The Bold Professional Diaries 💌
How closet clean outs lead to career clarity, why your job search isn't working, the one tip that's getting my clients hired, plus a pep talk if you’re feeling stuck, behind, or just freakin' over it.
Life Lately 💭
A wise woman once told me: the only way to figure out what’s next is to clean out a closet.
(Okay, no one actually told me that, but I’m finding a lot of truth in it this month.)
Because - you guessed it - I’ve been fiendishly reorganizing every single closet in my house.
Something about this season - maybe the end of grad school, maybe the Oklahoma heat keeping me indoors, or maybe just the existential itch of a woman in transition - has me on a mission.
Out with the old, in with the labeled, color-coded, bin-stored new. 🤩
It’s a very specific kind of mania: equal parts “fresh start energy,” “I’m loving this momentum,” and “if I can’t control my future, at least I can control this spice rack.”
Every drawer is getting purged.
Every closet re-shelved.
Every item is finding its forever home.
In case you were wondering, yes I bought a label maker.
And of course, I’m using it with the zeal of a woman in search of both order and answers.
But it’s not just about cleaning; it’s about creating space.
Literal space in my home, but also emotional space in my brain. And strategic space in my business.
Because as I’ve told you a few times this summer, I don’t know exactly what’s next for The Bold Professional.
I have ideas. Dreams. Half-finished frameworks in my Notes app. Post-its with big, sparkly goals…
But I also have this quiet voice that’s been saying: “Don’t rush it. Let it be true. Let it be yours.”
So I’m pausing the hustle. Not to disengage, but to realign.
I’m reminded by the wise people around me that sometimes, the most strategic move isn’t pushing harder… it’s pulling back just enough to hear what’s next.
So I’ve been asking myself, “Is this momentum… or just noise?”
I’m reminded that we don’t always need a new plan. But sometimes we need a quieter, clearer, well-organized moment to remember what we actually want.
Time and space to do the unglamorous work of creating real clarity — before trying to package something into a course or a coaching offer.
To sit with what wants to come next, instead of forcing what I think I should do. Because genuine, authentic careers aren’t built in panic. They’re built in presence.
So for now, I’m doing what I know how to do:
Clearing the shelves.
Making space for what’s coming.
Creating order.
Labeling everything like my future depends on it.
Trusting that something new is on its way.
Career Search Tip of the Week 💼
I got a dm in my Instagram inbox this week. It said, “I have lost confidence in myself because all my applications have been ignored or denied.”
I hear this happening a lot on the job search, and what hurts me the most is that when this happens, my clients take it personally.
Instead of thinking, “Hmm.. my job search strategy just isn’t working,” they think, “Wow. Something must be wrong with me.”
To you I say this: if your job search isn’t working… pause. Don’t just hustle harder. Restrategize.
But let’s talk about this for a second:
When you apply to a job online, your resume is landing in a pile of hundreds, if not thousands, of other applications.
Then, an applicant tracking system (ATS) filters through that list to bring the top 25-50 applicants to the front.
And this could have nothing to do with the quality of the applicant, but everything to do with that applicant’s ability to tailor their resume to match the ATS system
At this point, a human is screening the top candidates. Let’s say they have received a referral for 5 of those candidates.
You might have an awesome application and experience, but you’re just a name on a blank piece of paper compared to someone who’s been recommended by a trusted peer.
Most likely, you’re getting rejected at one of these points.
When my clients start taking their rejections personally, I have to remind them of this: it’s not you that’s the problem. It’s your strategy.
The best way to get a job?
And reframe your mindset - this loss of confidence is a huge part of why your job search isn’t working for you.
Ask yourself these questions to start:
What story am I telling myself about why it’s not working?
Is that story actually true, or just familiar?
What else could be true about why my job search isn’t working?
Sometimes, the block isn’t your resume or experience.
It’s the belief that you’re stuck, behind, or not enough.
Pause. Rethink. Rewrite the narrative. Then keep going (with a targeted strategy and a clearer mind).
