Forever Employable Stories

As the season comes to an end, Jeff Gothelf recalls the thought-provoking and inspirational conversations he shared with his prolific guests. Successful individuals from a variety of industries pulled back the curtains on their experiences and exposed secrets to success that elevated them personally and professionally. Tune in for more insights and road maps to becoming forever employable when Jeff Gothelf returns in Season 3!

Rita McGrath is a prolific author, speaker, and strategic advisor. In addition to being Strategy Professor at Columbia Business School, she is also the founder of Valize, an organization dedicated to helping other organizations build lasting innovation capability as the basis for long-term shared prosperity. Rita's work centers at the intersection of strategy and innovation. Rita joins Jeff Gothelf to discuss how to turn career success into an opportunity-generating platform. She shares insights on honing your craft, networking, and publishing that made her forever employable.  You'll hear Rita and Jeff Gothelf talk about: The typical business school path in academia.  How writing for practitioners differs from writing for academia. The relationship between consistency and credibility. Self-publishing a book vs. publishing through another party. Forming good partnerships. What Rita draws inspiration from. Why working from an abundance mindset is good for everyone. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Rita McGrath on LinkedIn | Twitter RitaMcGrath.com

Codie Sanchez, a journalist turned entrepreneur, is the founder of Contrarian Thinking and cofounder of Unconventional Investors. In finding contrarian ways to invest, she has worked at the intersection of marketing and money throughout her career. She is an advisory board member at Entourage Effect Capital, and invests in women-led startups in Plum Alley, WAVE, and The Vinetta Project. Codie joins Jeff Gothelf to share stories about the twists, turns, and lessons she experienced along her professional journey. She discusses the challenges of content creation, sharing platforms, and how she equipped herself after leaving her first profession to be forever employable. You'll hear Codie and Jeff Gothelf talk about: Why people sometimes leave a great job. The signal that points to taking the next step. The benefits of building in public. How Codie started sharing content, and the tools she used. Owned content versus rented content, and why people should have the former. Codie's process of monetizing content. Setting boundaries after success. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Codie Sanchez on LinkedIn | Twitter CodieSanchez.com ContrarianThinking.co

Laurie Ruettimann is a writer, speaker, and podcaster at Punk Rock HR, an instructor at LinkedIn, and a member of the board of directors at CareerPoint.com. She was a successful HR executive with an enviable career, but she realized her job wasn't fulfilling. She quit, and using her expertise and experience in HR, turned to writing, strategy, entrepreneurship, and teaching. Laurie joins Jeff Gothelf to share insights about HR and what she has learned along her professional journey. She tells her dynamic story of why she decided to quit the 9-5 world, and how she prepared in order to become successful in her new career, and forever employable. You'll hear Laurie and Jeff Gothelf discuss: Laurie's occupational history, and what prompted her to quit her job. Laurie's experience of ‘planting her flag.' Finding what medium works for you and growing your audience. The benefits of coaching. Why corporate loyalty is dead. How recognition improves overall performance. What self-leadership actually is. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Laurie Ruettimann on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram LaurieRuettimann.com

Enrique Rubio is the founder of Hacking HR, a global community of HR leaders and practitioners, and cofounder of Cotopaxi, an artificial intelligence-based recruitment platform for Latin America. He is passionate about HR, technology and innovation, and people operations. Enrique joins Jeff Gothelf to talk about the process behind building the network and audience that is Hacking HR, and how he intends to monetize that audience. He shares insights about turning a passion into a platform for other people, creating communities, and scaling your services to become forever employable. You'll hear Enrique and Jeff Gothelf discuss: Enrique's original dream and how that evolved. Finding your unique factor that attracts people to you. Why authenticity matters. Bridging the gap between HR and technology. How Enrique is monetizing his services to scale up and make a bigger impact. Community management and content. Tips for building your own community. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Enrique Rubio on LinkedIn | Twitter

