Want more replies from your networking messages? Stop making big asks up front. Too many people lead with questions like: “How did you get from X to Y?” “How did you get the experience to do Z? “I’d love to pick your brain for 30 minutes.” This is a lose-lose situation for your contact. They only have two options here. First, they could take 2 minutes to send you a fluffy BS answer. But they know it’s fluffy. They left stuff out. They know you won’t get the max benefit, and that doesn’t feel great. Second, they could sit down for 30 minutes and lay out a full deep dive. It’ll have all the details… But it’ll cost them 30+ minutes of their life. With bosses, colleagues, friends, family, hobbies, etc to worry about? That’s too expensive to spare on a random stranger. So don’t make big asks up front. Make small, specific asks instead. Here’s how: 1. Choose a topic you’re curious about 2. Brainstorm two actions or outcomes 3. Send them a message asking for their opinion on the two items 4. Make sure they can reply in <60 seconds For example, want to break into UX design? Your note might say: "Hi [Name], I came across your profile while I was looking for people doing impressive work in the UX space. I'm hoping to transition from [Industry] to UX and am working to position myself as best I can. In order to efficiently build my skills, would you recommend A or B below: A. Take a UX course on Coursera B. Audit my target company and come up with 3 ways to improve their UX Please don't feel the need to reply in depth, just mentioning A or B is perfect." You'll get a heck of a lot more replies.

Happy Wednesday, Career Launchers! We’re halfway through the week, and it’s the perfect time to refocus and fuel up for the days ahead. Remember, progress isn’t about big leaps every day—it’s the consistent small steps that add up to real change. 💪 Take a moment today to reflect on: • Wins: What’s one thing you achieved this week, no matter how small? • Challenges: Is there anything you can reframe or approach differently? • Goals: What’s one task you can complete by Friday that will set you up for a strong finish? Every effort you make today gets you one step closer to your career goals. You’ve got this! Let’s make the second half of the week count. 🙌 Share your mid-week win or goal in the comments—let’s keep each other motivated! #KeepMoving #CareerLaunchAcademy #MidweekMotivation

Happy Monday morning, Career Launchers! 🌞 As we start a fresh week, take a moment to set one professional goal that you want to accomplish by Friday. Whether it’s polishing up your resume, applying for a new role, or reaching out for a networking coffee chat, small steps lead to big results. Share your goals in the comments below! Let’s keep each other accountable and celebrate our progress together! 🚀

Hey team! 👋 As we wrap up another week, I want to share something that’s made a big impact on my personal and professional growth: weekly reflection. Taking a moment to look back on your week can give you incredible insights and help set you up for success moving forward. Here’s how I do it and what I recommend: 1. Celebrate Wins (Big & Small) It’s easy to get caught up in what didn’t go right, but don’t forget to acknowledge what DID. Whether you landed a new client, solved a tricky problem, or just stayed consistent with your tasks, celebrate those wins! This helps keep your momentum going. 2. Identify Challenges What didn’t go as planned? Don’t beat yourself up—use it as a learning opportunity. Whether it’s time management, missed deadlines, or miscommunication, reflect on what the challenge was and what you can do differently next time. 3. Revisit Your Goals Look at the goals you set for the week. Did you hit them? If not, ask yourself why. Were they realistic? Did something unexpected pop up? This helps you refine your goal-setting process and stay aligned with your longer-term objectives. 4. Ask for Feedback If something felt off this week, it might be helpful to get an outside perspective. Whether it’s from a coworker, mentor, or someone in this community, asking for feedback can provide insights you might not have seen yourself. 5. Set Intentions for the Coming Week After reflecting on what went well and what could improve, set clear intentions for the upcoming week. What are your top 3 priorities? What habits do you want to focus on? This helps you start Monday with clarity and purpose. Reflection is key to growth, and it only takes a few minutes to pause and review. Let’s share in the comments—What’s one win you’re celebrating from this past week? 🎉