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Michael Gardon

Writer's pictureMichael Gardon

Banish The Uncertainty Holding You Back - The Break Issue 61

Updated: Mar 13



This episode is brought to you by


​Cityside Capital​, a real estate private equity company focused on multifamily, self-storage, industrial and other assets that generate passive income opportunities for investors.


To learn more about their uncorrelated strategies for building wealth through real estate, contact ​Paul ​directly, and tell him you heard him on #thebreak!


#61 Banish The Uncertainty Holding You Back.


So Paul Dierks knew he was destined for more out of work-life. He came to me to help him sort through the career uncertainty of leaving his Wall Street job to figure out his next chapter. I just release a podcast episode about his journey you can find below or go check out the break pod on apple, spotify or youtube.


You know you've had that same feeling - of not being on the right path. That subtle rumble can turn into a deafening roar quickly.


I know that feeling well.


As I've said in past issues - I'm the guy who never knew what he wanted to do when he grew up, and I still don't.


So, I've become somewhat of an "expert" on career uncertainty, and what it takes to step forward into change.


While change is becoming more and more certain, we feel more uncertain about the steps we should take.

The only way to crush the uncertainty we feel about the next steps in our careers is to get comfortable not knowing. Which is a huge shift Paul had to make.


I believe this is the single greatest skill we can learn if we want to achieve our hopes and dreams to get what we want out of life.


This is why The UnBREAKable Community exists.


So I want to share our 5 core principles that we live inside the community.


First, here's what the community is.


Instead of shelling out a few thousand dollars to work directly with me, in this community:

  • We are a "humanhood" of early and mid career professionals who have that feeling of needing something more from work

  • We support each other to crush the uncertainty that prevents us from taking steps to get what we want out of life

  • We learn to make your next career move with confidence and boldness by:

  • Building a model of our unique selves through my Advantage Mapping System

  • Using our decision making framework and templates

  • Mitigating downsides and “Fear Setting”

  • Getting help from a veteran “Career Breaker” (me) on weekly calls

  • Getting support from others working through their own career changes

Right now use the code ​THEBREAK100OFF​ and get a year membership for only $149.

When you do, you'll also get a free 1:1 call with me ($400 value)!


Back to the Newsletter --> 5 Principles To Smash Career Uncertainty


These are the principles we live in the UnBREAKable Community:


1. Our identity is not given to us by anyone or any job. We give ourselves meaning.


Our society is obsessed with titles and job roles, status and other people's opinions (bosses).


We can't hop on that treadmill of thinking we need to always do more, get the next job, or buy a bigger house. These are society's scripts, and they are traps.


You are not your job. Paul and I smashed this concept, and unlocked new opportunities for him.


You have the power to define who you are and what you want. Not for the approval of other people, but for yourself.


When we understand this principle, we give ourselves permission to break free from the confines of traditional career expectations. We begin to see a wider set of possibilities, and we begin to believe in carving our own unique path.


2. Belief is the greatest superpower. We cultivate it.


Every how can be endured if there is a why.


There are many facets to building belief, but connecting to a why is the most powerful.


So we do the hard work to uncover our whys, and we work hard to never forget them.


Other ways we build our "Belief Flywheel" in the community are:


  • focus on using our strengths and advantages over improving our weaknesses

  • Tracking our "wins" to stay in The Gain - a powerful concept coined in ​this book​ by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan

  • smartly mitigate downside and properly frame risk in our decisions

  • Connect to our future and chart a logical path

3. We have the right to change and evolve over time. Our past does not define us.


You do not have to be the decision your 18 year old self made.


This is a BREAKthrough Paul and I made together while doing the Advantage Mapping work.


Just because you majored in finance or education or computer science doesn't mean you need to stay locked in that path forever.


Your past experiences and choices should never shackle you to a single career path.


We embrace the idea that change and evolution are empowering part of growth.


Your 18 year old version of yourself should never have the responsibility of charting the rest of your life.


4. Intention and Imagination BREAK resistance to change.


Here's all the resistances I hear to moving into change:

  • I don't have time

  • I've already invested so much in this career (Sunk Cost Fallacy)

  • How will I make money?

  • I don't know what else I could do

  • I don't know how to choose

  • I don't know what I want

  • I'm scared of what other people will say (FOPO)

  • Change is risky!?

Every single one can be solved for with a little creativity - and wether you think you are or not, YOU are a creative being.


We IMAGINE how we can solve for problems in multiple ways, and we use our INTENTION to weed out shiny objects that don't align with where we want to go.


Those two things BREAK our resistance so we can start to move forward.


5. We can be scared. But we act anyway.


You have permission to be scared.


I'm scared every single day. So is every person that has ever faced a change.


Think about it - the only difference between you and someone who just got fired, is you're thinking about changing ON PURPOSE.


It's the same fear. One forced, one voluntary.


We feel the fear, and we go anyway.


We can do it because we're building the capacity to continue adapting on the fly. We are building the resilience muscle each time we go.


Because anything worth doing involves fear.


And anything worth going after is on the other side.


To deal better with uncertainty, start living these principles.


If you want to become UnBREAKable the next time you face a change, ​join us​.


You made it to the end, so if any of this resonated with you, I'd love to see you as a member of ​The Break Community​. It will be one of the best decisions you will make, and don't forget to use the code THEBREAK100OFF.


Wishing you boldness and clarity,


Mike



--


Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:


1. Join the ​Community​, or ​book an intro call​ with me!

2. Get in the conversation on Linkedin. Messages are open - anyone can say hi here.

3. Promote your brand/business to 14k+ subscribers by sponsoring our newsletter contact partners@rejoinmedia.com (Booked out 4 weeks)


Resources To Make Your BREAK


  • Curated Job Board: I teamed up with Pallet to create a tech focused, remote first board. I’d love it if you joined 20+ followers. Maybe, just maybe you’ll find your next big opportunity here.

  • Career Quiz: Take the Advantage Mapping step of learning how you're wired and for what roles!

  • Recommended Reading: My list of must reads to BREAK your view of the world and what's possible for you.

  • Side Hustle Database: Over 200+ ideas to bring out your creative side as you explore your path. Maybe it will end up being your BREAK!

  • LinkedIn Headline Analyzer: See how your LinkedIn headline stacks up and how you can improve it to attract better opportunities.


The Latest Conversation on THE BREAK Pod


I am beyond excited for today's conversation. We've got a guest who's not only a fantastic individual but has an inspiring journey to share.


I want you to meet Paul Dircks. Now, Paul and I go way back. We connected earlier this year when he reached out for some coaching during a pivotal moment in his life. Today, we're going to dive into his transformative journey and discuss how he navigated some tough decisions, ultimately leading to where he is now.


For those of you curious about personal transformations, career pivots, and the nitty-gritty of making life-altering decisions, you're in for a treat. Paul's story is packed with insights, inspiration, and a sprinkle of motivation that could very well be the push you need.


Now, here's a sneak peek: Paul embarked on a health journey that saw him shedding over 50 pounds, and trust me, the lessons he learned along the way extend far beyond the gym. We'll touch on the parallels between health and career, those breakthrough moments that catalyze change, and the nitty-gritty details of what it takes to redefine your path.


But before we dive in, let me remind you that you can learn more about Paul on his ​website​. And hey, don't forget to connect with him on ​LinkedIn​. There's so much more to discover, and I can't wait for you to hear the wisdom Paul is about to drop.



You made it to the end! Hopefully you learned something about breaking your career today! If so, please share this with someone you care about.


P.S. What did you think of today's email? Click one of the ratings below to send us your feedback. We'd love to know what you think!


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ​This was super helpful!​

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ​Could be better.​



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