Ep #64: Executive Essentials Part 3: How to BECOME the Executive Ahead of Time
You’ve heard me talk about my client Jennifer Fisher a LOT and you may not realize it.
That’s because I often leave out my client’s names when discussing the amazing things they’re accomplished, and Jennifer has accomplished so much over the past year and a half.
So, why has Jennifer had so much success?
Because she has applied the Executive Ahead of Time process to her career over and over (and over) again.
That’s why I’ve invited Jennifer onto this episode of Maximize Your Career with Stacy Mayer to show you what becoming the Executive Ahead of Time looks like in real life.
In this episode, we’ll take a peek behind the curtain to see exactly what Jennifer did to become the visionary leader she is today AND how she is making a greater impact at her organization (and the world) by becoming a thought leader in her industry.
Jennifer is a global sales executive who was recently promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales at her organization and she is the host of the podcast A Life You Love: Sales Tips with Jennifer Fisher.
This is Part 3 of my 3-part podcast series, Executive Essentials.
In each part of this series, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be in my Executive Ahead of Time program AND you’ll have access to some of the tools and tips that I usually only give out to my paid clients.
If you listen to this episode and think to yourself “I want to think and act like a senior executive now”, then my 6-week group coaching program is just the thing for you. I designed Executive Ahead of Time to help corporate leaders like YOU access the skills, confidence, and unparalleled support you’ll need to reach a higher level executive position. Learn more at www.ExecutiveAheadOfTime.com.
What You'll Learn:
- What was happening in Jennifer’s life when she decided to hire a coach
- How Jennifer was able to get herself out of the weeds (and stay out)
- The reasons why Jennifer was able to create a visionary plan that helped her organization cope with covid (months before it hit the United States)
- How becoming the Executive Ahead of Time allowed Jennifer step into the role as a thought leader and expert in her industry
- How stepping into her true power as a leader allowed her team to unlock their true potential
Listen to the Full Episode:
Featured on the Show:
- Listen to Executive Essentials Part 1: How to THINK Like an Executive Leader
- Listen to Executive Essentials Part 2: How to COMMUNICATE Like an Executive Leader
- Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn
- Reach Jennifer at jen@jenlovingsales.com
- Listen to Jennfer’s podcast: A Life You Love: Sales Tips with Jennifer Fisher
- Registration for the next round of Executive Ahead of Time is open and live coaching begins March 17th
Full Transcript
Stacy Mayer: Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Maximize Your Career. I'm your host, Stacy Mayer, and I'm pretty pumped. I have a really special guest for you guys today. This woman who's about to come on this podcast. You have heard me talk about her many, many times on this podcast.
And you know why you may not even know how much I talk about her, because I don't always use people's names, but I'm always referencing her and her stories and what she has accomplished in our work together over this past year and a half. And I am so incredibly proud of her and just really how she has embraced the coaching and really showed up as an executive at her organization. And quite frankly, I'm pretty excited for her organization as well, because she is up to really big, big things.
So I'll introduce her in a minute.
We're still going to be a little vague, but for now, I just want to tell you what to expect out of this episode and why I'm doing it.
So over the last two episodes, you've heard me go behind the scenes of Executive Ahead of Time and breaking down the entire process exactly what you learn inside of my six-week group, coaching intensive.
Now, Jennifer and I have been working together for a lot longer than six weeks. Actually, she came to me and I looked it up in July of twenty nineteen. That was our first moment together. And I realized in thinking about why she has had so much success through our coaching, it's because she has done the Executive Ahead of Time process that we're going to talk about today over and over and over and over again.
So this process works, but then you reach another level and then you have to do it again, and when you reach that next level and you have to do it again. And by next level, I don't just mean a title change. I mean like your levels of growth. Right. And so I really wanted to bring somebody onto the podcast this week that can show you what Executive Ahead of Time looks like in practical application. Because I want you if you're listening to my podcast and you've been listening for a while, I want you to feel confident. Oh, my gosh, this stuff works. It's going to work for me. I'm ready to sign up. Let's do it right. I want you to really know the benefits and the impact of becoming that Executive Ahead of Time. And so Jennifer is the best case study I know for why this works so well and what it looks like in terms of practical application.
