My Nana was born on this day 107 years ago. And, if you’ve heard me give a keynote, you may have heard me talk about her. Why? Because the woman was SMART. Like, smart smart. Like, well before her time smart. Like, so smart that she would tell you exactly what she thought with the twinkly of wisdom in her eye.
Come to think of it: she was the original Truesday teller.
So, we’ll get to the professional stuff in a minute. But, in honor of my Nana, I’d like to tell you the top five things she knew to be true (warning: these are a little risqué):
- Every day above ground is a good day. When you wake up and nothing hurts: you’re dead.
- Don’t marry for looks; everybody gets ugly eventually.
- You only have to be good in one room of the house; you get to pick which room.
- The man should always love the woman more; it’s good if he feels like he needs to work to keep her.
- Diamonds are like orgasms; a woman can never have too many of either.
Risqué. I warned you. But Nana’s gonna Nana. And, really… was she wrong?
Above all, what I learned from my Nana is to value myself, and demand that those in my life value me, too, whether they are my friends, my family, or my clients.
Once, years ago, a potential coaching client (who was referred to me by a very satisfied client who had completely transformed her life within the first six months of us working together) was shocked when I told him my rates.
Him: “What?!? You charge a higher hourly rate than I do. You should consider lowering your fee!”
Me: “If you hired me, maybe you could consider raising yours.”
He hired me on the spot. And, yes, dear reader, he raised his fees after our engagement to what he realized he was truly worth.
So, before we go any further, I’m going to tell you what I know to be true: You will never be able to successfully negotiate your price with someone who refuses to see your value.
Does Finding Talent Frustrate You?
Big news, friends! I’ve officially launched a new YouTube video—and it’s live right now. If you’ve been loving my weekly YouTube shorts (the snark, the truth bombs, the inspiration), get ready, because I’m turning it up a notch.
Every month, I’ll be dropping a no-fluff, action-packed training video with real strategies and tools to help you crush your career goals, no matter which side of the recruiting desk you’re on. Today’s video starts from the recruiter’s point of view, and covers the biggest recruiting mistakes I saw in twenty years of recruiting and retaining talent for some of the world’s biggest organizations. And, we are going to follow this one with the mistakes that I see job seekers make.
So, what are you waiting for? Head over, hit subscribe, and let me know what you think in the comments of the video.
After 20 years in executive search, I’ve seen how outdated instincts and surface-level impressions lead to missed opportunities. In this video, I’ll show you what works—how to uncover what truly motivates a candidate, build alignment between their goals and your mission, and avoid the pitfalls that derail hiring decisions at the final hour. This isn’t about filling seats; it’s about building teams that elevate your workplace and redefine success. Hiring is changing, and it’s time we change with it.
But, do respond, and let me know what you’d like me to cover next. What’s frustrating you in your search for talent? What’s frustrating you in your search for a new job? I’ve seen it all, and I have the answers you seek.
