Hi, I'm Hetali!

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 + 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫
• Former Accenture consultant with deep expertise across healthcare operations and strategy
• Trusted advisor to execs at Rare Beauty, Oracle, Planoly & beyond
• Mentored dozens of high-performers in executive presence, career elevation, and personal brand building

𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 + 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫
• Founder of Inner Wealth Collective - a media brand helping people build confidence, influence, and inner wealth
• Partnered with Notion, Beehiiv, folk & more to spotlight smarter ways to live and work
• Creator of high-impact leadership, mindset, and lifestyle content - reaching 1M+ professionals on LinkedIn

Industries of Interest:
Health tech, AI in healthcare, and digital transformation, though I’m always open to exploring new opportunities and challenges.

___

→ For inquiries/sponsorships: DM me or email CollabwithHetali@gmail.com

All views are my own and do not reflect that of my employer.

Hetali Mehta, MPH, CAPM

15 habits that actually prevent burnout:

1. Protect your energy by prioritizing sleep.
2. Reset your mind by going for walks.
3. Reduce overwhelm by saying no.
4. Stay focused by blocking out distractions.
5. Recharge by scheduling breaks.
6. Boost creativity by starting with creation.
7. Regain clarity by avoiding your phone in the morning.
8. Avoid crashes by not skipping meals or breaks.
9. Release stress by trying journaling.
10. Feel supported by talking to good listeners.
11. Set direction by defining weekly intentions.
12. Preserve energy by tracking your leaks.
13. Stay nourished by prioritizing what fuels you.
14. Protect deep work by batching meetings.
15. Prevent burnout by slowing down now.

Burnout isn’t solved by a 2-week vacation.
It’s prevented by habits that put your mind and body first.
Which habit do you need more of right now?
___
♻️ Save this post for your next reset
💬 Share it with a friend who needs this today

Hetali Mehta, MPH

Strategy & Operations Manager | Founder of Inner Wealth Collective™ | Follow for Leadership, Mindset & Growth

The most successful people do these 3 things:

You don't need to have all the answers to be successful. 

It comes from being brave enough to ask the right questions, take the leap, and figure it out along the way. 

So many of us wait for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect answer. 

But here’s the truth: you’ll never have it all figured out from the start.

Real success is about being curious, taking action, and learning as you go. 

It’s about trusting yourself to make bold moves, even when the path ahead isn’t fully clear.

👉 Here are 3 ways to start moving forward today:

1. Ask better questions: Instead of asking, "What if I fail?" try asking, "What can I learn from this?" 

2. Take imperfect action: Waiting for everything to be perfect only leads to missed opportunities. Make that call, pitch the idea, or start the project. 

3. Embrace uncertainty: Success isn’t about having a foolproof plan. It’s about trusting yourself to adapt, grow, and figure it out along the way.

👉 What’s one brave step you can take today? Drop it in the comments and let’s move forward together.

___

♻️ Reshare to inspire someone to take the leap of faith. 
✨ Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more growth & leadership insights.

This Is What Separates the 1%

Most people wait for the perfect moment but the 1%?

They don’t wait, they act.

A great curation by Cesar Solis.

👉 It’s not about luck.
👉 It’s not about resources.
👉 It’s about MINDSET.

While others focus on why they can’t, the 1% focus on how they will.

🔑 Relentless consistency: They show up when it’s tough, when they don’t feel like it, and when no one else is watching.
🔑 Unwavering vision: They stay laser-focused on their goals, blocking out distractions, and saying no to anything that doesn’t align with their future.
🔑 Continuous learning: They’re always evolving. Every setback is a lesson.

Success isn’t reserved for the chosen few, it’s for those who choose it.

Every. Single. Day.

Ready to think like the 1%?

📺 Watch these 7 Netflix documentaries for a mindset shift:

1. The Mind Explained
2. The Social Dilemma
3. Working: What We Do All Day
4. The Playbook: A Coach's Rules for Life
5. Get Smart With Money
6. The Minimalists
7. Inside Bill's Brain

___

♻️ Repost to help others shift their mindset to the 1%.
✨ Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more personal growth and leadership insights.

