Welcome back to Design a Career You Love where I help corporate professionals like you design, build and navigate your high impact career with clarity and confidence. ✨ If someone forwarded you this email, subscribe here so you won't miss out on future editions.

Let’s get one thing straight: Summer isn’t just for slowing down. It’s for getting ahead.

The smartest people I know use this season to quietly sharpen their strategy, strengthen relationships, and get themselves in motion - before anything breaks, blows up, or burns them out.

If you’re thinking about making a job or career change sometime this year - even if you’re not sure when or how - this is your window.

Because once hiring picks up in the fall? The people who spent July and August building their network will be the ones already in motion. The rest? They’ll be updating resumes and doomscrolling job boards from the sidelines, wondering how they fell behind so fast.

Let’s make sure you’re in that first group.

The dangerous myth of “waiting for the right time”

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking:

• “I’m not ready to network yet - I don’t even know what I want.”
• “I’ll reach out to people once I’ve figured out my next step.”
• “I’ll wait until the market improves.”

Then you’re not alone and also, you’re setting yourself up to be behind the moment opportunity shows up.

Here’s the hard truth: there is no perfect time. There’s just before you need it, and too late.

And summer? Summer is “before you need it.”

Because the people you actually want to work with - the strategic, thoughtful, well-connected professionals - aren’t buried in hiring cycles right now. They’re grabbing coffee, reviewing their org plans, and thinking about what’s next.

That’s your chance to step into the room before it’s crowded.

The smartest networking move you can make right now

Forget trying to network with strangers on LinkedIn or panic-DM’ing hiring managers.

Start here:

→ Identify 3–7 people in your life who are “connectors.” You know the ones:

• They know a lot of people and make intros without thinking twice.
• They’re curious, generous, and have a great instinct for talent.
• You trust their perspective - even if you haven’t talked in a while.

Reach out. Ask for 20 minutes. Tell them what you’re exploring. And ask them one question that changes everything:

That’s it.

You don’t need a perfect story. You don’t need a shiny resume. You need momentum - and connectors give it to you.

Not sure what to say? Steal this message:

Here’s a word-for-word message you can send today:

Subject: catch-up?

Hi [Name],

Hope you’re having a great summer! I’ve been doing some career thinking lately - not actively job searching, but wanting to be more intentional about where I grow next.

You’ve always struck me as someone who is well connected and sharp about how things are evolving in the industry. Last time we spoke I really appreciated [insert something specific to your conversation and indicate how you used it].

Would you be up for a coffee or Zoom sometime in the next few weeks? I’d love to hear what you’re seeing and ask who else you think I should be talking to right now.

No pressure at all - totally understand if your schedule’s packed. Just wanted to reach out and reconnect.

Thanks so much,

[Your Name]

It’s direct. It’s personal. And most importantly, it works.

Because unlike cold outreach, you’re not a stranger. You’re a known quantity. Which makes the whole thing feel more natural - and more effective.

So… does this actually work?

Yes. Let’s look at the numbers.

When done well:

• 80% of warm outreach leads to a meeting. (That means reaching out to people you already know or were introduced to from another contact.)
• Less than 25% of cold outreach leads to anything at all. (Even if you write a great message and follow up.)

That stat alone should shift how you prioritize your time this summer.

And here’s what matters even more:

So if you’re still relying on job boards and online applications as your primary search strategy, you’re already behind.

“But Beckie, I don’t even know what I want yet.”

That’s exactly why now is the time to start.

These early coffee chats aren’t about pitching yourself. You’re not trying to sell anyone on hiring you. You’re gathering information, making connections, and getting your name into rooms that you might not even know exist yet.

Most people wait until they’re ready to leave to start networking. That’s like trying to build a parachute on the way down.

Smart professionals build their network before they need it - so that when they’re ready to leap, they’ve already got options.

Your 30-day networking game plan

I want to make this even more practical for you. Let’s keep it simple. You don’t need a CRM or a 100-person outreach list. You need a sharp, focused plan.

Here’s how to do it:

Week 1: Build your list Make a short list of 3–7 people you already know who:

✓ Are well connected

✓ Know your work or your strengths

✓ Are the kind of people you’d love to work with (or for)

Think: former managers, peers at companies you admire, past clients, ex-colleagues who are thriving in new roles.

Week 2: Reach out Send a personalized version of the message above. Make it clear that you’re not asking for a job - just insights and connection.

Week 3: Have the conversation Show up curious. Ask questions. Don’t pitch yourself. Say this near the end:

That’s how you start building your second-degree network.

Week 4: Follow up + expand Send thank-you and follow up notes. Communicate how you're using the insights discussed in your call. Reach out to one new person each week. Keep your list organized. This is the foundation of your warm network.

The compound effect of networking before you need it

If you follow this plan - even loosely - you’ll do two things that most professionals never do:

1. You’ll create a network of advocates who know what you’re exploring and are ready to help.
2. You’ll start spotting opportunities earlier, with more clarity, and more control over what’s next.

That’s how the best offers happen. That’s how careers are built intentionally - not reactively. That’s how you stay ahead of the curve before anything feels urgent.

Final thought

If you’re feeling that low-grade pressure of:

Then let this be your nudge. Don’t wait until the fall. Don’t wait until the reorg. Don’t wait until you’re fed up with your boss or your bandwidth or your salary.

Start now. Start small. Start smart.

And if you want help making a list, figuring out who to reach out to, or what to say once you’re in the room?

That’s what I do best.

​Click HERE to book a free Career Strategy Call and we’ll build your next move - before you even need it.

Until next week,

Beckie

P.S. Even if you just send one message this week, you’re already ahead of 95% of people who say “I should be networking” and then never do. Start now. You’ve got this.

Once you press send on that first email, reply here and tell me you took action. I can't wait to hear from you!

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