Focus The Fire

Consider this a behind the scenes (mic) episode. We're in the middle of a transition and want you know what's happening. For more, connect with Dalan below.   Social media (@dalanvanterpool) and web links: Twitter: twitter.com/dalanvanterpool Instagram: instagram.com/dalanvanterpool Facebook: facebook.com/dalanvanterpool LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dalanvanterpool Website: dalanvanterpool.com       

Hello 2021!  So many great things to share. I'm technically not supposed to be on the mic so please listen to this before someone on the team tries to take it down. Haha   I'm sneaking in here with a quick update on what's been going on behind the scenes, with special peek at the new book that's dropping...soon. Also for anyone who ever thought about attempting something that seemed impossible, I've got some useful reflections from the book writing process for you.   We appreciate your support. In the meanwhile, chew on the 200+ episodes, blog posts and videos available at dalanv.com.   Listen in for more details, and we'll see you soon.   Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv

Hi there! I’ll admit today’s episode is a bit odd. It’s more of an update really, with a power tip at the end. We’re taking a step back to make several steps forward.   For the month of November we’ll hit pause with two main objectives, amongst a list of other tasks. First up is wrapping up the book project, “No Boss, Only Clients”… unless a different title suddenly rises like hot bread on a rainy day. Second, we’ll be catching up on the back log of guests who want to be featured on the show.    No doubt, taking this break has been an extremely difficult decision as we’ve be on the air each week for years now. However, I’d rather keep up the quality.  Thank you for understanding and we appreciate your support. In the meanwhile, chew on the 200+ episodes, blog posts and videos available at dalanv.com.   Listen in for more details, and we'll see you soon. Have a powerful month!   Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with the host on Twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with the show on Twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv

We interrupt the regularly scheduled program for this important message about you.   In this uncut straight talk episode, Dalan drops some heavy truths about the relationship you have with your job. Many people let what happens at the office seep into their subconscious and inform their ability to add value to the world outside that corporate structure. News flash: YOU ARE MORE.    Learn how to recalibrate the interaction between your career and mission. More on the inside so tune in.    Warning: Headphones recommended for this one. Do not play this out loud at the office! :)   Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv

Today we continue our breakdown on financial statement essentials, looking at how a Cash Flow Statement actually works. Understanding this statement will enable you to pose more insightful questions about a company’s performance and avoid being fooled by flashy numbers like sales and net income.    The golden question: What happened to cash?     If you have specific questions send them to hello@careersandcashflow.com or hit us on the socials so we can answer them in a follow-up episode.    Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv

Today we continue our breakdown on financial statement essentials, looking at how and income statement actually works. Yes, at the most basic level, it’s Revenue minus Expenses, but we will show you some nuances that can help you get a better understanding of what’s happening in a company.   Hint: There are many answers to the question, “How much money did they make?”.    If you have specific questions send them to hello@careersandcashflow.com or hit us on the socials so we can answer them in a follow-up episode.    Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Time to geek out! If you want to master money you need to gain a certain level of comfort with numbers and financial information. Over the next few episodes, we will teach you the basics of how to understand the main financial statements.   This is useful when making investment decisions and managing your personal finances. Today’s lesson covers the balance sheet and the main accounting equation:   ASSETS = LIABILITIES + EQUITY   If you have specific questions send them to hello@careersandcashflow.com or hit us on the socials so we can answer them in a follow up episode.    Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

The number of sources spewing good and not so good financial information can be overwhelming. On this episode, we will show you 10+ sources where you can find useful information for your personal finance and investing decisions.      Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

In today’s episode we step back and look at what we are really trying to accomplish. This answer will be different for each person so it’s important to let your definition guide you. What’s your finish line?       Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

On this episode, we explain the way dividends work including how you can use them to start building passive (automated) income. We start by debunking some common misunderstandings about stocks and dividends.   Following that, you will learn the four key dates to know for navigating dividends. To wrap up, we discuss three dividend types including one you may not think of immediately.   Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Stock splits are a relatively common action companies take where the trading price of the stock is divided and shareholders receive additional shares. The total value of the shares remains the same, but the price and number of shares outstanding change.    At the time of this recording in August 2020, some big-name companies such as Apple and Tesla are less than two weeks away from executing stock splits. In this episode, we explain how it works and what you need to consider in deciding whether to make a move before or after the split.     Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

