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Business
Goli Kalkhoran
It is never too late to start over. No matter how much time or money you’ve spent chasing degrees and jobs to get to your current position, if ultimately you’re unhappy, then it is time to quit. Each week, Goli Kalkhoran, a fellow quitter, will interview inspiring guests who have quit lucrative careers to forge their own path and create a life they love. Get insight, inspiration, tools, and resources to help you quit what you hate and figure out what it is that you love.
Total 337 episodes
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Investing In Yourself

Investing In Yourself

This week, we are talking about investing in yourself. Typically, society has programmed us into believing some investments are good while others are "too expensive". I see so many people who feel stuck in their careers jump into getting yet another degree. They're willing to spend tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars on another piece of paper but refuse to invest in themselves.    In today's episode, I'll tell you how I have changed my views on investing in courses and coaching and what criteria I use to pick programs to invest in.    Whether it's through online courses or 1-on-1 coaching, taking the time for self-improvement is incredibly valuable.    If you're ready to invest in yourself, doors are open to my 6-month coaching program. You can find more about it here: www.quitterclub.com/group
37:1209/02/2021
From Morgan Stanley to Sustainable Fashion: How Vanessa Barboni Hallik is Saving The World Through Fashion

From Morgan Stanley to Sustainable Fashion: How Vanessa Barboni Hallik is Saving The World Through Fashion

This week I have the incredible Vanessa Barboni Hallik on the show. If you're a long-time listener, then you know that I was a public defender. I was on a crusade to save the world. And I had bought into the paradigm that business was filled with greed and evil and that capitalism was ruining the world. While there is some truth to that in certain instances, Vanessa's story shows what is possible if we re-imagine how we run businesses. Her voice, and her brand, are exactly what we need to begin steering the ship towards more conscious consumerism.    Vanessa served as managing director at Morgan Stanley for 15 years. She held several leadership roles in the emerging markets and institutional securities business. During her tenure, she tried to leave three separate times but was held back by the same fear and doubt that holds so many of us back.  When she finally left, she pursued her interest in environmentalism, which lead her to discover the horrors happening within the fashion industry. That's when she decided to take matters into her own hands. Despite not having any experience in fashion, Vanessa saw the huge need for luxury apparel at a reasonable price that was made with sustainability in mind. She founded Another Tomorrow, an end-to-end sustainable apparel company, and is redefining how luxury fashion brands approach business by focusing on social and environmental good. Her story is inspiring for so many reasons!   Listen to it and then check out the beautiful pieces at Another Tomorrow
40:3102/02/2021
Stop Searching For Your Passion

Stop Searching For Your Passion

Why are you searching for your passion? Really think about it. You try to find it because you think that once you find it, you will love your work and finally be happy. What you're searching for is that happiness or fulfillment. Not the passion. And, yet, so many of us are hating the journey there. We think something outside of us is what is going to finally make everything better. But it doesn't work like that. The question isn't "What is my passion so I can be fulfilled?" it is "How can I be fulfilled right now so I can start discovering my passions?" Today on the podcast, I teach you what to work on in order to find fulfillment today. No passion needed. 
32:2226/01/2021
Setting Better Goals

Setting Better Goals

I am in the thick of my goal setting workshop and I love it. It has gotten me into the groove of talking about goals, so let's keep doing it. We talked last week about not dreaming big enough, not having big enough goals, and really not going after that vision that you want in your life.    This week, I want to teach you how to really evaluate whether you're setting the right type of goals. Are the goals you're setting motivating and exciting you? Are they pushing you to grow? Are you having fun while you're doing them? Or are they making you miserable? Are they requiring you to suffer through every action until you reach that final finish line? Let's talk about whether you're setting destination goals or journey goals and why it's so important to know the difference in order to actually accomplish them. 
17:4719/01/2021
The Art of Dreaming Bigger

The Art of Dreaming Bigger

This week, I wanted to talk about the art of dreaming bigger and why it is so important. The reason you aren't clear about what you want in life stems from the fact that you're constantly limiting yourself. You've stopped dreaming. You've settled for what's "realistic" even though deep down you know there is more. Part of finding that dream life is letting yourself set bigger goals to create a clear vision of what you want. You need to allow yourself to want things that seem intangible and then create small, actionable goals to reach them. Let me teach you how.
30:3212/01/2021
How Damona Hoffman Went From TV Executive To Building Her Own Brand

How Damona Hoffman Went From TV Executive To Building Her Own Brand

You’ve spent so much time and energy getting to where you are. You’ve acquired some incredible skills. It seems like such a waste to walk away from it all. But what if you didn’t have to? What if you used your skills in a new way? The problem is that most of us only think inside the box we’ve always been in. You do it how it has always been done.  But, with the internet, that no longer has to be your reality. There are so many ways to use your skills. So many ways to make money. It just requires you to think outside of the box. To figure out how you can take those skills and use them in new ways. Ways that serve you better. That’s exactly what we’re talking about (plus a lot more) on the podcast this week with Damona Hoffman.  Damona spent her career climbing the corporate ladder in Hollywood, holding several creative executive positions at studios like CBS, NBC Universal, and Paramount. But, like many mothers, after she had a child, she realized that the intense hours of her career were no longer what she wanted. After a decade of creating a notable career behind the camera as a TV producer and executive, Damona walked away. As she jumped into her own entrepreneurial journey, Damona used her skills from casting to production in her own business.  She not only became a certified dating and relationship coach but she made herself into an on-air personality. She is a regular contributor on The Drew Barrymore Show, CNN Headline News, The Washington Post, and more. She has an advice column in the LA Times. She’s been featured on various series on the A&E Network.  She also parlayed her skills into becoming a professional podcaster (meaning she gets paid to host a podcast for other people). She is now the host of the I Make A Living podcast for Freshbooks where she interviews people who work for themselves. The podcast provides a space to have candid conversations about what it is really like to make your own living. Damona is the perfect example that walking away doesn’t mean throwing it all away. It means building it on your own terms.
45:5405/01/2021
My Year In Review

