Crafting A Career Vision

Deborah Liu was a long-time VP at Facebook where she built and launched multiple billion-dollar businesses, including Facebook Marketplace. Prior to Facebook, she was a Director at PayPal and eBay. She now serves on the board of Intuit and, for the past 3.5 years, has led Ancestry as CEO. In our conversation, we discuss: 🔸 Why you should PM your career like you PM your product 🔸 Advice for succeeding as an introvert 🔸 Strategies for incubating new products within large companies 🔸 Creating a successful 30-60-90-day plan 🔸 The pitfalls of perfectionism 🔸 The value of resilience and turning failures into stepping stones 🔸 How to leverage coaching in your career development 🔸 Much more Listen now 👇 - YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gvpRD46V - Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gqEQUcKQ - Apple: https://lnkd.in/gmNhk9f2 Some key takeaways: 1. Treat your career like a product roadmap. Start by defining your long-term career goals and envision where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. Break these goals down into smaller, actionable milestones, similar to setting quarterly objectives for a product. Develop a career plan that includes key skills to acquire, roles to target, and metrics for success. Regularly review and adjust this plan based on your progress and any new opportunities or changes in your industry. 2. Introverts need to learn to speak up. Whether you like it or not, the business world favors extraversion. So if you don’t share your opinions and market your wins, you’ll limit your career progression. If you’re a leader, focus on creating an inclusive environment where your entire team has an opportunity to speak up, not just those who are naturally confident in group settings. 3. If the idea of self-promotion makes you feel uncomfortable, consider changing your perspective on what this process achieves. Think about it as a way of advocating for your team’s needs and resources, or sharing important metrics you’ve all achieved. When we shift the focus from “This is about me” to “This helps everyone,” the value of self-promotion becomes far clearer—and much more palatable. 4. When starting a new role, create a structured 30-60-90-day plan: a. 30 days (listening and learning): Meet with as many team members and stakeholders as possible (aim for 50 to 60 people) to understand their perspectives, challenges, and wish lists. b. 60 days (aligning and planning): Based on your learnings, identify one or two areas where you can make a tangible impact in the short term. Develop a plan to address these areas and present it to your team. c. 90 days (execution and impact): Begin implementing the plans and changes that have been agreed upon. Focus on delivering quick wins to build credibility and demonstrate value. At the end of the 90 days, review your achievements and the feedback received.

You landed your first job and then what? Most professionals hit pause on goal-setting after getting hired. But that’s exactly when your real growth begins. If you don’t set a direction early, you’ll drift. So today, I’m sharing my complete career goal-setting framework. (Save this guide for future reference) 🟢 Here’s how to build that path: Step 1: Start with your current position - List your daily responsibilities - Identify your key performance metrics - Note areas where you already excel - Spot gaps or improvement areas Step 2: Create SMART goals - Specific: Define clear outcomes - Measurable: Attach success metrics - Achievable: Be realistic - Relevant: Align with your role - Time-bound: Set deadlines Step 3: Build your action plan - Break goals into quarterly targets - Set monthly check-ins - Track progress and adjust as needed - Celebrate small wins Goal examples to focus on: ✅ Short-term (3–6 months): Learn tools, join new projects ✅ Mid-term (6–12 months): Take ownership, build visibility ✅ Long-term (1–3 years): Plan promotion path, develop expertise 📌 Pro tip: Block one hour a week—call it your “career development hour”. Use it to reflect, adjust, and plan ahead. You don’t need to wait for an appraisal to think about your growth. You just need a system. What’s one career goal you’re working on right now? Drop it in the comments, I’d love to hear. #goals #students #career

