Help Wanted

You've probably heard business leaders attribute their success to "never taking no for an answer." But, plot twist: sometimes you should. Jason recounts a recent cringey experience where someone really should have just taken no for an answer. Then, Nicole and Jason help make sure you don't make the same mistake.  Plus, what this all has to do with pudding.

Today's caller was just promoted and is now managing people she used to work with side-by-side. And it's awkward! She's worried that her new direct reports aren't going to take her seriously. Jason's answer? Become the boss your team needs— and wants. In this episode, Jason gives you three actionable steps to accomplish that.

Today's caller had been asking to take on more responsibility at her work for about a decade - and she finally got it! Now, she wants to leverage those new responsibilities to negotiate a raise and a senior job title. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, plot-twist! Jason and Nicole point out why this ask is not as straightforward as it seems, and give their do's and don'ts around how to navigate th...

Today, Jason walks you through how to feel like your work is important. Because it is. And he'll prove it.

Today's guest Lauren told herself that she needed to be doing more— until a medical diagnosis gave her "a slap in the face." Burnout has commanded the workplace zeitgeist over the last few years… but even though we’re talking about burnout more often, workplace culture hasn't made a lot of progress. But Lauren has. Jason was inspired by Lauren's story and wanted to share it on the pod, but first,...

Okay, so insults don't always *feel* awesome, but you can use them to your advantage. Jason shows you how.

Today's listener has a small Instagram following— and it cost her a job opportunity. In our current work culture, is a social media following a nice to have, or a need to have? It's a big question, but Jason has the answer. Plus, if you want to grow your social media audience, Jason shares the strategies that have worked for him.

Picture this: you come face-to-face with someone who really wronged you... what do you do? Jason and Nicole have both been there, and yet they handled it very differently (today's episode title is a big hint). Despite their different approaches, Jason and Nicole agree on the best mechanism to achieve closure after someone hurts you. Today, they pass it on to you.

Getting a crummy evaluation from your boss is no fun; but giving a crummy evaluation is nearly as difficult. Today's listener is a new manager up against her first round of performance reviews. She has to have an honest conversation with one employee who has been trouble for the rest of the team— and her anxiety is through the roof. Jason shares his winning formula for having a tough conversation....

In today's episode, Nicole and Jason are joined by a founder Nicole critiqued on this very podcast. Tea! This conversation could have gone one of two ways, but how this founder responds is *chef's kiss* perfection. This conversation will leave you with a script you can use next time you get some tough feedback. Find the most excellent Kim Kaupe here: https://kimkaupe.com/

You have a hard decision to make. In front of you are two choices. Both are scary. Neither is perfect. So you’re frozen between the two. Which do you pick? Today, Jason gives you a way to decide.

According to a study by The Harris Poll last year, fifty percent of Americans want to make a career change. But knowing you want to make a change is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out what change you want to make. That's the challenge today's caller is facing. Nicole and Jason give him— and you— the road map to set out in a new career direction.

Everyone wants a mentor, but what if the relationship goes sour? That’s the question stumping today’s listener. Jason gives his guidance on how to fix the situation—and his advice is the polar opposite of what this listener expected.

In Nicole's experience, networking and building relationships has been the single most valuable resource for her career. But let's be honest: networking is hard, and not always fun. That's where Jon Levy comes in. Jon is a behavioral scientist specializing in connection, and today he tells Nicole science-backed hacks for successful relationship-building.

Today's listener works at a big law firm, but is tempted by success stories of entrepreneurial friends who have started their own businesses. She's wondering: is it better to have the security of working at a big company? Or, is being your own boss everything it's cracked up to be? Jason gives us the tools to answer this question for ourselves. 

This episode turns into a Sliding Doors special; today's helpline caller worked with Jason at a local newspaper over two decades ago. Since then, his career hasn't had the linear upward trajectory he hoped for— which has left him making about half the salary he wants. Today, Jason and Nicole break down how to play catch-up.

Today's caller wants to apply for a particular job, but he doesn't have all of the qualifications required. Should he even bother applying? Jason's answer: absolutely! Jason hands over the cheat code for making the argument that you're right for a job— even if, on paper, you're not.

Today, Nicole rings the helpline to get Jason's advice: she's struggling with overwhelming stress around making sales calls for the very podcast you're listening to right now. Even though you won't find "sales" in Nicole's job title, it's still a part of her work. This is true for all of us; even if your job doesn't involve convincing someone to buy something, no matter your role, you will need to...

Running a business with friends can be a whole lot of fun.... until it's not. Today's caller wants to know: how can you protect against business hurting a friendship? To learn more about Word on the Block, check 'em out: https://www.wordontheblock.biz/

Nicole gives you three steps to take your woodworking/travel blog/macrame empire from part-time to big-time.

Can you live “happily ever after” if you and your partner have completely different definitions of work-life balance? That’s the listener question Jason tackles head-on in today’s episode. If you’re feeling like you have to choose between being a good romantic partner and a good business partner, Jason has some tips for you. 

No one likes to think about getting laid off, but the worst-case scenario is that you get laid off and it takes you completely by surprise. A better scenario (although still a sucky one), is to get laid off, but be prepared to chase your next opportunity. Today, Nicole shares six signs that your company might be announcing layoffs.

Today’s guest sent Jason a cold DM over LinkedIn pitching himself for a writing gig. There was just one little problem with his initial message. Jason takes the guest through a masterclass in cold outreach and gives you hacks you can use to write emails that people actually respond to.

What if all of your money vanished overnight? That's the reality for founders who banked with Silicon Valley Bank, a popular institution for startups, that crashed late last week. Today, Nicole talks to a founder who is in the trenches trying to get her money back from SVB. This conversation is a masterclass in how to deal with a crisis at work, rally help from unlikely sources, and communicate th...

Thousands of employees have been laid off so far in 2023. If you're one of them, Jason has actionable steps you can take to keep moving your career ahead. Plus, Jason sits down with Jonathan Salant (on his last day of work!), after being recently laid off from his post as the sole journalist in Washington reporting on New Jersey politics. Jason and Jonathan describe the bigger picture of what's at...