#519: Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and leadership development consultant. She’s worked with organizations such as Deloitte, Cisco Systems and Aon Hewitt and has over 20 years of experience working with leaders at all levels. Amy earned a Masters of Science in Training and Development (MSTD), with an emphasis in Organization Development (OD), from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. She is a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA), a certified Tiara International LLC Coach and certified in the Meyers-Briggs Type Instrument. Amy’s second book, The Cour ..read more

#518:  I dove headfirst into finance for one reason. Money. As a 20 year old I simply neglected who I was, and looked to go to the place I could make a lot of money. How ignorant. I ignored my real talents. Despite natural skills in writing, speaking, and presenting, I chose the expected path. Here’s the truth: Our system, from college to career, often buries our genuine strengths under a pile of “shoulds.” It took me too long to listen, to unearth those dormant skills, and truly embrace them. Why share this? Because you, too, have untapped potential, overshadowed by what you’ve been told ..read more

#517: Welcome, everyone, to another episode of The Break podcast, where we delve into the depths of resilience, flexibility, and overcoming life's obstacles. I'm your host, Mike, and today's conversation promises to be nothing short of enlightening. Today, we're exploring a topic that resonates with each and every one of us - setbacks. Life's unexpected twists and turns can knock us off course, but it's how we respond to these challenges that defines our journey forward. You know, we often envision our paths as linear journeys, guided by societal norms and expectations. But what happens when l ..read more

#516:  In chasing “success” we forget what it is to just be human. I feel like my struggles have been about getting back to just being a person. I don’t want to just succeed at some line of work that no one will remember. I don’t want to just save for retirement that might not ever come. I don’t want to be one dimensional. I want to be a Full Stack Human. What does that mean ..read more

#515:  Heyooo, So The World Economic Forum recently released their top 10 "skills for the future of work." Guess what made the list: flexibility, adaptability and resilience. Why are those so important to the WEF? Because the WEF knows that the future is changing rapidly, and companies need employees who can thrive in a rapidly changing environment. The job market and the world at large are changing quickly, and what served you yesterday likely won't serve you in the future - especially if you're already thinking about how you can make a change NOW. I talk about being unbreakable as a sta ..read more

#514:  You can do anything, but you can’t do everything. You must choose your path with the best odds. Look there's 2 places people start when creating options: "I have no options. I can't imagine what else I could do." "I can do anything! How do I choose?" It's work to realize that neither starting point is reality, but once you do you begin to see that the path to creating options starts with thinking about our odds ..read more

#513: Welcome back to another episode of The Break podcast, the space where we unpack the remarkable stories of individuals who've faced life's challenges head-on. I'm your host, Mike, and today's conversation is one that you don't want to miss. Our guest today is Danielle Cobo, a powerhouse in resilience, courage, and unwavering determination. Before we dive into the heart of her story, a little sneak peek caught my attention recently – Danielle's truck. It's not just a vehicle; it's a symbol. We'll unravel the story behind it in just a moment. Now, for our audience, if you're seeking inspira ..read more

#512:  I got fired in the middle of a meeting. Well, I was told the next day, but it happened in that meeting. I knew it. What a terrible feeling. I was up all night, walking the streets of Seattle in the dark by myself. My mind racing between panic and planner modes. I need a job Can I even get a job? Why did this happen? Who do I reach out to? How much runway do I have? What do I tell my wife and kids? Fortunately, my terror was short lived and I pivoted into a FT, highly paid consulting role within 30 days. Because I was ready and flexible. Here’s how to pick up on the signs you’re abo ..read more

#511:  FUD = Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. The triad that keeps us from betting on ourselves. And keeps us on the incremental path to nowhere. I used to be a FUD. I grew up in a very fiscally conservative household. My parents are well off, but massive penny pinchers. This isn’t bad, in fact it’s noble. However, saying no to even the slightest risk of losing isn’t great for personal growth. So naturally I was extremely risk averse for the first 20 years of my life. Until I learned about the BARBELL strategy. Here it is, and how it can help you take more bold action (that seems risky) to go af ..read more

#509:  I thought a lot about how we can build our capacity to take action towards what WE want. That can seem scary because we fear what other people will think, and we think we are RISKING a lot. After all, if what we want is different than our peers, doesn't that make us an outsider? Weird? A loner? We've all heard the expression “no risk no reward.” But if you’re not learning to take risk, you’re missing out on much more: No risk no confidence. No risk no growth. No risk no learning. No risk no momentum. No risk no change. No risk no freedom. No risk no happiness. Somehow our society h ..read more