Career Dreams

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...

Your personal brand already exists whether you've defined it or not.  In this episode, Michelle and Chase talk about what personal branding really means: not self-promotion, not polishing a persona, but the impression you build over time through how you work, communicate, and show up.   They also explore why authenticity matters more than perfection, how LinkedIn can support your brand without fee...

Every felt foggy at work? Like your capable... but scattered behind, and comparing yourself to everyone else? You're not broken and you're not alone. In this episode, Michelle and Chase share three practical strategies you can use to get your momentum back when you find yourself in a fog. Starting right now. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dream...

Comfort zones give you a great view of where you've already been. They just don't show you where you're capable of going next. In this episode, Michelle and Chase break this down and share small, realistic steps you can try to help you be intentional and turn aspiration into action.  Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on Career Dreams? You can  submit  an au...

Michelle and Chase explore Japanese-inspired principles to help you stop overthinking and live and work with intention. They discuss five practical techniques: clarifying your purpose, focusing on what you can control, embracing imperfection, managing your reactions, and continuously improving so you can create more calm, clarity, and meaningful progress in your career and life. Article: 7 Techniq...

In this bite-sized solo episode, Michelle puts a twist on the popular "Let Them" theory, found in Mel Robbins' bestselling book. She challenges us to apply the "Tell Them" theory, by being intentional to show appreciation, strengthen connections, and let people know how they've made a difference in big and small ways...every day.   Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear...

In this episode of Career Dreams, Michelle and Chase explore the complexities of what drives people at work and in their careers. They share real-life scenarios where leaders navigate the nuances of motivating others and finding inspiration themselves. What are the differences between motivation and inspiration? You'll hear the importance of aligning daily tasks with what genuinely energizes indiv...

In this episode of the  Career Dreams Podcast , Michelle interviews Candice Hunt, co-founder of the leadership development firm, Leadacy. Candice shares her inspiration for the name and concept of "Leadacy" and shares examples and strategies that you can apply to establish your own Leadacy as you pursue your Career Dreams!   Connect with Candice! Leadacy website: https://yourleadacy.com/   Email C...

Thinking at work can often feel invisible, but it's never been more important. In this episode, Michelle and Chase explore why critical and strategic thinking matter more now than ever in an AI-enabled workplace, how they differ, and why technology hasn't replaced our responsibility for judgment. As AI accelerates answers, strong thinking, asking better questions, evaluating information, and conne...

In this episode of the Career Dreams Podcast , Chase and Michelle explore why having agency is essential for growth at every stage of your career. They break down what agency really means (and what it doesn't), drawing on research like self‑efficacy and self‑determination theory to make the concept practical and realistic. Through real workplace examples and simple frameworks, they show how to foc...

Does the way you listen change what people say?  In this episode, Michelle & Chase explore how the quality of your listening shapes the quality of your conversations. They discuss why active, intentional listening makes interactions more meaningful, memorable, and impactul, and how it can transform relationships at work and beyond.  You'll also hear simple, pratical strategies you can start using...

What could you learn by observing? In this episode, Michelle and Chase explore the often-overlooked power of observation, and why simply spending time in other departments, with intention, can be one of the most valuable development experiences in an organization.  They talk about how stepping into the day-to-day work of other teams helps you understand the business on broader and deeper level, se...

Michelle and Chase explore why deep understanding must come before simple solutions, and how that mindset leads to better habits and more intentional career growth. Inspired by James Clear and Atomic Habits they explore the importance in understanding details before simplifying.  3 - 2 - 1 Artcle:  Ignorance vs. Genius Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on C...

In this follow‑up episode, Michelle and Chase get practical about how leaders and teammates can create environments where people do their best work - from managing up and asking better questions to naming,  "you'll get the best version of me when…" When people feel understood, safe, and supported at work, everyone wins. Got a question? Ask us! Do you have a question you'd like to hear answered on...

Personality assessments - some people think they're used to put others in boxes or manipulate behavior. But when used well, tools like the Predictive Index (or the assessment of your choice) can help leaders and teammates understand each other better, communicate more effectively, and create environments where everyone performs at their best. In this episode, MIchelle and Chase explore what PI rea...

As the Winter Olympics begin, Michelle and Chase take a closer look at a surprising insight from author Daniel Pink: bronze medalists are sometimes happier than silver medalists,  and the reason why can change the way you think about your career. In this episode, Michelle and Chase break down the psychology of  counterfactual thinking - the "what might have been" stories we tell ourselves and expl...

Michelle and Chase explore a powerful shift in how we approach our work and well‑being: managing energy , not just time and effort. We've been taught that in order to be successful, we have to manage effort by simply working more hours, working harder, pushing longer, but today's reality is much more complex, and it actually demands that we make our energy the true priority and manage it just as m...

Michelle and Chase explore a fresh idea that sparked for Michelle while writing her annual performance check‑in:  what if we approached career development like renewable energy? Inspired by trends from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report and the rapid disruption of core skills, Michelle and Chase talk about why development can't be a one‑and‑done effort, it has to be intentional, adap...

Meaningful connections start with small, intentional moments. In this episode, Michelle and Chase share how creating spaces to connect can strenghten relationships, build community, and boost your career.  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 episode!  Like it?...