My Year In Review

With this being the week entering the New Year, I spend this episode doing a recap of my 2020 year. While we tend to tout all of our successes (and there are plenty of those in this episode), I'm more excited to share all of my failures. As always, I want you to see that you can't get any of the successes if you're not willing to go through a ton of failure. I hope my year is an example of how you can manage both. Happy New Year!
33:3329/12/2020
A Holiday Message for You: 2020

A Holiday Message for You: 2020

Happy Holidays! I'm taking this week off from the podcast but I'll be back next week. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
02:0722/12/2020
The Story of Your Past

The Story of Your Past

This week we're talking about the story that you have about yourself and your capabilities. There is a narrative that you have formed based on your past experiences. And, too often, we believe that this narrative is based on facts.  It is not. Your brain has ignored a mountain of evidence to keep that narrative afloat. This self-concept is made up of just thoughts that you have about yourself.  And the great news is that you can change those thoughts. This week, we talk about why it is imperative to do that and how to get started.    Also, doors are only open for a couple more days for my goal-setting workshop. I would love to have you join. If you want to spend four weeks together and really take some time out of your life to dream and plan, then head to www.quitterclub.com/goals to sign up. 
22:2215/12/2020
Short Term v. Long Term Goals

Short Term v. Long Term Goals

If you've been a long-time listener, then you know I am running a goal-setting workshop in January and it has gotten me thinking about all things goal-setting. So this week, I wanted to do an episode on the difference between your short-term goals and your long-term goals. Because one of the problems I see over and over again with my clients is that they're constantly focused on the short-term goals without any idea as to the long-term vision. This keeps them hustling, running in circles, without getting anywhere. The key is to learn how to set long-term goals that will give you a North Star to make sure you're on the right path while implementing smaller, short-term goals to actually get you there. 
25:4608/12/2020
How Jamie Kutchman Wynne Left A Big Paycheck To Follow A Dream

How Jamie Kutchman Wynne Left A Big Paycheck To Follow A Dream

lessonsfromaquitter.com
46:1901/12/2020
Overcoming People Pleasing

Overcoming People Pleasing

In this week's episode, we are tackling people-pleasing. I figured this topic would be perfect for the week of Thanksgiving. As we know, the United States is experiencing a massive surge of COVID cases, and many of us are stuck facing the dilemma of whether or not to see our family. This is a prime example of a moment where we have to choose what is best for our life and the life of those around us. Thanksgiving may not look the same this year, but this is a topic that affects every day of your life in every way. So I think it is still one that you will find useful, even if you are spending the holidays in a less conventional setting.    I am also running a four-week goal setting workshop during the first week of January to kick-off 2021!! Here's the thing: Most people don't set goals because they know they won't follow through. Setting New Year's resolutions has almost become a joke. But the problem is not setting goals (I can't believe I have to say that). The problem is not knowing how to properly set goals and how to actually follow through. I want to teach you the techniques that have truly changed my life. I want to show you how to set proper goals, how to make time in your calendar to work on them and how to overcome all of the self-sabatoge that usually gets in the way. If you want to learn how to set and reach any goal, head to www.quitterclub.com/goals to sign up. Doors will open next week. 
30:1324/11/2020
Creating a Vision For Your Life

Creating a Vision For Your Life

In this week's episode, we talk about the importance of having a vision for your life. So many of us are walking around aimless, living the same year over and over again. In the words of Robin Sharma: "Don't live the same year 75 times and call it a life." I hope that I can convince you, by the end of this episode, to get going on creating a compelling vision for your life.    I am also running a four-week goal-setting workshop during the first week of January to kick-off 2021!!   Here's the thing: Most people don't set goals because they know they won't follow through. Setting New Year's resolutions has almost become a joke. But the problem is not setting goals (I can't believe I have to say that). The problem is not knowing how to properly set goals and how to actually follow through.    I want to teach you the techniques that have truly changed my life. I want to show you how to set proper goals, how to make time in your calendar to work on them, and how to overcome all of the self-sabotage that usually gets in the way. If you want to learn how to set and reach any goal, head to www.quitterclub.com/goals to sign up. Doors will open in December. 
29:4617/11/2020
The Opportunity Costs of Staying Stuck

