This week on the pod, I'm reviewing Martha Beck's Finding Your Own North Star.   If you've ever wondered how you should find your calling or passion, this book is for you. It is a guide to uncovering what has always been there.   In this episode, I discuss: The difference between the essential self and the social self How to start listening to your essential self and why that's so important How to start charting a map to your new life and more...

What if I told you there was a tool that could help you figure out what you should be doing with your life?   Sounds pretty amazing, right?!   What if I told you that tool was the ever-popular personality assessment?!   Before you roll your eyes, hear me out.   I used to laugh at these new-age, woo-woo BS tests. If it wasn't scientifically proven, I didn't want to hear it.   But then I took one...just for fun...and something happened.   It was accurate. Like, eerily accurate. Like, I swore that one of my family members was playing a trick on me and messed with the results because there is no way something can know me to a "T" like that accurate.   And reading about myself for the first time in that assessment changed the way I saw myself.   For so long I had obsessed over my "weaknesses".    ​​Why couldn't I just be more organized?! It's not that hard. Just put things back where they belong!​​​   Why do I care so much about what other people think?! Why do I take on their emotions? Just let it go. For the love of God, let it go, woman!   Stop seeking so much attention! You're not the center of the universe. Sit down!    And, on and on...   I have a feeling your inner monologue is similar. Maybe different in words but the same tone.    But when I read that personality assessment, I realized that I was literally built this way. It's not a weakness. It's not a glitch. This is who I am. This is how I tick. And I can spend the rest of my life ​​​​​​beating myself up for who I'm not. Or I can decide to embrace who I am.  This really started me down a road of self-acceptance and self-compassion. And that is ultimately what led me to do the things that light me up.    And I know it can do the same for you.    So this week on the podcast, I have back my friend, Christine McAlister. Christine is a business coach, the founder of Life With Passion, and the bestselling author of The Income Replacement Formula: Seven Simple Steps To Doing What You Love And Making Six Figures From Anywhere. She helps high-achievers replace their incomes & make 6-figures with businesses they love AND that support the life they want to live.   Luckily for us, she is also a certified administrator of the Myers-Briggs personality assessment.    We'll talk all about how to figure out what your personality type is and how that can help you in a search for the perfect career. ​​​​​​​​

Traci Connell is an award-winning creative entrepreneur whose business sense and design skills are combined with a passion for delivering interiors that are at the heart of a livable style. Formally trained as an elementary teacher, Traci enjoyed the creativity and structure of the classroom but knew she had not found her passion. The big “Ah-ha” moment came in 2000, when a dear friend asked, “why can’t you make money doing something you love?” and after careful consideration, Connell Interiors was born. While working to provide a second income, the first decade was spent developing her eye for design, honing her skill for business practices, holding leadership roles within the Interior Design Society, and completing successful client projects as well as many charity opportunities. In 2011, life threw a curveball and Traci became a single mother with three children. Traci realized and accepted that her business was no longer a second income, but it was the sole source of income. Fueled with pure passion to feed her family and realize her dream, the rebirth of her company was established as Traci Connell Interiors. During the last eight years, Traci Connell has grown her revenue twenty-fold to over two and a half million dollars, and her net profit grew tenfold. She has gone from running her business from her kitchen table and her car trunk to acquiring a full design studio. 

Most people accept the limitations placed on them by society, never questioning how much more they’re actually capable of.  Tasha Cochran is not most people. And that is why I’m thrilled to have her on the podcast today to blow up people’s assumptions of what is possible.    Tasha Cochran is an attorney, co-founder of One Big Happy Life, and a true trailblazer for lasting and effective financial freedom.    However, Tasha began her career journey as a 19 year-old single mother in the military. Wanting to provide the best for her daughter, Tasha set her sights on law school and didn’t rest until she got into one of the country’s best schools, Yale Law. After graduation, she began working as a lawyer in Consumer Finance.    While she excelled at her career, and made valuable connections, she found herself wanting more. Needing a passion or hobby to take her mind of the stress of work, Tasha began creating YouTube videos on a topic she loved to talk about, finances. That hobby eventually led her down a path to create One Big Happy Life where she serves as a wealth expert and strategist to help others find sustainable and realistic solutions to building their wealth and lifestyles.    In under 3 years, Tasha began making multiple six-figures with One Big Happy Life all while still working a full-time job as a lawyer. In fact, Tasha only quit law six months ago in order to focus on and scale OBHL.    Tasha and her partner Joseph have built an empire by accepting fluidity and rejecting society’s standards of the “right” way of doing things. With their Wealth Builders Academy program, they teach individuals to take charge of their finances and stop living by limiting beliefs. Tasha is a shining example of what it is like to craft your own journey and design a life that works for you.    In this episode, we discuss: How building your dreams and having a career aren’t mutually exclusive Why it’s ok to not follow a strict life plan How sharing your story can help you and others grow The value of hard work in a quickly growing online space And so much more.   Tasha’s Links:    Website   Instagram   Wealth Builders Academy 

This week on the podcast, we're kicking off our book club for 2020. One of the biggest tools to achieving the life you want is changing your mindset. Books and podcasts have been pivotal in my own journey and the journey of so many others who have designed a life that they love.   So we're going to spend some time every month focusing on shifting our beliefs about what is possible and what we can accomplish.   This month's book was The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss.   This was the first book that I picked up after quitting the law. It was the first book that really changed my mindset.⁠ It opened my eyes to another way of living.⁠ It showed me that it was possible to design my life in a way that I had never considered before.⁠   And even if you don't want to quit your career or travel the world and work remotely, there are so many gems to take away from this book.    I break down all of the incredible wisdom in this book, including - Why you should re-evaluate your life and what you truly want - How to question everything  - How to eliminate tasks so you have time to work on the things that matter - How to get over the fear that is keeping you stuck - How to recognize how much control you truly have  - and so much more!  

Are you staying in a job you hate because of money?   The #1 reason I hear from people when they tell me they can't quit is finances.   Whether it is too much debt, not being able to replace their salary, or not being able to cut back, money seems to be a big block from living the life they want.    But when I push just a bit, I realize that most people have no real idea of their actual numbers.   They think that they have a general idea. But specific numbers of how much they bring in and how much goes out...not a clue.⁠   And I get it. Finances are overwhelming. So we just bury our heads in the sands.⁠   And whether we realize it or not, we begin to play the victims in our own lives. We come to believe, falsely, that there is nothing we can do. That this is just the way it is and that we're destined to live this way forever. ⁠ Well, I don't have to tell you that this isn't true. There are tons of resources and plans that can help you tackle any financial situation. ⁠ But, if you want to start creating a plan for how to quit your career, you have to know your numbers.⁠ ⁠ Today on the podcast, I got to talk to Rob Bertman about actionable steps you can take to get control over your situation.⁠   Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP® helps families improve their lives and reach their financial goals by focusing on the #1 key to financial success, managing spending.   Rob is a quitter himself. He left a successful career as a partner and securities analyst at an investment management firm to found Family Budget Expert. He knows first hand the upside and challenges of leaving a stable career to start a business and he's on the podcast today to share how you can get started on your journey to financial control now.   Here is what we discuss: - What the most important step is to gaining control of your finances  - What things you can do to tackle your massive student loan debt  - How much you should be saving for a runway before quitting - How to start saving when you're living paycheck to paycheck - And so much more

On this podcast, we’ve talked to tons of people who have quit careers that they hated in order to find something that they loved. The general premise is that this outside circumstance, namely their stressful job, is causing them to be miserable and so they make the leap in search of a circumstance that won’t cause them to feel that way.   Well, on today’s episode, I am honored to talk to the incredible Kara Lowentheil, Master Certified Coach, and ex-reproductive rights litigator, about why that approach is the wrong way to go about it.    Kara’s own journey is not unlike a lot of our previous guests. Kara received her B.A. from Yale and J.D. from Harvard. She went on to create an impressive legal resume including a clerkship for a Federal Court of Appeals and various jobs in academia. However, when she realized that no amount of accomplishment was going to bring her inner peace and happiness, she turned to life coaching and thought work.    Thought work teaches how to bring awareness to and actively engage with your own thinking in order to help retrain your brain. Kara found that the more thought work she engaged in, the happier she became in her life regardless of the outside circumstances.   After realizing the power of thought work in her own life, Kara decided to become a life coach in order to help other women unfuck their brain from all of the patriarchal programming. As we talk about in-depth, Kara didn’t leave because she hated her job. In fact, she discusses how she could have stayed and loved what she was doing. But seeing the impact that she could make on women’s lives with thought work was more of an exciting opportunity.    In the last three years after pivoting from a legal career, she has grown her life coaching business from 0 to 7 figures. She's the host of the iTunes top-rated self-help podcast Unf*ck Your Brain which has been downloaded over 6M times, and she has been featured in outlets like Marie Claire, Mind Body Green, MSN.com, and The Huffington Post. Kara lives in New York City. Basically, she’s starting a feminist revolution.    In this episode, we discuss: Why you should learn to be happy in your career before making the decision to leave  Why even if you’re happy, change will feel uncomfortable How being happy in your current situation is different than feeling ready to make a jump How thought work can help in any situation  Why we feel stuck in careers that offer prestige And so much more.  Kara’s Links: Website The Clutch Facebook Instagram