Dorie Clark has twice been named one of Thinkers50's Top 50 Business Thinkers in the World and is ranked the world's best communication coach. She is an executive member of various organizations. Dorie is a contributor at Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur Media, and Fast Company, as well as an instructor at LinkedIn. She is also host of Better, a weekly LinkedIn Live interview show for Newsweek. Dorie joins Jeff Gothelf to talk about building a personal brand with your recognized expertise. She shares stories of her professional journey and gives insights from what she has learned along the way that made her forever employable. You'll hear Dorie and Jeff Gothelf discuss: Dorie's forced transition out of journalism, and the evolution of the world of work. How Dorie got her first book deal. Dorie's experience of how sustained effort and commitment gets your foot in the door. What success looks like as an author. The pros and cons of getting a publisher versus self-publishing. How to tell when your expertise has been recognized. Creating the outcomes we want by putting thought behind our decisions. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Dorie Clark on LinkedIn | Twitter DorieClark.com The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World

Julia Lemberskiy is co-founder and Managing Director at JJ Studio Agency, and Principal at Frontier Values. Ex-Uber executive turned investor and startup consultant, Julia helps startups of all sizes launch new products & markets, scale their operations, and acquire new users through world-class marketing & sales.  Julia joins Jeff Gothelf to talk about her rapid rise to success. She shares her experience with building her personal brand and thought leadership, and her hopes for expanding even further, making her forever employable. You'll hear Julia and Jeff Gothelf discuss: Julia's high school introduction to the world of startups. How Julia decided where to focus her personal brand. The invaluable benefits of having a coach or mentor. Being laid off, and how Julia bounced back. Turning the negatives of unemployment into an opportunity to create something new. Why it's important to develop a target persona for your desired audience. Julia's prediction for thought leadership and brand and community building in the next 5-10 years. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Julia Lemberskiy on LinkedIn 

John Cutler is a product evangelist, coach, and Head of Product Education at Amplitude. As an accomplished writer, John has an amazing ability to create, record, and produce content at an incredible rate. He is passionate about wrangling complex problems and answering the why with qualitative and quantitative data. John joins Jeff Gothelf to share how he uses all the knowledge he's obtained to build a bigger and broader following, all in service of staying forever employable. He talks about his professional journey and discusses tips for creating content. You'll hear John and Jeff Gothelf talk about: John's journey from dropping out of college and attempting a video game company to product evangelism. How John started writing about product management. Advice for creators interested in monetizing their content. What John draws inspiration from, and why you don't need to be massively inspired to create. Laying the foundations to give yourself options. Asking your employer for adjustments or accommodations, rather than leaving your job. The coolest stage John has ever been on, between his stint as a musician and his job as a speaker. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com John Cutler on LinkedIn

Jas Leverette is a Bay Area dog trainer and dog behavior expert at California K9 Solutions, also known as Cali K9. With 20 years of experience working with hundreds of K9s, he can recognize drive, temperament, and disposition in most breeds and truly optimize a dog's potential. Jas is also the star of his own Netflix show, Canine Inventions. Jas joins Jeff Gothelf to share how he developed his love of dogs and passion for training them. He talks about how he grew his business, and why he decided to elevate it to a personal brand, which ended up with him having his own show and becoming forever employable. You'll hear Jas and Jeff Gothelf discuss: Jas' childhood experiences with dogs, his exposure to dog training, and his transfer from medical cannabis to pursuing dog training as a profession. The importance of using tools correctly.  How Jas built his reputation to the point where he started working for celebrities.  The innocent encounter that inspired Jas to scale up from just being a dog training business. The best parts of making a TV show. Jas' advice for people who are interested in turning their passion and expertise into a personal brand. Educating people about dog behavior. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Jas Leverette on LinkedIn | Twitter  CaliK9.com

DanikaXIX is a YouTube personality and adult model known for her commentaries on comics, films, books, and television shows. She has been featured in Cosmopolitan, TEDx, and various other online outlets. Despite coming from an entire town of engineers, Danika's passions lay in art and media. She spread her wings when she was just 18 years old, to pursue an artistic career. Danika joins Jeff Gothelf to share her story, and motivate others to follow their dreams. She talks about her journey into YouTube and content creation, and connecting with her audience. She also shares tips on how to maintain good relationships. You'll hear Danika and Jeff Gothelf discuss: How Danika found her passion in art, despite coming from a family (and town) of rocket scientists. Danika's foray into YouTube, and how she made it sustainable. Creating a job on the internet. Using Patreon to build a deeper relationship with your audience. The importance of consistency when publishing content. Danika's rebrand, and what inspired the change. How Danika stays relevant and connects with her audience. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com DanikaXIX on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Twitch

Simon Majumdar is a world-renowned chef, food writer, speaker, and broadcaster, as well as the host of the global food history podcast, Eat My Globe. He is known for his appearances as a judge on numerous hit US TV food shows, most notably those on Food Network, such as Cutthroat Kitchen, Beat Bobby Flay, and The Next Iron Chef.  Simon joins Jeff Gothelf to share his journey, and inspire others to follow their hearts. At the age of 40, Simon quit his job as a successful publisher to fulfill his life's ambition, where he discovered his passion for food. He discusses the tragedy that fueled his drive, his battle with depression, his professional success, and how he came out on top as forever employable. You'll hear Simon and Jeff Gothelf talk about: Simon's dissatisfaction with his previous job and how he recognized it. The tipping point that cemented Simon's decision to go after his dreams.  Finding your ‘ikigai.' Authenticity, and why it matters. The impact of sharing your story. Why being low-maintenance is a good thing. How finding an area to fuel your passion can support you through adversity. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Simon Majumdar on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook SimonMajumdar.com

Max Miller is a YouTuber whose channel is focused around the concept of food and its history. His channel, Tasting History with Max Miller, teaches viewers how to make historic dishes while explaining what goes into the recipes, where they come from, and how to recreate them from the past. Max's unique content has allowed him to build a following of over 900,000 subscribers. Max joins Jeff Gothelf to talk about his journey, and encourage others to proactively go after their interests. He shares insights about how we can turn the things we're passionate about into what we do every day and make ourselves forever employable. You'll hear Max and Jeff Gothelf talk about: How Max shifted his career from theatre, to Disney, to baking. The importance of storytelling. What qualifies as an ‘ancient' recipe. How Max ignores detractors and keeps his focus on his passion. Adding your unique contribution to your field. Suggestions for those who are interested in pursuing their passion. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Max Miller on YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

In this exciting new season of Forever Employable, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful conversations with a diverse lineup of successful individuals. Inspiring people from various industries talk about their experience and divulge their tried-and-true methods for building and monetizing content, audiences, and networks. Prepped with crisper, more tactical and more entertaining stories than ever before, Jeff Gothelf aims to stir your pot of passion and serve you the ingredients to be forever employable.

Looking back over the first season of the Forever Employable Stories Podcast, Jeff reflects on the amazing stories of people who have used thier passion and expertise to build multiple revenue streams, grow an audience and create opportunities beyond their skill sets. Jeff talks about what he's learned, some of his most memorable moments form the series, and starts looking ahead to Season 2.

Stephen Shedletzky is Head of Brand Experience and Lead Igniter at Simon Sinek Inc. At the start of his career, Stephen seemed to have it made already. However, he and his employer had different perspectives on leadership, and he soon had to seek other opportunities. Stephen joins Jeff Gothelf to share his story and use it to demonstrate how persistence and perseverance will make you forever employable. You'll hear Stephen and Jeff Gothelf talk about: The equation of luck. Stephen's noteworthy email to his (then) prospective employer. The opportunity that rewarded Stephen for his perseverance, which spawned more opportunities. How the journey makes the destination. Where confidence comes from. The advice that made Stephen push past his self-doubt. The importance of building a network. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation between Stephen and Jeff. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Stephen Shedletzky on LinkedIn | Twitter SimonSinek.com

Jared Kirby is a classical and historical fencing instructor who has been involved in Combat for Screen & Stage and Western Martial Arts for nearly 25 years. He is the President of Combat Con in Las Vegas, and teaches fencing and stage combat in New York. Jared is a Master of Arms, editor, and fight coordinator who has worked with stars such as Peter Sarsgaard and Cameron Douglas. Jared joins Jeff Gothelf to talk about his journey, how he found his passion, and the steps he took along the way to become forever employable. You'll hear Jared and Jeff Gothelf discuss: The night that changed Jared's life. How Jared combines real technical skill with choreography for the best possible results. The basic rules of stage fighting. The four stages to confidence and how mentorship impacts the journey. Why having a big ego is actually good. What makes a great teacher. How Jared is managing the current crisis with the nature of his work. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation with Jared and Jeff right here.  Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Jared Kirby on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube JaredKirby.com

Today's Forever Employable Story is Alden Mills, an ex-Navy Seal, author, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, CXO Advisor, and investor at Alden Mills Companies and a member of the Board of Directors at Headsets.com. His 25 years of experience in military and business have made him into a high-performance leader with expertise in company strategy, growth, and team-building.  You'll hear Alden and Jeff talk about: How Alden turned a negative into a positive and boosted his self-confidence. The relationship between risk, failure, and success. What entrepreneurship really is, and what makes an entrepreneur. How the model of improvement, innovation, and invention translates into the career world. Service as a motivator. The importance of persistence and internal teamwork. Reframing your mindset to see opportunities amidst uncertainty. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the conversation, and get the full transcript. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Alden Mills on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Alden-Mills.com Be Unstoppable by Alden Mills Unstoppable Teams by Alden Mills

Michael Bungay Stanier is a bestselling author, and the founder of Box of Crayons, an organization that helps other organizations transform from advice-driven to curiosity-led. His book The Coaching Habit has sold almost one million copies worldwide and has been instrumental in providing key tips for entrepreneurs.  Michael is Jeff Gothelf's guest on this episode; he talks about his journey and gives advice about how to become forever employable. You'll hear Michael and Jeff Gothelf discuss: Entrepreneurship as a way of claiming your own autonomy.  How Michael created his start-up company.  How he is helping individuals become forces for change.  The phases of becoming an entrepreneur. The importance of creating intellectual property.  The theory of give and take, as opposed to giving everything away for free. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation between Michael and Jeff here.  Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Michael Bungay Stanier on LinkedIn  BoxofCrayons.com MBS.works The Coaching Habit

Alisa Cohn is an executive coach, CEO of Alisa Cohn & Associates, Inc., and Member of the Board of Advisors at Hone and cela. She is a writer for Inc, Forbes and Harvard Business Review, and has been featured in BBC, Bloomberg, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other regional publications. She was named the #1 Startup Coach in the world by Thinkers50 and placed among the Top 30 Global Gurus for Startups. Some of her clients include Venmo, Foursquare, Calvin Klein, and Pfizer. Alisa joins Jeff Gothelf to share how she discovered the concept of coaching and why she felt it was the right decision for her. She discusses how she built her business and eventually scaled it to the point where she is now, the top recognized expert on startup coaching. She offers the tips and techniques she used along her journey that made her forever employable.  You'll hear Alisa and Jeff Gothelf talk about: What an executive coach does. Why Alisa left the corporate world to pursue coaching. How Alisa gained experience and improved by coaching her friends. The importance of networking in building your brand. Why writing is important in becoming an expert. Methods of generating business. How Alisa stays relevant with the added competition in the new virtual workplace. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation with Alisa and Jeff here.  Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Alisa Cohn on LinkedIn  AlisaCohn.com

Peter Hollens is an entrepreneur, educator, and classically trained vocal artist specializing in a cappella music on YouTube. His entrepreneurial spirit has turned his singing skills into an adjacent set of opportunities that have transformed into a highly successful business. He is the founder and Chief Strategist of Creator Agency, as well as the owner of One Voice Productions and an advisor at Patreon, Tubular Labs, and Loudr. Peter has a YouTube following of over 2.5 million and his content has garnered over a billion views since 2011.  Peter joins Jeff Gothelf to share what he has learned and generously teaches others to do as well. He talks about how he continuously reinvents himself, tests new ideas, doubles down on the ones that resonate with his audience, and in doing so, becomes forever employable. You'll hear Peter and Jeff Gothelf talk about: Peter's pursuit of his passion and how it blossomed into a successful career. How Peter created the community he was searching for. Building self-confidence through experience. Why copying others isn't as bad as you may think. The importance of acquisition content as a creator. Why you need to own your creative process. How Peter's company is actually benefiting from the current crisis. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation with Peter and Jeff here.  Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Peter Hollens on LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube PeterHollens.com

Lindsey Pollak is a bestselling author and keynote speaker. In 2020, she was named on the Thinkers50 Radar List, which honors the top global management thinkers. Her work is shaping the future of how organizations are managed and led, and she is dedicated to helping employers nurture the kind of cultures that develop the diversity modern businesses need to succeed.  Lindsey chats with Jeff Gothelf about why writing worked as an exit from the mainstream career track and its struggles, how being present in the conversation is equally important, and how to stay relevant to the current conversation to become forever employable. You'll hear Lindsey and Jeff Gothelf discuss: How Lindsey got her startup into public speaking. Following her interests and her skill sets while watching what was happening in the markets. Being able to pivot and reposition to stay relevant.  Doing the things that you love. The challenges of writing despite all the connections and advantages Lindsey had.  Having a big sister and RA approach to how she guides the millennial generation. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation with Lindsey and Jeff here.  Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Lindsey Pollak on LinkedIn | Twitter LindseyPollak.com Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through The Changing World of Work

Mathieu Bitton started his career as a graphic designer who, like most early-career creatives, didn't have a huge amount of content to demonstrate his abilities, so he created an aspirational portfolio of exactly the kind he wanted to have throughout his career. Decades later, he has created almost everything he originally imagined. From freelance gigs, to American Eagle, to a project with Quentin Tarantino to becoming a sought-after photographer and artistic director for major musicians, Mathieu has mastered the art of being forever employable. You'll hear Jeff and Mathieu talk about: Creating a vision for the future you want and taking steps towards it. How Mathieu wore down the defenses of a gatekeeper standing between him and an amazing opportunity. Why he left a prestigious, 6-figure salaried position to take a chance on a creative project.  Why music and photography were such intense passions. What you need to do to stay relevant in an industry with a heavy churn rate and tons of competition. The secret to networking. How Mathieu curates what he presents on social media, and why you should, too. The fact that there will always be challenges and obstacles between you and what you want to achieve – but you can often remove, or work around them. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the Full Conversation between Jeff and Mathieu Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Mathieu Bitton on: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Matthieu Bitton

Nir Eyal is the Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of Hooked and Indistractable. He is also a public speaker and Behavioral Design Consultant and Investor at Nir Eyal. Most notably, Nir was able to transform what used to be a side gig into a profitable career in consulting. His valuable knowledge and dedication were rewarded with professional advancement as people started paying him attention.  Nir joins Jeff Gothelf to share tactical insights about how owning your audience makes you forever employable. You'll hear Nir and Jeff Gothelf talk about: Nir's inspiration for his bestsellers. Tips for writing your book. The importance of immersion as an author. Why the cake (not the icing) is the audience you own. How following your curiosity leads you down the right path. Why your input and experience are valid contributions. What builds self-confidence. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation between Nir and Jeff here. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Nir Eyal on LinkedIn | Twitter NirAndFar.com 

At the age of 30, Danny Thompson moved from frying chicken at a gas station to a career in software development. He is now a software engineer and a chapter founder at Google Developers Group. Since then, his mission has been to give back to his community and to help others like him locally and around the world by sharing his journey. Danny chats with Jeff Gothelf about getting hired in tech, and how to use social media to become forever employable. You'll hear Danny and Jeff Gothelf discuss: What sparked the change in Danny's life. Why you shouldn't concern yourself over timelines. The power of prioritization. How Twitter can be a place of opportunity. What drives Danny to help people. How the current crisis has impacted Danny and his work. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation between Danny and Jeff here.  Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Danny Thompson on LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

Tara Schuster is an author, playwright, and an accomplished entertainment executive. Upon graduating college, Tara had no idea what she was going to do with her future. Through establishing herself as someone who could do the most hated tasks, and do them well, she was able to seize many opportunities. Tara joins Jeff Gothelf to share her story and to explain why being the best at the worst will make you forever employable. You'll hear Tara Schuster and Jeff Gothelf talk about:  Her foray into the entertainment industry.  Being the best at the worst.  The rarity of true confidence and reliability.  Showing the value that you possess and working around people's expectations.  Planting flags and acting with integrity.  The importance of making writing a habit and a practice. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation between Tanya and Jeff here. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Tara Schuster on LinkedIn TaraSchuster.com Buy Yourself The Lilies

In this Forever Employable Story, Jeff Gothelf talks to Tendayi Viki who made the major leap from Academia into tech after noticing a need for usability researchers and to stem the concern about being able to rely on traditional employment. Because often, opportunity meets preparation, Tendayi dove deep into the lean start-up community, volunteering his time and expertise to establish his authority and reputation as an expert which, over time, allowed him to develop his own content, audience and practice as an innovation consultant. You'll hear Jeff and Tendayi talk about: How Tendayi reinvented himself after leaving Academia  Leveraging the Stanford name and relationships into Silicon Valley boardrooms.  Mitigating the risks that comes with changing careers. The importance of reputation building and how to make it part of your regular schedule. Transitioning to more virtual work during the coronavirus pandemic. Why you need to recognize blessings when they come – and work with them. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable.  Watch the full conversation between Tendayi and Jeff. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Pirate in the Navy and The Corporate Startup by Tendayi Viki Tendayi Viki on LinkedIn | Twitter

Joel Hoekstra is the current guitarist for the hard rock band Whitesnake and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and is someone who Jeff Gothelf believes embodies the 5 key characteristics of being Forever Employable. Despite a global pandemic and huge disruption to the music and performance industries, Joel is staying busy and productive, and continuing to make a living doing what he loves to do. By constantly reinventing himself and being dedicated to his craft, Joel has developed a diverse set of income streams that will be able to weather any obstacles. You'll hear Jeff and Joel talk about: How Jeff's career was a series of small steps rather than a single breakthrough. The way that opportunities seem to come from doing things that don't make much sense at the time. His belief that lives are changed by simple decisions – and because of this, you create your own destiny to a certain degree. Why he thinks that promotion from anyone matters – no one is too small an opportunity. The importance of finding ways to be productive and move forward every single day. What it means that “the window can close so easily,” and how you can make sure your opportunities stay open.  Why you should try to have an understanding of where you sit in the big picture. Watch the whole conversation between Jeff and Joel. In the Forever Employable podcast, host Jeff Gothelf shares stimulating, impactful stories and interviews with successful professionals as he prepares to launch his new book. It is his aim to provide listeners with the actionable insights to take them from professionally fit to forever employable. Resources Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn | Twitter JeffGothelf.com Joel Hoekstra on: Twitter  | Facebook  JoelHoekstra.com

It's demo day on this special episode of Forever Employable. Jeff Gothelf invites individuals from the first cohort of his ten week workshop Becoming Forever Employable, to share their stories and what they've learned. They give tips and advice on how to implement the concepts they learned from Jeff's podcast, and their own personal advice to make you forever employable. You'll hear the First Cohort and Jeff Gothelf discuss: The challenges individuals have to overcome when building an online presence, a reputation, network and platform for themselves. Experimenting with what works, and doing so regardless of what the world tells you to do.  Overcoming imposter syndrome and perfectionism. When planting your flag, and deciding what expertise you're going into, you need to reflect on where you've been, what you're good at and what you love to do. Future proofing your career to find what value you can add to the world. Not letting your job become your identity. Once you plant your flag, you have to start generating content in any way you believe your audience will consume. We need to be consistent in messages that we send to our audiences, as well as the frequency we send them in order to be heard. We need to build trust, as well as our personal and professional brand.

Welcome to Forever Employable Stories, a podcast where Jeff Gothelf is showcasing some of the inspiring experts who embody the ideas in his book: Forever Employable: How to stop looking for work and let your next job find you. Jeff has spoken to people from all walks of life who decided that the traditional career ladder was not the path they wanted to follow. These are people who used their passion, expertise, and experience to build platforms that future-proofed their careers.  In this series, you'll hear from artists, entrepreneurs, developers, athletes and more, and you'll learn how you can do what they did – using their skills and knowledge to create platforms for your community that you can use to create your own opportunities and future-proof your career. Jeff's background is in technology, and for many years, he followed a traditional career path in that sector. But with every merger and acquisition, or new technological development, he had to wonder: “Will I get the next job? the next raise? the next promotion?” He radically changed his career and built a platform that allowed him to create content and a community that afforded huge opportunities – and security for the future. Listen to these stories of talented people from different industries and walks of life, to learn how you can do it, too.