The Opportunity Costs of Staying Stuck

This week's episode covers the opportunity costs of staying stuck. Opportunity costs are what you give up by foregoing potential alternative routes to choose your given path. I want you to think about the fact that you're are always making a decision. And you're always giving something up for that decision. Oftentimes our brains, like to believe that if we stay stuck, if nothing has changed on the outside, we're just doing what we've always done and we haven't lost anything. But that's not true. In today's episode, I dive deep into what it costs you to keep holding on to your sunk costs in the hopes that you make your decisions from a more intentional place.    I also wanted to let you know that in a couple of weeks, I'm going to open doors for a workshop that I'm doing in January. Throughout my journey, I've completely changed the way I approach setting goals and has changed my life in a very profound way. I want to offer these techniques and coaching you guys.    Visit www.quitterclub.com/goals to sign up.
20:1810/11/2020
How to React to The World Around You

How to React to The World Around You

  We've arrived at Election Day. And since this day is highly emotional for some people, I wanted to talk a little bit about mindset and how to react to the world around you. Pivotal moments like this can make us feel out of control. In this episode, I want to help you see what you control and what you don't. Focusing on your own thoughts, feelings, and actions is the only way to be able to show up the way you want. So let's start there.   If this episode helped you at all, please share it with a friend! 
34:0403/11/2020
How The Sunk Cost Fallacy Is Keeping You Stuck

How The Sunk Cost Fallacy Is Keeping You Stuck

This week we talk about the Sunk Cost Fallacy and how it may be holding you back from your goals. The fallacy points out the irrational ways humans tend to stick with a behavior based on the amount of previous investment (time, money, effort, etc.) rather than what actually serves their goals. So the more you invest in something (ie a career, a relationship, a project, etc) the more likely you are to pursue it even to your own detriment. We are programmed to have an aversion to loss. However, once you know it, you can start spotting when you're doubling down on something that has actually run it's course. This is one of the biggest blocks I see keeping so many people in a career they hate. In this episode, we dive deep into the Sunk Cost Fallacy to help you spot it and move past it to focus on the opportunities ahead of you. 
30:3827/10/2020
Lawyer to Baker: How Sarah Truesdell's Business Began to Boom During COVID

Lawyer to Baker: How Sarah Truesdell's Business Began to Boom During COVID

This week, we have the incredible Sarah Truesdell on the show. Sarah went to law school with the dream of becoming a public interest attorney and that's exactly what she did. She spent  8 years doing eviction defense and housing rights litigation and, unlike many of my previous lawyer guests, she actually loved practicing law. However, as many women find, she realized balancing her family with the demands of a legal career was near impossible. She took a break from working in 2016 to stay home with her children. While at home, Sarah dived back into her hobby of baking. Friends began asking if they could purchase baked goods and Sarah started charging. In 2018, she opened Sugar by Sarah and turned her hobby into a business.  However, once COVID hit, the demand for cakes declined. After posting some Facebook Lives of her baking, Sarah was hired by her friend to host a virtual baking class. It was a hit, and her virtual baking classes have been quickly growing ever since. Her story is a wonderful example of the fact that obstacles will always be present in our path but so will opportunities.  Find Sarah here: www.instagram.com/sugarbysarah/ https://www.sugarbysarahla.com/ We are running another round of our 12-week program, Stuck to Strategy! Sign up at https://www.quitterclub.com/group
43:3120/10/2020
How Perfectionism is Ruining Your Life

How Perfectionism is Ruining Your Life

22:3913/10/2020
Side Effects of Going After Your Goals

Side Effects of Going After Your Goals

Join us for our October Find Your Path Challenge. Sign up today at www.quitterclub.com/mindset
22:4206/10/2020
The Fear of Failure

The Fear of Failure

24:3329/09/2020
How Kristina Barile Went From MIT Rocket Scientist to Living Off The Land In Panama

How Kristina Barile Went From MIT Rocket Scientist to Living Off The Land In Panama

45:1522/09/2020
None Of This Is Natural

None Of This Is Natural

29:3915/09/2020
Life Will Always Be Both Good and Bad

Life Will Always Be Both Good and Bad

On this week's episode, we talk about the duality of life, the good and the bad. Life is always going to throw curveballs at us and we need to deconstruct the idea that we need to be happy all the time. Owning our dissatisfaction and working toward goals that allow for small wins will help us be more fulfilled.  We also have a Find Your Path challenge in October: Sign up here www.quitterclub.com/mindset
23:3608/09/2020
Part 3: Emotions

Part 3: Emotions

This is the last episode in our 3-part series that will help you start managing your mind. This week is all about emotions. While we all realize that we feel emotions every day, we're never taught how to process them. We end up staying stuck because we're so afraid to feel our negative emotions like shame, embarrassment, regret, or discomfort.    In this episode, I hope to reframe how you can look at your emotions so that you can start living your dreams.
19:4801/09/2020
Part 2: Learning How To Manage Your Mind For Success

Part 2: Learning How To Manage Your Mind For Success

28:2225/08/2020
Part 1: The Most Important Tool In Your Career Change

Part 1: The Most Important Tool In Your Career Change

22:5718/08/2020
How Dawn Kelly Reinvented Herself After Being Blind-Sighted By a Layoff From Corporate America

How Dawn Kelly Reinvented Herself After Being Blind-Sighted By a Layoff From Corporate America

