Career Focus Techniques

How to make powerful progress in any arena. Use my ABC Goal System: For any arena, you establish three levels of daily goals: • A Goal: Most ambitious, perfect case. • B Goal: Middle ground, base case. • C Goal: Minimum viable level, downside case. The idea is simple, yet profound: If you start to struggle, people who only have an A Goal (most people!) are likely to fall completely off track. Once their only goal is out of sight, they have nothing to drive them forward. If you have a B Goal and a C Goal, you always have something to keep you pushing—to keep you in the game. On days when you feel great, you hit your A Goal. On days when you feel ok (most days!), you hit your B Goal. On days when you feel bad, you hit your C Goal. The ABC Goal System removes any intimidation or guilt: As long as you hit your C Goal, you're making forward progress. Remember: Anything above 0 compounds! The system prevents optimal (A Goal) from getting in the way of beneficial (C Goal) and gives you the flexibility to make progress while allowing the inevitable vagaries of life to enter. Here are a few examples of how this might look in your life... Fitness: • A Goal: Full lift and cardio (approximately 90 minutes). • B Goal: Full lift or cardio (approximately 60 minutes). • C Goal: 30 minutes of movement (walk, dance, etc.). Relationships: • A Goal: Dinner date and long walk together. • B Goal: Short walk together. • C Goal: One call or FaceTime chat. Work: • A Goal: Two long focus work blocks. • B Goal: One long focus work block. • C Goal: One short focus work sprint. When you're traveling (or when life gets chaotic), it can be hard to hit your A (or even B) goals in these areas. With the ABC Goal System, you can focus on hitting your C goal to stay on track and keep moving forward. To get started with your ABC Goal System, choose an area of life where you find yourself struggling with motivation or discipline. Establish your ABC Goals. Write them down so you can track which goal you hit on a daily basis. My ABC Goal System is designed to help you stay the course and avoid the stagnation that comes from allowing optimal to get in the way of beneficial. Give it a shot and let me know what you think. Remember: Small things become big things. Anything above zero compounds. *** If you enjoyed this or learned something, share the post with others and follow me Sahil Bloom for more in future!

As Adam Ritchie aptly puts it- “The first word in the phrase, “personal brand” is “personal.” Now add an “ity” to it, drop the “brand” and that’s what it really means. That’s the secret”. Personal branding begins with self-awareness. The first step is understanding yourself thoroughly, and a SWOT Analysis is an excellent tool for this. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: 1️⃣ Strengths: ✓Unique skills and talents ✓Notable achievements and accolades ✓Valuable professional network 2️⃣Weaknesses: ✓ Skills or traits needing improvement. ✓Personal challenges, like lack of confidence. ✓Feedback from others highlighting areas for growth. 3️⃣ Opportunities: ✓Emerging trends and growth areas: Look at the trends in your industry and identify areas where you can grow or pivot. Are there emerging fields or technologies you can tap into? ✓Ways to leverage strengths for new ventures: Identify how your strengths can open doors for you. For instance, if you're skilled at networking, there might be opportunities to speak at events or join influential groups. ✓Expanding presence through new platforms 4️⃣ Threats: ✓Competition and industry rivals: Understand who your competitors are in your field. What are they doing that you aren’t? How can you differentiate yourself? ✓ External factors affecting relevance ✓Risks like overextension or outdated knowledge. Once you’ve completed your SWOT analysis, use it to craft a strategic plan for your personal brand. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧: Building on your strengths Addressing your weaknesses Capitalizing on opportunities Preparing for potential threats. #personalbranding #growth #success #networking #opportunity

Building a personal brand isn’t just about amassing thousands of followers or becoming a social media influencer—it’s about something far deeper and more meaningful. True personal branding is about becoming so profoundly skilled and knowledgeable in your field that people see you as the go-to expert, the person they trust and turn to for insights, solutions, and leadership. While social media numbers may bring visibility, they don’t guarantee credibility. Real influence comes from deep technical expertise, consistent value creation, and a relentless pursuit of mastery. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a professional, or a creator, your personal brand should be built on a foundation of knowledge, authenticity, and the ability to solve real problems for people.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 #𝟭 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺? Imagine a seasoned developer who's lost interest and a new, junior tester in a software team. The team leader could spark the developers' interest by involving them in more complex, challenging tasks or having them mentor junior team members. The leader might provide extra training for enthusiastic testers and pair them with an experienced mentor to help them learn and grow. This way, by 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, the leader ensures that both team members can contribute to the project. As a leader, you can use 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹/𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅 to understand this. It is a tool for determining the best approach to managing and developing team members based on their skill and will levels. Leaders and managers should decide on the most effective leadership style for their team members, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. How to use this matrix: 𝟭. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 - Assess the team member's capability, knowledge, and expertise, as well as their motivation and confidence to ask. Place each team member in one of the quadrants based on their skill and will levels. 𝟮. 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 (Managers focus on these🔹) 🔹 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 (High Skill/High Will): Give responsibility and trust them to perform. 🔹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 (Low Skill/High Will): Offer support and encouragement while building skills. 🔸 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 (Low Skill/Low Will): Provide clear instructions and supervise. 🔸 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 (High Skill/Low Will): Motivate and create interest to re-engage them. 𝟯. 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 - Create individualized development, coaching, or mentoring plans based on the team members' quadrant. 𝟰. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 - Review team members' skills and will levels and adjust your leadership style. 𝟱. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 - Ensure team members know their position on the matrix and provide continuous feedback and recognition to keep them motivated and informed about their progress. #technology #softwareengineering #techworldwithmilan #management #engineeringmanagement

I used to roll my eyes at “positive thinking.” It felt woo-woo. Until it helped me through a job loss and in building a business. I found that while cynicism 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 intelligent. Optimism actually 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘴 things. It could well be the most underrated business skill. Shawn Achor's 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 reveals the science behind positive thinking. ✅ Lower stress → better decisions ✅ 31% boost in creative problem-solving ✅ Faster recovery from setbacks Real optimism isn’t toxic positivity. It’s not pretending everything’s fine. It’s approaching obstacles with curiosity instead of defeat. How to build resilient optimism 👇 1️⃣ Start your day with progress Spend 5 minutes journaling wins before tackling your to-do list. 2️⃣ Reframe obstacles as feedback “This didn’t work” becomes “This showed me what my clients actually need.” 3️⃣ Use the power of 𝘺𝘦𝘵 “I haven’t found the right business model... 𝘺𝘦𝘵.” 4️⃣ Ask better questions Swap “Why is this happening?” for “What am I learning?” Believing things will work out isn’t naïve - it’s strategic. When you expect solutions, you keep looking until you find them. 💭 How do you stay positive? ♻️ Share this to spread positive thinking without the woo-woo. 🔔 Follow Tonya Donohue frameworks that turn mindset into momentum.

Small career moves that made a big difference ✨👉🏻👉🏻 Over the past 15+ years, I’ve had the privilege of working at some of the world’s most well-known brands such as L'Oréal, NIVEA, Uber, Meta and Google. I’ve led teams across continents, sat in countless leadership meetings and I learnt a lot. That’s when I decided to make small changes that made a huge difference in my career 🔥 The biggest growth in my journey didn’t come from job titles or promotions but from small, consistent habits I built over time. 👉🏻👉🏻 Here are a few that changed the game for me: – Keeping my CV and LinkedIn updated even when I wasn’t looking for a new job – Speaking up in meetings (even when my voice shook) – Blocking 15 minutes a day to learn something new, no matter how busy the day – Investing in skills that pay off long-term like my MBA from IIM Lucknow and now AI – Asking for feedback regularly not just during performance reviews – Setting up coffee chats with people I admire – Finding mentors and being one when I could – Keeping a “wins” folder to track progress and build confidence – Building a personal brand (your reputation travels further than your resume) – Volunteering for stretch projects, even when they were outside my comfort zone – Learning to say no to protect my time and energy – Celebrating small wins, not just the big milestones – Being curious. Always. None of these things took a huge amount of time or money. But done consistently? They made all the difference. Career growth isn’t always about making a leap it’s often about making the right moves. Tell me, what’s one small habit that’s helped you grow in your career? #CareerGrowth #Leadership #Lessons

Last week, I met the team of Orah Nutrichem Pvt. Ltd. to conduct an ‘𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞��𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧’ of the mentoring journey I will be facilitating for their them. These are one-to-one sessions wherein people from cross functional roles will interact with me about their aspirations, challenges, fears, dreams, and I will be handholding and guiding them in this journey. I will also be wearing the hat of an ‘enabler’ and ‘friend’ where a safe space will be provided for them to share their thoughts and feelings. This is going to be a year long journey, with meeting each one of them once, every month. The benefit of this type is in relationship approach and connection. A mentor and mentee can focus on the exact development needs of the mentee and, as a result, speed up the entire growth process. One-on-one mentoring is also suitable for succession planning. In the words of the Director, Rohit Dubepatil “I want to have this program so that it helps build individuals to their highest good’. People will receive salaries every month, however if they can benefit from a sounding board to grow themselves further, the purpose of this program is achieved.’ When organizations decide to 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦, the benefits are multifold: 1)  A mentorship program can inspire or challenge participants to get outside their comfort zone and learn something new. Being in a mentor/mentee relationship can also improve job satisfaction, as 90% of employees with a career mentor reported being happier at work. 2)  Mentoring can expand a mentee’s professional network as mentors often introduce mentees to other professionals to facilitate opportunities for organizational collaboration, and career advancement. 3)  Mentees can become aware of their own emotions and build up their EQ. By sharing their fears, challenges and struggles in a safe space provided, they get an opportunity to reflect, challenge and check emotions which help them and hinder them. 4)  Mentors can provide fresh insights into a situation, process, or business from a different angle. Mentees can learn how to do something for the first time, gain a better understanding of the business, launch new projects, organize the work of a department, and much more. 5)  Mentorships are an engaging way for mentees to learn more about leadership, making decisions, growing businesses, or managing departments. In the long run, the mentee can adopt the mentor’s leadership style, while mentors can use their mentorship experience to improve and practice their leadership skills. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. #MeetaMeraki #Mentoringprogram

After working on personal brands of top CEOs and entrepreneurs for the last 2 years, I advise this time and time again. Consider your personal brand as something beyond your social media posts and branding colours. It’s an embodiment of your core values as an individual. How you speak in public How you greet someone How you handle feedback How you sign-off your emails How you follow up afterwards How you lead and mentor others Your background during virtual calls How you dress and present yourself Your participation in your community How you approach networking events How you handle conflicts and challenges How you treat your server at a work lunch How you approach vulnerable conversations The referrals you give and receive in business The way you connect with people will be far more memorable than the LinkedIn post you published two weeks ago. THAT is your personal brand.

Relying on motivation to achieve your goals is a recipe for disaster.   Most people don’t fail because they’re not motivated. They fail because they haven't built a system that carries them through low-energy days.   I’ve worked with high performers across industries, from execs to consultants to founders. They all have one thing in common: they execute with consistency.   Here’s the 8-step system I share with clients who are ready to stop relying on willpower, and start building real traction:   1/ Define the North Star 🔸 Identify the long-term result you’re aiming for.   2/ Build a system, not just a wishlist 🔸 Define the behaviours that make success inevitable.   3/ Set milestones that drive urgency 🔸 Break the goal into monthly and quarterly checkpoints.   4/ Focus on 1–3 high leverage tasks per day 🔸 Do the small things that have a big impact, daily.   5/ Time-block 60–90 mins of deep work 🔸 Protect focused time like your future depends on it.   6/ Cut out the noise. 🔸 Eliminate low-ROI inputs that drain your energy.   7/ Run a performance review every week 🔸 Track what’s working, what’s noise, and what’s next.   8/ Reconnect to why it matters 🔸 Emotion fuels consistency, remind yourself regularly.   This isn’t theory. It’s a system used by real people, doing real work, with real results.   Because motivation fades.   But execution systems compound.   Which of these 8 steps do you already follow?   ♻️ Repost to help your network upgrade how they operate. 🔔 And follow Mostyn Wilson for frameworks for high performance. - - - - 📌 Want a high-res PDF of this sheet? And 40+ other free resources? Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eE287NTG

Positivity is a superpower. Actually it's THE superpower. In business, where success is often quantified by tangible achievements and hard numbers, the significance of positivity might seem more like an abstract fluffy concept than a strategic tool. This is wrong. As someone having worked in the corporate world for a long time now, I have come to realize that positivity is not just a feel-good factor; it's a cornerstone for driving personal and business success. Positivity in the workplace transcends the individual. It creates an environment where creativity and innovation can flourish. A positive outlook is contagious. It affects not only the internal dynamics of a company but also how the business is perceived externally. Customers, clients and communities are more drawn to brands that exude a positive image. For leaders, positivity is a powerful tool in decision-making. It encourages a balanced perspective, allowing one to approach challenges with optimism and resilience. In stressful situations, a positive mindset is a beacon that guides the team through uncertainty. Positivity is much more than an optional extra in the business world. It's a key driver of innovation, team dynamics, relationships, and effective leadership. Embracing positivity is not just about creating a pleasant work environment or cliches about putting on a smile; it's about building a strong, resilient, and successful business. They are the people who, no matter what situation, you want them in the team and no matter where they are know they doing their best and helping others to be their best. The flip of this is the squeaky wheel. The one who suck the air out of the room. Who makes others less productive, passionate and optimistic. You only really know what this feels like when you experience it and feel how destructive it is. To be clear positivity isn't holding in negative. It's about finishing sentances, meetings, conversations and days with optimism. With a view that with work anything can be overcome. A few people I've been lucky enough to work with outside of 11:FS (we only hire these people!) is someone like Richard Davies - in every role he has had he is always optimistic. I always get sense of his excitement for the work he gets to do and passion for the industry better. He is a beacon for rational positivity. Seeing all issues but focussing on positive solutions. Another one is Mike Dargan - Every conversation has a sparkle to excitement of solving problems and moving the industry forward. Not masking hard work or struggles but a belief that things can go from good to great. Inside of 11:FS our chief of staff Zoe Anstey is the beacon of this. Whatever the issue we could face she would be solution focussed and optimistic. She infects and demands this of others also. This creates a great environment. Fundamentally, I don't think you can be successful unless your mind is right. Positivity is a huge part of this and something anyone can learn.