If you ever have the chance to observe a baby grow over an extended period of time, you may start to identify some of the same behaviours you see in your adult self or other adults. Today we look at five baby behaviours that are hindering your career and financial goals. Time to grow up!     Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Do you just save money or invest it as well? If you’re only saving, then chances are you’re quietly losing money.  As a rough example, if your saving account is paying 1% interest, but inflation is growing at 3%, then you are effectively losing 2% each year. For this reason, money-minded people invest a portion of their money to keep up with and hopefully beat the effect of inflation. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Taking your financial status to a new level can feel a lot like moving to a foreign country. You will find that people have different habits here and speak a different language. Let’s start working on crucial vocabulary so you can navigate the financial streets like a boss!   Today we explore the difference between a stock market and a stock index. Next week, we look at how you can tap into these to start earning income and value.   Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Welcome to the 6th and final (for now at least) part of the Own A Home? series. So far we have covered why this conversation even matters, whether you should buy, build or keep renting, how to get a bank loan approved, working with real estate agents and much more.    Here in part 6, we jump into some legal considerations around different ways to structure the deal.    Should you own the property in your name or place it as an asset inside a company or other structure? If you buying with a spouse or partner, how do you make sure each person owns the right percentage and protects their interest in the property?    ***Important Disclaimer*** This is for informational purposes only and should NOT be considered official legal advice. Laws and regulations differ by country and jurisdiction, so be sure to consult a qualified lawyer familiar with how things work in your location.   Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

On part 5 of the Own A Home? series we bring you the inside secrets to working with a real estate agent to choose the right property for you. Our guest today is Kathleen Vega (full bio here), a real estate agent serving clients in Panamá.      On the inside: Learn how to spot red flags and choose a good agent.  Get an agent's perspective on how close a winning deal.  What to look for when she process and understand. Understand how to navigate a home-buying fair/convention What can increase the value of a property and make it easier to rent or sell.   Connect with Kathleen here:   Web: www.kathleenvega.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenvegapa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenvegapa     Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

New Name?    Focus The Fire podcast has been a fun, evolving project over the past 4 years. Now with more clarity, we are refocusing and making adjustments to help our name and branding line up with the content. We want to help professionals like you connect your career moves with your wealth goals.    In this special episode, Dalan gives you the story behind the 2020 rebranding to Careers and Cash Flow and what you can expect from the “new” show.    Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Before we can seriously talk about investing, let’s get your finances under control with 10 easy ways to save money. Working in accounting and banking for the past 10 years, you get to see the range of ways people manage to make and lose money.  This episode is a brief summary of the top things to avoid and rules to follow. If you have any questions or suggestions drop a comment below or connect on twitter.   Question of the day: What’s the most money you have ever been able to save?   Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

In part 2 of the Own A Home? series we dive into the decision to rent or own. There isn’t always a simple right answer to this question. In this discussion, we explore the pros, cons and other considerations you should weigh when deciding whether you should keep renting or buy/build a home.     Question of the day: Do believe it’s better to rent or own?   Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Owning your first house can be a challenging and intimidating idea for young professionals. In this series, we walk you through the process from mindset to closing the deal, with insights from bankers, builders and real estate agents.   Making this first move correctly can trigger the start of a building serious real estate wealth and a set of assets that produce money for generations in your family.   If you have specific questions about homeownership send them to dalan@focusthefire.com or on twitter @dalanv. This may also get you a shout out on the podcast!   Question of the day: What’s the biggest thing stopping you from owning your first home?   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Today we hit pause on the usual conversation to amplify a pressing message that is rocking countries around the world. For centuries unjust practices around racism and colonialism have allowed empires to be built on the backs of oppressed people. The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and countless others in the United States have boiled to the point of global protests.    Problems of police brutality, income inequality and racism are certainly not unique to that country. In the Caribbean and further abroad, the remains of these systems continue. Internally people of colour also wrestle with colourism where lighter shades are viewed or consider themselves superior to darker hues.    Today our message is simple. Equality, not Pity.    Our hope is that all shades and colours of humanity come together to rid our societies of these foolish beliefs and the systems they fuel.    #podcastblackout    Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