This week I have Dawn Kelly on the show. I'm excited for this episode, not only because we cover her career journey but also because we delve into a truly important conversation related to today's social climate. Dawn spent decades climbing the corporate ladder to become the department Vice President at Prudential Financial. She is a proven public relations and strategic communications executive.   A major theme of this episode touches on is that oftentimes we believe we have security in corporate America. We believe that businesses have an equal investment in us, but we regularly see individuals with the rug pulled out from under them. Dawn worked for Prudential for 16 years but was blindsided by a layoff in 2015.    It left her with an immense amount of grief. Although this tragedy touched many of us, Dawn's experience as a black woman in corporate America is vital to understand. She realized that her race played an immense part in her treatment as well as her abrupt layoff. It's important to listen to and highlight these stories of discrimination and microaggressions to move forward in a positive way. Understanding the gravity of these demeaning actions will help us show up in the world in a highly impactful way.    Today Dawn is serving and feeding her community with The Nourish Spot in Jamaica, Queens. She is committed to serving healthy, balanced meals to underserved communities and works to create programs to help build children up. Dawn really is the epitome of a go-getter and true inspiration to us all.
01:10:2211/08/2020
Figuring Out Numerous Pivots With Raman Sehgal

Figuring Out Numerous Pivots With Raman Sehgal

This week I have the incredible Raman Sehgal on the show. As a self-proclaimed recovering marketer and upcoming podcaster, Raman has spent years building a remarkable portfolio. He began his career climbing the corporate ladder with big brands like Proctor & Gamble and Dannon and, later, left the security of corporate America to work at in the startup scene. While we talk about all of his transitions, it's his latest one that I really wanted to highlight on the show.    Raman left the startup world to bring his unique perspective to life across his first 3 (of many?) podcasts: "the P&G Alumni Podcast," "Model Minorities," and "Quarantined Comics." These shows share candid conversations that aspire to provide mentorship, solve racism, and debate Superman's management style, respectively.    I wanted to have this conversation on the podcast because most of my past guests had already figured out their transitions. With Raman, we get to hear about how he's figuring out this new venture right now, his approach to this new medium, and how he decides which projects to pursue. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and hope you gain as much from this conversation as I did.  
48:5904/08/2020
Book Review: Deep Work by Cal Newport

Book Review: Deep Work by Cal Newport

This episode is a detailed review of Cal Newport's Deep Work. 
41:0628/07/2020
How Emily Giffin Went From Lawyer to 10x New York Times Best Selling Author

How Emily Giffin Went From Lawyer to 10x New York Times Best Selling Author

This week's incredible guest is Emily Giffin. She is a former lawyer and 10-TIME New York Times bestselling author. It wasn't until after law school when she had moved to Manhattan to work in a big law firm to pay back her loans, that she began writing in her spare time and dreamed of becoming a writer.    In 2001, she decided to quit and move to London to pursue her dreams full-time. It was there that she started writing her first breakout hit, Something Borrowed, which was turned into a movie that starred Kate Hudson and Jennifer Goodwin and John Krasinski. And the rest, as they say, is history!   While I'm so excited to talk to her all about her journey and her incredibly inspiring career as an author, I think her story is such a great example of the power of taking a risk. So often we're paralyzed by what we could lose that we fail to even consider the immense opportunities that we could gain if we just tried. Emily and I talk about how timing and luck has a part in all of our stories. But if she had never taken the chance, if she had never decided to take a risk that most people wouldn't take, she would've given up a career so many only dream of. And what a shame that would have been!    In this episode, we dive in to talk about her journey, her new book called The Lies That Bind (it is so good!), and so much more!
46:4421/07/2020
How Cher Hale is Using Entrepreneurship to Fight Racial Inequality

How Cher Hale is Using Entrepreneurship to Fight Racial Inequality

This week I am thrilled to have Cher Hale on the show. What I love most about Cher's story is how she demonstrates that we can each find ways, in our own lives and work, to right the wrongs we see in our society. One of the best part about entrepreneurship is that you have the freedom to do things your own way. And that's exactly what Cher is doing! Cher started out as a waitress on the Las Vegas strip and freelanced on the side. We talk about how she never had a formal PR education but found a fantastic mentor who inspired her to dive headfirst into entrepreneurship instead.  Cher is the founder and director of Ginkgo Public Relations, a company that specializes in amplifying marginalized and underrepresented voices. After working in PR and realizing that the same voices were getting all of the attention, Cher decided to focus her attention on changing that. Her company now aims to reduce inequity in the media landscape, stop the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes, and offer much-needed representation across all sectors.  
39:1714/07/2020
How Deborah Chambers is Showing That You're Never Too Old

How Deborah Chambers is Showing That You're Never Too Old

I'm so honored to have Deborah Chambers on the podcast today to talk about such important topics such as ageism and how we limit ourselves with preconceived notions of what is possible. Deborah is an advocate and role model focused on challenging the negative stereotypes around aging. She's here to spread the message that it is never too late and you're never too old...a message we wholeheartedly endorse on this podcast! Stuck in a rut, dreading turning 50, and having worked as a technical writer for the same company for more than 20 years, Deborah was looking for a change. But she never imagined that she'd change her whole life completely in her 50s. At 53, she applied to a modeling agency, began posting photographs on Instagram featuring her perfectly coiffed hair and impeccable style that garnered the attention of thousands of people. She has since created a platform (over 40K on Instagram and 70K on TikTok) dedicated to showing people that you're never too old to show up as your whole self and to follow your dreams. At 55, she quit her job and went full in with this passion project (and we are so thankful that she did!) Her platform and her message are not only inspiring and empowering but exactly what we need in a world that glorifies looking young over everything else. Make sure to check her out here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborah__darling/ Website: https://deborahdarling.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DeborahDarlingOlderAndBraver
35:2707/07/2020
How Naja Hall Went From The Entertainment Industry to a Coach For Stepmoms And Blended Families 

