Lydia and I explore how to manage the emotional toll of career shifts, identify the transferable skills you might be overlooking, and find your center amidst the uncertainty.
Ep272: From Setback to Comeback: Finding Strength in the Hardest Moments | with Bevin Farrand
Bevin and I talk about what it really means to acknowledge grief and uncertainty, why toxic positivity can do more harm than good, and the first steps to take when you feel paralyzed by everything happening around you.
Ep271: How to Keep Moving Forwards After You’ve Lost Everything | with Christina Rasmussen
Christina shares valuable insight on how to cope when back-to-back losses shake the foundation of our creative lives, leaving us questioning who we are and what’s left to hold onto.
Ep270: How to Thrive As an Introverted Creative (In a World Designed For Extroverts) | with Jennifer Kahnweiler
Jennifer reveals that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of changing who you are. We explore how introverts can thrive on their own terms, not by forcing themselves to be extroverted, but by fully embracing their strengths.
Ep269: Navigating the Messy Middle of a Career Pivot | with Sandy Zimmerman
Sandy shares the mindset shifts that gave her the confidence to take the leap, along with the strategies she still relies on to overcome challenges, stay focused, and continue growing in her new career.
Ep268: [Case Study] From the FBI to Hollywood: Anatomy of An Unlikely Career Pivot | with Kathy Robinson
Kathy opens up about the fears she had to overcome to pursue a completely new career and how she found her “tribe” through the Optimizer community.
Ep267: [CASE STUDY] How to Diversify Your Creative Skills and Experience to Build Multiple Income Streams | with Krysia Szyszlo
Krysia highlights the parallels between dating, networking, and job hunting, offering practical advice and fresh perspectives that resonate across both personal and professional journeys.
Ep266: How to Approach Difficult Conversations In Polarizing Times | with Justin Jones-Fosu
Justin shares actionable strategies and mindset shifts from his book, offering a way to approach disagreements that prioritize respect, collaboration, and mutual understanding.
Ep265: Unemployed? Burned Out? Or Both? How to Manage a Career Break | with Laura Nguyen
Laura and I delve into why even a lack of work can lead to burnout—how the uncertainty, panic, and self-doubt that follow job loss can weigh just as heavily as being overworked.
Ep264: The Dumpster Fire of 2024, Predictions for 2025, and The Future of Creativity | with Zack Arnold
I, Zack Arnold, the usual host of Optimize Yourself, step into the guest seat to give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what 2024 was like for me and my team.
Ep263: The Art of the Pivot: Going From Freelancer to Entrepreneur | with Nick Milo
Nick’s journey from Hollywood to helping others harness their creativity is a testament to the power of diversification and the value of transferring skills across industries.
Ep262: How to Work with Challenging Colleagues Without Losing Your Mind (or your job) | with Amy Gallo
Amy explains why collaboration is essential and highlights the importance of developing the skill to get along with others to achieve our best work.
Ep261: Meetings Don’t Have to Suck: Learn a Better Way to Create and Collaborate | with Dr. Steven Rogelberg
Dr. Rogelberg shares how you can reclaim your time, energy, and creativity using different strategies to make meetings productive, engaging, and even (dare I say) enjoyable.
Ep260: How to Build Collaborative Cultures & Fix Toxic Creative Environments | with Chris Deaver
In our conversation, Chris and I explore what the culture of co-creation entails and how it has benefited early adopters like Apple.
Ep259: Overcoming Communication Fears for Introverted Creatives | with Bridget Sampson
Bridget shares her own journey from being traumatized and terrified by early public speaking experiences to becoming a confident communicator.