The Purposeful Career Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 085: How to Soothe Your Inner Critic Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

I like to say that my business sits at the intersection of brain science and your career aspirations. Because our brain is what gets in the way of what we really want. It’s usually less about the things that happen to us or our lack of opportunity or the mistakes we make or the skills we have or don’t have and more about what we make those things mean or what we believe it possible for ourselves.

And one of the most important aspects of this is developing an awareness and self-command over what, for many of us, is an overactive inner critic. That negative internal talk track that for many of us runs on overdrive.

It’s important to gain awareness over it, understand where it’s coming from and learn how to soothe it, so it doesn’t hold you back from the things you want the most.

This is one of the very first episodes of the podcast from back in February 2021, which was Super Bowl Sunday in the United States, where my team – the KC Chiefs were defending their Super Bowl title from 2020. They lost. And it was far from their best showing. But the lessons from the episode endure.

So I hope you enjoy listening or re-listening, to Soothing Your Inner Critic.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

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Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 084: What Your Work Means to You Jul 16, 2022

Show notes

Today we’re going to explore what work means to you.

Because I think that’s an interesting way to think about it, don’t you?

Looking at what you do every day in terms of meaningfulness or fulfillment vs. viewing it as a means to an end?

Because based on my clients and the stats I’ve read on all the job satisfaction surveys and even if you just look at the volume of resignations over the past year or so, I think it’s safe to say that FEELING GOOD about how we spend our work life is something we would all love to find.

Meaningful work.

For me, those two words are beautiful.

Think about it for a moment.

What would it be like to feel like what you do everyday matters?

First and foremost, to you.

But also, to the company you work for. To the people you work with.

The idea that your 8 to 5 is about more than just collecting a paycheck.

I think most of us tend to think about our work in terms of the sum of its parts.

Like we evaluate all the different things – the boss, the culture, the benefits, the industry, the colleagues, the actual work or job, the flexibility, money, work life balance. All of it.

And we’re left with this complicated equation of different things that, to some extent, is outside our control.

And of course, all those things DO affect us, and they influence how we feel about our job.

But I believe those different things like the boss, the culture, the money, the title…those are symptoms that show you how things are going for you.

But today, I want to get to the heart of the issue.

I want to talk about something much deeper, which is about how you THINK about your career, absent any of the outside influences or symptoms.

I want to talk about YOUR perspective on what you do for a living.

How you THINK and FEEL about it.

And allow yourself to spend a little time thinking about what’s meaningful to YOU when it comes to work.

Like everything else we talk about on this podcast and in my business, I want to help you have MORE of everything you want when it comes to work.

I think this is going to be an interesting one for all of us. So, let’s dive in!

Most people view work in one of three ways.

1. As a job. Meaning it’s all about financial necessity with very little personal meaning.

2. As a career. Which is more about status and occupational advancement.

3. As a calling. Meaning it’s mostly about fulfillment vs. money or title or how it looks to others.

And of course, this is your life, so you get to decide how you want to look at the time you spend between 8 and 5 Monday through Friday.
For more, give the episode a listen.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

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Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 083: How to Survive (and Thrive) Despite a Toxic Environment Jul 10, 2022

Show notes

Sometimes we find ourselves in environments (or relationships) that aren't aligned with what we want. Those instances can range from mildly upsetting to incredibly toxic.
When that happens, it's easy to let our subconscious patterns of thought kick in and make that situation or environment mean something about us. Usually something not very good.
This episode shares five steps to staying clear and strong when you're in a place that isn't serving you.
When you follow these steps you'll be able to stay clear about what's happening and what you want to do about it from a place of personal empowerment.
This is an important one. Because the more risks we take and the more we put ourselves out there, the more likely we're going to encounter situations or people that don't serve us.
So it's important to know what to do when you find yourself in a job or relationship that isn’t good for you. How to get yourself through that time in a purposeful way and one that will propel you forward even faster.
I think you'll find this episode helpful. Thanks for giving it a listen.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 082: Getting Clear on What You Want From Your Career Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

So today, I want to talk about the choices we make when it comes to our career. Specifically, how to get (or maybe STAY) clear on what we want.

There are a few reasons I wanted to discuss this today.

First, in my experience as a coach and as a leader of people in my career, most of us spend a good amount of our career “not knowing” what we really want. Sometimes it’s because we’re not in touch with what we’re good at. Sometimes it’s because we’ve never taken the time to really get clear on the type of work that makes us happy or fulfilled. And even if you think you know what that is when you start out, as we move through our career, for most of us, our interests, wants and needs will change at different life stages. So, it’s good to do a reflection like this from time to time to make sure that what you’re currently doing for a living is consistent with what you WANT at this point in your life.

Second, it’s graduation season and for those with newly minted bachelor’s or graduate degrees, it’s important to get clear on what lights you up BEFORE you dive into a job search. Or if you’ve already accepted a job, this type of reflection can help ensure you get the most from it or get clear on what you DO want before you think about spinning up the search for a new job.

Third and last, despite the overheated economy, it’s impossible to deny that this is also a time when people are being laid off. In the U.S., the rapidly rising interest rates have led many VC-backed start-ups to rethink their staffing plans and that has spurred many layoffs in the tech sector. And while the job market is still hot and those folks will likely land new opportunities quickly, this is a good time to do some reflection to get clear on what you really want from your career going forward BEFORE you accept another position.

This kind of Career Discovery Reflection can serve you at any stage of your life. It’s a great exercise to go through annually. Because even if you like your current company or job, this type of reflection can help you stay in touch with how you’d like your current position or responsibilities to evolve or grow or maybe even how some investment in outside courses or study can add to your skills in a meaningful way to prepare you for next level growth.

I’m going to approach this as an exercise, so be sure to have a pen and paper handy. Or you might want to open a Google doc so you can take note of the questions as we go through. I think this is going to be super helpful, so let’s dive in.

Before we get into the questions, I want to talk first about the choices we make when it comes to our career. Because I’ve found that too many of us take a passive approach, meaning we sort of let life and opportunity (or the jobs we’re offered) dictate where our career goes. Versus, intentionally choosing.

But the truth is, according to statistics, you’re going to spend about 92,000 hours working (based on a 40-hour work week, with 4-5 weeks of vacation or holidays a year and a career that spans almost 50 years – from 18-67).

For context, that equals 21% of your total waking hours over a 76-year lifespan. Or 35% of your total waking hours over a nearly 50-year working life.

Ever thought of it that way?

When you see those statistics, it’s clear that career choice is among the most important decisions that people make. So, you want to make choices that are right for YOU. That are about what YOU want. Not what your partner wants, or your parents wa

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 081: How to Deal When Things Don't Work Out as Planned Jun 26, 2022

Show notes

As happens many times with this podcast, today I want to talk about something that’s coming up for a lot of my clients right now. And that is, what to do when something does not work out as planned.

I think this is topic is relevant for most working people because for the past few years, we’ve been in an exceptionally strong job market. And you know what THAT has meant. They called it the Great Resignation because so many people – more than 47 million in the U.S. alone – have changed jobs. For whatever reason – money, location, flexibility, title, career change, more responsibility – there are so many reasons we do this.

But guess what?

According to two surveys conducted earlier this year, up to 20% of people who changed their job during the Great Resignation, now REGRET it. That’s 1 in 5 people. So, in the U.S., where an estimated 47 MM people changed jobs, that’s just shy of 10 MM people who now regret that decision.

And this idea of disappointing outcomes isn’t confined to our careers. In 2022, it’s estimated that a little over 44% of marriages will end in divorce. So, for every 6 people who get married this year? 2.6 will get divorced.

Same thing with relocation. Because that was another big shift during the pandemic. Millions of people picked up and moved. And according to statistics, about 30% of them regret at least a few things about their move – whether it’s about moving away from friends or family, dislike of the new location or whatever.

Basically, the important thing to know about making big, life changing decisions is that when we do, there’s a decent chance that it won’t go as planned.

And there are so many reasons for this. So many things we could talk about related to big decisions. About whether we put the proper thought into it. Or paid attention to all the variables. Or did our research. Or listened to our gut. Or whatever.

But today, I don’t want to focus on how to make strong decisions or aligned decisions upfront. Today I want to talk to those of you who are currenting DEALING with the aftermath or unfortunately outcome of a big decision.

Because dealing with regret or disappointment or unfortunate outcomes is part of the human experience. it’s going to happen. For all of us. In one or maybe many areas of our life. And for that reason, it’s important to be clear about what to do when maybe you did all the upfront analytics, when you weighed the pros and the cons, and things STILL didn’t turn out the way you hoped. Whether you’re feeling a little disillusioned or swimming in massive regret, it’s important to know that there are things you can do to turn it around.