How Naja Hall Went From The Entertainment Industry to a Coach For Stepmoms And Blended Families 

One of the main reasons I started this podcast was to show people stuck in the traditional corporate world just how many ways there were to make a living today. Too many people are stuck because they don't know that there is another way! Well, today's episode is another testament to all of the possibilities out there. I'm so excited to chat with the incredible Naja Hall about how she went from the entertainment industry to becoming a coach for Step Moms!!   Naja is the founder of  VIPStepmom, a community for stepmoms, and Blended and Black, the largest blended family community for Millenials. As a Certified Coach and Educator, she understands that the family is THE MOST influential entity of human development, and her work centers around helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s toughest transitions. As the host of a popular podcast, I know I’m Crazy with Naja Hall and author of the Girl, Bye! Book series, Naja’s life’s work is to teach empathy, accountability, and emotional intelligence through the art of story-telling and genuine human connections. She’s a Stepmom of 3. You can find her at blendedandblack.com and VIPStepmom.com 
35:0030/06/2020
How Being Laid Off During The 2008 Recession Changed Alexis Michaud's Future

How Being Laid Off During The 2008 Recession Changed Alexis Michaud's Future

This week, I'm so excited to talk to my friend, Alexis Michaud. In continuing with our spotlight on guests who overcame uncertainty in the 2008 recession, Alexis was laid off from her high-paying job as a lawyer when she was pregnant and the breadwinner for her family! We talk all about how that turned out to be the biggest blessing because it changed her career path. Alexis was a tax and corporate law attorney for over 18 years in some of the most prestigious positions at large law firms and technology companies. But in 2018, after her father suffered some unexpected health issues, she knew it was time to walk away. She followed her passion for real estate even though everyone questioned her decision to leave such a successful career. Well, Alexis showed that you can be successful doing anything you want when she brought in more income in her first year as a realtor than she ever did as an attorney!     In 2020 she decided to combine her legal and real estate skill sets and founded North Advisory Group, a company that acts as  COO during a transition and relocation to the tax-free state of Nevada. She is such an inspiration and it's so cool to watch her navigate all the possibility that lies ahead! 
54:5123/06/2020
Push Through Fear and Do it Anyway

Push Through Fear and Do it Anyway

"I don't know what to do." I've heard this countless times in working with people stuck in careers they hate. I've been hearing it, even more, the past couple of weeks when it comes to anti-racism work. This thought is simply your fear. Fear of doing something wrong. Fear of upsetting other people. Fear of "wasting" your time. That's it. You've convinced yourself that other people have it figured out and, if you could just find the "right" steps, then you, too, would take them. I want to let you in on a little secret. NO ONE HAS IT FIGURED OUT. Over the past two weeks, I've had a lot of people ask me what I plan on doing with my platform since I've started speaking out about the criminal justice system. I realize that their question assumes that I have a "plan". That I've carefully thought of every step and I'm moving forward with some grand roadmap rather than I saw a need and jumped in to fill it. Just so we're clear: I have zero plan. These past 2 weeks, I've been overrun with anxiety and fear. I have barely slept. And these are some of the thoughts that have been running on a loop in my head: ​ - Who am I to talk about this? - What will people say? - What if I sound like an idiot? - What if I get it wrong? The only difference is that I've spent the past couple of years learning how to manage my mind. I know that those thoughts are just my fear trying to keep me safe (read: stuck). I feel that fear and I do what I want to do anyway. I take the first step without knowing if it is "right". I learn. I pivot. and I keep going. ​ That's it. That's the whole plan. ​​  
23:1716/06/2020
Atomic Habits Book Review

Atomic Habits Book Review

43:3609/06/2020
How to Quit Being a Racist

How to Quit Being a Racist

With all of the protests and uprising after the murder of George Floyd, I didn't want to go back to business as usual. In this episode, I hope to show you that we are all racist because we've been raised in a racist society and, once we can accept that, we can begin to remedy it. I hope to help shift your perspective on how to really examine your own thoughts and start making a change.   This is in no way an education on being anti-racist. There are incredible educators that you should follow that have many resources like:   Rachel Cargle: https://www.rachelcargle.com/ The Great Unlearn: https://www.patreon.com/thegreatunlearn Layla Saad: http://laylafsaad.com/ Ijeoma Oluo: http://www.ijeomaoluo.com/
24:5402/06/2020
Lessons from 100 episodes!

Lessons from 100 episodes!

