Nada Buhendi

11th grade. My highschool math teacher asked me to find a shoulder to cry on because he didn’t think I was cut out for college level math. I studied harder than everyone else and graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

At 26, I was told by a personal trainer that some people are not naturally athletic and I happen to be one of them. Six years later, I deadlifted my weight and achieved 17% body fat.

At 34, I was constantly made fun of by a latin dance instructor for being “too slow”. A year later, I got accepted into an amateur dance performance team and nailed the choreo.

And here’s the BIGGEST one. I interviewed for an entire year and kept getting rejected from EVERY SINGLE JOB after spending $30K in certifications and career coaching. I almost gave up but thank goodness I didn’t because I met my 3rd career coach who helped me land a job that was 2X my previous salary. I became her apprentice for an entire year and got certified as a senior career coach. Today, I help people convert their interviews into offers…more than 20 of them landed their dream job in the last 6 months, doubling and tripling their salaries.

Deep down inside we all know what we need to do to overcome our hurdles but it’s safer to hide behind excuses like:

“I’m too old.” “I have an accent.” “I’m an introvert.” “I’m new to Canada. I’m a mom.”

Free yourself from your own prison. Squash that imposter syndrome because this isn’t just about you. You may be going through this journey so you can help people like you.

Remember, different = special. And if you need to talk, I’m here.

There is no shame in trying things and experimenting in your career. I get asked a lot – but what if recruiters see all those pivots? Wouldn’t that look bad? Bad that you’ve had rich multi-dimensional life experiences? Isn’t Dwayne a better super hero actor because of his background in wrestling? Did his pivot harm him?

I urge you to remind yourself of your “why” as you navigate your career rather than letting fear be a driver. Your “why” will help you tell that story on your resume, so recruiters and hiring managers see those “pivots” as a progression rather than confusion.

Here’s my “why”. I’ve always wanted to help hidden gems and undiscovered leaders breakthrough imposter syndrome to feel fulfilled. I did that throughout my career at organizations, mostly as an agile coach and product manager. Then I decided to start my practice as a career coach because I wanted to make a bigger global impact. I now work with clients internationally, mostly in the US, Canada, and UK. I’ve recently gone to an interview for a director level position and that was my story. The recruiter loved it and I got to speak to the hiring manager at the VP level.

Remember your why and let that be your driver. And if you need to be reminded of it and need help figuring out your next career move, I’m here for you. Send me a DM and we can have a virtual coffee. 😀

A person can have multiple soulmates AND multiple ideal careers. The experiences and wisdom are transferrable.

Rather than obsessing about the title, the question I always asked myself has been: is my job fulfilling my truest highest expression as a human being?

The secret to answering that question started with KNOWING MYSELF and my values…

then relying on MY EMOTIONAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM. If it didn’t feel right I DIDN’T DO IT.

I recently interviewed for a director level role. There was still that part of me that wondered what it would feel like to be someone’s imitation. But it didn’t feel right, so I didn’t do it.

Then on Friday, I got a message from one of my clients saying all of our work together paid off because she got her dream role as an Agile Coach at a bluechip company.

I was so glad I went with my gut. My decision to continue to be a career coach full time was validated.

Remember to be YOU and always do things that allow you to achieve your truest highest expression as a human being.