trying to like make it, like make it yeah. So that's completely different.
Speaker 2:Definitely yeah. So when we say like act apart and like don't fake it till you make it apart, and like don't fake it till you make it, what we're saying is like start to see yourself as a leader, right, and all the things that we've been talking about, like when you take initiative, when you find problems, you find solutions to those problems, you go the extra mile and do those extra things. That stuff is you acting like a leader, even though you might not have that leadership title. But that's what's going to get you the leadership title. Because if you sit around and I've seen people do this you sit around and say this is not in my job description, I'm not going to do it.
Speaker 2:You're never going to get that leadership title because no one's seeing you as a leader One. You don't even see yourself as a leader, and then other people don't see you as a leader. So how are you going to get hired as a leader? How are you going to get promoted? Right, you have to first do those tasks and see yourself in that context so that you can be ready to take on those positions and actually do a good job in those positions.
Speaker 1:Yeah, taking initiative and being the leader that you want to be. You're not overstepping your current you know, boss, supervisor, manager, team, whatever that looks like but you're still stepping up. Yeah Right, like you're not taking charge of someone else's project or the leader. You're making the big decisions, but you're still working as a leader. So there's a very there's also like a really fine line.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know it's hard to like really define what that line is. It's going to look different based on the culture of the place that you work and the people that you work with, it's going to look different, and that's where, like I think, tact comes into play, kind of have to have some tact to like navigate those lines a little bit, and that's going to look different for each individual too.
Speaker 1:Very true, I think, acting the part. So we're talking about behavior right Behavior and work, output and production. Now let's talk about looking the part.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, what do we mean?
Speaker 1:I love, this Me too, because I'm like, yeah, this is a whole other level of different, of acting the part. Now let's talk about looking the part, and the key word here is professionalism. But Armine, break down, what does professionalism mean?
Speaker 2:So many parts to professionalism. So in this context we can define it as being prepared. So when you walk into a room any room you got to be prepared. When I was in grad school, my professors would say, like if you go to a meeting and you don't have a notebook and pen, you are not prepared. That's not a good look. So it was like drilled in us Like you make sure you have a notebook and a pen with you with no matter what meeting. It is Right. So I think I always remember that at any time I walk into a meeting, like sometimes if it's like really quick, like I'm, you know, late to a meeting, so I'm running there, and like if I don't take a notebook with me, I immediately remember my professors from grad school.
Speaker 2:Talk about classical conditioning Truly truly. I really did learn that lesson in school, so that is one that's like a very small example of being prepared there's so much more to.
Speaker 1:What do you think about? Like people who take notes on their phone? Oh, in a meeting, yeah, because I have a I I understand that it's now becoming a generation type thing. Like even me, I'll slack myself notes where if we're in a meeting like the other. The other week we went to lunch with one of our, one of of the leaders in the center. It was a lunch, so I'm like I'm not going to bring a notebook.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So we, when we were talking, we were talking about stuff to do and I was like I'm going to take notes on my phone, yeah, and I like in that environment it was okay.
Speaker 1:And I noticed that, like I take notes on my laptop, like I mean, you know, I have a, this thing is attached to my hip yeah, side note, mj has an unhealthy attachment to her laptop um, but I've noticed more, like in like all stat, like you know, I'm thinking like larger meetings or meetings where you're not really sure what the environment, like people have started to take notes on their phone. What do you think about that? Because I know, like even in an interview, um, you know, like people are taking. You know I'm thinking about specific situations now, but what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:okay I I thought about the interview situation too, where if you're on an interview committee and you're like looking at your phone, I've I've been in situations where the person will be like, oh, I'm looking at the interview questions, like having to justify why they're on their phone, but my initial reaction is I have an icky feeling about it. It's just not a good look. One I think you have to explain it. You keep having to explain yourself Like, oh, by the way, I'm taking notes. One you have to explain yourself, and if you don't, then people are not going to think you're taking notes. They're automatically going to assume you're distracted. What's wrong with taking a pen and paper? You?
