Invincible Career - Claim your power and regain your freedom

Episódios

• Why I'm Quitting Career Coaching - After 10 Years (Issue 694) 01.07.2026 31min

  This summer is kinda special. I will be celebrating 10 years of career coaching. What started as an experiment turned into a real business and a fresh start after I shut down my tech startup. I’ve met some wonderful people, worked with great clients, and enjoyed the journey. This will also be the summer I turn 60. Yikes! Just writing those words feels crazy. It sounds so old! Luckily, I don’t feel old, thanks to investing so much in my health and fitness. It also helped to step away from the stress of my old corporate job when I left in 2010 to take control of my destiny. Stress ages you. I’ve even lost friends and colleagues all too soon, and I blame the stress of that lifestyle for contributing to the issues that took them away so young. I’ve talked about the cycles of life before, and how I’ve noticed a repeating 10-year cycle in my life of change and reinvention. I guess that partly explains what I’m announcing this week. ⬆️ I discuss everything in more detail in the audio for this episode, so scroll up, hit play, and check it out. Taking a coaching breakAt almost 60 years of age, and after a decade of coaching, I’m giving myself the gift of stepping away (a bit). I think the time has come. * My life and my needs have evolved. * I’ve become a different person. * The industry has shifted.* The world has changed. So, I’m taking a break from accepting new career coaching clients (perhaps forever). Of course, I’m still working with a few clients on retainer, and other engagements are in progress and will need to wind down over the rest of the year. Also, if we’re friends, or we’ve enjoyed working together before, I may make an exception here or there. But that’s about it. Instead, I am shifting my focus to my new Exit Blueprint business coaching and Gen X life coaching. I will also offer a few courses, workshops, and retreats throughout the year (I miss working with folks in the real world). So, even though I won’t offer new one-on-one career coaching, I will have courses and workshops: * The Invincible Goals System (success strategies and planning to achieve your goals)* The Invincible Job Quest (job searching, interviews, and negotiations) * The Exit Blueprint (business design, planning, and testing self-employment) This change will free up my time for all the side quests I’ve put on hold for years (e.g., finishing my book, writing fiction, making music again, painting, etc.). Of course, I’ll still be working out every day, hiking as much as possible, traveling the world, and visiting my children often. Life is too short! Newsletter and podcastSo, what happens with this newsletter and podcast? That’s a great question. I’ve written almost 700 articles to share my advice on the job search, interviews, getting promoted, dealing with bosses and coworkers, and generally making yourself so valuable and known that you get to call the shots in your career. My podcast episodes date back over six and a half years. I know many people aren’t even aware of half of what I’ve written and shared in my podcast. So, I’ll resurface more of my evergreen advice and freshen up details to make sure they are relevant for today’s working world. If something ignites my passion (or anger 🤣) about a recent event or topic, I’m sure I won't be able to resist writing about it. But I don’t think I need to write any more articles about how to interview, using AI for this or that, or how to bypass all the BS that is keeping people from finding better jobs. I’ve shared the secrets to all of that so many times. I know some people listened and landed great gigs. Others ignored it, kept trying the same old approach, and wondered why it's not working. Literally yesterday, I saw someone post…“Hey, I don’t think the traditional job search and application process works anymore! I’ve been struggling to get any interviews for almost 2 years. Now, I’m bypassing recruiting and automated systems to connect with people directly and get my resume into the hands of hiring managers. It’s working!” 🙄 Sigh… It makes me so weary. Seriously. You just realized that? Even though I’ve been beating that drum for 10 years?!? And I know you’ve seen my articles that I post every week for those 10 years. Okay… I guess you can lead a horse to water, but… Yeah, I’m done leading horses to water and watching them not drink—over and over again. Either you get it, or you don’t. I want to have more fun with the podcast. I want to invite more entertaining guests and have enjoyable conversations with people who have wisdom to share and stories from their amazing careers and lives. I’ll be dipping into my network that I’ve grown for over 30 years and reconnecting with some fun and familiar faces. So, I guess that’s that!* 60 years of life (soon). * 20+ years in my tech career. * Another 10 years of career coaching. It's time for a new adventure! I’m excited about focusing on business coaching and life coaching. I’m really, really tired of American corporations and the games they play. I had to live it during my own career. After that, I had to hear horror stories and try to help people navigate their careers. So, now I’d rather help good people live more amazing lives through self-employment, early semi-retirement, and chasing more adventures before time runs out. Thank you for being a reader and a listener! I will still be writing articles and recording podcast episodes. That won’t change. And I still have the community for the few people who enjoy the support and encouragement of like-minded peers. A big thanks to those of you who became clients! And for those of you I never got a chance to work with, sorry. I guess it won’t happen now. But maybe I’ll see you in one of my courses, workshops, or retreats. Or, you may be one of those few brave souls who decide to take the same leap I did, escape the 9-5 world, and create your own path. If so, check out my Exit Blueprint business coaching. Larry Cornett, Ph.D., is a career coach who spent 20+ years in Silicon Valley at Apple, IBM, Yahoo, eBay, and several startups as a designer, leader, and product and design executive. Whether you're fighting for a promotion, navigating a layoff, or planning your exit to independence, he combines executive experience with psychological insight to help ambitious professionals reclaim their power and build an Invincible Career. Would you like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee? Check out my ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee. I’m self-employed, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your help! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• How to Navigate the First 7 Days After a Layoff (Issue 688) 10.06.2026 32min

  I recorded a podcast episode for my recently updated article on navigating the first week after a layoff. Written version linked below… Larry Cornett, Ph.D., is a career coach who spent 20+ years in Silicon Valley at Apple, IBM, Yahoo, eBay, and several startups as a designer, leader, and product and design executive. Whether you're fighting for a promotion, navigating a layoff, or planning your exit to independence, he combines executive experience with psychological insight to help ambitious professionals reclaim their power and build an Invincible Career. ➡️ Ready to create an exciting future? Book a free call today to learn how! Would you like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee? Check out my ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee. I’m self-employed, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your help! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• Don't Be Vulnerable If They Are in the Room (Issue 685) 20.05.2026 28min

  Do you feel you spend your days working in your job and trying to keep everyone happy, but you never have the time to invest in yourself? Unfortunately, that’s pretty common. In this episode, I talk about the need for you to take time away from the office to focus on your career development, leadership development, and/or personal development. Episode summary* Start Investing in Yourself: Who is focusing on making you happy and helping you future-proof your career? If your boss isn’t, we will. * Virtual Burnout is Real: We’re all tired of sitting behind the Zoom screen. That’s why I’m moving beyond online workshops to bring more training and experiences back into the real world.* 3 In-Person Events I’m Planning:* The Invincible Job Quest: A 1-2-day workshop in the real world for navigating your job search, practicing interview techniques, negotiating salaries, and more.* Provide your input on the format and agenda* The Exit Blueprint: A 2-day deep-dive for experienced professionals to plan a future strategic transition into semi-retirement through self-employment (without draining your precious nest egg). * Learn more about planning your escape business* Provide input and sign up to be notified * The Leadership Retreat: A weekend escape to rewrite your leadership operating manual, navigate leadership challenges in the age of AI, define your legacy, and plan what comes next for you.* Learn more about these retreats* Provide your input on the agenda * Note: Leaders Need Off-campus Retreats: Corporate training sessions frequently fail because you can’t be completely honest and vulnerable in front of your boss or peers (who are often your competitors). My upcoming retreats offer a confidential, safe space with peers from other companies where you can be yourself and truly solve your toughest leadership challenges without fear of political fallout. * Join Us in a Beautiful, Fun Setting: To get started, we are looking at locations around Lake Tahoe and the Bay Area in California. We want places where we can enjoy nature, disconnect from the demands of the office, reconnect with your purpose, and redefine your future. Not sure which event is right for you? Have questions about any of this? Schedule a free call with me to chat more about it! Larry Cornett, Ph.D., is a career coach who spent 20+ years in Silicon Valley at Apple, IBM, Yahoo, eBay, and several startups as a designer, leader, and product and design executive. Whether you're fighting for a promotion, navigating a layoff, or planning your exit to independence, he combines executive experience with psychological insight to help ambitious professionals reclaim their power and build an Invincible Career. ➡️ Ready to create an exciting future? Book a free call today to learn how! Would you like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee? Check out my ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee. I’m self-employed, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your help! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 AI Won't Just Automate Jobs; It Will Challenge Identities (Issue 677) 08.04.2026 38min

  My guest for this episode is Peter Morville. Peter is a pioneer in the fields of information architecture (IA) and user experience. His bestselling books include Information Architecture, Intertwingled, Search Patterns, Ambient Findability, and Planning for Everything. He has been helping people to plan since 1994, and advises such clients as AT&T, Cisco, Harvard, IBM, the Library of Congress, Macy’s, the National Cancer Institute, and Vodafone. He has delivered keynotes and workshops in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. His work has been covered by NPR, The Economist, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2024, Peter founded Sentient Sanctuary, a nonprofit think tank and animal sanctuary, and wrote a philosophical IA novel, Animals Are People. He blogs at intertwingled.org. Peter’s IA book has been on my shelf since 1998, when I was a young designer first learning how to design websites (after designing software at IBM and Apple). So, I’ve been a fan for a long time! He has some intriguing thoughts on the future of tech and the impact of AI on careers, so I know you’ll enjoy this episode.SummarySpeaking of AI, here’s an AI-generated summary of our podcast transcript. It’s kinda good for tasks like this, right? We talk, it listens, and then it summarizes. * AI skepticism has been earned. Peter spent 25 years professionally advising clients to be skeptical of AI hype, and then ChatGPT changed his mind. The lesson: evaluate each wave on its own merits rather than defaulting to either enthusiasm or dismissal. * We’re in the fog of war. No one (not the CEOs, nor the researchers) can see clearly beyond the next year or two of AI’s trajectory. The smart career move is to keep your eyes and options open rather than betting everything on one prediction about how this unfolds.* Question the motives behind the hype. When tech executives insist AI must permeate everything, consider who profits. As I put it: the CEO of Nvidia telling everyone to use AI is like the CEO of Oreo telling us to eat 50 cookies a day. Follow the money before following the advice.* Technology follows fashion cycles. Peter’s observation that tech trends work like fashion is underappreciated. You fight the fashion at your own peril (e.g., resisting Agile during its rise). The skill is learning to ride the wave strategically while waiting to see what actually remains when the dust settles.* AI disruption is exponentially faster this time. Unlike the Industrial Revolution, where ripple effects took generations, this wave is hitting engineering, design, legal, medical, and other white-collar jobs simultaneously. Robotics will soon follow for blue-collar workers. Speed is the new variable that makes historical analogies imperfect.* AI as a coding tool has a hidden failure mode. We discussed a cautionary tale. A veteran CTO went “all in” for 90 days only to find AI-generated code nearly impossible to debug when it broke. Productivity gains can mask a dangerous loss of deep understanding.* Your identity is not your job title or employer. One of the most powerful moments: Peter’s deliberate effort to give up being “the information architect” after 25 years, and my coaching exercise of asking people to introduce themselves without mentioning their company or title. The people who can’t do it are the most vulnerable to identity collapse in a disruption.* Redefine yourself by going back to childhood. When Peter hit age 40, he started thinking about retiring at 50 to have the freedom to do something else. Initially, he struggled to identify what he would do if money wasn’t a motivator. His breakthrough came from remembering what he loved as a kid: animals. That led to a 48-acre farm sanctuary in Virginia. Reconnecting with your pre-career self is a powerful reinvention strategy.* The future belongs to purpose-driven solopreneurs. AI is making it possible for one person to do what used to require a larger team. Combined with the decline of lifelong corporate careers, Peter and I see an opportunity for individuals who build around something they care about, rather than chasing traditional big-company careers. * Ask better questions than “What won’t AI automate?” Peter reframed this perfectly: the less obvious and more important questions are Where can I find purpose? What will make me want to get up in the morning? Career resilience in the AI era isn’t just about skill-proofing; it’s about building a life around meaning that no algorithm can replace. ⬆️ Scroll up and hit play to listen to our conversation. Where to find out more* Intertwingled (Peter’s blog) * Sentient Sanctuary (his nonprofit animal sanctuary) Schedule a complimentary call with me if you want to discuss your career goals and how I can help. I’m Larry Cornett, a career coach for ambitious professionals who might be feeling a bit stuck, frustrated, and unfulfilled. Reclaim your confidence to design the life you want and the work you’ll enjoy. 📕 Check out The Invincible Daily Journals!Would you like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee? Check out my ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee. I’m self-employed, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your help! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Let's Talk About AI, Baby! (Issue 673) 18.03.2026 40min