7 Netflix Documentaries to think like the 1%

6 Ancient Greek philosophies for modern success

👉 1. Practice Self-Discipline (Stoicism)
Control what you can, and let go of what you can’t.
↳ Use routines and habits to guide your daily decisions.
——
👉 2. Embrace Lifelong Learning (Aristotle)
"The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know."
↳ Seek knowledge not for a title, but for growth.
——
👉 3. Find Your Purpose (Plato)
True fulfillment comes from aligning your actions with your values.
↳ Ask yourself: “What impact do I want to leave behind?”
——
👉 4. Strive for Balance (Epicureanism)
Avoid extremes; find joy in the simple things.
↳ Balance ambition with rest and gratitude.
——
👉 5. Build Resilience (Heraclitus)
"The only constant is change."
↳ Embrace change as part of growth instead of resisting it.
——
👉 6. Seek Wisdom from Others (Socrates)
Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.
↳ "An unexamined life is not worth living."
——

Timeless wisdom for today’s challenges.
Which of these philosophies resonates with you most?

6 ancient greek philosophies for modern success

"Later" is the biggest lie we tell ourselves.

We always think we have more time but...

The truth is, “later” is a thief. 

It robs us of the now, those opportunities right in front of us that we keep putting off. 

Whether it's a dream you’ve been wanting to chase, a conversation you’ve been meaning to have, or a simple moment of joy...

Don’t wait.

📌 Take action today with these simple steps:

1. Break it down: That big goal you’ve been postponing? Break it into small, manageable steps and do the first one today. Momentum builds from the tiniest actions.

2. Schedule it: The conversation you’ve been meaning to have? Put it in your calendar now. Don’t leave room for “someday”, make it today.

3. Prioritize joy: Even small moments like that cup of coffee or taking a walk can bring joy. Don’t put off the little things, they add up to a life well-lived.

The things you keep postponing could be the moments that change everything.

Don’t wait for “later” to become “too late.”

What’s one thing you’ve been putting off that you can act on right now? 👇

Let’s make the most of today.

___

♻️ Reshare to inspire someone to take action today.
✨ Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more insights.

Your network is your net worth.

It’s not about the number of connections or how full your contact list is.

It’s about the quality of those relationships.

When you invest in meaningful relationships (the kind where trust, support, and mutual growth thrive), you create opportunities that are far more valuable than any transaction.

Here are three ways to invest in your network:

➡️ Give more than you take. Share insights, lend a hand, or celebrate someone’s wins without expecting anything in return.
➡️ Seek depth over breadth. Focus on nurturing a few meaningful connections instead of spreading yourself too thin.
➡️ Be genuinely curious. Take time to understand people’s goals and passions, it builds trust and fosters stronger bonds.

Some of the best opportunities in my life, professionally and personally, didn't come from cold outreach or sheer luck. 

They came from the relationships I've nurtured over time.

Ask yourself: What’s one way you’ve invested in a meaningful relationship recently? 

___
📌 Want more tips like these?
💚 Join 10,000+ others and get free, weekly insights straight to your inbox on building lasting inner wealth.
Link to sign up below 👇
https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

Your year won’t be defined by everything you try.
It will be defined by the one thing you don’t back out of.
__

That’s why the most powerful way to create a year-defining year
is to choose one commitment.

Some people call this a misogi.

A misogi is:
 ↳ deliberately hard
 ↳ slightly scary
 ↳ meaningful enough that if you do just this, you’ll know the year mattered
—
So how do you find yours?

Here are a few questions I’ve used in the past to find mine:

1. What’s the one thing you’re avoiding because it would require becoming someone new?

2. If you couldn’t quit halfway through the year, what would you commit to?

3. What effort would make this year feel unmistakably different from the last few?

4. If success wasn’t guaranteed, what would still feel worth attempting?

5. What single commitment would simplify your decisions all year long?

—
And if you’re looking for inspiration, here are a few real-world examples:

↳ Publish 100 pieces of content in 100 days
↳ Have uncomfortable conversations you’ve been avoiding
↳ Pitch yourself to 50 people you admire
↳ Complete 75 Hard
↳ Train for and compete in HYROX
↳ Travel solo to a country you’ve never been
—

Most people spend the year chasing momentum.
The ones who change their life choose one brave thing,
and stay with it longer than feels comfortable.

♻️ Repost if this helped you reflect.

