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- ☕ Cup of Ambition: 🔥 “When They Only Notice You Because You Might Leave” 🔥
☕ Cup of Ambition: 🔥 “When They Only Notice You Because You Might Leave” 🔥
Tips, tools, and real advice to help you land and survive your 9-to-5.
Kelly Roehm
February 06, 2025
Hi, Realists! 👋
Welcome to Cup of Ambition, Volume 19.
In this edition, you’ll get the scoop on:
‼️‼️ 9-to-5 Dilemma: When Your Boss Only Listens Because You Might Leave.
📖 Career Agility: Future-Proofing Your Career NOW.
📅 Mark Your Calendar: FREE Webinar - Building a UVP Too Good to Ignore!
📌 Behind the LinkedIn Curtain : 8 Steps to Boost Your Visibility
🔥 Ambition Accelerator (1 Quick Career Action to Take This Week).
9-to-5 Dilemma.
“I have a boss that went from ignoring me to being all over in less than a month. It’s like I have a spotlight on me at all times now. I do really good work and I’m the only one in the organization who can perform my role. The problem is, I’m way underpaid, have never been given development opportunities, and feel like I am constantly asking for the basics and never getting a thing.
I’ve been here for nearly 10 years. It was my internship turned first full-time job. I’ve asked my Manager over and over for more development opportunities… projects, responsibilities, training, conferences, certifications, associations and every time I ask, they say they’ll take it back and they never follow through. I’m stuck and miserable.
So, I started updating my LinkedIn and engaging in content to boost visibility. Last week my manager called me in and asked if I was considering leaving. She had been following my LinkedIn daily and saw I became more active. She asked if there was anything they could do.
The problem is, I’ve been asking for what I need consistently for years. Now, because I’m putting my voice out there, they’re watching me.
Do I have a target on me now? Should I escalate my job search?
-Under Scrutiny.
What’s your current 9-to-5 dilemma? Send your story to: [email protected]
Your situation is frustratingly common… you’ve been loyal, delivering high-value work for years, asking for growth opportunities that never materialize. But the moment you start putting yourself out there on LinkedIn, suddenly your manager is paying attention.
You don’t have a target on you—you have leverage.
1️⃣ Your LinkedIn Activity Isn’t the Problem—Your Employer’s Mindset Is
It’s 2025. You should not have to justify using LinkedIn. Your profile belongs to YOU. It’s not a signal of disloyalty—it’s a career asset. Yet, some leaders still see employee visibility as a threat instead of an opportunity. The truth?
✔ Content shared by employees receives 24X more engagement than content from brands.
✔ A strong employee brand is a competitive advantage for any company.
✔ Good leaders support growth—bad leaders control and restrict it.
If your LinkedIn activity is raising alarms, that says more about your employer than it does about you.
2️⃣ The Sudden Interest in Retaining You? That’s Not a Coincidence
Employers have a funny way of sensing when you’ve had it. Suddenly, they lean in, ask what they can do, and make promises they probably won’t keep.
Your boss had years to provide growth opportunities. Now they’re asking how to retain you only because they feel threatened. That’s not leadership, it’s reactionary management.
3️⃣ What You Should Do Next
✅ Recognize your leverage. You’re the only one in the org who can do your role. That’s power. Use it strategically.
✅ Keep building your brand. The worst thing you can do right now is retreat and stop your visibility efforts.
✅ Follow up—but set a deadline. If they offer development opportunities, document it and set a firm timeline. If they don’t follow through, you have your answer.
✅ Escalate your job search. You’re already taking the right steps. Double down. Interview, network, and explore roles that align with what you deserve.
Final Thought: You Owe Loyalty to Yourself First
A great boss would say:
"I’m sorry we haven’t been able to give you what you need here. I fully support your growth, whether it’s with us or elsewhere, because you deserve to keep building your career."
If you don’t hear that? You already know your next move.
Keep going. Your brand is in demand, and it will catch you when the net breaks.
Career Agility: Future-Proofing Your Career NOW.
In today’s insane labor market, career agility is a requirement. With companies tightening budgets, restructuring teams, and shifting priorities, the best tool you have isn’t job security—it’s owning your brand.
Too many people wait until a reduction in force (RIF) or a sudden career setback to dust off their resume or start engaging on LinkedIn. Don’t wait. Do it now. The most successful professionals are the ones who actively shape their career narrative, build visibility, and adapt before they’re forced to.
