Most professionals think the secret to success is obsessing over the goal. “I just need to land the role.” “If I can get this promotion, I’ll finally feel confident.” “This one pitch has to work.” I’ve coached dozens of high performers through this mindset. And here’s the pattern I always see: The more attached you are to the outcome, the harder it is to show up fully for the process that gets you there. The irony? You get so fixated on the prize at the end that you completely miss the steps that would win it. Your attention gets scattered. Your energy leaks. Your confidence wavers. Because every time the goal feels far away… You start to believe you’re far from capable. Let me offer a reframe: Your goal isn’t the goal. Your daily process is. The outcome? It’ll take care of itself if you show up consistently for the right things. Ask yourself: “What does winning look like today?” And here’s what I suggest: The Core Four 1. Give 100% of what I have today. 2. Be fully present. 3. Express gratitude. 4. Focus on my routines and only what I can control. Simple. But powerful. Because when you lead with process, not pressure: • Your mind clears, you're more at peace because you’re not worrying about the future. • Your focus sharpens • Your performance improves • And your results? They follow This is how you break free from outcome obsession. You stop trying to win the future and start mastering the moment you’re in. Because the truth is: The person who crushes their process… gets the prize without chasing it. Get out there and crush it today. :) Rooting for you, Kris

You can check every box on a job description and still get passed over. You can carry 20 years of results on your back and still feel invisible. You can be highly competent and still unknown. I see it all the time: brilliant, capable professionals who have no idea how to tell their story. And in today’s hiring climate, especially at the mid-to-senior level, that’s a deal breaker. Being good at your job isn’t enough anymore. There’s a quiet grief many professionals carry; the feeling of being overlooked despite doing everything “right.” You deliver. You lead. You make things happen. And yet... someone less experienced gets the role, the raise, or the recognition. It’s not that you're not qualified. It’s that your value isn’t clear, to them or to you. That’s why storytelling isn’t just a “nice-to-have” skill anymore. It’s a strategic career asset. Gina Riley, author of Qualified Isn’t Enough, says it plainly: people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. (Great book, btw. If you want to dive deeper into this I highly recomend reading her book) Riley shows that your career story should not be just a list of duties and achievements. It should express your values and beliefs, your why. And your career experiences are the proof of those values in action. Your actions, the way you lead, communicate, and create impact, reveal what you stand for. That’s what people remember. That’s what builds trust. Storytelling is how you become memorable. When Riley asked executive recruiters what made a candidate stand out, they didn’t say technical skills or credentials. They said presence, clarity, and self-awareness. The ability to bring their story to life in a way that feels real and relevant. She calls out the “Tell me about yourself” moment as a critical turning point. The strongest candidates don’t list roles or responsibilities. They hook people with their journey. They show who they are through the patterns they’ve lived. Because our brains don’t retain bullet points. They retain stories.

Well, I am celebrating successful completion of 4 interviews where I felt really solid about how I showed up, how I shared about my experiences and how I connected it to the needs of the team. I have no idea what will happen (it sounds like they had a candidate in mind going into this) but I gave it my ALL and definitely gave them reason to pause and consider another option. (I also had 2 solid leadership recommendations sent over). Regardless of outcome, it feels great to look back on how I showed up and feel like I did my absolute best. Keeping my fingers crossed for results...

Got the news late yesterday — I’m moving on to the 4th round! It’s a panel presentation, and I’m super excited (with lots of prep ahead)!

Just wanted to say a quick and huge thank you to all of you who took the time to show up today for the kick-off of the Friday Career Mastermind session! I forgot to record it (hey, it's my first time doing this, 😂), but I will do so next time so that any of you unable to attend can watch the replay. As we experiment our way into figuring out what the best format is for these, here is what we came up with for next week's session: We’ll start by going around the group for quick introductions — just your name, what you do, and what you’re working toward right now. Then we’ll share quick wins, dig into one member’s real challenge, and close with clear next steps everyone can apply. Format (60 minutes) - Quick Introductions — 6 min - Quick Wins + Stuck Points — 6 min - Hot Seat Setup — 2 min - Clarifying Questions — 8 min - Advice Round (Hot Seat listens) — 12 min - Commitments + Actions — 6 min - One-Word Close — 4 min - Buffer — 4 min And as a reminder: This mastermind works best when everyone feels safe to share honestly. What’s said in the group stays in the group. We focus on curiosity, not judgment; ask questions before offering advice. Keep feedback constructive and concise. Listen to understand, not to fix. Everyone gets time and respect. These agreements help us build a space where real challenges and breakthroughs can happen. No prep required, just bring one win and one challenge you’re facing right now. We’ll decide who’s in the hot seat at the start of the call. Join ready to listen, think, and help each other get unstuck. Comment IN if you’ll be there.