374: The Two Seats Most People Leave Empty in their Career Squad

Since 2023 I have talked about the Career Squad Framework with hundreds of people. Two gaps come up more than any other, every single time. The Sponsor is the most common gap people have. The Critic is the rarest relationship most people have ever actually built. That's not a coincidence, and today I'm going deep on both. Not just what these two relationships are, why they're so hard to build in the first place, and exactly how to go build them anyway. How to get visible to the right people, without it feeling like self-promotion. What to actually say when you're finally ready to ask for support. How to find someone who'll tell you the truth, and the exact words that get you a real answer instead of a polite one. This is one of the most personal episodes in the series, including the professional setback that taught me what sponsorship actually costs, and the year I spent unable to hear the truth from someone who was only trying to help me. The 9 People You Need in Your Career Squad: How to Build the Relationships That Drive Every Career Breakthrough is available now, paperback and Kindle. Get the book: https://link.amazon/B06ie96iDLearn more: https://buildyourcareersquad.com