  Are you familiar with Alex Karp, the CEO of Palantir? He thinks you’d better get used to the reality of the impact of AI on your job. “This technology disrupts humanities-trained—largely Democratic—voters, and makes their economic power less. And increases the economic power of vocationally trained, working-class, often male, working-class voters. And so these disruptions are gonna disrupt every aspect of our society. And to make this work, we have to come to an agreement of what it is we’re going to do with the technology; how are we gonna explain to people who are likely gonna have less good, and less interesting jobs.” - Alex Karp (source)And if you keep up with tech news, you may have seen that Meta is planning large layoffs ​that could affect 20% or more of the company. They are trying to offset their massive investments in AI infrastructure, but also anticipating the greater efficiencies of AI-assisted employees. Apparently, Zuckerberg believes the company will no longer need a significant number of its current staff. “We’re starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person.” - Mark Zuckerberg (source)Even if you don’t work in the tech industry, I’m sure you have witnessed how AI is weaving its way into many of the tools and services we use every day. Some employees encounter more often than others, of course (e.g., knowledge workers). And some folks are fairly insulated from its impact, for now at least (e.g., those with blue-collar jobs). Where does your profession fit into this chart from Anthropic below? Are you one of the people Karp says will have to accept “less good, and less interesting jobs”? Will the theoretical capabilities of AI enable it to take over your job soon? Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei last year said the technology could disrupt half of entry-level white-collar work. Microsoft’s AI chief, Mustafa Suleyman, made a similar prediction, estimating most professional work will be replaced within a year to 18 months. (source)With few exceptions, people are rushing headlong into AI and using it for so many things where it doesn’t really add value and may even be destructive (e.g., AI therapists, AI companions, AI warfare strategists). I do use some AI tools judiciously (e.g., Granola AI). But I don’t let AI saturate ALL of my tasks and life. I kind of like using my cognitive skills and judgment as much as possible. As usual, humanity is frantically adopting a new technology, damn the consequences. * We did it with plastics. * We did it with herbicides and pesticides. * We did it with the automobile. * We did it with social media. * We keep doing it with pharmaceuticals. I just wish that—for once—we would be smarter about the research, the rollout, and establishing intelligent ethical guardrails. Some people predict that AI will eliminate millions of jobs. Some have denied that AI will take jobs. In fact, they claim the rise of AI will create a host of new jobs. A few admit that jobs are indeed disappearing (you need fewer employees when they can leverage AI to accelerate work and take on tasks that others used to provide). As usual, the actual answer is complex, and no one can predict the future. The best we can do is try to ride the wave and see where it takes us. I’ve seen a lot of tech trendsI’ve been in the working world for a very long time—before personal computing, the internet, and cellphones entered the scene. So, I’ve experienced and observed the disruption caused by new technologies. Some were a flash in the pan, while others stuck and changed our lives forever (for better or worse). I know some people who behaved like squirrels on their ninth cup of coffee. They would leap into every new tech trend and embrace it with a rabid passion, only to abandon it a few weeks or months later when a new shiny object appeared. That’s not exactly an optimal use of your time and energy! However, at the other end of the spectrum, I watched other people complain grumpily about every new tech trend and refuse to engage with any of it. Before long, those people’s dusty skills were irrelevant, and they struggled to remain employed. That sucks, too. So, what is one to do with this AI trend? Will you be a squirrel with ADHD, a stubborn tortoise, or something in between? It boils down to the following career choices. Five options * Ignore * Adapt * Ascend * Pivot * Escape Scroll up to listen to the audio of this episode to hear my full thoughts on all of this. Schedule a complimentary call with me if you want to discuss how AI is impacting your career and profession, and what you should do about it.Additional Reading* When Using AI Leads to “Brain Fry” * It’s tempting to offload your thinking to AI. Cognitive science shows why that’s a bad idea * Harvard professor says AI users are losing cognitive abilities * Are these AI prompts damaging your thinking skills? I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! 📕 Check out The Invincible Daily Journals!Would you like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee? Check out my ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee. I’m a solopreneur, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your help! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• What Are You Missing? (Issue 667) 11.02.2026 38min

  In this podcast episode, I explain more about why I created the Invincible Career Guide and how we’ll be using it to provide a structured approach to pursuing your career goals this year (hit play above to listen). Each month has a specific theme, and each week includes topics and exercises aligned with that theme. Grab the content of this week’s update so you can paste it into your copy of the career guide. It’s about the gap between where you are today and where you want to be by the end of this year (your career goals for 2026). The Invincible Career Guide for 2026I created the companion guide to provide additional structure for the weekly emails I will share with you this year. If you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, use the button below to access and save it. It’s in Google Slides format, so you can save a copy of the presentation to your own Google Drive in your preferred folder. This will allow you to edit the placeholder text to enter your answers to the questions in the guide.How to use the guideEvery month this year will have a specific theme.* Each week will have a set of homework questions related to that month’s theme.* I will share a new presentation document with that week’s questions via the newsletter email and in my private community.* Then download the new presentation, copy and paste the new slides into your editable copy of the guide, and use it to answer the questions.I have already included all the slides and questions for January (i.e., Your Goals) in the guide. New slides will come each month. Stay tuned for more emails about those.Themes this year* Your Goals* The Blockers (February)* Your Toolbox* Strategy & Plan* Making Progress* Becoming Invincible* Your Network* Targeting* Broadcasting* Systems* Resources* EvaluationSchedule a complimentary call with me if you have questions about the guide and how to use it effectively.I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! 📕 Check out The Invincible Daily Journals!Would you like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee? Check out my ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee. I’m a solopreneur, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your help! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 How to Survive in Tech This Year (Issue 663) 14.01.2026 33min

  Struggling to find a new job in tech? Look outside the bubble! I’ve been telling my clients this for years. As the core of the Silicon Valley tech industry swirls in chaos, uncertainty, and darkness, move to the periphery and explore healthier industries and geographies that need your valuable expertise.“So much opportunity, inspiration, creativity, and possibility lies in applying the skills and experience that you may have from technological disciplines in other realms and industries that are often far less advanced in their deployment of technologies.” - Anil Dash (source)Some strategies that I discuss in this episode: * Look at industries outside of the traditional tech industry. * Look at geographies outside the U.S.* Consider going independent with consulting or contracting. ⬆️ I go into a lot more detail in the audio. So, scroll up and hit play to listen. Would you like to brainstorm some options with me? You can always schedule a complimentary call.I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! If you’re interested in joining my free Invincible Career community, please complete this application form, and we’ll get back to you. I know some people would like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee. So, I set up a ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee to let folks contribute without an ongoing financial commitment. I’m a solopreneur, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• The Gen X Comeback in the 3rd Chapter of Life (Issue 659) 10.12.2025 58min