So we're going to get into the behind-the-scenes and exactly what she has done and how she became not only that Executive Ahead of Time, but how she became this phenomenal leader. And now she is transitioning into thought leadership as well and really putting herself out there in the greater community and making that impact not just on her organization, but really on the world right now. And I just; my heart, my heart is so full and I'm so thrilled to have her on here today.
So let me formally introduce her. Her name is Jennifer Fisher, and she is a global sales executive who was very recently, just last month in fact, promoted to senior vice president of sales at her organization. And she is the host of A Life You Love. Sales Tips with Jennifer Fisher, a podcast that you should subscribe to yesterday. In addition to mine, it's the second-best podcast on iTunes. Subscribe right away,
Jennifer. Thank you. Thank you so much for being here with me today.
Jennifer Fisher: Oh, my gosh. That was incredible. Well, thank you so much. I'm blushing. If everyone can see me and I need that pump up every morning when I get off. That's amazing. That really makes me feel good. So thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be here.
Stacy Mayer: Jennifer, there are so many moments over the past year and a half I was really thinking about you and. I have cried because of you sometimes, like, and we might get into it, and what I mean by that is. We would have levels of growth, you would get to a certain point and you would feel so confident, right? Oh, I'm getting chills and we'll go to all this. But it's just, you know, she would feel really confident. It's like and you might feel this way, too. You get that when you're like, OK, I got this. I'm developing a better relationship with my boss. I'm killing it. I feel like I understand these things. I'm definitely set up to get that promotion or I'm definitely set up to succeed. And then, well, covid happens or well, you know, layoffs happen or. Well, that person that you were building trust with is no longer there. Right. So I remember like, she would shoot me these text messages. And, you know, sometimes I'm like, yes, you did it. And then sometimes I, like, literally would cry because we do come so far. Right. And we do hit those milestones. But Jennifer is the definition of resiliency. So it's not that everything has been perfect and this is all been an uphill thing for her, just like where it was just super easy the whole time. And she just makes if you could see her, she makes it look very magically, right. Like, you know, it's like, oh, well, she can do this, but I don't know if I can't know. The only thing that only difference between what she's doing is that when she got knocked down, she got back up and she worked even harder and she put herself out there.
Stacy Mayer: And so and she talks a lot about this on her podcast, which is also why I recommend you listen to it because it's just very inspirational. But yeah. So thank you. Thank you, Jennifer, for showing up and for being willing to learn, willing to grow, willing to put yourself back out there over and over and over again. And I'm just I just want to celebrate you today for not only your big promotion but the woman that you've become and the impact that you really are making in the world right now. So thank you.
Jennifer Fisher: Thank you very much. And I appreciate all of your help and support over I can't please all but almost two years. So it's been an amazing ride. And you're right. It's its peaks and valleys. And at the end of the day, I mean, that's life for us. What we have to do.
Stacy Mayer: Right. So let's go back in time. July 2019. Can you remember why you seek out coaching or what you were looking for at the time?
Jennifer Fisher: You know, I felt in my role at the time, you know, being a vice president, I didn't feel that I was making the kind of impact that I wanted to make.
And I was just very, very busy. I wasn't feeling like I was accomplishing or making that big impact, even though I was so busy and exhausted at the end of every day, I just didn't feel that I was doing my role right, or doing it in a good way. I just didn't feel that.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah, because, you know, on paper, technically, you were good at your job, like. Right. There are no major complaints. Yeah, but you just do that. You could do better.
Jennifer Fisher: Right. Right. And I just felt there was more I could do, but I just. Yeah, I just felt like there was definitely more I could do than probably what I was doing, but I didn't know what to do to do that next thing. Right. Yeah, that's right.
