Big wins have been happening inside this community. Even while things have been quiet here the past couple of months, many of you have been making serious career moves. And that deserves to be recognized. So today I want to celebrate some of the momentum happening inside The Thriving Professionals Network. Let’s give a big round of congratulations to a few members who have had some incredible wins recently: @Monika Witt landed a fantastic new role that is strongly aligned with the career vision she set out to create. Tons of opportunities ahead, and she’s excited about what’s next. Monica, what part of this new role are you most excited to dive into first? @Ashley Robertson navigated company restructuring after starting a new role late last year and landed in an even better position working under her mentor. She’s continuing to grow in the AI space she’s so passionate about. Ashley, what are you most excited to learn or build in this new role within AI? @Nick Tabbal secured two fractional consulting engagements and is currently working 40+ hours per week with both clients. The two clients are Claritas (the company he interviewed with and made it to the final round) and Larridin (a company founded by two former colleagues).These projects could potentially turn into full-time opportunities. Nick, what has been the biggest lesson or surprise from working in fractional roles so far? @James Eldridge postponed launching his own business with a new baby on the way, refocused on creating value inside his current company, and successfully negotiated a salary increase as a stepping stone toward launching later this year. James, what do you think made the biggest difference in successfully negotiating that raise? @Mary Davis has been building strong networking momentum and generating promising conversations and potential referrals despite the challenges of the job market.

Hey gang! Just dropping a friendly reminder that tomorrow (Friday, 3/27), we're relaunching the Friday Masterminds. We'll be focusing on all things networking, so bring your questions. I'm looking forward to seeing you there. 10:00 am PST, 11:00 am MST, 12:00 pm CST, or 1:00 pm EST. Here's the link: https://www.skool.com/live/n9WHzc6l7NG Rooting for you, Kris

Quick update from me about the community. A few of you may have wondered why things got quiet here for a while. The honest answer is simple. When I first launched this community, I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t fully built yet. The vision I had for what this space could become was much bigger than what existed at the time. And I wasn’t willing to keep pushing forward with something that didn’t deliver the level of value I want for all of you. So I hit pause. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been rebuilding things behind the scenes. Creating resources, organizing the classroom, and designing a more sustainable structure so this community can actually support you in building the careers you want. Because the goal of this community has always been bigger than just job searching. It’s about helping professionals gain clarity, build confidence, expand their network, and create careers that actually feel aligned with who they are and where they want to go. You’ll start seeing some of those changes already inside the Classroom tab. There are new resources there, including: • The Networking Flywheel • Interview Toolkit • Build Your Own Resume Toolkit • Confidence Playbook • And several others As founding members, you all have access to everything. I’ll be sharing more soon about what’s coming next, including the return of our live mastermind coaching sessions. But for now, I’m curious about something. What is the biggest career challenge you’re working through right now? Is it: • Job searching • Career clarity • Networking • Positioning yourself for the next role • Confidence in interviews • Something else entirely Drop it in the comments. Chances are, someone else in this community is navigating the same thing.

Most professionals think the secret to success is obsessing over the goal. “I just need to land the role.” “If I can get this promotion, I’ll finally feel confident.” “This one pitch has to work.” I’ve coached dozens of high performers through this mindset. And here’s the pattern I always see: The more attached you are to the outcome, the harder it is to show up fully for the process that gets you there. The irony? You get so fixated on the prize at the end that you completely miss the steps that would win it. Your attention gets scattered. Your energy leaks. Your confidence wavers. Because every time the goal feels far away… You start to believe you’re far from capable. Let me offer a reframe: Your goal isn’t the goal. Your daily process is. The outcome? It’ll take care of itself if you show up consistently for the right things. Ask yourself: “What does winning look like today?” And here’s what I suggest: The Core Four 1. Give 100% of what I have today. 2. Be fully present. 3. Express gratitude. 4. Focus on my routines and only what I can control. Simple. But powerful. Because when you lead with process, not pressure: • Your mind clears, you're more at peace because you’re not worrying about the future. • Your focus sharpens • Your performance improves • And your results? They follow This is how you break free from outcome obsession. You stop trying to win the future and start mastering the moment you’re in. Because the truth is: The person who crushes their process… gets the prize without chasing it. Get out there and crush it today. :) Rooting for you, Kris

You can check every box on a job description and still get passed over. You can carry 20 years of results on your back and still feel invisible. You can be highly competent and still unknown. I see it all the time: brilliant, capable professionals who have no idea how to tell their story. And in today’s hiring climate, especially at the mid-to-senior level, that’s a deal breaker. Being good at your job isn’t enough anymore. There’s a quiet grief many professionals carry; the feeling of being overlooked despite doing everything “right.” You deliver. You lead. You make things happen. And yet... someone less experienced gets the role, the raise, or the recognition. It’s not that you're not qualified. It’s that your value isn’t clear, to them or to you. That’s why storytelling isn’t just a “nice-to-have” skill anymore. It’s a strategic career asset. Gina Riley, author of Qualified Isn’t Enough, says it plainly: people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. (Great book, btw. If you want to dive deeper into this I highly recomend reading her book) Riley shows that your career story should not be just a list of duties and achievements. It should express your values and beliefs, your why. And your career experiences are the proof of those values in action. Your actions, the way you lead, communicate, and create impact, reveal what you stand for. That’s what people remember. That’s what builds trust. Storytelling is how you become memorable. When Riley asked executive recruiters what made a candidate stand out, they didn’t say technical skills or credentials. They said presence, clarity, and self-awareness. The ability to bring their story to life in a way that feels real and relevant. She calls out the “Tell me about yourself” moment as a critical turning point. The strongest candidates don’t list roles or responsibilities. They hook people with their journey. They show who they are through the patterns they’ve lived. Because our brains don’t retain bullet points. They retain stories.