  Thank you to everyone who tuned in live today! In this livestream conversation, I sat down with Substack writer and podcaster Jonathan Small to talk about what it really means to navigate work, identity, reinvention, and retirement as members of Generation X. Jon and I traveled different career paths. He moved from magazine publishing to digital media, podcasting, and entrepreneurship. Check out his current Substack publication, Small Talk. I shifted from a big-tech career (e.g., Apple, IBM, eBay, Yahoo) into independent coaching as a solopreneur. But we’ve both lived through the same constant pattern: industries rise, industries fall, and Gen X is constantly forced to reinvent itself.We talked about how traditional career expectations failed our generation. The idea of a stable, decades-long job with a pension evaporated. Entire fields collapsed (e.g., print magazines, early tech companies), and many people clung to the past too long, only to find themselves shut out of the future. What has kept the survivors afloat is adaptability. As I shared in the conversation, I’ve learned to watch the “canaries in the coal mine” and pivot before a company or industry fails. Jon had to make similar leaps as the print media industry imploded around him.A big theme was identity. Many Gen X professionals still define themselves by job titles, employers, or industries that may no longer exist. Jon and I both experienced that moment of losing our “main character” identity and having to figure out who we were without our familiar career spotlight. It’s painful at first, but eventually liberating. Your profession is not your identity! The sooner you separate the two, the stronger and more resilient you become.We also talked about the realities of ageism, unstable 401(k)s, and the pressure of being the “sandwich generation,” caring for both aging parents and kids heading to college. It’s no wonder so many Gen Xers feel anxious about retirement. But despite all of this, our generation remains remarkably resilient. Someone in the chat joked that we’re the “Chumbawamba generation”—we get knocked down, we get back up again. And it’s true.One of the most important takeaways from our conversation is the shift toward multiple income streams. Many of us no longer expect one job to provide all of our income, meaning, or stability. Check out Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink. Jon and I both shared how life improved once we stopped forcing a single revenue source to carry everything. * More flexibility. * More time with family. * More control of our energy. * More meaningful work, on our own terms.We also touched on the growing loneliness many mid-career adults face, especially when office culture disappears. Building community (e.g., through platforms like Substack and online groups) and collaborating have become essential. Sharing your work publicly, even imperfectly, helps replace that lost connection. And as I emphasized, the antidote to fear isn’t perfection. It’s showing up consistently.We ended on a hopeful note. As Gen Xers, we’re entering what Jon called Chapter Three of our lives. It’s the stage where experience, autonomy, creativity, and wisdom finally converge (think Yoda). We don’t need to chase the identity we had at 25. We get to design something new. The internet gives everyone the opportunity to build their own platform, reach people globally, and create a working life that fits who they are now.Would you like to talk with me about planning the next phase of your career? You can always schedule a complimentary call.🎁 I’m offering a holiday special for premium subscriptions to my Invincible Career newsletter. Get 50% off for the first year, and you get access to a premium channel in my private community, weekly office hours, monthly group calls, and unlock the private archive of hundreds of subscriber-only posts. I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! 📕 Check out The Invincible Daily Journals! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• Solopreneur Q&A Chat (Larry & Anna) 21.11.2025 59min

  Thank you Chris Brown, BoldTimers, Dipti Patel, Richard DAmbrosio, and many others for tuning into my live video with Anna Codina - Stress Coach! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• November Update 17.11.2025 21min

  Thank you to everyone who tuned in to my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Remember When Tech Was Fun and Hopeful? What Changed? (Issue 655) 12.11.2025 1h 5min

  My guest for this episode is Tague Griffith. He is a seasoned engineer who has been building products and leading teams across a number of the tech industry’s best-known companies, including Google, Apple, Amazon, as well as some lesser-known startups. Most of his career has focused on new product development. He’s also dipped into research and advisory work, including helping develop Stanford’s wastewater pathogen monitoring project and consulting on 1 -> 2 growth for engineering teams. Tague and I worked together at Apple back when the company was struggling and kind of unpopular. At that time, we were the underdogs. Most of us didn’t join Apple for the money. We joined because we loved the company and its products, and felt that we were a bit different as well. He has strong opinions and some cool stories, so I know you’ll enjoy this episode! We talk about* What the tech industry and Silicon Valley were like in the early ‘90s * Tague’s career since Apple (Netscape, Google, Amazon, Flickr, etc.)* The project he is most proud of after decades of working in tech * The double-edged sword of technology’s evolution* Modern product development challenges* The current state of the industry* Cultural shifts in Silicon Valley* Why we should still have hope⬆️ Scroll up and hit play to listen to our whole conversation.Where to find more* Tague’s LinkedIn * His GitHub * His X I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of the work you love and less of what you hate! If you’re interested in joining my free Invincible Career community, please complete this application form, and we’ll get back to you. Thanks! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 What If Work Was Just… Work? (Issue 650) 08.10.2025 31min

  Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the pressure to have a distinguished career? * The sense that you should invest in yourself professionally, on top of trying to survive the chaos of these modern times. * The feeling of falling behind if you’re not climbing the career ladder quickly enough. * People being disappointed that you haven’t done more with your professional life. * Friends telling you that you are screwing up if you don’t go “all in.” * Your bank account and retirement account staring you in the face as you worry about the future. It wasn’t always like this. I remember a time long, long ago when I had jobs instead of a career. Work was just work. It was a means to an end, and I certainly didn’t find fulfillment in it. I worked to pay my rent and cover my bills. My enjoyment of life came after quitting time and on weekends. The jobs weren’t stressful. I had friends at work, and we would chat during breaks. I would also hang out with some of them after work, playing basketball, watching shows, going to parties, and going to bars. What is a career anyway? It’s the path your professional working life takes, as opposed to the progression of your personal life (for some reason). The definition of “career” is somewhat vague, but it has become closely tied to the concept of employment and a chosen profession. So, any deviation from your profession’s career progression and steady employment is now viewed as stalling or failing in your career. It’s kind of silly, really. Your working career can be any damn thing you decide to do with it. * You may stick with one profession or choose to explore multiple professions. * You may choose to remain employed by someone else or work for yourself. * You may or may not get paid for what you do. * Your work may have no purpose beyond receiving a paycheck, or it might be your life’s purpose (and even unpaid). I often discuss careers and climbing the ladder in your profession. But not everyone wants that, and that’s okay. Careers aren't predictable. They are rarely linear. They are often full of sidesteps, pauses, resets, and reinvention. Heck, your “career” may not even be the central focus of your life. It isn't where you find meaning and purpose. Sometimes a paycheck funds your real calling or passion that isn’t capable of supporting you. * Travel* Writing* Volunteering* Creating art* Making music* Exploring natureYour heart is in the thing that lights you up, not the job that pays your bills. I recall the moment I transitioned into a white-collar salaried job that put me on a career path. At first, it was exciting. Later, I realized it was all-consuming. Now I’m a coach with my own solopreneur practice. It’s somewhat ironic that I coach people to help them navigate their corporate careers when I no longer have a traditional one myself. The other things I’m very passionate about don't pay my bills. Writing, traveling, working out, hiking, skiing, and spending time with my children. So, guess I’ve come full circle, and that’s more than okay with me. I like the freedom and independence. I enjoy turning my work brain off at night and doing what I want in my personal life. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that I hear you when you say you don’t want a career. But you still need to make a living and have the freedom and time to do the things that fulfill you. I can help with that, as well. ➡️ Want to chat with me about your plans? You can schedule a complimentary call.I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! 📕 Check out The Invincible Daily Journals! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 What Are You Willing to Sacrifice for the Life You Want? (Issue 645) 03.09.2025 36min