Stacy Mayer: I was like, yeah, well it sounds very familiar. If you're listening to this podcast, you might be right there. And one of the things that you pointed to was this idea of being very busy. So perhaps is this because this episode is to really show you how all of the different modules inside of Executive Ahead of Time play out and the process that we went through. Let's talk about getting yourself out of the weeds. I think that is really one of the first things that we started working on right out of the gate. So what was that process like for you? It was hard.
Jennifer Fisher: It was very hard, you know, and part of it as well, you know, by reaching out to you. I absolutely love what I do. I absolutely love the company that I work for and I just myself personally, I just didn't feel I was accomplishing or doing things at the level that I should be doing, even though I was busy all day. I just felt like I could give the company more. There are more things I could do to help the company and help my team. But I was so busy that it just I didn't feel that I was being that impactful. And that was one of the things that you pointed out. And I still remember this might have been like an hour, maybe years, our first conversation or any conversation. And I remember it was such an eye-opener to me because even though I was a vice president of sales and I was going over what I'm doing all day and what I'm doing, and you are very clear and said you're not acting like a vice president. You're not performing like a vice president. And I was rather taken aback, like, I'm not sure what she's talking about, but on to explain to you, as you kind of discussed that I was so far in the weeds.
That I was at such a tactical level in the weeds that I wasn't being strategic at all, I wasn't being there to support my team or my boss or the growth of our team or the company at a strategic level, because I was so busy in the weeds. And even though I was busy, it just wasn't the "busy" that a vice president should be in. Helping to set strategic goals and initiatives and moving the company forward.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah, absolutely. And it's it really is, I think the first process of.
Of Executive Ahead of Time, one is that we know we need to be less busy like that was very clear, but I feel like the awareness and the big aha for you was that not only is it important from a time management perspective, but I'm not I can't scale like I'm not going to become a senior vice president. I'm not going to be able to make that impact at the larger organization. If I don't do this, if I don't stop doing all the tactical work and even just that realization is what gets a lot of people started on this path of like, oh, I know. I want to make a bigger impact. So I have to let go of some things.
Jennifer Fisher: Absolutely right. That's exactly right. And one of the things that you helped me realize as well, is not only was it a benefit for myself so that I could be more strategic and operate at a higher level and make that bigger impact. But by doing all these tactical things, I wasn't helping my team grow by even helping them take on some of these roles. That's a growth opportunity for them. And I think that also struck me too because I care so much about my team. I want them to grow, and so, I also then realized what I was doing was hoarding it from them.
Yes, but now they're like it was like, I want to do more to help you with anything more. And that was a big realization for me as well.
Stacy Mayer: Oh, my gosh. So I have a little bit of a Segway, which is obviously, I think very early on we were really talking about how do you become senior vice president. So we were how do we make this impact? But the title was involved in there, right? Because it's when we think about growth, it's what's that next level of growth in terms of title and responsibility. And maybe what I'm overseeing and I remember this shift. Where we were specifically talking about how do I become senior vice president, how do I change myself, how do I start making this impact, like you said, allowing your team to grow, allowing yourself to shine at that more strategic level. We sort of put the title, like on a shelf for a little while. That's right. Right. And so that you could really just focus on your work and like you said, at the least, becoming the best vice president possible.
Jennifer Fisher: That's right. You know, and being the fact that that was the main reason I had reached out was just how I could make a bigger impact in my current role. And, you know, obviously, I always, you know, everyone has their next level, what they want to do and that senior vice president was always something I wanted. But I also knew I just wasn't performing the way I wanted to be performing at a VP level. That was the first thing is like let's kind of get our house in order at this level and then, you know, kind of go from there and then, you know, I didn't have a lot to work on.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah, yeah. And, you know, that is literally the definition of Executive Ahead of Time.
It's like, let's get our house in order. Right. Let's make sure that we're performing at our best. So then it makes it a no-brainer to make it to move into that next level position.
Jennifer Fisher: That's right. So true. So true. And there was a lot that I worked on.
Stacy Mayer: So do you have any...
Do you have any stories about a way that you were able to think more strategically because you pulled yourself out of the weeds or anything like that that you wouldn't mind sharing?
