Second Breaks

“Our career choice massively impacts our family and loved ones. When thinking about what I want to do next, the first lens I put on it is, ‘Is this the right thing to do for my family?’ ” — Graham Bell. Graham Bell is the Chief Executive Officer of World of Books Group. He assumed this role in September 2019 after being the company’s CFO/COO. Prior to World of Books, he was the Managing Director a...

“There are people out there who want what I bring to the table. All of it — the technical knowledge, the perspective, the personality that goes with. And it’s my job to find them.” —Jacquette Timmons My guest today is Jacquette Timmons. Jacquette is a financial behaviorist and the CEO of Sterling Investment Management. She is the author of Financial Intimacy: How to Create a Healthy Relationship W...

Marcus Aurelius began Meditations with 17 entries — nearly 10 percent of the book — reflecting upon the various influential individuals in his life. “When you need encouragement,” he wrote, “think of the qualities the people around you have.” These days, when our attention can easily be hijacked by negativity and pessimism when the news can bring us down feeling overwhelmed and powerless, we need...

Second Breaks is between seasons and is on a brief pause. In the meanwhile, here's a look inside the latest edition of Briefing Notes. To check out the 46th edition, head on over to http://thebriefingnotes.com The podcast returns on November 12th with Season 5. Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

While the podcast is on a brief break, I wanted to share some thoughts about midlife and the latest edition of Briefing Notes. To check out the latest edition, head on over to http://thebriefingnotes.com The podcast returns on November 12th with Season 5. Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

Read the full transcript and get the links at https://secondbreaks.com/podcast . Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast host is naturally the person out front, the person behind the mic whose voice you hear in your ears. In this growing podcasting industry, many opportunities exist today for someone to take the helm of a show. Is this the role for you? Is there something else in this job that goes beyond simply being the voice? We explore the role of the podcast host with Jerod Morris, co-host of 7 Figu...

With over a million shows on Apple Podcasts alone and huge podcast investments made by companies, the podcasting industry is only expected to grow. This industry is supported by a cornucopia of roles and jobs for folks who want to be in on the action and there are different ways to work in the industry. In this episode, we take a peek behind the scenes at the role of the podcast producer. To explo...

A Virtual Assistant career can provide the ultimate in work flexibility. However, the other question to consider is whether this is truly a profitable career choice. In this episode, Kathy Goughenour of Virtual Expert® Training joins Lou Blaser to explore and answer this question. For the show notes, highlights, and links, visit https://secondbreaks.com/podcast Get full access to Shaping Life at l...

One of the newer careers that have become popular in the last few years and that definitely offered flexibility is the virtual assistant work. It’s an interesting field of work because the definition of what the role encompasses is so varied. You can pretty much design it to be how you want it to be — the ultimate flexibility in work! In this episode, we’ll lift the hood a bit and explore the worl...

Online communities have exploded in the last few years, giving rise to a need for someone to manage, facilitate, and coordinate community activities. In this episode, we explore the inner workings of the role of the Online Community Manager with help from Shannon Paris, Community Advocate at What Works. For the show notes, highlights, and links, visit https://secondbreaks.com/podcast Get full acce...

These days, having an online presence is a requirement. The easiest way to do that is to have a website. And one of the most popular ways to have a website is through WordPress. Suffice it to say, lots of people are working in the WordPress ecosystem. In this fourth episode of Season 4, we’re looking at the role of the WordPress designer. Helping me peek behind the curtains is Susanna Perkins , wh...

It’s not a job for everyone. But if you’ve got the right disposition and the interest to learn the skill set, becoming a Facebook/Instagram Ad specialist can be a lucrative career opportunity to pursue. In this third episode of Season 4, we continue exploring jobs within social media through the lens of online advertising. I'm joined by Facebook Ad Specialist, Julie O'Hara, who recently transition...

Social media created so many new jobs/roles since it became mainstream. I’m not just talking about jobs inside companies such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. An entire eco-system supports social media. So many jobs are now needed — and are flourishing — because social media exists. For the next couple of weeks, we’re exploring JUST two of these roles, starting with social media management. In...

The perfect job isn’t always served in a platter. More often than not, it’s something we have to create and shape without a blueprint ahead of time. Marie Poulin is a digital strategist and workflow designer. She helps entrepreneurs level up their systems, workflow, and productivity, so they can spend more time on what matters. Marie Poulin shares how she ‘accidentally’ created a unique role for h...

According to an oft-cited statistic, "85% of jobs that will exist in 2030 haven't been invented yet." (Source: 2017 Report by Institute For The Future) In Season 4, we'll explore eight new roles and career paths that have only been made possible within the last few years or last decade. Read the full transcript at https://secondbreaks.com/thepodcast Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.sub...

The podcast is currently on a break as I develop Season 4. In the meantime, I thought I’d pop in here for a minute to tell you about what’s going inside Briefing Notes. Season 4 starts on August 6, 2020. Subscribe to the podcast and tell your friends about it! Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast is currently on a break as I develop Season 4. In the meantime, I thought I’d pop in here for a minute to tell you about what’s going inside Briefing Notes. Season 4 starts on August 6, 2020. Subscribe to the podcast and tell your friends about it! Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

As HR leader Randy Lumia pointed out in Episode 132, there will always be disruptions in the business world that can and will impact our work. Today, it is the pandemic, economic instability, plus sustained civil unrest in the USA (also being felt globally). Tomorrow, it will be something else. It may not always be as far-reaching as today’s challenges are.  But no matter what, there will always b...

Clearly, unpredictability is the name of the game now where cause-and-effect isn’t clear. In this scenario, our usual, normal decision-making process and way of doing things may not be optimal and we need to adjust.  So, the question is, are we completely in the blind here? Is there anything that can help us or are we simply to stumble in the dark? Aenslee Tanner is a certified leadership coach wi...

Senior HR leader, Randy Lumia, discusses how the HR organization is handling the changing workplace. What can employees look to their HR organizations during times of uncertainty? And how we can best position ourselves at work, especially as companies begin measures to manage the ongoing economic situation. For the show notes, highlights, and links, visit https://secondbreaks.com/podcast Get full...

Updating the resumé and LinkedIn profile is unlikely to be one of your favorite things to do. Yet, it’s a requirement especially when we need or want to make a career move. Career coach Allison Lockett and Lou Blaser geek out on all things resumés. For the show notes, highlights, and links, visit https://secondbreaks.com/podcast Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

As the current situation extends and the economic issues deepen, more and more of us are going to consider alternate sources of income. This raises that question, is it a good time to start a business? When we hear of small businesses closing shop and the economy’s collapse, how sane is it to consider going into business? These are the questions at the heart of this episode. And to dig into this q...

Lots of people across different industries and professions are being forced to — or are choosing to — look at their current career path and ask themselves “What else can I do?” For some, this may be a time to reposition themselves within their current field of work. For others, this may be time for a pivot or a career change. In this episode, we explore life coaching as a possible career path with...

We explore those inconvenient thoughts and feelings that come up just as you’re feeling motivated to act, step up to the plate, and do something out of your comfort zone. “Well, who the heck do you think you are to think that you can do XYZ?” These thoughts make you doubt yourself, your abilities, or whether you should even attempt the things you want to do. We dig into why these thoughts come up...