Cheers to 100 episodes!! I’m not great at celebrating small wins. My brain loves to just keep pushing forward. Move the goalposts. Focus on everything I haven’t accomplished.  And while that serves me in some ways, it often makes me miss the whole journey. So I’m intentionally slowing down and appreciating the process. 100 episodes.  80+ in-depth conversations with incredible people.  Almost 2 years of podcasting. My whole life has changed. And that’s worth celebrating. Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported this journey! I love you all.  This week I talk about the lessons I've learned through these 100 episodes as well as an update about where my business is heading.
39:2926/05/2020
How Erin Wade used her layoff in 2009 to go after her dreams

How Erin Wade used her layoff in 2009 to go after her dreams

Erin received her law degree from UC Berkeley in 2008 and worked as a lawyer for one year before she was fired. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Erin decided to take a leap of faith and pour her life savings into creating a restaurant dedicated to the best food on earth: mac and cheese. Erin is the Founder and CEO of Homeroom. Homeroom has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Food Network, Travel Channel, Cooking Channel, and other national media outlets. Homeroom now has over 100 employees and has also received numerous awards for its people-first business practices. Erin authored the best-selling “Mac and Cheese Cookbook,” and business articles for Conscious Company Magazine and the Washington Post. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why Erin went to law school even though she had wanted to open a cupcake shop What happened after Erin was fired from her firm How she used her entire life saving to open up a restaurant with virtually no experience in this field. How she found herself unhappy after 5 years in her dream job and what she did to fix it. What Homeroom is doing now to create more female partners in the restaurant industry and how they’re sharing their successful anti-harassment training policy.
40:5519/05/2020
How the 2008 recession propelled Lindsey Schwartz into entrepreneurship

How the 2008 recession propelled Lindsey Schwartz into entrepreneurship

Lindsey started out like many people pursuing a career in the corporate world. Even though she was doing great at her job, it was during the 2008 recession that she realized this wasn't a stable path. She then decided to enter entrepreneurship part-time through a company called Isagenix, a network marketing company which she still currently works with.   From that company, she then created Powerhouse Women, an online community, a yearly event, a book, and a podcast. (Whew!). After seeing numerous women in her life stop short of pursuing their own entrepreneurial dreams because of fear and self-doubt, she saw the need for more honest conversations about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship in order to show women that they don't have to have it all together to get started.   What I love the most about Lindsey's story is that she sets an example for her community. She didn't wait around for a huge social media following or to have some kind of star-backing, she wrote a book because she wanted to write a book and became a best-seller. She created an event because she saw a need and now it's growing year after year! If you take away one single message from Lindsey's story, let it be this: just start. Whatever it is that you want to do, just start doing it. You never know where that path may lead!   Here is what we chat about in this episode: How no one actually knows what they're doing and you don't have to do it alone. How fulfillment comes from giving yourself time and space to do the things you want to do. Why it's important to think about the limitations you're arguing for. And so much more!
56:5312/05/2020
How Paula Pant quit in the beginning of a recession and went on to create an empire

How Paula Pant quit in the beginning of a recession and went on to create an empire

Here is what we chat about in this episode: - What the FIRE movement is really about - How Paula got started on her own journey to financial independence - How freelancing gave her freedom to travel for over 2 years and the skills to never go back to a “job” - Where the big opportunities in freelance writing are today - How she built her rental property portfolio and the resources she offers her community to do the same - What some possible downsides are to the FIRE movement and how to have the proper discussions to work around those issues - And so much more!  
48:5305/05/2020
Book Review: Brene Brown's Rising Strong

Book Review: Brene Brown's Rising Strong

Our book review for April is Brene Brown’s Rising Strong. The entire premise of the book is how to get back up when life has thrown you down. Given that every one of us will get knocked down in life, learning how to rise and write your own story is one of the greatest skills we can cultivate.    Especially during this uncertain time of a global pandemic, Brene Brown’s insights can help us weather the storm and regain some control.    Here is what we cover in this episode: What the 3 steps of Rising Strong include Why it’s so important to get curious about your emotions Why the messy middle is a non-negotiable  How to deal with grief How to own your story 
31:0828/04/2020
Air BnB Super Hosts: How Sarah & Annette created a business out of a completely new industry

Air BnB Super Hosts: How Sarah & Annette created a business out of a completely new industry

One of the things that I try to stress on this podcast is the fact that there are opportunities everywhere. As new technologies emerge, entire new industries are born and those industries sprout tons of new jobs and business ideas. My guests today have been taking advantage of just that.  After Airbnb started gaining in popularity, Annette Grant and Sarah Karakaian each saw an opportunity to leverage the platform into a short-term rental business. And they each did it in their own unique way--Annette teamed up with a business partner who invested in the properties while Annette runs the business and Sarah and her husband started by renting out their own properties on Airbnb.   And it was on this mission to share their spaces and live their dreams that Annette and Sarah met at a City Council meeting in Columbus, Ohio, where they were fighting for their right to host these short-term rentals responsibly and legally.  Since then, they knew they would have to find a way to elevate their voice and share what it means to be a host with heart so that having a short-term rental in a community was an asset, not a nuisance.  Aside from managing 20+ properties, Sarah and Annette host a popular podcast all about the short-term rental industry called Thanks for Visiting.  Before their Airbnb endeavours, Annette helped build two businesses from the ground up into multi-million dollar businesses. Her expertise ranges from service-based to e-commerce. And Sarah spent 14 years in New York City as a musical theatre performer before she hung up her character shoes, packed up her life with her husband, Nick, and 12 lb. cockapoo and moved to the midwest. Inspired by their opportunity to be involved in 8 episodes of an HGTV show, Sarah and Nick knew that working in and around homes was their calling! They flip, stage, and invest in homes with stories all around Columbus, OH.
01:01:4521/04/2020
From Wall Street to Entrepreneur: How Emily Sexton Has Mastered The Art of Pivoting

From Wall Street to Entrepreneur: How Emily Sexton Has Mastered The Art of Pivoting

While the podcast showcases the specific steps and tactics people used to start over in new careers, my goal is to actually demonstrate the mindset that you need to take the leap.  Because without the mindset, all of the tactics in the world won’t help you start over. If you get stuck in the fear and the doubt, you’ll be stuck forever.  Through my own journey and talking with over 90 quitters, I’ve come to realize that the most important mindset shift is in truly understanding that you CAN figure anything out. Once you become comfortable with the unknown, not because you’re certain, but because you’re confident in your ability to figure it out, you become unstoppable.  No one embodies that mentality more than my guest this week, Emily Sexton.  Emily started out on Wall Street as Vice President of Communications and Change Management. Feeling like something was missing, she quit without knowing her next move. When Emily discovered the opportunity to open up a pop-up retail truck that would combine her love of fashion with her desire to support female vendors from developing countries, a cause she was passionate about, she jumped on it.  With no retail experience, Emily leaned on her community to make the pop-up shop a success. A year later, she turned the Flourish Market into a brick-and-mortar shop. And when she was presented with the opportunity to move to a bigger space, she seized that too. But the space was actually too big for just a retail shop. Emily had to figure out what to do with all the extra space. So in the Summer of 2019, she launched The Locality, a co-working space + incubator for 60 female entrepreneurs, with membership spots selling out before construction even started! And now with the Covid pandemic, when so many businesses are struggling, Emily took only a couple of days to pivot her co-working space into an online membership. She is such a testament to the fact that opportunities are all around us, if we’re willing to see them. Her outlook and attitude are infectious. And she provides the hope and clarity we need in this time!
01:00:5314/04/2020
Why Erika Gerdes quit a dream career at Google to undo everything society had taught her

Why Erika Gerdes quit a dream career at Google to undo everything society had taught her

What if the secret to your happiness wasn't in getting to the next milestone, or doing a bunch of things that society tells you to do, or accomplishing anything?  What if the secret was in undoing all of the BS you were sold?  What if the secret was in returning to who you were always meant to be before you were forced to be something you're not? This week on the podcast, I got to talk to Erika Gerdes about how she left the dream career and dream life -- an executive at Google, married with 2 young kids -- to start undoing the facade that she had built around herself.  We'll talk about how it took a divorce and quitting a job at the height of her career, and one she actually liked, for Erika to master the Art of Undoing -- a framework that she now uses to help other people. We talk all about how she jumped without a plan while being a single mom of two little girls and the sole breadwinner!  Erika is such an incredible example of the fact that you can always go back to who you were always meant to be. 
50:5207/04/2020
Big Magic Book Review

Big Magic Book Review

I’m so excited to jump into March’s book club pick, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. If you haven’t taken the time to read it, do yourself a favor and pick it up.   I think this book is all the more important during this uncertain time of a global pandemic. Many people are rightfully re-evaluating their life and work.    The entire premise of the book is that we need creativity in order to live the rich, fulfilled lives we so desperately crave.  And Liz Gilbert gives us the perfect blueprint to get started.    In this episode, we’ll discuss: Why every human is a creative being Why we all need creativity for a fulfilled life How to ditch the tortured artist stereotype How to pursue creativity even if you’re afraid How to fold it into your life And so much more. 
39:5431/03/2020
From Bankruptcy to Baker: How Janelle Copeland Built an Incredible Brand and Business in The Face of Adversity.

From Bankruptcy to Baker: How Janelle Copeland Built an Incredible Brand and Business in The Face of Adversity.

As we head into uncertain economic times, it’s important to look to examples of people who have, not only survived but thrived through similar situations.   We need reminders that, while there are so many things we don’t control, we always control how we show up.   There is no better example of this than my friend, Janelle Copeland.    Janelle had a successful career in leadership and management at large retailers such as Circuit City, AT&T, and Best Buy. But during the 2008 recession, both Janelle and her husband were both laid off from their lucrative 6-figure jobs.   After having to file bankruptcy, Janelle had to find another way.    What she did next is incredible:   She started the Cake Mamas with her husband's EX (What?!? I know.) They quickly grew their in-home bakery to over $10k a month She then decided to open up her first brick-and-mortar bakery She's run that successful bakery for over 10 years with 15 employees She has been featured a number of times on Food Network, even winning the popular Cupcake Wars.  She has built an incredibly strong brand and business  She also started a second business coaching and consulting with female entrepreneurs   Janelle's story is such a powerful reminder that sometimes our hardships are true blessings in disguise. That's not to say they're not difficult. But we didn't sign up for “easy” with this life.   It can be incredibly powerful to see how others were able to, not only get through but thrive ​​​in tough times.    Janelle's perspective is one we could all use right now. 
01:07:1124/03/2020
Thoughts on How to Deal With the Coronavirus Crisis

Thoughts on How to Deal With the Coronavirus Crisis

We’re all feeling scared and uncertain about the future.   I don’t have the answers. But I’m hoping my perspective might quiet those fears a bit.   My advice basically falls into a couple DOs and DONTs.   DON’T:   DON’T take anyone’s advice about all of the things you should be getting done right now while in quarantine.  This isn’t a vacation. A lot of us are panicked and we don’t need to add a layer of shame on top of it because we’re not re-organizing our closets or creating the perfect homeschooling plan for our children.   If you have the bandwidth to use this time to tackle the things you usually don’t have time for, great! Have at it!  But if you don’t, give yourself grace. It’s ok to just be. In our society of hustle, we don’t need to turn a pandemic into a time of productivity.    Let yourself do whatever you need right now and take off the guilt.    DON’T spend all day watching the news.    While I just said you can do whatever you want, that comes with one caveat: you can’t just take in hours and hours of news.   Our brains are evolutionarily wired to seek out all information about possible dangers. But it wasn’t evolved to take in a 24-hour news cycle that gets more ratings the scarier it is.   While you need to stay abreast of what is going on, you don’t need a minute-by-minute update of every person who has died from the virus.   Walk away. Do anything else.    DON’T try to predict the future.   “We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”- Seneca    When our thoughts run unchecked we try to come up with every possible scenario of what can happen. The reality is that we have no idea what is going to happen. Stop trying to control or plan for every possible scenario.    There are tons of factors that we have no control over--the government, how many people self-quarantine, etc. All we are doing in our attempt to control is increasing the amount of time we suffer. Know that you’ll deal with whatever issue comes up.    DO:   DO look at the silver linings-   While this can be hard, mindset work is the most needed in tough times.    I like to think about the Law of Polarity- everything has an equal, opposite side.    We’d never know what happiness was if we didn’t experience sadness. Think about it. How would food ever taste good if you were always full?  So while these events are hard and can be painful, there is another side. Maybe that’s getting time to be with your family. Maybe that’s giving mother nature a break from our constant onslaught. Maybe it’s just changing your perspective to stop worrying about all of the minor things.    Whatever it is, spend time each day focusing on that. No better time than now to start a gratitude practice.    DO look at how other people have thrived in uncertain times.   “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Marian Wright Edelman    It helps us to see others who have come out of tough times. It lets us know that it is possible.    Luckily, we’ve had tons of guests on the podcast who lost their jobs during the last economic recession in 2008 and it turned out to be the best thing that happened to them. Take some time to remind yourself that it’s not always as bad as we think it is.    Episode 2 with Steve Trang Episode 3 with Erin Wade Episode 28 with Paula Pant Episode 61 with Lindsey Schwartz   Everything is cyclical. Humans have gone through these uncertain times over and over again. And we’ll make it out...sometimes much stronger.    DO take care of yourself.    The most important thing is to figure out what you need the most and give that to yourself right now, without shame or blame. Do whatever you need to take care of yourself mentally and physically.    Xoxo Goli
23:1020/03/2020
How Mary Eberle Quit Two Careers Before Finding Her Passion For Solving DNA Mysteries

How Mary Eberle Quit Two Careers Before Finding Her Passion For Solving DNA Mysteries

What if you quit your career and start over only to find out that the new career also isn’t something you love?! I think that is one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck. We have this idea that if we jump, then the next thing has to be our purpose. So we become frenetic about finding it. We become so obsessed that we can’t slow down long enough to figure out what we actually like (see the problem here?) Having come out on the other side of this process, I now see that there is no 1 thing. Life is a series of experiments and, with each one, you learn a little bit more about yourself. And if you have the courage to keep trying, you get closer and closer to your calling. That's why I love having people on the podcast who have quit multiple times and had the courage to keep trying.  Today, on the show, I got to talk to Mary Eberle about her super interesting career path. Mary is a former lawyer who reinvented herself as a genetic genealogist. She quit two previous careers and now has a fascinating and rewarding career solving family mysteries. (how cool is that?!) Mary founded DNA Hunters, where she solves family mysteries by analyzing DNA test results and genealogical records. Many of her clients have been trying to solve their family mysteries for decades—and sometimes even over multiple generations. Family mysteries include “Who are my birth parents?” and “Is my surname the correct surname?” To solve family mysteries, she applies many skills from her 10 years as a DNA lab technician (Career #1) and her 13+ years as a biotech patent attorney (Career #2). She finds great satisfaction in repurposing these skills to provide long-sought-after answers to her clients. Check out her story! Mary's Links: Website: https://dnahunters.com Free download:  https://dnahunters.com/dna-roadmap-2/   Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DNAHunters/   LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-eberle-jd/
49:2817/03/2020
What Author Sara Bliss Learned From Highlighting The Stories of People Who Have Taken The Leap to New Careers

What Author Sara Bliss Learned From Highlighting The Stories of People Who Have Taken The Leap to New Careers

Clearly, we’re on the same page as our guest this week, Sara Bliss. Sara is the author of Take the Leap where she provides both inspiration and advice for transforming your life. Sara features the stories of over 65 people who have taken the jump to completely new careers. She proves that it's not too late to chase your dreams, change up your life, hit it big, and go for it.   Sara has made countless leaps of her own going from short order cook to auction house assistant to magazine scribe to to branding/content advisor to ghostwriter to book author. She has covered a wide range of topics including design, travel, profiles, celebrities, hotels, beauty, health and business.   She is now the author/co-author/or ghostwriter of 11 books including Hotel Chic at Home. She is also a Forbes Contributor covering career pivots.
45:5110/03/2020