The Consulting Game

Tired of being overlooked for promotions despite doing great work? In this episode Negar reveals why mentors aren't enough and shares her game-changing "promotion board" strategy that treats your career advancement like a political campaign. Join the Career Reset Webinar on September 26th at 1pm, register here. What You'll Learn: The crucial difference between mentors and sponsors (and why research shows sponsors are 23% more effective for career advancement) How to identify the 7 key roles your promotion board needs: Door Opener, Voice in the Room, Results Amplifier, Risk Taker, Shadow Coach, Connector, and Contrarian A 60-second script to ask someone to become your sponsor The stakeholder mapping tool to identify the right people for your board A 7-day action plan to kickstart your promotion campaign this September Key Takeaways: If you have no one in the room advocating for you, you will not get promoted The best people don't always get the job - the best marketers do Treat your promotion like a political campaign with strategic sponsors Start your promotion campaign at least 1 year before you want a promotion Connect with Negar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/negarfarah/ Join the Career Reset Webinar on September 26th at 1pm, register here.  #ExecutiveCoaching #CareerAdvancement #Promotion #Leadership #Sponsorship #LeadershipDevelopment

Reset Your Consulting Career: part 2 of a webinar for mid- to senior-level consultants who feel stuck, unfulfilled, or at a career crossroads. In this session, career coach and ex-Accenture leader Negar walks you through the proven RESET Framework to help you re-gain clarity, define success, and make bold, aligned career decisions - without quitting or burning down everything you've built. Whether you're exploring your next move or questioning your current role, this is the roadmap to find direction, purpose, and momentum in your consulting career.

Are You at a Career Crossroads? Take the Quiz and Find Out Feeling stuck in your consulting career, even though it all looks good on paper? You're not alone. In this special two-part series, I'm sharing the video from my most popular webinar: Reset Your Consulting Career. In this first episode, I walk you through: My personal story of being “successful but stuck” at Accenture The signs you're at a career crossroads (including a live self-assessment quiz) Why pushing through isn't the answer, and what to do instead This episode is for you if you're tired of swirling in indecision and want a clear way to understand what's no longer working, without having to quit or burn it all down.  - Grab a notebook, take the quiz, and start your reset.  Part 2 drops next week, where I’ll guide you through my full RESET framework to create clarity and momentum in your next chapter. Want to get unstuck in your consulting career? Book your free RESET Game Plan session today.https://app.usemotion.com/meet/f6vtl3l/GamePlan  #careerclarity #consultinglife #careercoach #executivecoaching #careerreset #managementconsulting #midcareer #personaldevelopment #burnoutrecovery #careertransition

You’re not stuck because you don’t know what to do next. You’re stuck because you’ve been fed a set of subtle, invisible lies about your career. In this episode of The Consulting Game, Negar unpacks the three unspoken beliefs that keep high-achieving consultants stuck in roles, routines, and identities that no longer serve them. If you've ever said, “I should be happy” or “Maybe I just need to stick it out a bit longer,” this conversation will hit home. You’ll learn: Why staying in a “good job” can still feel wrong The hidden cost of waiting for clarity Why fear of regret is often worse than the regret itself How to make aligned, strategic moves without blowing up your life 🎯 Whether you’re thinking about a pivot, an internal shift, or simply want more energy and meaning from your work, this episode is a must-listen. 📅 And if you want to go deeper, join Negar for her live webinar: Reset Your Consulting Career – May 23rd at 12pm BST 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/events/resetyourconsultingcareer-aprov7317871364038623233/   Keywords: career change for consultants, executive coaching podcast, mid-career pivot, career crossroads, consulting burnout, career clarity coaching, how to make a career decision, female consultants, leaving consulting, stuck in career what to do, how to redefine success   #CareerCrossroads  #ConsultingLife  #ResetYourCareer  #LeadershipDevelopment  #WomenInConsulting  #ExecutiveCoaching  #MidCareerMoves  #SuccessRedefined  #CareerAlignment  #CoachingForConsultants   

