Tips for Work and Life with Andrew LaCivita – Details, episodes & analysis

I’ve changed careers twice, which basically means I’ve got it down to a science.

It’s absolutely brutal.

You deserve the truth.

How brutal?

This picture of my office popped up in my “memories” on my phone.

It's from August 25, 2015, a shade over 9 years ago.

3:43 in the AM.

I was knocking off for the evening so I could catch an hour or two of shut-eye before Harley or Ginger started licking my face as if it was their food bowl.

That’s a whopping 55 (calendar) days after I decided to “change careers” and become a career coach in addition to an executive recruiter.

Of course, the long-term plan was to drive the jumbo jet on the runway until liftoff when I could go “all in” on the career coaching thing.

I was on the runway for…let’s see…carry the seven…a mere 5 years.

Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. Lemme go get Andy Sunshine.

Okay, he’s back.

I’d do it all over again.

Anything worthwhile will take a bit of time. Fine, maybe a lot.

But it’s incredibly rewarding IF and ONLY IF you truly want it badly enough.

Ever consider making a change?

I like to say, “This world needs more of you, not less. There are people who need you to do what you ache to do. That’s the part of you, you need to give them. That’s the part of you I’d love to see. That’s the part of you the world wants.” (From The Zebra Code, Chapter 21, My Gift to Find Your Gift)

Maybe you like the way things are going and are on the right path.

Maybe you’ve thought What if?

Either way, today, I have 5 steps I’d suggest if you want to make that change!

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my four books related to interviewing, hiring, goal setting, and career development. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

What would you give to be happier in your job? In your office? In your career?

Would you give 25 minutes and 52 seconds?

If you’re willing to do just that, you’ll learn exactly what I’d do.

Warning: I’m not going to say anything to you like smile, have a better attitude, or blah blah blah. I wouldn’t insult you with that trite stuff.

I’ll get you focused on and building the six “deliverables” I’d create and have “at the ready” so I’d feel happier about my situation!

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my four books related to interviewing, hiring, goal setting, and career development. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

Today, you get a podcast on The Job Interview Formula Guaranteed to Get You Hired (CAAR).

It’s titled that because, well, it’s an actual formula, which, if you use it, I pinky swear, you’ll get hired.

It literally, IMHO, is one of, if not, THE, very best podcasts I’ve created on how to answer questions—like ANY question—in a job interview.

I cover the emotional and feelings aspect of it.

I cover the step-by-step tactics.

And encore with a very-detailed example to drive it home so it registers with zero distortion!

Where might I learn something like this?

Well, I coach, individually, approximately 500 people each year. Every year. Most of whom need interview coaching from me.

To boot, I’ve been studying interviewing since 2004 as an executive recruiter.

That’s excluding the week-long behavioral interview coaching and roleplaying I endured way back in 1990. (1-9-9-0 just so you know that what’s a typo.)

You’ll also need to disregard all the hiring I did up until 2004.

Even so, I’m confident that leaves me with enough experience based on whatever’s left over.

Did I mention I wrote a book on this?

Can we agree I’ve had lots of practice?

Good!

Now, enjoy…

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

Job searching is hard, like, really hard. It’s even hard in the best of times, which we have now seasonally entered.

November through February.

That’s right. Start licking your chops. It’s officially open season on all things finding-your-dream-job related.

Where I live the weather stinks this time of year, but finding that sweet job in never easier than in these months.

Wait. Whaaaa? Doesn’t feel like it?

Fact of the matter is, it makes no difference what the employment market looks like, what month it is, or what holiday the world is or isn’t celebrating if you don’t know HOW to job search!

Enter my—proven—job search challenge®.

I’m in the mood to make some promises so let’s do just that.

If…

…you do what I challenge you to do and simply follow the steps (heck, just go through the motions but you get bonus points for positive energy), you will get traction.

Bold words. I know.

How do I know?

Because it’s been proven over and over and over again by people just like you.

Yes. The ones that are, uh, in my age group.

Yes. The ones that live in rural places without all those booming companies.

Yes. The ones without all the “required” skills on those ridiculous job descriptions.

Yes. Those returning to the workforce after being away because [plop in any reason here].

Yes. Those people who [insert whatever you can think of here] too!

What’s more, if you take the challenge, you will even surprise yourself at how easy it becomes to email total strangers. (Don’t get me started on how I think strangers are just friends I haven’t met yet.)

You’ll become more consistent, confident, care-free, and a whole bunch of other cool “C” words.

Gimme 36 minutes for today’s podcast on a Job Search Challenge® That Gets Interviews!

Here’s another promise.

It’ll be worth it.

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

I have a saying. It’s one of my Today’s Lines to Live By®, which you can catch daily on my Instagram.

“Short-timers focus on wins. Long-timers focus on plans.”

That’s true.

Short-timers focus on wins, which usually causes them to lose. And quit. That’s how they become short-timers. Get it?

Long-timers focus on the plan and the planning process. And, they obsess over abilities they need to grow to add cool checkmarks next to the stuff on their plans.

This, in turn, causes them to grow faster, live happier existences, and, oddly, win more. Or, at least win bigger.

Build strategy. Add plans. Work the plans. Stay the course.

There is one ingredient in working a top-1-%-er plan I consider the secret to the sauce.

Catch it in the week’s podcast on The Top 1% at Their Job Focus on This.

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

I wish I could negotiate your salary for you. I truly do.

Actually, I wish I could be with you every step of the entire recruitment process because, technically, you’re negotiating from the moment you send in your resume and cover letter.

Since it isn’t very likely your future employer will let your fun, affable career coach accompany you through the process, I thought it’d be a good idea to record this week’s podcast for you so you can negotiate the heck outta your next job offer!

Inside, I hit over a dozen tips, tricks, tactics, and secrets related to the Dos and Don’ts of building your salary negotiation power.

I cover BEFORE the process starts, continue to when you actually start, during the job interviews, at the true negotiation, and, of course, round it out with your inevitable counteroffer on your way to the bank.

Enjoy today’s podcast on Salary Negotiation Tactics That Get You Paid More and think of me with every automatic deposit!

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

There are so many reasons we don’t have what we want.

Usually, not always, they’re surmountable.

Some of the time, it’s in our head.

Much of the time, we simply don’t want to make the, uh, time.

But, I’ll step out on a limb here. In virtually all of the cases, you have the ability.

In fact, I’ve never met anyone whose effort couldn’t beat their talent level.

Change is never function of ability. It’s a function of desire.

If you have the aspiration, you can fulfill it with enough hard work—and time.

Over the years, I’ve covered how to overcome many of the mental and tactical roadblocks.

I thought it was about time to mesh together a medley of some of my motivational favs.

Inside this week’s podcast are 11 separate lessons to inspire you to chase—and accomplish—your dreams. (Breakdown of times is in the PS.)

Join me for today’s podcast Motivation Medley to Get What You Want to get charged and in motion!

For today’s podcast, here’s a list to help you revisit you favorite messages whenever you need them.

00:00 Don’t be afraid to start small.
03:16 Wisdom is expensive, perspective is cheap.
05:25 Change is never a function of ability.
06:28 Realize you’re always a work in progress.
11:45 Why you undervalue yourself and how to stop.
15:33 How to get over procrastination (AKA Real life isn't Microsoft Office).
17:40 Smart goals are dumb.
20:27 Short-timers focus on wins, long-timers study their plans.
24:08 What it takes to get what you want.
31:54 Adopting the mindset to be a zebra in life.
35:27 Everything you do matters because we are all connected.

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

Do you wonder what employers want to know about you? That answer is actually quite simple.

But, making sure you know what that is and delivering the message so they receive it with zero distortion?

Well, that’s the stuff legends are made of.

Or, members of Andy’s community! At least after today.

It’s not just here’s who I am, here’s what I do, here’s how I can help you. Yawn.

Getting hired is about so much more than having a shiny resume with all the right keywords.

It’s about so much more than telling great interview stories.

There are stars that must align.

There is a level of congruence that begins with what you’ve accomplished historically, what you want presently, how you package it up in your marketing messages so it hits what the employer needs, and how you drive home your worth during the job interviews.

Job seekers screw this up because there’s often something broken along this chain.

In today’s podcast on How to Show Your Value to Employers so You Get Hired, I teach how to get rid of any weak links and hit the bulls-eye on exactly what employers want to know!

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

4. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

Empathy doesn’t sound sexy, but it’s like still water that runs deep. It’s like roots of giant trees you wonder how can possibly stand so tall. And, yet, so few people are actually empathetic. Why?

Because you have never, not ever, had an experience that you were not at the absolute center of. Your thoughts and feelings about those experiences are automatic.

My experience of the same scene needs to be communicated to you. My feelings need to be communicated to you. And even if I did that perfectly, you still wouldn’t be able to know exactly how I feel.

That’s because my current experience (with you) is nuanced by all the other experiences I’ve had. Which, by the way, you haven’t had!

So, how is one to become a better person, better communicator, better at understanding their friends, partners, and spouses.

How does one become better at providing service or anticipating reactions or so many other desired life and business skills?

You need to stop being automatic.

The formula is not hard. The practice and execution are excruciatingly hard.

So hard that so many give up so easily. So? So, don’t let that be you!

Join me for today’s podcast to learn a simple, yet very effective formula for developing empathy!

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy

Interviews are complicated. They get further complicated when interviewers ask bad questions which in turn gets exacerbated by job candidates trying to regurgitate interview speak.

It’s really a stitch except for the part about you needing the new job.

Enter your Coach to reassure you we can simplify things.

The first thing you’ll need to do is listen to this week’s podcast as I break down the 11 most common types of interview questions and how to answer them.

Then you’ll know how to answer everything from the lazy questions to the silly questions to the questions they ask that make you go all Nostradamus.

I even threw in the regrettables, the oh-so-ugh Sophie’s choice, and a few of my other favs (Negative Nelly, deal breakers, etc.).

They’re all in there. 17 minutes. Easy peasy.

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!