  Have you ever experienced a conversation like this with someone?* “I want wild adventure, but I must feel safe at all times.” * “I want to quit my job, but I can’t give up the nice lifestyle I enjoy.”* “I crave more freedom, but I dread losing security.”* “I hate working for someone else, but I’m too afraid to work for myself.”* “I want a better life, but I can’t change anything.” If it were easy to have it all, you would already have it. Right? Why would you deny yourself a dream life if it were easy to create? Why would you punish yourself unnecessarily? Why would you suffer? The reason you’re feeling stuck is that it is not easy! It’s damn hard to build a life that gives you what you want in balance with what you need. The hard pill to swallow is: Something has to give. You must give up something to gain something. I’ve learned that 99% of the time when people say, “I can’t!” what they really mean is “I won’t.” They could make the necessary changes if they really wanted to, but they don’t. The pain of remaining the same is slightly less than their fear of change and the unknown. When I left my corporate career behind in 2010, I spent the next five years trying to have it all. I wanted the freedom of escaping my old 9-to-5 job (more like 7 AM to Midnight). I wanted the stress relief of leaving behind toxic bosses. I wanted the joy of owning my time every day. I wanted the pleasure of reclaiming my health and rediscovering fitness. However, I also wanted to maintain my expensive home, fancy car, and luxurious lifestyle. I tried really hard for those years, but eventually, the harsh reality came crashing down: I just could not have it all. So, we discussed a new plan. We decided what we would have to give up to create the new life we desired. * We had to downsize our home. * We had to leave Silicon Valley. * We had to sell the luxury car. * We had to live more simply. * We had to make changes.I won’t tell you it was easy. That's kind of the point of this episode. It was hard, but it was worth it. Within a few years, we knew it was the right decision. What we had gained was worth far more than what we had “lost.” Maybe others are telling you that you can “have it all.” I’ve seen plenty of BS posts online about that. But let me be the honest person who will give it to you straight: Make some hard choices. Create a spreadsheet with two columns: A. Gain and B. Give up. Decide what you want most in your life and put those items in the Gain column. Choose what you are willing to leave behind and sacrifice so you can have what’s in the Gain column. Put the items you will give up in column B. Now, create a plan and a schedule to build a roadmap to give up more of column B to have more of column A. This process can take years, by the way. Go slow if you want, but don’t wait long. By the way, column B is a trap. It’s a noose that tightens more with every new thing you add to it. It’s a golden cage that you may never escape if you keep adding more bars. The longer your Column B list gets, the harder it will be to escape later. Column A is a delight. The longer you delay gaining the items on that list, the less time you will have to enjoy them. Sadly, most people wait until retirement to pursue that list. So, they don’t enjoy that lifestyle for as long as they could have. Even worse, some of those items have an expiration date. You will be too old to pursue them anymore, or the opportunity has passed. It’s too late. Want to make this process easier? Here are a few things that can help (I explain them in more detail in the podcast audio, so scroll up and hit play to listen):* Create wiggle room in your professional career. * Become a lifelong learner to avoid stagnation and avoid being left behind. * Develop flexible streams of income outside your primary job. * Build revenue models that aren’t locked into specific locations. * Do not increase the cost of your lifestyle as your income increases. * Aggressively manage your expenses to see if you can reduce them. * Continuously feed funds into your financial cushion for some breathing room. * Get outside your bubble to expand and diversify your network. * Open your mind to unexpected opportunities and new ways of living. * Invest in your physical, emotional, and mental health. * Calculate more realistic risk assessments of what you want to pursue. * Build backup plans for the worst-case scenarios. * Realize that intelligent and ambitious people can bounce back from failure. I recently met with Cory Vinny on my Invincible Life podcast. He shared how he prepared for a life of adventure, and what he had to sacrifice to pursue it. Listen and note the tradeoffs they had to make so they could spend the next year sailing around the world. What do you have in your Gain column? What do you want more of in your life? What is in your Give Up column? What are you willing to sacrifice to acquire more of the things you want to gain?I’d love to hear about it, so leave a comment below!I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! 📕 Check out The Invincible Daily Journals!➡️ Want to chat with me about planning tradeoffs in your career and life? You can schedule a complimentary call. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Too Senior to Be Hired, Too Young to Retire (Issue 642) 06.08.2025 28min

