For years, I believed the only way to earn more money was to manage people.

That belief quietly capped my income.

In this episode, I break down one of the most common career myths I see among capable professionals and explain why managing a team, getting another degree, or already working remotely is not always required to increase your income.

As someone who has spent over 15 years in talent acquisition and HR, and who has sat inside hiring rooms making compensation decisions, I’m sharing what actually matters when organizations determine pay.

You’ll learn:

• Why people management is not the only path to higher earnings
• The narratives that quietly limit income growth
• How to research salary ranges strategically
• What hiring teams really prioritize
• The four moves that helped me increase my own income

If you’ve been feeling underpaid, boxed in, or unsure of your next step, this episode will help you approach your career more intentionally.

If you want access to the weekly remote opportunities I reference, you can join my email list here:→ https://kristinabutler.com/weekly-remote-jobs

If you’re ready for personalized strategy, you can learn more about working with me here:→ https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session

Subscribe to the podcast for grounded conversations about remote work, career alignment, and building income that supports your life.

Grief doesn’t stop at home. It quietly follows us into our careers.

In this episode, Kristina Butler explores how grief impacts career decisions, timing, motivation, and clarity. Not just grief from losing a loved one, but the grief that comes from layoffs, lost roles, broken expectations, and versions of ourselves we thought we’d be by now.

If you’ve ever felt unmotivated, disconnected, or unsure why a “good” opportunity didn’t excite you, this conversation will help you understand what might really be happening beneath the surface.

This episode is about awareness, grace, and why you don’t need to force strategy when you’re not operating at full capacity.

If this resonates:

• Follow the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes

• Share this with someone who may need to hear it

• Explore the resources linked in the show notes when you’re ready for support

→ Join the email community for reflections, resources, and next-step guidance. https://kristinabutler.com/weekly-remote-jobs
→ Learn more about Clarity Sessions when you need a thoughtful space to think things through. https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session

There was a season in my career where I was crystal clear on two things: what I wanted and what I absolutely did not.

In this episode, I reflect on my journey through financial services, why I never chased the corner office, and how learning to define success for myself has changed the way I make career decisions and coach others today.

After spending more than 15 years in talent acquisition, I’ve seen how often professionals feel pressured to pursue titles, visibility, or leadership paths that don’t actually fit who they are or the season they’re in. This conversation is about alignment, impact, and giving yourself permission to choose differently without guilt or explanation.

If you’ve ever felt like your career should look a certain way but something about that path feels off, this episode is an invitation to pause and rethink what success really means for you.

Next steps:
If this resonated, you can join my email community for grounded career insights and aligned opportunities, or explore a Clarity Session if you’re ready to get intentional about what comes next.

Join the community: https://kristinabutler.com/weekly-remote-jobs

Schedule your Clarity Session: https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session

There was a time I was earning $5 an hour, pregnant, walking to work, and quietly telling myself, “This won’t be my forever.”

I didn’t have a timeline.I didn’t have a step-by-step plan.And I definitely didn’t have proof yet.

What I did have was a belief that if others were earning six figures, there had to be a path for me, too.

In this episode, I share how I thought about money, career growth, and possibility long before the results showed up. I talk through the questions I asked myself, how I studied people who were already where I wanted to be, and why daily actions mattered more than confidence or certainty.

This conversation is for you if:

• You know you’re capable of more, but can’t see the full path yet

• You’re navigating a career transition or income stretch season

• You’re building forward before the evidence shows up

Next steps:
If this episode resonates, you’re welcome to book a Clarity Session using the link below. It’s a focused conversation designed to help you get clear on your next move and the process that fits you.

You can also join my email list for weekly career guidance and remote opportunities.

• Book a Clarity Session: https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session

• Join the email community: Weekly career guidance and remote opportunities - https://kristinabutler.myflodesk.com/

• Share this episode with someone who’s in a transition season

Not every career pivot is a power move. Some are just burnout with a new job title.

In this episode, I break down the difference between a strategic career pivot and a pivot that’s really an escape hatch. I’m pulling from my own shift from financial services to HR, plus what I’ve seen coaching professionals who are trying to change direction without repeating the same stress in a new industry.

We’ll cover:

• The #1 reason most pivots don’t stick

• How to know if you’re pivoting from clarity or exhaustion

• How to test a new path before fully committing

• Why strengths and positioning matter more than “starting over”

• The compensation conversation people avoid (and why it matters)

If you’re in that “I can’t do this anymore” season, this episode will help you slow down, get honest, and pivot with intention.

Next steps (choose what fits):

• Want a clear pivot plan and stronger positioning? Book a Clarity Session: https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session

• Need tools for a smarter job search? Grab the LinkedIn Job Search Toolkit: virtualsixfiguremom.gumroad.com/l/oflbof

• Want to pivot faster through relationships, not job boards? Strategic Networking Playbook: virtualsixfiguremom.gumroad.com/l/strategic-networking-playbook

• Subscribe to my email community for weekly strategy + remote opportunities: https://kristinabutler.myflodesk.com/

If this hit home, share it with a friend who’s planning their exit.

Job interviews don’t fall apart because you’re unqualified, and believing that they do is often what makes the process harder than it needs to be.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what recruiters are actually paying attention to during interviews, why over-preparing can quietly work against you, and where real interview confidence really comes from. Spoiler: it’s not about rehearsing harder or proving your worth.

Confidence shows up when there’s alignment — between what you bring to the table, what you want next, and what the company truly needs. When those things connect, interviews stop feeling like a performance and become a real conversation.

If you want help preparing for interviews in a way that feels grounded, confident, and natural, I’ve linked my Interview Competence Kit below.

🔗 Resources:
- Interview Competence Kit: virtualsixfiguremom.gumroad.com/l/hjpnub
Six-Figure Clarity Session: https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session

If this episode resonated, follow the show so you don’t miss future conversations on interviews, career alignment, and navigating the job search with clarity.

Being laid off can feel deeply personal—even when it isn’t.

In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve learned after being laid off three times over the course of my career, both as an HR leader and as someone on the receiving end of those conversations.

We talk about why layoffs really happen, why working harder doesn’t always protect you, and how timing, structure, and market conditions play a much bigger role than most people realize. I also share how different layoff seasons required different responses—sometimes strategic preparation, and other times simply giving myself space to breathe and grieve.

If you’ve been laid off recently, feel like something might be coming, or are still carrying the emotional weight of a past job loss, this conversation is for you.

This episode is about reframing layoffs without minimizing the impact—and learning how to move forward with clarity, self-trust, and compassion for yourself.

If this conversation resonated and you’re navigating a layoff or career transition:

• Join my email community for weekly support and opportunities: https://kristinabutler.myflodesk.com/

• Learn more about working with me through a Clarity Session: https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session

You made it through the interviews. You were qualified. You felt good about the conversations.
And then the offer never came.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reasons you may not have gotten the job offer, from the perspective of someone who’s been on both sides of the hiring table.

We’ll talk about:
• Why companies choose the “safe hire” (internal candidates or referrals)
• How “fit” can outweigh qualifications
• Why being too senior can quietly work against you
• Why “not right now” doesn’t always mean “no”

This isn’t about beating yourself up or replaying every answer. It’s about understanding how hiring decisions actually get made so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

If you want a personalized action plan for your job search, you can book a Clarity Session using the link in the show notes.

Resources:
Clarity Session: https://kristinabutler.com/six-figure-clarity-session
Interview Confidence Kit: https://virtualsixfiguremom.gumroad.com/l/hjpnubThe Strategic Networking Playbook for Job Seekers: https://virtualsixfiguremom.gumroad.com/l/strategic-networking-playbook