8 habits that take 5 minutes or less

(But Will Transform Your Day) 👇

1️⃣ Start with a 5-Minute Planning Session
➤ Begin your day like a boss, not a firefighter.
➤ Write down your top 3 priorities. Simple but powerful.

2️⃣ Time Block Your Calendar
➤ If it’s not scheduled, it’s not happening.
➤ Block time for focus and breaks.

3️⃣ Use the 2-Minute Rule
➤ Stop overthinking. Start finishing.
➤ If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it now.

4️⃣ Practice Daily Gratitude
➤ Gratitude rewires your brain for positivity.
➤ Write down 3 things you’re grateful for every morning.

5️⃣ Set “Tech-Free” time
➤ Give your brain a break from doom-scrolling.
➤ Unplug during meals or before bed for better focus.

6️⃣ Take Movement Breaks
➤ Your body wasn’t designed for desk marathons.
➤ Stretch, walk, or just move for a few minutes each hour.

7️⃣ Delegate One Task a Week
➤ You’re not a superhero. You don’t have to do it all.
➤ Hand off one repetitive task to a teammate or tool.

8️⃣ Review Your Day in 5 Minutes
➤ Reflection fuels improvement.
➤ Write down one win and one lesson from today.

The Bottom Line:
Productivity is built on simple habits done consistently.
Which habit are you trying first? 

♻️ Save this post as your personal productivity cheat sheet.
👋 Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more actionable tips that actually work.

8 Tiny Habits for Big Productivity Wins 

Getting in the room with the right people is step one. 

What you do next is what actually matters.

Here’s my simple 5-step framework to confidently interact, provide value, and make a lasting impression in high-caliber rooms.
___
Step 1: Ask insightful questions that make them think
Super successful people love talking about their ideas, experiences, and challenges, but they’re tired of surface-level questions.
___
Step 2: Offer unique insights (even if you're not the expert)
You don’t have to be a billionaire to contribute, just bring fresh perspectives.
___
Step 3: Be the connector for them
The most powerful people remember those who make their lives easier.
___
Step 4: Own your energy & presence 
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.
___
Step 5: Stay on their radar
Getting in the room is one thing but staying in their network is another. The goal isn’t a one-time impression, it’s about building quality connections.
___
📌 Want more tips like these?
💚 Join 10,000+ others and get free, weekly insights straight to your inbox on building lasting inner wealth.
Link to sign up below 👇
https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

Get in the room with people of ahead of you

Most people focus on big dramatic changes.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The real transformation happens through tiny, specific habits ⁣
⁣
That compound over time.⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
7 Secret Habits That Will Change Your Life⁣⁣
⁣
1: The 2-Minute Rule Reversal⁣⁣
↳ Delay gratification by exactly 2 minutes before indulging to build willpower.⁣⁣
↳ This micro-delay breaks impulsive patterns that sabotage your progress.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
2: Reverse Networking⁣⁣
↳ Ask people what they need help with instead of pitching what you want.⁣⁣
↳ This makes you the valuable connector everyone remembers and trusts.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
3: Micro-Adventures⁣⁣
↳ Take different routes or try new places weekly to break routine thinking patterns.⁣⁣
↳ Small novelty sparks creativity and prevents you from operating on autopilot.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
4: Constraint Creativity⁣⁣
↳ Deliberately limit your options to force more innovative thinking.⁣⁣
↳ Too many choices paralyze progress.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
5: Teaching Integration⁣⁣
↳ Explain one thing you learned each day to someone else.⁣⁣
↳ Teaching reveals gaps in your knowledge and solidifies new information.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
6: Future Self Visualization⁣⁣
↳ Make decisions by asking "What would me in 5 years from now choose?"⁣⁣
↳ This perspective shift immediately elevates your decision quality.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
7: Energy Auditing⁣⁣
↳ Track what activities and people drain versus energize you.⁣⁣
↳ Energy is the real currency of high performance, not just time management.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Which change will you implement first?⁣⁣
Tell me in the comments!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, MPH and share this with your network. 
👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