  Are you in your late 40s or beyond?If so, you have decades of valuable experience, a powerful network, and a laundry list of success metrics. But lately, you may be feeling stuck in your career. * You’re no longer moving up. * You’re watching your younger colleagues get promoted. * Recruiters ghost you more often now. * Job interviews stall out even when you think you interviewed well. You’re too experienced for entry-level or mid-level roles. And when you aim for more senior leadership or executive roles, you discover they want someone with 25 years of experience who’s only 35 years old. Heaven help you if you get laid off now. It’s not a pretty job market for anyone, especially an older worker. “People laid off at higher ages are less likely to move into a new field than those who quit, said Kevin Cahill, an economist at FTI Consulting. “Ageism and higher compensation expectations can be obstacles to re-employment, he said.” (source)* It takes nearly 26 weeks, on average, for people ages 55 to 64 to find a job, compared with 19 weeks for people ages 25 to 34, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.* Older career workers who find new jobs take an 11% pay cut, on average, according to a forthcoming study Cahill co-wrote.So, why not take an early retirement? Well, I bet you’re not there yet. Financially, emotionally, or physically. The sad truth is that people who retire sooner die earlier. Believe me, you’re not alone in feeling this way and facing this issue. This “messy middle” of our professional careers is real, and it’s brutal.But it’s also where your next move can be your most powerful. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but reinventing yourself can lead to living the best years of your life. I’m living proof, and there are lots of us who have done it. It’s been over 15 years since I fled my old corporate career to pivot into something new. I built my own businesses, started working out every day, and reinvested in my most important relationships. My sense of loss and depression shifted into joy and fulfillment. I've never been happier! The Messy Middle You’re not imagining things, and it’s not just you. The job market has shifted under your feet while the economy has been struggling, and political chaos ensues. * Good roles are becoming rarer, and expectations are higher.* Companies are cutting layers of middle and senior management.* They are also eliminating entry-level roles and leaning on fewer employees augmented with AI. * Ageism is real (especially in tech and startups), but hard to prove. * AI is quietly replacing parts of your job.* Younger, cheaper hires are more appealing than the cost of more experienced employees.You didn’t do anything wrong. But the system isn’t built for you anymore.“The tide has definitely turned against tech workers,” said Catherine Bracy, the founder and chief executive of TechEquity, a nonprofit that pushes for economic inclusion in the industry. “Companies have even more leverage to use against workers, and A.I. is supercharging that.” (source)Traditional Career Advice Fails You “Just update your LinkedIn and polish your resume! Start easy applying to hundreds of jobs every week.”Yeah… no. When you’ve had a long, complex career, playing the “cold-apply resume” game is a sure-fire way to lose. The hiring process is automated and biased. Most online applications are dead ends, and older workers are screwed. You need a new strategy for this new game.Your leverage is different nowAt this stage of your career, you have leverage that younger people don’t. Stop being shy about using your advantages!* Relationships: The network you’ve built for decades is more powerful than you think.* Reputation: People know your name. They’ve seen your work. They already trust you.* Experience: You’ve led, built, scaled, failed, recovered, and learned. Your insights are rare and valuable.Three paths out of the messy middle1. Reposition and rebrand2. Redesign your role3. Find more purposeI go into more detail in the podcast audio, so scroll up, hit play, and listen. Real stories of reinvention * David Jesse - Executive Product Leader, advisor, coach, and founder of Crescendo Product Group * Ha Nguyen - Founder and Managing Partner at NextStep Advisors * Maureen Wiley Clough - Host of It Gets Late Early, a podcast and community of tech employees bringing awareness to ageismNone of them waited for someone to “give them a shot.” They stopped playing the game that was rigged against them. They created their next opportunity.You can too.What to do this monthHere’s your 3-step personal challenge:* Rewrite one part of the “Story of You”What’s the outdated identity or job title you’re clinging to? Rewrite your LinkedIn headline and About section to reflect who you are now and who you want to become. * Reignite one dormant relationshipSomeone in your network already knows your value. Reach out, reconnect, and have a real conversation. I created a free CRM to help with this. * Map out your next move If you weren’t looking for a job, what kind of business might you build? What problem could you solve? How could you repackage your skills as an offer to a client? Let’s define your “Next Act” togetherDoes all of this feel familiar? Did this article hit a nerve? Good! That means you’re ready.You don’t have to figure this out alone. I work with experienced professionals like you every day to help you:* Clarify what you really want next in your life * Reposition your talent, knowledge, skills, and experience* Build new opportunities, but on your terms this time Book a free call with me! Let’s talk about what’s possible next.I’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate!📕 Check out The Invincible Daily Journals! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Why a Tech Career is Like Playing Poker (Issue 637) 02.07.2025 41min

  My guest for this episode is Bob Baxley, design advisor, mentor, author, and speaker. He is one of the most familiar design leaders in Silicon Valley, having worked on products you probably use every day. Bob and I worked at some of the same companies (e.g., Apple, Yahoo), but only crossed paths once at one of my favorite coffee shops in Mountain View, CA. He has strong opinions about design, leadership, creating great products, and crafting a lasting career, so I know you’ll enjoy this episode! About BobBob Baxley is a designer, executive, and advisor who has built and led UX teams at some of Silicon Valley’s most respected companies, including Apple, Pinterest, Yahoo!, and most recently, Thoughtspot. During a career spanning over three decades, Bob has played a pivotal role in the design of the Apple Online Store, Yahoo! Answers, the Apple Store App, Buyable Pins, and ClarisWorks—products that have been used by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Committed to recruiting and inspiring the next generation of designers, Bob also mentors individuals and advises organizations that are working to improve the practice, craft, and culture of digital product design.We talk about* His background in tech, starting with Claris* The tough decision of moving from Yahoo to Apple in 2006* The opportunity to work with a historic figure, Steve Jobs* The wild rise of tech companies in San Francisco, CA* How he looked for opportunities in his career to “witness history”* The concept of getting on the bus with the right people* Making decisions at branches in your career* How a tech career can be much like playing poker * What you can control is placing yourself in interesting environments with the right people* Thinking of time with an employer like a “presidential term” and time-boxing your plan for impact* Why four years feels like the sweet spot for staying in one role* Patterns he’s observed in people who succeed vs. those who do not on his teams* How he structures job interviews and what he looks for (especially for designers)* Design education, training, mindset, and careers* How our modern transactional environment might impact design and design roles * Design may become more powerful and influential, but with fewer people* The impact of AI on professions and entry-level jobs* How to stay relevant in the industryScroll up and hit play to listen to our full conversation.Where to find more* Bob’s LinkedIn* His personal websiteI’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of the work you love and less of what you hate! 📕 Check out the Summer version of my Invincible Daily Journal! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Ha Nguyen, Founder and Managing Partner at NextStep Advisors (Issue 633) 04.06.2025 38min

  My guest for this episode is Ha Nguyen, Founder and Managing Partner at NextStep Advisors. Her company helps early-stage founders become master company builders, operators, and people leaders. They help founders with strategy and planning, operational excellence, and executive coaching. They also provide fractional consulting and advisory services. About HaHa Nguyen has 22 years of deep expertise in building and scaling startups, as well as venture investing. She was most recently the Chief Experiences Officer at Swimply and a Founding Partner of Spero Ventures. She also has 16 years of product leadership experience, having started her early career as a product manager at eBay, where we first met many years ago. We talk about* Her impressive background* How she defines fractional leadership * Why she bet on herself to create her current business* How and where she finds new clients* How she is leveraging AI, personally and professionally * The concept of building portfolio careers* What work-life balance really means for consultants * Why hard work feels different when you choose the work you do* How people should think about their careers for the next 10 years * The massive disruption of AI in the industry Scroll up and hit play to listen to our full conversation.Where to find more* NextStep Advisors* Ha’s LinkedIn* Her personal websiteI’m Larry Cornett, an executive coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become invincible, and create new opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate!📕 Check out the Spring version of my Invincible Daily Journal! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Special Edition - We Share Details About Our Upcoming Live Course (Issue 630) 15.05.2025 55min

