Career Blast in a Half

How To Not Diss The Dream I Mitch Mathews

How Not To Diss The Dream | Mitch Matthews
What happens when high achievers stop dreaming?
In this episode, Mitch Matthews—speaker, coach, and host of the Dream Think Do podcast—shares why reconnecting with your dreams isn’t optional, it’s essential. From navigating career pivots to understanding the neuroscience behind our emotions, Mitch unpacks how small experiments, emotional honesty, and defining your “why” are key to building momentum and real growth.
This isn’t about lofty ideas—it’s about taking actionable steps to make dreams real.
From Burnout to Breakthrough
Mitch reveals how the dream was once “kicked out” of him—and why that's more common than you'd think. Together, we explore how experiences, not just ambitions, can bring clarity, and why emotional indicators shouldn’t be ignored.
This episode isn’t just a pep talk. It’s a practical roadmap for anyone who wants to stop stalling and start moving.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro 03:12 – The Importance of Experiences Over Dreams 06:13 – Navigating Career Transitions and Inner Struggles 08:46 – The Science of Dreaming and Neuroscience Insights 12:02 – Small Experiments and Micro Actions 14:52 – Testing and Iterating on Your Dreams 17:54 – The Power of Exponential Thinking 21:09 – Maintaining Momentum in the Face of Challenges 24:13 – Understanding Your Why and Learning from Failure 27:04 – Prioritizing Dreams and Taking Action
Follow Mitch: 🔗 LinkedIn 🌐 Website
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Teacher to Google Big Tech | Keith Anderson

Teacher to Google Big Tech | Keith Anderson
What separates those who talk about making a big move – even a pivot from those who actually do it?
Being unreasonable. Tenacious and not quitting when that goal is non-negotiable. 
Keith Anderson - was an English teacher – with a love for linguistics (find out why this matters and how he used it) making $27k annually.  With sights on working at Google and a coach who told him it was impossible. His fire was lit. 
How’d he do it? That’s what this episode is all about. 
From Futility to Strategy
Keith started out messaging 125 strangers with "I see you work at Google. Can you refer me?" That landed with 125 rejections.
Trials and errors brought on the breakthrough when he stopped treating his job search like a transaction:
He spoke like an insider using industry vernacular that signaled belonging
He humanized his resume by placing quirky personal details (like winning a pie competition) at the top
He limited rejection exposure by confining job search activities to 2 hours daily
He measured progress objectively rather than emotionally
The results - hardly overnight –  but earned positions at Google, and later worked at Facebook, YouTube, and Uber.
The Reality Behind the Dream
The fantasy of "making it" quickly gave way to the reality of long hours and relentless production demands. Dreams achieved often look different than dreams imagined.
Your Excuses Don't Matter
"Don't believe what everyone says," Keith advises. "Don't believe everything you read. It's people's perception, their reality. But that doesn't need to be your reality."
While others debate whether the job market is good or bad, someone is getting hired somewhere today. Why not you?
"What's wrong with people," Keith says, "is they believe they can do well by just getting by when they need to aim for the highest."
The permission to be unreasonable in pursuit of what matters might be the only permission worth seeking.
 
You can hire Keith to help you with your job search https://careeralchemylab.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithand/LinkedIn
 
Chapters:
00:00 - 01:45 - Introduction01:45 - 04:18 - Keith's Background and Burnout04:18 - 09:01 - The Spark of Interest in Tech09:01 - 14:00 - The Job Search Strategy Evolution14:00 - 19:04 - Resume Transformation19:04 - 23:25 - Making Your Resume Human - Quirks Work23:25 - 27:16 - Handling Rejection and Almost Quitting27:16 - 30:25 - Reality Check at Google30:25 - 32:49 - Finding the Right Path in Tech32:49 - 37:00 - Key Advice for Career Transitions37:00 - 39:34 - Closing and Business Information
 
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The 411 on Ending Ageism and How YOU Can Make It Go Faster I Janine Vanderburg

The 411 on Ageism & How To End It Faster I Janine Vanderburg
 
For the life of me, given the choice between a strong, more profitable business and letting go of the back-assward stigma around age, the logic is clear. But is it? 
 
Like me, Janine Vanderburg isn’t shy about why the math isn’t mathing the business reasons why it’s about impact not age.. 
 