What Is Career Agility?
Career agility is the ability to pivot, adapt, and stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market. It’s about owning your career story, staying visible, and keeping your options open—always.
You don’t have to be actively job hunting to own your brand. Whether you're happily employed or casually open to new opportunities, career agility means positioning yourself for the future before you need to.
How to Build Career Agility Today
1. Keep Your Resume & LinkedIn Profile Updated
Your resume is a record of your impact. If you’re only updating it when you’re desperate for a new role, you’re already behind.
✅ Add new achievements, promotions, and skills quarterly
✅ Optimize for keywords in your industry
✅ Make sure your LinkedIn headline and about section reflect your value and impact
2. Expand Your Network Before You Need It
Your network is your safety net. The best time to build relationships isn’t when you need a job—it’s when you don’t.
✅ Engage with industry leaders and peers on LinkedIn
✅ Share insights, thoughts, or lessons learned from your work with people in your network. Alison Fragale, author of Likeable Badass, calls these “small deposits”— regular interactions to keep your name at top of mind.
✅ Set up casual coffee chats with mentors or colleagues. Don’t wait until you need to go in with an ask, set up conversations to catch up and learn about what’s going on in their industry and role.
3. Showcase Your Thought Leadership
Want recruiters and hiring managers to find you? Put your expertise out there.
✅ Write LinkedIn posts on projects, industry trends, or lessons learned
✅ Speak on panels, webinars, or at company town halls
✅ Start a newsletter or blog—share what you know
4. Strengthen Your Skill Set
In volatile job markets, the most employable professionals are the most adaptable ones. What are the trends in your industry? Where is your field headed?
✅ Invest in micro-learning (online courses, certifications, workshops)
✅ Stay up-to-date on AI, automation, or emerging tech in your sector
✅ Learn new tools or systems that make you more marketable
5. Create a Career Contingency Plan
If your company laid off your entire team tomorrow, what would you do?
✅ Have an updated list of contacts you can reach out to
✅ Keep a personal document with your biggest wins and metrics
✅ Know your non-negotiables for your next role
Final Thought: Don’t Wait Until You Need It
The biggest mistake people make? Treating career growth as a reactive process instead of a proactive one. Job security isn’t guaranteed, but career agility gives you control.
So, start now. Update your brand. Build your network. Own your career story. Because when opportunities come knocking, or when change is forced upon you, you’ll be ready.
💡 What’s one action you can take this week to strengthen your career agility? Drop a comment and let’s discuss.
FREE Webinar on February 27 at 12:00 pm EST
Your career is a strategic marketing campaign.
Your resume, your LinkedIn, and your interviews aren’t just check-the-box items—they’re how you sell your unique value to the right audience. And let’s be real, if you’re blending in, you’re losing out.
Join me for a free webinar where I’ll walk you through how to:
✅ Define what makes you uniquely valuable—and how to communicate it
✅ Craft a UVP that goes beyond “I help statements” and makes hiring managers take notice
✅ Position yourself for the roles and spaces that value what you bring
The Mystery of the LinkedIn Algorithm Decoded.
Want to get noticed on LinkedIn? Whether you’re job searching, building your brand, or attracting new business, understanding how LinkedIn’s algorithm works can help you increase visibility, build credibility, and attract the right opportunities.
LinkedIn acts a lot like a search engine, just like Google. And the key to getting found? Keywords.
In the past two months alone, six of my clients have landed jobs on LinkedIn simply by following these steps. Within weeks—some within hours—they had recruiters reaching out with potential roles. Why? Because they optimized their profiles, making them easy to find.
Most people haven’t done this. When you do, you instantly put yourself in the top percentiles of LinkedIn users, meaning more profile views, more inbound opportunities, and more career options.
Let’s dive into the 8 steps to get you noticed on LinkedIn 👇
1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile (Make It Work for You, Not Against You)
Before you start posting, make sure your profile is search-friendly and clearly tells people who you are, what you do, and how you add value.
✔ Use a professional photo (clear and engaging)
✔ Make your headline more than a job title—showcase your value
✔ Write a compelling ‘About’ section—tell your career story
✔ Use keywords throughout your profile (LinkedIn prioritizes profiles that match recruiter searches)
If recruiters or hiring managers searched for someone in your industry right now, would your profile show up? If not, you’re invisible.
2. Post at the Right Time (Timing Matters!)
Posting at peak engagement times helps your content get seen by more people.
🕙 Tuesdays & Thursdays: 10 AM – 12 PM, 5–6 PM
🕖 Wednesdays & Fridays: 7:30–8:30 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM
3. Engage With Other People’s Content (Don’t Just Post—Participate!)
If you only scroll but never engage, your content won’t be prioritized. LinkedIn favors active users.
✔ Comment on industry posts with real insights (not just “Great post!”)
✔ Like & share relevant content (but add your own perspective)
✔ Tag people when sharing insights or asking questions
When you interact, your name shows up in front of their audience too—expanding your reach without even posting.
4. Use Keywords in Your Profile & Posts (Think Like a Search Engine)
Most people don’t realize that LinkedIn is a search engine. Recruiters, hiring managers, and potential clients use keywords to find people just like you.
✔ Use keywords in your headline, About section, experience, and skills
✔ Add industry-related terms in your posts to appear in searches
✔ Research what words your ideal audience is searching for
Example: If you’re a Project Manager, your headline shouldn’t just say “Project Manager.” Instead:
Project Manager | Agile & Scrum | SaaS Implementation | Process Optimization
By optimizing your LinkedIn for search, you automatically rank higher in recruiter searches—which means more profile views and more inbound opportunities.
5. Personalize Connection Requests (Stop Clicking “Connect” Without a Message)
If you’re serious about networking, don’t send generic connection requests. Instead, add a quick, personalized note explaining:
✔ How you know them (mutual connections, same industry, etc.)
✔ Why you want to connect (shared interests, recent post, etc.)
✔ Something meaningful (a compliment, a reference, or a question)
Example:
"Hi [Name], I loved your recent post on [topic]—it really resonated! I’d love to connect and follow your insights. Looking forward to staying in touch!"
Taking 10 extra seconds to personalize your message makes a huge difference.
6. Get Endorsements & Recommendations (They Act Like Social Proof)
People trust what others say about you more than what you say about yourself.
✔ Endorsements for key skills (ask colleagues to endorse you!)
✔ Recommendations from peers, managers, or clients (return the favor!)
Having others vouch for your expertise makes a huge impact when recruiters check out your profile.
7. Join & Engage in LinkedIn Groups (Your Secret Visibility Booster)
Most people underestimate the power of LinkedIn Groups. These communities help you build authority, connect with the right people, and expand your reach.
✔ Join groups related to your industry or expertise
✔ Participate in discussions, answer questions, and share insights
✔ Connect with active group members to grow your network faster
Groups give you built-in engagement—use them!
8. Update Your Profile Regularly (LinkedIn Likes Fresh Content!)
A stale profile sends the wrong signal—it looks like you’re not active. LinkedIn favors profiles that are updated often.
✔ Refresh your headline & About section every few months
✔ Add new projects, skills, or achievements as they happen
✔ Keep your featured section current with key posts, articles, or links
Final Takeaway: Visibility = Opportunities. Take Control of Your LinkedIn Presence NOW.
Here’s the reality: Most people do not optimize their LinkedIn profiles. That means if you do—even just the basics—you instantly rise to the top percentiles of users.
✔ Make your profile search-friendly
✔ Post valuable content consistently
✔ Engage with your network & industry
The best time to optimize your LinkedIn was yesterday. The second best time? Right now.
💡 I challenge you: Update ONE thing on your LinkedIn profile today?
🔥Ambition Accelerator 🔥
Take Strategic Action in Your Job Search This Week
Instead of just engaging with your network, it’s time to lead conversations that establish your expertise and make people take notice.
Your Challenge for the Week:
🔹 Write & post one original insight on LinkedIn. (It could be a lesson learned, career advice, or a behind-the-scenes look at your work.)
🔹 Comment with depth on at least 5 industry-relevant posts—something beyond “great post.” Share a perspective that adds value.
🔹 Start a conversation in a LinkedIn group related to your field. Pose a thought-provoking question or share an insight.
Why?
🔸 Thought leadership = credibility. People follow, refer, and hire those who share insights, not just those who consume them.
🔸 Visibility = opportunity. The more you show up as a voice in your field, the more doors open.
🔸 It builds momentum. Your career is a product—market it!
Your Mindset Shift: You don’t have to be the #1 expert to have something valuable to say. Share what you know. The right people will take notice.
Are you in? Drop a comment on my latest post when you take action!
What’s your next step? Let me know how I can support you!
Dollyism.
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