  🎟️ Get your ticket for our live Job Interview course launching at the end of May. Two ex-tech leaders teach the insider secrets to getting hired, promoted, and staying off the layoff list. The price goes up in 4 days! Tim Yeo joins me for this special episode so we can share more details about our upcoming live cohort course, Too Valuable to Lose. We discuss our backgrounds as leaders in the tech industry and career coaches for the past several years, and how this inspired us to create the course. * We’ve seen that the quiet, good people are often overlooked for raises and promotions. * Humble people and introverts frequently struggle with selling themselves during job interviews. * And talented people sometimes get put on a layoff list because their bosses aren’t fully aware of their value and everything they do for the company. Well, Tim and I want to change that! Scroll up, hit play, and listen to us discuss the course in more detail. Learn to become so valuable that your employer keeps you happy (e.g., receive raises and promotions, stay off the layoff list), and potential new employers can't stand the thought of losing you (i.e., they make you job offers quickly).What you'll get from the course:* Practical and doable steps you can take the very next day* Access to two live sessions with the instructors and other attendees on May 31st and June 7th* Homework exercises to help you put our advice into action between sessions* Downloadable templates to help you showcase your accomplishments and talents* Scripts you can use during your job interviews and conversations with your manager* Techniques for using AI to help you with preparation and practice* Q&A feedback from the instructors to help you fine-tune your strategies and materials* Lifetime access to our private community for the advice, feedback, and support you needWhat you'll learn:* Get better at selling yourself for the jobs you really want* Learn how to ask for a raise or promotion the right way* Consistently demonstrate your value so your manager can't imagine losing you* Become so valuable that your employer fights to make you happy, retain you, and keep you off the layoff list⬆️ Scroll up, hit play, and 🎧 listen to this episode to learn more about the course, what you will get if you join us, and who we are. Where to find out more* The Too Valuable to Lose course * Read more about our backgrounds and see our testimonials * The video version of this podcast episodeI’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become invincible, and create new opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate!Tim Yeo has been an introvert for 40 years! He is a design leader, speaker, empathetic storyteller, facilitator from problem to solution, open collaborator, builder of design teams. He spent 18 years in UX & Design. He's now the chief introvert at The Quiet Achiever (TQA). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Steven Puri, Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company (Issue 628) 07.05.2025 36min

  🎟️ Get your ticket for our live Job Interview course launching at the end of May. Two ex-tech leaders teach the insider secrets to getting hired, promoted, and staying off the layoff list. The price goes up again in 5 days! My guest for this episode is Steven Puri, the Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company. His mission is to help millions of people find their focus, achieve more, and have a healthy work life. About StevenSteven's career started as a newscaster/interviewer for the #1 youth news show in the DC/Baltimore market (on WTTG-TV) and then as a junior software engineer and Thomas J. Watson Scholar at IBM. After attending USC in Los Angeles, he began working in film production and produced computer-generated visual effects for 14 movies, including Independence Day, which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects.Steven’s first tech company was Centropolis Effects, which produced those CGI effects. When he was 28, he eventually sold it to the German media conglomerate, Das Werk. Steven then produced some indie films and eventually went studio-side to develop and produce live-action features as a VP of Development & Production at 20th Century Fox (running the Die Hard and Wolverine franchises) and an EVP at DreamWorks Pictures for Kurtzman-Orci Productions, where he worked on Star Trek, Transformers, and more.After Fox, Steven returned to building tech companies and founded The Sukha Company. In Sanskrit, “Sukha” means “happiness from self-fulfillment.” The Sukha is a focus app that bundles all the tools necessary for a focused experience and a healthy, productive workday.We talk about* Steven’s unique background that blended tech and creativity (e.g., his time in Hollywood)* How good timing and lucky breaks can guide your career path * The good and the bad of our new remote working world* The needs we all have for getting into flow state, doing focused work, being more productive, and connecting with other people* How the Sukha app helps us all with those needsScroll up and hit play to listen to our full conversation.Where to find more* The Sukha Company* Steven’s LinkedInI’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become invincible, and create new opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate!📕 Check out the Spring version of my Invincible Daily Journal! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 When to be Patient and When to Pivot (Issue 623) 02.04.2025 37min

  “Nothing is working. I can’t find a job!”I was talking with an acquaintance about their job search strategy recently. They complained that nothing they had tried was working. They had written and shared articles on social media, but the engagement wasn’t very good. They had searched for jobs but couldn’t find what they were seeking. * I asked how many articles they had written. * They said, “Two.” * I then asked how long they had been searching for relevant job listings. * They said, “A week.”Okay, folks. I’m sorry, but sometimes, more effort and patience are required! We seem to have turned into an instant gratification nation. Ubiquitous internet access, fast smartphones, thousands of online services, and the rise of AI have made us all expect instant answers and results. But it doesn't work that way. Your easy access is everyone’s easy access. Everyone is posting, sharing, commenting, and competing for attention. I’ve published over 1,000 posts/articles over the past eight years. I started writing on Medium in 2017 and launched my Substack newsletter in 2019. I slowly built a decent number of readers on both platforms, but only in the last three months did my subscriber numbers really grow! I have a lot of failings, but I do have some personality traits that help me. I’m very persistent and patient. I will keep grinding away at something for years and years. * I’ve been working out almost every day for the past 16 years, and it took at least 4 years of lifting weights 5 days/week before I started seeing decent results. * I’ve been building and running my businesses since 2010 (never returned to a job). * I’ve been writing something every single day for years and years and years. I’m stubborn, if nothing else. Perhaps there have been times I should have given up. I know there are times other people definitely would have given up because I’ve watched them do exactly that. When to be patientSometimes, you just need to be patient. Stop expecting instant success! * Networking takes time.* Building an engaged audience takes time. * Looking for a new job in a terrible market in a struggling economy takes time. If you’ve invested many years in your current career, you may need to be more patient. It can often take approximately one month for every year of experience to find a new job (e.g., a full year if you have 12 years of experience). Also, you may need to be patient if you have many commitments and change would disrupt them. For example, your family might depend on your income, and you don’t want to take your kids out of their local schools, so you can’t just quit your job or jump at a new opportunity that would require a move. If you have a job you don’t love but the job market is terrible, you may need to be patient and ride it out. But you should still be looking around. Treat it as a validation exercise. * Are you being paid what you should be?* Are you at the level you should be?* Are you being given the opportunities you could be?* Is your manager more supportive and mentoring than what’s available elsewhere? I guess my early career years are an example of being patient. I worked for almost 10 years before I got my big break and started landing promotions that moved me up the leadership ladder. When to pivotIf you feel you’re spinning your wheels, not getting any real traction, or running out of time, you may need to pivot and change strategies. At some point, more patience won’t help. Also, if you have already been impacted by a layoff or business failure, you may need to make a change to survive. The degree of change depends on your situation, how long you’ve been trying other options, and your desired outcome. How much you pivot your career depends on what’s possible and what’s necessary. * Small pivot - Find a new job with an employer in the same industry and vertical (this is what most people do). * Medium pivot - Find a job with an employer in the same industry but in a different vertical (e.g., ecommerce instead of gaming).* Large pivot - Find a job with an employer in a completely different industry (e.g., transportation instead of tech) or geography (e.g., a different country).* Massive pivot - Change professions entirely using your transferrable talents and skills (e.g., a good manager is a good manager in any business). Or build your own business! The size of your pivot depends on what you do for a living, how deeply your job or business has been impacted, and how serious you are about doing whatever it takes to survive and thrive in this economic downturn.➡️ I go into more detail about these pivots in the podcast audio. So, scroll up, hit play, and listen. 🎧Small pivotA smaller pivot is what most people do when seeking a new job. They stay in the same profession and find a new employer in the same industry and vertical. An example would be a small change from being a designer at Amazon to taking a design job with eBay. Medium pivotA medium pivot is also fairly common when changing jobs. Someone stays in the same profession and industry but moves to a new vertical. An example would be staying in consumer technology but moving from the vertical of ecommerce to web search. Large pivotIf you’re out of work and the job market is terrible, you may need to make a larger pivot if you’ve been struggling to find a job and time is running out. You could land a new job with an employer in a completely different industry (e.g., transportation instead of tech) or geography (e.g., the EU instead of the U.S.).An example would be leaving the core tech industry to take a job applying your profession to the transportation industry (e.g., a UX designer taking a design job with a logistics company). I’ve also worked with clients who were frustrated by the U.S. job market and moved to Europe to take roles with companies based there. Massive pivotIf you're reaching a financial breaking point, a massive pivot may be required to get back on your feet. Time has run out, and you need a drastic career change to survive and thrive. You may need to change professions entirely or deconstruct your job and reconstruct your knowledge, skills, and experience for an entirely new industry.I did this over nine years ago. I left my profession (i.e., Product & Design leader) and industry (i.e., Silicon Valley Tech) to create a business to do something completely different. I became a leadership coach and career advisor.I took parts of my past job (e.g., mentoring my team, performance coaching, hiring talent) and different components of my skills and experience to create a new beginning. I did this because I wanted the freedom that a solopreneur business could give me (e.g., living where I wanted to live, working remotely).I know the thought of changing professions is overwhelming. But, making a pivot this massive could enable you to overcome this economic uncertainty. It is possible, and other people have successfully made a significant career change like this. I’ve interviewed a few for this podcast (e.g., Isabel Sterne, Emily Schneider, Maureen Wiley Clough).I did it. You can, too, if that is what it takes to survive. I’m here to support you if you want to discuss it. 📖 Get your free chapter from the book I’ve been writing for the last few years, Becoming Invincible in Life: A Guide to Reclaiming Your Power, Freedom, and Future. I’m in the editing phase right now, so I’ll hopefully be able to publish it later this year! I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become invincible, and create new opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate!📕 Check out the Spring version of my Invincible Daily Journal! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe
• 🚀 Surviving the Current U.S. Job Market (Issue 619) 05.03.2025 36min