Jennifer Fisher: Yeah, absolutely. You know, by pulling myself out of the weeds. And it was probably again, the timing of it, I think was really good. To your point, now that I realized it was like July 20, 19, you know we were working through this during the fall. And as we went into twenty-twenty, you know, covid hit and because I mean and thank goodness because I was already out of the weeds and I was able to think strategically. I mean even in January I started putting a strategic plan in place if covid moved out of Asia.
So here's what we're going to do. Like we have some Asia programs in Asia that we're doing. So we have to adjust, but we're good right now. But then in February, we had to pivot again because then covid was coming in through Europe, and being a global company, we were having some massive impacts with that. So I was able to quickly put another plan in place to adjust to that pivot. And then, of course, the third time when it was coming into the US and it really was we were realizing it was going to be an issue here in the US. We implemented our third strategy, which ended up being the third strategy, got us through pretty much all of last year very successfully. But I'm very grateful for the fact that I was I had already been out of the weeds so I could have been working on the strategy and moving forward instead of reacting in a way to things. And that was probably the biggest eye-opener for me.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah, because if you are in that reaction mode, if you're just solving the problem, the only way that you're going to be able to solve the problem, whatever problem that might be that comes up, is because you are the smartest person in the room. Now, what I mean by that is you have the most brilliant idea. And that's a lot of pressure, right? Like most of the time. It's actually about being resourceful, being able to pivot, and Jennifer actually taught me this, so this is a Jennifer Azem is focused on what you can control. Yeah, she can't do that if she's just solving problems and reacting. Right. She can't focus on what she can control. She can't be resourceful. Right. And so that's really the sign of an exceptional leader is not just because they have the most brilliant ideas. And I think this is really important for you as a listener to realize that as you continue to advance, you might not be putting yourself out there because you think you need more training. You think you need to be smarter, you think you need more experience when in reality you just need to be a better leader. You're right.
Jennifer Fisher: It's the backbone. Yes, the foundation. Absolutely.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah. So cool. So so you're able to start to make this impact. And I remember in this we're going to module two of Executive Ahead of Time, which is three X and your vision. And you're able to think about, whoa, like where am I headed, what do I really want? And can you explain a little bit about what three X in your vision means and what that process was like for you?
Jennifer Fisher: Absolutely. It was, again, another eye-opener for me.
You know, it was you know, when we first started talking about three X in my vision, you know, my vision was like, well, you know, I feel like I'm really working on my VP role. I really like that. And you're asking me what's your vision? Three X, whether the next step would be, you know, senior vice president and you're like, I'd go one step further.
Oh, I don't know about that, you know? And so I could even think that far ahead, I would've thought, you know, let's not push ourselves. But it was it ended up being just a fun exercise, that role. But what if, like what if, you know, I did what's the thing outside? What's the next thing after as senior vice president, let's start talking about that.
Wow, like it's kind of fun.
But then when you're realizing what you're doing and then the skill set you need is your three hexing that vision to move up, it doesn't seem so crazy anymore. Like you're really like. Right. Like actually. Why not? Why not? Like, it's all about that bigger impact that you can make, whether at your organization and with your team. And it's all positive. And it just was such an eye-opening.
And at the beginning it was a little like, well, I don't know, I've never thought quite like this before. But then it was fun. I was like, why not? Let's do this. Let's just write it up.
Stacy Mayer: And one big thing that I noticed is once you started three hexing that vision, you started talking a little bit more about your relationship with your CEO. Right. And it was like, how do I get to know him? Right. You know, it's like when we start to think bigger, we realize where those gaps are in terms of our influence and impact that we can start to make. And we and we really get playful as you describe. Like, why not? Why not? Like, you know, I have things to offer, you know? And so when you start to think that way, then you show up differently and then little things like getting out of the weeds, or whether or not you... I think there was one time where you were like, you know what, Stacy? I'm no longer going to organize the meetings.
Jennifer Fisher: Oh, that's right.
Stacy Mayer: And it's so it's like when you're three hexing your vision, not organizing the meeting is obvious. You're like, oh my God, of course, I'm not supposed to be the organizer of the meeting.
Jennifer Fisher: That's right. That's right. I'm not taking notes. I'm not organizing the meeting.
Stacy Mayer: Right. But because we're so used to being in that role or having whatever is defined for us and feeling like we have to stick that out and then like, oh, well, once I become senior vice president, I won't have to organize. No, we stop today.
Jennifer Fisher: That's right. That's right. And again, that's just another thing where, you know, people on my team were thrilled to be able to organize it. Yeah.
Again, I was not thinking of them, you know, just a task that I was holding onto. So so things like that, yeah, it was such an eye-opener.
Stacy Mayer: Oh, so cool. Yeah. And I think it's really fun and it's a great inspiration and reminder. And I think I'm going to take a minute and sort of talk about this transition into starting your own podcast. So we're going to take a little bit of a detour. So starting your own podcast is not part of the Executive Ahead of Time training. It is a result of what happens when you react to your vision. So when you're thinking really big and when you're really thinking about, OK, I can make this impact on my organization. Or and I can also do this. So tell us a little bit more about that process into what I would call maybe stepping into thought leadership that I, Jennifer Fisher, actually know something about sales and have a whole lifetime of experience that I would like to turn into knowledge that I can share with other people and my expertise. That's right.
Jennifer Fisher: That's right. You know, and it was something that, you know, as we've talked through my role, my roles over the years and being in sales, you know, I love it like I am even right now in my career.
I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world because I'm doing what I absolutely love and I'm doing it for a company that I absolutely love working for us. I got like this just can't get any better. And then thinking about, like, just how could I share some of this? Because I have such a passion for sales and, you know, for building relationships and kind of being that trusted adviser, that how can we, you know, how can I share that with other people who are coming up or, you know, just starting their career in sales or, you know, needing a little bit more inspiration and understanding.
And again, it was one of those, you know, a podcast? It was like a little giggle, like me doing a podcast. So I don't know. I don't know about that. But again, part of that three and the mission, you would say, well, why not? Well, I don't know why not, but I just made it because I like who's listening to me, you know? And but, you know, I have a lot to share. And it's great knowledge and it's fun for me. And it ended up just being this great, this great path for me to really just focus on some positive things and keep moving forward in a fun way, but in a way of thought leadership that I'm really giving something back to the field of sales and helping people along the way.
Stacy Mayer: And, you know, it happens very effortlessly when you do the other steps first, which is like getting yourself out of the weeds, being able to think more strategically, and then really thinking big about the impact that you want to make. Again, it's like, yeah, I'll start a podcast. Like, why not write? Of course. And yeah. And it doesn't become another item on your to-do list. It's basically just like, no, I actually want to share this and make a bigger impact on the world. Right. And the other thing is, is that you have resources, you know, people write that it's like you have that network you're able to connect. And so you're doing amazing interviews and bringing people. It's just there's so much fuel there, right?
Jennifer Fisher: Yes. Yes. Thank you. It's been really fun. I've had just a great, great time with us the last couple of months. It's really a joy.
Stacy Mayer: So in terms of the podcast, anything that happened at work as a result of the podcast and you know, again, it's very interesting that you say that because, you know, again, the purpose of this was just having fun. Right? I just... Why not? And let's do this.
Jennifer Fisher: And, you know, the side benefit was that I'm really able to help and share my knowledge with other sales professionals. But then at work and I didn't really say a lot to anybody. I'd let my boss know. And I talked a little bit about it, but for me was something I was trying to do on the side, excited about it. But people were listening at work. And so they really started even seeing me in a different light as this expert in sales. Right. As this Leadership Expert in sales.
And that ended up being something again, I wasn't thinking of that wasn't my intention going in, but it was a result that, you know, now people are asking for my opinion or wanting to pick my brain on something with sales and working through other divisions with other sales leaders and just brainstorming. And it's been really transformative.
