Liviu Munteanu, Cristea Mateescu 8, Bucharest (2025)

25/04/2025

Every career rut has a door leading out.

You just need to find the key.

Feeling stuck in your career is like wearing shoes that pinch...you know something's wrong, but you're afraid a new pair might hurt worse.

Those 5 steps helped the people I mentored figure out a fulfilling career:

1. Map your current reality
Don't skip this foundational step.
Take inventory of your skills, strengths, and what drains your energy.
Notice what makes you lose track of time at work.
Ask trusted colleagues what they see as your superpowers.

2. Define what better looks like
Create a clear vision of your ideal work life.
Consider not just job titles, but how you want to feel.
What problems do you want to solve?
What impact would make you proud?

3. Build your bridge plan
Identify the gaps between now and your vision.
What skills need developing?
Which relationships could open doors?
Create SMART goals with realistic timelines.

4. Take imperfect action
Small steps beat perfect plans that never start.
Schedule one growth activity each week.
Find accountability partners who'll check in.
Remember: clarity comes through movement, not thinking.

5. Review and recalibrate
Monthly reflection keeps you on track.
Celebrate wins to maintain momentum.
Adjust your approach based on what you're learning.
Your definition of fulfillment may evolve—that's growth.

The greatest risk isn't making the wrong career move...
It's letting fear keep you in a life that's too small for your potential

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

24/04/2025

Your beliefs are literally rewiring your brain as you read this.
That's not motivational fluff...it's neuroscience.

Every thought you have about your career creates a neural pathway.
The more you repeat a thought, the stronger that pathway becomes.
And the stronger the pathway, the more automatic the thought.

This explains why you're afraid of making another wrong career choice.

You've been strengthening the neural pathways of doubt:
- I always make the wrong decision
- I'm wasting my potential
- What if I fail again?

But here's the empowering truth about neuroplasticity:

You can consciously create new pathways.
You can weaken the old ones.
You can literally rewire your thinking.

Start with small daily practices:

1. Question your assumptions about wasted time
2. Document evidence of good decisions you've made
3. Reframe failures as necessary data points

Your brain follows what it focuses on.

Direct that spotlight intentionally.

The fear of making a wrong career move isn't a warning sign...
It's just an old neural pathway firing on autopilot.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

23/04/2025

Your mindset isn't just holding you back.

It's actively sabotaging your future. 👇

I've watched countless talented professionals waste years in jobs they hate because they're paralyzed by the fear of making another wrong choice.

Here's how to create the mindset shift that will transform your career in just 90 days:

1. Replace failure with feedback
Every career setback contains valuable information. Start recording what each experience teaches you instead of how it hurt you.

2. Create a reverse bucket list
Document 10 difficult things you've already overcome. The evidence of your resilience is hiding in your history.

3. Find your contrast clarity
Write down what you definitely don't want in your career. Sometimes knowing what you hate illuminates what you'll love.

4. Adopt micro-courage practices
Take one small professional risk daily for 30 days. Call it an experiment, not a commitment.

5. Establish success metrics beyond money
Define what enough looks like in terms of purpose, freedom, impact and relationships.

6. Implement the 1% rule
Improve one tiny aspect of your skills or knowledge every day. Compound growth is unstoppable.

7. Build your personal board of directors
Identify 3-5 people who will tell you the truth and hold you accountable.

The tragedy isn't making the wrong choice again.
The tragedy is letting fear rob you of the chance to discover what you're truly capable of becoming.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

21/04/2025

Happiness isn't what you've been told.

It's a skill you can develop.

Many of us chase happiness in the wrong places:
- bigger paychecks
- fancier titles
- perfect relationships.

There are actually 5 core factors that determine genuine happiness:

1. Positive emotion and pleasure
The simple joys matter more than we think.
Small pleasures add up over time.
That cup of morning coffee, laughing with a friend, or watching a sunset.
These aren't frivolous - they're essential building blocks.

2. Achievement
We need to feel we're making progress.
Set goals that stretch but don't break you.
The satisfaction of moving forward, even in small steps, is powerful medicine for the soul.

3. Relationships
Nothing predicts happiness better than the quality of your connections.
Not the quantity of friends, but the depth of understanding.
Make time for the people who truly see you.

4. Engagement
Those moments when you lose track of time.
When you're so absorbed in something meaningful that your self-consciousness disappears.
Find what creates this flow state for you and protect time for it.

5. Meaning
Connecting to something larger than yourself.
Using your strengths to serve others.
This is what transforms a pleasant life into a fulfilling one.

The most unhappy people I know keep waiting for happiness to arrive someday.
The happiest people I know build it daily through these five channels.

Which factor needs your attention today?

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

17/04/2025

Staying in your comfort zone isn't playing it safe.

It's watching your life slip away. 👇

You wake up every morning with a knot in your stomach.

You're not alone.

I spent years trapped in this cycle, watching life pass me by while I waited for the perfect moment to make a change.

Here's the brutal truth:
You're not stuck because of your circumstances.

You're stuck because of the stories you tell yourself:

- I'll fail if I try something new
- I've invested too much time to start over
- What if I make another wrong choice?
- I don't have what it takes to succeed

These aren't facts.
They're just fears.

Your brain is wired to protect you from risk.

This served our ancestors well when avoiding predators. It serves you poorly when avoiding growth.

The path forward isn't complicated, but it isn't easy either:

1. Name your fear specifically
2. Take one small action that scares you
3. Collect evidence that contradicts your negative beliefs
4. Repeat daily

Your comfort zone isn't really comfortable.
It's slowly suffocating you.

The risk isn't in taking the leap but in staying exactly where you are, watching your one precious life slip away.

Whatever you decide today, remember this:

Life is too short to spend another day working for someone else's dream instead of building your own.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

15/04/2025

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.”
This is the Kali Linux tagline. And it’s full of wisdom.

Ever notice how the best ideas come when you're in the shower?
Or just before sleep?
Or taking a walk?

That's no accident.

I spent years collecting advice from everyone but myself.

All valuable.
All incomplete.

Because no one knows your situation like you do.

No one feels your gut reactions.

No one carries your unique mix of experiences.

I hit a crossroads some years ago.
Everyone had an opinion.
Big career decision.

So I turned off my phone.
Just me...and silence.
For a few days...

And after those days passed, I knew what to do.
Not because I found new information.
But because I finally had time to process what I already knew.

Your inner voice speaks a different language than all the external noise.
It communicates through feelings.
Through that sense of rightness or wrongness that logic can't explain.

But you can't hear it when you're drowning in other people's thoughts.

Try this:
Next time you face a decision, ask yourself what you want before asking anyone else.
- Sit with it
- Walk with it.
- Write about it.

The noise of others will always be louder.
But your own quiet voice will always be wiser.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

14/04/2025

The silent cost of workplace bullying isn't just emotional.

Each year, employers lose $664 million on harassment claims while bullied employees suffer headaches, anxiety, and career derailment.

When I was working in the Navy, I saw many colleague crumble under constant criticism.
Each gathering became a public ex*****on of their ideas or behaviour.

Sometime I was one of them...

Nobody stepped in...
Sometimes, I was one of those ones too...

The data is staggering:
23% of bullied employees eventually quit.
Those who stay reduce their work effort by nearly half.

The real tragedy?

Leadership is often the problem.

A shocking 65% of workplace bullies are managers themselves.

Your company's fancy harassment policy means nothing when the person you'd report to is the one tormenting you.

I've learned that change requires more than policies.

It demands courage:
- from witnesses who speak up
- from leaders who model respect
- from targets who document everything.

The workplace doesn't have to be a battlefield.
But peace isn't accidental
It's intentional.

When you see someone being bullied tomorrow, what will you do differently?

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

11/04/2025

Most people wake up every day and blindly chase the next rung on the ladder.

They never stop to wonder if the ladder is against the right wall.

Here's the truth:

You will never accidentally arrive at your dream career.

Know where you want to go.
Map the journey backward.

Ask yourself:

Where do I want to be in 10 years?

Then break it down into pieces.

- Skills you need to acquire.
- Experience gaps you need to fill.
- People you need to meet.
- Small wins you need to achieve.

Trying to navigate without a destination is like driving with your eyes closed.

Hoping for good things, but never steering toward them.

Too many talented people drift through their prime years because they never defined the end goal.

They chase approval.
They chase titles.
They chase money.

But they never chase PURPOSE.

Figure out your purpose FIRST.
The rest will follow.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

02/04/2025

I learned this the hard way:

Your mindset shapes your career more than your talent does.

For years, I believed that some people were just born with specific abilities.

I was wrong.

What separates those who thrive from those who stagnate?

Here are 5 mindset shifts that transformed my approach to work:

- Fixed: "Feedback is criticism."
Growth: "Feedback is a gift that shows me my blind spots."

- Fixed: "That promotion should have been mine."
Growth: "What skills can I develop to become the obvious choice next time?"

- Fixed: "I'm not a creative person."
Growth: "Creativity is a muscle I can strengthen through practice."

- Fixed: "I failed, so I'm not cut out for this."
Growth: "I haven't succeeded yet. What can I learn from this setback?"

- Fixed: "That colleague is naturally better than me."
Growth: "Their success shows what's possible with consistent effort."

I still catch myself slipping into fixed thinking sometimes.

But now I recognize it sooner.

The moment you shift from "I can't" to "I can't yet" is the moment everything changes.

Your career isn't defined by what you're good at today.

It's shaped by your willingness to be uncomfortable tomorrow.

What mindset shift made the biggest difference in your career?

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

01/04/2025

I'm going to share something that changed my career completely.

If you've been feeling stuck or want to take your career to the next level, this framework has helped thousands break through their ceiling.

These are the 10 pillars of professional growth.
Let's dive in!

1. Self-Knowledge and Goal Setting

The first pillar is knowing yourself.
You need to find your "Ikigai":
That sweet spot where your passions, skills, and what the market needs all meet.

Ask yourself:
- What am I genuinely good at?
- What do I enjoy?

Then set SMART goals - specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Without this foundation, you're just wandering.

Add Ecology to the SMART mix: ensure that your goals are in harmony with all aspects of your life.

2. Continuous Learning

The moment you stop learning, you start falling behind.

I make it a point to take at least one course every quarter.
- Read industry publications.
- Attend workshops.
- Master new tools.

The world is changing fast - you need to keep up.

Ask yourself:
What new skill have I picked up lately?

3. Networking

But not the fake kind where you collect social media connections.

I'm talking about real connections.
- Join communities where professionals in your field hang out.
- Reach out to people you admire.
- Attend events.

One meaningful connection can change everything.

Remember:
Your network equals your net worth.

4. Mentorship

Mentors will save you years of mistakes.
They'll give you honest feedback, share insider knowledge, and open doors you didn't know existed.

Don't have a mentor?
Look for someone who's where you want to be in 5-10 years and reach out.

Most successful people love helping others grow.

5. Adaptability

The only constant is change:
- Stay flexible.
- Embrace new technologies.
- See change as opportunity.

The most adaptable people always win in the long run.

6. Personal Branding

How do people describe you when you're not in the room?
That's your brand.

- Share your knowledge online.
- Be consistent across platforms
- Tell your story in a way that makes you stand out.

In a crowded market, your unique brand is your competitive edge.

7. Time Management

Use the Eisenhower Matrix to sort what's urgent from what's important.

- Work during your peak hours.
- Set clear boundaries.
- Cut distractions.

Remember: we all have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé.
The difference is how we use them.

8. Leadership Development

Develop leadership skills even if you're not a manager:
- Show empathy.
- Take initiative.
- Practice decision-making.
- Learn to communicate effectively.

Leadership isn't about a title.
It's about influence and impact.

The moment you start leading is when doors really open.

9. Feedback and Self-Improvement

Seek feedback.
It might sting sometimes, but it's the fastest way to grow.
Ask for feedback after every project:
- What worked?
- "What didn't
- How can I improve?

Don't get defensive - get curious.
The people who grow fastest are those who actively hunt for honest input.

10. Work-Life Balance

Burnout isn't a badge of honor.
Take breaks.
Stay hydrated.
Set boundaries between work and life.

Your career is a marathon, not a sprint.

Remember:
Sustainable growth requires sustainable habits.

31/03/2025

Logic can’t fix everything.

I learned this the hard way.

For years, I thought emotions were a distraction.
I prided myself on being rational, objective, and data-driven.

Decisions?
Based on facts.

Conversations?
Straight to the point.

Feelings?
Irrelevant.

It made me efficient.
But it also made me distant.

I dismissed emotions as “illogical” instead of understanding them.
I focused on winning arguments instead of building relationships.
I ignored gut instincts—until they screamed loud enough to force a change.

Then, one day, I found myself interested in marketing and started to study it.

This gave me the opportunity to learn something critical:
Logic explains but emotions decide.

No one makes decisions based purely on logic.
Not clients. Not leaders. Not even you.

We move toward what we feel safe with.
We invest in what resonates.
We follow what we believe in—not just what makes sense.

Real intelligence isn’t just about being right.
It’s about knowing when to feel.

That was the day I stopped dismissing emotions.
And started using them.

What’s one belief you had to unlearn?

___

Thank you for reading.
Follow me for more personal development content that you can actually use. 🎯

27/03/2025

Most career advice feels like a lie.

Because no one tells you that finding your path is like working on a puzzle without the box.

I remember staring at my first job offer, thinking, "This is it."

Some years and a few jobs later, I was still looking for pieces that fit.

Some days you place the perfect piece.
Some days nothing connects.
Some days you wonder if you're even working on the right puzzle.

That's not failure.

It's discovery.

I worked on a job that looked perfect on paper but felt wrong every day.
I switched industries and started over.
I took skills from my military life that made no sense until years later.

Each decision was another piece of the puzzle.

Some fit perfectly.

Others belonged to someone else's picture.

Your career isn't broken.
It's just unfinished.

The rejection letter sitting in your inbox isn't the end of your story.

It's just a piece that doesn't fit right now.

Keep building your puzzle.

The picture will emerge.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

26/03/2025

Most people tend to fail in their careers before they even start.
Beginners waste 2-3 years of their cybersecurity journey.
I was one of them...

Here's a framework to take you from Zoro to Job Ready in 90 days or less.

The GROWTH Framework:

1. Goal
Get specific about what you want.
"Security analyst by EOY 2025" beats "work in cybersecurity someday."
Your clarity determines your path.

2. Reality
Face the hard truth.
Assess where you actually are.
No tech background?
Start with fundamentals.
Already know some basic networking?
Build on that strength.

3. Options
List every possible route.
Certs, courses, networking, side projects, GitHub contributions.
Then rank them by impact vs. effort.

4. Will
Commit to specific actions with deadlines.
"Complete one TryHackMe room daily" beats "learn more about pen testing."

5. Trust
Believe in your process even when progress feels slow.
Security skills compound over time.

6. Help
Find mentors.
Ask questions.
Security people love helping beginners who show real effort.
But you'll have to make that effort.

I started with CCNA.
While others collected random pentesting certs, I followed this structured path.

And it works for any cybersecurity specialization.

Your technical skills matter.
But your approach to building them matters more.

The best cybersecurity professionals are strategic about their growth.
Be like them.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

25/03/2025

Think of a job interview like a first date.

It’s not just about impressing them.

It’s about figuring out if they’re the right fit for you, too.

Would you accept a second date with someone who:

- Talks only about themselves?
- Makes you feel uncomfortable?
- Dodges your questions?
- Expects you to be perfect but has red flags everywhere?

An interview is a two-way street.

They’re not just evaluating you.

You’re evaluating them, too.

Because the wrong job...like the wrong relationship...will cost you:
- time
- energy
- peace of mind.

So, ask the tough questions.
Pay attention to how they treat you.

And if something feels off… walk away.

The right one won’t make you guess.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

24/03/2025

Are you trapped by your need to control everything?

I used to plan almost everything before it happened.
Every meeting.
Every decision.

If I wasn't in control, I felt like I was drowning.
Sounds familiar?

The problem?
This "Controller" saboteur drains you and everyone around you.
It breeds resentment.
It makes people stop sharing ideas.
It makes you doubt yourself and eventually burn out.

Some time ago, I realized my need to control wasn't strength.

It was fear.

Fear of failure.
Fear of uncertainty.
Fear of being vulnerable.

Breaking free started with a simple question:

"What's the worst that could happen if I let go?"

Usually, the answer wasn't that scary.

The Controller still whispers to me.

But now I recognize it for what it is:
It's not protection.
It's a limitation.

True power isn't about controlling everything around you.
It's about recognizing the strength that already exists within you:
The quiet confidence that helps you face whatever comes your way.

What might be possible if you loosened your grip today?

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

19/03/2025

Here's a simple hack for learning cybersecurity faster.

Talk to yourself out loud when studying.

Sounds weird, right?

Here's why it works:

This connects to NLP principles - not Natural Language Processing, but Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
The Bandler & Grinder stuff - where our nervous system, language, and behavioral patterns connect.

When you speak concepts aloud, your brain processes them through two channels instead of one.

I noticed three significant benefits.

1. First, technical concepts stick better.

When you explain technical concepts out loud, you will remember them longer than when you read silently.

2. Second, it helps with interview prep.

Quick reminder:
You're not allowed to read your answers in an interview. :)

Practice describing security concepts verbally, and they will flow naturally when asked.
It builds muscle memory.
This allows words to flow naturally when it matters.

3. Third, it helps solve complex problems.

Stuck on understanding a concept?
Say it out loud.

Your brain makes different connections when you hear yourself talk through it.

More connections, more processing power.
Faster problem-solving.

Try it.
Pick one cybersecurity concept that's giving you trouble.
Explain it out loud as if teaching someone else.
Then, notice how much clearer it becomes in your mind.

The best learning techniques work with how your brain is already wired.

___

Thank you for reading.
Follow me for more personal development content that you can actually use. 🎯

18/03/2025

Nobody tells you this truth about finding the right job:

You deserve a career that matters.

You may spend years chasing the wrong things...
High salary.
Fancy title.
Corner office.

Sooner or later, you'll get all three.
But there's a high probability that you'll still feel empty at the end of each day.

This truth hit me on a random afternoon.
Staring at my computer, I couldn't name one thing I'd done that actually mattered.
Done a lot of paperwork.
Pleased my boss.
Pleased his boss.
But I didn't manage to please myself.

A fulfilling career isn't built on perks or volume of work well done.

It's built on purpose.

Look at the happiest people you know.
They don't necessarily make the most money.
They do work that connects to something they value.

The math is simple:

Find what matters to you.
Find who needs that thing.
Show up consistently.
Connect the dots.

Your career isn't just how you make money.
It's how you spend most of your waking hours.

Stop asking:
"What job pays the most?"

Start asking:
"What work would make me proud?"

Life is too short for jobs that steal your time without feeding your soul.

A paycheck buys things.
Purpose gives you a reason to get out of bed.

Choose wisely.

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

17/03/2025

Your environment becomes your operating system.

I've watched smart, kind people turn cynical in toxic workplaces.
And I've seen average performers thrive in supportive ones.

The truth is simple:

You become what you're surrounded by.

Think about it...

You spend more waking hours with coworkers than family.
Their habits, attitudes, and values seep into your thoughts.

In places where gossip is currency, you'll find yourself trading it too.

In organizations where credit stealing is normal, you'll either join in or burn out fighting it.

Where shortcuts are celebrated, your standards will slip.

Why?
Because of human nature:
We adapt to survive.
We mirror to belong.

The right environment pulls your best self forward.

You speak up.
You take risks.
You do meaningful work.

The wrong one slowly reshapes you until one day you hardly recognize your own values.

Before taking that next role, look closely at how people behave, not just what they say:
- Notice what gets rewarded.
- Listen to the language they use.
- Watch how they treat each other during stress.

Your career is who you become while doing it.

Choose environments that grow you, not just your resume.

Animation Credit: NXCRE
Video Edit: me
Voice: My AI cloned voice done with JoggAI

___

I spent 12 years figuring out the path to a fulfilling career and made all the career mistakes in the book.

You don't have to.
You can MAKE IT BETTER.

Follow me for career insights that make Mondays feel like Fridays. 🎯

Liviu Munteanu