Tips for Work and Life with Andrew LaCivita

Most professionals don't struggle because they lack experience.   They struggle because they can't remember the details that give their accomplishments life. When resumes need updating or interview stories come up, people realize how much context and impact they've lost over time. And memory is a terrible career strategy. That's why today's lesson shows you how to capture your career wins so you c...

I hate that I even have to write this. But fake recruiters and fake job postings are everywhere right now. And job seekers are being targeted hard. That's not because you're careless. It's because scammers go after people who are motivated, hopeful, and actively searching. That's you. What makes this worse is how convincing these scams have become. In fact, a couple months ago, one of my clients s...

Few interview questions create more damage with fewer words. Not because it's hard. But because people answer it at the worst possible time, with the least possible leverage. Most candidates think this question is about money. It isn't. It's about timing, power, and whether you understand how hiring decisions actually get made. Say a number too early and you either leave money on the table you'll...

Does it feel like you're not growing in your career? Perhaps not learning much? Or building new skills? Or not sure which skills to even build? Maybe you're noticing other people passing you by. You're thinking, Why does she get the promotion? I'm just as good. If any of those questions are tugging at you, you're in luck, because I've got a lesson today wrapped in a little story with a big punch t...

If you're rehearsing your stories five minutes before an interview, you're cooked. I'm not saying that to be dramatic. I'm saying it because it's true. Right before an interview is not the time to cram, memorize examples, or mentally sprint through your résumé. This will just get you tense, not to mention self-focused ( 🤔 , hmmm, what's he mean here? ). Interviewers can feel your tension. It beco...

January is one of the busiest and most misunderstood periods of the hiring year. Behind the scenes, companies are launching new initiatives, trying to staff teams faster than most job candidates realize, and, unfortunately for them, replacing unexpected employee departures.   Recruiters are active. Hiring managers are under pressure. Roles are opening that weren't planned just days earlier.   Toda...

Let me ask you something honest. Have you ever looked at your effort and thought, "There's no way I should still be here?" You show up. You work hard. You try to do the right things. Yet your career, your goals, or whatever you want still feel out of reach. I've coached thousands of people through this exact frustration. The problem is almost never effort. Most people work plenty hard. That isn't...

Everyone is trying to predict the job market right now. Most of them are staring at headlines and waiting for someone to tell them what's going to happen in 2026. That's the slowest way to build your career. There's a much better approach, and that's what I'm teaching in this off-schedule Sunday lesson. You'll learn why I never chase trends and how I make decisions that stand the test of time. The...

Job searching can be brutal. It tests your patience, your confidence, and your resolve. But if you shift your focus from results to wisdom , everything changes. That's what I'm teaching in this week's lesson, how to use your job search to make you a better professional. In the podcast, I share a personal story about recently finishing my new book. It's now off and running with the publisher, movin...

Most job seekers prepare for interviews the wrong way. They start by memorizing answers to questions like "Tell me about a time you disagreed with your boss" or "Describe a challenge you overcame." But that's backwards. Those questions aren't about your disagreement skills or your ability to solve one random problem. They're about whether you can transform the company—their team, their performance...

Most candidates talk about what they can do. The best ones show it. When an employer asks for a presentation, it's not a test of PowerPoint skills. It's a test of whether you understand what they actually buy: transformation, not tasks. Your goal isn't to list skills or repeat your resume. It's to prove you can help them hit their goals and do it through a well-structured story. This week's lesson...

Interviewers don't wait until you finish your story to decide if they like you. They decide while you're still taking your first breath. In those first 15 seconds, they're asking, "Do I trust this person? Do they get what matters here?" Most candidates waste that window listing tasks or backstory. The best ones win it by showing they understand the real business problem and hinting at the result t...

Most people think success comes from constant hustle. It doesn't. It comes from patience mixed with smart action. Most people chase quick wins. I learned the real secret is patience mixed with purpose. When you think long-term, you make better short-term decisions. You stop chasing every shiny idea and start stacking small wins that lead to something big. Back in 2015, I made a decision that teste...

