What are you actually in control of?
This is newsletter edition number 2, transformed into an article for my website, and so those people who sign up can read my previous editions.
New year. New you?
Maybe. Maybe not.
I’ve never really been one for New Year’s resolutions. I tend to be fairly spontaneous. When I want to change something, I usually just do it, rather than waiting for a symbolic date.
That said, this year I really do want to be more purposeful. And to do that, I need to be more in control.
This newsletter is for anyone who feels a bit stuck in their career, their business, or their LinkedIn presence.
Students, professionals, leaders and business owners. If you’re thinking about what comes next, you’re in the right place.
A bit more about you, me, and how to start that change:
If you’re feeling a bit stuck in your work or business right now, you’re not alone. That’s partly why this newsletter is arriving now, not last week.
The start of the year can feel like a demand to move before you’re ready: new goals, new systems, new pressure. I didn’t want to add to that noise. I wanted to write this when there was a (hopefully) a little more space in your inbox, which means thinking clearly feels easier than reacting quickly.
Being more intentional with my time is something I’m going to work hard on this year, and this newsletter is part of that. Less rushing. More choosing. Because real change is more likely to start there.
Which brings me to a simple question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately:
What are you actually in control of?
If you subscribed a while ago, you’ll know I’ve been pretty quiet. Life took over. I’ve spent a lot of time at the mercy of LinkedIn’s ever-changing algorithms (which has become increasingly frustrating), and I’ve also been focused on getting my first three books published.
But I’m back, and this time with a clearer intention.
Rather than sharing loads of free content into the LinkedIn void, I plan to be sharing ideas, hints, tips, and stories here, with the people who’ve chosen to subscribe.
This space is for people who know they’re capable of more, but aren’t sure what the next move is yet.
And that definitely includes me.
Why I think control is linked to career change:
When you want a career change, something else often needs to change first. From my work with clients and self reflection over the years tells me this is often working out what you are in control of and what you could be in control of.
Not control in a rigid, micromanaging sense.
But control over the things that actually shape your future.
In the books I’ve written, there’s a section focused on control. It’s based on Stephen Covey’s Circle of Concern model. There are 3 parts to this model:
- Circle of Concern (things you worry about but can do nothing about)
- Circle of Influence (things you have some control over, but other people or circumstances will likely change the end result)
- Circle of Control (the things you can control- though that doesn’t always make them easy things to do!)
In the books, I run through an exercise where you spend time identifying what you can genuinely influence, what’s outside your control, what you can control.
So, this week’s tip focuses on something practical that can be in your control:
LinkedIn – how to control it before it controls you.
For example, being more purposeful with your time:
- Running searches to find people and content you’re genuinely interested in
- Spending less time endlessly scrolling your feed (I’m very much talking to myself here too)
Here is a link to a short demo video to show exactly what I mean.
By controlling what you see a bit more, this can help you with that next career step. Engaging with content, finding new people in your target area are all good steps to working out what that next career step could be.
That’s it for this first edition.
I’ll be sending a newsletter every 7–14 days, each one with:
- one clear idea or tip
- and a simple theme around growing your career or your business
Thanks for subscribing. I’d love to hear your thoughts on control, and where you feel it slipping, or returning, in your own work or career.
See you next time.
Sarah
