Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan
Confidence Classic: Stop Waiting for Permission—Build a Career That Lights You Up with Steve Herz
Wed, 14 May 2025
If you’ve ever felt lost after a setback or unsure how to pivot into your next big chapter, this one’s for you. I’m sitting down with Steve Herz—talent agent, career coach, author, and a master at reinvention—to talk about how getting rejected from a dream job led him to build one of the most successful careers in media and personal development. From taking the calls no one else wanted, to turning soft skills into leadership superpowers, Steve breaks down the communication tools that actually move the needle (hint: it’s not your résumé). This episode is a masterclass in turning “no” into your greatest opportunity—and creating a life and career on your terms. In This Episode You Will Learn Rejection can redirect you toward your most aligned success path. Soft skills matter more than technical skills for advancement. Build influence through authority, warmth, and energy (AWE). Confidence grows when you take uncomfortable but strategic action. Culture transformation starts with effective private communication. Don’t wait—reinvent, reach out, and create new opportunities. Resources + Links Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/monahan Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning at NetSuite.com/MONAHAN. Want to do more and spend less like Uber, 8x8, and Databricks Mosaic? Take a free test drive of OCI at oracle.com/MONAHAN. Get 10% off your first Mitopure order at timeline.com/CONFIDENCE. Get 15% off your first order when you use code CONFIDENCE15 at checkout at jennikayne.com. Call my digital clone at 201-897-2553! Visit heathermonahan.com Sign up for my mailing list: heathermonahan.com/mailing-list/ Overcome Your Villains is Available NOW! Order here: https://overcomeyourvillains.com If you haven't yet, get my first book Confidence Creator Follow Heather on Instagram & LinkedIn
How can rejection lead to career success?
people to feel that i'm paying more attention to them right right so so you've increased your warmth because you know under my rubric of awe that warmth leads to greater connectivity greater trust because look you're you're putting you put your finger on a really important thing in that when you talk about earlier you know in this post pandemic or current pandemic how much trust is important to people and i do believe that trust is
foundation of every relationship, even your Uber driver, if you don't trust that person, that's the basis of all business. Once that trust is eroded, and look, not to get political, but I think we're seeing a lot of this anger and this tremendous groundswell that we've had around
the death of George Floyd, because I think if we really, besides the anger about the murder, it's just this idea that our trust has been eroded. This is, you know, not to impugn all police at all, but it seems like This one incident has really done a lot to affect people's trust. And that's a big thing.
Well, it's really smart right now to lead knowing that people want to feel safe. They want to trust you. And it's on each one of us. And it's our responsibility to make sure that we behave and communicate in a way so that we can connect. So I want to share some good news, Steve. I heard that you got an interesting phone call about the book and what is happening with it right now. Some recognition.
Yeah, thank you. I found out two days ago that I was nominated for the next Big Ideas Club, which is a group that is cultivated by Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Malcolm Gladwell, and Daniel Pink. So to be in the nominees of that list, I think it was 15 books that were nominated in this summer, it's really quite humbling. I thought I had a good idea. Luckily, HarperCollins agreed, and they
agreed to publish the book. And so it's really been humbling to think about, you know, some of the other people in that list are really established authors and huge names in the world. And so the fact that my idea is resonating with people like Adam Grant, it means a lot to me.
That's so exciting. So where can everybody find Don't Take Yes for an Answer?
So you can find it in any of your local bookstores and any Barnes & Noble, obviously. You can buy it at Amazon or anywhere any book is really sold. And if you want information about the book, you can buy an audible copy or just go to my website, which is www.stevenhers.com. And then you can follow me on all kinds of social media platforms, follow the blog.
And there's a one-click button to buy off there as well of any of these sites.
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