Clarity Isn’t a Lightning Bolt: Why Consulting Leaders Stay Stuck (And How to Move Forward) You keep saying you want clarity about your career. But what if what you’re really chasing… is certainty? In this episode, I unpack one of the biggest mindset traps that keeps high-performing consultants stuck in indecision and overthinking. We explore why clarity rarely feels like a “lightning bolt”, and what to do instead to start leading your next chapter. What you’ll learn: • Why “I just want clarity” is often code for “I want certainty” • The 3 habits keeping you in analysis paralysis (and how to break them) • The difference between intellectual clarity and emotional alignment • A real client story that shows how clarity builds through action, not perfection • Practical tools to move from looping to leading This episode is your permission to stop waiting for a sign and start experimenting toward the career you actually want. 🎧 Listen. Reflect. Then take one brave step. _____ Free Live Webinar: Reset Your Consulting Career The Proven Framework for Leaders at a Crossroads 🗓️ Friday, May 23 at 12:00 PM BST 🎟️ Save your seat → https://www.linkedin.com/events/resetyourconsultingcareer-aprov7317871364038623233/ ______ #CareerClarity #WomenInConsulting #ConsultingLife #MidCareerLeadership #ResetYourCareer #ExecutiveCoaching #ConsultingCoach #HighAchieverLife #CareerExperimentation #BurnoutRecovery ______ Are you stuck because you’re unclear, or because you’re afraid to move without a guarantee? 🎓 Join me for my upcoming free webinar: Reset Your Consulting Career and discover the framework that helps you move forward with confidence. 📅 Friday, May 23 @ 12:00 PM BST | 🎟️ Save Your Seat Here

When Success Feels Empty You’ve done everything “right” in your consulting career - title, salary, prestige, impact. So why does it still feel… wrong? In this episode, we’re diving into the hidden emotional experience so many high-achieving consultants face but rarely talk about: when success stops feeling like success. If you're hitting every external milestone but something inside feels off, this is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why career burnout often shows up after you’ve “made it” • How to recognize misalignment, even when things look great on paper • The Gold-Plated Cage: a powerful metaphor for the consulting trap • How to redefine success on your terms (without burning it all down) 🎧 This is the clarity and compassion you didn’t know you needed. Hit play and then take the next step. Free Webinar: Reset Your Consulting Career - The Proven Framework for Leaders at a Crossroads 🗓️ Friday, May 23rd at 12:00 PM BST/IST (London/Dublin) 🎟️ Save Your Seat Here → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/events/7317871364038623233/about/ Keywords: career burnout, consulting career clarity, women in consulting, career realignment, executive coaching, high performer dissatisfaction, reset your career, mid-career leadership, purpose-driven success, values-aligned career

Ep #8 What If You Make the Wrong Move? Make Career Moves Without Regret Are you paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong career decision? In this episode of The Consulting Game, Negar tackles the question that plagues many successful consulting leaders: "What if I make the wrong move?" Episode Highlights: Why the fear of career regret keeps talented professionals stuck at crossroads The unique challenges consulting leaders face when contemplating career changes How both staying AND leaving can lead to growth, just in different ways A practical decision-making framework that bypasses fear-based thinking The critical question that cuts through decision paralysis: "If both paths would be amazing, which would you choose?" Why giving equal airtime to potential positives is crucial for balanced decisions Real client success story: redesigning a consulting role without changing companies Practical exercise: The two-column method for evaluating career options fairly Why regret comes from not choosing rather than choosing "wrong" If you're a consulting professional feeling restless despite outward success, this episode provides actionable strategies to navigate career decisions with confidence rather than fear. Resources Mentioned: Free Career Clarity Webinar - May 23rd, 2025 at 12:00 PM BST/IST Register on LinkedIn: Join The Webinar Keywords: career decisions, consulting career, decision paralysis, fear of regret, career crossroads, professional development, consulting leadership, work-life balance, career change, career clarity, job satisfaction, career coaching Connect with Negar: Join Negar's upcoming webinar to get clarity on your next career step and learn how to make decisions from vision rather than fear. Here’s the link: Join the Webinar The Consulting Game podcast helps ambitious leaders in consulting find clarity when they're at a crossroads.  

