Start Your New Role (The Smart Way)
The 100-Day Plan For Mid to Senior-Level Pros To Secure Promotions, Bigger Paychecks & Top-Tier Performance Reviews
From the Desk of AJ Mizes:
Congratulations! You've just landed your dream role—a new chapter, a new company, a new opportunity.
But if you're like most mid-to-senior level executives, that excitement is quickly followed by creeping doubts.
"Will my past work even matter here? Can I bring enough Value? Will they even like me?"
Suddenly, the fear kicks in:
What if I don’t fit in? What if I’m not good enough? What if I’m exposed as someone who doesn’t measure up?
That’s when imposter syndrome swoops in, making you second-guess your every move.
But here’s the truth—when you push past those doubts, you’ll prove your worth, build trust fast, and deliver results for glowing performance reviews that result in raises and/or fast promotions.
It’s natural to feel this way, but it doesn’t have to hold you back anymore!
Most New Leaders Fail In Their First 100 Days… But you don’t have to.
We’ve all seen it happen.
Rob Johnson at JCPenney—tried to change things too fast and ended up losing loyal customers.
Carly Fiorina made a risky merger at HP that led to financial losses and—ouch—her reputation took a hit.
And then there’s Stephen Elop, whose handling of Nokia saw the company sell to Microsoft.
It wasn’t because they weren’t smart or talented…
They just didn’t have a solid plan in place when they needed it most.
And guess what? It’s more common than you think.
According to research, 40% of new leaders fail within their first 18 months.
They don’t just lack experience—they lack a roadmap and an Expert Senior Coach.
And this isn’t just some random stat—McKinsey shows that 27% to 46% of leadership transitions are considered failures after two years.
Why? Misalignment with culture, unclear expectations, and failure to build strong relationships.
Even Harvard Business Review agrees that leaders set themselves up to fail when they don’t understand company culture or form the right alliances.
So, what’s the takeaway? Even if you think you’ve got it all figured out, the truth is—you need a smart plan for your first 100 days, or things can fall apart fast.
A Proven Plan to Ease Your Transition
Starting a new role can feel like stepping into a maze without a map.
New faces, unfamiliar culture, unwritten rules—it’s chaos. And you don’t have time for chaos.
Scenario One: Overwhelmed by the Learning Curve
A month in, you’re buried in new tools, workflows, and expectations.
You start wondering, “Did I bite off more than I can chew?”
If you don’t get ahead of the curve, this could cost you the momentum you need to position yourself for that first promotion or performance raise.
Scenario Two: Feeling Excluded from Company Culture
You’re sitting at lunch (or virtual Happy Hour), surrounded by your new team, but you feel out of place.
You’re nodding along, but inside, you’re asking, “Do I even belong here?”
Being sidelined from the start can cost you those critical early relationships that lead to trust, promotions, and visibility.
Scenario Three: Lost in the First Big Meeting
You’re in your first big meeting with key stakeholders, and suddenly, the conversation is flying over your head—acronyms, jargon, internal lingo.
You walk out thinking, “Did I lose credibility with the people I need to impress most?”
Without a solid plan, those mistakes can cost you credibility, and block your quick wins.
These scenarios might hit hard because they’re real. But you don’t have to face them on your own…
Introducing Our NEW Smart Start 100 Program
Smart Start 100 is a proven step-by-step program for executives and senior-level professionals like you—used to succeeding but facing the challenge of proving yourself again in a new environment.
This program eliminates the guesswork with the tools to navigate your first 100 days with confidence, clarity, and impact.
You could walk into your new office with a clear strategy to…
Navigate Internal Politics
Build Strong Relationships
Master Company Culture
All while securing early wins and delivering results that position you for…
Quick Promotions
Pay Raises
Stellar Performance Reviews
No more second-guessing or feeling overwhelmed. You’ll know exactly how to take control from day one and fast-track your success.
Why You’re Feeling This Way—and Why It Matters
You’ve crushed it to get here because you’re talented, driven, and damn good at what you do. But in a new role, everything feels different:
How do I adapt to this new company culture?
There’s that fear that your past success won’t translate here. What if you clash with the way things are done or, worse, feel irrelevant?
What if I break an unwritten rule?
You don’t know the norms, and one misstep could make you look unprofessional—before you’ve even started.
How do I build trust with my new team?
Credibility is key, but how do you earn it when no one really knows you yet?
How will success be measured?
What if you’re being judged by standards you don’t even know about? How do you make sure you’re hitting the right marks?
All of these boil down to one thing: uncertainty.