How do you rapidly increase your ability to deliver excellent work and get enough traction to earn the attention of the people who need to notice?    You can spend loads of time thinking, studying, planning and theorising about the best practices, or you can start producing. The tough part is accepting that all the work you produce especially in the early stages will not be your best. It may not match up to the other masters of the craft that you admire. You may not be 100% proud but to grow faster, create and produce more.    Question of the day: What will you commit to producing more of this year?      Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

This is an important message for everyone at risk of losing hope in their dreams. If you’re frustrated with the pace of progress and wondering if the success you long for will ever become real, take a few minutes and listen to this message.     Question of the day: What are you believing for? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

In case it’s not obvious yet, remote work and online meetings are now a larger part of doing business. The extent of this may very well reduce when(ever) things calm down, but right now video calls via platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx and others are connecting the world. Today we teach you how to avoid some huge fails and present yourself better than the average person online.   Dress like a professional - Let the context of the meeting dictate or attire, not your location. Manage the camera angle - A laptop on a desk with a camera shooting up your nose may not be the most flattering angle. Get a box or stack some books to get the camera closer to eye level so you can sit up straight and look at the camera. Consider ditching the built in camera for a decent web cam with 1080p or at least 720p resolution. Look at the camera when you speak, not the screen - To make eye contact with your audience on a video call, look at the camera rather than eyes of whoever you’re talking to.   Lighting - Good lighting can go a long way to making you look good, even on a fairly basic camera. Consider sitting near a window with natural sunlight at your side or shining toward your face. Invest in at least on portable light.  Audio - Wear headphone to avoid being that person causing annoying feedback on the call. If you want to sound even better, invest in a reasonable USB headset or USB microphone. You want something that say DYNAMIC microphone, not a condenser which is likely to pick up too many little background noises. (Sorry Blue Yeti people, not today.)     Bonus: Join the call early to test your video and audio settings. Tech glitches happen sometimes, but do your part to avoid them like a pro.    Question of the day: What's maximum number of video calls or online meetings you’ve had in one day?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Let’s talk about why you’re still underpaid and how to negotiate pay and benefits to earn your worth.    Are you being paid what you’re worth? Have you thought about asking for more but the idea of that awkward conversation makes you scared or nervous? If you want to learn how smart executives negotiate better compensation you need to listen to these tactics from Denise Liebetrau.    She explains how negotiating for more rewards is so much wider than a single conversation, and gives bonus tips on how to boost your executive presence and move like someone that actually deserves serious compensation.    Who is Denise Lebetrau?   Denise Liebetrau is a HR Consultant, who partners with business leaders, to get the people and performance metrics in place to maximize profit and impact. She is also a  Career & Salary Negotiation Coach that helps professionals get paid what they are worth and have careers aligned to their values.   Connect with Denise for more coaching, resources and tips   Website and services: ProsperConsultingLLC.com Social Media: prosperconsultingllc.com/connect   Question of the day: Is there anything about negotiating compensation that makes you uncomfortable? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

When it comes to investing, you need to be clear on your goals for each dollar. Before you put a dollar to work, determine the job description. This is the only way you can really assess whether it doing what you want it to do correctly.    In investment banking, the first conversation with a client usually involves some form of the question: What are your objectives? To put it another way, what goals are you trying to accomplish here and what’s your timeline / investment horizon?   In this episode we discuss the three (3) main reasons people invest. Cash flow Value appreciation Leverage      Question of the day: What's your main investment goal right now: cash flow, value appreciation or leverage? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanv.com/podcast   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Are you working remotely? The current state of affairs in the world has many office goers figuring out the fun and follies of working remotely. As much as people complain about Mondays, traffic and annoying coworkers, it’s interesting to note the mixed reviews around this new found freedom.    Today we discuss the quirks for working from home and reflect on a related article from Bloomberg describing the plight of people trying to preserve boundaries between work life and personal life. This was recorded with a live Twitter/Periscope audience.     Article: Three Hours Longer, the Pandemic Workday Has Obliterated Work-Life Balance       Question of the day:  What do you like or hate most about working from home? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

