Stuck in your career? Discover the exact 5-step "Magic Loop" framework used by an Amazon VP to grow from entry-level to executive. Learn how to turn a manager into an ally, avoid promotion plateaus, and land dream roles—even in tough economies. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction – What is "The Magic Loop"? 0:25 Step 1: Do Your Job Well – Ensure your manager isn’t dissatisfied with your performance. 0:54 Step 2: Ask Your Manager How You Can Help – Build a strong relationship with your boss. 1:20 Step 3: Follow Through on Requests – Do what your manager asks, even if it’s not exciting work. 1:46 Step 4: Align Your Work with Your Career Goals – Get your manager to support your growth. 2:40 Step 5: Repeat – Consistency is key; keep cycling through these steps. 3:35 Why Does "The Magic Loop" Work? – Managers naturally help those who help them. 4:25 The Reality of Most Managers – Why you can’t just wait for your boss to help you grow. 6:02 Can Managers Use This for Their Employees? – How leaders can implement the loop from their side. 7:07 Success Stories: How The Magic Loop Changes Careers 9:34 Does This Work at All Career Levels? – When and how the method evolves as you progress. 10:38 Advanced Mode: Proactive Career Growth – How to transition from asking for opportunities to creating them. 12:31 The Key to Career Success: Trust & Visibility – Why rapport with leadership is critical. 13:34 Why This Approach Works So Well – The psychology behind career growth and social capital. 14:53 Breaking Through Career Plateaus at Senior Levels 17:08 How to Stand Out in Job Interviews 20:24 The Secret to Systematic Inventiveness – Lessons from Amazon & Jeff Bezos. 26:04 Final Career Advice: Biggest Lessons & Regrets ACTIONABLE TIPS - After helping your boss, say: "I’d love to take on new challenges - How can we align this with my goal to get promoted or learn X?" - Interview Hack: Spend 2x more time talking about impact ("I increased sales 30%") vs tasks ("I managed projects"). - Senior-Level Trap: "What got you here won’t get you there" - Stop being the "doer," start being the strategist. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Your career growth is in your hands—don’t rely on your manager to notice you. - Be proactive in helping your boss and aligning your work with your goals. - Success is about relationships, trust, and delivering impact. - Learn to be inventive—it’s a skill you can develop systematically. In job interviews, enthusiasm and impact matter more than experience alone. Watch the full interview on Lenny's channel @LennysPodcast 🔔 Subscribe for career growth tips 📥 Follow Ethan on LinkedIn: --------- About Ethan Evans: In Ethan's 15+ years at Amazon, he led global teams of 800+ and invented well-known businesses and products such as Prime Video, Amazon Video, Amazon Appstore, Merch by Amazon, Prime Gaming (formerly Twitch Prime), and Twitch Commerce. -- 70+ patents. -- Reviewed 10,000+ resumes, conducted 2,500+ interviews, and 1,000+ hires. -- Was an Amazon Bar Raiser and Bar Raiser Core Leader, responsible for training and maintaining Amazon's group of interview outcome facilitators. -- Helped advocate for and draft the Amazon Leadership Principle (LP) “Ownership” — the words, “They never say ‘that’s not my job.’” are Ethan's. Ethan's LinkedIn: Get Ethan's weekly career advice newsletter: ... Ethan's leadership development courses (live online) and (on-demand) #careergrowth #promotion #jobhacks #amazon #leadership #careeradvice #interviewtips #management #innovation #workplace