And uncertainty in a leadership role can make or break your first 100 days. It leads to hesitation, missed chances, and—worst of all—costly mistakes.
The Cost of Not Having a Plan
Let’s be real—the stakes couldn’t be higher. In your first 100 days, you’re setting the tone for your future at this company. Your ability to build trust, establish credibility, and deliver results will define your trajectory.
Without a clear plan, you risk:
Making the wrong first impression.
One wrong step, and you could be seen as out of touch—or worse, incompetent.
Falling behind on expectations.
If you don’t know what’s expected, how can you exceed expectations?
Struggling to build relationships.
Miss the nuances of team dynamics, and you’ll miss out on key relationships that build trust.
Wasting valuable time.
Time spent figuring things out means time not spent making an impact. And time is the one thing you can’t afford to lose.
You could try to wing it... but why take the risk? Trial and error takes years, wasted energy, sleepless nights, and lots of mistakes.
That’s the cost of not having a plan.
The Shortcut to Success: Smart Start 100
But what if you didn’t have to pay that price?
What if there was a proven framework designed to help you navigate the first 100 days with clarity, confidence, and direction?
That’s exactly what Smart Start 100 offers.
This program takes everything I’ve learned from guiding countless mid to senior-level executives through their first 100 days and distills it into a step-by-step system that ensures you make the right moves at the right time.
Here’s Your Smart Start 100 10 Milestone Plan…
Milestone 1: Mastering Your Mindset
Reframe your thoughts and build a positive mental foundation so you can tackle your new role with confidence.
Milestone 2: Preparation & Research
Get ahead with a 360-degree research plan that prepares you to hit the ground running—before or during your first 30 days.
Milestone 3: Learning the Ropes
Understand your team dynamics and company culture, and create a 100-day plan that sets clear priorities, delivers early wins, and impresses your managers.
Milestone 4: Managing Your Situation
Know when to seek support, how to leverage resources, and how to manage your role with confidence.
Milestone 5: Prioritizing Your Impact
Identify where you can make the biggest impact, and ensure your work aligns with the company’s long-term vision.
Milestone 6: Securing Early Wins
Earn trust quickly by delivering small but impactful wins that establish your credibility right away.
Milestone 7: Handling Feedback
Learn how to request, accept, and adjust based on feedback, turning it into a tool for growth and correcting missteps.
Milestone 8: Making a Lasting Impact
Move beyond quick wins to create meaningful change within your team and the organization.
Milestone 9: Long-Term Success Planning
Lay the groundwork for your future career trajectory with a roadmap that positions you for promotion and long-term success.
Milestone 10: Delivering Your Results
Present your 100-day results and demonstrate your value, setting the stage for the next phase of your career.
Smart Start 100 Includes:
1:1 Coaching with a Senior-Level Executive Coach
Weekly Group Coaching
Email & Cohort Support
Worksheets & Exercises For Each Milestone
Instant Access to the 100 Days Facebook Community
A La Carte Resources For Every Challenge - Navigating Difficult Coworkers or Writing Self Reviews (We’ve Got a Resource For Everything!)
With Smart Start 100, you’ll not only adapt to your new role but also refine your leadership brand, making sure you’re seen as the confident, capable leader your team needs.
Kind Words From Our Leaders
Eli L., Controller
“My favorite part of working with A.J. are his executive coaching sessions. A.J. is able to help dive into the qualitative traits that are required for all business managers. He has helped me strengthen my communication skills.
Using the knowledge that A.J. taught me has transformed my reputation…Executive Coaching sessions with A.J. helped strengthen my communication skills. Having stronger communication skills helped solve many problems for me around the shop. Employees reacted better to changes that our company wanted to initiate; and as a result, morale was improved. A.J. has a versatile skill set. He can function as a mentor, coach, staff.
A.J. was a tremendous help to our business. We are on the smaller side of businesses and we benefited greatly from the expertise that A.J. was able to bring to the table. I imagine that A.J. would also be a good fit working for larger corporations, especially given his background working in large corporations.”
Megan M., Manager
“AJ is just a joy to work with. In partnering with him I’ve learned new concepts and methodologies for bringing out the best in teams, and have since leveraged and re-leveraged. Watching him deliver incredible content led to the inclusion of these newly released content. Aj demonstrates his keen understanding of the challenges faced by leaders and teams…This impact is enormous and will help every person bring their best form of leadership to each other…and to the world. He’s kind, friendly, funny and passionate. He moves fast, follows through and brings everyone along. His competence is off the charts and he takes the work seriously, but doesn’t take himself too seriously. I jump at any opportunity to work with him.”