7 Secret Habits That Will Change Your Life (Fast)

You sleep 8 hours but still feel exhausted.⁣
⁣
You take breaks but never feel refreshed.⁣
⁣
Here's why: sleep isn't the only type of rest your body and mind need.⁣
⁣
Most people only know one type of rest while ignoring the other six that are equally crucial for restoration:⁣
⁣
1: Physical Rest⁣
↳ Your muscles and joints need passive recovery and active recovery.⁣
↳ Physical exhaustion compounds when you ignore your body's signals.⁣
⁣
2: Mental Rest⁣
↳ Your brain needs breaks from problem-solving and information processing.⁣
↳ Mental fatigue creates brain fog and poor judgment.⁣
⁣
3: Emotional Rest⁣
↳ Being authentic with trusted people instead of people-pleasing constantly.⁣
↳ Emotional exhaustion happens when you suppress feelings too long.⁣
⁣
4: Spiritual Rest⁣
↳ Connect with your goals and why on a deep visualization level.⁣
↳ Spiritual depletion creates emptiness and lack of direction.⁣
⁣
5: Social Rest⁣
↳ Distinguish between relationships that drain versus restore your energy.⁣
↳ Wrong social environments exhaust you.⁣
⁣
6: Sensory Rest⁣
↳ Give your eyes, ears, and nervous system a break from constant stimulation.⁣
↳ Sensory overload creates irritability and difficulty concentrating on simple tasks.⁣
⁣
7: Creative Rest⁣
↳ Expose yourself to beauty and wonder instead of constantly producing content.⁣
↳ Creative burnout happens when input becomes purely functional.⁣
⁣
Which type of rest do you need most right now?⁣

___
💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, for more. 
📌 Share this with your network.⁣⁣⁣⁣
👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

7 Types of Rest That Actually Restore Your Energy

Bad decisions aren't just costly ⁣
⁣
They compound over time.⁣
⁣
The difference between happy people and everyone else isn't luck.⁣
⁣
It's their ability to consistently make choices that align with their goals⁣.
⁣
Not their current emotions.⁣
⁣
Here are 8 decision-making frameworks that eliminate regret:⁣
⁣
1: The 10-10-10 Rule⁣
↳ Ask how you'll feel about this decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.⁣
↳ This time perspective reveals if you're making an emotional or strategic choice.⁣
⁣
2: Values-Based Filtering⁣
↳ Every decision should align with your core values.⁣
↳ When your choices match your principles, regret becomes impossible.⁣
⁣
3: Reversable Choices⁣
↳ Distinguish between decisions you can easily change and permanent ones.⁣
↳ Move fast on reversible choices but take time with irreversible ones.⁣
⁣
4: The Regret Minimization Framework⁣
↳ Imagine yourself at 80 years old looking back at this moment.⁣
↳ Choose the path that minimizes regret from your future self's perspective.⁣
⁣
5: Opportunity Cost Analysis⁣
↳ Every yes is a no to something else - choose the best value option.⁣
↳ The best decisions aren't just good, they're better than all alternatives.⁣
⁣
6: Energy and Intuition Check⁣
↳ Notice how your body feels when you imagine each option.⁣
↳ Decisions that align with your authentic self create energy.⁣
⁣
7: Stakeholder Impact Assessment⁣
↳ Consider how your decision affects everyone important in your life.⁣
↳ Great decisions create value for multiple people.⁣
⁣
8: The Advice Test⁣
↳ Ask what you'd tell your best friend if they were facing this exact same decision.⁣
↳ We often give others clearer guidance than we give ourselves.⁣
⁣
Which framework will you try?⁣
⁣⁣⁣
💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, MPH for more.
📌 Share this with your network.⁣⁣⁣
👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

8 Ways to Make Decisions You'll Never Regret

This is what happens when organizations create space for employees to show up as themselves.

Encouraging employees to post doesn’t dilute a brand, it multiplies it.

This is a perfect example of how employee advocacy fuels both personal growth and company visibility.

Congrats on 10k Aston!

Senior QA Automation Engineer @ Resilience | 3M+ impressions helping testers land automation roles

🎉 10,000 Followers!
 
Here’s How It All Started

Exactly 1 year ago, I was sitting in a quarterly planning meeting at Planoly when something clicked.

We had invited Hetali Mehta, MPH to speak about growing your personal brand on LinkedIn. She broke down the fundamentals of consistent posting, and I was hooked. I’d already been watching peers like Truett Bloxsom post more frequently and wondered if I could do the same.

