Top Career Advice I’D SCREAM AT MYSELF if I Only had 30 Minutes to Time Travel - Episode 016

If I Only Had 30 Minutes to Talk to My Younger Self… Here’s What I’d Say

Ever wish you could go back in time and give your younger self a little pep talk? Not the Pinterest-quote kind, but the real talk—the stuff you learned through awkward emails, career confusion, and late-night panic Googling “what even is a cover letter”?

In the latest episode of Jeans with a Blazer, I take you on a time-traveling journey to share the lessons I wish I knew early in my career. And whether you're just starting out, pivoting, or figuring it out as you go (same), these takeaways are packed with practical advice, soft skill magic, and the type of encouragement your inner overachiever actually needs.

Clean Up Your Online Presence

Let’s start with the obvious: your digital first impression matters.
Back in the day, my LinkedIn photo was questionable at best, my email was… edgy, and my social media? A messy mixtape of blurry keg stand photos. And somehow, I still got hired. But that was a miracle, not a strategy.

Takeaway:
Archive the chaos, tighten up your LinkedIn, and be intentional about how you show up online. You don’t have to hide your personality, but you do have to remember that future employers might be watching.

Take Advantage of the Office Hours

Your workplace isn’t high school. You don’t need a hall pass to talk to leadership.
If there are execs or senior leaders around, don’t treat them like celebrities at a meet-and-greet. Ask for time. Learn their boundaries. Use their open-door policy (if they have one), because very few people actually do.

Takeaway:
Proactively build relationships. If you’re memorable before they’re hiring or promoting, you’re already ahead.

Share Your Wins—Loudly and Often

Especially to my high-achieving, quiet queens: stop downplaying your accomplishments.
You’re doing amazing things. But if no one knows, they can’t reward you for them. Over 69% of women say they’d rather downplay their wins than self-promote. That’s not humility. That’s holding yourself back.

Takeaway:
Document your wins. Post the accomplishment. Mention it in your 1:1s. Share what you’re proud of—and teach others to do the same.

Define Your Personal Brand

Here’s the truth: you already have a brand. The question is: are you shaping it, or letting other people decide what it is?

Takeaway:
Figure out the three adjectives you want to be known for and put everything you do through that filter. Be intentional, consistent, and unapologetically you.

Master the Power of Discernment

Not every opportunity is meant for you. Not every meeting requires your voice.
Discernment means knowing when to speak, when to wait, and when to say “no thanks.”

Takeaway:
Pause before the automatic yes. Reflect before the impulse to perform. Discernment isn’t silence, it’s strategy.

Ready to give your younger self a hug and a power-up? Listen to the full episode now wherever you get your podcasts. Your future self will thank you.