Megan M., Manager
“AJ is just a joy to work with. In partnering with him I’ve learned new concepts and methodologies for bringing out the best in teams, and have since leveraged and re-leveraged. Watching him deliver incredible content led to the inclusion of these newly released content. Aj demonstrates his keen understanding of the challenges faced by leaders and teams…This impact is enormous and will help every person bring their best form of leadership to each other…and to the world. He’s kind, friendly, funny and passionate. He moves fast, follows through and brings everyone along. His competence is off the charts and he takes the work seriously, but doesn’t take himself too seriously. I jump at any opportunity to work with him.”
What's Next?
By now, it’s obvious—you’re serious about crushing it in your new role. But here’s the question: How are you going to do it?
Are you going to spend years figuring it out through trial and error, full of stress and mistakes?
Or are you going to walk in with a proven plan that helps you build trust, secure wins, and make a lasting impact—right from day one?
It's Your Move.
The choice is simple.
You can continue feeling overwhelmed, unsure of how to navigate your new role, and worried about making costly mistakes.
Or you can join Smart Start 100, follow a step-by-step plan, and walk into your new role with the confidence of knowing exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to build the trust and relationships you need to succeed.
You'll not only seamlessly transition, but also define your brand making sure you are seen as confident, capable, high-performing leader that your team needs.
Click below to secure your spot in Smart Start 100—the roadmap that takes you from uncertain to unstoppable in your first 100 days.
Pricing and Plans
Total Value: $6000
If you sign up in the next 72 hours...
Pay With Affirm
$1065
Single-Pay
$995
Best Value Offer!
Three-Pay
$335/month x3
Common Sentiments and Our Best Answers
“I don’t have time for another program right now.”
I hear you—you’re swamped. But what’s more time-consuming? Figuring it all out on your own, or following a roadmap that tells you exactly what to focus on, so you’re not wasting precious hours on guesswork?
“I’m already experienced—I don’t need help settling into a new role.”
Your experience is undeniable, but even seasoned pros can hit roadblocks in a new environment. With the right plan, you’ll avoid costly mistakes and fast-track your success by securing early wins, building trust faster, and positioning yourself for promotions and raises sooner than expected. We want to amplify your expertise and ensure you stand out from the start.
“I can rely on my company’s onboarding process.”
Sure, onboarding covers the basics—but what about building relationships and navigating the culture? That’s where most people stumble. A solid plan tackles the real challenges so you’re not just fitting in, you’re leading from day one.
“What if it doesn’t work for me?”
Success isn’t cookie-cutter, but proven strategies give you a huge head start. It’s about having a guide that helps you adapt, navigate the unknowns, and make sure you’re not wasting time second-guessing your moves.
“Is it worth the investment?”
Think about the cost of missteps or missed chances. Starting strong pays off in spades—building trust, nailing those early wins, and setting the tone for your success. This isn’t just an investment in today; it’s setting you up for long-term impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there ongoing support past the 100 days?
Absolutely! The community and the relationships you build with your cohort will always be there. People continue to lean on their connections well beyond the program. Plus, I’m never far away if you need more support!
How much time do I need to commit to this program and how do I fit it into my busy schedule?
The program is designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule. You don’t have to cram more into your day but make sure you’re focused on the right things at the right time. You’ll spend around 2-3 hours a week working through the plan, and it’s flexible enough to work around your life.
What if I’m already an experienced leader—do I need this?
Yes, because every new role comes with unique challenges. Your experience matters, but a new environment, culture, and expectations are tough to navigate without a roadmap. I won’t teach you how to lead—I’m helping you do what you do best, faster and smarter.
Does this program work for all industries?
100%. I’ve coached leaders across tech, healthcare, finance—you name it. The principles in SmartStart100 are universal, and they apply no matter where you’re stepping in as a leader. It's about understanding people, culture, and strategy, and that works anywhere.
Is there any one-on-one support or is it all self-guided?
It’s a blend of both. You’ll have access to me and the cohort through coaching sessions, so you’re not going through it alone. There’s room for personalized advice whenever you need it.
Can this program help me even if my company has an onboarding process?
Yes. Most company onboardings only scratch the surface. They give you a breakdown of things like policies, processes, and basic expectations. But Smart Start 100 goes deeper—it’s about building relationships, navigating company politics, and securing wins that matter.
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The results you see on this page may not be typical. The Human Reach, LLC has professionals as students across a range of industries and functions. Their experiences do not guarantee similar results. Individual results may vary based on your skills, experience, motivation, as well as other unforseen factors. The Company has yet to perform studies of the results of its typical clients. Your results may vary.