The Aha! Moment Academy

Before joining the program, my biggest questions was "what I'm going to do in life and what I'm going to do with myself? "

"How I'm going to navigate myself through the rest of my life?" Because I was feeling very lost at that moment.

I've already tried different jobs, different approaches, and pushing myself through different moments in life.

I could feel that there is something and I've been feeling this call for some time prior to the programme...But I could never really sit down and put it into some frames or vocalize it or I didn't really know what that is.

While I was doing the job, there was never really much time to focus on myself and figure out what I really want to do.

And then I'll find myself in a gap again and again. So that was just like a vicious circle.

The results I had after three months in the programme were:

(1) Now I know that I have a lot of control or at least I have a choice. And I'm motivated. I'm much more motivated.

(2) Getting to know myself. There's this strength inside me that I didn't see in myself before -- which is amazing.

(3) Getting to know my skills, my abilities for all the tools that you've provided from the choice, from payoffs, from knowing that you start with 10%.

(4) The big part was about the beliefs and assumptions that we tell ourselves. Whether there are career assumptions, money assumptions, lifestyle assumptions. And then actually believing and starting to see that I have the power to change them.

It's not to somebody else. It's not to external conditions. You make all the choices around that. That's why that gave me lots of strength.

(5) And also helping me to reconnect with the essence, with my core.

It was suddenly a change. When you're aware of it and that you can act from the core of yourself... suddenly anything is possible.

There's no way back because you have some compass and you can help yourself to navigate for this. At least that was my experience.

One word to describe the programme was CLARITY.

Why? I think because what I've just said with all the tools, with all the support and having the space to explore. It is also about the environment that you provide.

I remember before the programme, I have some visions or some dreams that would be like, ‘No, you don't want to go there. No, you don't want to try it. Don't go in there in the front row. Don't try too hard’.

But now it's like, ‘Yes, I can do this. I can actually do this and whatever.’

If there’s any struggles, then I know that I have the tools and I know that I have the strength inside me that I can use for actually moving forward. So that was a massive change for me.

With my (now clear) work purpose... I could see the parts of me that have been there before, even in my childhood. But they've been just piled up with some other things when I was growing up. I started remembering those little moments that I completely forgot about.

Then I was also a part of discovering my skills that I have them and that I can merge them with life that I learn throughout my life. That's amazing, honestly.

What also helped me a lot was this approach when I've learned that things like to treat whatever happened in me in the past and whatever's going to happen in the future, treat them as experiences and try not to judge whether that is good or bad.

That was also a game changer to me. And it helped me to be more compassionate towards myself as well.

To those who are on the fence of joining the program, just go for it. Don't think twice. Seriously.

In the beginning it might not be something that you are entirely looking for. But you might be really surprised on your journey. But it's so worth it.

It gives you strength and gives you courage. It empowers you.
It gives you more freedom and what you think that you can do and what you're capable of. More...

Before starting the Academy, I was constantly trying to find my way - as in what do I do?

I started second guessing myself wondering if I'm good enough.

When I finally discovered this Academy and I started doing it, I felt within myself that this is the direction I should have been going in to begin with.

I kept remembering from the very first modules that your mind is a very powerful thing and whatever you feed it then that is what will manifest.

And I kept telling myself " This is for my benefit. This is for me. Growth is happening."

At first, I felt I was feeling so depressed. So out of place because I have been out of a job for over a year and when I found this Academy I'm like, ‘What the hell was I doing before? Where was this Academy?’

I wasted so much time and so many opportunities to learn something.

I appreciate this course. I have learned, and I have grown so much.

It has been an eye-opener. More...

I went from a mature worker that nobody wants in a 25% unemployment market with no post-secondary education in the middle of a pandemic to the job I'm in now.

Before enrolling in the program, I was in advertising, and I had been in advertising for a few decades. It really hooked me. It checked a lot of the boxes for me because I got to help businesses be prosperous and expand and people to stay employed.

Agencies are such fun environments to work in. It attracts the outgoing and wildly creative people. Very stimulating environments to work in.

But I had begun to become discontent that there wasn't enough socially redeeming value in the work that I was doing and I wanted to be of more direct help.

And then boom… I got laid off due to Covid!

I thought this is my opportunity to make that change, to make that shift that I've been feeling coming on for a while.

Well, and it's not too easy to do that when you're relatively happy. I was making very good money into six figures.

I had nice benefit package. I had vacation. I was at a managerial level. So I had a seat at the boardroom table in terms of the direction of the company. And I was training people.

