Send us a text Stop waiting to “feel ready.” Here’s the hard truth: confidence comes last. If layoffs, ageism, or career ghosting have knocked you sideways, this conversation with career transition coach John Tarnoff offers a practical way forward—without applying to 100 job postings. John breaks down why the old career playbook—resumes, cover letters, and cold applications—fails experienced professionals, and how to replace it with mission-led positioning, warm introductions, and a narrowly defined “superpower” that solves one urgent problem for the right buyer. We dig into how to turn your LinkedIn About section into a clear mission and promise, rewrite headlines around outcomes (not titles), and shift from task execution to executive-level problem solving. John also shares his own path through eighteen jobs and seven firings, reframing setbacks as data—and momentum. This episode connects career transition, leadership, and entrepreneurship with a consultant mindset: diagnose pain, map a path to results, communicate relentlessly, and finish the last five percent. Whether you’re W-2 or 1099, the goal is the same—become the trusted thought partner leaders rely on. If you feel stuck, consider this your nudge: move while uncomfortable, define the promise you’re making, choose the niche you can own, and reach out to five people who can open the right doors this month. 💡 GOLD NUGGETS • Confidence is the outcome of action—not the starting point • Why ageism is hitting earlier and how referrals bypass it • Mission-led career design from the inside out • Turning LinkedIn profiles into stories and value promises • Writing headlines around outcomes instead of roles • The baseball mindset for outreach (.300 is elite) • Selling strategy to executives, not tasks • Reframing firings and setbacks as usable data • Thinking like a consultant in leadership and entrepreneurship 🔗 Guest Links • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johntarnoff/ • Programs & Coaching: johntarnoff.com (Company)johntarnoff.com/blog (Blog)midcareerlab.com (Company)🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ • Website | https://chrislalomia.com 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari From the Zoo to Wild is a book for entrepreneurs passionate about home services, looking to move away from corporate jobs. Chris Lalomia, a former executive, shares his path, discoveries, and tools to succeed as a small business owner in home improvement retail. The book provides the mindset, habits, leadership style, and customer-oriented processes necessary to succeed as a small business owner in home services.