I think this is going to be an important episode and a relevant and timely one for so many of you, so, let’s dive in.

When we make a big decision, we’re essentially taking a chance. We’re leaping into the unknown and counting on the outcome to be what we expected it to be. But as the stats that I shared earlier show – whether we’re talking career, marriage, relocation or probably any other big decision you will make – a good percentage of the time, things aren’t going to work out the way you hoped.

When this happens, it’s so easy to get stuck in either denial or blame or victimhood or regret.

And when you do that, you know what happens? You make the disappointing outcome even worse by keeping yourself stuck there longer.
For more, give the episode a listen.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 080: The Power of Taking Small Steps Jun 19, 2022

Show notes

We’re almost at midyear. So, this is a time when people tend to look back at the year so far and evaluate – whether formal or informally – what they’ve managed to get done this year. And that’s especially true for people who are looking for change in some part of their career or life. Whether that’s about changing jobs, making more money, starting a business, losing weight, finding a relationship or anything else that’s calling to you. Mid-year is a natural time to evaluate how we’re doing against those goals.

A few episodes ago, in Episode 78, we talked about “How to Transform Your Career and Life.”

And the focus in that episode was about how you can make big transformational shifts by looking to your FUTURE vs. what we typically do, which is trying to build from where we’re currently at. So that’s all about channeling the thoughts, feelings and actions that are consistent with that FUTURE version of you. And learning how to BE that future version of you that already HAS that big new thing so that it eventually comes about.

So, if you’re dreaming of something big and new and you haven’t listened to that episode yet, you might want to go back and give that a listen because I think you’ll find it a very helpful perspective and one we don’t usually think about when it comes to achievement.

Today, we’re going to talk about that same thing – how to make changes in your career and life – but from a different perspective. I want to talk about what to do if you’re someone who might dream of making big changes in some part of your life but maybe finds it tough to get started. Or maybe you get started but you find it hard to stay with it.

Now if you’re a regular listener to this podcast you know that our actions – whether we start or don’t start, or whether we quit or stay with it – it’s all driven by what you’re thinking. And if you’re thinking things like “it’s too hard” or “it’s impossible” or that “it’ll take too long” or “you’re not disciplined enough to stay with it,” then that’s going to cause emotions like defeat or procrastination or whatever. And you’re going to either not start or quit.

It's so easy to let our brain talk us out of the big things we want to go do. And in my experience, it’s far too easy to believe whatever lie our brain is telling us. Because when we want something that’s far from where we are right now, the new thing we’re dreaming of seems like it’s just out of our reach. And when we look at it through that lens, from where we are vs. where we want to end up, it’s easy to believe that the journey is just going to be too hard. That it’s too big a shift. That we won’t stick with it long enough to make it happen.

For more, give the episode a listen.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 079: How to Have Your Own Back Jun 12, 2022

Show notes

So today we’re going to talk about something important and that is, how we handle it when things don’t work out as planned.

Because that’s a big part of life, right?

It’s always fun to talk about goals and possibilities. But the truth is, as important as it is to know how to go after and get the things you want in life, it’s equally important to get good at dealing with it when things don’t work out.

Because as we all know, no matter how much we plan and no matter how hard we work at things, sometimes life doesn’t go our way.

Whether that’s in business or some aspect of our personal life.

Life isn’t guaranteed.

The truth is disappointment, setbacks, and failure are part of the experience. And the more you push for personal growth and achievement, the more you put yourself out there, the more likely it is that you’ll experience the kinds of setbacks that can really take a toll if you don’t learn how to roll with them.

To learn to process through the loss or the disappointment or the failure, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep moving forward.

That’s not always an easy thing to do.

In fact, it can be super hard at times.

Hard to let go of the thing we were so invested in.

And so easy to fall into the negative cycle of overthinking and regret and self-blame. And when we do that, you know what happens?

We get stuck.

It erodes our self-confidence.

It keeps us from getting out there and doing all the things we want to do.

So today, we’re going to talk about “Having Your Own Back.”

And if you’re someone who has an overactive inner critic, I think you’ll find this episode especially helpful.

So, let’s dive in.

And let’s start with the definition of what it means to ‘have someone’s back.’

I checked both the Cambridge and the Urban Dictionary (since it’s kind of a newer phrase) and for both, having someone’s back means to be ready to protect or defend someone. To watch out for, take care of, and protect that person.

