Career Dreams

It's easy to label someone "difficult" because it takes us off the hook. In Myth #3 of the Five Myths of Conflict Resolution series, Michelle and Chase suggest that most everyday workplace conflict is a difficult pattern between two people, not a difficult person. They share how to swap snap character judgments for observable behaviors, and how to ask, "What's happening between us, and what's my r...

Part 2 of a 5-part series on the Five Myths of Conflict Resolution . We've all heard it: stay calm, don't take it personally and just focus on the work. But what if leaving emotions out of it is actually holding us back?   In this episode, Michelle and Chase take on Myth #2: Leave Emotions Out of It. Being able to manage your emotions matters, but that's different from pretending they don't exist....

Where there are humans, there will be conflict. In this kickoff to a 5-part series on the Five Myths of Conflict Resolution , Michelle & CHase take on Myth #1: Focus on the facts to resolve conflict . Facts matter, but they only tell us what happened. They don't tell us what it meant to the people involved. They show how the same facts can lead two people to tell themselves very different stories....

In this solo episode, Michelle acknowledges the reality of the final quarter of the year and how easy it is to get discouraged when we don't accomplish all of the personal or professional goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. She offers an uplifting reminder to give yourself grace and identify where you might still make meaningful progress (not perfection!) before the year's end...

In this solo episode, Chase unpacks two small moments from one ordinary day and the career and life lessons hiding inside them. We don't need more years added to our life. We need more life added to the years we've already got. A short, honest reflection on presence, habit, and what we miss when we stay heads-down at work and everywhere else.  Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd l...

Would you bring an iced coffee into a job interview ... and should anyone really care if you did? In this episode, Michelle and Chase use one surprisingly heated debate to unpack unwritten workplace rules, first impressions, authenticity, and the gap between intention and impact. Your professional reputation isn't built in one big moment, it's shaped by the small choices people notice every day. ...

What does it really take to be ready for leadership? In this episode, Tony Sanders joins Michelle and Chase to discuss the mindset shifts that happen when moving from individual contributor to leader, why you can never be fully ready but can always prepare, and how to demonstrate leadership long before receiving the title. They also explore career growth, belonging, the leadership growth trap, and...

"That's not how I would have done it…"   But is it actually wrong? Or simply different? What if being a better leader or teammate isn't about caring less about the work. What if it's about caring enough about the people around you that you're willing to let them find their own way to excellence? In this episode of Career Dreams, Michelle and Chase talk about how we can hold on loosely to the way w...

Healthy boundaries aren't about doing less. Boundaries are not an attempt at controlling someone else's behavior. Boundaries are about making better choices with your time and energy and communicating effectively. In this episode, Michelle and Chase talk about capacity, tradeoffs, and speaking up before burnout takes over. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered...

What if the "song" stuck in your head isn't a song at all, but an old belief about what you can or can't do? In this episode of Career Dreams , Michelle and Chase talk about the internal soundtracks that shape our career growth, and how to turn down the ones that no longer serve us. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can  submit  an aud...

Carrot or stick? What really motivates people? It turns out motivation isn't something we can force, either in ourselves or others. In this episode, Michelle and Chase explore Daniel Pink's Drive and the conditions that help motivation emerge naturally. Tune in to discover what fuels engagement, growth, and high performance. Why Forcing Yourself to Work... Never Works: YouTube Got a question? Ask...

Mattering at work is more than being included or appreciated. It's knowing your presence and contributions make a difference. In this episode, Michelle and Chase talk about the everyday moments that help people feel seen, valued, and needed, and why those moments matter more than we may realize.   Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can ...

This episode of Career Dreams explores a simple but powerful framework for moving from wishing to pursuing: Rock, Chalk, Talk, and Walk. Chase and Michelle break down how to choose a meaningful goal, make it real, share it wisely, and take the small, courageous steps that turn Career Dreams into reality.   Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams?...

Negative feedback can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to define your growth. Michelle and Chase explore how to pause before reacting, separate helpful feedback from destructive criticism, and decide whose opinions truly deserve a seat in your career journey. This is a practical, honest conversation about learning from feedback without letting it limit your Career Dreams. Got a question? Ask...

A healthy career isn't just about what looks good on paper,  it's also about how your work actually feels day to day. In this episode of Career Dreams, Michelle and Chase explore the difference between career health and career wellbeing, and why both matter for building a meaningful, sustainable career. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? Yo...

Sometimes we're so focused on what's next that we forget to notice we're already living pieces of the dream we once hoped for. In this episode of Career Dreams, Chase reflects on growth, gratitude, change, and the question: what does the next version of you need to embrace, learn, or let go of? Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can  su...

Mentors and sponsors both matter in career growth, but they serve different roles. This conversation breaks down the difference and why both can shape the opportunities, guidance, and support you receive along the way. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can  submit  an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming episo...

Career growth & development is bigger than just getting training. In this episode of Career Dreams, Michelle and Chase breakdown the 4 Es of development - Education, Engagement, Exposure, and Experience, and share how each one can help you grow and develop in a more intentional, practical way. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can  sub...

Titles, promotions, and accomplishments matter... but they don't tell the whole story. In this episode, Michelle & Chase explore five often-overlooked drivers of career happiness and how they can help us build careers that are meaningful, not just impressive. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can  submit  an audio recording of your que...

What if the workplace burnout story isn't the whole story? In this episode of Career Dreams, Michelle and Chase talk about finding joy at work and not in a "forced fun" or toxic positivity kind of way, but through purpose, progress, connection, and support. They also explore how leaders can create an environment where joy has room to grow by reducing overwhelm, recognizing effort, and strengthenin...

In this episode of Career Dreams, Michelle and Chase talk about "Tag, You're It" — a simple, powerful approach to building meaningful connections. From growing your network through intentional conversations to the impact of recognition and appreciation, this episode is a reminder that strong relationships don't happen by accident. Who should you meet with next — and why? Listen, connect, and keep...

Ever notice how the more you walk the path, the more it becomes the path? In this episode, Michelle and Chase talk about why waiting for the perfect moment can keep us stuck, and how small, imperfect steps often create the path forward. If you've been overthinking your next move, your next email, your next conversation, this one's for you.  Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like...

Sometimes the best career move doesn't look like "moving up." In this episode, Michelle and Chase explore rerouting, lateral moves, and how to navigate your career with intention by putting yourself in the driver's seat.  Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can  submit  an audio recording of your question to be featured on an upcoming ep...

Dr. Ali Atkison from HRD* | The Leadership Development Company shares three invisible thinking traps: binary thinking, availability heuristic, and confirmation bias. She shares how uncertainty pushes us into fast, emotional decision making. Ali also shares practical tips to notice these biases, broaden options, and seek evidence that challenges our assumptions so we can make clearer, more effectiv...

Co-opetition: yeah, it's a thing. And it might just change how you show up at work. Similar to how credit unions live out "Cooperation Among Cooperatives," strengthening each other through collaboration, this same mindset can apply to your career. In this episode of Career Dreams, Michelle and Chase explore how you can compete, collaborate, and succeed without treating success like a zero-sum game...