New episode drops Monday, April 7th, 2025 – Don’t miss our 25th episode celebration!
In this week’s powerful episode of Latina Mic Drop, I share the five career secrets I wish I’d known earlier in my professional journey. As we celebrate our 25th episode milestone, I open up about the strategies that have transformed my career and can help elevate yours too. With over 20 years of professional experience poured into this podcast, my mission is clear: to make the career journey less difficult for you, the listeners than it was for me.
What Kind of Work Excites You?
Let’s begin with perhaps the most fundamental question: what work genuinely energizes you? I encourage you to pay attention to those moments when you can talk about something for hours, when your energy naturally rises, or when you find yourself fully engaged. For me, it’s creating experiences for others and watching people grow, which ultimately led me to my dream role.
When you’re able to talk about something or you’re able to really be energetic and then out of nowhere you can talk about it for hours, that’s what excites you. Those are the types of work that you want to look for.
How Much Does This Work Pay?
Let’s be real, compensation matters. Research salary ranges, promotion paths, and long-term earning potential. Whether you’re in corporate America or entrepreneurship, understanding your market value is crucial.
Consider asking yourself questions like: Will this allow me to pay the basic necessities like rent/mortgage and utilities? Save money? Help family members? Research projected salary growth and whether there’s room for advancement or if you’ll quickly hit a salary cap.
When Do I Need to Do This Work?
Time commitments can make or break career satisfaction. The importance of assessing work hours, travel requirements, and how a job fits with your personal life are all considerations for what you say yes to.
Drawing from personal experience, I recently adapted to my wife’s schedule change from a predictable Monday-Friday to irregular 12-hour shifts. We need to figure it out. Okay, when is our date night? Timing considerations extend beyond just you.
Is It Aligned With My Current Life?
This fourth secret builds on timing, examining whether a role matches your present life circumstances and stress tolerance. Miriam acknowledges that what works during one life phase might not work during another. While she now manages a full-time career plus entrepreneurship like her podcast and coaching, she reflects this wouldn’t have been possible when she was raising her children.
Does it currently work? And if it doesn’t, are you willing to make the changes to make it work? Or is it a real no?
Who’s Been There So I Can Get There Too?
The final secret, and one I can’t emphasize enough, is finding mentors who’ve walked the path you’re considering. Reaching out to someone who had made a similar commute to New York helped me make an informed decision about a career opportunity.
Sometimes you want those shortcuts. Advocating for learning from others rather than always taking the DIY approach will save you time and possibly some headaches. This podcast is a reality because I did a course. I didn’t want to wait a year to figure everything out on my own.
The Unwritten Rules
Here’s your bonus wisdom: master the unwritten rules in organizations, understand who truly makes decisions and influences outcomes. I encourage you to approach your careers strategically while remaining authentic.
Make fear your co-pilot, not your roadblock. A reorganization initially triggered fear within me but ultimately led to my growth when I approached it with curiosity rather than judgment.
Don’t miss this insightful episode! Latina Mic Drop releases new episodes every Monday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join us in celebrating our 25th episode milestone!
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