So, when we talk about having your OWN back, it means doing that same thing but for yourself.

And that’s the first point I wanted to make. While it’s very nice to have loved ones who want to have our back, the truth is, as nice as it is to have supportive friends and family, this is something we don’t need anyone else for.

We can learn how to have our own back.

And I think it’s even more powerful and helpful when it comes from ourselves.

I think having your own back is the key to finding the grit and resilience to keep going when you have a setback instead of quitting.

I think it’s the key to staying passionate and excited about your career and life instead of just giving up and going with the flow.

It’s the key to really BELIEVING in yourself instead of falling into the habit of tearing yourself apart when things don’t go as planned.

And this is not something most of us are taught.

But it’s incredibly important.
For more, give the episode a listen.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 078: How to Transform your Career and Life Jun 05, 2022

Show notes

We're almost at mid year and it's the perfect time reflect.
To look back on the year so far and evaluate whether you’ve made progress on the things we wanted to get done this year.

And even better, it’s a chance to look at the year ahead and make any adjustments needed so you can either stay the course if things are going well or maybe get things back on track if you don’t feel you’ve made the progress you wanted to make up to now.

When most of us think about goal setting and personal development, we focus on the WHAT and the HOW. So, what we want to accomplish and how we plan to do it.

That approach can work of course. But WHAT and HOW will only get you so far. So that’s a good approach to use when you’re going for career or life tweaks. Small shifts.

Today, I wanted to talk about those times in life when you want BIG TRANSFORMATION. When you want to significantly change one - or maybe several – areas of your life.

When that’s what you’re going for, focusing on the HOW is not going to work. You’ll need to focus on the WHO.

Specifically, WHO you’ve been in your work and life so far this year.

And WHO you NEED to be going forward so you create the results you’re looking for in your career and life. Transformative results. Unexpected results. WOW results.

This is a very different – and I think a far more impactful – way of thinking about goal setting and achievement. It’s a helpful perspective to consider using during times in your life where small and incremental change just isn’t going to cut it. And I think it’s going to be super interesting.

So, let’s dive in.

Like I said earlier, this is not how we’re taught to approach goal setting or any other aspect of our life for that matter.

Typically, when we think about where we want to go it’s ALWAYS from the perspective of where we are today.

That seems logical, right?

It seems logical because it’s linear.

And there’s no denying that each of us are where we are in our life.

We have a very specific role in the current world.

A level of income.

A job title.

A set of skills to offer.

A set of people, possessions and things that make up our life.

Where we live, who we associate with, our daily routines and habits, our interests, activities. All of it.

So, when we think about what we WANT to achieve or do NEXT, most of us think about our possibilities from that perspective.

We think about building our future from where we are today.

And you can certainly do that.

There are times in life where that makes perfect sense. And like I said, it’s what most of us do.

BUT what I want to offer today is a very different perspective.

I want to come at personal development from the OPPOSITE point of view.

I want to think about personal development and goal achievement in a way that’s completely divorced from your current identity. Meaning, who you think you are in the world and how you think about your possibilities.

For more, give the episode a listen.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 077: I'm a Fraud (Lies We Tell Ourselves #5 of 5) May 30, 2022

Show notes

So, today is the last episode on our series, “Lies We Tell Ourselves.”

This series is foundational to everything we teach in my business. Because we’re never really taught in our career that our ability to achieve our goals doesn’t come from good breaks or great bosses or networking or even being great at what you do. Sure, those things are important. But you can HAVE those things and STILL find yourself stuck and miserable.

Why?

Because you can work as hard as you’d like but if you don’t learn how to manage your mind you can easily find yourself living in uncertainty, fear, self-doubt no matter how success you LOOK on the outside. If you don’t purposefully direct your brain, what’s going on INSIDE can make you miserable.

And when you’re not connected to the real source of the issue, it’s easy to spend your time chasing opportunity. Looking for the perfect boss. Or the “right” title or salary. Or a better culture. Or whatever.

And I’m not saying those things aren’t important. But what I AM saying is that you can have all the great things. You can have everything you always said you ever wanted. And still be miserable. And you might not even know why if you don’t connect into what’s going on inside.

In your brain.

And that concept is especially relevant today because we’re going to talk about the last “lie” in this series which is “I’m a fraud.”