You’ve seen or heard it before. Some colleague in the office starts reading self-development books and too many fake deep quotes on instagram about living life on your own terms and being an entrepreneur versus a lame employee. They may even listen to podcasts like this and take things slightly out of context. Yea…don’t be that person in the office.    Today let’s do some house keeping about how you can share your enthusiasm and enlightenment, without disrespecting the choices others make about their career.     Question of the day: What’s the biggest mental shift you are making this quarter? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are 5 more, plus a special free bonus resource at the end.   16. Update your resumé 17. Actually write down your goals and a game plan 18. Make a career development plan for the next 3 years 19. Use the disruption to show your value as a leader using technology 20. Earn promotion points by still delivering results for your team   Question of the day: Which tips are you executing first and what would you add to the list? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are 5 more, plus a special free bonus resource at the end.   11. Replace the time you would spend getting dressed or sitting in traffic with specific tasks 12. Shut-up and meditate 13. Work on YOUR business 14. Fix your LinkedIn and other social media profiles 15. Network - Call, message and reconnect   Question of the day: How are you using your quarantine time? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are the first 5, plus a special free bonus resource at the end.   6. Write and publish an article related to your craft or industry 7. Record a video or podcast about a relevant topic (for example the one you just researched in #5) 8. Keep a daily quarantine journal to document the experience, new ideas and insights 9. Learn a new skill that can generate money or be a hobby (coding, photography, graphic design) 10. Develop a regular home exercise routine   Question of the day: How are you using your quarantine time? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are the first 5, plus a special free bonus resource at the end.   Take a free or paid online course Work on a professional certification Re-discover the lost art of reading Listen to audiobooks and podcasts Research a topic and go deep on developing a robust understanding     Question of the day: How are you using your quarantine time? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

LinkedIn is one of the most powerful yet under used career networking tools available. You get free access to tools and features that can jump start new relationships, build a brand, and help you land that next big job.    To help you get the most out of LinkedIn we called in the expert who literally wrote the book on How to Write a Killer LinkedIn profile. Brenda Bernstein is on the mic telling us how she went from Sesame Street, to Yale, to building a business around helping smart executives like you communicate their career through LinkedIn and professional resumés.     What’s inside? Should your summary be in the first or third person? Biggest mistakes people make on LinkedIn Creating a multi-language profile How should your LinkedIn profile be identical to your resumé? What will make you profile stand out Taking online relationships offline …and much more Connect with Brenda www.TheEssayExpert.com www.TheExecutiveExpert.com www.KillerLinkedInProfile.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendabernstein   Click Here for full show notes and $25 of your professional LinkedIn review from Brenda's team.   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

  It’s no secret that women have been making a serious impact inside and outside the corporate world for centuries. Fortunately, it seems the value of this work is starting to get the recognition, and hopefully compensation it deserves. We’ve been celebrating women on Focus The Fire for many years by making space to share their brilliant stories with the world. Today in honour of International Women’s Day, we flashback to one of those moments featuring Jamila Abston, CPA, partner at EY and true professional rock star.      Question of the day: What can we do to level the playing field for women?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

  How do people “suddenly” accomplish great things? Sometimes it seems like they pop up out of nowhere with recorded albums, a thriving business, international awards, powerful careers and even published books. Do they possess some superior intelligence not accessible to the rest of us? Do they have more hours in a day or significantly less responsibilities jostling for their attention?   In most cases I believe the answer is no, or at least they actively make the answer a no. Let me explain. The problem likely is not that you lack intelligence. In fact, your intelligence may be the very thing fuelling your rampant curiosity and ambitions to explore multiple interesting paths. As a result, shifting amongst these mental and sometimes physical excursions eats away at your time each day. You’ve convinced yourself that each one is a worthy cause and eligible for your immediate attention.   To become great at something, to produce brilliant work, for a certain period at least, we have to forsake some other curiosities and unleash extreme focus on the task at hand. This is the bitter price of focus.   Related article: http://bit.ly/397ieIl   Question of the day: How will you pay the price? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Let’s be brutally honest here. Besides the fluffy talk about fulfilling dreams and helping humanity, you’re working because you want to get paid. That may not be the only reason, but it’s a crucial component otherwise you would be running around hunting for a full-time volunteer position. People will keep showing up at a job for years even though their personal or professional aspirations aren’t being fed, but let the money stop and see how quickly things escalate.   But wait a minute, is compensation only about money? Not to downplay the facts here, because money matters. Still, I believe it’s a sign of maturity when you step to the negotiation table demanding more than cash.   I want to challenge you think more broadly about compensation beyond just the usual salary and bonus. In this episode we discuss 4 non-cash payments to consider when negotiating.     Question of the day: What other great non-cash payments would you add to this list?   (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

