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 Ten years after I burned myself out trying to get promoted… I finally understood what I did wrong. It wasn’t technical. It wasn’t my performance. It wasn’t my work ethic. It was the way I saw people. A few years ago, a friend gave me a copy of the book Leadership and Self-Deception. I wasn’t expecting a gut punch. But page by page, it felt like the author had shadowed my entire career. What I thought was being “helpful” and “dedicated” was actually me being stuck in what the book calls “the box.” ➡️ I saw people as obstacles or problems to solve. ➡️ I focused on doing, not connecting. ➡️ I tried to prove my value… instead of building real relationships. The network ran flawlessly. The tickets were closed. The fires got put out before anyone noticed. But do you know what I missed? Influence. Trust. Sponsorship. Leadership. All the things that come from people—not checklists. Today, I still catch myself slipping back into that old mindset… …but now I recognize it. I know how to step out of “the box” and into connection. I’ve learned how to build mutual success instead of quiet martyrdom. As I transition into my Epic Encore, this is the #1 lesson I pass on to my clients: 👉 Your value doesn’t just live in what you do. It lives in how you relate 👉 The work that earns you a living isn’t always the work that earns you a seat at the table 👉 And the next chapter of your life deserves more than transactional output. It deserves transformation If you’re entering your Encore Chapter, I’d love to help you avoid my mistakes and turn your wisdom into something visible, valuable, and legacy-worthy. Let’s build what lasts. Ted  | 
Join 60,000+ seasoned professionals who are done with the corporate world. Epic Encore is an almost daily newsletter with inspirational stories from leading experts. Your Epic Encore is about turning your lifetime experiences into the cornerstone of the rest of your life. It represents your audacious leap into entrepreneurship, fueled by the wisdom and tenacity you've garnered in your successful career. This isn't about playing catch-up in business and building a 7-figure business. It's about forging a unique path, using your distinct perspective, seasoned judgment, and invaluable insights that can only come from years of life experience.
Leaving your long-term corporate career can be a double-edged sword. While the newfound freedom is liberating, it can also leave a void. The built-in purpose provided by company missions and team goals disappears, often leading to feelings of restlessness and a lack of direction. This is where finding your "Why" becomes not just a luxury, but a necessity for a fulfilling next chapter. Now stay with me here. I know finding your "Why" is too touchy-feely for some of you. Research has shown a...
After being laid off, I thought my experience would land me a new job quickly. I was dead wrong. After a few months of rejections, I lost confidence and struggled. Here's what I realized during that difficult period. Your career is more than a job title. After years in the corporate world, you possess a wealth of experience. To thrive in your next chapter, you must look beyond your former role. Your value is not in a title, but in the skills you have honed. It is time to reskill, reposition,...
For decades, you wore a corporate mask. The version that got you promoted and led teams. That mask wasn't fake. Just incomplete. You suppressed parts of yourself to succeed. The creative side. The emotional side. The curious side. After 20 or 30 years, you forgot where the mask ended and the real you began. The person you're looking for has been there all along. Look Backward to Move Forward Want to know who you are without the title? Look at who you were before you had one. What did you love...