This week I had the opportunity to chat with Marc Allen, a strategy consultant to social impact and development funders worldwide, advising them on how to create greater human impact with their investments. We talk all about why skills are valuable. Namely how we can look at the skills we’ve acquired, instead of the career we’ve pursued, in order to help serve us in our next projects.    I love this episode because it is all about self-reinvention and seeking purpose. While those are both tricky paths to navigate, Marc’s own journey shows that with some resilience and open-mindedness, it’s not as impossible as we like to think.    Marc worked as an attorney for four years at one of the top law firms in the UK and Paris. But after taking two thought-provoking trips in 2014 to Iran and New Orleans, it was clear to him that he didn’t want to be a lawyer. He witnessed so many people harnessing their skills to wear different hats and be useful in their communities. It was eye-opening to take note of people who were in very adverse situations making due with their circumstances. They used what they could offer the world in unorthodox and slightly creative ways to get around systems that aren’t always inclusive. The inspiration to quit stemmed from these micro-case studies of progress despite the environment. Marc had to quit. In 2015, he finally did without a real plan or clear idea of what was next.     For the next two years, he tried out different careers and spent time on his passion project, a blog called The Great Everything.    By focusing on the skills he had and the various facets of his personality, Marc finally found a career that he loves. He retrained as a strategy consultant to philanthropies. He is now able to spend his days helping large funders create the biggest impact with their money.    I got to talk to Marc about how the skills he acquired as a lawyer serve him in his new role. We dive into how he first sensed doubt when his work began to feel unimportant. He was not connected to the outcomes of his cases. But instead of spiraling and worrying that his next move absolutely needed to be in law, he opened himself to a ton of new opportunities.    First, he evaluated the skills he built over the years. As an attorney, Mark developed a strong and unwavering work ethic. He also developed a strong backbone and self-confidence. He also navigated difficult internal power dynamics to get to the opportunities he wanted with tact and patience. All of these characteristics aid him in his role as Engagement Manager at Camber Collective. Marc manages strategy and coalition design for companies, countries, funds, and philanthropies looking to outsize their social impact. He has found the perfect fit BECAUSE of all the skills he has acquired through his career.    The thought of starting over is daunting, especially if you are going into a field where you have little to no experience. It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-doubt when you realize that you are starting from a novice level. But, as Marc puts it, take an honest look at your life and think about what you’re going to regret when you’re 75. When you’re in a difficult place, think about, “Would I rather stay here and hope my situation improves? Or am I going to be brave and actually go out and do something about it?” Are you willing to be uncomfortable for a bit and set up challenges and force yourself to rise to the occasion?    When we embrace the idea that we are so much more than one job or one interest, we open ourselves up to immense personal growth. Gratitude for our skills and our gradual evolution will help us push forward and overcome negative self-talk and open ourselves up to different opportunities.    Find Marc here: LinkedIn   Passion Project   Employer

If you’re serious about achieving the many dreams you have for your life, you need to start getting serious about goal-setting. I know goal-setting, especially around New Year’s, gets a bad rap. But I always find it laughable that people look down on New Year's resolutions. Because think about the logic:⁠ ⁠ ▪️ People use the New Year as a time to reflect and set new goals. -->⁠ ⁠ ▪️ Most people don't set goals the right way and so they give up on them quickly. -->⁠ ⁠ ▪️ And so everyone has now decided that the only way to solve this problem is to not set goals in the first place.⁠ ⁠ I'm sorry. WHAT?!? 🙃⁠ ⁠ I hate to break it to you but setting goals is not the issue in this equation.⁠ ⁠ Not setting the right types of goals and not having a plan to implement those goals is the problem.⁠ ⁠ And, sure, you don't need to wait until New Year's to set goals. In fact, you should be setting them every 90 days and re-evaluating them constantly.⁠ ⁠ But the New Year is a great time for new beginnings.⁠ ⁠ So don't give in to what the haters say. Spend some time figuring out what you want out of the new year and how you can show up as a better version of yourself.⁠ ⁠ And, to help, this week's episode is all about how to set goals the right way in order to actually achieve your dreams.⁠ WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE: - Why you need goals - Principles of Goal-Setting - How to Set the Right Types of Goals  - How to Plan Your Week So You Can Work on Your Goals - and more...

 We're obsessed with trying to find the "right" answer because we think that will give us some semblance of "control" over our future.⁠ "How do I know which direction is the right one for me?"⁠ Everyone who wants to quit their job asks some version of this question:⁠ I always answer the same way:⁠ The bad news is that there is no right answer. But the good news is that there is no right answer. The more you go down this road, the more you start to realize that the world is full of possibilities. And each step forward uncovers a whole set of new opportunities.⁠ But you have to be willing to push past the discomfort of taking a step without knowing the end result in order to open yourself up to those possibilities.⁠ This week on the podcast, I had the honor of talking to the incredible Dr. Maria Phalime. We discussed her journey out of medicine and how it took her years to get over the guilt of leaving and to begin discovering all the opportunities that are available to her. Her story is such an inspiring example that you don't have to have it figured out in order to leave.⁠ Resources mentioned: Stuck to Strategy sign up Here is what we chat about in this episode: Trust what you're feeling. If you don't have everything figured out, that's okay! Put your story out there. And so much more! Where to find Maria:   Website: https://www.mariaphalime.co.za/ TedTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeHqgambbcI Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Sure, quitting is easy if you've always hated your job. But what if you used to love it? What if you loved it for many years? What if you were really, really good at it? I'm so excited about this week's episode with the amazing Shawn Askinosie. Shawn walked away from a very successful career as a criminal defense attorney, a job he used to love. Until he didn't. He realized that the career he once loved was putting him into an early grave and that it was time to do something else. Shawn is now the founder of Askinosie Chocolates, named by Forbes as “One of the 25 Best Small Companies In America.”  He was also named by O, The Oprah. Magazine, as "One of 15 Guys Who Are Saving the World." No big deal. He spends his days traveling between 4 continents to directly source his cocoa beans from farmers, where he offers them above Fair Trade prices, open books, and a share of his profits. He has created an inspiring company that not only gives back directly to the farmers but his community as well. His book - Meaningful Work: The Quest To Do Great Business, Find Your Calling And Feed Your Soul, co-written with his daughter Lawren Askinosie, published by Penguin Random House is a #1 bestseller on Amazon. I got to chat with Shawn about how he walked away from a career he loved and how he figured out what he should do next. Resources mentioned: Stuck To Strategy Sign up Here is what we chat about in this episode: Do the deep work and figure out who you truly are. Look for those thresholds. Be vulnerable with the people in your life. And so much more! Where to find Shawn:   Book: https://tinyurl.com/vf58dfv Chocolate: https://askinosie.com Blog: https://shawnaskinosie.com/ TEDx talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_askinosie_find_your_calling_where_it_hurts Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

In 75 episodes, I think the recurring lesson that comes up in almost every single episode is that you can't think your way to the end goal. It just doesn't work that way.⁠ ⁠ There will be detours. Set-backs. New connections. And a whole lot of learning that will change your route. The only thing you have to do is start. You don't have to know how it is going to unfold. Just start.⁠ ⁠ This week on the podcast, I was lucky enough to talk to the incredible @shuntagrant about her journey from attorney to entrepreneur.⁠ ⁠ Shunta unknowingly started a business at her dining room table in 2014 when she began selling hair bows that she made for her daughter Zoe on Instagram. She left law in 2015 to build Because of Zoe designs fulltime. In 2016, she started a second business mentoring other women business owners on how to build a business and life on the other side of busy.⁠ ⁠ Shunta could have never known what her Chapter 10 would look like. She had no intention of being a business owner when she went to law school. And now she has created a life and business that lights her up.⁠ ⁠ You don't have to know your Chapter 10. Just start with Chapter 1.⁠

Hi, my name is Goli and I'm a life-long people-pleaser.⁠ ⁠ I have a feeling a lot of you are too. Because we're trained from childhood to just do what we're told and not make waves.⁠ And while I used to understand that this tendency made me overly agreeable, overly apologetic (hello, women?), and obsessed with making sure everyone liked me, I didn't realize how much it actually kept me stuck in my career.⁠ ⁠ Tendencies like overachieving or perfectionism are just symptoms of the need to be liked. We think that if we just tick off the next accomplishment, like getting the promotion or making partner, or we turn in the perfect work product, then everyone will be happy and, in turn, we'll be happy.⁠ ⁠ But I don't have to tell you that it doesn't work that way.⁠ ⁠ We just move the goalposts. Maybe excelling at the next thing will finally make it all worthwhile. (Spoiler alert: it won't).⁠ ⁠ So we stay in a career we hate because the idea of other people's opinions weighs heavier than our own happiness.⁠ ⁠ How will I explain that I don't want to do this? Who am I if I'm not [insert "successful" profession here]?⁠ ⁠ This week on the podcast, I dive all into the nature of our people-pleasing and how to start climbing your way out of this suffocating tendency.⁠ Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Will Day started out his career with a 2-year stint in the Peace Corps after college. He then went on to a successful career in the financial industry on Wall Street. But something felt like it was missing. In 2001, he enrolled in the Masters of Architecture program at Pratt Institute and then went to work as an architect. But that also never felt right. It wasn't until he decided to finally follow his passions as a full-time artist that he realized that he had been trying to force a square peg into a round hole.⁠ ⁠ But the best part about this conversation is that it's not all about how everything worked out wonderfully. I love Will's honesty about the realities of creating a living through art, how to find creativity in the chaos, and so much more.⁠ Here is what we chat about in this episode: How to find your creativity in the chaos. How to learn to listen to your inner voice. How to stop forcing something that isn't working. How to apply business principles to an artistic career to set yourself up for success. And so much more! Where to find Will:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willdayart/ Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/yxqekyqu Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/willdayart/ Website: www.willdayart.com Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

So often we hold on to what we know so tightly that we give up the opportunity of having something so much better. Kim Le Pham is on the podcast today and her story is such an inspiration to me. Everything this woman touches turns to gold and, yet, she never rests on her laurels. She's constantly pushing herself (and her husband) out of their comfort zone.Kim Le went from climbing the corporate ladder as a CPA to becoming a wildly successful wedding photographer. But even though she was traveling the world, making a great living, and doing something she loved, she let herself pursue her curiosities. She started a fashion blog (laceandlocks.com) which led to an online clothing store (morninglavendar.com) which led to a brick-and-mortar clothing store which led to a second location that also has a cafe. And she's not finished. She's the founder and CEO of Morning Lavendar where she employs over 50 people and has been named to Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies 2 years in a row. And she's just getting started. She is a shining example of how multifaceted we all are and how much room there is for reinvention. Here is what we chat about in this episode: How the fear doesn't go away. Why you deserve the same love you give everyone else. How we all have inner intuition and the importance of listening close enough. And so much more! Where to find Kim:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceandlocks/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopmorninglavender/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morninglavenderoc/ Website: www.laceandlocks.com Website: www.morninglavender.com Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

It's important to pay attention to what you build your identity around. A common mistake that people make is to believe that what they do equates to who they are. This misconception can create a giant roadblock when it comes to changing paths because it then poses the question, "who am I if I'm not x, y, or z?" The reality is that, clearly, you're not what you do. Our identity is made up of so many different roles. And, much like our careers and relationships, our identities evolve as we do. In today's episode, I dive deep into the concept of stripping one identity and evolving into another with Geoff Kullman. Geoff went from being a pastor to becoming an atheist and having to leave the Church and start a career from scratch. Religion had been a fundamental part of his entire life from growing up in the Church to majoring in biblical studies in university to working for a number of years as a pastor. It wasn't until some life circumstances caused Geoff to begin questioning his own belief system and he eventually came to the conclusion that he no longer believed in God. Geoff's story shines a lot of light on how we view our identities and how much more malleable we are than we think. There is a lot of courage in saying, "this doesn't fit me anymore and I want to try something else". We talk all about how Geoff had to stand on stage and tell his congregation that he couldn't lead them anymore because he was an atheist (talk about scary!), how he navigated his family relationships after such a major shift, and how he figured out what he should do when he started over. In under 3 years, Geoff has created a successful copywriting business helping companies attract, convert, and retain more customers. His story is so fascinating and really helps dispel a lot of the fears we all hold about pivoting.   Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why you have to live with integrity to yourself. How, even though it's hard, the freedom on the other side is worth it. How there's always an opportunity to re-invent yourself. And so much more! Where to find Geoff:   Website: www.geoffkullman.com Email: [email protected] Blog post: https://geoffkullman.com/from-pastor-to-atheist/ Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Even though this week's guest isn't a traditional quitter like our previous guests, she has dealt with the same limiting beliefs and fears we all deal with when starting something new. Right out of college at 21, Jenna Irvin decided she wanted to start her own brick-and-mortar fitness studio without ever having any experience in business. What I love about her story is that she didn't let the limiting beliefs that so many of us are plagued with, like feeling too young or too inexperienced, stop her. She got to work executing on her plan to open up a Pure Barre franchise, in a city that she had never lived in no less. In less than a year, she was able to sell that first location for double the investment and open a second one in a city that she had always wanted to live in. While her accomplishments and business acumen are extremely impressive, what blew me away about Jenna is her mindset. It is incredible to see how aware she is of the importance of mindset on her success and how much work she puts into it in order to help navigate this type of career. She's such an inspiration to me and I'm sure you'll get so much insight from her journey! Here is what we chat about in this episode: How the fear doesn't go away. Why you deserve the same love you give everyone else. How we all have inner intuition and the importance of listening close enough. And so much more! Where to find Jenna:   Instagram: instagram.com/jennairvin Website: jstandingtall.com Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

One of the biggest benefits that come from pivoting a career is that it shows you the freedom you truly have to reinvent yourself. The fear of starting over lessens with each jump and that's why so many #quitters go on to have multiple career changes. That freedom is such a blessing because you'll quickly learn that there is a lot of trial and error in finding your next career step. It is precisely through those many failures that you are led to where you need to be. This week I spoke with Julian Mather about his own process through many career pivots. After failing out of high school, he took that failure and decided that his education was in his own hands and chose to become a life long learner. After leaving high school, Julian joined the army and became a sniper for a number of years. He then started a 25-year career as a photojournalist/tv-camera man, globetrotting and documenting people doing incredible stories of people doing incredible things. What's amazing about his story is that he was at the top of his career and loved his job, and yet, he felt a calling to do something more. He walked away from his career at the age of 48. (Something a lot of people never muster up the courage to do!). He wanted to teach children valuable lessons about philanthropy and helping others. When his first foray into entrepreneurship failed, Julian went on to fulfill his passion by becoming a successful children's entertainer and magician for a number of years. He started a YouTube channel that garnered over 130,000 subscribers and 30 million views. That channel led him to creating a business out of showing people how to be in the kids' entertainment space. He has since sold that business and is now re-inventing himself once again. He is teaching businesses how to use video to leverage their sales and marketing. I loved Julian's story so much because of his insight on reinvention and starting over. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why it's important to adopt a learning mindset. Why you are 100% responsible for your life. How change is a process and not an event. And so much more! Where to find Julian:   Website: http://www.julianmather.com/ Email: [email protected] Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