That day, I posted my first piece of content. I haven’t stopped since.

Here’s what 1 year of posting 6 days a week has brought me:
→ ~9,000 new followers in the QA automation space
→ More than 3 million impressions
→ Countless connections with incredible QA engineers worldwide
→ A full content business process that supports my education platform
→ More learning than I could have imagined from this amazing community

The real win? It’s not the follower count. It’s the conversations, the questions you’ve asked, the wins you’ve shared, and the incredible QA professionals I’ve had the privilege to connect with.

To everyone who’s engaged, commented, shared, or simply followed along: thank you. You’ve made this journey worth every single post.

Here’s to another year of growth, learning, and building together!

Helping execs in new roles accelerate impact, build credibility fast and avoid costly transition mistakes | xIBM Consulting | xPwC | Certified Executive Coach

You’ve just landed your next big executive role - congratulations!

Now comes the part no one prepares you for: making it successful.

The hard truth is, 40% of executive transitions fail within 18 months.

And the cost is staggering:

2.5x to 30x the executive’s salary in lost productivity, turnover, and disruption.

Career damage for the executive that can take years to recover from.

Maybe it's your first time at the senior leadership table. 
Maybe you've done this before, but this time, the stakes feel higher. 
Different company, industry, department or role.

Either way, you know this first year will define your reputation and your results.

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You've inherited a team that doesn't fully trust you yet. 
You're navigating company politics, shifting priorities, and sky-high expectations. 
Everyone's watching, but no one's guiding. 
You're smart, experienced, and capable. 
But the pressure to prove yourself is relentless.

This is exactly where I come in.

I help new executives thrive where 40% fail by guiding them through the high-stakes first year.

My coaching is confidential, personalized, and focused on helping you:

✔ Earn trust quickly and secure early credibility
✔ Navigate politics and hidden organizational dynamics
✔ Build and align your leadership team for quick wins
✔ Make high-impact decisions without costly missteps
✔ Lay the foundation for long-term success and legacy

 Why Trust Me?
• 25+ years in Fortune 500 consulting, partnering with senior executives 
• Led $30M+ transformation portfolios and 250+ person practices at IBM 
• Led risk strategy for $100M+ proposals and complex transformations 
• Built and delivered IBM's top global executive coaching programs 
• Certified executive coach with 300+ leaders coached

If you’re ready to accelerate your impact and avoid costly missteps,

let’s make your first year your strongest. 

📩 DM me “Executive Transition” and let’s talk.

Dora Vanourek

That Monday you're dreading
is someone's answered prayer.
We're exhausted by everything we "have to" do.

- Wake up early
- Answer endless emails
- Deal with difficult people
- Attend another meeting

I caught myself overwhelmed by my packed calendar this morning.

Then remembered my friend who's been job hunting for 6 months.

The shift was instant:

What feels like just another day:

→ Monday morning alarm
→ Back-to-back meetings 
→ Endless client calls
→ Inbox overflowing
→ Weekend work sessions

What it really is:

→ Income that supports your life
→ People who value your expertise
→ Clients who trust your guidance 
→ Work that has real impact
→ Freedom to build something

This isn't about toxic positivity.

Or pretending everything's perfect.

Or ignoring real challenges.

It's about perspective.

Every "I have to" is actually an "I get to" in disguise.

What's one thing you're dreading today that someone else would be grateful for?

♻️ Repost for someone who forgot they're fortunate
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for leadership & career insights

If you're not growing in your job, you're shrinking.

But shrinking feels like stability.

Like patience.
Commitment.
Paying your dues.

So you start telling yourself:

'The market's tough right now.' 
'I'm lucky to have a job.' 
'Maybe next quarter will be different.'

And while you're being 'patient':

Someone with half your experience gets promoted.

Someone who started after you becomes your boss.

The job-hopper is making 40% more.

If your company isn't investing in your growth, 
you're not building a career -
you're maintaining theirs.

They get your best years. 
You get a review that says 'meets expectations.'

Growth isn't just about moving up.

It's about expanding your skills.
Taking on challenges that scare you.
Working with people who believe in you.

Ask yourself:

- When did you last learn something that changed how you work?

- Who's invested in your development this quarter?

- What skills are you building for your next role?

If it's tough to answer these, you're not stable.

You're stuck.

And stuck is just shrinking in slow motion.

The riskiest career move isn't leaving too soon.

It's staying too long.

How will you feel next year if nothing changes?

Your growth doesn't need permission.

♻️ Repost to remind someone that loyalty without growth is a trap
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

7 phrases that are quietly damaging your credibility:

(and what to say instead)

1. I'll try:
↳ Sounds like you're already half-expecting to fail.
↳ Say: "I'll complete it by Friday and will keep you updated on my progress."

2. No offence, but…:
↳ Nothing good ever follows this phrase. 
↳ Say: "Here's my perspective." or "I see it differently."

3. This might be a stupid question, but…:
↳ Undermines your question before you even ask it.
↳ Say: "I'd like to clarify something."

4. That's not my problem:
↳ Makes you sound dismissive and unhelpful.
↳ Say: "Let me help you find the right person."

5. We've always done it this way:
↳ Makes you appear resistant to change.
↳ Say: "Let's consider other options."

6. I guess…:
↳ Shows lack of confidence.
↳ Say: "Here's what I think." or "This is what I know so far."

7. Does that make sense?
↳ Sounds like you're doubting yourself or the other person's intelligence.
↳ Say: "What questions do you have?"

Your words shape how others perceive you. 

Own your words, own your impact.

♻️ Repost to help someone.
🔔 Follow Dora Vanourek for more.

7 seemingly innocent phrases that hurt your credibility

"I found a better opportunity."

Translation: I found a leader who values me.

I've coached hundreds through resignations.

The real reason they leave: 
it's rarely what they say at first.

Behind "better opportunity" or "career growth" is something deeper:

They don't feel valued.

Nobody says thank you.

Their ideas get ignored. 
Their skills go unused. 
They've stopped learning.

If you want to keep your best people:

- Truly listen
- Say thank you
- Seek their ideas
- Appreciate them
- Provide flexibility
- Make time for them
- Ask for their opinions
- Share timely feedback
- Ask how they really are
- Involve them in decisions
- Provide growth opportunities
- Communicate with transparency
- Trust them to make the right decisions

You don't need a budget for any of these.

Just intention, and genuinely caring for your people.

Be the leader you wish you had.

♻️ Repost to remind someone they matter
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for leadership & career insights

Self-doubt kills more careers than 
bad bosses ever could.

It paralyzes talented people into inaction.

And pushes many of us into traps like:

❌ Waiting to feel confident before starting
❌ Seeking perfection before launching
❌ Taking "one more certification" before applying

But perfect circumstances never come.

A year ago, I left my 25+ year corporate career.

It was the scariest step I ever took.

Nothing was guaranteed.

Yet, my family depended on me.

And honestly? I am still figuring it out every day.

But I realized that waiting for "safe" was the biggest risk of all.

Small steps will change your life:

1. Stop collecting certifications like armour
→ You already know enough to take the first step
→ True learning happens in the doing

2. Shift your mindset
→ Replace "I'm not qualified" with "I'll figure it out"
→ Turn "I'm not ready" into "I'll learn as I go"

3. Build momentum
→ Take one small step. Then another.
→ Progress creates confidence, not the other way around

Remember, someone with half your talent is out there doing it.

You are more than ready.

Take that first step today.

♻️ Repost to remind someone to bet on themselves
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

We've built hiring systems that strip away humanity.

Then we wonder why trust is broken from day one.

It’s because we have normalized 
the unacceptable:

❌ Posting ghost jobs to signal growth
→ while real people wait for an email that never comes

❌ Automated rejections
→ after someone spent hours filling out a complicated application form

❌ Six rounds of interviews
→ because no one trusts anyone else's judgement

❌ Ghosting people after the final rounds
→ because giving feedback is not a priority

❌ "Not enough experience"
→ when they could learn the job in a month

The hiring managers feel this too.

They're drowning in reqs.
Pressured by systems they didn't design.
Told to move fast while also de-risking every hire.

People are not numbers.

Every resume represents someone's hopes.
Their rent. Their kids' futures.
Their career turning point.

To the hiring managers doing their best within broken systems:

Thank you. It matters more than you know.

