Aligned Ambition with Pooja V.

When you’re in a career transition, the people around you will inevitably ask, “So what do you want to do next?” And even though they’re SO well meaning and just want to help… Those conversations often make you feel worse instead of better. In this episode, I break down 4 reasons why that happens. (It’s not you. It’s not them. This is 100% normal.)  I tell you what you need to have better, more pr...

When I say “stop trying to do a good job,” I do NOT mean “coast, relax, slack off, or just phone it in.” I know that you are ALLERGIC to ever doing that – because me too! I once fired a therapist for telling me to “just relax.” So when I say “stop trying to do a good job,” I mean:  STOP solving the “am I good enough?” problem. And START solving someone else’s problem. Because success, achievement,...

My parents are not the stereotypical Asian immigrant parents. And my dad has created a lot of traditional success for himself…in an untraditional way. So this (day after) Father’s Day, let’s take a look at what high achievers that are “traditionally successful in a traditional way” can learn from his story :) Book a Free Career Audit here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact And email me anytime wi...

I am recovering from a nasty flu this week, and recording a new podcast episode just wasn't on the cards. So instead, we'll be revisiting one of my most popular series from the past - 5 quick career experiments you could do this week! One experiment will drop each day this week.  Happy experimenting! And if you want my help structuring and interpreting your career experiments so you can ge...

I am recovering from a nasty flu this week, and recording a new podcast episode just wasn't on the cards. So instead, we'll be revisiting one of my most popular series from the past - 5 quick career experiments you could do this week! One experiment will drop each day this week.  Happy experimenting! And if you want my help structuring and interpreting your career experiments so you can ge...

I am recovering from a nasty flu this week, and recording a new podcast episode just wasn't on the cards. So instead, we'll be revisiting one of my most popular series from the past - 5 quick career experiments you could do this week! One experiment will drop each day this week.  Happy experimenting! And if you want my help structuring and interpreting your career experiments so you can ge...

I am recovering from a nasty flu this week, and recording a new podcast episode just wasn't on the cards. So instead, we'll be revisiting one of my most popular series from the past - 5 quick career experiments you could do this week! One experiment will drop each day this week.  Happy experimenting! And if you want my help structuring and interpreting your career experiments so you can ge...

I am recovering from a nasty flu this week, and recording a new podcast episode just wasn't on the cards. So instead, we'll be revisiting one of my most popular series from the past - 5 quick career experiments you could do this week! One experiment will drop each day this week.  Happy experimenting! And if you want my help structuring and interpreting your career experiments so you can ge...

I am recovering from a nasty flu this week, and recording a new podcast episode just wasn't on the cards. So instead, we'll be revisiting one of my most popular series from the past - 5 quick career experiments you could do this week! One experiment will drop each day this week. Happy experimenting! And if you want my help structuring and interpreting your career experiments so you can get...

When high achievers feel burnt out or dissatisfied with their careers, their first question is usually: What should I do NEXT? But I think it’s very important to first ask: What’s not working NOW? Because if you don’t correctly diagnose that… You run the risk of making a change and feeling exactly the way you feel right now, 6-12 months from now. But you don’t have to start from scratch in figurin...

We’re at the final installment of our five-part series! In the last four episodes, we’ve covered… Mistake #1: Not being clear on what you want and not owning it. Mistake #2: Trying to “arrive” or “make it.” Mistake #3: Focusing on your weaknesses vs. investing your strengths. Mistake #4: Not finding the “handshake” between your superpowers and a high-value problem. And today, we’re talking about M...

If you’re a high achiever in a prestigious job that is making you feel burnt out, disillusioned, or disconnected… But you can’t walk away because you don’t know what you’d do next… You’re probably making one of these 5 career mistakes.  And it’s making you feel stuck where you are and confused about your next step. This week’s podcast episode is all about Mistake #4: Not finding the “handshake” be...

High achievers are AMAZING at focusing on their weaknesses and TERRIBLE at focusing on their strengths.  That sounds like a good thing – until you realize that it leads you to build a weakness-based strategy for your career, instead of a strengths-based strategy. And a weakness-based strategy never wins. This week’s episode is all about High Achiever Career Mistake #3: Focusing on your weaknesses...

