Let's Get Serious About Your Career
I relieve pain, anxiety, and stress so you can lead a successful career and a fulfilling life.
GET STARTED“Over my time working with Tony, I found tremendous benefit from his coaching. I have been in a life transition like many my age, an empty nester, business transitioning, and trying to find my “next act”. Tony did not give me answers to my questions about business and life, but he led me there through his encouragement, experience, and wisdom. I would highly encourage you to work with Tony Thelen, I am incredibly grateful for his friendship and support.”
Craig Jackman
Co-Founder and President
Paragon IT Professionals
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The River
Newsletter
Put yourself in charge of your professional development with FREE information and tools you can use immediately.
The key theme is to learn from others experiences to help you lead a more successful career and a fulfilling life. The goal is to get A's at work and also get A's at home.
The newsletter is not published on a regular schedule. The only criteria for publishing a new article is that is is worthy of your time and attention.
These articles are usually less than a 5 minute read, but can impact you for the rest of your life.
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Time: less than 5 minutes
Cost: FREE
The River Pro
Series
A new series of over 24 articles designed to help you take positive and constructive steps in career and life.
These tools are the best way to test drive executive coaching that is convenient for you and doesn't break the bank!
These articles share unique tools and concepts, provide expert coaching and advice, and help you personalize them to your unique situation.
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Time: less than 1 hour
Included: Professional coaching, pro-tips, and personalized e-mail support
Cost: Less than a tank of gas ($$)
Books
"Am I Doing This Right? Foundations for a Successful Career and a Fulfilling Life" was written for everyone who has ever wondered, am I doing this right? when thinking about their lives and careers.
Leveraging the collective experience of hundreds of professionals, this book is the ultimate early-career desk reference! When readers finish reading this book, it is not the end, but the beginning of a successful career and a fulfilling life.
Write in the margins, highlight key insights, answer questions, and come back to this book often as your career grows!
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Cost: Less than a round of drinks or coffee with friends ($$)
Executive Coaching & Mentoring
The most personalized approach to career development. Unlock your career and life potential with coaching and mentoring directly from Tony
You get the benefits of Tony's 35 year career combined with his training from the world's best executive coaching organizations.
Each engagement is customized to support your individual needs. 100% confidential.
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Time: Typically a 12 month engagement.
Cost: 90% less than an average executive MBA. Tax deductible in some circumstances. ($$$$$)
Limited availability.
Getting Started with Strategic Thinking: Three Levels to Elevate Your Career and Leadership Skills
*****NOW AVAILABLE From AMAZON 2 March 2024!!!!!!! *****
"The River" is a series of 30 articles published in 2022-23 on personal and professional growth. These stories share lessons and advice from the author's 35-year professional career. Somewhere in these pages lies a golden nugget of wisdom that will help you in your career and life!
Examples of "The River" articles:
* Career Conversations that Matter, and a 5 step modern resume that really works!
* Surviving Performance Reviews - step by step guide
* 10 keys to adapting to personal and professional change
* 5 times when mentoring makes a difference
* 10 keys to starting a new job right
* 6 keys to getting the promotion you always wanted
* 10 tips to performing at your very best
* 5 keys to Managing your Career and Comfort Zones
* 10 keys to Making Personal Development a Priority
* Tools you can use today to manage better work/life balance
* 6 keys to dealing with adversity and personal stories to match
* 10 keys to using Stress to your advantage
* Mental Models that Make Sense, and Help Us!
Available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Kindle
LATEST FROM "The River"
Experience and Advice you can use TODAY
Send your confidential career related questions directly to Tony at [email protected].
NICE TO MEET YOU
Tony Thelen
Tony is Founder and Principal Executive Coach at The River Coaching and Consulting, LLC. The goal of The River is to help executives become successful at work and at home by removing as much pain, anxiety, and stress as possible in their lives. Success is when they get A's at home and A's at work.
Tony has a degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University, an MBA from the University of Northern Iowa, and a post-graduate diploma from Oxford University in the UK with an emphasis in Strategy and Innovation. He is a certified Neuroleadership Coach, certified in Hogan Assessments, and accredited by the Co-Active Institiute of Coaching. He is a member of the International Federation of Coaches and the Institute of Coaching.
His career with John Deere started as a chemical engineer, then went into factory supervision roles, moved on to sales, customer support, and marketing roles, followed by 4 years in leadership roles of Deere's precision ag organization. The last 10 years of his career Tony had various leadership roles in John Deere Financial focused on sales, strategy, and digital transformation, ultimately leading to his appointment as Chief Product Officer and Strategic Advisor. In May 2023 Tony retired after 35 years with John Deere to focus full time on executive coaching.
Tony authors a blog on "The River" on LinkedIn as well as a Professional Development weekly column called "Dear Tony" that answers questions from people who are in critical parts of their career. Tony is also the lead author of the best-selling book of 2023 called "Am I Doing This Right? Foundations for a Successful Career and a Fulfilling Life".
When he's not involved in the above, he can be found doing his best to raise 3 daughters, writing, fly fishing the rivers of Colorado and Montana, or relaxing on West Okoboji Lake in NW Iowa.
Certifications / Affiliations
* International Coaching Federation
* NeuroLeadership Institute
* Hogan Leadership Assessments
Contact Tony
"Tony's mentoring has been really impactful to different aspects of my career. Beginning with tools and techniques to manage stress and anxiety to helping me move from tactical roles to strategic roles."
- Florencia Marinelli Controller
"Tony's mentoring and guidance really helped me navigate what it looks like to develop a career where I can create opportunities to perform my best and contribute the most"
- Carl Wiedemeier
Mgr, Product Test & Evaluation
" Tony's practical advice and timely stories based on years of experience offered perspective and guidance.....his keynote presentation to our accounting and business students kept them engaged, and they left with confidence and excitement."
Professor Joseph Ugrin
University of Northern Iowa, Head of Dept. of Accounting
**** NOW AVAILABLE ****
Starting 15 April 2024 Hogan Assessments are now available
Unlock the power of understanding your potential with Hogan Assessments! As a certified practitioner, I bring you the tools to better understand the following:
1) How you show up day
2) How you show up under stress
3) Your motivations and values
The Hogan Assessment and de-brief is THE ULTIMATE development tool to take your career and life to the next level.
The River Newsletter
Actionable Professional Development and Career Advice
Use other people's experience to improve your life.
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