Stacy Mayer: Can I remind you that Jennifer was still a vice president at this point and now I'm not diminishing her role in any way, but there was literally a point where I was like, oh, my gosh, you are an executive now, right? Like, you know, I think when you were a vice president, you didn't quite have a seat at the table yet. Now you do. Right. But it was almost like. Yeah. One hundred percent. The Executive Ahead of Time. Right. It's just like all transformed right in front of my face. And so this podcast, everything that she's experiencing, being brought in to talk to other divisions is happening at her same level. That's right. That's right. Yes. Yeah. So she's already doing this role. She's very happy. She loves the job that she's doing. We're not necessarily focusing on the title, but yet it's a very clear path. Like we know that it's coming. It's just it's not a matter of "if," it's just a matter of when so that I can hear a lot of listeners happening who've been in their role too long and they're deserving of that promotion. Right. That title change. Right. They're like, I'm doing the job ahead of time. And it's so it's actually really frustrating because I'm not getting compensated properly or I'm not. How what was the difference? Because I don't really think I ever did. I notice a sense of frustration. So what do you feel like? Actually, maybe early on you were frustrated, but that was mostly just because you felt like you were working your tail off and you were like, you're like, why am I working so hard? I mean, it's work. You work really hard now, but you work smarter, right? So that's right. So but at this point, when it was just so obvious, you were like a senior vice president, how did you practice patience to be able to, you know, get everything lined up so that you could move into that role?
Jennifer Fisher: You know, it's a good question, because at the time, I mean, yes, my goal was always to be like a senior vice president, you know, that was definitely something I wanted. But I also knew, you know, in this covid industry, the way things are shaking out much differently. But I was still very content and happy with myself that I was still working at a very high level. And whether my title was senior vice president or vice president, I was very happy with my accomplishments. I was very happy with the impact I was making across the organization still wanted that title, but knew that things are out of my control with covid and we were having layoffs. Just obviously, you know, it's going to be a while. You know, these things happen and that's OK because I felt I was very content and I was very happy with what I was doing in my career and in my thought leadership. And I knew I had such confidence that I was making an impact.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah. And you were right. Absolutely. We're actually making that impact. And I think that's the difference when people don't have that patience when they feel very frustrated. Really, the problem that they're experiencing is that they're not able to make the impact that they want to be making. And I think that it will come with the title change. But so often it comes within yourself and what you need to change in yourself and your habits and the way you're communicating and thinking about yourself as this executive.
Jennifer Fisher: It's so true. And, you know, thinking back, you know, probably the last couple of years working with you, it was I mean, you know. Ninety-nine percent of it was me, 99 percent of it was showing up differently. It was my viewpoint, my perception, and how I was just about me focusing on how I can be operating as an Executive Ahead of Time. And it was me. It wasn't my boss or somebody else.
Like I'm like I feel for me in my career like I want to be operating at this level. And yeah, it's amazing, but it's all on you. Like, you have to kind of change your attitude a little bit, your perception, your everything is on you. How am I showing up differently?
Stacy Mayer: Yeah. And that reminds me of also the work that we do on managing our emotions. Right? Which is like the idea of our attitude and how I can just tell that I think in general that you're a fairly positive lean. More on the positive side, even back when we first started working together. But yet there's a different sort of. It's it's positivity, but I would call it power. There's this like grounded confidence that you have now that is equally positive but just has a lot more power to it. And I think that some of that comes from this idea of working on your emotions and what's where are your frustrations are can you speak to that process at all?
Jennifer Fisher: You know, it's definitely you know, that was a huge pivot area for me, you know, and kind of focusing on my emotions and my expectations and my reactions. Right. So I'm not reacting to things. I love the words that use the grounded confidence. That's exactly how I feel right now. And I. Yeah, and I didn't have that in the beginning. I didn't have that at the beginning. But it really is that grounded confidence. Right. And again, it's again, how I'm showing up and how I'm reacting to things and then how I like working with other people and maybe helping them not react to things so much other than helping them think through maybe another way of thinking about things. Right. And just kind of realizing that, you know, it is about me. It's about how I'm showing out and how I can make some changes with the people around me as well.
Stacy Mayer: So Jennifer actually took the actual Executive Ahead of Time program in our inaugural class last year, because, you know, I've been working with her longer than the program has existed. And essentially I created the program out of the work I was doing with my one on one clients, like the actual practical steps that I was doing with each one of them to get them into higher-level leadership roles. And I put that into this six-week group coaching intensive. And then I launched it at the end of last year and Jennifer was able to be a participant in that program. And I wonder if you could speak to the group. So now we're adding in the community aspect. So when we're one on one coaching and I'm taking her through these processes, it's just the two of us. Right. So can you talk about how powerful it was to be in a group of other what I call corporate badasses and what you learned from that experience?
Jennifer Fisher: Absolutely. You know, and that was it was interesting because, you know, going into it, I wasn't sure about the group setting because I'd been working with you so much one on one, but it was invaluable. So it was really amazing.
And the group, the cohort that we had was phenomenal. And so hearing about everyone's situation as we're going through the course and going through the modules and talking about our real-time experiences that week of what was happening. And in some cases, there were many opportunities that I was able to offer some advice because I have I've gone through the same thing and I was able to offer some advice. And then it was also interesting to hear from other people. If we say, you know what, this was kind of a rough week this week, you know, and blah, blah, blah. And then having somebody say, oh, have you tried this or have you thought about this? And so it ended up being just a really phenomenal session going through all of those modules and really just applying some everyday things and seeing things from everyone else's point of view, I think is just invaluable.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah, I love the switch. This has happened to me as well. Like, I belong to some communities that I've been involved in for a while. And so I have like it, even if it's just time I have a little bit of like a year ahead of them. So newer people are coming in. And one of the things that I find so interesting is as far as I have grown over the last few years, then I'm reminded when I see them how much I have grown. But then I'm also reminded of where I still need to write. Like so it's like it's the reflection in a community of everyone that we can all just lift each other up.
Jennifer Fisher: Yep. And that's a good point to reflection because. Yeah, I mean, there were times where something would happen and I was able to give advice because I was like last year I was right there. I remember going through that last year. Right. And so yeah, part of that reflection, it did make you feel like the at the end, like, yeah, I really come a long way. Like I've really, yeah, just something to be very proud of.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah. I'm very, very proud of you Jennifer. I say that all the time because you're amazing.
Jennifer Fisher: I just you are definitely the right person to go to July of twenty nineteen.
Stacy Mayer: Yes. I'm so glad you found me. Yeah. So what's next for you. What do you feel like? Anything you want to share with us.
Jennifer Fisher: You know I am. Very excited, as I continue down the path of my podcast, I am working with a few other organizations. I've been asked to be a mentor to some young sales leaders, some young female sales professionals who are looking to get into some leadership. So I'm actually working through a mentoring program there to help people. I've been asked to help lead a leadership workshop with some colleagues and in an organization that is close to my company. So I'm working with them right now. I'm putting a leadership workshop together. And you know what? The other good thing which I'm super excited about is at our organization, we have launched employee resource groups and one of the resource groups is for women and all women with any background race diversity. And I am the executive sponsor, so I am just having a ball. I have an amazing group of three women who are my chairs for the organizer or for the IRG. And these three women are amazing and some of them I didn't really know that well. So it's so amazing, again, to have that community and be able to offer this community to our whole company. It's just phenomenal. And again, I just feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah. And, you know, and also I'll add to this because we're you know, you're talking about all these other things that you're doing. So in January, she was promoted to senior vice president. You know, huge congratulations. It was one of those things that was like, of course. Right. And now she's getting to be able to make a bigger impact at her organization as well, which is really what she wanted to be doing all along. So. That's right.
Jennifer Fisher: That's right. It's just yeah, I'm thrilled. I'm absolutely thrilled. And I'm having a ball because it's what I love to do. And I just love the company that I work for and that I'm doing what I love here.
