Move Your Desk

Transitioning from college to your first job is a lot of things - thrilling, scary, a time of second guessing, and wondering if you really want to move forward doing all the things you just learned (or claimed you've learned) how to do. Even with a portfolio of accomplishments as a media/texturing artist, Jenika Wimmer wasn't sure if her next step was the right direction for her. And, it required...

A few months ago my friend Ann told me that I wasn't a nice person. It took me back for a moment, and I was a bit embarassed. However, it launched us into a conversation about the difference between the meaning behind the words "nice" and "kind." Even if you aren't an etymologist, it is worth finding out the difference. These two four letter words sound innocent on the surface, but look deeper and...

Rebecca Jacklin joined the Move Your Desk podcast again to share more insights and wisdom about mental health. I always enjoy our conversations and I think a lot of it has to do with Rebecca's "way of being" which is such an important attribute in her profession. Unfortunately, she can't be my therapist because she is a friend and she is licensed in Texas. But, I highly recommend her for anyone in...

"Pay attention to the diagnosis, but ignore the prognosis because that can be very, very wrong" is just one nugget of wisdom from my conversation with David McBee. David and I have interviewed each other a few times before, but between then and now a new challenge emerged in his life. Cancer. So, this was our first chance to talk about what was found in his physical body, what he learned about his...

How did you get your last job? The one before it? Your first job? It's worth reflecting on if you are seeking out your next gig now. I share a few of the ways I got past jobs in this episode. Why? To show that each job came in a different way, and often from unexpected people. This matters because only applying to specific job openings and waiting for someone to call, might take a while. If you ar...

Over the past few weeks, I've had a chance to reflect on this past year as I process my recent layoff. This episode includes four ideas to consider if you've recently gone through a layoff or if you are seeking to make a change in your work/life. The four points include: - Leverage your support group - the family and friends that reach out to help and provide accountability on the journey. - Do mo...

A few weeks ago, some of my brothers got online for a discussion about all things men - home, work, goals, frustrations, etc. The conversation lasted over three hours. I've decided to break out parts of the conversation into separate podcast episodes, with a bit of delayed commentary from me. It's spurred thoughts for future conversations with them and with you. In this episode, each of them share...

Sometimes fortune cookies do contain the right message for a particular moment in time. Periodically, I post fortune cookie messages on social media. Typically a day or two after a Panda Express excursion. One of my brother's noticed my post and told me about his experience with a fortune cookie message that propelled him forward. And, it is now part of the decision making he and his wife make whe...

Mindset is important to upgrading your work performance. So is time planning, and habits, and... all the things. But, what if there is a tool that will help you improve your decision-making and execution of all those great ideas you plan to do. It involves straining your brain just enough to start re-wiring it one step at a time using the insights from the world of neuroplasticity. John Kennedy ca...

May is Mental Health Awareness month. But, I did not realize this when I had a conversation with Rebecca Jacklin LMSW this past week. It's something that is an important part of offering up our best work, but often underestimated. Mental health awareness is on the rise, and I am grateful to take pause to talk about it in a few episodes of this podcast. Rebecca Jacklin shares her journey to becomin...

You've heard of vision statements and have probably created a few dozen for yourself, your team, and your organization. It's often a lengthy process trying to figure out something that doesn't exist, but that you want to make happen. I'm exploring this topic a bit more in life and work right now. Why do some visions become a reality? What is stopping others of us from transferring the vision into...

From the first baby steps to the most satisfying achievement, failure crops up as a necessary obstacle to work through in personal development. But, all failure is not created equal. How can you know the difference? Some failure leads toward the desired outcome. Some does not. I've had a tremendous number of failures in my life. I share a few in this episode as I discuss typical types of failure....

This past month or more, I've been surrounded by conversations related to dying and death. My grandfather past away just shy of reaching his 101st birthday. Other friends, and extended family members, have passed on as well. For me, this sends me into further reflection about their life, about mine, and what next. In the process of remembering, I was reminded of the final nudges that I've felt bef...

"One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever." - Linda Lam - In December 2021, I got a nudge. Not from a person, but from an inner inkling. I followed it and asked who would like to be interviewed on the podcast. It's not the first time that I've interviewed family, friends, and new acquaintances. But, more often I speak by myself into the microphone. From my request, over twen...

When you uplevel yourself, it's easy to see the weaknesses. And, focus on improving upon them. But, often the most progress can be found by focusing on strengthening your strengths AND working on limiting beliefs about yourself. Ceri Payne coaches women in business that have ADHD. ADHD is a strength and a weakness to offering up your best work. Ceri shared wisdom about capitalizing on your strengt...

So often our mental baggage gets in the way of making progress in our day-to-day life and work aspirations. But, Dave Goodall reminds us that we can choose to remove the baggage by working on our mindset and energy to reach that ultimate goal of creating something new in the world. Dave is an engineer, a leader, a Dad, a husband, a coach, and a student of neuroscience. He's also grateful for his g...

One of the surprises of changing careers is the amount of time it takes to make the transition. Part of your brain understands that you are learning new things and the other part wonders why all of the expertise and experience doesn't make the transition faster. Dr. George Goodwin has gone through this transition - from Army doctor to entrepreneur. He still volunteers as a doctor for the Red Cross...

There are always new problems to solve. It will require looking at the problem, and the solutions, in ways that we may not be accustomed to... yet. It was a pleasure to talk with Calvin Barnum about his recent experience reframing problems he faces individually, as an educator, and as someone that is seeking to make positive change in his sphere of influence. Calvin and I grew up together in Michi...

A few times in this past year I've heard more than one person say, "So and so has some issues with their executive function." They aren't talking about the CEO at their job. But, they are talking about taking charge of the mind. Managing it, planning with it, and practicing habits to help process information in productive ways for better decision-making. Fawzya Khosti helps people with improving t...

Do you act on the promptings to take a new idea to your boss, change jobs, or start a new initiative or business idea? Our guest today is a serial entrepreneur. She gets a lot of inspiration, and she follows that inspiration more than the average human being. Heidi Totten is a humanitarian and... She's an eclectic mix of technology expertise, family sciences degree, recruiting, small business expe...

Career Transitions can be tough. You have no idea what to expect, and it can be a time of questioning past experience, skills, and capabilities. Veterans who transition from military to new industries and corporations may find additional challenges in this transition period. What may seem day-to-day expectations in a corporate environment (e.g. wearing a suit or responding to authority figures dif...

Part of the power of having conversations is the perspectives and insights that come out over the course of the interaction. Such is the case with my conversation with David Bachrach a few weeks ago. David is married to an extraordinary planner. He, on the other hand, feels like he is less of a planner and more of someone who has intentions and a few smart habits. We got to talk about a few of the...

This past week I met a new friend. Sally Cross knows more about me than I know about her because she started listening to the podcast a few months ago. But, through this interview I feel like I've caught up with an old friend and took away so many insights and wisdom that I know that we'll be talking again. Plus, we both have a connection to Michigan! Sally Cross is an expert in all things human r...

Some employees love their work, their job, their salary, and all that goes along with it. Others feel a divine discontent in their work. They know they are meant for more, but the lure of the salary, benefits, and perceived security feels safe. And, the divine discontent gets buried amongst the accomplishment, busy schedules, and accolades. PJ Jackson talks to us about having the courage to allow...

It takes a lot of courage to open up about a private struggle related to mental health. But, the stories and insights of the journey can help others that are finding their way toward personal solutions to improve their life. Today Jody Oliverson opens up to us about his journey - the struggles, inspiration his wife had to change direction, and a sequence of nudges that lead him on the path he is o...