Alex, an experienced author and sales leader, shared career insights drawn from his books and nonprofit work with students and professionals during a People School session led by Vanessa.
The discussion covered common career pitfalls for high achievers, strategies for building deep professional relationships, advice for career pivoters, and actionable client connection techniques in sales.
Alex answered several participant questions and provided resources and frameworks for shaping career narratives and maximizing professional impact.
The session concluded with an agreement to share Alex's slides and content with the wider People School audience.
Action Items
(Post-session) – Vanessa: Share Alex’s slides and resources in People School’s Circle community and social channels.
(Ongoing) – Attendees: Connect with Alex and Commence Foundation on LinkedIn and Instagram for additional workforce readiness resources.
(Vanessa, as offered): Feature Alex’s practical tips on Vanessa’s wider social channels and tag Alex to increase his reach.
Top Five Career Pitfalls for High Achievers
Failing to weave a cohesive career story; not connecting the dots between various roles and skills.
Leaving kudos opportunities on the table; not documenting or giving recognition to others and oneself.
Treating time as infinite; delaying action and missing immediate opportunities.
Being unwilling to ask for help and feedback, which limits growth and visibility.
Taking a transactional, short-term approach and forgetting those who helped along the way.
Three Key Career Takeaways from Alex’s Experience
Focus on the depth of professional relationships (quality over quantity)—strive for "trusted advisor" status, not just many acquaintances.
Build your own brand beyond the company’s brand by engaging in continuous learning and offering a unique personal perspective.
Recognize that large organizations typically hire for specific roles, not for individual talent; proactively align your skills with organizational needs.
Advice for Career Pivoters
Clarify whether you are pivoting toward something you want or away from something undesirable; reflect on your true motivations using tools like the “Lovability Index.”
Regularly self-assess using questions about excitement, identity, and what drives your interest in work.
Use frameworks like Ikigai and Jim Collins’s hedgehog concept to map out where your passion, profession, mission, and vocation intersect.
For pivots, focus on building “identity capital” by seeking roles and environments that are recognized and foster growth.
Make direct, thoughtful connections with hiring managers and recruiters, especially in large or recognizable organizations.
Track personal milestones (birthdays, interests) and celebrate client successes to foster deeper connections.
Personalize long-term outreach efforts and facilitate clients’ professional growth.
Turn down opportunities that are not a strong fit, which builds credibility and trust.
Help clients’ networks even outside your specialty, and offer valuable introductions to broaden value.
Always seek to understand your clients’ needs before presenting your own value proposition.
Assist others even when there’s no immediate gain, as these actions yield long-term relationship benefits.
Aim to help clients gain recognition or advancement, framing your impact in ways that support their career narrative.
Q&A Highlights and Networking Tactics
To grow a network (for example, in education or small business), identify authentic points of connection and shared interests.
Approach contacts with genuine curiosity and a long-term perspective; offer support or value in your outreach, even if it’s modest.
Alex demonstrated effective outreach to Vanessa by combining in-depth knowledge of her work with specific offers to contribute.
For those balancing multiple roles or businesses, use a cohesive narrative (e.g., Ikigai) to tie experiences together in alignment with your personal and professional mission.
Decisions
Share Alex’s slides and content with the People School audience — Agreed as a value-add for students and extended network.
Feature Alex’s insights on Vanessa’s social channels — To provide practical advice to a broader audience and support Alex’s nonprofit mission.
Open Questions / Follow-Ups
None explicitly noted; all audience questions were addressed in-session.
Vanessa to confirm posting and tagging of Alex’s content on her social platforms.