Perfectionism is the great career stall. Most people don't slow down because they're lazy. They slow down because they want everything just right before they move. Job seekers spend months polishing résumés, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles before they ever start actually searching. Professionals over-edit reports and presentations until the opportunity passes. They all have the same problem…w...

Most managers don't actually manage people. They manage tasks. They tell. They correct. They rarely coach. That's the difference between a boss people tolerate and a leader people trust. When you learn how to coach and mentor someone, everything changes. You build loyalty and develop people who think for themselves. This week's lesson shares a simple four-step framework to help you manage people m...

Last week, we spent five full days together building and fine-tuning your résumé. You now have a marketing document that's designed to get you noticed. But here's the #1 mistake most job seekers make right now… they slow down. They assume the holidays are dead time. They think no one's hiring until January. They coast into the new year. That couldn't be further from the truth. November through Feb...

Last month I celebrated my 59th. It had me reflecting on the biggest influences that rerouted my path, especially the books that shaped my mindset, my career, my health, and even my view of the universe. These aren't just books I enjoyed. They are turning points that literally changed how I live. Some helped me become a better teacher, others taught me discipline and financial independence, and a...

It was 3:08 in the morning. May of last year. I was in my office already a lofty 8 minutes into my day. Headphones on, speaking (uh, reading) into a microphone… and yelling at ducks. Yes, ducks. As I tried to record a passage for The Zebra Code audiobook, those feathered freeloaders on my backyard lake quacked like it was their job. I must've sounded like a lunatic, hollering "Come on! I need 75 q...

When you walk into an interview, you know the tough ones are coming. 👉 How do you handle problems? 👉 How do you serve customers? 👉 How do you disagree? 👉 How do you influence? 👉 How do you lead? 👉 What are you passionate about? These aren't just "questions." They're tests. Each one is designed to uncover whether you can think critically, collaborate, lead, and actually thrive in their enviro...

You've got the skills. You've done the prep. But the moment you walk into the room (or log into Zoom), it's like you're playing a different game. Everything seemed fine when you were doing the work and sailing through the projects. But to articulate that to someone who doesn't know you…ugh. In these cases, your words matter. Your tone matters. And don't even get me started on your posture, your fa...

We've all been there. You say something. You think it makes sense. But the reaction you get? Confused. Unmoved. Maybe even tuned out. Ugh. Communication isn't about what you say. It's about what the other person hears and, more importantly, how they feel and act because of it. If you're not getting the results you want from your conversations, whether in meetings, emails, presentations, or even ca...

If you've ever thought I want to build wealth, but I'm not sure where to start. You're not alone. Good news! You don't need to read 100 finance books. You just need the right ones. In this week's lesson, I'm sharing 5 powerful books that'll help you build wealth and maximize your earning power. These aren't just theory-packed reads. They are the exact books I'd recommend if you asked me, "What sho...

You've probably heard the phrase "don't sweat the small stuff." Well, I'm here to tell you to do the exact opposite. If you want to perform at the highest level, if you want to grow in your role, get promoted, or become a standout in your field, you better sweat the small stuff.  Because that's where mastery lives.  This week, I'm sharing one of the most important performance lessons I can give yo...

Do you ever feel like you don't have much to offer?   Like your experience is ordinary? Obvious? Nothing special? If so, you're not alone. But you are wrong. Today, I'm sharing one of the most important messages I can give you… Your story has value. It matters. It can help someone. The problem is, most people undervalue their experiences because they're consider their experiences in terms of what...

There's a career skill no one taught you in school. It's not on your resume. It's rarely on a job description. But it's the difference between being heard and being trusted. Between managing and truly leading.   Empathy.   And here's the kicker…   Most people think they have it. But very few understand what it actually is or how to build it.   Today's lesson is one of my most personal. I'll walk y...