It's just great. And again, you know, you think like, oh, this wouldn't have been possible and it wouldn't have been possible if I was still strung up the way I was showing up two years ago. And so, again, it really comes back to you. You have to put the time, then you really have to put the effort in. You know you were you're very frank with me many times. And there are times almost like were you talking about why is this my fault?
You know, like, I don't understand, but you have to be open to these things.
And I know I was also that that growth mindset, that's who I am. I always want to get better. I always want to better in sales and leadership, no matter what it is. I want to get better. And, you know, you would help me and say you need to think of it this way or try this. And I would I'm like, OK, I'm going to go do it. And I go do it the next day and then I'm texting you. You're like, oh my gosh, this happened. And but it's good. But it's about you have to show up and you have to put the work in. And like you said, the two years, it was hard ups and downs and it was crazy.
But you have to make that commitment. You have to put the work in and you have to have that growth mindset and try new things. You know, I feel like the growth mindset for you is much closer to your grounded, confident, powerful self. And it's we forget that. And so what we're thinking at the beginning is I just want to be making a bigger impact. And this isn't fair and this is happening to me. And so what we did is through coaching, we shifted into what are those areas of growth?
Stacy Mayer: How can we start challenging ourselves to do better? And then you're able to do that. And then, as a result, you're able to make that impact that you wanted to be making the whole time.
Jennifer Fisher: Yes, it's so true. Exactly. That's exactly right. Yeah. Yeah. Confidence is just so.
Stacy Mayer: Yeah. So any last words of advice or wisdom for our audience, a corporate leader who's looking to, you know, feeling a little bit stock, wants to make that bigger impact and not sure what to do next.
Jennifer Fisher: Yes, I would definitely say, you know. Number one, definitely get a coach. I mean, you know, and of course, I'm just saying this is amazing, but you need that objective. You need somebody who's objective too, you know, sometimes give you that swift kick sometimes. Right. You got to stop thinking this way or why are you thinking this way? So you need somebody objective to really help you.
And when you think about it like you're all great. People have a coach. The best baseball players have a coach. The best actress has a coach right there. These people always coach because they need that. They need that objective view of saying, hey, here's where we're at. So that would be number one. And again, follow your passion, you know, and don't expect things, you know, just because you want the title change, it just doesn't work that way. Right. So think about, again, taking some of the "title" out of it and think about like, how are you contributing at work? How are you showing up at work to make that impact? And I think the way you work with me is that's where you have to start. Right. And, you know, and maybe a title change isn't going to happen. Right. But if you're showing up differently, you're going to be able to achieve a lot of your goals that way as well and goals for the company. And then eventually things will fall in place because you are Executive Ahead of Time.
Stacy Mayer: One hundred percent. Totally, yeah. So tell us, how do we find you how do we find your podcast. How do we follow you?
Jennifer Fisher: Oh my gosh. Thank you. Thank you. So definitely I am on LinkedIn so please look me up on LinkedIn. Jennifer Fisher, I am all over LinkedIn and my podcast is A Life You Love Sales Tips with Jennifer Fisher. And it is on every podcast streaming search for that. No matter where you go and you will find it. And again, you can always reach out. My email is I keep it simple. Jen@JenLovingSales.com.
Stacy Mayer: I love it, Jen loving sales. But it's so amazing. You're such an inspiration, Jennifer. You inspire me to do more to make a bigger impact as well. And I am just so grateful for you to be able to share this wisdom in your journey on the podcast today. Thank you.
Jennifer Fisher: Thank you for having me. I thank you very much.

About Your Host
Hi! I'm Stacy Mayer, a Certified Executive Coach and Promotion Strategist on a mission to bring more diversity to the leadership table by getting 1000 underrepresented corporate managers promoted into senior executive positions each year worldwide.
I help undervalued executives scale to the C-Suite using repositioning strategies that build your confidence and visibility, so you can earn the recognition and support you need from key stakeholders while embodying your unique leadership style.
My podcast “Women Changing Leadership with Stacy Mayer” tackles topics like executive communication, getting more respect in the workplace from challenging bosses and team members, and avoiding the common mistakes that sabotage career advancement.
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