Welcome to Success by Design, the podcast crafted for high achievers ready to take charge of their careers, elevate their businesses, and create lasting fulfillment in life. Hosted by Tim Madden, CEO of Executive Career Upgrades, this podcast delivers actionable strategies, expert interviews, and industry insights for meaningful growth.

Whether you’re aiming for a breakthrough in your current role, transitioning to a new industry, or growing your business, Success by Design is here to guide you toward your full potential. With over 22 years of military experience and a track record of scaling multiple businesses, Tim Madden brings insights from a career spanning leadership, entrepreneurship, and executive coaching.

Join us weekly to learn how you can define success on your terms—and achieve it. Hit subscribe to start your success journey today! 🎧

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina talk through a situation more professionals are facing than they expected: being employed, actively exploring new opportunities, and suddenly receiving an offer sooner than planned.

They break down what the professional move actually looks like in these moments—how to think about notice periods, how to manage conversations with both your current employer and a potential new one, and how to avoid burning bridges when timing feels uncomfortable.

The conversation also touches on the growing misconception that AI will solve timing, communication, or career decision challenges on its own. While tools can help, Tim and Kristina explain why judgment, preparation, and strategy still matter far more than automation.

If you’re navigating a job search while employed, or wondering how to handle an unexpected offer without creating long-term consequences, this episode offers practical perspective and grounded advice.

In this episode of The Career Report, Tim and Kristina Madden break down the idea of strategic volume and why it’s becoming one of the most important concepts in job searches heading into 2026.

As hiring processes evolve and competition increases, many professionals default to doing more—more applications, more outreach, more activity—assuming volume alone will create results. Tim and Kristina explain why that approach is increasingly ineffective, and how unintentional volume often creates noise instead of momentum.

They discuss how strategic volume differs from mass applying, how leaders and recruiters actually respond to outreach, and why fewer, better-targeted actions tend to outperform high-effort scattershot searches. The conversation focuses on clarity, positioning, and knowing where to apply pressure rather than exhausting yourself everywhere at once.

If you’re planning your job search for 2026 and want to avoid burnout while improving results, this episode offers a clear framework for doing less, smarter, and more intentionally.