So yes, there’s your job description or whatever. It’s important to hit those points. However, just meeting expectations is a slow path to success. There are skills and talents inside you that just need a little courage and creativity to help you leverage them for career success.    You can spend years competing with people on their own terms, or go around them quietly by creating your own lane. Activate your zone of greatness and use it to add value to the organisation. In today’s episode we offer some real life examples to inspire your own game plan.    Have a listen and let us know what out-of-office skill you can start bringing to work!      Question of the day: What secret skill have you been hiding from your main job?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

In the game of money, interested rates rule the field. A weak understanding can make you lose big or miss huge opportunities.  A great career is even better when you can take the money you earn and know how to make it work for you.   Today we take you through some common interest concepts that you will encounter when buying a car, a house, investing, or even choosing a bank account.     We included a useful article on annual percentage rates at the show notes page: dalanv.com/166-interest-rate-basics   Question of the day: If you have $10,000 to invest where would you put it? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

So you’re working hard to build that career and earn money to pay for things that matter to you. School, food, vacation, family expenses, healthcare, potato salad, etc. Today we’re giving you 5 common fees to understand when you decide to put that money to work by investing.    5 Common Investment Fees To Know   Management fee Performance fee Early exit fee Account management fee Transaction fee  These fees go by different names so pay attention to how they work. Also I’m not (legally) your financial advisor so be sure to do your own research and ask questions.    Other investment education resources:   investopedia.com seekingalpha.com bloomberg.com   Question of the day: What’s one question you’ve always wanted to ask about personal finance?   (Comment below or on twitter)     Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

A big part of get a high level position in a company is proving your commitment to the organisation’s long term objectives. Young ambitious professionals often lack the perspective of being the boss who has to decide whether they should take a risk on someone with a promotion or salary increase.    In their head, they are weighing whether you will be around adding value for a long time, or if they will have to go through this process with someone else in a year after you get the first bonus cheque and buy a car.    Today we discuss one power tip on signalling that you are ready to join executive leadership.       Question of the day: What can you do to prove your level of commitment?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Successful careers are built on manual control rather than autopilot. Your ability to recognise when things need attention and make the right adjustments is crucial to building a meaningful career with more time, money and freedom. Today’s guest, Kanika Tolver, specialises in helping professionals repair, or as she would say, “rehab” their careers. If you’re looking to advance in your industry or make a transition this conversation is for you.    Who is Kanika Tolver?   Kanika is a highly decorated information technology Federal Government professional, rebel entrepreneur and Certified Professional Coach. Kanika is a serial innovator who’s fueled by an extraordinary commitment to social change and helping others create their own “epic lives.” She’s also the CEO and Founder of Career Rehab, LLC in Washington, DC.    Career Rehab focuses on assisting career transformations for students, professionals and retirees. The company provides career coaching programs, events, webinars, and digital resources to help people reach their career goals.   What’s inside? A glimpse into Kanika’s latest book, Career Rehab: Rebuild Your Personal Brand and Rethink the Way You Work. Building and leveraging your personal brand How to be a brand, not an employee Navigating corporate spaces with your brand How to Get Paid Now and earn money, power, and respect Power tips for women and minorities in business … and much more!   Connect with Kanika   Website: http://kanikatolver.com https://twitter.com/KanikaTolver https://www.facebook.com/KanikaRTolver/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanikatolver/ https://www.instagram.com/kanikatolver/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ktolver/   Get the new book Career Rehab: https://amzn.to/30Ad2sS    Other book recommendations from Kanika:   21 Laws of Leadership - John Maxwell | https://amzn.to/2RanhRG   The Gifts of Imperfection - Brené Brown | https://amzn.to/2NEcTiU   Daring Greatly - Brené Brown | https://amzn.to/30B3HBf     Question of the day: What part of your career needs the most rehab?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