  The Job Market Is FrozenThat was the recent headline of an Atlantic article. It reflects the baffling frustration many job seekers are feeling right now. “Six months. Five-hundred-seventy-six applications. Twenty-nine responses. Four interviews. And still, no job.”Already in 2025, we are seeing a flurry of firings and layoffs happening across the corporate world and now in the U.S. federal government, too. This means that an estimated 200K displaced workers will enter the job market and compete for scarce jobs. How scarce? Well, the pace of hiring has slowed to levels last seen shortly after the Great Recession. Also, voluntary quitting to find a new job has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. People are worried, so they’re staying put (if they can). Employers are concerned about the economy, so they aren’t hiring. The job market is frozen. And now, with the recent tariffs, the stock market tanked, consumer confidence is falling as threats of inflation rise, and some are whispering the word “recession.” All of this is influencing my outlook for job searchers. * The layoffs and firings will continue in the U.S. this year. * More job seekers will enter the market to compete with you. * Fewer jobs will be available in the U.S. because companies are freezing hiring. * Even if you do land a U.S. job, you may get laid off soon after. * The political and economic turmoil will continue to damage our economy. My recommendationIf you need a new job and can work remotely (or with some travel), I highly encourage you to seek employment with a company based outside the U.S. A few people misunderstood my recommendation when I suggested this recently in a Substack note. They assumed that employment with a non-U.S. company would always require moving to a new country. Yes, that could be a requirement, and some people don’t mind it at all (e.g., a few of my clients and friends have relocated to other countries over the past few years). However, I also have clients and colleagues who work for international companies and still live in the U.S. Let me give you a few examples: * Atlassian has its global HQ in Sydney, Australia. But, several friends of mine worked for them in their San Francisco office. * IKEA was founded in Sweden and is incorporated and headquartered in the Netherlands. They’re always hiring in their U.S. locations. * Rakuten is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, but it also has offices in San Mateo and San Francisco, California. * 1Password is based in Toronto, Canada, but they hire for remote positions, too (U.S. or Canada). * Located in Virginia Beach, VA, STIHL Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of the global STIHL Group, founded in Germany. * Finally, here are some top German companies doing business in the U.S. You can search for similar companies from any country you find interesting. Why international?Why do I recommend these companies headquartered outside of the U.S.? * They have diversified global teams that aren’t trapped in our local political turmoil. * They have global revenue sources that aren’t tied 100% to the U.S. economy. * They are not under the complete control of the U.S. federal government, and we’ve seen what happens when American companies bend the knee. * International companies are seeking and appreciate U.S. talent. The number of American workers hired by international companies grew 62% in 2023. My hope is these companies will be more willing to hire new employees than U.S. companies seem to be right now. Also, working for an international company opens up opportunities that could be interesting for you later. For example, a friend worked for an international company in one of their U.S. locations for many years. Then, they asked to be relocated to one of their offices in another country. Now, they live there permanently and have never been happier. Here are some resources to help you find a job with an international company. * 15 Best International Companies Hiring U.S. Remote Workers* U.S. workers are getting scooped up by international companies hiring remote roles* 30 International Companies Hiring* InternationalJobs.com* RemoteJob.io (look for non-U.S. employers)* We Work RemotelyOf course, your income taxes get a little more complicated when you have income from non-U.S. sources. So, check out this overview of U.S. taxes on foreign income for individuals. I also recommend talking with your accountant to ensure you appropriately handle reporting and tax payments. Working for an international company set up to hire in the U.S. (e.g., it has an incorporated presence here) means they should be handling reporting for you, but it’s wise to verify. Additional complexity is never fun. But being out of work for a long time is even worse. So, if you are struggling to land a new job with a U.S. company in this crazy job market, consider opportunities beyond our borders. 📖 Get your free chapter from the book I’ve been writing for the last few years, Becoming Invincible in Life: A Guide to Reclaiming Your Power, Freedom, and Future. I’m in the editing phase right now, so I’ll hopefully be able to publish it later this year! I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become invincible, and create new opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate!📕 Check out my new The Invincible Daily Journals! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsletter.invinciblecareer.com/subscribe