Feel like you’re behind in life? Or unsure how to make your first job count?

Jacob Karnes has coached hundreds of young professionals, and in this episode, he reveals exactly what he wishes he knew when he started out and how you can master your mindset, your brand, and your career.

Jacob is the bestselling author of Master Your First Job and the founder of Waves Business Coaching. He spent 10 years climbing the ladder at Chick-fil-A before starting his own company. And now, he’s on a mission to help Gen Z build careers with purpose and authenticity.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✓ How to stand out from day one in your career

✓ Why you don’t need to wait for permission to pursue big goals

✓ How to build a personal brand (before your first promotion)

✓ A mindset that makes you impossible to ignore

✓ The mistake most people make when asking for a raise

✓ Why your identity isn’t tied to one job

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– Jacob’s journey from Chick-fil-A employee to business founder

– The #1 thing you must do to be seen as a leader early on

– Why your values matter more than your resume

– His top 2 books that changed how he sees life

– What to tell your younger self (or your future kids)

– Why writing his first book was the breakthrough he needed

📚 Grab Jacob’s book, “Master Your First Job,” on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZW5BZBX

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome & Intro

02:07 3 Life Lessons Jacob Would Tell Every Young Professional

06:27 The 60-Second Pitch: Why You Should Read His Book

08:06 The Turning Point That Sparked His Business

10:51 Building His Dream Job (Without a Job Description)

13:06 How to Ask for a Raise (and Actually Get It)

17:12 What Most People Get Wrong About Promotions

20:43 Branding Yourself as a Teen: What He’d Tell His 17-Year-Old Self

23:17 Building a Reputation That Precedes You

29:19 What Jacob Wants His Daughter to Always Remember

32:17 The Books That Shaped His Life (Atomic Habits & Man’s Search for Meaning)

35:25 The Limiting Belief That Almost Stopped Him

38:30 Final Message: Find Where Your Purpose & Skills Align

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly episodes that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out.

📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 YouTube: @soniamartaauthor

🌍 Website: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Instagram: @soniamartaauthor | linktr.ee/soniamartauthor