♻️ Repost if you believe hiring should be more human
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

People won't remember your job title.

They'll remember how you made them feel.

Because true happiness at work isn't about being employed.

It's about feeling valued.

The best leaders live by this.

They don't just manage tasks.
They empower people to grow.
They appreciate them genuinely.

Be that leader:

- Listen without judgement
- Provide stretch assignments
- Genuinely ask, "How are you?"
- Be kind, even on the tough days
- Open doors to new opportunities
- Acknowledge their unique strengths
- Empower others to explore and learn
- Share feedback that helps others thrive
- Invite input in decisions that impact others
- Show appreciation - it means more than you know
- Believe in someone before they believe in themselves

Leadership isn't just about budgets or targets.

It's about kindness, respect, and leaving people better than when you met them.

Have you had a great leader?
Tag them to thank them ⬇️ 

♻️ Repost to inspire your network
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Early in my career, I made the same mistake 
with every piece of feedback.

It's not that I disagreed with what they said.

I just wanted to explain myself.
Provide context.
Share the circumstances.

I didn't want them to think I was incapable.

But here's what they heard:

Excuses.

And over time, people stopped telling me the truth.

Here's what I wish I understood sooner:

When you stop listening, people stop sharing.

And that's when growth stops too.

5 ways to receive feedback without getting defensive:

1. Pause before responding
→ Your first instinct is to explain. Resist it
→ Take a breath. Let the words settle.

2. Say "thank you" first
→ Even if it stings. Especially then
→ Gratitude keeps the door open for next time

3. Reflect on it later
→ You don't have to process it in the moment
→ Come back with questions tomorrow

4. Find the truth in it
→ Even if you don't agree 100%, there's usually something real
→ Find the 10% of truth, even if the other 90% is wrong

5. Separate the message from the delivery
→ Feedback can be poorly delivered and still be true
→ Don't let imperfect delivery block valuable insight

The most coachable people grow the fastest.

Not because they're the smartest.

But because they stay open when it's uncomfortable.

♻️ Repost to help someone stay coachable
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Most leaders obsess over the wrong things.

They chase better processes.

Refine strategies.

Restructure teams.

And when results don't improve:

They apply pressure.
Tighten timelines.
Use fear as a tactic.

Meanwhile, the people who care the most, stop caring.

The best leaders do the opposite:

✅ Know their names and their stories
↳ "How's your daughter's soccer season?"

✅ Treat everyone with equal respect
↳ The intern's time matters as much as the VP's. Act like it

✅ Follow through on their feedback
↳ Actually listen and act. Or explain why not. Silence kills trust faster than "no"

✅ Share your own mistakes first
↳ "Here's where I messed up" opens doors to honesty

✅ Replace "Who did this?" with "What can we learn?"
↳ One question assigns blame. The other builds resilience

✅ Address toxic behaviour quickly
↳ Every day you wait, good people update their resumes

You don't need another framework.

You need to look up from your spreadsheet and see the humans in front of you.

Before the best ones stop caring completely.

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High performers don't always get promoted.

Sometimes they get silenced.

You're excelling at everything 
- except getting recognized for it.

The problem isn't your performance.

It's how your success makes someone else feel.

7 signs your boss sees you as a threat:

1. The Control Trap 🔍
↳ They micromanage you while trusting others
↳ Build relationships beyond your manager

2. The Information Freeze ❄️
↳ You're always the last to hear what's happening
↳ Create multiple information channels

3. Credit Confusion 🎭
↳ Your wins become nameless "team efforts"
↳ Document your contributions consistently

4. The Expertise Challenge 🧠
↳ They undermine your expertise in front of others
↳ Back your ideas with clear data

5. The Strategic Isolation 🔒
↳ "Accidentally" excluding you from key meetings
↳ Join high-visibility projects independently

6. The Performance Paradox 📊
↳ Lukewarm reviews despite strong results
↳ Collect written feedback from peers and clients

7. The Growth Block ⛔
↳ Your opportunities mysteriously keep getting delayed
↳ Create your own path outside formal systems

Remember: Their insecurity is not your ceiling.

You don't need to shrink to keep others comfortable.

Keep showing up.

📌 Navigating your first year in a new role?

