A Year In The Deep End

This week marks the first anniversary of Deep End Talent Strategies (DETS), and what a year it’s been! The traditional first-anniversary gift is paper to symbolize writing a new chapter in life. I am proud to have written a new chapter in my personal and professional life and helped many others do the same. I set out to create a business that bridges the gap between employers and employees, providing HR consulting services to small and growing businesses AND career services to individuals in transition. People I know and trust gave well-meaning advice like, “If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either” and “You need to choose-you can’t successfully service the B2B and B2C worlds.” Anyone who knows me for more than a minute will attest to the fact that all you must do is tell me I cannot do something, and it is game on! Despite some well-meaning but misplaced caution and a global pandemic, I also had unwavering love and support from my husband, family, friends, and colleagues. Reflecting on this first year has been a lot of fun. When I put pen to the anniversary paper, DETS Chapter One’s outline came into view: 

• Yes, you can effectively be a B2B and B2C business, and the two worlds overlap more than you’d guess
• Served 24 business clients, helping four to hire their very first employee
• Wrote 273 resumes and provided career coaching to dozens, helping people land new jobs and some phenomenal career transitions like a physical therapist to financial planner, pipefitter to construction foreman, and teacher to journalist
• Delivered daily tips and education in a Facebook group of nearly 500 job seekers
• Published 150 blogs from job searching to COVID-19 employer resources, and recruiters dealing with helicopter parents to how I thought I might die on a Wave Runner
• Conducted ten guest speaking engagements on HR for small businesses, COVID resources, and job searching in today’s competitive market
• Referral partners are GOLD
• Get clear on what you do and what you don’t do
• Say what you do and who you do it for thousands of times; each time brings more clarity for yourself and those around you
• Technology and automation are the keys to growing lean
• Even solopreneurs are not in this alone

 The support and encouragement for launching Deep End Talent Strategies have been overwhelmingly positive and much appreciated. I’m still often asked about the origin of the business name. I wrote an article last January that details my own experiences in the deep end. The deep end of a pool can be dark and overwhelming, but you also cannot dive into the shallow end without risking injury or the embarrassing lifeguard whistle. The deep end is where you have the most space to maneuver, make a splash, and create powerful ripple effects. So, how will Chapter Two read? Twelve months from now, I am confident the answer will be both positive and unpredictable. I can tell you what I am working on right now: 

• Onboarding our first full-time team member and continuing to work with a handful of incredible contract resources
• Introducing current and new clients to the power of linking business strategy to talent strategy in many ways, including leveraging our standing as a Certified Partner with the Predictive Index
• Launching Interview Dive in Q1, an interactive web tool to easily create behavioral-based interview guides. Sign up for a demo as soon as it is released
• Adding value daily for job seekers inside of the Deep End Job Search Facebook Group
• Guiding midlife direction-changers through Pathfinders, my four-stage career transition process

 Thank you to everyone who has been there for me this year and helped write DETS’ first chapter. Now, where is the first birthday smash cake?

Want to follow our journey? Find us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.

Shawna Lake is the Founder of Deep End Talent Strategies, an HR consulting firm working with businesses and individuals. You know, B2B and B2C both. 😊 www.deependstrategies.comshawna@deependstrategies.com