Tips for Work and Life with Andrew LaCivita

Train Your Focus Like a Muscle: The 10-Minute Habit That Changed My Life [The Zebra Code]

Have you ever tried to start your day with the best intentions only to have your attention hijacked by email pings, barking dogs, or that mysterious ice maker noise in the kitchen? Yeah. Same.  In today’s lesson, I’m teaching one of the most underrated (yet powerful) skills for career and life success: how to train your focus like a muscle.  And I’m not talking about downloading some shiny productivity app.  I’m talking about something deeper and more effective… 🧠 Mental warm-ups you can do before the chaos of the day begins.🔥 A simple 10-minute daily ritual to build real focus and willpower.🎯 Why distraction isn’t your fault, but staying distracted is your choice.💡 How to apply focus training to every task (even cleaning your coffee pot).  If you want to stop reacting to your day and start directing it, this one’s for you… (You’ll thank me before your second cup of coffee.) If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

3 Mindset Shifts That Separate High Achievers from Everyone Else [The Zebra Code]

Want to think like a high achiever? I’ve coached thousands of professionals and one pattern is unmistakable. High achievers think differently. It’s not about having more time, money, or luck. It’s about how they frame challenges, filter distractions, and focus their energy. That’s what today’s podcast is all about. 🎯 The 3 Mindset Shifts That Separate High Achievers from Everyone Else (and how to start adopting them today.) You’ll learn: ✅ The habit that instantly improves your focus. ✅ The overlooked question top performers ask themselves daily. ✅ How to turn setbacks into fuel, not frustration. Let’s roll! If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

Stop Reporting Work History, Start Telling Job Interview Stories That Sell You

Question for ya… When the interviewer asks you to “tell me about a time when…,” do you: A) Launch into a timeline of tasks you completed? B) Rattle off a list of responsibilities? C) Sound like your own resume? (Oy to the vey.) If so, don’t worry. You’re not alone. But you are probably leaving value on the table. Here is a capital “T” truth… Most people report work history. Few, if any, tell real stories. Almost no one uses those stories to sell who they truly are. But that’s exactly what interview storytelling should be. This week’s podcast is one of the most important lessons I can give you on how to elevate your interview game and position yourself as THE standout candidate. Excitement alert: You will squeal with glee if you’ve ever wondered I’m just a cog in the wheel and my background feels narrow. I’m not sure how to sound valuable or impactful. What you’ll learn alert:The real purpose of storytelling in interviews (big hint: it’s not just to explain what you did). Why sounding “too junior” is a storytelling issue, not an experience issue. Bulletproof way to reframe your stories so they show off your big-picture thinking and leadership qualities. You’re not just there to fill a role. You’re there to drive transformation. To show them what’s possible when they hire you, you need to… 🔴 STOP telling tasks. 🟢 START selling you. You’ve got more to offer than just your recent “job title.” Now it’s time to tell that story. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

Never Negotiate Salary Over Email | Do This Instead

I know it’s tempting. A recruiter emails you with your job offer. You want to reply quickly. Clear things up. Maybe even negotiate. But email is the worst place to have that conversation. Why? Have you ever heard of Albert Mehrabian? He developed “The Mehrabian Rule.” Catchy, yes. But more importantly, true. His rule is also known as the 7-38-55 rule. It suggests, that in communication, the impact of any message is divided into pieces. 7% from the words spoken (or, in your inclination, written). 38% from the tone of your voice. 55% from your body language. Now, I realize you might not have my 9 semesters of higher math I needed to endure at THE Iowa State University to get my rarely-used Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, so let me help you with the calculation. That’s 93% of your communication power not at your disposal in an email. When it comes to negotiating your salary, tone, timing, and tactics matter. Plus, the real-time going round-and-round and back-and-forth is somewhat necessary. You basically lose all these necessities when you're using a keyboard! So, what should you do instead? Start by listening to my nifty podcast on Never Negotiate Salary Over Email | Do This Instead. Then do what I teach in the podcast. All that’ll be left after that is for you to think of me with every automatic deposit of your big paycheck! If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

What to Say When a Recruiter Pressures You for Your Expected Salary

Ever felt cornered when a recruiter asks, “What’s your expected salary?” Only you and about a bajillion other job seekers. I’m a little sick and tired of silly recruiters cornering you about this. It’s TOO EARLY in the process to be doing this nonsense. Why do people not show each other their “balance sheets” on the first date, amiright?!?! Even so, your matchmaker Coach here wants you to handle the pressure with grace and simultaneously avoid lowballing or highballing yourself. Here’s the script and I included the backdoors and escape hatches too. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy