When your story is clear, opportunities find you.
Welcome back to your Peak of the Week, where we explore what it means to live aligned, lead authentically, and build a life that feels as good as it looks.
This Week →
What I told a few friends about how hiring really works — and why it's not what you think
The three-sentence framework that shifts how the market hears you
Why urgency without alignment is the biggest mistake in transition
Read Time < 4 minutes
They are lucky to have YOU… not just the other way around. But first, you have to be able to tell them why.
What I'm Seeing
A year ago, I was with a few friends and they asked me about how hiring really works.
I told them that it’s not always fair. It rewards people who have practiced knowing their narrative. They’re better at talking about themselves. They can see (and talk about) their own brilliance.
Things they never taught us in school!
Now here we are and so many smart, accomplished people with impressive backgrounds are struggling to get traction.
So I want to share something that we go DEEP on with my career alignment clients –
Two questions:
What do you stand for professionally?
What kind of problems do you solve better than your peers?
After two sessions, my clients know how to CRUSH those answers.
Whether you are in an interview or meeting someone at an event, when your narrative is clear, interviews become conversations.
When it's not, interviews feel like interrogations.
The difference? It’s all your positioning!!!!!
What If
What would change if you could confidently answer these three sentences….
Give it a try, but use plain language, not corporate jargon.
1. I am at my best when...
Get specific. "I am at my best when I'm translating complex financial decisions into clarity for my business unit GMs who need to make fast decisions."
2. The problems I solve best are...
What you do better than most.
"The problems I solve best are the messy, undefined ones where the path forward isn't obvious yet. Like this one from last month….."
3. The kind of role/environment where I thrive next is...
This is where alignment happens. Or doesn't.
"The kind of environment where I thrive next is one that values speed over perfection and needs someone who can build while the plane is flying."
Why this matters:
This narrative drives your networking conversations. Your recruiter interviews. Your LinkedIn presence. Your confidence.
When you can answer these three questions clearly, you have to reflect deeper on your impact vs. your responsibilities.
What happens because of you? What makes you so unique?
And all of a sudden, your standards increase. You don’t just want any job, you want one that allows you to be the most aligned version of yourself. Remember, they are lucky to have YOU….not just the other way around.
Micro-Moves
The biggest mistake in transition?
Urgency without alignment.
Before you say yes to any opportunity, run it through this filter:
Does this role use my gifts (strengths, talents)?
Does it move me toward what I want, or just away from what I don't?
Can I clearly articulate why this role makes sense for me?
If you can't answer these... pause.
The market rewards clarity.
If you said your non-negotiable is not working for a micro-manager and you have an offer in front of you and you clearly know it’s another micro-manager….stop. Didn’t you already learn that lesson? Do we need to repeat the same pattern again?
Bonus Points
Here’s how we shifted this executive's answer to "What are you looking for?"
Rather than his current: "I'm exploring opportunities in technology leadership."
After doing career alignment reflection:
"I'm looking for my next transformation challenge—probably a growth-oriented manufacturer at an inflection point, or 2-4 companies simultaneously where I can help navigate technology transformation without the chaos that usually comes with it. I'm particularly drawn to companies doing something new, where there's no proven playbook, and where technology is seen as a growth enabler rather than a cost center. What comes to mind?"
And then to "What makes you different?"
We moved him from "I have strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills."
To:
"Two things: First, I've never climbed the corporate IT ladder, which means I bring fresh perspective without industry bias—I can question everything. Second, I've been part of teams that created new markets and scaled emerging technologies to billion-dollar exits. Most technology leaders either maintain systems or create chaos during transformation. I do neither—I bring calm to complex technology projects and turn CEO visions into operational reality, without the headache.
Final Question
If someone heard your story once, could they explain your value to someone else — clearly and confidently?
If not, that's the work.
This is exactly what we do inside my Career Alignment Accelerator process — I help you articulate, position, and sell your value in a way the market actually hears.
If you're ready to stop spinning and start positioning, let's talk.
With belief in your magnificence,
Laura