How My Clients Are Landing Jobs Without Applying Online 📋
Hint: They’re networking.
Everyone talks about networking like it’s handing out business cards at awkward events.
But real career momentum is built through micro-moves.
This is why people say the best time to job search is when you already have a job.
And why is that?
Because when you have a job, you are exposed to unbelievable network power through your organization, team, and partners.
But you have to be strategic about nurturing these relationships.
This doesn’t mean you show up to work, do your job, eat lunch alone everyday, close your laptop at 5p, and leave.
It means spending intentional time having human, low-stakes conversations with people you already know (or almost know) to build relationships and get to know people better.
Things like:
Popping by your coworkers’ offices to say hi
Texting a former boss just to check in
Grabbing coffee with your friend’s cool aunt who “knows people”
DM’ing someone you admire and telling them why
Emailing a past boss to share what you’re working on now
Asking your skip boss for a coffee meeting to learn more about their career
Here’s the magic:
When you connect with people without asking for anything, they remember you when opportunities arise. The door is already open. You're top of mind.
These aren’t just conversations. It’s real-world networking.
And it builds trust before you ever need to ask for help.
Networking in this way makes career changes feel less like “cold outreach” and more like momentum.
So, if you’re wanting to try your hand at adding networking into your daily routine, try this:
Make a list of 5 people you could check in with this week. No pitch. No pressure. Just a friendly touchpoint. It’ll feel small, but these are the moments that shift everything.
Want more practical tips on how to make networking a part of your weekly routine? Check out my 25 Coffee Rule: Why Job Searching is Like Dating.
ChatGPT Career Prompt of the Week 🎧
Okay, I wanted to leave you with one last nugget this week.
I ran a poll on Instagram yesterday, asking questions about career clarity, confidence, and where you’re at right now.
Here’s what I learned:
You want to grow in your career, but aren’t sure what direction to take.
You’re feeling overwhelmed by the job search.
And most of all, you’ve lost some of your confidence.
Some of you are doubting your abilities.
Some of you still believe in yourself, but not in your current career path.
Others are just plain demoralized and unsure what comes next.
So I wanted to offer you a little support.
A small reminder of the Bold, Ambitious, Overqualified, Capable Professional you actually are.
And naturally, for this tool, I turned to everyone’s favorite online therapist/bestie/assistant… ChatGPT.
So, if you’ve been feeling stuck, lost, or like your confidence has left the chat lately… copy + paste this into ChatGPT and see what comes back:
Dear ChatGPT,
I’m feeling demoralized in my career. I want to grow, but I’m stuck on what’s next. The job search feels terrifying, and I have a lot of identity wrapped up in my work. Based on everything you know about my life and career, can you give me a personalized pep talk to help me rebuild my confidence?
You don’t need to have it all figured out to move forward.
You just need one clear reminder of who you are… and why you’re so much more than your last job title.
I’ll be back next Thursday at 10:59a sharp.
Until then, stay bold out there my besties!
I’ll see you in your inbox next week. ❤️
XO,
Abbey
» Learn more about my courses + get started here 📌
P.S. I talked about these strategies in my interview with Amy Siegfried from Cultivate a Network of Champions last month.
We discussed:
How to build a resume that beats the bots and grabs attention
The 5-step coffee chat formula that opens doors without awkward small talk
Why your network is more powerful than any job board
Smart ways to answer salary questions — and what else you should be negotiating
How to keep your network warm with low-stakes, high-impact follow-ups
Want to grab the replay? Watch it now. ❤️
Recommend the Bold Professional to your Career Besties! ✨
This is the unfiltered diary from a career coach turned founder helping smart, ambitious professionals redesign their work and own their boldest season yet.
Career clarity, nervous system-safe ambition, and the occasional spicy truth about work, identity, and designing a life you actually like.
Follow along to learn about reclaiming your energy, income, and ambition — without pretending to have it all figured out.