This is a hallmark of Imposter Syndrome, a pattern of thought that causes you to doubt your abilities, hence the thought “I’m a fraud.” And it disproportionately affects high achievers, especially those who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments. In fact, researchers say up to 80 percent of people report having Imposter-like thoughts at some point in their career.

I’m very well acquainted with this one so I’ve got a lot of perspective to share here that I think will be super helpful for so many of you.

So, let’s dive in.

Now you might hear a statistic like 80% and wonder, how can that be true? Well, apparently it is, because according to the National Institute of Health, in 2019, there was a review of 62 studies on Imposter Syndrome and according to THAT, up to 82% of people report having thoughts along these lines at some point.

And it’s also important to note that most of them are women, though it does affect men too. And as I said earlier, it disproportionately affects high achievers. It can impact anyone in any profession at any stage of their life – from college up to the most senior level corporate executives or entrepreneurs.

And the problem with this Imposter thought pattern is that you end up working harder than you need to because you’re holding yourself to impossibly high standards. And it will eventually take a toll on your emotional wellbeing (and maybe physical too). And even though you’re literally KILLING yourself to deliver top caliber – maybe unachievable – standard of work, the thought pattern actually can impact your work performance.

So, what does Imposter Syndrome look like?

Well, it’s characterized by a pattern of thought that’s grounded in something called “perceived fraudulence.” I sort of think about it as a set of “beliefs” or rules that a high achiever develops that maybe early on in their career drives them forward. But eventually, because it’s a level of performance that is unattainable and so therefore, is unsustainable, if it’s not addressed, it can have the opposite effect. And honestly? It just makes you

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Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

Ep 076: I'm Too Busy (Lies We Tell Ourselves #4 of 5) May 23, 2022

Show notes

In the last three episodes, we’ve focused on the “Lies We Tell Ourselves.”

Specifically, how negative, or false thoughts get stored away in our brain without us knowing it. Then we think those things over and over again until they become beliefs. And then, without us realizing it, we’ll find ourselves in a situation that triggers that old belief. And we’ll find ourselves thinking that same, familiar, and somewhat negative thought. And because that thought is so familiar, we’ll just accept it as “the truth.” When really, it’s just an old thought that got stored away and that no longer serves you.

As we’ve also discussed, these negative thoughts can come from what people have said to us. Or what you made things people said to you or things you experienced MEAN about you and your possibilities. This inner interpretation happens, many times, without us even realizing it.

And I’ve found that those negative self-beliefs will typically come up when we’re contemplating taking on something big and new. Something that’s maybe outside our comfort zone.

So, at the heart of these “Lies we tell ourselves” is fear.

Fear of judgment.

Fear of failure.

Maybe even fear of success.

Right?

So, the idea of trying the new thing causes those subconscious negative thought patterns to appear. And their job is to cause us to shrink back. To stay right where we are.

That’s just our brain trying to keep us safe. But really, the danger is that it gets us stuck. That it keeps us playing small and keeps us from pursuing the things we really want in our life.

The first three episodes of this series focused on some of the most common lies we tell ourselves, which are:

“It’s too late”

“I don’t know how”, and…

“I’m not good enough.”

So, if you haven’t done so yet, I encourage you to go back and give those episodes a listen. Because if we’re not aware of what we’re thinking OR that those thoughts aren’t actually TRUE but instead, are just old, programmed ways of thinking – ways that probably NEVER served you and most certainly aren’t serving you today - any of those lies could get you stuck.

It’s very important to know that.

But TODAY, we’re going to talk about another lie we tell ourselves. And I think it’s the most common one, which is “I’m too busy.” Because this is such a common thought, this episode is going to be super helpful to so many.

So, let’s dive in.

Now before we go any further, I want to first acknowledge that in today’s always-on world, most of us ARE, in fact, quite busy.

We have jobs.

We have families.

We have homes and lives and loved ones to care for.

We have our own self-care.

We have interests and hobbies.

And in today’s connected, high-tech world, it’s the rare person that would say their lives are leisurely or calm or that their time is their own.

Most of us feel this ever-present intense pressure to be always on. To be connected. To be available.

The lines between our work and home life are blurry to say the least.

And if you have a challenging boss or a difficult work culture that only makes the problem worse.

I get that always on pressure. I’ve lived it myself. So, I know how hard it can be to hear the idea that “I’m too busy” is just a thought that isn’t necessary true.
For more, give the episode a listen.

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.

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