We typically have stories of people who have become successful in one type of career and then quit to start over in a completely unrelated field. However, there are people who enjoy the field that they're in but they want to find an alternative way to do the thing they love. Today's guest, Luke, falls into that category. He went to school to be a designer and after college he went on to work for various design agencies. He didn't feel fulfilled in the work he was doing, so after a decade, he decided to go out on his own to become a "fun-lancer".  (Love that). We talked a lot about his journey of switching from the employee mindset to becoming an entrepreneur. He is now a graphic designer and an art director. He spends his time doing things he loves like art directing magazines, lecturing at Birmingham University and putting on amazing events like the Birmingham design festival. He has done incredible things and I think his perspective on how you can use the corporate world to help set you up to go into entrepreneurship or how to plug into those niche communities is such an important lesson for many of us! Here is what we chat about in this episode: Everyone feels like an imposter no matter how much experience you have. Why you should get involved in your community. How it's important to have patience. And so much more! Where to find Luke:   Website: http://www.luketonge.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luketonge/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/luketonge Design Fest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designfestbrum/ Glug Brum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glugbirmingham/ Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Sometimes we aren't fully aware of the hidden skills and interests that reside inside us. And if we don't follow those little sparks of curiosity, we'll never uncover them. That's exactly what happened with today's guest, Kayse Morris started out as an English and Language Arts teacher. She began selling her lesson plans and resources to other teachers as a side hobby. It wasn't her intention to create this into a big business, but it was through starting this side hustle that she discovered a talent and passion for entrepreneurship. In a couple of short years, her side income grew to become more than her teacher's salary! After growing this passion into a profitable side hustle, she decided to walk away from the classroom. She wanted to focus fully on helping other teachers sell their resources so that they can create more income and a life they want. What has happened with that business in less than a year is just incredible! While Kayse had a social media following, and she knew she could teach people what she did, she had no idea how big it would blow up. Within the first time she launched, she started making multiple 6-figures with her course! I think her business and her approach is really such a testament to the fact that there are so many opportunities and things we can if we don't limit ourselves and give in to fear. She really is such an inspiration and I think there is so much we can learn from her story! Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why you should just follow that little spark. How it can be so much better than you've ever dreamed of. No one knows what they're doing! And so much more! Where to find Kayse:   Website: https://kaysemorris.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaysemorris/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachingonless/ Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gogetterspodcast/ 10 step workbook: https://teachingonless.lpages.co/the-first-10-steps-to-selling-your-teaching-resources-online-lead-magnet Email: [email protected] Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

This week's episode is so special to me. It's a replay of the live podcast episode we recorded at the live event we had back in August. That event was such a surreal and amazing moment for me. It was so cool to meet people from this community and to hear what they're doing, how the podcast has affected them, and so much more. I definitely want to do it again in the new year, so keep an eye out for that! What made this experience so amazing is that I had 4 amazing past guests who joined me on a panel that night: Laurie Rowen, Pye Jirsa, Shinah Chang, and Sara Rezvanpour Rose. They will talk a little bit about their stories in this recording and give a bit of a background into what they do. During the panel, we got into a lot of the common questions that people ask and their different experiences. The advice they have is seriously amazing! Here is what we chat about in this episode: How no one has confidence before they start. How clarity also doesn't come before action. Why you should stop worrying about finding your passion. Guest panel podcast episodes:   Ep. 6 Why you don't need passion to scale a successful business with Pye Jirsa Ep. 9 How Laurie Rowen disrupted the legal profession to create the career she wanted Ep. 22 How Sara Rezvanpour Rose created her dream job as creative counsel at The Jungalow Ep. 31 How Shinah Chang quit the straight path of law for Crooked Calligraphy Resources mentioned: Group coaching waitlist Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

It's not uncommon for people to stick with careers they're unhappy with just because they aren't sure what else they'd do, especially when it comes to "finding your passion". But what if you know what you're passionate about but you're still unsure about taking that path? On today's episode, Tara Laferrara found herself caught in that very dilemma. She knew she was passionate about fitness but didn't think it would become a viable career and make enough money from it. She initially started teaching classes on the side because that's where she felt lit up, that's what she loved. But through the programming in society, from her family, and from others, she didn't think you could just teach classes, so she went the traditional route into the corporate world. She decided she wanted to climb the ladder in advertising. She ended up quitting that job only after 3 days because she just knew that path wasn't for her and she decided to dive in head first into her love of fitness. Now, in under 3 years she has gone on to co-own a brick and mortar gym, Compass fitness, in Colorado. She also does online training through her TL method and program and has amassed over 100k followers on Instagram. She's been featured in Shape, Women's Health, Redbull, Finish Line, among other notable brands and publications. She is a testament to the fact that there is so much opportunity out there now and there are so many ways to do things. You really can create a career out of the thing you love!   Here is what we chat about in this episode: How EVERYONE has doubt and imposter's syndrome. Why you should just get started where you're at. Why it's important to have a good support system. And so much more! Where to find Tara:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taralaferrara/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taralaferrara Twitter: https://twitter.com/taralaferrara Youtube: https://youtube.com/taralaferrara Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

  If you've ever told yourself that it's too late to start over, be prepared to face the truth: you're just making an excuse. After spending 40 years climbing the ladder in corporate America, Paul Tasner was laid off from his job at 64 years old (all while casually eating an apple during his surprise exit interview!). A few years later, at 66 years old, Paul decided to take a leap of faith and try his hand at entrepreneurship. To combat the amount of plastic that companies used, he founded Pulp Works and set out to create safe, eco-friendly packaging for consumer products. PulpWorks uses paper and agricultural waste to mold compostable packaging and thereby diminish the waste deposited in our landfills, waterways, and oceans. Paul was selected as a TED Resident in 2017. His TED Talk on sustainability, entrepreneurism, and ageism has been seen by more than 2 million viewers and translated into 29 languages. As if he wasn't doing enough, in 2018, Paul, with colleagues in San Francisco and Mexico City, founded Sort, a company using artificial intelligence, the IoT, and computer vision technology, to solve the contamination challenges facing the plastics recycling industry today. He is doing such incredible things and inspiring so many others! He is a real testament to the fact that it is truly never too late to start over. There are tons of things we can all do to pursue our dreams!   Here is what we chat about in this episode: How it's SERIOUSLY never too late to start over! How there is no such thing as security. Why you should get clear on what you want. And so much more! Resources mentioned: Paul's TedTalk Where to find Paul:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultasner/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.tasner Twitter: https://twitter.com/PulpWorksInc Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulietaz Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

How would you feel about leaving a job that took you to places like Italy and let you work with well-known people like Bono? Most people would have a really hard time walking way from something everyone else considers a "dream job". But Kelsey had a little feeling in her gut that there was something better out there for her. (Yes, even better than working with Bono). It wasn't until her own dealings with a life coach that she began to consider a career change. She is now an in-demand life and business coach working with some big hitters like Marie Forleo as well as Fortune 500 companies like Facebook and Twitter. She now has a dream business where she brings in more money than her previous career while only working three days a week. And when Kelsey's not coaching, you can find her hosting the Whiskey & Work Podcast where she gives her wise (and sometimes comical) advice on navigating the waters of business, life, and relationships. Kelsey's story is an amazing example of what is possible if you're willing to step into the unknown and to really go after what you want! Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why you should stop ignoring that feeling in your gut. How you should follow your curiosity instead of your passion. How that perfect job for you exists, really! And so much more! Where to find Kelsey:   Website: KelseyMurphy.com Passion Planner: www.kelseymurphy.com/passionplanner-download Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

In honor of Labor Day, I invited Neil Sahota on the show to talk about the AI revolution and how it will affect the working landscape. Technology is developing at such a rapid pace and it is really important to pay attention to how it will change work as we know it. Neil Sahota is an IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) subject matter expert, and Faculty at UC Irvine. He is also the author of the book: Own the A.I. Revolution . With 20+ years of business experience, he works with clients and business partners to create the next generation of products and solutions powered by emerging technologies. If you're a regular listener of the show, then you've heard from many of our past guests that are now doing things that didn't exist as careers 5-10 years ago. These new industries, such as social media manager and online educator, are but a few examples of the changing landscape of work.  While most people (or the media) tend to focus on the negatives that can come about from these changes, I think Neil's book does an incredible job of showing all of the amazing things that can happen as a result of these technologies. His book does a wonderful job of addressing important issues like the speed of change that we're experiencing, how to utilize emerging technologies to disrupt our own industries, understanding the kind of careers that are on the horizon, and how we can either rework our skills or come up in a new profession. There is a tremendous amount of opportunity and if you pay attention to what's coming next you have a chance to build the career or business that you want. Neil is just the person to help us figure out what we should be doing with all of these emerging technologies and how we can better prepare ourselves for the working landscape in the future. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why it's important to start learning about AI now. Why you're in the right position to disrupt the system with your current skills. Why you should learn to embrace change and learn how to better position yourself for it. And so much more! Where to find Neil:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-sahota-%E8%90%A8%E5%86%A0%E5%86%9B-028143/ Website: https://neilsahota.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/neil_sahota Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

