Interviewers don't wait until you finish your story to decide if they like you.

They decide while you're still taking your first breath.

In those first 15 seconds, they're asking, "Do I trust this person? Do they get what matters here?"

Most candidates waste that window listing tasks or backstory.

The best ones win it by showing they understand the real business problem and hinting at the result they delivered.

That's what I'm teaching in this week's lesson.

You'll learn how to open with context that earns respect, why the STAR method fails, and the exact 15-second framework that makes your answers sound confident, strategic, and memorable.

Listen now!

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 four books related to career development, 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

Most people think success comes from constant hustle.

It doesn't. It comes from patience mixed with smart action.

Most people chase quick wins.

I learned the real secret is patience mixed with purpose.

When you think long-term, you make better short-term decisions.

You stop chasing every shiny idea and start stacking small wins that lead to something big.

Back in 2015, I made a decision that tested every ounce of my patience.

Even though I was most qualified to teach leadership, I didn't start there.

My long-term vision was to become a one-stop shop for your career.

But to earn that, I needed to start by solving your most acute pain first…getting the job.

That meant helping people fix their search, knowing they'd leave me once they succeeded.

It was a sacrifice, but a necessary one if I wanted to serve for the long haul.

This week's lesson shares (in under 4 minutes) how I created a long-term vision for my career success.

And how you can build yours using the same approach.

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 four books related to career development, 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

Perfectionism is the great career stall.

Most people don't slow down because they're lazy.

They slow down because they want everything just right before they move.

Job seekers spend months polishing résumés, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles before they ever start actually searching.

Professionals over-edit reports and presentations until the opportunity passes.

They all have the same problem…waiting until it's perfect before they ship.

But progress doesn't come from polishing. It comes from acting.

This week's lesson is all about breaking free from perfectionism so you can finally make real progress.

I share how I overcame a decade of "consultant conditioning" that taught me perfection was everything and how learning to act fast and iterate changed my entire career.

If you've ever felt stuck trying to make something flawless, this one's for you.

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 four books related to career development, 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