From inbox to impact: How to use conversations to skip the noise of applications

I’m finally willing to admit that Conversations > Applications is a “movement” and I’m wholeheartedly focused on it. Below is the background of the journey and what you should take with you in under 4 minutes.

Ps) If you’ve recently joined us, I’m glad to have you. Respond and let me know what you’re up to, I’d love to hear!

Ps) If it says “Your Order Details…” in the subject line, you didn’t order anything. I just wanted to see if it’d make you stop.

Below you’ll find…

1. Conversations > Applications Movement

2. Questions for Deep Conversations

3. #PrescribedByDx - Raw Thoughts

Forget traditional job hunting—Conversations > Applications is how top candidates are getting hired today:

What does this mean? People unlock opportunities, but endless applications don’t. I’m on a journey to show people how building advocates can change the trajectory of your career.

How can you get started today?

1) Take inventory of what you have.

Friends, professional relationships, and organizations that you’re already involved with. How good are you at connecting with anyone at any time for any reason within those buckets? If you feel shaky about that, go back to those groups.

Who could you spend more time with? (And would want to spend that time)

Start there, not LinkedIn.

2) Spend time alone.

Find a block of time to leave everything behind except you. Whether it’s a lo-fi beats track or my favorite Spotify playlist. Start journaling about where you’ve been, what lights you on fire, and rough ideas about where you’re headed.

The foundation needs to be cleaned before you go out there, this work is vital, it gets overlooked, and is never praised at the end of the journey. But this is ultimately, the reason most people are successful.

“What are you known for?” is a good place to start.

Not behind the movement yet? It might not be about you, think about your partner, family, or even kids that you want to show up better for.

Questions for Deep Conversations

“Looking back on your journey, what key idea or concept do you wish you would have grasped earlier in your career or path?”

• The idea here is that you start to learn from mistakes that they made or time that they spent in which nothing came to fruition that created a career they cared about.

“When was the last time you felt supported to go chase down work that you enjoyed and what did that work entail”

• Don’t miss a follow-up here - “What did you learn from that project?” or “Who did you get to work with that surprised you?”

The shift in being able to hold well-received conversations doesn’t happen overnight. It involves intentional practice, slowing down during a chat, listening to what’s being asked, and finding more moments you enjoy throughout it all.

#PrescribedByDx

Go outside, leave headphones behind, and spend time with new people.

The last 3 months I spent holed up in an apartment in Indonesia working on Conversations > Applications. Endless hours, too much caffeine, and a rollercoaster of emotions.

I got to the brink (scroll below for me writing on the windows) and needed to pull myself out for fresh air. I’m extremely glad I tested my limits a few years ago and I can see the warning signs on the wall. Literally in this case.

Push hard enough to know your limits and know when it’s time for a breath of fresh air.

TL;DR

• Conversations > Applications is a movement.

• You already have what you need to start.

• Fresh air is good for you.

Before you go…

I’m kicking off my first-ever Conversations > Applications cohort on October 2nd. If you want to know more about the strategies and DIY, watch a free 15-minute video here.

If you want to join a group of like-minded people lifting each other up as they hunt down their next opportunity, reply “conversations” here.

I’m excited to see you in there.

Dominic

Ps) Wasn’t kidding about writing on the wall - love a good expo marker👇🏼