If you’re a high achiever who knows SOMETHING has to change in your career…  But you’re stuck in figuring out exactly WHAT that change is, and what you want to do next… You’re probably making one of these 5 career mistakes. And it’s keeping you spinning in circles, instead of moving forward with clarity and confidence. This week’s podcast episode is all about Mistake #2: Trying to “arrive” or “mak...

If you’re a high achiever who worked really hard to build your career, and you thought you’d feel successful, happy, and fulfilled by now… But instead, you’re feeling stressed, dissatisfied, and like something’s not quite right… You’re probably making one of these 5 key career mistakes. You haven’t screwed things up. There’s nothing wrong with you. And you’re not being privileged or ungrateful. Th...

When you get promoted, there are 5 key skills you need to succeed at your new level.  NONE of them are “be good at the core job.” Being good at the core job is table stakes.  What you need to succeed are 5 NEW skills (or 5 skills that you’ll be spending significantly more time on than before). For a breakdown of all 5 skills and how to build them, listen to this week’s podcast episode. And then bo...

The most important thing, when you’re trying to cure or avoid burnout, is to understand what CAUSES burnout. Because the last thing you want to do is change your job and overhaul your life… only to find yourself burnt out again 6-12 months later. High achievers think burnout is caused by long hours, demanding bosses, and high-pressure targets. And while those things are correlated, they’re not the...

If you’ve achieved some measure of external success, but something still feels “off” in your career, this podcast episode is for you. Achieving the things you’ve worked so hard for – and then finding yourself unhappy or unfulfilled on the other side is…confusing. You wonder: Have I done something wrong? Am I on the wrong path? You look down the long road of the rest of your career, and you’re like...

Have you ever made a grand plan to do a big project over several days…only to find yourself scrambling at the last minute to get it done? Or told yourself you’ll get up early to work out…only to hit snooze six times the next morning? Or even promised you’ll stop working late in the evenings and spend more time with your family…only to find yourself writing ONE last email before you log off? This w...

This week, I’m making something publicly available for the very first time. Normally, you have to get on a consult call with me to hear about this… But I decided to release it out into the world for everyone to see. It is: My 7 point decision making checklist for whether or not to invest in a coach. And I wanted to make it publicly available because, too often, when something is off in our lives… ...

I want you to imagine all the elements of your A+ career. The title. The compensation. The trajectory. The hours. The day-to-day work. The location. The fit with the rest of your life. Chances are, within 3 seconds of even STARTING to imagine that A+ career… Your brain shut you down and said, “That’s not possible.” And guess what? You’re right. It might not be possible. But in today’s podcast epis...

Many high achievers hit a point in their career where they feel the need to “declare a major.”  They’ve done a variety of things so far. They feel like a general problem-solver. But they also feel like, as they progress in their career, “I’ve done a lot of things, and I can do anything!” is not the most compelling pitch. It feels like people prefer to hear, “I can do this SPECIFIC thing. That’s my...

The only way to progress in your career is to do things you’ve never done before – aka, sign up for stretch opportunities. Stretch roles and projects are the rocket fuel that can power your career forward…and the trial-by-fire that can burn you out. Whether you’re holding yourself back from asking for one (and knowing it’s holding your career back too)... Or whether you’re actively in one, and try...

There’s this common (but rarely spoken about) phenomenon that a lot of high achievers experience partway through their careers. They USED to have so much clarity, certainty, and conviction about their career path. They thought hard. They tried different things. They did all the assessments.  And they figured out what they wanted to do. Amazing! And now, several years down that path… With real succ...

Most high achievers are allergic to celebrating their successes. At best, celebrating feels corny and fake.   It feels like something you “should” do, like your gratitude journal. (And then you feel kind of bad for not doing it.) At worst, celebrating feels dangerous.  Resting on your laurels will make you arrogant and complacent…  Pride goeth before the fall…  The moment you relax is the moment t...