As we approach the end of the year, I’ve got a question for you.

This was inspired by something a recent podcast guest, Jayson Krause, shared with me. (More on that in a sec.)

Jayson, an executive coach and leadership strategist, posed this question:

What's going to make 2024 the BEST year of your professional career?

Stop for a second and actually think about that.

If you were to put aside corporate objectives, or things you think you “should” do, or things that other people think you should do, and *honestly* answer that question, what would you say?

(And, by the way, if your career is not the focus for you right now — which is absolutely valid — you can consider this question in regards to something else that is more important to you, like: what would make this your most creative year yet? Your healthiest year? Your most connected, friend-filled year? And so on.)

Regardless of how you look at it, you might find this is not an easy question to answer. As Jayson told me, we often need some coaching or support to help us dream, imagine, and break out of our boxes because we’re so used to being, well, boxed in.

But it’s a worthy question, because if we’re not intentional, a year can go by in the blink of an eye, and we can easily wind up somewhere we don’t really want to be, doing things we don’t really want to do.

If you want to take this a step further, don’t keep this question to yourself: ask the people around you. Ask your employees, colleagues, and if you have one, your boss.

After Jayson posed this question, I reflected on it a lot.

For me, one of the most rewarding things I can do in a given year is help people realize their thought leadership potential — and to get real, meaningful results from their communications efforts.

So, on that note:

How can I help YOU make this the best year of YOUR professional career?

Here’s something to consider. If you…

Want to establish yourself as a thought leader so you can take your mission-driven business / brand to the next level…

Have a big idea, vision, or message to share…

Need to grow your reputation, recognition, and impact…

Want to feel personally fulfilled and excited by the work you’re doing…

I may be able to help with that.

As a communications specialist, I help owners, founders, and leaders communicate better. I do that by providing things like: thought leadership strategies; communications plans; advisory support and guidance; and written materials for internal and external audiences (such as email newsletters, bylined articles, keynote speeches, books, and certifications).

What kind of results can you achieve from our work together? Some ideas:

➡️ Want to sell your business? Two of my clients have gone on to sell their businesses with my support, and more have been propositioned by buyers.

➡️ Want to increase sales or donations, or monetize your expertise? Many of my clients have built multi-million dollar businesses with my support through efforts such as strategic communications planning, thought leadership-style communications, and developing knowledge-based products. One of my clients raised over a million dollars in donor interest from just a handful of email newsletters.

➡️ Want to increase your impact? Clients have told me that thanks to my help they have been able to impact “infinitely” more people; one client calculated that their organization has been able to help “over a million” more people through their services, with my support.

➡️ Want to feel like you’re expressing yourself in an authentic and meaningful way? ALL my clients who complete projects with me and commit to the process tell me they are proud of their work, that they feel like they’re being true to themselves in their communications, and that they are making an impact.

Want to learn more? Book a free consultation with me by signing up for my wait list or replying to this email. I’ll be in touch to set up a free, no-expectations consult.

Meanwhile, if your goals include growing as a leader, check out the latest episode of the Storytelling with Heart podcast.

My latest guest on the pod is Jayson Krause: leadership strategist, executive coach, award-winning author, speaker, and the founder of Level 52.

In our discussion, we unpack ALLLLLL the business and leadership buzzwords, examining topics like:

➡️ Employee engagement (and why employees are becoming more disengaged even while companies are spending more money than ever on employee engagement.)

➡️ Leadership coaching (and why we should use it as preventative medicine rather than a tool reserved for crises and disasters.)

➡️ Authenticity (and why leaders need to earn the right to be authentic)

➡️ Culture (and why it does matter how brilliant you and your people are if your culture sucks)

➡️ Relationships (and why leaders need to actively engineer integrous relationships)

➡️ Goal setting (including how to approach it in a way that is more inspiring and engaging

➡️ Collaboration (and how to ask questions so you foster collaboration and input, rather than getting shut down)

➡️ Empathy (and how to ‘get in the heads’ of your audience so they actually care about what you have to say)

➡️ Feedback (and the value of 360 reviews, plus why negative feedback is probably the best, most useful feedback you’ll ever get.)

Plus, the everlasting question…

➡️ If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound? ← Yes, Jayson actually provides an answer to this… 😂 And it’s a really valuable message for leaders!

Have a listen on my website, Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Thanks for reading and listening. No matter what 2024 looks like, keep on pursuing whatever your “best” looks like to you!

What will make this the best year of your professional career?