A Voice and Beyond

A Voice and Beyond

#220 How to Create Career Opportunities Through Real Conversations with Jen Fort

Aug 16, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min · 15 segments

What if the reason you feel stuck in your career isn't because you don't have the answers, but because you're waiting too long to act? In a world where layoffs are rising, AI is reshaping industries…

What if the reason you feel stuck in your career isn't because you don't have the answers, but because you're waiting too long to act? In a world where layoffs are rising, AI is reshaping industries, and millions of people are competing for attention online, traditional networking is no longer enough. In this episode, our guest Jen Fort introduces a powerful shift: Connectworking®, a powerful and practical human-first approach she developed to building relationships, and creating opportunity, and moving forward before you feel ready. After rebuilding her own career following an unexpected shift, Jen discovered that success doesn't come from perfect résumés or polished pitches, it comes from meaningful conversations. In this episode we explore: - Why traditional networking no longer works - The concept of Connectworking® and how to apply it - How to start conversations without feeling awkward - How to create opportunity in uncertain times - Why introverts have an advantage - How to stand out without sounding inauthentic - The role of human connection in an AI-driven world - Simple, practical ways to build confidence and visibility This episode is especially relevant for anyone navigating career transitions, building a business, or trying to stand out in a crowded digital world. **Find Jen Here:** - iamjenfort.com/ - linkedin.com/in/jenfort/ - instagram.com/iamjenfort/ - tiktok.com/@iamjenfort **Resources:** - The Wisdom & Warnings® Collection: iamjenfort.com/books **Books:** - Stop Networking, Start Connectworking https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGFG28QK - The Badass Woman: Daily Wisdom for Living Your Boldest Life (365 Days of Wisdom & Warnings) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXLDH9LL **Find Marisa online:** - Website: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarisaleenaismith/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarisaleenaismith/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisa.lee.12 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avoiceandbeyond3519/videos **Resources:** - MLN Coaching Program: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/mentoring/ - Schedule a Free Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/info-56015/discovery - Gratitude Journal: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/product/in-gratitude-my-daily-self-journal/ - Download your eBook: Thriving in a Creative Industry: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/product/ebook-thriving-in-a-creative-industry-dr-marisa-lee-naismith/ Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! ...

What if the reason you feel stuck in your career isn't because you don't have the answers, but because you're waiting too long to act? In a world where layoffs are rising, AI is reshaping industries…

Courage Before Clarity3:10 – 6:35

3:10

You say something that will stop a lot of people in their tracks.

3:13

In fact, I was thrown off by this statement.

3:16

So you say that clarity doesn't come first.

3:21

Courage does.

3:23

And I always thought that having clarity and focusing on what it is that you want.

3:30

leads to finding the courage to act.

3:33

So why do you believe it's the other way around?

3:36

Because I've seen it over and over again with myself and people that I work with.

3:42

When folks try to get super clear before they take a move, they end up spinning their wheels and waiting and they have to polish and they have to perfect and it's not right yet.

3:55

And they feel like it has to be 100% perfect before they take that first step.

4:00

And it's good to have a direction.

4:02

You need to know what direction you're going in.

4:04

So get clear about your direction, but you need to be open to the fact that things are going to change.

4:12

And I've seen it so many times where someone has a perfect, crystal clear direction, and they start moving down the road and then something happens and the plane changes and then they're totally thrown sideways because it didn't fit their plan.

4:30

So my perspective is get a good direction and just take the first couple steps because once you start moving, And you look back, you're going to see how all those pieces start fitting together.

4:44

See, I always thought that if you have clarity, if an opportunity comes by you, you know that is an opportunity and that's presenting itself to you to take action.

4:56

But if you don't have clarity, then how do you know that there is an opportunity to move forward in the direction of what it is that you want?

5:05

Yeah, but I think if you look back at your life and you look back at everything that's happened, the events that shaped your life, did they all fit in that box? Probably not.

5:19

Probably not.

5:19

Because even now, what you want and why you want something It's up to the universe to figure out how to give it to you.

5:27

And it may look totally different than what you expected at the outset.

5:34

And if you try to stay too close to that path, you may be missing all these wonderful opportunities that were just presented to you, but you kind of have blinders on because it didn't fit you.

5:47

Your path.

5:48

Okay.

5:49

So what you're saying is by not having the blinders on and not having such a crystal clear vision of what it is that you want opens the path for other things to fall into place, perhaps.