One of the most requested topics in our last audience survey was career advice. And I get it: job-hunting and promotion-seeking can be scary, even when the world isnât all banana sandwich.
So, whether youâre that director looking to make the jump to VP or the marketing student wondering what comes next: I see you. Your effort matters. And this email is for you!
Todayâs master is an executive career coach and two-time VP, and whose own bona fides include marketing leadership roles at Google and Microsoft.
(P.S. In honor of US Independence Day, we're letting our team take a break on the Wednesday email. We'll see you bright and early next Monday morning!)
In todayâs email:
Career advice from an executive career coach and 2xVP
Secrets of save-worthy content
Six simple behavioral science tips to improve any marketing message
Fun fact: Maya made it to the top 10 out of 1,500 in a baking competition before losing to an omelette. âI got beat by breakfast.â
Claim to fame: Gained 10 promotions over 15 years â including two VP roles â at companies like Google, Microsoft, and SodaStream.
Lesson 1: Go-to-market yourself.
As a marketer, you know that good marketing isnât talking about how amazing your product is. Itâs about solving problems. So, why would it be any different for your career?
âPeople can be fantastic at marketing other products, but they struggle to market themselves,â says Maya Grossman. Instead, stop and think of yourself as a product. (Something high-end, like a Cartier watch or those ice cream cakes with the crunchy bits. Youâre that good.)
Like any good campaign, it starts with identifying your audience and understanding their pain points. Only now, your audience is your boss or a hiring manager.
âAsk yourself, âWhat is the biggest problem that this person has right now?â Your job is not to solve the problem, your job is to think about ways to help them.â
To that end, Grossman says to begin every conversation with your manager by highlighting a win and connecting it to a problem theyâre trying to solve.
âBut donât just say that you did it. Give the thought that went behind it,â she says. ââWe were able to finish on time because I did X, so next time, this is what weâre going to do to exceed expectations.ââ
By making this a habit, you not only build your reputation â but also your confidence in self-promotion. Because, for most of us, talking about yourself feels⌠kinda ick.
âWeâre told to be humble,â Grossman points out. âBut being quiet doesnât make you humble. It makes you invisible.â
Lesson 2: Stop being the workhorse.
âWhen your manager sees you as the âget shit doneâ person, they will keep throwing stuff at you,â Grossman shrugs. âBut they wonât promote you, because it would create a hole for them that no one else can fill. I call it the mid-management hell loop.â
So how do you break out of that loop without looking like the person who, well, doesnât get shit done?
âI was at that point when I worked for Microsoft. I decided to run an experiment. I looked at my to-do list, and I prioritized it based on what I thought was meaningful.
âThen I completely eliminated the bottom 20%. Literally crossed it off. I was terrified, but guess what? No one cared. But I got time back to focus on more strategic things.â
Now, Grossman isnât suggesting you drop everything tomorrow. But if you take an honest look at your day-to-day tasks, youâre likely to find things that can realistically be eliminated, delegated, or even automated.
âThen you can raise your hand and say, âOh, that project? I want it, because thatâs going to have a big impact.ââ
Lesson 3: Network with people who have the job you want.
When marketing your product or service, youâd never rely on your own opinion, right? Youâd use customer testimonials and five-star rave reviews.
âSelf-promotion goes beyond you,â Grossman says. âItâs also about getting other people to advocate for you.â
So, if youâre looking to move internally, you need to ask: âWhoâs going to be in the room when the decision about a promotion is made? And whoâs whispering in those peopleâs ears?â
And if youâre looking elsewhere, or actively job hunting, âyou want to build relationships with people who have the job you want to have.â
Now that youâve got your advocates-who-donât-know-it-yet in mind, itâs time to make friends!
âYou donât reach out and say, âHey, Iâm looking for a job.â People are so overwhelmed with that right now. Instead, ask to learn about something specific that theyâre doing.â
So you might say: âI want to work with a much larger team in my next role, and it seems like you made that jump. I would love to talk to you about your leadership philosophy.â
Then, Grossman says the key is to make it easy for them to say âyes.â âTell them youâd like a 30-minute conversation, youâll be available when they are, and no worries if they donât have time.â
If that sounds daunting, think about being on the receiving end of a note like that. Youâd feel flattered, not frosty.
âAnd once you have a good connection, you can start sharing with them that youâre actually thinking about your next move. Theyâre going to care a lot less about your resume because now they know you, and they know what you can do. They can open doors for you.â
|Make Yourself a Master
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With this calculator + template combo, you can collect meaningful data, calculate customer scores, and turn their praise and complaints into new ways to grow.
đŹ Phill Agnew, host of the UK's #1 marketing podcast, gives 6 behavioral science tips to improve your marketing message. (Plus real-life examples)
|Lingering Questions
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION
"What's one marketing strategy you think will be obsolete in five years?" â Joy Gendusa, Founder and CEO, PostcardMania
THIS WEEK'S ANSWER
Grossman says: âIn 5 years, content won't be king. We're already seeing that AI can generate âgoodâ content on demand. Just spend 5 minutes on LinkedIn.
What breaks through wonât be quality alone but distribution strategy, speed of iteration, strategic positioning, and relevance. Your brilliant thought leadership wonât matter if your buyerâs AI skips it for something faster, easier, or more embedded in their workflow.
In this new landscape, itâs not the best content that wins; itâs the content thatâs relevant right now and shows up right when the buyer needs it, not when your editorial calendar says so.
Marketersâ jobs will revolve less around creating and more around matchmaking.â
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION
Grossman asks: âWhatâs a trend everyoneâs excited about that you think is overhyped or completely misunderstood?â
This week's email was brought to you by Curt del Principe. Editing by Laura M. Browning.
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