Accelerate Your Successful Career Transition

I look forward to speaking with you to learn more about your current career situation.

Scheduling a call means you're serious about getting out of career limbo.

This page outlines my methodology and how I work with professionals like you to transform your career growth and management plan.

Unlike most career coaches, I don’t come out of HR or recruiting. I’ve spent most of my career as a business executive and business owner.

I confess to being somewhat cynical about most recruiters and HR managers. I believe they work for the companies’ interests, not yours. You deserve better. You deserve a shot at the roles you’re best suited for. You deserve an advocate who will help you bring out the best you can offer, and use proven playbooks to get noticed, get considered, and get hired.

I will teach you how to better understand and express your unique value, and use networking and thought leadership as the tools to land your next job.

And the one after that. And the one after that.

If we haven't already scheduled a call, click below to set it up.

Schedule a Strategy Call

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Are You at a Crossroads?

Out of work for months, and your job search is going nowhere?
Lost your career mojo and don’t know how to get it back?
Know where you want to go, but don’t have a plan or a system to get there?

Whether you’ve been laid off, or lost your sense of meaning and purpose, or you’re being blocked from advancement, I do more than understand what you’re going through; I feel it because I’ve been there. Multiple times.

As a veteran (or refugee, take your pick) of a 35-year career in a volatile business, I was forced to adapt to adversity and develop a set of best practices to anticipate change and turn setbacks into successes.

I have packaged that skillset and offer it to my clients because the world of work has only gotten more treacherous.

Silhouette of a human head filled with various gears, with more gears extending outward, symbolizing complex thinking or the workings of the mind.

According to one study, just over 50% of workers over 50 will lose their jobs before they turn 60, either through attrition, layoffs, ageism, or other factors.

So learning these skills is increasingly important if you want to stay in the workforce.

Are You Wrestling With Any of These Questions...?

These are the key issues most mid-career job seekers are dealing with.

You’ve applied to dozens (maybe over 100) jobs without getting an interview? Maybe not even getting an acknowledgment or a reply?

Are you being told you’re “overqualified” for the positions you're applying to?

Do recruiters or hiring managers (or even friends/allies) tell you you’re “not the right fit” for a particular position?

Do you have a responsive, supportive professional network? Are your current and past colleagues connecting you to potential gigs, setting up informational interviews for you, and introducing you to like-minded professionals for additional ideas and referrals?

Is your resume up to date? Is your LinkedIn profile effectively telling your story? Do you struggle with setting up or using LinkedIn effectively?

Do you have a love-hate relationship with job interviews: you’re upset that you’re not getting any, but then are terrified that you’ll perform poorly if/when you get one?

You may have a network, but are you feeling awkward about contacting people without appearing needy? What are they going to think about you if you still haven’t landed a job after all these months?

Stop Following the Conventional “Wisdom”

To succeed, get interviews, and land job offers, you have to think and act differently:

Stop thinking that submitting your resume is going to get you considered (how many times have you been ghosted already?)
Stop saying you're “bad at networking.” The expression “Your network is your net worth” is truer than ever; you must make it your top strategy and top priority.
Stop saying that you “don’t know how to sell yourself.” You may be tired, discouraged, and distracted by the job search process, but you are your own best marketer. Stop outsourcing the job to resume/profile writers who aren’t as smart or successful as you are. Knowing how to express yourself will boost your confidence, which will improve your results.
Stop playing small or succumbing to imposter syndrome. Just because the world has changed (and keeps changing) doesn’t mean you're too old or no longer relevant.
Stop being a job seeker and become a career magnet!

I Don't

want you to fit into jobs that you just sorta “can do." (I want you to focus only on the jobs that you were born to do).
care if your resume is “ATS-friendly.” (You’re not going to rely on your resume)
care if you have “gaps” in your work history (Only mediocre candidates have uninterrupted work histories).
worry about your job interviews (You’re going to drive the agenda. Whatever the question, you’ll have the answer).
want you to hide your age or remove dates from your profile. (Why? Are you ashamed of your age or your experience? If they’re ageist, they’ll find out how old you are anyway.)

I Do

want you to define yourself as a specialist, not a generalist. Yes, you can do many things. But you can’t sell yourself as a jack of all trades (and master of none). Not in this skills-obsessed jobs market.
help you shift from a “spray & pray” focus on job applications to building a referral network that connects you to real people, sparks honest conversations, and gets you in the door.
work for you, the candidate. I’m not going to push you to take a job just because it’s being offered. Don’t compromise your integrity. You’re a valuable asset.
help you define and build your brand as a trusted subject matter expert, a sought-after resource, mentor, and authority on your business.

the Three Elements Framework

Define Your Superpower

This is the specific set of skills, abilities, and experiences that you use to define the ideal role you want to pursue.

Recruit Your Community

Build a community of like-minded professionals to help connect you to opportunities and attract referrals, recruiters, employers, and clients to you.

Build Your Brand

Stand up for what you stand for to build trust, authority, and credibility in your field and extend your reputation.

These 3 Elements create a powerful Flywheel.

Each element builds on the previous element.

The more you engage, the more eloquent and persuasive your story becomes, and the more you extend your reach and access to new connections and opportunities.

Learning Objectives and Syllabus

While the 3 Elements are the building blocks of my methodology, I encourage every client to begin with the self-reflection module to assess and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses - and what may be holding them back from making progress.

When covered sequentially, the modules work synergistically to create a powerful foundation for the flywheel effect to take place.

This is not just about getting your next job. This is about acquiring a skillset you’ll use for the rest of your career.

Module 1: Reflection

Goals: Clarify your career narrative, values, and zone of genius

Handouts: Ikigai worksheet, Reframing Limiting Beliefs

Outcome: Identify what you do best and where it matters most

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Module 2: Profile

Goals: Rebuild LinkedIn as a career marketing hub

Handouts: LI Headline + About Template, Experience Reframe Worksheet

Outcome: Position yourself as a mission-driven problem solver

Two hands holding white puzzle pieces above grass, aligning the pieces to fit together.

Module 3: Network & Community

Goals: Build a referral-based job search strategy

Handouts: Relationship Funnel Template, Personal Board of Directors Planner

Outcome: Build connections that advocate for you

A group of eight people participate in a video conference, each smiling and waving from their individual screens.

Module 4: Leadership & Brand

Goals: Define and share your thought leadership

Handouts: Topic Mapping Grid, Platform Strategy Guide

Outcome: Extend your reach, trust, and reputation

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What You’ll Take Away: A Personalized Action Plan

[ ] You translate what you love to do, and what you do well, into an articulate, useful, and sought-after value proposition that companies will recognize and be interested in talking with you about.

[ ] Your LinkedIn profile now works for you: recruiters, hiring managers, colleagues, and allies are engaging with you, sharing job opportunities, and setting up interviews.

[ ] Your growing, active referral network of professionals can now market for you, share your message, and connect you to others who share your values and vision.

[ ] You no longer fear or feel discomfort with networking: you know who you are and what you’re looking for. You’re curious and interested in others and adopt a service-oriented mindset in every situation.

[ ] You now earn more respect and trust as a subject matter expert, someone who is a specialist in their field, who offers relevant, effective solutions to what your target companies need.

[ ] Your job search strategy is more productive: you prioritize building professional relationships vs. submitting job applications. You connect with more people every week, conduct informational interviews, and navigate to real opportunities that are right for you.

[ ] You master your job interviews, defining the agenda for the conversation, making new allies, and turning each interview into a networking “win,” regardless of whether or not you get the offer.

[ ] You become a career magnet who knows what you’re worth. Stop being a supplicant, trying in vain to get the attention of biased or lazy recruiters and hiring managers.

[ ] You get your next job faster and lay the foundation of a resilient career.

FAQs

I’m on a tight budget. How do I justify this expense?

It’s not just semantics: coaching is a real investment with real results.

Statistically, workers over 50 are out of work for longer periods than their younger counterparts - with the average time extending to 6 months or more. If your coaching program accelerates getting a new job by as little as 2 weeks, it will pay for itself.

I want to wait and see how my current applications turn out...

Sounds reasonable. But ask yourself: Based on past results, are those applications likely to pan out? Even if you receive a viable offer, given the volatility of the job market, what are you going to do if/when you find yourself in the same situation two or three years from now? Why not take control of your career process now so you can become more resilient and more prepared for the future?

Will your methodology prepare me for job interviews?

Yes! By spending the time to reflect on your past accomplishments and define your strongest qualities, while also reconciling your challenges and missteps, you’ll have the answer to any question, plus an agenda that confidently expresses your value and lists your competitive advantages for the positions you’re being considered for.

How much time do I need to commit each week?

Plan on spending 1–3 hours between sessions on journaling, exercises, or outreach. This will vary by assignment and your individual situation.

Will this program help with my resume?

Definitely, yes. But it’s so much more. Your resume won’t get you your next job in today’s jobs market. With all due respect to resume writers, they only cover around 10% of the resources you need to get your next job.

What if I need support between sessions?

You’ll have unlimited email support and optional brief check-ins if something urgent or unclear comes up. We work especially closely on the LinkedIn profile, including Headline, About, and Experience sections.

Coaching Program Options

One of the following approaches will give you the structure AND the flexibility you need to discover and build a strong career strategy and a successful execution plan.

4-Session Bootcamp

You want a tighter engagement, clear deliverables, and fast turnaround. Ideal if you're on a tight timeline for a role, pivot, or high-stakes interview

4 weekly 60-minute coaching sessions
Condensed syllabus: 4 modules in 4 sessions
$1,900

8-Session Deep Dive

You’re ready for a significant shift and want a comprehensive strategy to get clarity, traction, and direction for your next chapter.

8 weekly 60-minute coaching sessions
Complete syllabus: 4 modules in 8 sessions
$3,600 (3 x $1,200 payments)

Choose Your Custom Adventure

You’ve independently mastered one or more of the 3 Elements, but you want targeted support to fill in the blanks and synchronize the complete set of skills. We’ll use the whole curriculum as a menu and co-design a program tailored to your exact needs.

Focus on one or more 3 Elements in depth.
Perfect for thought leadership, strategic positioning, or executive transition.
$475/60-min session (booked individually)

Executive Coaching - Monthly Retainer

For longer-term career transition goals, onboarding for a new job, managing relationships with managers and reports, and other related objectives.
(Ask about rates/programs)

All Programs Include:

Full suite of exercises, playbooks, and feedback

Unlimited email support

Targeted phone calls as needed.

More Client Insights...

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John helped me transition into a challenging role at a promising startup after working many years in large companies. His wide knowledge of industries, deep understanding of organization dynamics, and, most importantly, his ability to empathize and get to the crux of navigating career challenges are unparalleled. - John C., FinTech TPM, Data, Business Intelligence Leader

John C.

FinTech TPM, Data, Business Intelligence Leader

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I went from being a jack of all trades to a very unique specialist. My pitch to clients/future employers is very strategic now, and I am really enjoying this new part of my career. John's availability, level of care, and communication were well above and beyond my expectations.

Jim L.

Chief Growth Officer/Culinary Product & Business Development

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Your advice to "own" your age gave me the confidence to be my authentic self. As it turns out, the CEO of this company was looking for someone with exactly my experience. One week and two interviews later I have what is potentially the best opportunity of my career

Michael G.

Chief Operations Officer

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Starting a new business from scratch is a daunting task. I would not have been able to do this without John’s guidance. John stepped in with a clear plan and coached me through each step, listening carefully and tailoring his methodology to address my individual needs and questions.

Chris G.

Professional Sports League Leadership Consultant

Call Preparation Checklist

Now that you’ve read this information page, I want to build on the questions you answered on your intake form.

Take a moment to think more deeply about these questions so we can delve into our conversation and explore whether working together might be the right move.

What’s your current career goal or next step?
What’s holding you back from getting there?
What’s the biggest frustration you’ve experienced recently in your search or job?
What kinds of roles, projects, or people energize you most?
What does your ideal work week look like (even in broad strokes)?
How are you currently using (or avoiding) LinkedIn?
What feedback have you received that’s stuck with you (good or bad)?
What does “success” mean for you in the next 6–12 months?
Based on what you’ve read, if you were ready to proceed, which program feels like the best fit?

We’ll use your answers to tailor the program to your needs—and help you set specific, meaningful goals.