There are some mental barriers that keep smart professionals from breaking the mould and generating income outside their traditional salary. On this episode of Focus The Fire:  Some of the most common challenges to generating secondary income How to overcome those challenges How to start earning at least $100 per day outside your main job     Question of the day: What’s your $100 thing?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Last year I realised that I wasn’t thinking big enough in many areas. To be clear, I really thought I was thinking big, but that wasn’t reflected in many areas of my life, career and business. You see it’s no enough just to have big dreams. We have to match those desires with an operational framework that can sustain that growth.    Being exposed to different client negotiations over the year has been extremely useful in learning how people react to price and perceived value. With those lessons in mind the broad theme for the year 2020 is “No More Small Talk: Don’t drop your price, raise these instead”.    In this powerful episode I’ll share insights on the three most crucial things you should work on raising this year to experience more personal and professional rewards: 1. Skills, 2. Communication, 3. Clients.      Question of the day: What do you need to upgrade the most: skills, communication or clients?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

What a year! As 2019 comes to a close we spent some time reflecting on the best practices to increase your chances of massive success in 2020. Here are 5 crucial things to do in 2020. What else would you add?   Stop self-rejecting Take more action Learn while doing Keep good energy Give yourself permission to be a beginner      Question of the day:  What changes are you making in 2020 to boost your career? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

The first step to building your side hustle is figuring out what you will offer the market. Today we explore two strategies to help you generate ideas and choose one or two areas to focus.    Strategy 1 Make a list of skills or other things you can use to generate additional income. Separate them into three groups as follows:   Things you can do/monetise right now Things you can improve or build, then monetise Things you can learn how to do    Strategy 2 Look at what tasks and products people are already using to generate income. Browse gig websites like Fiverr and Upwork to see what people are paying for. You may consider joining the gig / freelance economy through these channels to get some experience, or launching your own distribution channel.    Question of the day: What’s something you want to monetise? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Reflecting on the things that really made a positive difference this year, I realised that it kept coming back to the same theme: Overcome self-doubt and do things you never did before.   On this episode I share the back story how I ended up presenting my first career training webinar a in December 2019.    Question of the day: What have you been talking yourself out of doing?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv  

Growing your career at faster than the average pace requires building relationships with decision makers. These people can be a catalyst to your progress and get you seats at tables that would otherwise be inaccessible. In this episode we provide you six practical tips for networking with high level executives. How do you get connected with powerful people?    Research their interests. Lead with value. Save time, make money, build a bridge.  Secretaries and personal assistants  are the gate keepers! Office parties and social events are prime time. BAM FAM - Book a meeting, From a meeting. Can I walk with you to your next meeting?   Question of the day: Which tip are you going apply first? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Today we continue the money conversation looking at the kinds of limiting beliefs you’ll need to shed to find success on the journey ahead. It’s a flashback to episode 61 that will set up some things are discussing over the next month.    Special Announcement   On Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 2PM EST I’ll be the guest presenter for the team at Whats Next! Join us for this free webinar and learn how to level up your career over the next two years. Click here for more info and to reserve your seat.       Question of the day: What’s the craziest thing you’ve heard about money? (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

The people you see winning aren’t necessarily better or smarter than you. However, they are producing more output.  Hi, name is Dalan and as President of the Perfectionists and Overthinkers Association I’d like to welcome you to this meeting.    Today we talk about reconfiguring your mind for success and getting unstuck.   Question of the day: What have you been second guessing yourself on lately?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv

Trying to figure out your entire life or career in one mouthful can be intimidating. Taking such a long view can also make you feel like you’re not making progress. Here’s a different approach.   Divide your career into seasons and episodes similar to a series on Netflix (a good one). What is the main movement you will make happen in the story during this season? What will we learn about the main character (you)? Is there a pivotal episode that will have everyone talking?      Question of the day: What’s the big thing that you want to happen in the this season of your career?  (Comment below or on twitter)   Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals.    Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com   Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv   Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire       Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv