Career Can Do

What can leaders learn from elite athletes, and how can they navigate leadership shock in the ever-changing work world? In this Career Can Do podcast episode, host Mary Ann Faremouth delves into these questions with leadership and innovation expert Pete Steinberg. Through their insightful conversation, listeners gain valuable insights on maximizing potential, differentiating between stress and leadership shock, and the importance of building relationships in the workplace. Join Mary Ann and Pete as they explore the intersection of high performance in sports and business, offering practical advice for individuals seeking to excel in their careers. Have you heard of leadership shock? Pete and Mary Ann discuss the concept of leadership shock and stress. Leadership shock occurs when there is a significant change in a leader's context, such as a new role or organizational shift, leading to feelings of confusion and inefficiency. On the other hand, stress is seen as a temporary pressure that can actually help individuals perform better. By differentiating between the two, leaders can address the root causes of their challenges and work towards more effective leadership strategies. Traditional hiring practices focus on experience. Pete’s ideas on hiring successfully are rather different. He emphasizes the importance of hiring based on attributes rather than solely focusing on experience. Commitment, passion, attention to detail, and innovation are key qualities to look for in potential candidates. While experience and skills can be developed over time, attributes are inherent traits that can significantly impact an individual's performance and contribution to the organization. Relationships are key both in work and life. Mary Ann and Pete dive into the significance of building relationships in the workplace, especially in the current post-COVID work environment. Pete highlights the value of face-to-face interactions and creating a sense of purpose when employees come into the office. Strong relationships can enhance employee engagement, productivity, and overall satisfaction. Building a culture of meaningful interactions and teamwork can contribute to the success and longevity of the business. Resources Pete Steinberg | Website | LinkedIn Faremouth.com

What if you could transform your life and career through the power of travel? Join Mary Ann Faremouth on this episode of Career Can Do as she sits down with Cindy Peck, the mastermind behind Traveling Texans. Cindy shares how traveling with a group can lead to new friendships, exposure to different cultures, and personal growth. With over 15 years of experience as a travel agent, Cindy has organized unforgettable trips that have left a lasting impact on the lives of many. Discover the benefits of group travel, the importance of camaraderie in healthy aging, and how exploring the world can enhance your creativity and productivity in the workplace. Traveling in a group offers numerous benefits, such as making new friends and experiencing new cultures. Cindy Peck, the founder of Traveling Texans, emphasizes the importance of camaraderie and new friendships as part of healthy aging. She states, "the group environment and making new friends is part of healthy aging." Traveling with a group also provides safety, convenience, and competitive pricing, so you can explore the world and build lasting connections with like-minded individuals. Travel allows networking opportunities and potential professional connections you might not have otherwise. "You never know what's going to come from taking a trip," Mary Ann says, and shares her own story of unexpected networking and job opportunities while on a cruise. One job candidate even impressed a potential employer by bonding over a shared love of Paris. At Traveling Texans, Cindy makes sure to welcome people of all ages from around the world, expanding that potential network even more. Traveling in a group not only enriches your life with new experiences but also contributes to personal growth and well-being. Mary Ann reflects on how her trip with Traveling Texans inspired creativity, relaxation, and a sense of rejuvenation. She notes, "I came back from this trip so inspired, so rested, so much more creative." By stepping out of your comfort zone, exploring new destinations, and forming meaningful connections, you can enhance your overall well-being and cultivate personal growth. Resources Cindy Peck on LinkedIn | Traveling Texans Instagram | Traveling Texans Meetup Page Faremouth.com

What can working with Hollywood stars like Woody Harrelson and Rod Steward teach you about creativity in the workplace? In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth is joined by Nir Bashan, an award-winning entrepreneur with a long history of experience in advertising and entertainment. His message is clear: creativity is critical in the workplace. Everyone has the potential to be creative; it just takes a little effort and space to allow that creativity to flourish. Nir's book, The Creator Mindset, offers a recipe for success by encouraging individuals to make time for creativity in their daily lives. He suggests allocating time in your calendar specifically for creative thinking, as regular practice can lead to innovative solutions and a balanced approach to work. Nir highlights the importance of balancing creativity with analytics, as both are essential for personal and professional growth. Creativity is not limited to traditional artistic fields like music or film, nor is it limited to artistic types like painters and graphic artists. The heart of creativity in the workplace involves looking at problems from a different perspective and finding innovative solutions. By stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing discomfort, you can unlock new opportunities for growth and success. Nir also emphasizes the value of honesty and transparency in the hiring process. He encourages employers to look beyond the checkboxes on a resume and consider candidates' potential for growth and development. There's a massive, untapped talent pool filled with U.S. military veterans who bring valuable skills like discipline and adaptability to the workforce. Overall, Nir's message is clear: creativity, honesty, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone are key ingredients for success in the new work world. Resources Nir Bashan on the Web | The Creator Mindset Faremouth.com

Are you struggling to find the right career path that aligns with your strengths and passions? In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth is joined by Shell Mendelson, a seasoned expert in counseling and author of "A Course for ADHD Adults and Teens: Unlock Your Career Path." Shell's unique approach focuses on helping individuals, especially those with ADHD, develop confidence and clarity in their career choices. Join us as we uncover the importance of mindset, self-accommodation in the workplace, and the journey to finding a fulfilling and sustainable career direction. Self-awareness plays a crucial role in career development, especially for individuals with ADHD. Shell emphasizes the importance of identifying what conditions work and don't work for you in the workplace. By creating a self-accommodation plan based on these insights, you can prioritize their needs and align them with your career goals. This process not only empowers you to advocate for yourself but also helps you find a work environment that resonates with your strengths and preferences. Shell speaks from experience. She shares how understanding herself was key to thriving in her professional journey. Those with ADHD often possess unique strengths, such as creativity and flexibility, that can be valuable assets in the workplace. It is key for you to find a career path that allows you to leverage your strengths effectively, so you can tailor your career choices to align with your natural inclinations and preferences. Not only will you enhance your job satisfaction, but also, you’ll be able to make more meaningful contributions in your field. While it is valuable to gain industry knowledge and experience in corporate settings first, many people with ADHD gravitate toward entrepreneurship and self-employment, either as a direct choice or as a natural part of career progression. They prefer working independently because it allows them more control over their work environment, how and when they show up, and the best way to leverage their creativity and flexibility. Resources Shell Mendelson on the Web | LinkedIn | Facebook | “Unlock Your Career Path: A Course for ADHD Adults and Teens” Faremouth.com

In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth is joined by Merritt Chastain, Executive Director of the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators (NAPCA), to discuss the transformative power of niche networking and the unique opportunities it brings to your career journey. Being part of a specialized platform like NAPCA allows for deeper connections, creating a supportive community where members can learn, grow, and succeed together. In a world where specialization is key, embracing platforms like NAPCA can lead to unparalleled advancement in your career. One of the best ways to begin niche networking is to attend industry events and conventions, where you can build meaningful relationships that lead directly to new career prospects and collaborations in your field. In addition, you’ll be able to stay updated on industry trends, share your own knowledge, and develop your skills. Together, these benefits can propel your career to new heights. Merritt shares insider knowledge about how NAPCA holds its conventions, making them incredibly valuable to attendees. By featuring high caliber experts who discuss critical topics such as hydrogen transportation and cybersecurity in the pipeline industry, NAPCA ensures that members stay informed and engaged with the latest advancements. Making every event relevant, timely, and valuable encourages members to attend more upcoming events, enabling them to build long-term relationships within the industry. There’s more to niche platforms than networking. There’s also a sense of community. Industry communities offer a supportive and inclusive environment where members can forge lasting friendships and personal connections. NAPCA ensures their events are family-friendly, making community building even easier and creating a sense of belonging and camaraderie. By combining business opportunities with social interactions, NAPCA provides a holistic experience that benefits its members personally and professionally. Resources Merritt Chastain on LinkedIn | NAPCA Faremouth.com

In this episode of Career Can Do, Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier joins Mary Ann Faremouth to discuss how resilience is the key to overcoming burnout and becoming your best self. Dr. Pelletier, an award-winning mental health expert, draws on her clinical practice and extensive corporate experience to provide insights on building resilience in the face of challenges. As an employment recruiter for over 30 years, Marianne understands the importance of resilience in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world. Together, they explore practical strategies and a resilience plan to help individuals thrive in their careers. Tune in to this episode to discover how to tap into your resilience and unlock your limitless potential. Resilience is essential in navigating the new work world. Dr. Pelletier emphasizes the significance of resilience in overcoming challenges and burnout in today's fast-paced and constantly changing work environment. She highlights the need for individuals to invest in self-awareness and develop a strategic resilience plan that considers their values, strengths, and current context. By creating a realistic and implementable plan, individuals can increase their self-efficacy and effectively navigate transitions to achieve career success. Building empowering beliefs and taking strategic actions are key to career success. Dr. Pelletier discusses the importance of holding empowering beliefs and being strategic in one's approach to career development. By cultivating self-awareness and identifying transferable skills, individuals can present themselves confidently and adapt to new roles or industries. She emphasizes the need to focus on realistic and achievable actions, such as building a support network and prioritizing self-care, to increase self-efficacy and create positive outcomes in the job search process. Success is not solely determined by qualifications or experience but by the mindset and proactive approach we bring to our professional journeys. Embrace resilience, cultivate empowering beliefs, and take strategic actions, we can navigate the new work world with confidence and achieve long-term career success. Resources Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier on the Web | LinkedIn | Instagram | “The Resilience Plan” Book Faremouth.com

What does it take to unlock your full potential and achieve career success? In this episode of Career Can Do, Pamela McCown joins Mary Ann Faremouth in this episode of Career Can Do to share some surprising insights on how to do just that. Pamela is a past international director of Toastmasters, a renowned organization that helps individuals develop their communication and leadership skills. With her extensive experience and expertise, Pamela will discuss the benefits of joining Toastmasters and how it can help you navigate the new work world. From refining your speaking skills to cultivating friendships and continuous learning, Toastmasters offers a supportive environment for personal and professional growth. Pamela shares how Toastmasters can help you refine speaking skills, improve listening and thinking skills, and enhance communication abilities. Toastmasters also offers opportunities for networking, cultivating friendships, and continuous learning and leadership training. The organization fosters a supportive learning environment where members receive immediate feedback and suggestions for improvement. Toastmasters is seen as a valuable resource for personal and professional development, helping individuals become better versions of themselves. Listening is a crucial component of effective communication. In Toastmasters, members learn to understand their audience and listen to their needs and preferences. This skill is transferable to the work world, where employees must comprehend their company's goals and expectations. By actively listening and thinking about how to add value based on what they have heard, individuals can effectively communicate their message and demonstrate their worth to employers or colleagues. Toastmasters encourages the development of listening skills to enhance overall communication abilities. Everyone knows how critical networking is to your career. Organizations like Toastmasters provides a platform for individuals to connect with professionals from various backgrounds and industries. These connections can lead to valuable relationships, mentorship opportunities, and even job prospects. The episode emphasizes the importance of building a network and how Toastmasters can facilitate this process. By engaging with fellow members and participating in club activities, individuals can expand their professional circle and open doors to new opportunities. Resources Pamela LinkedIn Toastmasters | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | X(Twitter) Faremouth.com

Is your plan for a career path nothing more than a list of vague aspirations? What if you could create a concrete plan and gain the skills that will help you achieve the career success you’re hoping for? Mark Herschberg joins Mary Ann Faremouth in this episode of Career Can Do and shares his insights on how to navigate the new work world. Mark is an instructor at MIT and the author of the book "The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success No One Taught You." They discuss a common mistake in creating a career plan, how to adapt to the changing landscape of AI, and the importance of the ‘firm skills’ no one taught you. Mark emphasizes the need for individuals to have a career plan rather than simply hoping for promotions or advancements. "So many people, when they ask themselves about their careers or others ask, they might say, well, I'd like to be a VP, and I'm a director of whatever, or a senior… And that's the plan. Their entire plan is, “I hope one day to get this promotion or get to that level.” That's not a plan." Mark also suggests discussing the plan with one's company and being open to the idea that the plan may lead to transitioning to a different job in the future. Mark discusses the concerns surrounding AI and its potential to automate tasks and replace jobs. He offers a different perspective on how you can stay relevant in your career. “You want to be very strategic… understand how those tasks will evolve, what will go away, what will stay, and what new tasks will come in.” Mark advises people to evaluate which tasks are high-value and hard to automate, as well as low-value tasks that can be automated. By focusing on high-value tasks and understanding the evolving nature of your role, you can adapt and position yourself for long-term career success. Your career development plan shouldn’t be created in a vacuum. Mark emphasizes the importance of discussing career plans with employers and managers. He believes employers should work together with employees to find mutually beneficial solutions. As an employer, he shares some of the discussions he’s had with employees who want to transition to different roles or even different companies. By fostering open communication and understanding, employers can create a supportive environment that encourages growth and development. Resources Mark Herschberg on LinkedIn | The Career Toolkit| BrainBumpApp Faremouth.com