Here’s what you’ll find out: 
What employers don’t want you to know 
You think it's your resume that needs tweaking or  your interview techniques but What if the real obstacle was something entirely different?
What if the system itself was rigged against you in ways you've never considered—not because you're not qualified, but because of your date of birth. 
Who’s impacted by ageism, or who isn’t?
When there's a problem like ageism in hiring, it "goes in both directions." As Janine Vanderburg reveals, we're not just talking about discrimination against those 40-plus. "Youngerism" is equally "alive and kicking."
If you've been ghosted after interviews, if you've watched less qualified candidates get positions you were perfect for, it might not be you—it might be your birth year.
Let’s talk about the numbers they’re not talking about
Last year alone, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 16,000 complaints of age discrimination. When surveyed, over 80% of respondents believed they had experienced workplace age discrimination.
Even more shocking: Resume Builder's surveys found hiring managers systematically screen out both applicants over 60 AND those under 27.
And if you work with AI? 90% of hiring managers don't want to hire anybody over 35 for roles involving artificial intelligence—despite experienced professionals often being the best AI power users.
Three Places Ageism Is Sabotaging Your Career (And What to Do About It)
Inside your own mind: When you think "I'm too young/old for this position" before even applying
In hiring practices: When recruiters make assumptions about your abilities based solely on graduation dates
Embedded in systems: When AI screening tools filter you out before a human ever sees your application
The Demographic Shift That Will Change Everything
By 2030—just five years away—there will be more people over 65 than under 18. Companies unprepared for this reality will be scrambling for talent while others thrive.
Will you be positioned to capitalize on this inevitable shift?
What Smart Job Seekers Do Differently
As Janine advises, "You can be willing to fight to end ageism, and you can also try to preserve your financial security." Both can be true at once.
The wisest approach? Learn the unwritten rules, navigate the system strategically, and position yourself where your true value is recognized.
Listen now to discover how to turn what looks like an obstacle into your greatest competitive advantage.
Janine Vanderburg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinevanderburg/) is a Keynote Speaker, and Founder/Director of Changing the Narrative is the leading effort in the U.S. to change the way people think, talk and act about aging and ageism through evidence-based strategies and innovative public campaigns. Her end game? To end ageism."
 
Chapters:
00:00-01:32 - Introduction & The Firestarter
01:32-05:58 - Understanding the Landscape of Ageism
05:58-09:23 - Janine's Awakening to Ageism
09:23-10:41 - Cliff Notes from the Training
10:41-13:34 - Employer Messaging Shift
13:34-16:05 - The Math Isn't Mathing
16:05-18:14 - Progress & Reality Check
18:14-29:09 - Staying in the Fight Without Burning Out
 
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Someone's Getting Hired, Here's How To Make It You (In "Uncertain Times”) I Loren Greiff

In this me to you episode, I am delivering some tough love and strategic clarity for executives facing job search challenges in today's uncertain climate. 
Uncertainty isn't new, and someone will get hired despite the chaos - here are the 5 key take-aways to make sure it you. 
See uncertainty as feature, not a bugExtended interview processes are designed to find leaders who leverage uncertainty as an advantage. Companies want those who transform chaos, not merely endure it.
Scarcity is a lie, not the truthOpportunities haven't vanished; they've transformed. The problem isn't market scarcity but your perspective. Flip your viewpoint and find possibilities in unexpected places.
Campaign, don't just searchReframe from passive "searching" to active "campaigning." Treat your job hunt as a strategic business initiative. Apply agile methods: iterate, test, learn from failures.
You need to deepen connectionsIn uncertain times, companies seek referrals through trusted networks. Don't ask "who do you know?" but rather "who needs to know what I know?" - an approach focused on providing value.
Flaunt your battle scarsDon't hide struggles with crisis management - these experiences make you valuable. Perfection won't land you the job; authentic leadership will.
The future belongs to executives who move first, adapt quickly, and build value regardless of conditions. Someone will get hired - make it you.
Chapters:
00:01 - Introduction to uncertainty in the current job market
02:27 - Tough love about job search challenges
04:50 - How uncertainty creates opportunity
07:17 - The rise of temporary opportunities
09:21 - AI's impact on executive roles
11:25 - Breakthrough #1: Reframe your search as a campaign
13:46 - Breakthrough #2: Treat the world as your market
14:59 - Breakthrough #3: Focus on deeper connections
16:14 - Breakthrough #4: Be a leader of change
16:52 - The importance of personal branding
17:14 - Closing thoughts
 
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How to Make, Not Find Meaning to Matter I Matt Emerzian

