Hi Friends,

If I had to sum up my intention for 2024 in one word, it would be

community

• In my business, I’m laser focused on making career development less lonely and more lucrative through connection.

• In my personal life, I’m focused on continuing to cultivate and prioritize my most important relationships.

So with that in mind, it might be strike you as strange that, I’m also prioritizing creative time alone as a consistent weekly habit.

Doing things alone isn’t new for me - I went to an adult summer camp last summer not knowing a soul, I prioritize (at least) one solo trip a year and I take solace in taking myself to the movies (well, less so now that it costs more than a dinner out 🤪).

If you’re familiar with The Artist’s Way, I’m an adopter of what Julia Cameron calls The Artist’s Date - basically, dedicated solo time every week to explore your creative side. It could be a simple as taking a walk without music, visiting an art gallery, listening to music or taking in a performance.

I’m dusting off my practice and taking myself on Artist Dates this year because as much as connection is my focus for the year - I know that to achieve connection, I need to be grounded. A sort of yin-yan.

So many of you have told me that career shifts are on the horizon for you this year - whether you’re between roles or craving a change. For you in particular, I invite you to lean into this yin-yang: get comfortable with solitude and lean into connection.

So let’s dig into how..

Clarify 💡

If the idea of doing anything alone scares you (eating at a restaurant, taking a silent walk, or gasp traveling), know that I understand and I’ve been where you are. I’ve found that when I’ve been least secure inmyself or in times of big transition, time alone feels like torture because you’re free from distraction and forced to face your thoughts.

If that’s the case and you can afford it, therapy is a wonderful tool to get to the root if why sitting alone with yourself is so hard.

I’m very much not a therapist so I’ll instead share how I decide what I choose to do alone versus what I do with others. It’s pretty simple - I just ask myself, when thinking about doing something (could be walking Noodle, a trip, taking in a show, trying a new restaurant, etc):

Will doing this activity alone generate or diminish how I want to feel?

For example, the past couple of years, I have taken a solo trip to Sedona as a sort of pilgrimage for alignment to myself and celebrate the journey with a new tattoo. Knowing that this year I want to feel <connected, grounded, energized, limitless and abundant>, when I ask myself the question ‘Will taking this solo trip to Sedona generate or diminish these feelings’? it’s clear to me that taking this trip allows me to connect to who I am, ground myself, recharge and energize and feel all of life’s opportunities available to me - without coordinating, planning or taking into account anyone else’s desires or feelings. To me, this feels free and exactly what I need!

If I take the same question and apply it to a Europe trip coming in May, I’m confident I would feel lonely, stressed, exhausted and more fear-based than abundant if I took the trip solo because of the amazing opportunity for connection with my husband and friends based on the itinerary, season and locale.

Especially If you’re in the midst of a job search, I urge you to find regular opportunities to spend time alone to recharge and ground yourself in what you’re looking for. Even if it’s as simple as a morning walk to recalibrate with your own voice - not the podcast or playlist noise in your ears.

Connect 🤝

While solitude is important to ground and be intentional, the job search itself is already such a lonely process. That’s exactly why I do what I do - I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I did in my 2020 job search and believe gathering like-minded groups of people together are more valuable than coaching I can provide 1-1.

A strategic job search has no room for your ‘pride’ - leaning on your community and people in the same boat as yours is the key to unlocking opportunity, it’s how I’ve gotten every single role in my career thus far.

In the spirit of not going at it alone, I invite you to join me in next week’s The Career Catalyst Challenge: a two-part workshop teaching you how to unleash your existing skills to uplevel your career and step into a more aligned life. 

This two-part challenge (2 zoom workshops, open q&a, community group with opportunities from custom feedback from me & more) will enable you to:

• Get clear on exactly what you want in your next career move and how to use that clarity to find aligned opportunities

• Map how your past experience connects to what you’re looking for next 

• Position yourself with strength - forming a confident cohesive career narrative 

Whether you’re looking to make a career shift or not, I’d like to reward you ($$) for anyone you refer to this challenge. Just reply back to this email for your own personalized link to send to those in your network and I’ll give you 100% (yes really!) of the referral generated revenue 🤑

Confidently Communicate 🗣️

I’ve found that carve out time for myself, I’ve had to revisit and then revisit again boundaries: with myself, with loved ones and with work. I know this, especially for women, only gets harder if motherhood is part of your journey. I’m not yet at that chapter but know that my me time only remains sacred and untouched when I communicate (and then communicate again) the importance and boundary of leaving it untouched and unmoved on my calendar.

As an entrepreneur, this looks like Monday AMs and Friday afternoons are my time, totally free of phone calls and meetings.

As a job searcher, this looked like daily park walks that were non-negotiable - no matter my mood or weather.

As a wife, this looks like sacred Saturday mornings - free of social plans if we can help it.

I encourage you to carve out the time that works for you and protect it by sharing it (the commitment, not the time!) with others.

This week..

Until next week!

Jess Storiale