Mary Ann Faremouth is joined today by Eric Liu, a past District Governor of Rotary International, a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe. The organization believes in the shared responsibility of individuals to take action in addressing the world's most persistent issues by promoting peace, providing clean water, fighting disease, supporting education, and more. Eric Liu's journey with Rotary began at the age of 41, when he had established his career and was looking to give back to the community. Eric found Rotary’s non-religious, nonpolitical approach to be the perfect platform for his philanthropic aspirations. Eric explains, "Because we're international, we're able to go into any country doing good work to help people. And because we're nonpolitical, many countries will let Rotary get in to do work." Rotary doesn’t just make a difference in the world. It makes a difference in the lives of its members. With the divisions in the world today, Rotary brings people together in a way that transcends generation, class, and culture, and gives them the opportunity to become better leaders, communicators, and team players. Members connect around shared values, providing opportunities that go beyond their work in Rotary, including networking among employers and job-seekers. “The people I've met in this organization are top notch, wonderful, wonderful people,” Eric says. If you’re interested in joining Rotary, visit their website at Rotary.org. “Every club has slightly different culture, and you can find one that matches you,” Eric says. The global directory of clubs on the website caters to many different schedules, lifestyles, and commitments. Additionally, for those who prefer a more tailored approach, you can email Rotary directly for a more customized match. Resources Eric Liu on X (Twitter) | Rotary International | Citizen University Faremouth.com

Elle Ballard, founder and Executive Director of the Women of the World Network, joins Mary Ann Faremouth on this episode of Career Can Do to share her insights on empowering multinational women. Elle's journey from corporate marketing to establishing a thriving community to advance the professional and personal growth of women worldwide is indeed inspirational. In this episode, Elle reflects on the inception of Women of the World, its significant achievements, and her plans for the future. Elle's journey from Kazakhstan to corporate America fueled her passion for creating a supportive space for women building businesses in new countries. The Women of the World Network, with 22 represented countries, is a result of her vision. The community provides visibility and partnership opportunities, fostering collaboration among its members. Elle tells Mary Ann, “Women of the World Network is really where my heart is, my way of giving back to humanity, to elevate and support women in their businesses.” Women of the World boasts various achievements, including publishing 3 books and having 45 authors achieving bestselling status. The organization boasts over 10 member events monthly and a podcast featuring extraordinary women. Elle announces the addition of international retreats, starting with Turkey in the spring. Their fourth book dedicated to women in business will soon be published, and a deep-dive program is imminent. The E Academy is an opportunity for members to showcase their skills and expertise through webinars and workshops. Elle emphasizes the platform's flexibility, allowing members to organize events at their own pace. This initiative not only promotes networking but also helps members build their businesses. Mary Ann and Elle discuss Elle’s unique approach to personal and professional growth. Elle stresses the importance of taking time for yourself. She encourages listeners to ask, ‘What do I want?’ as a foundational step towards creating a fulfilling life. “We can create anything we desire …if we are intentional with it,” she remarks. Elle emphasizes the beauty of the journey of life itself, advising listeners to keep an open mind and be adaptable. “Being flexible and having an open mind, that's the key to everything in life, I believe,” she says. As Women of the World approaches its 5th anniversary, Elle expresses gratitude and invites listeners to join their upcoming conference in California on March 9, promising an in-person event filled with inspiration and growth opportunities. Resources Elle Ballard on Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Women of the World Network Faremouth.com