International Work Experience...Why It's Important For Your Career

Since I just got back from Germany and in the spirit of international travel, it got me to thinking just how important it can be for your career. Especially if you envision yourself as a leader for a global corporation one day. OR even if you’ll be interacting with people from different nationalities as your clients, suppliers, coworkers, managers, or even employees you manage. Learning other cultures especially in the workplace can be very eye-opening and if you’re fortunate enough to spend time working in an office abroad, you’ll quickly realize just how valuable that experience is.

In this podcast, I talk through why international work experience (work, not vacation experience) is so important, why it’s a great resume booster, specifically how it gives you a leg up, and how different “professionals” across different countries can be.

I even share some incredibly embarrassing stories about a few different work trips abroad. Dear lord, don’t judge me.

Anyways take a listen and hope you like! And if you have embarrassing “working abroad” stories you’d like to share feel free to comment below! I’ll feel better about myself LOL.

When An Invisible Illness Causes You To Underperform At Work

Well this is a topic near and dear to my heart. And with every July that passes, I think back to one of the lowest points of my career. But at the same time, every July that passes is another July I get to have, and in a much happier light. And for that, I'm so so grateful.

For years I dealt with health issues invisible to those around me, and then two years ago, they became their absolute worst. I could barely function, and with that, my work majorly suffered. Because this was a chronic internal disease, there wasn't a scar on the outside of my body that anybody could see.

Therefore I must be young and healthy right? Ha.

My point in sharing this is that I know plenty of people are trying to live normally with invisible illnesses, but at some point, it's taken a major toll on their career and performance at work. The longer you remain silent, the longer you turn your head to your declining work output, and the longer you refuse to swallow your pride and ask for help, then the longer you'll continue to live like this and the further away the rest of an amazing life will be for you.

If you or anyone you know is struggling to go to work with an invisible illness, take a listen to this podcast and share with them. I get really into it about 10 min in just because, well dang, it was such a trying time in my life.

Below is an outline of topics I cover:

1. Underperformance - when it's recognizable to you and others, and what it looks like.

2. Invisible illness concerns, physical and mental.

3. Toll it takes on your job, why we often discount it and are too afraid to speak up.

4. The mental part that will quickly creep in and add to the issue if you don't address things.

5. How to take steps forward and make things so much better for yourself (without adding more stress to your plate).

Also, go check out the blog post I wrote on Working With An Invisible Illness where I share some major pieces of advice on turning things around for your career as well.

I hope it's helpful and feel free to comment or message me if you like!

To your health and greatest potential!

-Kristin

The Most Vivid, Unforgettable Moment When I Changed Careers

Hi All! I’m back this week on the podcast after taking a week off last week since I was a little under the weather. Nobody likes listening to sick people talk. So I spared you. But did I truly take the week off? Hell no! Instead I wrote a blog post for you on my favorite sneakers that you can wear to the office! Go check it out here!

On this week’s podcast, I take you back to that pivotal moment in my career change. Not when I made the decision to make a career change, but the HARDER part on that moment I actually admitted it out loud to people of importance and took my first step in the new direction. THAT my friends, is the hard part for many. It was an unforgettable moment for me and I’m so excited to share it with you here!

Enjoy and if you have any questions or need advice related to this, just comment below and I’m happy to answer for you.

Let the real you shine through from 9 to 5.

-Kristin

My Best Advice For Employees Seeking That Next Role In Their Company

Hi All - This week we’re jumping right into a very important career topic for employees that might be seeking that next step in their company - whether it be a promotion or a new type of role. In this podcast there are a couple major takeaways I want you to understand that can make or break your competitiveness for this position…..and hint hint….most employees don’t realize this.

if you or anyone you know might be in this phase of their career, i.e. ready for a promotion or seeing a new job posting at your company and thinking you’d be perfect for it, stop what you’re doing and make sure you not only listen to this podcast, but also make sure you read this article I wrote on Internal Promotions: Why Some Employees Get Them And Why Others Don’t. These tips are money, don’t underestimate them.

And as always, thanks so much for following along. All I want is to help you be as successful as possible in your career and so that’s what I love to write and chat about here! Let the real you shine through from 9 to 5.

Make it a great week!

-Kristin

An Update On My Dog + #WhyIPutMyPhoneDown

Hi everyone. This was a really tough weekend, and because my dog means everything in the world to me, I wanted to share an update with you. Additionally, life is so precious and our bodies that carry us through life are so fragile. From Day One 13 years ago it’s always been my #1 priority to give my dog the absolute best, and that’s what I’ll continue to do for her every single day.

But for those of you who have dogs 10+ years old, did you realize that the first half of their lives you didn’t have a phone constantly in your hand? The first half of their lives was probably spent with your full attention on walks and at dog parks, right? Social media, phone internet and email, and apps weren’t out that long ago. Your dog might be looking at quite a different person now. Even though my dog has always been my #1, and it’s always been just me and her, I know for a fact she spent the second half of her life watching me constantly electronically connected to something else. And that’s even with me being cognizant of it and trying to avoid phones and laptops while in front of her as much as possible.

So with that, I stay off my phone when I’m with her. She waits for me, she looks to me, she lives for me, she’s everything to me. And that’s #whyiputmyphonedown when I get home every day.

How do you prioritize life?

On a related note, while we’re so busy chasing after goals and dreams, then beating ourselves up for not having reached them already, can we all just take a break and stop beating ourselves up over self-induced stressors? During the second half of this podcast, I share my opinion on what might really be happening when we spend too much time watching or listening to the motivational self-improvement speeches.

I’m sorry this one was a little sad, but it is my life at the moment, and that is what you’re supposed to share in a podcast right? #reallife

Thanks for following as always, and I’ll talk to you next week (fingers crossed with better news!)

-Kristin

My Childhood Audition, Milennials Debunked, & The Finale Of The Good and Bad Recruiting Candidates!

This is the episode where I tell you what finally happened with the candidate that had me running down the hall! I also share a story on what NOT to be like as a candidate at the very end. But before diving into that, Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there and a tribute to all my dad has helped me with, even auditioning for the most ridiculous role. And lastly, my take on this millennial generation and why they do and do not want to work.

The Candidate That Had Me Running Down The Hall...And The Unexpected Phone Call

Welcome back to my second podcast episode, where I’m picking back up on the cliffhanger I left you with from the pilot! Recall the candidate that had me running down the hall in a rush to get her into our office asap?? Here I’ll explain exactly what she said and did that made me do this! It was also my birthday last week, and I’m not sure why, but I didn’t feel as good as I had hoped for. And lastly, the surprise phone call that happened while I was recording this episode! Tune in now to listen!

I Dare You To Possibly Suck At Something New

It's the Pilot Episode of Suits & Sneaks, so appropriately titled, "Daring to Possibly Suck at Something New!"  You ever felt that inkling, where you KNOW you were put on this earth to do something different than the same old routine you've been in for years?  But you just...can't....get yourself to dare to try something new??

This episode clearly spells out how you will know when it's finally the right time for you to make that change, and what exactly you can expect when you get to the other side (from someone who's lived through it!).  Hope you enjoy!