Tips for Work and Life with Andrew LaCivita

Money. Actually, more like money you’ll get in the future. Money is funny that way, especially when the money we’re talking about is your salary. We negotiate like heck for what we’ll be paid in the future. So, why is it that so many employees try to argue for a new salary based on what they did in the past? Isn’t that so yesteryear? Wasn’t that so your last job? Past performance is not an indicator of future performance when I change the variables. Here’s a funny. I earned a nice living as an executive recruiter. Then, I became a career coach. And, well, as smart as that rich executive recruiter guy was, that new career coach didn’t know diddly about email marketing, YouTube-ing, podcasting, and TikTok-ing (still don’t). I could have argued with myself and said, “Self. You’ve been awesome at recruitment, sales, serving your clients, and everything else that goes with it. I’m sure you know your stuff and can explain it to all those people who live in Germany, Canada, and California. Here’s a big fat raise.” Then, I would have fired myself in the first year. Splat. Career coach guy didn’t only not earn more money. He didn’t even earn less money. He actually lost money. Ouch! (I’ll stop the 3rd-person thing now.) You might be thinking, well, you were making a career change, so that makes sense. Okay, but why do you think you should get a new payday because you’re doing the SAME job as last year? Or, the same job at a new employer? Why should your current employer give you more money for doing the same thing? Inflation? Don’t think so. Oh, you got a fat promotion? Or more responsibilities? Ah. Heck to the YEAH! So, that means you’re in a new position? How can I, your boss, know for certain you’ll do well? (Remember, past performance is a funny thing and we have some new variables here.) I think you get the gist by now. Good news is I won’t be the one you’ll need to negotiate your raise with. Better news is I’m giving you the what-to-do to earn more money—in the future. Think of me with every paycheck that is auto-deposited into your bank account. 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

We’re about to wrap up a big month for hiring. How’s your job search coming?! I hope you’re getting those interviews and, today, I have a not-so-little something special to help. I’m covering one of my all-time favorite questions to ask an employer in a job interview… “What does success look like—exactly?” If you don’t know what success looks like, how will you know what goals to shoot for? How would you know whether you’re working toward the right results? How would you—or THEY—know how to “grade” your performance? It absolutely amazes me any organization can function, let alone survive, without knowing the answer to this question for every single person it employs. BUT (you knew this was coming), you and I know this happens frequently. Now, I already told you the question—which is the main theme for today’s lesson. But, how could I have possibly spent 26:32 on this ONE question? Because, THIS question will become the centerpiece of your entire job search. And (taking a giant deep breath here to say all this all without pausing so please forgive the upcoming run-on sentence)… THIS question will make you successful if you focus on it from the time you think about what you want to do with your career to writing your resume and cover letters and LinkedIn profile to choosing which companies and people you target, how you get the interviews, what you say to those nice people in the interviews, and…when you finally ask this question in the interview…to confirm you know what success looks like and on you go to the counteroffer. I’m pretty sure that’s how I lay it out and everything I ultimately cover in this action-packed, highly-education, pivotal lesson. Get ready to change the way you think about job searching! 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

Do you want to be known as “the man” or “the woman” in your field? A legend? I do. And, I’m proud to say so. But I don’t master my craft because I need external adoration. That’s not the driver. I do it for me and because it serves you. My friends and family don’t understand my uncommon drive probably because it’s uncommon—truly rare. If you want to be a 1%-er do you think behaving like the other 99% will get you there? In The Zebra Code (get the BOGO offer NOW while it supplies last), I wrote a chapter called “Mastering Your Trade.” I emphasize the importance of developing not just specific job skills, but foundational capabilities that transcend your particular trade. These are the skills that set you apart and enable you to excel no matter the industry you're in. I cover the strategic approach to skill mastery, starting with building the right mindset, cultivating an attitude of abundance and optimism, continually learning, and seeking the right mentors and educational opportunities. On we go to identifying the right capabilities and building and practicing them diligently. And never stopping. All of these efforts are part of a personalized roadmap that guides your growth and ensures you're always moving forward, even when you hit inevitable bumps along the way. Do you want to commit to excellence? Do you want to become an expert in your field? The first step is only a chapter or video away. This ENTIRE week I’m treating you to some serious assets that will catapult your career. The only two questions are, “Will you take advantage of them?” “Will you keep going?” 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

Today, let’s talk how to answer negative job interview questions. These are brutal. Tricky. And, to boot, give you loads of opportunity to mess us. They are literally a complete waste of breath and give the interviewer absolutely zero data on whether you’ll be a star employee. But, for some unknown reason, instead of asking you bright and effective questions that elicit information to actually help them determine whether you’ll be a winner, they ask you… If we hire you, what would be the reason we fire you? Why should we not hire you? Why wouldn’t you take this job? Etc. etc. etc. until your eyeballs roll so high they get stuck in the back of your head. You get the idea. Good news is your beloved coach will give you a bulletproof formula for all of these dumb and useless questions. Take a listen! 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

