Episode•October 5, 2023•22 min

Increase Your Corporate IQ with Tangil Johnson | Ep. 269

Are you looking to increase your corporate IQ? Join Tiffany Grant as she interviews former career coach Tangil Johnson in this inspiring podcast episode! Johnson has helped Grant navigate up the corporate ladder and secure raises and promotions. Learn how to get an edge in the workplace with the "circle of five" concept – connecting with successful people who have knowledge and influence – and the revolutionary "Smitty plan", focusing on self-confidence, goal-setting, research, planning, and action. Get advice from a pro on understanding your passions, defining rewards, and navigating industry paths for career success. Plus, hear more about Tangil’s upcoming podcast, “Your Corporate IQ” – Tune in now! About Our Guest With over 40 years of experience in the corporate world, Tangil Johnson is a rare gift to those wanting to get into corporate, especially people of color. Through her consulting services, she has been empowering individuals to navigate the corporate landscape, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. As a high-energy global corporate professional, she has achieved remarkable success in change management, sales, recruiting, marketing, facilitating, coaching, and training. Tangil's passion lies in helping others ignite their dreams and reach their full potential. Her expertise and industry experience span across management consulting, IT, engineering, manufacturing, staffing, search, corporate recruiting, and personal growth. Tangil holds a Bachelor of Science Psychology- I/O Psychology degree from Purdue University Global with a number of certifications related to assessments and HR - CEB, DiSC, PXTS, SHRM CP Connect with Tangil Facebook: Your Corporate IQ Instagram: @tangiljohnson Twitter: @tangilsmith Connect with Tiffany Visit our site: https://moneytalkwitht.com Facebook: Money Talk With Tiff Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Instagram: @moneytalkwitht LinkedIn: Tiffany Grant Additional Links & Resources The Career Toolkit with Mark Herschberg I Switch Careers & So Can You! Here's How! (https://moneytalkwitht.com/podcast/switch-careers/) Boost Your Career with Personal Branding: What You Need To Know! How To Make More Money in Your Career - Tried and True Strategies for Success This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

1
Build a "Circle of Five" to accelerate career growth
You're only as good as the five people closest to you—compare their finances and success to yours
Don't remove existing relationships; expand your circle like branches on a tree to include mentors with desired knowledge and influence
Seek out people who can provide specific expertise (e.g., finance, parenting, career navigation) that your current circle lacks
2
Follow the "Smitty Plan" for goal achievement
Step 1: Put God first and be positive—start with belief rather than obstacles
Step 2: Define your "what"—give yourself permission to explore even seemingly ludicrous goals
Step 3: Do the research on requirements to achieve your goal
Step 4: Create a written plan with actionable steps and contingency plans for obstacles
Step 5: Just do it—stop procrastinating and execute
3
Know yourself before making career moves
Understand your passions, intrinsic rewards, and what makes you tick beyond money
Treat yourself as CEO of your own business and do an inventory of who you are
Evaluate the "playing field" you're on—understand how your industry operates before planning next moves
4
Navigate corporate strategically: up, across, or out
If an organization is flat with no upward mobility, consider lateral moves or exiting entirely
Know your long-term goals (e.g., VP of HR) and don't accept roles that don't align with your trajectory
Stand firm on your aspirations during interviews and negotiations

Intro

Tiffany Grant interviews her longtime career coach Tangil Johnson, who has helped her navigate corporate success including raises and promotions, to share actionable strategies for career advancement.
Tangil Johnson has over 40 years of corporate experience spanning change management, sales, recruiting, marketing, and training. She holds a BS in Psychology-I/O Psychology from Purdue University Global and certifications including SHRM-CP. Her consulting focuses on helping people of color navigate corporate landscapes.

– The Circle of Five Concept

Tangil explains that you're only as good as your circle of five. She advises examining the finances and success levels of your closest five people—if they're thriving or broke, you likely are too.

You never get rid of your circle of five, but you have to expand it, almost like a tree with branches.
– Tangil Johnson

Tangil shares her personal story of moving to North Carolina without family support and building new branches of her circle, including a parenting mentor (Phyllis Branch Thompson) and a financial mentor (Kelly Griffey Rambo) who helped her become debt-free in two years.

– The Smitty Plan Explained

Named after Tangil's maiden name (Smith) and her father's nickname from coworkers, the Smitty Plan is based on principles from her parents. A book on the plan is forthcoming.

Put God first and be positive—start with belief instead of obstacles
Define your "what"—give yourself permission to explore goals without fear of choosing wrong
Do the research on requirements to achieve your goal
Create a written plan with actionable steps and contingency plans
Just do it—stop procrastinating and execute

Quit procrastinating. Get up off your panty and just do it.
– Tangil Johnson

– Starting with Self-Knowledge

Tangil advises that before asking for resume help or career direction, people must first understand who they are, their passions, and their intrinsic rewards beyond money.

You are the CEO of you. And if you treat yourself as a business, before you can make a plan, you got to understand what makes you tick.
– Tangil Johnson

She recommends evaluating your current "playing field"—whether corporate, manufacturing, food service, or hospitality—and understanding how that industry operates before planning your next move.

– Tangil's New Podcast: Your Corporate IQ

Tangil announces her upcoming podcast "Your Corporate IQ," focused on helping people—especially people of color—get their foot in the door, navigate corporate, and move upward, across, or outward to their definition of success.

Contact: yourcorporateiq@gmail.com. Mention hearing about her through Tiffany Grant.

Books Mentioned

The Career Toolkit by Mark Herschberg

Resources

I Switch Careers & So Can You! Here's How!article
Boost Your Career with Personal Branding: What You Need To Know!article
How To Make More Money in Your Career - Tried and True Strategies for Successarticle

Topics

career coachingcorporate navigationprofessional developmentnetworkinggoal settingcareer advancementmentorshipself-awarenesspeople of color in corporatepersonal branding