Speaker 2:know a notebook or even a laptop. I think a laptop is totally fine because we obviously live in a world with technology advancement, like, ok, if you're not going to carry a notebook with you, that's fine, have a laptop or tablet. But a phone is just a little bit too casual, I think.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that. I just I was like I want to get your opinion on that. Sorry to put you on the spot, but I was I to get your opinion on that. Sorry to put you on the spot, but I was I'm like thinking about how much that has evolved. And people like take notes on their phone and all this stuff yeah, even students, they'll pull it out. I mean, of course, in a student, like in a student experience, it's fine, like they're they're taking notes, they don't think about it. But you know, I now have a stack of paper and pens near on my desk, so I'm like here, you can use this oh yeah, notes too.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, no. With my students I brought, I sometimes will take the pen and paper out and be like I'm starting to take notes of the things we're talking about. If it gets to a session where it's like there's pretty hefty information and I see that they're not taking notes, I start yes I get, I get really curious, like I get.
Speaker 1:I get sus, I get very suspicious when somebody's not taking notes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm like are you really listening to what we're talking about?
Speaker 1:Yeah, is this really making a difference? So, yeah, I get really suspicious when somebody's not taking notes. You're unattentive, you're not showing that this experience or whatever, the meeting or whatever is not important.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, honestly. And on the other end of that, when I have a student client meeting and they are like you know the, I see it in their eyes like the light bulb goes off or it's like they're like oh, this is actually good information. They're like hold on, I gotta get my laptop out, I gotta start taking notes. I love it Like they seem so engaged and you're like okay, you feel like, okay, I'm actually making a difference for this person. The same goes for interviews, by the way.
Speaker 2:I think that and I started implementing this a few years ago going into an interview you are free to like write down the questions that they ask you. Like I legit take a portfolio with me and I always like have my pen ready, especially when it's a long question. I start writing it and I've seen, like the people who are interviewing me I see the way they look at me when I'm writing. They're like you know, they're like observing, like, oh, she seems really engaged or really like prepared when, when I do that. So I side note, I would recommend doing that in interviews.
Speaker 1:I loved. I love seeing that, because you're giving value to whatever it is that you're doing. I really appreciate that.
Speaker 2:I don't know.
Speaker 1:I'm a huge fan of preparedness because that's a professional means for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but taking notes is one thing, right, that's just one way of being prepared. What?
Speaker 1:other ways. For me, it's like walking into a space knowing what you're walking into, for, like, I've seen way too many times people like walk in and like what are we talking about? What's going on? What happened there was this. I missed that email. Like you're not on track or you're not on the same page as the people around you, or you're talking about something completely different and we're like what?
Speaker 2:like what is that what this meeting is about?
Speaker 1:yeah, um, I. For me, it's like staying on top of whatever's current right, it's just like staying up to date. So that's one uh preparedness. The other thing, too, for me I'm a huge. I'm a huge, so I'm latina. You know. There's a living joke uh in society that we run on hispanic time, latin we have that for armen too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you run on like Latino time, um, and it's like 30 minutes behind or an hour behind. So I grew up in a, in a home where I had to tell my mom if I had to be, if I had whatever it was for school, right, extracurricular activity or an award ceremony, I had to tell her it was two hours before it started. So if it started at six, I had to tell her it started at four, so we could be there by 6 30. You know, like that's just the way I grew up. So me seeing, or like even them picking me up, like, and again, I've grown up.
Speaker 1:So there were situations where I now like as a kid, you're embarrassed, right, like you're the last one to be picked up, or like you're like your parents forgot about you. You're always late to school. I've always wanted to be early, yeah, always. And and this goes for me seeing people who are leaders, I like when my leaders show up in there, I'm not saying be the first one in the office, but like show up, be there before your staff, yeah, look like, be present in the moment in the morning, like be on time, at least leave at the time you're supposed to leave, not early, because then that sucks for the rest of your like. What example are you putting out? You know. So for me, being on time um is huge when it comes to professionalism and preparedness yeah, oh my gosh, you are definitely really good with time.
Speaker 2:I mean, you're there before everybody, you're there after everybody.
Speaker 1:Your timing is like on another level right now that we have a million things going on. I'm showing up a little closer to nine, but wait till the summer. I'll start showing up at 7 30. Yeah, yeah, I know mj.
Speaker 2:When you first started working in the office, you 7 am yeah, you were there. 7 am. The office opens at 8, you guys, no, nine. Well, well for us like eight and then like for actual functioning for students to come in, it opens at nine, but mj was there at seven.
Speaker 1:I was always there at seven, but that's because I had one job. You know, now I have like a million other things, but you know.
Speaker 2:But and then nobody's saying like go to the office two hours before anything like that just be on time, that is. That is just courtesy, um, but I love that you talk about time and latino time. I have a family member where we have events. We have to tell them two hours beforehand so they could be there at the time or like 30 minutes after yes, For my graduations.
Speaker 1:Oh, my gosh, armin, it was so embarrassing I would have to tell I'm so sorry if my family is listening to this like at some point in their life, but like it was so hard to tell them like you need to be there, like at 12, if it started at 30, because that's just that's how they function. And they're 30 minutes later, like even now, when I tell my mom or my grandma like I'm gonna pick you up at 12 30 and they'll ask me what time are you coming? Yeah, 12 30, I'm coming sunday. We have a normal routine. So every sunday mj's there at 12 30, outside the house. They're never ready.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's funny because I'm like this is just, I have to start telling them like 11 30 so at least they'll be ready by one but you know what's funny when you like shift the time, they know right, like, okay, for example, within like weddings or events, you get an invitation to an event. So when you're writing the time on the invitation so let's say you're saying 7 pm you're thinking okay, no one's gonna get there at 7. So like, if we want the party to start at 8, we're gonna put 7. But then the guests know that you're doing that. So then they're like, oh, I don't really have to be there till 8, and then they don't show up till 9. So yes, you can't win. It's a whole thing like you try to do reverse psychology but it doesn't really work because everybody knows what you're doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah but for work, please show up on time at least, like that that has a really good like perspective and it gives a good presence. And if you're going to show up like I know this sounds so like basic to some people, but like let your supervisor know or let someone in the office, like whatever that is, just just show up on time, please yeah, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:Another piece of being professional is dressing the part. This is one of my favorites. I love it, I love it.
Speaker 1:I love it too, and and dress in the workplace has changed so much, so much even. I mean like, yes, covet had a huge impact, and like going back to work and virtual and stuff, but it has changed a lot, a lot. From a pantsuit to now you can wear jeans with a blazer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, the shoes have changed as well. Back when I was, like 10 years ago, finishing up grad school, starting my big girl job, the flats were a thing Like I would never see people wear sneakers in the office now, and I learned the gen z style from you, mj. I'm like me wearing sneakers right now, yeah, but no, like you do it so well. And I started to when I started to notice like the younger generation um, are some of our like even student employees and so forth Like I'm like, oh, that actually looks really good. You could rock sneakers with the blazer and look really professional. It's like a very different style, though, and I was looking at some of my old photos for a project on my hard drive and I did like I saw the outfits that I would wear to the office when I was a grad intern and I'm like oh, yeah and yeah and like that's how the counselors would dress, but now, when I think about how our how counselors dress now, it's totally different.
Speaker 1:It's very different. I will say too, like it, um. So yes, dress the part right like, um, there's a, there's a saying. I mean, we all know the saying. Like, dress for the part, just for the role you want, not the role you want not the role you have Right.
Speaker 1:For me and I think our role it depends also on your industry. Yeah, so like tech, I heard somewhere in tech jeans and a hoodie and like sandals is like standard Right? Yes, if you show up. I remember hearing this one podcast, oh, and forgive me that I don't remember what it is, but she was like oh, I showed up to be a speaker and I wore like a pantsuit and they didn't take me seriously and I was like wow, oh, interesting like that's really interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the person was like, oh, I should have dressed and they um, they showed more respect or they were more geared or like aimed and target. Talking to the people who showed up less professional, I think maybe they related more to that, maybe those folks.
Speaker 2:But you know, that's funny because I told my husband he's in engineering and I told him like why don't you dress like, wear like a nicer shirt to work, like just dress up a little bit more, yeah, and he's like no, like you don't get it like he wears pol, wears polos, he's a polo guy. It's so funny. It's so funny he's the guy who wears he's great Same color polo. But like he's like no, like he's like you should see how other people dress Like they're even more casual. So, like you know, he's like I'm not, I'm not going to dress up more at work because it's not standard for my industry.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think if, though, if you're like a leader and a central person who's always being seen, you should have that like image and that profession, like again, we call it professionalism right To where and I know Armin and I are talking a lot about blazers, but you know that traditional look, those pieces that, like the way you would dress for an interview, yeah Right, is very high class in that mindset of like you're going to dress in neutral color, like you know those pieces, those statement pieces in your job, though, as a leader, you also want to give that impression too. You want to look put together is what we're trying to get, right. I will tell you, by Thursday of every week we go, I go in the office Monday through Thursday. I should go one day less. Thursday of every week we go, I go in the office Monday through Thursday. I should go one day less. But you know I have addiction to my job, so, um, I go Monday through Thursday.
Speaker 1:By Thursday, and today is Thursday. I've I'm done wearing business casual. I said that to someone today. I said that twice, and I was like that's why I'm in jeans and a t-shirt. Also, I had to walk like across campus, which you know is like insane. If you're wearing like small heels or flats or whatever, you have to have shoes to walk um. And I was like I give up so by thursday and I know of course I'm not, I'm not having a presentation in front of students, I know who I'm meeting with. Like there's also it's when it's most appropriate, right, like if I'm giving a presentation or if I'm speaking somewhere or whatever. Of course I'm. I'm going to dress my part. I'm going to dress how I want people to respect me as 100%.
Speaker 1:That's what we're saying.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, Definitely. You want to go with the culture of your environment, your industry, the office that you're working or whatever environment you're working in, Go with that culture. You don't want to, like you know, step outside of the boundaries of the culture. You know, step outside of the boundaries of the culture, but within what's appropriate for your environment, you want to dress the part and and look like you have your life together.
Speaker 2:You know, you might not feel it on the inside. There are going to be days that, like you don't feel it, you don't feel good, you don't even want to go into work. Right, I know we can all relate to that. But one it actually makes you feel better when you dress the part. And two I 100 like stand by this. You start to see yourself more as a professional. You feel more confident and more knowledgeable when you dress the part. I remember there was a um, I don't remember where I heard this, but they talked about like, let's say, you're on Zoom, right, you're on a Zoom call for an interview, or like an important meeting and they can't see your pants. But you want to make sure you're dressed like fully, from top to bottom. You don't want to do like casual pants and just the top, because when you're fully dressed you talk different.
Speaker 1:Your energy is different.
Speaker 2:So I always recommend that. By the way, for interviews, for virtual interviews or phone interviews, it doesn't matter Dress up, because it changes the way you speak.
Speaker 1:Agree, I agree 100%.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So, with that said, professionalism means being prepared, being on time and dressing the or so that you can act the part.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. All right, armine, let's wrap this up. All right, I will do the first two takeaways and you take us home with the last one, all right? So what we're trying to say here, as you're manifesting your promotion at work, is manifestation, and getting that promotion is hard work. It's not easy, right? We also are saying it's physical work and the labor you put out to do, but it's also a lot of internal work that you're doing, a lot of building your self-confidence, seeing yourself, visualization, a lot of practice as well.
Speaker 2:Yes and last but not least, we want to leave you with show up and lead.