Happy Sunday! Let’s start the New Year with a BANG! Shall we? Full-fledged job search lesson today. 10 major tips on how to win your search in 2025! Key download you must take if you don’t already have my 10X10 formula. Inside the video and booklet, I hit the gamut from getting your requirements in order to resume writing to searching to interviewing and negotiating. Took me 31:10 to get that all in. So, pour the coffee or cocktail depending on whether it’s 8 AM or 5 PM by you, and enjoy the show! 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

Got a special, powerful message for you today. I discussed this concept back in August (on the 8th), but held it so we can wrap 2024 with a bang and get you pumped for all you WILL accomplish in 2025. It’s a lesson on the 3 factors of high performers. This isn't your run-of-the-mill pep talk—it's a masterclass on harnessing your mindset to fuel success and resilience. Inside, I hit… Attitude as a Catalyst: Attitude shapes not just your experiences but also inspires those around you. It's about manufacturing optimism from within and letting that optimism ignite inspiration in others. The Power of Passion, Vision, and Commitment: These three pillars are what all (truly) successful individuals share. It's about discovering your passion, nurturing it, and committing to your vision relentlessly. (BTW, these are not the 3 factors of high performers I mention in the title.) Framing and Priming: Understand the art of framing your thoughts and priming your emotions to align with your goals. It's about the internal dialogue you feed yourself—ditch the “fake it ‘til you make it” mindset and embrace authenticity. Crafting Your Success Story: I share personal stories, including my journey from engineering student to executive recruitment, and how I built a successful career coaching business. The story is a testament to the power of strategic vision and unwavering commitment. The lesson is about empowering you to conquer challenges and achieve your impossible (just like I say in Out of Reach but in Sight!). Here’s to making 2025 your best year yet! 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

If you’re a smart person, work hard, have the right attitude, great! You get a pat on the back. All that goodness will only take you so far if you don’t have a few key guardrails set up to ensure you crush your career. These are like the common-sense, must-dos of developing yourself and your people. You know what they say about common sense. Right. Common sense in not always common practice. Lucky for you, that’s what I’m covering in today’s lesson. These are 10 major steps, broken into 5 pre-requisites and 5 absolutely most-dos for you to catapult your career. I know you want that hypergrowth, so let’s do 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 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

I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. Job search is rough. It’s lonely. It’s confusing. It’s like the trifecta of pain.  I feel for you. I truly do. But, since I use a lot of “empathic concern,” I’m not just going to feel for you. I’m going to act by sharing 10 secrets to stay positive in your job search on your way to better results. (If you’re just dying to know what empathic concern is, check out page 118.) They’re secrets because, well, I don’t see a lot of job seekers implementing these techniques. You need them at your disposal when you get fatigued, but they are truly best practices from the start. Whether this is the first day of your search or you’ve been at this a while, this lesson is for you.  Let’s get you charged and on your way to getting hired! 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

My entire life, I just needed to know. I’d never let myself wonder. How great could I be? The not knowing would just kill me. A regret I’d never let myself live with. Ever feel this way? Ever wonder how good you could be at something if you let yourself be? If you—literally—gave it your all? After going through my entire career (eh, life) all-out with no brakes (yes, I meant brakes not breaks), I’ve learned a thing or two about being a maestro. I’ve interviewed, met with, helped, taught, recruited, and coached tens of thousands of people. I can distill down, in a few seconds, what makes the best the best. This approach is bulletproof if you want to be the best you you can be. It’ll also help tremendously if you’re job searching. I know it’s Thanksgiving week for many in my community and you might be scurrying around town doing last minute turkey shopping. That’s why I kept this powerful message to a short 3:39. Squeeze it in somewhere when you have a few minutes. The lesson is simple to understand. Difficult to do. Fully rewarding. And life altering. 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

I realize it’s mid-November and the Christmas décor has already draped many stores for an entire month, but your career doesn’t take a holiday (nor do I). Today, I’m serving up a major lesson on why now is literally THE BEST time to job search. You’re at the start line of a 3-month hiring frenzy. It doesn’t matter whether the year is 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 or 2024 or any other years I omitted. It doesn’t matter what you do. Who you are. Who you were. Or, who you want to be. It's the SAME every single year. As an executive recruiter, I could have rolled out of bed on Halloween. Worked until the end of January. And taken the rest of the year off. Every year. Employers start hiring like crazy NOW. You might consider me nutso for thinking this. After all, it’s contrary to what most think. But just because many think it doesn’t make it so. I’ll debunk the myth for you. What’s more, I’ll teach you how to swap out couch duty for my Job Search Challenge®. That way you’ll know exactly how to approach this target-rich, job-searching time. There’s no time to waste. Just like I said right there on page 313 of The Zebra Code in Chapter 21 My Gift to Find Your Gift (which, by the by, is my all-time favorite chapter and prose I’ve ever written)… “Have faith that true champions are made in the darkness. They’re the ones that practice before the sun rises. The treasure that time and know their effort is what will help them make a better life for themselves and others.”   Let’s get to 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 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