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! Where to find Lindsey:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/llindseyschwartz Instagram: www.instagram.com/powerhouse_women Website: www.powerhousewomen.co Resources Mentioned: 5 Steps To Finding Your Calling PDF Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast  

How many times have you wanted to start over? How many times have you started thinking about the possibilities only to follow them up with the thought, "but it's too late in my life to do this"? If you're human, then you've probably had this discussion with yourself a million different times, and that's okay, we all have those moments. However, even though you may feel like it's too late to start over, it doesn't mean that it is. Today's guest, Peter Glatz is essentially the holy grail when it comes to that myth. At 60 years old, Peter left his dentistry career of over 40 years in order to pursue cooking. He began his journey into the culinary world by reaching out to well-known chefs offering to work for free! (Who says you have to immediately start making money off of something you love? Just start!). Listen to how his journey led him to eventually landing a dream job as a link cook at Nonesuch in Oklahoma City, Bon Appetit's 2018 Best Restaurant in America. Despite working long, 12 hour days at a physically taxing job, Peter has never been happier. I love so many things about his story. There are so many people who count themselves out when they reach a certain age because they believe it's too late for them to pivot their path. But Peter's story is really a testament to the fact that there is always time to try something new! Not only that, but he didn't let his lack of formal experience stop him from feeling confident enough to reach out to those well-known chefs. There are just so, so many wonderful lessons to learn from Peter and his journey. Here is what we chat about in this episode: How it's never too late to start over. How if you want something different you should do something about it. Why you should create a vision and then take action. And so much more! Where to find Peter:   Email: [email protected] Website: berthabus.com Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

A common theme we've seen is that a lot of new career paths evolve out of the need to create a hobby or some kind of outlet. Kelsey Chapman's story begins in a similar place. She started blogging in addition to her day job because she was feeling frustrated and trapped. (Sound familiar?). Over time her blog built up an audience and things eventually grew into her own agency. However, after years of growing her successful agency, Kelsey made the difficult decision to shut it down because it no longer served her. We talk all about how hard it is to walk away from something that is working but you know is not the path you want to be on. What's amazing about Kelsey's story is that she used all of her newly-found skills from building her agency to land an incredible job in marketing.  She really is a testament to the idea that there really is no right or wrong decision. All it takes is a leap of faith and the path will lead you where you need to go! Kelsey also currently helps entrepreneurs to build their business, grow their platform, and steward their influence in her year long program called, Dream to Done. It is her mission to help women turn their dreams into profitable ventures that can allow them to live with both freedom in their finances and their time. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why you don't have to martyr yourself to make a difference. That it's okay to walk away from something that's making you unhappy even if it's making money. Why you're allowed to pivot as many times as you need. And so much more! Where to find Kelsey:   Instagram: instagram.com/kelschapman Itunes: itunes.kelseychapman.com Resources Mentioned: LFAQ Live Event Sign Up Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

You don't necessarily have to pursue a whole new path in order to make a career change. On today's episode, Michelle Schroeder-Gardner got her MBA in finance and then started working as a financial analyst. But realizing that she had never been taught about personal finance in school, she started a blog, Making Sense of Cents, to document her own financial journey. She wanted to show the different things she started doing on the internet to make some money on the side. When she discovered that she could make money from her blog, everything changed. She now makes over $100,000 a month through her blog. (Seriously, it's insane!). You can check out all of her expense reports on her website to see when she started making $5k, $10k, all the way up to where she is now. In 2015, Michelle and her husband sold their house and started traveling full time while she runs her blog on the road. They first started traveling by RV but are now living on a sailboat. You can follow their adventures on her Instagram, but be forewarned, the pictures will give you some serious FOMO. Even though blogging has been around for quite some time, Michelle's story really highlights that it never is too late to start pursuing this path. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why it's not too late to start! Why it's important to stick with your side hustle for at least one year. Why you should prioritize your time. And so much more! Where to find Michelle:   Website: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingsenseofcents/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/michelleschro Website: https://makingsenseofaffiliatemarketing.com Website: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/extra-income Resources Mentioned: 5 Steps To Figuring Out Your Calling PDF LFAQ Live Event Sign Up Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Since we've recently gained so many new listeners, we wanted to throw it back to one of our favorite episodes! Today, we get to talk to Steve Trang about how he made the (rather quick) jump from electrical engineer to real estate agent and how he’s grown in that role ever since. Steve started out his career earning a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and working as an engineer for Intel for 3.5 years. In 2007, Steve quit his engineering career to become a real estate agent. Since then, Steve has gone on to create Stunning Home Realty, a real estate brokerage in Phoenix, Arizona that he has grown to 60 licensed agents, selling over 100 houses a year and creating some of the top producing teams in the valley. He’s also gone on to start his own Title company and develop a real estate app. Steve is not only committed to building his successful real estate empire but he also believes in helping others build their dreams too. He recently started a podcast called Real Estate Disruptors, where he interviews other real estate experts on how they’re disrupting their markets. Here is what we chat about in this episode: How getting his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering is really taking the easy route because “someone else lays out the plan and you just follow it” How he always knew that he would eventually leave his engineering job but why it happened so much faster than he expected. - How his irrational confidence allowed him to meet a real estate broker and, within 2 ½ weeks of that meeting, get his real estate license and quit his engineering job. “Real confidence is knowing you’ll figure it out” - Brandon Burchard How the fall of the real estate market in 2007 almost sent him back to his engineering job and how he continued to push through. How he uses self-help to continue to grow his business. How he went from being a real estate agent to owning his own brokerage, title company, real estate app and podcast. Upcoming Events: LFAQ Live Event Sign Up Free Masterclass Sign Up Resources Mentioned in the Podcast Tony Hsieh, Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose. Micheal E. Gerber, The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It. Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income Darren Hardy’s Darren Daily Where to find Steve Realestatedispruptors.com Stevetrang.com

Since we've recently gained so many new listeners, we wanted to throw it back to one of our favorite episodes! I love this conversation with Pye! It was such a raw and in-depth conversation about the illusion of stability, the origin of most people’s fears, and the importance of developing a learning mindset. What is so fascinating about Pye’s journey is not just that he jumped from being a CPA to becoming a founder of an award-winning, multi-million dollar photography studio, it’s that he did that without having a passion for or knowing the first thing about photography. Like most of us, Pye started going down the traditional path. He became a CPA and worked for Ernst & Young before realizing that he did not like what he was doing. He quit, along with his two best friends Justin and Chris, in order to start a tech startup. When the funding for their startup fell through, the friends took on web development clients. One of their clients needed photographs taken and Pye assured them that they had a photography department that could take care of it! What I love about his story is that most people would not only shirk at taking on a task that they don’t know how to do but also avoid a “creative” profession that they are not skilled in. Pye, realizing that photography was a skill that could be acquired, looked at entering the wedding photography industry as a business and not a passion. That eye towards business has led Pye, and his partners, to create Lin and Jirsa Photography, a boutique Southern California wedding and portrait photography studio composed of an incredible creative team of 50 people that shoots over 300 weddings each year, with nearly 1,000 yearly client commissions. He is also a founder and partner in SLR Lounge, a premium educational community geared towards providing photographers with real-world shoot education with nearly a million monthly readers. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: My experience with launching this podcast! Specifically, how taking a risk in my own life led me to realize the opportunity in doing so. The breaking point that led Pye to quit his job and take a risk on himself How failed attempts at funding projects and business ventures became opportunities for exploration, self-discovery, and ultimately, success How he created a multi-million dollar business in photography with a positive “learning mindset” Why Pye has a “passionate dislike” of the word “stable” and the illusion it creates Where Pye believes most fear comes from and why it limits your opportunities and potential How developing a “Learning Mindset” allowed Pye to turn quitting and “failing” into growth, opportunity, and success Upcoming Events: LFAQ Live Event Sign Up Masterclass Sign Up Resources from the Show: Visit Lin and  Jirsa Photography and explore his phenomenal photo blog On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King, ebook Listen to more inspiring quitters on my webpage! Where to find  Pye Jirsa: Instagram:@pyejirsa Photography Instagram: @linandjirsa SLR Lounge Instagram: @slrlounge If you were inspired by this episode of  “Lessons from a Quitter” with Pye Jirsa, I know you will find inspiration in other lessons from quitters on my website.  Enjoy listening!

Happy one year anniversary! It has officially been a year since I started this podcast and I've learned so much both through doing the podcast and from the conversations I've had with guests. This episode is also a special one because I have compiled all of those important lessons in order to share them with you! I hope you enjoy them and I hope you feel as inspired as I do. And in case you don't have time to listen to the full episode, we've also compiled everything into a blog post! Upcoming Events: LFAQ Live Event Sign Up Free Masterclass Sign Up Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

What would you do if you started a company and it failed? What if you started multiple companies and they failed? Most people would stop. So many of us take those experiences personally and create a narrative about what it says about our abilities.  That's what I love about Josh's story! After going through some successes and even more failures, Josh Zloof didn't give up on his entrepreneurial dreams. Instead, he realized that he simply needed to get intentional about his values, acquire the skills he lacked, and create a well-balanced support system. Josh made a conscious decision that his next company would make one billion people happy. And that is exactly what he is on the road to accomplish. Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Sudden Coffee, a company focused on producing single origin, specialty grade, instant coffee (delivered right to your door). To date, Sudden Coffee has raised over $3.3 million dollars and served over 100,000 happy customers. In addition to making people happy, Sudden Coffee has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, and GQ. Josh's journey shows that you don't have to give up at the first, or second, or even the 5th sign of failure. What you need most in those moments is to take a step back, reassess, and try again. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why not succeeding at first isn't a reflection on who you are as a person. The importance of being clear on your values. Why you should create a support system that will help you succeed. And so much more! Where to find Josh:   Website: https://www.suddencoffee.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suddencoffee/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suddencoffee Resources Mentioned: LFAQ Live Event Sign Up Masterclass Sign Up Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

How often do you stop yourself from doing something new because you don't feel prepared/good/experienced enough for it? While planning out your next step might help ease your nerves, sometimes the next step is to throw that plan out the window and dive in head first. You can plan all you want, but in the end, you'll never be able to predict what might come from taking that leap of faith. When today's guest, Elle Drouin took a leap in her career, it later evolved into not one but multiple new business ventures. But before Elle took that leap, her story started off in a similar way as our past guests. She was originally working in a traditional office job as a financial adviser. But it was when she decided to start a lifestyle blog as a creative outlet that her path began to take a different turn. This blog eventually led her to other opportunities such as moving to New York to take over a social media position she had no prior experience in other than what she had done through her blog. From that point on, her path evolved into an ongoing journey of one new venture leading to another. Currently, Elle is a product stylist stylist, photographer, dog mom of an internet famous pup (Mochi), and host of the Revenue on Repeat Summit. She not only uses her photography skills to shoot photos for the Styled Stock Society, a stylish stock photography membership for women entrepreneurs, but she also shoots all the photos for her famous pup's Instagram account! (Seriously, so cute). I love Elle's story because she took a leap of faith into a job that she didn't have any formal experience in. She could have come up with a million reasons why she wasn't experienced enough for the position but she went ahead and did it anyway. This is an incredibly important lesson for anyone listening, you don't have to be an expert, or really know what you're doing, in order to take that next step. You really never know what will come up as a result of following that new idea or saying yes to that opportunity despite how prepared (or unprepared) you may feel.   Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why it's important to put yourself out there because you never know where it'll lead. Why it's okay to pivot careers (even multiple times). How everything you need/want to learn is at your fingertips. And so much more! Where to find Elle:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elledrouin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mochiandthecity/ Website: https://styledstocksociety.com/ Website: https://elledrouin.com/ Resources Mentioned: LFAQ Facebook Group July Challenge Sign Up Atomic Habits by James Clear August Live Event Sign Up Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

If financial worries are holding you back from pursuing a new path, this episode is for you. I've found that whether it's through Instagram DMs, Facebook polls, etc., the number one thing that keeps people stuck is worrying about money. While those fears are valid, there are ways to deal with them.   Hopefully, today's guest might be able to ease your worries and give you a little more confidence in taking the leap. Erin Lowry is the author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Broke Millennial Takes On Investing: A Beginner's Guide To Leveling Up Your Money. Her first book was named by MarketWatch as one of the best money books of 2017. Erin has also appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, CNBC, Fox & Friends among many other outlets.   I loved this episode and Erin's take on finances because she makes things like loans and student debt easy to understand. She is full of knowledge and has the practical tips that we all need in order to face our financial worries. The best part? Erin's example of how to establish yourself as an expert and create a career around a topic you love. Erin doesn't come from a background in the financial industry. It was through creating her own blog around these topics that interested her that she created her career today. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why it's important to know your numbers (student loans, investing, 401k, etc). How every little bit you earn helps pay off your loans. The importance of starting a side hustle you love. And so much more! Where to find Erin:   Website: https://brokemillennial.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokemillennialblog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrokeMillennial Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y34m9m94 Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y2ts3ld9 Resources Mentioned: LFAQ Facebook Group July Challenge Sign Up Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

You can pursue a traditional career and yet still approach it in a unique way, making it your own, and that is the basis for today's interview. Prior to crafting her own career path, Jenny Dorsey was a management consultant in the fashion industry and went on to become the youngest MBA candidate in Columbia Business School. But it was then during a sabbatical between leaving her job and moving onto business school that she decided to enroll in cooking school. At the time, cooking was nothing more than a hobby and something she pursued purely out of her passion for food. Once she went back to her original path of business school, she realized something had changed and it no longer aligned with her. This lead to her final decision to pursue food instead. Throughout her journey in the culinary world, she worked both traditional and un-traditional kitchen jobs that eventually lead her to where she is today. Currently, Jenny is a professional chef, author, and artist specializing in multi-platform fusing food with social good. She uses cooking as a way to facilitate conversations about topics like race, privilege, and politics. She leads a nonprofit studio, Studio ATAO, is the co-host of Why Food? podcast on Heritage Radio Network, and runs a popular popup series named Wednesdays. Jenny's story is so inspiring because she could have easily taken the traditional route with her cooking career. She could have become a chef and considered that the end goal, but she didn't. Instead, she found a way to think outside of the box and combine all of her passions into a fulfilling career.   Here is what we chat about in this episode: How there are many ways to do something. That it's normal to feel panicked when you don't know where your path is headed. Why you shouldn't do something just because you're good at it. How Jenny combines food and conversations about social topics. And so much more! Where to find Jenny:   Website: https://www.jennydorsey.co/ Website: https://www.studioatao.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjennydorsey/ Podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/why-food Resources Mentioned: LFAQ Facebook Group Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

  It's hard not to smile while listening to today's guest talk about his journey and you'll see why. Leslie's story is something we can all learn so much from. Through determination and a genuine love of teaching biology, he managed to land himself his dream job as a biology professor without getting a Ph.D! Crazy, right? So many of us are stuck believing that we have to go the traditional route to pursue the things we love, but that really isn't the case anymore. Before Leslie landed his dream job, he started out as a high school teacher with a huge love for science and biology. Coincidently, in 2008, he also stumbled upon a way to make money online through blogging. He used his newfound skills to create a blog, Interactive Biology, where he taught Biology the way he wanted. He would make interactive, high-energy videos illustrating various concepts like how an action potential works. It was this very blog that ultimately landed him his dream job. By chance, he had received an email one day about an open teaching position in a doctoral program. Was he qualified? Absolutely not. Did it stop him from applying? Not even in the slightest. Leslie interviewed for the job and made it very clear that he wasn't qualified, but he showed them his blog that was evidence of his knowledge and teaching style. Within an hour of leaving that interview, he received a phone call saying he got the job. Leslie's story is living proof that you don't have to do everything the traditional route. You can feel (and be) unqualified for the job or position that you want, but if you truly love something enough and you put in the work, the opportunities will come! But the best part of Leslie's story is the fact that blogging opened up a whole new world of impact for him. He realized how many lives he was changing by teaching other people how to grow and monetize their blogs. He ultimately decided to leave his dream job as a professor to focus exclusively on his latest blog, Become A Blogger, where he is taking on the mission of "Changing The World One Blog At A Time." Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why you should make a change in your life if you're unhappy. Why you don't need to pursue things the traditional way. How everyone has something they can share with other people. How the technology today makes it easy to start a side hustle. And so much more! Where to find Leslie:   Website: Becomeablogger.com Course: fromideatoblog.com Resources Mentioned: 5 Steps To Figuring Out Your Calling Interactive Biology Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Can you imagine being able to pay off almost 90k in student loans in only 2.5 years? It may seem impossible, but it can be done! On today's episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Ha from The Financial Panther, a blog about financial independence and side hustling in the sharing and gig economy. Kevin was able to pay off his loans by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer, and it paid off, literally! In addition to paying off his loans, Kevin starting experimenting with the gig economy on his free time. He quickly learned that he could make a lot of money on the side doing things that he enjoyed. After 5 years of being an attorney and switching between three different jobs, he finally came to the conclusion that practicing law just wasn't the right fit. He just quit his job earlier this year after deciding to go all in on blogging and side hustling, which makes him the newest member of the #quitterclub. Now he pursues everything from Rover, to Post Mates, and beyond. I loved Kevin's story because he decided to push against societal expectations of what type of work is "acceptable". Not only that, Kevin shows us that it's possible to create a steady source of income by doing something (or many things) that bring you joy. Here is what we chat about in this episode: How it's possible to create a steady income through side hustles. Why it's important to learn about your finances. Why you should push against societal expectations. And so much more! Where to find Kevin:   Website: https://financialpanther.com/ Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/you-dont-need-to-start-your-career-in-your-20s/ Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/lawyers-doctors-and-the-appeal-of-the-clear-career-path/ Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/monetize-life-get-paid-live/ Email: [email protected] Resources Mentioned: 5 Steps To Figuring Out Your Calling PDF I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi The Simple Path To Wealth by J L Collins Your Money Your Life by Vicky Robin The Bogleheads' Guide To Investing by Taylor Larimore The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Today's episode is a perfect example of how to be intentional in your career. So often we do what we think we should be doing: working insane hours, building the biggest business possible, trying (and often failing) to balance life, etc. We go for the money or the title, even if that's not what we really want. Dona Bumgarner bucked that trend and is building the life, and career, that works for her and her family.   Of course, it wasn't always like this. Dona started out in a position that many of us find ourselves in- climbing the corporate ladder. She was working at Apple for over 11 years and eventually landed herself in an upper management job at the company before quitting to pursue graduate school. But as she was starting school, she found out she was pregnant, which changed her priorities. She decided to leave school after one semester to become a full-time mom. Thankfully, she had saved up enough money to have a little bit of wiggle room before deciding what to do next, but not everything was smooth sailing.   During this time period, she found herself struggling a bit when her life shifted from a conference room to a changing table. While this struggle led her to try multiple different careers, it ultimately helped her craft the career she wanted with intention. Through a coaching program, Dona realized that her passion was in helping other moms who have lost themselves in motherhood.  She now works with other moms to help them unearth their passions and step back into their fierce, powerful selves, so they can live a life far bigger than just being Mom. However, she intentionally has kept her practice small, only working 10-15 hours a week, so that she can be the primary caretaker of her young daughter.   Her decision to reject the pressure to build the biggest business possible in order to have the balance that she so deeply wants is inspiring and a great lesson for anyone on their quitting journey. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why it's okay to explore and try out different paths until you find the right fit. The importance of being intentional about how you want your life to look and feel. How it's normal to experience Imposter's Syndrome. And so much more! Where to find Dona:   Website: http://www.nurturedmama.net Podcast: http://www.nurturedmama.net/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurturedmama/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurturedmamablog/ Resources Mentioned: http://www.nurturedmama.net/quitter Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

The path that many of us have been brought up to follow usually goes a little something like this: take the right classes, get the good grades, get into the prestigious school, graduate, and then find a high paying job. We're taught that it is a linear path that you stick to and climb to the top. Well, in today's episode, Phil Black teaches us why you should buck that wisdom. Phil has one of the most interesting careers we've ever highlighted on this show. His story is a testament to following your curiosities and always re-evaluating what is most important. Among his many accomplishments, Phil played D1 collegiate basketball at Yale, worked as an investor at Goldman Sachs, was a Navy Seal Officer, went to Harvard Business School, is a firefighter, entrepreneur, father, and more. While it wasn’t clear to him during his journey, he was gaining an incredibly useful skill: the ability to find his way into really competitive positions. This is, as Phil calls it, his “superpower” which later led him to create his current business venture, PrepWell Academy. The academy is an innovative approach to preparing high school students (and their parents) for the rigors of the college admissions process. His unique program is delivered online and focuses on the early preparation of students (freshman and sophomore year) interested in attending highly-selective colleges (e.g. Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.), military service academies (e.g. Naval Academy, West Point, etc.), and those seeking athletic or ROTC scholarships. Visit our website to enroll your child in one of our custom programs (Pathway, Ivy, Military, Athlete). Phil’s story is mindblowing and is a real testament to the fact that we’re allowed to start over not just once, but as many times as we want! Here is what we chat about in this episode: The process of how Phil reinvented himself multiple times. The importance of evaluating (and re-evaluating) your life. How Phil discovered his “superpower” and how it helped him build his current business. How it’s okay to never settle on the idea of pursuing one thing forever. And so much more! Where to find Phil:   Website:http://www.prepwellacademy.com/ Email: [email protected] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PrepWellAcademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepwell_academy/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipablack Resources mentioned in this episode: The Start Up Of You by Reid Hoffman What Are You Waiting For? by Nickelback Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

One of the biggest excuses around starting a new venture is lack of time. We are obsessed with being busy (and telling everyone else how busy we are!). Well, on today's episode, Steve Chou debunks that excuse. Steve ran multiple 6- and 7-figure businesses while maintaining his career as an electrical engineer! The secret? Plan for the long game and prioritize your time. Steve's entrepreneurial journey began back in 2007 when his wife got pregnant and wanted to quit her job. He actually enjoyed his job as an electrical engineer but they weren't going to be able to live off of one salary in the Bay Area. So they had to come up with a business that could replace her income. Their potential plans ranged from opening a Kumon franchise to a creating meal prep company, and more. Eventually, they chose to start an online E-commerce business selling handkerchiefs, called Bumblebee Linens. Keep in mind that this was before everyone was selling on Amazon and there were a million tools like shopify. Through diving in head first with a limited set of skills, Steve began to put the pieces together through trial and error (even learning how to embroider). They ended up making over $100,000 in that first year. Because of their success, Steve began blogging about their experience at mywifequitherjob.com. Over the years, he added additional avenues to share what he's learned and teach others how to do the same. He eventually started a podcast, an online course, and a conference. He has since grown each of these platforms to 6- or 7-figure businesses. But the most amazing part of this journey is that Steve didn't leave his full-time job until 2016 - almost 10 years after the official launch of their E-commerce store! I got to talk to him about how he was able to accomplish so much while he was still working, why he kept his job when he was making so much money from his side income, and more! Steve's story is a great reminder that you can plan that first step forward as much as you want, but you'll never truly know what will happen until you take that leap- and it doesn't have to be a giant one either! Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why they chose to go the E-commerce route How to make better use of your time What it took to create their online businesses How it cay pay off to play for the long game Why you don't need to have everything figured out right away to take that first step And so much more! Where to find Steve:   Shop: https://bumblebeelinens.com Blog: https://MyWifeQuitHerJob.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywifequit Online Course: https://profitableonlinestore.com/ Conference: http://sellerssummit.com/ Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Today I have the honor of talking to Dave Hollis, CEO of The Hollis Company. If you’re living under a rock and haven’t heard yet of Dave or, his wife, Rachel Hollis, just know that they are on a tour of world domination to help every person become a better version of themselves.   Rachel has been building a career, first, in the lifestyle blog space and, more recently, in the personal development arena for the past 15 years. She has 2 New York Times Best-Selling books (Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing), is one of the most sought after motivational speakers, has 2 top-rated podcasts, and has been called the female Tony Robbins.   Dave stepped in as CEO of The Hollis Company just 10 months ago to lead the expansion plans in the next, exciting phase — focusing on media (books/podcasts/live coaching/radio/tv), live events and merchandise.   But before taking on this role, Dave had an incredibly successful 17-year career at the Walt Disney Company which culminated in his role as President of Theatrical Distribution. Dave was in charge of global theatrical sales for Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucas film. During his tenure, Disney had industry breaking records such as the first $7 billion in global ticket sales in one year and the only studio to cross $6 billion two years in a row.   His job was, by all accounts, “the dream” -- high paying, high glamour, highly respected. And yet, I talked to Dave about why it became unfulfilling and how he came to the decision to walk away. This episode is full of inspiration and incredible wisdom about how we all should be approaching our lives. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why the very thing that made Dave’s role at Disney a dream job was the thing that ultimately led him to quit What 3 circumstances in his life at the time led Dave to decide to make the leap How a conversation about personal development with Rachel changed the trajectory of his life Why you should be honoring the struggle What Dave would have done if he didn’t have the opportunity to run the Hollis Company What it’s like to work with your wife And so much more!   Where to find Dave:   Website: www.theholliscompany.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrdavehollis Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrdavehollis Podcast: Rise Together   Resources Mentioned in this episode: Mindset, by Carol Dweck   Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast  