𝐀 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞. 📈💼 Many mentees have asked for a framework to help them brainstorm and set career goals. Having faced this myself multiple times, I know that this exercise can be exhausting without a structured approach. Here’s a simple yet powerful framework that has worked for me consistently. 👇 Step 1: Capture your current state in detail (professional only or both professional + personal). ✍️ Step 2: Define your future aspirations without limitations—list everything that comes to mind! 🌠 Step 3: Identify the “swimlanes” that matter to you. These may vary, so be clear on what’s important for you. 🏊♂️ Step 4: Set milestones within each swim lane. For example, if “financial safety” is a swimlane, your milestones could include buying a house, creating a corpus of ₹X crore, etc. 🏠💰 Step 5: Establish timelines. Map out concentric zones with achievable milestones over time. ⏳ Step 6: Track your progress regularly. 📊 Having a mentor can be invaluable here, as they can act as a sounding board, providing guidance and helping you stay aligned with your goals. Having this mental map will significantly help you plan your career transformation. 🌟 I hope this helps! Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 💬 #CareerPlanning #GrowthMindset #CareerTransformation #GoalSetting #Mentorship #Framework

Map out your career ambition by Harvard Business Review ; I wish I had read this article over a decade ago 😂 📊 This is how you map your career ambitions: ▶️ Use the "from/to" method to clearly define your current position and next big career goal. ▶️ Seek brutally honest feedback from trusted colleagues to accurately assess your starting point and destination. ▶️ Create a personal experience map to chart your growth over the next 2-5 years. ▶️ Focus on gaining both functional experiences (to excel in your field) and management experiences (to prove versatility). ▶️ Interview experts in your field to identify the most valuable experiences for career advancement. ▶️ Aim for 4-7 key functional experiences and 3-4 management experiences on your map. ▶️ Regularly review and update your experience map to stay on track. Remember that growing faster isn't easy, but having a clear origin, destination, and experience-driven route makes the journey much simpler! #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerMapping #LeadershipSkills #ContinuousLearning

After 20 years in talent management and career coaching, I’ve seen one truth over and over! ‘You cannot wait  for your boss or manager to advance your career!’ If you want a new job, a promotion, or more recognition in 2025,  here’s what I’ve learned and what I coach my clients to do: Document Your Achievements: I've kept a "brag file" of my achievements—big and small.  When it's time for reviews or interviews, I have solid evidence of my contributions. Invest in learning and development: This has helped me stay ahead of the curve.  I mastered skills aligned with the future  of work to remain competitive. Advocate for Yourself:  Don't shy away from claiming credit when you've earned it!  Throughout my career, I've made it a point  to advocate for myself. Create a Career Roadmap: Defining your goals and outlining actionable steps to reach them has been a game-changer for me. ↳ My clear plans have made the journey less daunting. Network Strategically and Consistently: Building meaningful connections regularly, not just when you need  something is crucial. Don’t forget those  Christmas parties and meet-ups. ↳ Strong relationships have been game-changers in my career. Be Proactive:  Taking initiative and following through have been key to my success. Remember, passivity stalls progress, while execution drives results. Putting these strategies into action has helped me achieve  my career goals, and I know they can do the  same for you. Embrace ownership of your success and thrive in the coming year! What strategies have helped you excel in your career?  Share your tips below! #GoalInspiredCareerCoaching #CareerAdvice #JobPromotion

Are your career goals SMART enough to succeed? I’ve seen countless professionals struggle with career stagnation, not because they lack ambition, but because their goals aren’t structured for success. The right structure turns intentions into actions, and that’s what drives real progress. Enter the SMART framework: ✅ Specific – Get clear on what you want and why it matters. ✅ Measurable – Define how you’ll track progress. ✅ Achievable – Stretch yourself, but keep it realistic. ✅ Relevant – Make sure it aligns with your bigger vision. ✅ Time-bound – Set a deadline to create urgency. Here’s how it works in action: ❌ “I want to get promoted soon.” ✅ “I will meet with my manager next month to outline a development plan, take on two high-impact projects, and improve my leadership skills to position myself for a promotion within the next 12 months.” ❌ “I need to network more.” ✅ “I will attend one industry event per quarter, post twice a month on LinkedIn about my expertise, and schedule five informational chats with professionals in my field over the next three months.” ❌ “I need to find a new job.” ✅ “I will apply to five targeted roles per week, optimize my LinkedIn profile by the end of the month, and schedule two networking conversations weekly to increase my chances of landing a role in the next 90 days.” What’s one SMART goal you’re working on right now? Let's make it happen!

YOU KNOW SWOT, BUT DO YOU KNOW SOAR? SOAR analysis is a tool designed to create a forward-looking and value-driven plan for career development.   It is similar to the SWOT analysis but more positive and aspirational, focusing on building on strengths and leveraging opportunities rather than merely identifying weaknesses and threats. The goal is to emphasize what works well and how to capitalize on it to achieve your career aspirations.   The acronym SOAR stands for: 📌 Strengths 👉 Focus on what you do well and how to enhance these strengths. 📌 Opportunities 👉 Identify external factors that could positively impact your career. 📌 Aspirations 👉 Consider what you truly aspire to achieve in your career. 📌 Results 👉 Determine the measurable outcomes that will signify you’ve achieved your aspirations.   Conduct your SOAR analysis in six phases:   1️⃣ Identify Your Strengths Begin by listing your core strengths. Include hard skills (e.g., technical abilities, domain expertise) and soft skills (e.g., leadership, communication). Pay special attention to your area of distinction—that one-off combination of skills and attributes that sets you apart from others in your field. Write down how these strengths have helped you succeed and how you can leverage them in the future.   2️⃣ Explore Opportunities Identify external opportunities that align with your strengths and area of distinction. Look for industry trends, new technologies, shifts in organizational strategy, or emerging markets. Write down at least three opportunities you can take advantage of and describe how they align with your unique capabilities.   3️⃣ Define Your Aspirations Reflect on your long-term goals, the impact you want to make, and the legacy you wish to leave. What do you aspire to achieve in the next five to ten years? Write down your aspirations, focusing on how they connect to your strengths and identified opportunities.   4️⃣ Set Measurable Results Define how you will measure success and translate your aspirations into specific, measurable outcomes. For each aspiration, set one or more tangible results. Write these down and keep them visible as a reminder of your commitment to your career growth.   5️⃣ Action Plan Create an action plan that outlines the steps you need to take to leverage your strengths, seize opportunities, achieve your aspirations, and reach the desired results. Set timelines and prioritize actions based on their impact and feasibility.   6️⃣ Review and Adjust Periodically review your SOAR analysis to track your progress. Adjust as necessary to stay aligned with your goals and the changing environment.   The SOAR analysis creates a strategic roadmap to help you stay proactive and adaptable and keep your career development focused and effective. It enables you to clarify your career direction and emphasizes your unique value in a competitive marketplace.   #CoachRisto #CareerPerceptions   #careermanagement

Your Career Doesn’t Need Bigger Goals. It Needs Better Inputs. Most professionals plateau because they focus on the prize (the raise, the title, the status) instead of the specific activities that make those outcomes inevitable. If your goal requires "motivation" to happen, it’s a wish. If it’s a scheduled task, it’s a strategy. Here is how to upgrade your career goals for real leverage: 1. Influence Is Built Through Action, Not Titles ❌ Vague goal: “I want to be seen as a thought leader.” This gives you nothing to do on Monday morning. ✅ Practical input: “In every department meeting, I will bring one well-thought-out suggestion that improves a process, reduces risk, or saves time.” Why this works: People don’t grant influence because of ambition. They trust the person who consistently adds value where decisions are made. Influence grows when your presence makes the room better not when you ask for recognition. 2. The Value Shift ❌ Weak Goal: "I want to earn a 20% raise." ✅ Actionable Input: "I will take over the most 'expensive' problem my manager currently faces." Why this works: Compensation is a reflection of the problems you solve. Solve bigger problems, command a bigger check. 3. The Capability Shift ❌ Weak Goal: "I want to be more technical." ✅ Actionable Input: "I will spend 30 minutes every Tuesday morning learning one automation tool." Why this works: General "growth" is invisible. A new workflow that saves the team 4 hours a week is a promotion-level contribution. 4. The Visibility Shift ❌ Weak Goal: "I hope my hard work gets noticed." ✅ Actionable Input: "I will update my 'Value Log' every Friday with three measurable wins from the week." Why this works: When performance review season hits, the person with the data wins. Don't rely on your manager's memory. The "Career Leverage" Audit If your goal is stuck, run it through these three filters: 1. Can it be scheduled? (If it’s not on the calendar, it’s not a goal). 2. Is it measurable? (Did you do it or not? No "gray" area). 3. Does it reduce friction for others? (The most valuable employees make their boss's life easier). Example: Junior → Senior ❌ Common move: Work longer hours to prove dedication. → Result: burnout, little recognition. ✅ High-impact move: Document SOPs for key tasks. → Result: you show you can scale work, not just do it. When you make tasks replaceable, you make your leadership indispensable.

73% of promotions are missed due to poor goal-setting. Master goal-oriented learning to fast-track your career. Here's how to structure a laser-focused learning plan: 1. Define career milestones with precision ↳ Set a 6-month goal: "Lead a high-visibility project" ↳ Craft a 2-year vision: "Become a department head" 2. Conduct a ruthless skill gap analysis ↳ Use job descriptions as your benchmark ↳ Seek brutally honest feedback from mentors 3. Create a learning roadmap with deadlines ↳ Assign specific courses to each skill gap ↳ Set weekly learning targets (e.g., 3 hours/skill) 4. Transform objectives into SMART goals ↳ "Complete Advanced Project Management cert in 8 weeks" ↳ "Deliver 3 cross-functional presentations by Q3" 5. Leverage unconventional learning resources ↳ Shadow top performers in adjacent departments ↳ Volunteer for stretch assignments outside your comfort zone 6. Implement a data-driven progress tracking system ↳ Use a skill acquisition spreadsheet with weekly updates ↳ Schedule monthly self-assessments to gauge improvement 7. Apply new skills immediately ↳ Propose innovative solutions in team meetings ↳ Offer to lead initiatives that showcase your growth Time to skyrocket your career? Ready. Set. Goals! P.S. If you found this valuable, repost for your network ♻️ Join the 12,000+ leaders who get our weekly email newsletter: https://lnkd.in/en9vxeNk Lead with impact.

The Counterintuitive Secret to Landing Quickly: Focus on the Right Role Land Faster by Focusing on Where You’re Going When you’re in a job search, the temptation to focus on landing  any job as quickly as possible can be overwhelming. Bills need to be paid, and the pressure looms. Yet, counterintuitively, the fastest way to land isn’t about scattering applications everywhere or jumping at the first opportunity—it’s about zeroing in on where you want to go. Why the Destination Matters Imagine trying to plan a road trip without a clear destination. You might move fast, but you’re unlikely to arrive anywhere meaningful without direction. The same principle applies to job searching. If your efforts lack focus, you risk wasting energy on roles that don’t align with your skills, values, or long-term goals. Focusing on your destination allows you to be intentional. It means identifying roles and organizations that excite you and align with your strengths and ambitions. When you’re clear about your destination, your messaging—on your resume, in interviews, and through networking—becomes sharper, more confident, and more compelling to employers. How to Stay Focused on Your Destination Define Your Goals: Take time to clarify what you’re looking for. What industries, roles, or companies align with your vision? Be as specific as possible. Tailor Your Job Search: Customize your applications to match your desired roles. A tailored application has a higher chance of standing out than a generic one. To be clear, you shouldn’t need to rewrite your resume every time once you have a focused resume. Network Strategically: Share your career goals with your network. Let people know what you’re aiming for—they’re more likely to help if they have a clear picture of what you’re seeking. Filter Opportunities: Not every opening is worth pursuing. Focus on quality over quantity. Prioritize roles that move you closer to your desired destination, even if it means waiting a little longer to find the right fit. The Counterintuitive Result It may seem like narrowing your focus will slow you down, but the opposite is true. You'll find roles that fit you faster by aligning your job search with your goals. Employers notice when candidates are passionate and intentional; this authenticity can give you a significant edge. Landing a job quickly doesn’t mean rushing—it means being strategic and purposeful. Focus on where you’re going, and the journey will become clearer and more efficient. With the right approach, you won’t just land—you’ll land in a role where you can thrive.