Feeling stuck in your consulting career but unsure whether it’s time to move on or just a rough patch? In this episode, I walk you through 5 powerful litmus test questions I use with my private coaching clients to help them break out of indecision and make a clear, confident move. Whether you’re considering a pivot, a promotion, or simply want more purpose, this is your starting point for strategic career clarity. You’ll learn: • How to tell if you’re growing… or just grinding • Why your future self might not respect who you’re becoming • How fear disguises itself as logic and keeps you stuck • A powerful reframe that instantly unlocks clarity PLUS: I’ll share the one career decision-making question that flips your inner critic into a supportive coach. "The worst time to make a career decision is when it's emotionally driven. The best decisions come when you ask the right questions from a place of power." – Negar Resources & Links: Free Webinar – Reset Your Consulting Career 🗓 Friday, May 9th 2025 at 12pm (Irish/British Time) Register here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/resetyourconsultingcareer-aprov7317871364038623233/ Connect with Negar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/negarfarah/ Subscribe to The Consulting Game on Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Why Overdelivering in Your First 90 Days is a MistakeStarting a new consulting project or role? Most professionals rush to impress, and end up exhausted. In this episode, Negar reveals why overdelivering in your first 90 days is a trap, and shares a smarter, calmer framework that sets you up for lasting success. Topics to listen for:• The Bamboo Parable: A New Way to Think About Starting Fresh• The Prove-Yourself Trap Consultants Fall Into• Why Overthinking, Overcommitting, and Overdoing = Burnout• The Mindset Shift: Serve, Don’t Perform• The 90-Day Power Framework: Week-by-Week Breakdown Key Topics:• First 90 days strategy for consultants• Consulting burnout and boundaries• How to create influence without overwork• Mindset shifts for high-performance• Leadership in high-pressure roles Links Mentioned:• Free Career Clarity Quiz: ⁠www.negarfarah.com/ask⁠  

In this episode of The Consulting Game, host Negar reveals how to flip the STEAR model on its head to intentionally create any result you want in your life – personally and professionally. Building on the foundation laid in the previous episode about how thoughts become results, Negar provides a practical framework for reverse engineering your desired outcomes. Negar walks through each component of the intentional model: • R = Result: Getting crystal clear on what you want to achieve • A = Action: Identifying the consistent actions needed to reach your goal • E = Emotions: Recognizing the feelings that will fuel your actions • T = Thought: Choosing the empowering thoughts that create those emotions • S = Situation: Understanding what you can and cannot control The episode includes real-life examples from Negar's own journey of building a business that supports both her financial goals and family life. She emphasizes that while uncomfortable emotions are part of the process, they shouldn't stop you from moving forward. Negar also addresses the impact of AI on the consulting profession, highlighting that while AI can assist with many tasks, your internal thoughts, creativity, and conscious choices will ultimately drive meaningful results. Whether you're aiming for professional success, personal growth, or finding balance in your life, this episode provides the tools to take control and intentionally create the results you desire. Time: 20:00 Connect with Negar: Need Help go to - www.negarfarah.com/quiz1 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/negarfarah/ #ConsultingPodcast #MindsetCoaching #IntentionalResults #STEARModel #ProfessionalDevelopment

Episode Overview In this episode of The Consulting Game, Negar breaks down the powerful STEAR Model — a neuroscience-backed approach to understanding how our thoughts directly create our professional and personal results. Key Takeaways Your thoughts are the primary driver of your results You have more control over your mindset than you realize The STEAR Model provides a practical framework for mental management The STEAR Model Breakdown Situation (S): External events you cannot control Thoughts (T): How you interpret the situation Emotions (E): Feelings generated by your thoughts Actions (A): Behaviors driven by those emotions Results (R): Outcomes created by your actions Real-World Example Negar shares a client story about procrastination: Situation: Upcoming client deliverable Thought: "This will take time and it's hard" Emotion: Unmotivated Action: Procrastination (phone checking, coffee breaks) Result: Work becomes more difficult and stressful Powerful Quotes "Between stimulus and response, there is space. In that space is our power to choose our response." - Viktor Frankl "Your thoughts create your results. It's not magic, it's mindset." Practical Takeaway Start a daily "thought download" practice: Take 5 minutes each morning Write down your thoughts without judgment Observe your thinking patterns Build awareness before attempting to change Who Should Listen Management Consultants Professionals in high-pressure environments Consultants in client facing roles Anyone looking to improve mental resilience Individuals seeking personal and professional growth Resources Mentioned The Life Coach School Podcast Negar's Coaching Programs STEAR Model Guide Call to Action Practice the STEAR Model Become a "watcher of your mind" Share the episode with colleagues Start conversations about mindset and mental management Connect with Negar www.negarfarah.com www.linkedin.com/in/negarfarah/ www.facebook.com/NegarFarahCoach www.instagram.com/negarfarah_coach/ https://www.instagram.com/negarfarah_career/ Disclaimer: This episode is based on personal experience and coaching methodology. Individual results may vary.

Confidence & How To Get More Of It: Building Unshakeable Self-Belief In this transformative episode, we explore the true nature of confidence, distinguishing between specific confidence (skill-based) and self-confidence (belief in yourself regardless of abilities). Discover why waiting to feel confident before taking action is a paradox that keeps you stuck, and learn practical strategies to build genuine confidence that withstands failure and challenges. What You'll Learn The critical distinction between specific confidence and self-confidence Why confidence is a choice, not something you're born with How to break free from the self-doubt trap that's holding you back The counterintuitive truth about building confidence through adversity Four actionable strategies to develop unshakeable confidence Key Moments [00:00] Introduction to the confidence paradox [03:45] The distinction between specific confidence and self-confidence [07:30] The self-doubt trap that prevents growth [11:15] How confidence is a choice, not a result [15:20] Personal story of overcoming negative self-talk [18:45] The three biggest confidence mistakes people make [23:10] Building confidence through adversity [25:30] Four practical strategies to build confidence [32:15] The confidence mindset: being okay with failure Notable Quotes "Confidence actually comes after we try, fail, learn, and keep going." "Self-doubt eats confidence for breakfast. It's that voice in your head saying: 'Who am I to try this?'" "The worst that can happen is an emotion. That's it. The thing you're most afraid of is just feeling an uncomfortable emotion." "Confidence isn't about never failing. It's about knowing you'll be okay even if you do." Action Steps Identify and challenge your self-limiting thoughts Create a ladder of small challenges to expand your comfort zone Practice reframing failure as valuable feedback Establish a daily confidence routine with positive self-talk Free Career Clarity Quiz Take my personalized Career Clarity Quiz to discover insights tailored just for you. Find out what might be holding you back and get customized strategies to boost your confidence and accelerate your career growth: Take the Free Career Clarity Quiz Now - www.negarfarah.com/ask Connect & Continue the Conversation Have questions about building confidence? Share what resonated with you in the comments below! #ConfidenceTips #SelfConfidence #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingSelfDoubt #MindsetShift #CareerDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #ResilienceBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #ConfidenceCoaching

You're in your consulting career and about to start a new project with a new client. The client meeting starts in 10 minutes. Your heart's racing, palms are sweaty, and there's a voice in your head saying: "They're going to realize I have no idea what I'm doing." Sound familiar? Whether you're just in the door in consulting or 10 years in, you still get that feeling. It’s not just you. Even partners with decades of experience feel like imposters when they step into a new client environment. Today, we're breaking down why this happens, why it's actually not a bad thing, and how to use this feeling to your advantage instead of letting it derail your confidence. I'm Negar, and welcome to The Consulting Game, where we talk about everything to do with your consulting career – including the parts most people don't discuss. Let's dive in.

Should you quit consulting? And go into industry where life is better! Before you resign, there’s something I need you to hear and I think it will surprise you. You don’t want to make the wrong decision. If you've ever thought, "I just need to quit as there is no way I can make this work anymore" then this episode is for you. Here's the link to the free quiz I mention: www.negarfarah.com/ask