The world is obsessed with metrics and status. But the most important currency is the one you’re missing. 
Most of us spend our careers chasing validation – titles and paychecks. I did too. So did our guest Matt Emerzian.
The brutal reality?
Your job search misery, corporate culture complaints, and endless pursuit of status are all symptoms of the same disease: 
The belief that mattering is something you find rather than something YOU make.
Think this theoretical? Think again: Get Matt’ 5 Frameworks to Make Your Life Matter
I-You-We Framework:
I Matter: Discover your uniqueness (there's only 1 of you among 8 billion!)
You Matter: Make the 38,000 daily choices count by connecting first
We Matter: Stop the self-help delusion - you're not on an island with a volleyball
Brutal Time Audit: What truly matters to you?Check your calendar. The gap between these two answers is why you feel empty.
Values as Weapons: When everything feels uncertain, non-negotiable values become your armor. 
The Self-Talk Intervention: Your internal dialogue is the most revealing data point of your life. Most of us wouldn't speak to enemies the way we speak to ourselves.
The Counterintuitive Path: The healing sequence is backwards: internal healing → relationship repair → serving others. Most get stuck at step one forever.
Culture Ownership Test: Stop pointing at "toxic culture" as if it's over there. You ARE the culture. 
Want to matter more? Start by making others matter more.
 
00:00 Intro
01:51 The Search for Meaning in Work
04:49 Matt's Journey to Finding Purpose
10:01 Understanding Mattering Beyond Clichés
14:34 Creating a Movement Around Mattering
22:11 Actionable Steps to Cultivate Mattering
26:03 The Power of Choice in Finding Meaning
 
Follow Matt:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-emerzian/
Website: https://www.matthewemerzian.com/
X: https://x.com/emerzian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewemerzian/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MEmerzian/
 
Like what you hear?  Subscribe and leave a 5-star review! 
Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show! 
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Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portfoliorocket/
Watch my podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/

How To Win Over Today’s Busiest and Pickiest Recruiters I Executive Recruiter Rick Kloete

Recruiting is big business ($10B) and that’s just at the executive level. 
They don’t work for you, they work for their clients and it’s hard. 
I know, I lived it. 
 
Today’s recruiters are busier and pickier than ever. 
They're not looking at your resume. They're looking through you. 
Bottom-First Screening: While you obsess over that job title, elite recruiters scroll directly to your volunteer work and recommendations. This is where they spot the difference between performers and pretenders.
The $10K Truth Bomb "If I handed you $10,000 for development right now, where would it go?" Hesitate? You're done. Your immediate answer reveals what you know you lack — and whether you're brave enough to admit it.
ARU: The Invisible Scorecard Appreciation. Respect. Understanding. Leaders who master this trinity don't chase loyalty — it hunts them down.
No Scars  = No Chance Perfect candidates terrify top recruiters. They want someone who's been burned to ashes and rebuilt themselves. Battle-tested. Not bubble-wrapped.
Team Credit = Instant Credibility The moment you say "I" instead of "we" when describing victories, you've exposed yourself as a corner-office liability.
Name The Bloody Moose: Address your "flaws" before they do. Age concerns? Throw it on the table first and reframe it as the seasoned judgment they desperately need.
 
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:16 Understanding Executive Talent
00:07:15 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence
00:10:03 Building a Strong Candidate Profile
00:13:53 How Candidates Can Work with Recruiters
00:16:41 Navigating Ageism in Recruitment
00:19:46 The Qualities of Effective Leaders
00:22:49 The Value of Vulnerability and Authenticity
00:25:48 The Changing Landscape of Employment
00:28:38 Overcoming Adversity in Leadership
00:31:43 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations
 
Follow Rick:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickkloete/
Website: http://www.kloetegroup.com/
 
Like what you hear?  Subscribe and leave a 5-star review! 
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Watch my podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/

The Invisible Leadership Revolution | Heather Powers

Corporate America is bleeding talent pretending the needs of working parents are asking for a perk, at the expense of being a profit engine.
 
This week Heather Powers, author of The Power Lane: Why Keeping Moms in the Workforce REVS the Economy exposes this hypocrisy.
 
"Women are not leaving the workforce, they're leaving the workplace."
 
Let’s get real with the facts: 
The undeniable math: 
Companies losing parents are burning money. 
Replacement costs run 2x salary while teams flounder for months. Smart organizations are waking up.
 
The data needs to demolish myths: 
Most productive employees? Parents with multiple kids. 
The talent shortage isn't theoretical—it's here, and businesses ignoring parent flexibility are losing their competitive edge.
Stop apologizing for parenthood: How to dismantle outdated the "work vs. family" dichotomy. No more apologizing for Thursday soccer games— leverage those constraints into ruthless productivity.
Your Ace: The uncomfortable truths:
Company's stubbornness isn't just hurting parents—it's sabotaging shareholder value. The most expensive words in business? "This is how we've always done it."
 
Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!
Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show! 
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Follow me on Instagram 
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Follow Heather on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-l-powers/
Get Heather’s book: The Power Lane: Why Keeping Moms in the Workforce REVS the Economy 

How To Stop Being A Hostage In Your Job Search | Scott Walker

“Kidnappers are just businessmen looking for a great deal” 
 
That’s how Scott Walker, legendary hostage negotiator reframes his work (with a 93% success rate) in high stakes situations you can apply to yours. 
 
Let’s call a spade a spade. You can feel like a hostage in your job search. 
 
Every interview can fire off an emotion. 
Your future, in limbo. 
Your finances handcuffed
Your head, unclear who to trust, including yourself. 
 
We can all learn from Scott starting with:
 
The River of Emotion: 
A metaphor to overcome emotional hijacking. 
His tip, observe NOT absorb.
Stand on the riverbank without swimming in the current.
 
The 3-2-1 Formula: 
Sort your challenges into three buckets:
What you can control, influence, or must ignore
 
Trust as the Golden Thread: 
Understand how trust is the foundation of all successful negotiations. 
The simple (but not easy) principle: do what you say you're going to do.
 
Embracing Conflict: 
Learn why the "conflict call" is often necessary to establish boundaries and expectations. Having direct, candid, kind conversations enhances your value and presence.
 
The 30-Second Reset: 
Practice pausing throughout your day to feel the feeling and drop the story.
 This simple habit builds the emotional muscle needed for higher-stakes situations.
 
Negotiating our emotional regulation isn't limited to hostage situations or boardrooms - it's simply "a conversation with purpose" that we all engage in daily. 
 
Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!
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Follow me on Instagram 
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Follow Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottaw/
Elevate Your Negotiation Game: https://winanynegotiation.com/pages/negotiation-training
To order a copy of Scott's book, 'Order Out of Chaos', click here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/order-out-of-chaos/scott-walker/9780349434988

Doubt is Death. My 3 Secrets To Certainty In Your Search I Loren Greiff

Doubt kills your job search faster than any market condition. It's not just hesitation—it's resistance holding hostage everything you want.
The antidote? Certainty. That inner knowing that transcends credentials, perfect keywords, and competitive threats.
My 3 secrets and your shifts: 
Be a swordfish, not a whale 
Swordfish slice forward with explosive acceleration and channel all energy toward their target. 
Whales circle aimlessly, stuck in familiar patterns, deliberating endlessly.
Your forward momentum creates the flywheel that attracts everything. 
No momentum, no results.
Success leaves clues, start collecting them
Talk to five people daily who have what you want. 
Stop guessing. Ask them: "What would you do differently if starting now?" Their answers create your shortcut.
Replace mediocrity with mastery 
Your search is an audition for the role you want.  
Half-measures telegraph self-doubt. No one gets hired for "good enough Not minimum effort
Define the top three most meaningful elements that make you the best at what you do, who you do it for and why. Message it, and refine it relentlessly. 
Cut corners and certainty can’t shine through. 
Commit to excellence and signals turn green. 

The 5 Keys To Lasting Confidence I Nicole Kalil

"Confidence isn't built—it's practiced."
 
The Confidence Myth
What we call confidence is often just comfortable competence. 
But true confidence is revealed precisely when we don't know what we're doing.
 
The 5 Confidence Killers
External Validation: Outsourcing your worth makes you one criticism away from collapse.
Comparison: Every minute comparing is a minute not creating. Comparison assassinates action.
Overthinking: Analysis paralysis is fear wearing a lab coat.
Fear of Failure: Confident people see failure as data, not definition.
Broken Self-Trust: Every broken self-promise erodes your confidence foundation.
Building Unshakeable Confidence
Build Self-Trust: Make tiny commitments and keep them. Watch trust compound.
Use Failure: The question isn't "Will I fail?" but "What will I learn?"
Take Action: Confidence isn't built in contemplation—it's forged in movement.
Speak to Yourself Like Someone You Love: 
Your internal dialogue creates your reality. 
Choose Daily: Confidence is a choice. Choose it before you feel it.
Nicole Kalil is one of the most inspiring women I’ve met in a long, long time.
 
Her website; https://nicolekalil.com/
Subscribe to This Is Woman’s Work  her Top 0.5% podcast 
Book: "Validation is for Parking: How Women Can Beat the Confidence Con"
Free Confidence Assessment: confidenceassessment.com