That's what kept me there for as long as it did. There was a lot of things that I was really happy with.

Meanwhile, there's this voice in your soul going, "I'm not happy". Maybe the rest of you is, but I'm not, we're not doing enough.

Before joining the program, I talked to people, googled some stuff, went to some odd classes.

I had explored around on there but the piece that I was missing was the profiling of the strengths and the interests and the aptitudes and the abilities to sort of match things up.

All I knew was that I wanted to offer more direct help.

I don't have a degree. I only have my grade 12 but I've managed to teach myself along the way and read everything and just be a sponge. And it worked. I had success in my career.

So when applying for jobs I find out about this great new tool, the applicant tracking system and the filters that employers put on it that say, post-secondary out go, and I can't even get an interview.

I can write a resume that I look good on paper, but to compensate for that lack of post-secondary, I need to get in front of someone.

If I talk to them, I can get them to see that I have value to offer, but I can't get an audience because the applicant tracking system has annihilated me.

So I took this course, which was what connected me to the Academy.

It was the Aha Moment Academy that blew the doors wide open and said, ‘You don't have to be defeated by a lack of post-secondary education.’

Here in Alberta, we were particularly challenged, our true unemployment rate in Alberta was something like 25%, because we had a downturn of oil in 2015, and a lot of those people have fallen off the government records, but they're still unemployed to this day.

I'm not 25 anymore. That makes employers consider me a liability. I have to overcome the object, all the objections, and there's a whole list of them to being a mature worker. I'm in a market with 25% unemployment, and I don't have any post-secondary education.

I was trying to get happy about being a barista. And that wasn't working.

And then along comes the Academy and says, ‘Did you know about seed jobs? Did you know about purpose hacking?’

And then also gave the actual templates of the emails and the scripts of what to say when you connect.

And all of a sudden, I had tools. I had strategies I could make a way where there seemed to be no way.

The Academy is mind blowing and transformative to me.
And now I have landed a job. It is a job that is of direct help.

But now I have these tools that the Academy provided. I can use inside the organization to advance as well as if I wanted to go outside of it.

I've identified my work purpose which gives me so much inner peace that I'm not failing. That I'm targeted and directed. Fulfilled and transformative. Absolutely transformative.

This is not taught anywhere. This is the gold standard. The keys to the kingdom.

You couldn't swing a dead cat and not hit 10 unemployed people. So I've got lots of friends that haven't chosen to avail themselves of tools such as yours, and they think they're just going to send a resume. I’m like, "it’s not going to work."

The Aha Moment Academy gets you in touch with who you are and what your values are. And if you don't know, how can you carve a path forward?

From where I sit today and the journey that the Academy put me on, I can contrast myself with my friends who know none of this.

And I really fear for short of a lucky bounce how they're going to succeed. Because they're not equipped, their eyes aren't opened, they don't have the tools, they don't have the strategies.

The Academy gives you tools and strategy. It gives you workarounds like purpose hacking is a brilliant workaround.

I truly believed on a stack of Bibles that I was going to carry on in advertising and satisfy my soul with volunteer work.

And when the Academy comes along and says, ‘No, you don't. Here's a plan of progression. You can get a seed job.’

It was like someone threw a rope to me in the Quicksand and said, "here you can come out of this quicksand".

This is how I almost feel a bit ashamed that I thought that I was just stuck forever. But it was like this the Academy said - Here's the road paved with Gold ... walk on it.

After the program, I've got this seed job. It isn't just a survival job.

It's a job where I am like directly helping. We're in the middle of a pandemic. I'm in the trenches in the healthcare system fighting. It's fantastic.

And the Academy helped me write the cover letter and resume that made that happen because I have no background in healthcare.

Having a plan and knowing that there's so many avenues you can learn about is so exciting, it's so validating.

There's a forward momentum. I almost feel pulled forward because I can't wait for an opportunity to purpose hack somebody's butt at my employer now because I don't think anybody does that.

In the interview for this job, I asked a question that the Academy taught me to ask. And it was a phone interview but you could tell the person was rocked and she paused and you could hear the smile come on her face. And she said, ‘Nobody has ever asked me that.’ And I knew I made a lasting impression with that one little step.


This just brings a smile not only on my face but in my heart.
I don't care about the battle. I'll fight the fight. I'll get in the fight but I need to know I've got the ammunition to fight.

And that's what the Academy gave me.

It made me not helpless anymore. You can't be an independent adult and feel helpless. It destroys your mental health.

This entire journey that the Academy helps is I would say transformative.

And to those who are thinking to begin this journey, I will say…. You don't know what you don't know. And if you aren't good to you, who will be?

This is the keys to the kingdom. This is the ticket, this is the tools, this is the strategy. This is the battle prep that you need that's going to take you out of the ditch and back up on the road. More...

Before working with Silviu I was working in customer service in hospitality and I was happy but not necessarily with the companies that I worked for. I was happy because of the people that I worked with.

But I was never really into any company's vision or any company's long-term views. And I never really thought about purpose driven workplace or my contribution.

I was just going with the flow basically and not necessarily super happy but was just okay with it because everybody does this so I'll just do the same.

After going through the Academy, I've uncovered my path and career direction: to help big cats to increase their numbers in the wild by improving their habitat. So that's still I would say the ultimate goal.

I started as a senior administrator and I now have an administrative assistant as well. I manage her and I report straight to the director of the department, working for an organisation that is aiming to re-introduce lynxes in Scotland.

Obviously, the plan would change and I'm okay with it because I still rediscover new topics and new ways of delivering my purpose and to contributing.

Joining the course, the biggest Aha! moment for me was not on only during the programme, but also after the programme that I'm realizing even now is that it actually changes you as a person, your mindset.

Even though it's a career transitioning programme, it's not just about career but it is about YOU and getting to know yourself and accepting yourself.

I never would've thought that getting into a programme for career change, I would actually rediscover myself and even get emotional in some of the exercises. This is by far the best thing I've done for my career so far. More...

Before I joined the academy, I was teaching and I still am. I am an public school teacher and this will be my 25th year coming up in the fall. I teach elementary school and I'm currently teaching fifth grade.

I got a little tired of the all of the politics involved in education and I didn't feel like I had freedom or autonomy to really be me.

I'm given a curriculum. I'm giving a pacing guide. I'm giving mandates by the government. Of course, I have to follow those but something was missing. And the more I worked with children, I saw their struggles and their needs.

They have a lot of social and emotional needs that are not being met in the public school. We just sort of pushed the academics really hard and I was sort of losing my steam and feeling very stuck and dissatisfied.

One day I was scrolling around on Facebook just looking for something. And I just happened to see Silviu doing a little infomercial.

He said a lot of keywords that really resonated with me, like - being stuck in your career, being unhappy and unfulfilled and you don't have to be that way. You can really find out who you truly are and what you want to contribute to the world.

And I thought "that is what I'm seeking".

Silviu and Steve helped me develop a Career Plan that is very doable and I know it will be successful because I intend to do it.

Even though I had this job that felt very dead and void to me, now I can have more passion about it because I can deliver my Work Purpose in that job until I get to different stages of my plan.

I have more confidence now. I have less fear. I have more direction, clarity.

One thing I learned in this journey is, I am starting to believe that if I mess up along the way, if I make mistakes, that's okay. I used to really shame myself and beat myself up when I would make mistakes. I would feel not good enough and not competent enough and then I would just kind of, retreat back into a shell and stop, like I can't do that.

Now I'm beginning to work with those beliefs because I'm more conscious about them. And I'm like, "I don't have to accept this as a truth".

These beliefs are not truths, they're just habits and beliefs that we've picked up and they're programmed into our minds and we can change the programming in our mind and therefore our beliefs. And so I am learning to do that.

I'm a teacher and that's where I am but I intend to work my Work Purpose in my job. Now I'm more intentional about it. I know who I am in my essence. I know what I want to contribute to my students and I intend to implement that.

My career plan is now clear: I can see myself getting involved in groups that maybe go to different schools, public schools, and speak to young people, speak to educators, speak to parents that work with young people and then eventually evolve into a speaking career for young people and parents and educators.

The programme has great resources. The coaches, Silviu and Steve are so accessible. I can send a message and Silviu respond immediately - 'Hey, let's have a coaching call' and they can steer me in the right direction. I've not experienced that before. The coaches I've had are not always so easily assessable.

Silviu and Steve truly invested in their clients and it is so worth the investment.

It is one of the best personal and career development programs I've ever taken and I've taken quite a few, and this is the golden ticket right here. More...

I've never had a clear idea of how I am professionally. And so that's why I think finding a career that really fits me has been a very hard-to-quantify thing. That's why when the pandemic hit, I did have a lot of questions in my mind.

Before being coached by Silviu, I was working as a senior consultant for a lot of hours. I was probably doing 50-60 hours a week.

A lot of pressure, getting in early trying to get ahead of deadlines. Working late, sometimes working through the night, feeling a lot of pressure and often feeling overwhelmed.

Joining the program, I was afraid that the money I was paying for would not deliver. I had quite a lot of expectations.

And looking back, I would say it was absolutely worth the investment. It was worth the investment not just to get another job but as an investment in terms of my mental health.

We worked on CVs, interviews, negotiations right at the end which enabled me to land the role with a 20% increase in salary.

But there was so much at the beginning of the coaching to help you understand who you are and why you are this way and how to change the bits that aren't helping you. There's a depth that I wasn't expecting and benefited greatly from.

I was used to the traditional coaches who are only focused on your CV, and Silviu really helped me understand what makes me happy and how to go after it.

Now I'm in a Career Portfolio that I love (working PT for a company, while lecturing, having enough time for myself ad working with people I'm inspired by without the pressure I used to feel) and I now have a career direction and strategic plan for the next 5-10 years of my career and continue to get better and better at helping others, which is really fulfilling.

The best word to describe the entire program is energizing and empowering: the coaching gave me the support, structure, and the solidity, and it has given me the energy to feel this is doable and I can work on this. Also, it's empowering because it gives you the ability to think you can do this even if you feel at times this is insurmountable. More...

Silviu supported and coached me in the process of applying for an Executive MBA scholarship. His input on reshaping my resume and writing a concise letter of intent were very valuable. Furthermore, his feedback during the interview trials proved to be extremely helpful and gave me a boost of confidence in myself. I feel gratitude for his help. More...

After working with Silviu and The Aha! Moment Academy I was able to change careers without starting from scratch.

And now, even after the honeymoon is over I and have some hard days at work, I never get the feeling of "I don't want to do this". I have so much awareness, so much more joy and so much to learn.

The amazing part is that I was able to speak truthfully about what I want to do with my career during the interview and even if I wasn't 100% qualified the company that I now work for saw the potential in me. I know I have a long way to go but I wouldn't be here without this programme. It's not been easy but I'm finally doing what I love and I'm proud too speak about my work whenever friends ask me what I do. I started working with Silviu at the point where I was close to burnout, with no idea what else I could do.

One suggestion I have for everyone is - don't wait until you're burned out and have to quit your job. You'll be much calmer if you go through this coaching while in a job. I didn't so I added a bit more stress on myself.

But if I managed to get through this transition, everyone can. I highly recommend his services and process. There's nothing else on the market like this. More...

I worked with Silviu on and off at key points in my career in the last 5 years. He's helped me find a sense of direction and helped me close the gap between the person I was and the person I wanted to become to have a fulfilling and successful career. He's also helped me with interviews and job search on top of the career planning workshops and coaching sessions. The best investment I ever made when it comes to my career. More...

T

Reply from The Aha! Moment Academy

it's been such a journey! I'm glad to be part of it :)

I just finished a 8 months career coaching with Silviu and his business partner Steve Miller. What a life changer!! I had been personally struggling with many challenges. Although I liked my job and the team I was working with, I was stuck in my career with no motivation and I really needed support. And there he came. Silviu is a very talented coach. The method the Aha Moment Academy uses is the Implicit Career Search founded my Steve Miller. Based on mission statement and purpose. This is where Silviu is excellent at, listening, coaching, and going directly to the point. Making you find your purpose, your mission statement, what motivates you upon getting up in the morning, finding your contribution to this world. This approach really changes you, transforms you. I am a very different person now, thanks to Silviu. I now have a new job I love, I know what and where I want to contribute, I am simply a happy person and full of energy at the age of 53. I know where I am going. Thank you so much Silviu (and Steve) for your great job. Wishing you all success. More...

T

Reply from The Aha! Moment Academy

It was great coaching you my friend!

I first met Silviu in January 2021 when I had the opportunity to take the career planning course: The Aha Moment! When it comes to career coaching haven't found a method to be as efficient as the one developed by Silviu and Steve, his business partner. Everything he teaches really works. His energy and passion come through on all the coaching calls and he always goes above and beyond the program. He has been very supportive in my career transition journey and gave me a new or interesting perspective when they were needed the most. If you're not sure what to do next in your career, I fully recommend his services and programs! You're in good hands. More...

T

Reply from The Aha! Moment Academy

thanks Derek! :)

𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴.

𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤 - 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘦𝘵.

𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶. More...

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Thanks Chris!