Get weekly insights in The First Year newsletter: 
dora.coach 

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7 Signs Your Boss Sees You as a Threat

Toxic managers don’t just crush your confidence.

They rewire how you see yourself.

They use guilt, fear, and shame to maintain control.

Their tactics leave you questioning:

❌ your judgement
❌ your worth
❌ and even your sanity

But it's not you – it's them.

7 phrases toxic managers use:
(and how to protect yourself)

1. You should be grateful you even have a job
↳ Uses fear to silence your legitimate concerns
↳ "I want to contribute effectively. Can we find a solution?"

2. Everyone else is managing just fine
↳ Unfair comparison shames you into silence
↳ "Let's review my workload and priorities"

3. I have a lot of pressure from above, so you need to...
↳ Shifts poor planning onto your shoulders
↳ "I understand. Let's align on priorities"

4. You're being too sensitive
↳ Minimizes feelings to avoid personal accountability
↳ "This is affecting my work performance"

5. I'm doing this for your own good
↳ Masks controlling behaviour as genuine care
↳ "Can you explain how this helps me?"

6. If you were really loyal, you'd stay late...
↳ Emotional guilt-trips to ignore healthy boundaries
↳ "Can we align earlier on priorities?"

7. You're lucky I'm protecting you
↳ Creates dependence through imagined threats
↳ "What am I being protected from?"

You can't change who they are.

 But you can control what you tolerate.

You deserve to thrive, not just survive.

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7 phrases toxic managers say to manipulate you

Nobody deserves to be insulted or belittled.

Too often, we stay silent and wish we'd spoken up.

Or we react emotionally and regret it later.

There's a better way to respond with calm, clarity, and strength.

7 ways to handle insults at work:

1. Seek Clarification
↳ Make them reflect on what they said
↳ Did you mean to embarrass me just now?

2. Set Boundaries
↳ Clearly state what behaviour isn't acceptable
↳ That tone is not ok with me.

3. Use the Pause Technique
↳ Strategic silence followed by a calm response
↳ [Pause] Let's take a step back and approach this differently.

4. Mirror With Professionalism
↳ Reflect their behaviour so they confront it
↳ I'm hearing frustration. Is there a bigger issue?

5. Redirect to Solutions
↳ Shift from personal attack to problem-solving
↳ Let's focus on next steps, not assigning blame.

6. Use Humour (if it fits your style)
↳ A light touch can defuse tension
↳ That's one way to start a Wednesday meeting!

7. The Direct Approach
↳ The clearest response is often most powerful
↳ That was inappropriate. Let's restart or pause here.

You don't have to shrink to keep the peace.

Stand your ground with calm power.

📌 Navigating your first year in a new role?
Get weekly insights in The First Year newsletter:
https://lnkd.in/gkbJnUVb

7 Smart ways to handle insults at work

The fastest way to fail in a new role?

Do exactly what got you hired.

It's called the competence trap - 
where your biggest strength becomes your blind spot.

7 mistakes leaders make in the first 100 days:

1. Misreading the Culture 🏢
↳ Seeing surface behaviours but missing deeper values
↳ Schedule listening tours with employees at all levels

2. Bringing the Old Playbook 📚
↳ Forcing familiar fixes onto problems creates resistance
↳ Ask "Why is it done this way?" to understand

3. Neglecting Key Stakeholders 🤝
↳ Focusing only on direct reports misses critical support
↳ Map all stakeholders and build an engagement plan

4. Moving Too Fast on Team Changes 👥
↳ Misreading team dynamics creates unnecessary instability
↳ Assess systematically before making changes

5. Underestimating Organizational Politics 🎭
↳ Overlooking hidden alliances leads to blindsided resistance
↳ Map informal networks before launching initiatives

6. Failing to Renegotiate Unclear Mandates ⚖️
↳ Not clarifying conflicting expectations from stakeholders
↳ Renegotiate KPIs and budgets

7. Energy Depletion 🔋
↳ Proving yourself while well-being slips
↳ Remember: your energy, not just time, is your scarcest resource

Success isn't about your track record.

It's about decoding the rules where you are now.

📌 Navigating your first year in a new role?
Get weekly insights in The First Year newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gkbJnUVb

♻ Repost to help your network
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