We're usually sold on the idea that once we achieve x, y, or z then we'll finally be happy, but that isn't always the case. When Annie saw her mom's experience as a lawyer, it was cemented in her mind that she must follow the same path. It wasn't until she landed her dream job at her dream company that something didn't feel right. Despite everything looking picture perfect on the outside, she could feel it in her gut that this wasn't where she was supposed to be. Something was still missing. Luckily, Annie met her future partner, Annabelle, at the same law firm in Miami. They both shared a love of candles and wanted to find a way to make them more personalized for gifts. The two became instant friends (can you say, soul sisters?). The A-team connected first through design: they both decorated their offices to perfection--from gold staplers (yes, all gold everything) to luxurious candles. But they soon bonded on a deeper Level: their gift for all things thoughtful. It wasn’t long before TAJA was born. TAJA Collection launched in June 2017, to create what was missing from the market: customizable home accessories. Their business focuses on both e-commerce and wholesale. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why she felt drawn to the path of becoming a lawyer How everything suddenly changed when she got her dream job How a common interest in candles sparked the idea for their company How they utilized their local female network to help get the word out about their business And so much more! Where to find Annie:   Website: https://tajacollection.com/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tajatribe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajacollection/?hl=en Resources mentioned: Coupon code for TAJA Collection: GOLI15 Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

I love Dawn’s story! Did you know that you could even be a professional crafter?! I didn’t. And, actually, neither did Dawn. She started out her career in the corporate world and ended up leaving when she had her second child. She had every intention of going back to work when her children were in school.   But because her daughters had special needs, Dawn needed to stay at home much longer. When her daughters were grown, Dawn was looking for something to occupy her time and decided to teach crafting at her local community center. Given her love of crafting, this hobby was a great way to earn a bit of extra money while doing something she loved.   However, through networking, volunteering, and a lot of hard work, Dawn turned that hobby into a full-time career. Dawn is now a professional crafter, vlogger and podcaster based on the New South Wales Central Coast of Australia. She has worked in the Australian craft industry for well over a decade, creating projects for craft magazines and brands across a variety of craft mediums. She has hosted an Australian papercrafting television show, spoken at The Artful Business Conference about how video is a valuable tool for enhancing the customer experience.  She has an online store selling craft supplies, teaches in collaboration with other businesses locally, and just launched The Craft Room Podcast. Find out exactly how she made that jump on the episode today! Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why she left the corporate world to stay at home with her children Why her plan to go back to the corporate world didn’t really work out How she got involved in the craft community How she went from just a hobbyist to a professional crafter How networking really helped her career take off And so much more!   Where to find Dawn:   Website: http://www.dawnlewis.com.au Email - [email protected] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DawnLewisImagery YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/DawnLewisPaints Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dawnlewisimagery   Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Typically, on this show, we feature stories of people who have quit their careers and started over in a completely different field. I’m so excited to talk to Nicole on this episode to show that you don’t have to do that. If you like the field that you’re in but want something more, be it flexibility, more money, more ownership etc, it is time to think outside of the box.   Nicole started out her healthcare PR career in 2002 at a large medical device company, Guidant Corporation, where she learned the trade for 5 years. When the company was acquired by Abbott in 2006, Nicole was no longer allowed to keep her part-time status. Because she wanted the flexibility of staying at home with her kids and having a career, Nicole quit her job and started her career as a medtech PR consultant, working primarily with startups to launch their companies and products. She hired her first fulltime employee in 2016. Today her agency has approximately 20 employees and offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Orange County.   Nicole is also a founding member of MedtechWomen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to highlighting women leaders in the medical technology industry. She was named a 2015 PR Executive of the Year by the Business Intelligence Group and is a finalist for PR News' 2019 Top Women in Healthcare Awards.   We talk all about how taking that jump, and knowing how to value yourself, led Nicole to create an incredible business that also gave her the flexibility she wanted. Here is what we chat about in this episode: How to recognize the value you bring in your career and how to charge accordingly How she realized it was time to make the jump Why setting up a business isn’t as difficult as people make it seem. How freelancers can provide a lot of value that companies can’t provide Why you shouldn’t work for free Why the riches are in the niches How she grew her company from being a single consultant to 20 employees Why she believes in investing in yourself even if you’re not making money yet And much more! Where to find Nicole:   Website: https://healthandcommerce.com/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoleosmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleosmer/     Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast  

One of Steve Jobs’ most popular quotes is “You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”   Nowhere is that principle proven truer than in John’s life and career. He grew up the son of immigrant farmers and saw first hand the hard work, sacrifice, and struggles his parents had to go through in life. So you can imagine how well-received his decision was to drop out of his Engineering program in college to join an internet startup. But John promised his mom that if it didn’t work out, he’d go back to school and become a doctor.   While he had some initial success with the startup, it eventually folded in the internet bubble burst in the early 2000s. As you’ll hear, John credits that failure as one of the best things that could have happened to him. He went back to UCLA to finish his Engineering degree and became an engineer for Boeing. Most people would have just stopped there. But wanting to make good on his promise to his mom, John decided to go back to school to become a dentist. He not only became a dentist but went on to specialize in orthodontics.   During that schooling, John met his current co-founder, Dr. Hongsheng Tong, and they began developing a product that would place braces behind the teeth in order to make them invisible. After he received his degree, John began working as the managing orthodontist for Bristol Dental and Orthodontics. But he kept working on this invisible brace product and company on nights and weekends.   Eventually, John became the CEO and co-founder of Swift Health Systems and is bringing disruptive change to the orthodontics industry with INBRACE. His past startup experience coupled with his specialized knowledge of orthodontics makes him uniquely qualified to lead such an innovative company. And in under 2 years, John has helped to raise $25 million dollars and grow the company to 75 employees! Incredible, to say the least!   There is so much we get into this episode, so you definitely don’t want to miss it!   Here is what we chat about in this episode: How John’s upbringing affected his view on work and life Why he decided to drop out of college to pursue the internet startup craze How the failure of that tech startup impacted him Why he decided to become a dentist when he had a good career as an engineer How he started his current business and how he’s grown it so fast How mentors have shaped his life How he became clear on his “why” and how that drives him, and more! Where to find Dr. John Pham:   Website: https://myinbrace.com/   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pham-dds-ms-999a274/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinbrace/ Email: [email protected]     Resources mentioned in this episode   John C. Maxwell, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership     Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

The goal in life is to be happy, right? Well, maybe not. Today on the show, we have the incredible Dr. Zelana Montminy, a clinical psychologist and reformed happiness researcher. Dr. Zelana used to focus on how people could be happier in their lives but she quickly found, through her research, that the more we obsess over happiness in our society, the more people are unhappy. She saw that the people that were content and fulfilled in their lives were the ones that were resilient to whatever life threw at them.   Dr. Zelana is now a renowned wellness architect, providing an unparalleled realistic perspective rooted in science. Whether it’s as a bestselling author, working with celebrities, hosting a television show, or leading a transformational retreat, Dr. Zelana is paving the way for mental fitness. A prominent figure in Positive Psychology and one of Maria Shriver’s Architects of Change, Dr. Zelana is the author of bestselling 21 Days to Resilience. She speaks around the world and is a go-to authority in the media appearing on Access Live, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors and more. She also makes ongoing contributions to the pages of Real Simple Magazine, Health Magazine, Redbook, Better Home & Gardens, and the list goes on.   I love this conversation with Dr. Zelana about why resilience is so important and how we can build it in our lives.   Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why we shouldn’t focus on happiness but rather try to build up our resilience What resilience actually is and how to start building it How to know when your unhappiness should lead to change v. when to weather the storm What actionable steps can you take to build resilience What is the difference between habits and goals How to build resilience in your kids, and more Where to find Dr. Zelana:   Website: www.drzelana.com Instagram: @dr.zelana email: [email protected] Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast