Pull Up Your Chair

In part two of this week's Pull Up Your Chair, Cicely continues her career-empowering chat with award-winning coach Octavia Goredema. They dive into the second phase of Octavia's acclaimed three-step career strategy: PUSH. After detailing the importance of preparation in part one, Octavia now expands on the motivational PUSH phase. She discusses her approach of actively assisting individuals in their career journeys by setting bold goals, pursuing new opportunities, and stepping outside comfort zones. Octavia explains her reasoning behind making push the vital second step after preparing. She provides advice on pushing yourself in strategic ways and shares how to leverage coaches and mentors during this transitional career phase. Octavia also reveals the final phase of her career strategy - PIVOT - and equips listeners with empowering wisdom to transform their professional paths.

This week on Pull Up Your Chair, Cicely welcomes award-winning career coach Octavia Goredema. Octavia is an acclaimed mentor who has empowered professionals at top companies like Google and Dow Jones. She is the author of the popular book PREP, PUSH, PIVOT and host of the hit Audible podcast How to Change Careers. An award-winning coach, Octavia guides professionals to unlock their full potential in the workplace. As founder of Twenty Ten Agency, she has coached leaders at renowned companies including Google, American Airlines, Tinder, General Motors, Nike and Dow Jones. An acclaimed career expert, Octavia wrote the essential career guide PREP, PUSH, PIVOT: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women and hosts the new Audible Original series, How to Change Careers with Octavia Goredema. Tune in as Octavia shares her inspirational career journey and empowering advice to help listeners unlock their full potential.

After discussing the prevalence of imposter syndrome and Dr. Stoddard's personal experiences, the conversation shifts to practical strategies for growth and change. Dr. Stoddard provides research-backed techniques to help quiet negative self-talk and build self-confidence. As she explains, learning to silence your inner critic is key to overcoming feelings of fraudulence. She introduces the acronym PAVE to help listeners remember four powerful skills of psychological flexibility. Tune in as Dr. Stoddard outlines simple yet profound ways we can all incorporate PAVE into our daily lives to conquer self-doubt, act authentically, and bring our best selves forward. This inspiring discussion provides takeaway tools to help listeners cultivate self-compassion on their journeys from imposter thinking to empowerment.

On the latest episode of Pull Up Your Chair, Cicely sits down with Dr. Jill Stoddard to discuss her new book Imposter No More. In this insightful conversation, Dr. Stoddard opens up about her own struggles with imposter syndrome and provides research-backed strategies to help listeners overcome feelings of self-doubt. As an award-winning teacher, TEDx speaker, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast, Dr. Stoddard has a talent for making complex psychological concepts accessible. Tune in as she shares practical advice for building confidence, overcoming perfectionism, and silencing your inner critic. Whether you struggle with imposter syndrome or simply want to cultivate a healthier self-image, this empowering episode will leave you feeling inspired and equipped to become your most authentic self.

In the second half of Cicely's conversation with Kemi Nekvapil, they dive deeper into the challenges professional women face in trying to balance work and family. Kemi shares advice for women who struggle with feeling they must be in service to others and that it's a zero-sum game between their career and personal life. Kemi also talks about the importance of women seeing themselves as equals and partners both at home and in the workplace, rather than subservient caretakers. She provides insights on how to advocate for your needs and values while also caring for others with compassion. Tune in for Kemi's wisdom on embracing your power as a woman to thrive in both your career and personal life.

Pulling up a chair this week is Kemi Nekvapil, a highly sought-after speaker, bestselling author, and executive coach dedicated to helping leaders reach their full potential. With over 28 years of studying purpose, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, Kemi brings deep wisdom to her work. As a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator who has worked directly with Dr. Brené Brown, Kemi is a powerful advocate for a connected, values-based life. Her new bestseller, "POWER: A Woman's Guide to Living and Leading Without Apology," shares her insights on helping women lead authentically. Tune in as Kemi pulls up a chair to discuss finding your voice as a leader, leading with compassion, and cultivating team diversity and belonging. Don't miss this inspiring conversation with a transformative teacher guiding others to lead without apology.

Cicely Simpson wraps up the second part of her conversation with Bruce Feiler, the author of The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World. Bruce is a life transitions expert who has spent decades studying how people cope with change and find their purpose in their work. In this episode, they dive deeper into some of the challenges and opportunities that come with finding meaningful work in a post-career world. He'll share some of the lessons he learned from interviewing hundreds of people who have gone through their own transitions. And he'll give us some practical tips and tools that we can use to start or continue our own search. So pull up your chair and get ready for another amazing talk with Bruce Feiler.

This week Cicely welcomes bestselling author, TED speaker, and life transitions expert, Bruce Feiler! He is here to talk about his latest book, THE SEARCH: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World, a bold new roadmap for finding joy and fulfillment in what you do. We're going to learn how to dig into our past, identify our core values, and trust ourselves to make the best decisions for our future. Bruce has spent decades studying the stories of individuals and communities who have faced major challenges and changes in their lives. He has discovered that the key to navigating these transitions is to embrace them as opportunities for growth and discovery. Bruce calls this process “the search”, and he has developed a practical framework to help anyone find their purpose and passion in their work. Whether you're looking for a new job, a career change, or a way to make your current work more meaningful, this episode is for you. So pull up your chair and get ready for an amazing conversation with Bruce Feiler. Let's go!

Pull Up Your Chair with host Cicely Simpson concludes with the second part of David A. Specht Jr.'s amazing story of career change. Cicely revisits a key moment in David's life, when he realized that his fear of failure was holding him back from taking care of his physical health, as he wrote in his book, Old Dogs New Tricks Version 2.0. This leads to a fascinating question: did David overcome his fear or use it to fuel his pivot to becoming a health coach? David, who went from being a newspaperman to a health coach, reveals his personal reasons for making this change and the insights he shares with his clients. Listen as he explains how facing fear, showing vulnerability, and developing a growth mindset can help anyone transform their lives. David's journey inspires us to examine our own fears and challenges us to turn them into opportunities for growth. Don't miss this inspiring finale, as we discover the power of human resilience and the endless possibilities that lie within us. Pull Up Your Chair invites you to this incredible story of transformation and the conviction that it's never too late to pursue your dreams.

Are you ready to transform your life and unleash your full potential? If so, you won't want to miss this episode of Pull Up Your Chair, where Cicely Simpson chats with David A. Specht Jr., a media mogul, a health coach, and a motivational speaker. David shares his inspiring story of how he went from being overweight and unhappy to losing 125 pounds and finding his purpose in helping others achieve their health and wellness goals. He also reveals his secrets to creating a successful mindset, overcoming challenges, and staying motivated. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your health, or start a new career, David has some valuable insights and tips for you. Tune in and discover how you can become the best version of yourself with David A. Specht Jr. on Pull Up Your Chair.

Cicely wraps up her discussion with Christina Wallace, the author of The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card. Christina is a writer, podcaster, serial entrepreneur, and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, who has created a successful and fulfilling career by combining her multiple passions and interests. In the first part of our conversation, we talked about Christina's journey and how she discovered the concept of a portfolio life. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, I highly recommend you go back and check it out. In this episode, we dive deeper into the practical aspects of creating a portfolio life. Christina shares with us the four essential pillars of a portfolio life: vision, strategy, execution, and evaluation. She explains what each pillar means and how to apply it to your own situation. She also gives us some examples of how she and other portfolio lifers have used these pillars to design their own unique careers and lives. This episode is full of valuable insights and advice that will help you take action and start creating your own portfolio life today. Whether you're looking for more freedom, creativity, or impact in your work and life, this episode will inspire you to think differently about your career and life choices. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most inspiring and successful portfolio lifers out there. Pull up your chair and listen now!

Do you feel like you have to choose one thing to be good at? Do you struggle with balancing your work and your life? Do you want to design a career that fits your unique talents and passions? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this episode is for you. Join Cicely as she chats with Christina Wallace, a self-described “human Venn diagram” who has mastered the art of creating a portfolio life. Christina is a writer, podcaster, serial entrepreneur, and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, with a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. In her latest book, “The Portfolio Life,” Christina adapts proven practices from the business sector to help you break free from the cult of ambition and design a flexible, fulfilling, and sustainable life on your own terms. This episode is packed with practical tips and inspiring stories that will help you rethink your career and life choices. Whether you're looking for a career change, a side hustle, or a way to express your creativity, this episode will help you discover the possibilities of a portfolio life. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most innovative and successful human Venn diagrams out there. Pull up your chair and listen now!

In the conclusion of Cicely's conversation with Brian Covey, we delve into the essence of Brian's success and explore his profound understanding of the power of connection in the game of life. As an influencer, podcaster, keynote speaker, and author, he has honed his craft while also serving as the Founder of Covey Holdings and Executive Vice President at Revolution Mortgage. During this episode, Cicely notices Brian's intentional focus on connection, both in their conversation and his presence on social media. Recognizing this, she dives deep into understanding the significance of connection in Brian's life and asks him why it holds such immense importance for him. In his insightful response, Brian reveals his profound belief in the transformative power of human connection. He shares his personal experiences and the profound impact that genuine connections have had on his own journey. Brian's wisdom sheds light on the fact that fostering meaningful connections is not only crucial for personal fulfillment but also essential for achieving success in all areas of life. Prepare to be inspired as Pull Up Your Chair with Cicely Simpson concludes its riveting conversation with Brian Covey, leaving you with a newfound understanding of the importance of connection and the limitless possibilities it holds.

This week, get ready to be inspired as we dive into the life and wisdom of a true champion, Brian Covey. From his impressive career as a professional soccer player to his current role as the Founder of Covey Holdings and Executive Vice President at Revolution Mortgage, Brian has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to lead multi-billion-dollar teams to success. In this episode, we'll uncover the secrets behind Brian's extraordinary achievements and explore the mindset that fuels his unwavering determination. He has devoted his life to the pursuit of excellence and has become a master at winning in both professional and personal realms. Tune in to this captivating episode and discover how to cultivate a champion's mindset, overcome obstacles, and embrace the qualities that lead to lasting success.

In this conclusion of Cicely Simpson's Pull Up Your Chair Podcast episode with Sylvie di Giusto, we delve deeper into the world of personal branding and its impact on how others perceive us. Sylvie, a renowned keynote speaker and author of “The Image of Leadership,” shares her insights on how leaders can effectively package themselves to create a lasting impression. As Cicely and Sylvie discuss the importance of having an online presence and social media footprint, they also explore the distinction between personal brand and professional brand. Sylvie sheds light on how these two aspects are interconnected, yet unique in their own ways. She emphasizes the significance of aligning one's personal brand with their professional goals, and how consistency in branding can enhance credibility and trust. Sylvie draws on her extensive experience in helping individuals and organizations around the world to understand how their environment, both online and offline, can leave a lasting impression on others. She provides practical tips and strategies on how to cultivate a positive and authentic personal brand that resonates with your target audience. So, join us for this captivating conclusion of Cicely Simpson's Pull Up Your Chair Podcast, as Sylvie di Giusto shares her invaluable insights on the power of personal branding and how it can shape your professional success.

In this episode, Cicely is thrilled to have Sylvie di Giusto, a renowned keynote speaker and expert in personal branding and first impressions. Sylvie believes that first impressions matter and can make all the difference in how others perceive us or our organizations. Drawing from her extensive experience working with individuals and organizations across the globe, Sylvie shares practical tips and insights on how to make those critical first seven seconds count. She reveals the psychology behind how people form impressions quickly, and how those impressions can either open doors or slam them shut. Join us for an empowering and thought-provoking conversation with Sylvie di Giusto as she shares her insights on mastering first impressions and unlocking the power of personal branding. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with practical strategies to enhance your leadership, sales, and persuasion skills in any professional or business setting.

Don't miss the conclusion of Cicely's powerful and honest conversation with Alexa Curtis, the co-founder of GrasshoppHer. Alexa shares how she deals with imposter syndrome, a common challenge that many entrepreneurs face. She also shares some advice for Gen-Z entrepreneurs who want to follow in her footsteps. Tune in to Pull Up Your Chair with Cicely Simpson and listen to this inspiring conclusion of my conversation with Alexa Curtis.

Cicely is back for a career-changing conversation with Alexa Curtis, a powerhouse of creativity and entrepreneurship. Alexa's career in social media and radio led her to co-found GrasshoppHer, a career development service for women based in Austin. Alexa has been featured in Forbes, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, and many other publications for her work and achievements. She has also spoken at TEDx events and in schools across the country about her journey of skipping college and pursuing her passions. Alexa is here to share with us her insights on how to create a career that aligns with your values, vision, and voice. She will also tell us how she overcame fear, doubt, and rejection along the way. This is a conversation you don't want to miss if you're looking for inspiration and motivation to change your career or start something new. So grab a seat and join me for this amazing episode of Pull Up Your Chair with Cicely Simpson.

In this episode, Cicely continues her conversation with Barry Michels, co-author of the New York Times bestseller The Tools. Barry is a renowned therapist with years of experience helping clients transform their lives. In The Tools, he and his co-author, Phil Stutz, share a set of powerful techniques that can help you overcome fear, tap into your intuition, and cultivate resilience. Jeopardy is one of the most effective tools in the book, and in this episode, Cicely explores how it can help you overcome the obstacles that are holding you back. Barry also shares his insights on how to use this tool to overcome fear, cultivate courage, and achieve your goals.

If you're looking to unlock your full potential, this episode is a must-listen. Join Cicely as she sits down with Barry Michels, co-author of the New York Times bestseller The Tools. They discuss the life-changing psychological model that he and his co-author, Phil Stutz, have developed over their 60 years of combined psychotherapeutic experience. In The Tools, Barry and Phil share a set of powerful techniques that can help you transform your problems into opportunities for growth, courage, and creativity. These tools have been used by countless individuals, from Hollywood celebrities to business executives, and have been hailed as a groundbreaking approach to personal development. In this episode, we'll dive into the inspiration behind The Tools and explore the key principles of their transformative psychological model. Barry shares his insights on how to overcome fear, tap into your intuition, and cultivate resilience in the face of adversity.

In the conclusion of Cicely's talk with Dr. Don Wood, the Founder of the Inspired Performance Institute, Don shares some advice for dealing with the day-to-day stress in our life and his thoughts on the long-lasting effects of pandemic-induced trauma.

Dr. Don Wood takes a seat this week. Don is a bestselling author and Founder of the Inspired Performance Institute. After years of research, Don created the TIPP method (The Inspired Performance Program) as a holistic approach to healing the effects of trauma on the body and mind. He's also the author of the best-selling books, You Must Be Out of Your Mind and Emotional Concussions. In part one, Dr. Wood shares what is stressing out CEOs today, the inspiration for developing the TIPP method, and how our brains deal with trauma.

In the conclusion of Cicely's Conversation with Lyndsay Dowd from Heartbeat for Hire, Lyndsay talks about the idea of interviewing to get out of a job and the reasons why corporate culture is so broken right.

Lyndsay Dowd pulls up a chair this week. Lyndsay worked at IBM for over 20 years, but pivoted when she asked herself what she was most passionate about. Now she's the Chief Heartbeat Officer of Heartbeat for Hire, where she helps sales leaders and organizations improve and cultivate a phenomenal sales culture. In part one, Lyndsay discusses the inspiration for Heartbeat for Hire, and what she learned from getting fired.

In the conclusion of Cicely's talk with Sophie Beren, the founder of The Conversationalist, Sophie discusses how she connects with people in her non-partisan community, and she shares some advice for bridging the communication gap between leadership and Gen Z.

Sophie Beren takes a seat this week. Sophie is the founder and CEO of The Conversationalist, a non-partisan educational platform empowering the next generation to break out of their echo chambers, have difficult conversations, and unify. Her community of over 70,000 young people is committed to coming together, across differences, through multiple platforms. In part one, Sophie shares why she describes herself as a 'unifier from Wichita', what inspired her to create The Conversationalist, and what they do to stay non-partisan on their platform.

In the conclusion of Cicely's talk with restaurateur and author of Unreasonable Hospitality, Will Guidara, Will shares why every business can CHOOSE to be a hospitality business and why leaders shouldn't be afraid of criticizing team members.

What does it take to build the BEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD? Unreasonable hospitality. This week, Cicely is joined by New York City restaurateur and author of Unreasonable Hospitality, Will Guidara. In part one, Will talks about growing up in the restaurant business, the important lessons he learned from his father, and how he helped transform Eleven Madison Park into a global fine dining destination.

In the conclusion of Cicely's talk with Joe Pardavila, the author of Good Listen, Joe shares why preparing too many questions is not a good idea and what he learned from his legendary run-in with US Soccer star, Brandi Chastain.

This week, Cicely is joined by author and podcaster, Joe Pardavila. In the new book, Good Listen: Creating Memorable Conversations in Business and Life, Joe shares his insights and knowledge for creating a podcast that will appeal to listeners and leave them clamoring for more. But you don't need to have a podcast to benefit from Joe's wisdom because his tips for connecting with others also apply to work, love, and life. In part one, Joe discusses how he stumbled into a 20-year career in radio and what it was like to be on the air on September 11, 2001.

In the conclusion of Cicely's talk with Chuck Garcia, the founder of Climb Leadership International, Chuck shares how he learned the power of the pause from Mark Twain and what inspired him to climb some of the world's tallest peaks.

Pulling up a chair this week is Chuck Garcia, the founder of Climb Leadership International and the best-selling author of A Climb To The Top: Communication & Leadership Tactics to Take Your Career to New Heights. In part one, Chuck talks about the importance of leaders seeking feedback, and Chuck also shares when he discovered his passion to help others become better leaders.

In the conclusion of Cicely's conversation with journalist and entrepreneur, Cristina Mendonsa, Cristina shares how she started her own production company and provides some tangible advice for the next generation of broadcasters.

Cicely welcomes Cristina Mendonsa to Pull Up Your Chair. Christina anchors 4 hours of radio news daily while also producing documentaries, winning awards, and mentoring upcoming journalists on career strategy and mid-career pivots. In part one, Cristina talks about her first job in journalism, the evolution of electronic media, and what inspired her to shift from television to radio.

In the conclusion of Cicely's conversation with Tara Jaye Frank, the author of The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence, Tara talks about the words of advice she gives companies that are beginning their journey to creating an equitable workplace.

Cicely welcomes Tara Jaye Frank to Pull Up Your Chair. Tara is an Equity Strategist who has advised and educated thousands of executives across industries on how to create an equitable workplace. She's also the author of the new book, The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence. In part one, Tara talks about why she thinks culture is the soil in which strategies thrive or die and steps on how organizations can build equitable and inclusive cultures.

In the conclusion of Cicely's conversation with Barry Nalebuff, the author of Split the Pie, Barry shares what it was like to negotiate with Coca-Cola and why empathy is the key to negotiating.

Cicely welcomes Barry Nalebuff to the podcast. Barry is an entrepreneur, a professor at Yale School of Management, and an expert in negotiating. He's the best-selling author of several books, including “Thinking Strategically” and “The Art of Strategy.” His latest, “Split the Pie: A Radical New Way to Negotiate” is out now. In part one, Barry talks about why negotiating is so hard, and he explains what the negotiation pie is and why it matters.

In the conclusion of Cicely's conversation with Steve Palmer, the founder of The Indigo Road, Steve talks about the culture he's built and why he was inspired to build a community of hospitality workers committed to helping others battling addiction.

Cicely's guest this week is Steve Palmer, the founder of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group and the author of “Say Grace: How the Restaurant Business Saved My Life.” Steve founded the company in 2009 with one restaurant and expanded to more than twenty restaurants throughout the southeastern United States. In part one, Steve talks about how he started working at a restaurant when he was 13, the impact of drug and alcohol addiction on the restaurant industry, and the ultimatum that changed his life.

In the conclusion of Cicely's conversation with change navigator, April Rinne, April runs down the 8 superpowers needed for thriving in constant change and talks about the concept of how getting lost is how you get found.

We're living in a world of change…and some of us are better equipped than others, but if you don't have that skill set, how can you embrace change? This week, Cicely welcomes April Rinne to the podcast. April has made a living out of helping people rethink and reshape their relationship with change, and has been named one of the “50 Leading Female Futurists.” She's also the author of the new book, FLUX: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change. In part one, April talks about the leaders that had the biggest impact on her life, why we're so resistant to change, what a FLUX mindset is and why we need it.

In the conclusion of Cicely's chat with social psychologist & award-winning researcher, Vanessa Bohns, Vanessa shares why she thinks power is a responsibility and what inspired her to write her new book, You Have More Influence Than You Think.

Cicely welcomes Vanessa Bohns to the podcast. Vanessa is a social psychologist, an award-winning researcher, and a professor at Cornell. She's also the author of the new book, You Have More Influence Than You Think. In part one, Vanessa shares how growing up on a bird farm prepared her to become a researcher, why she isn't surprised by the rise of social media influencers, and why it's easier to say 'no' in an email.

Cicely wraps up her chat with entrepreneur, motivational speaker and author, Micheal Burt. In part two, Coach Burt shares why he thinks everybody needs a coach, the importance of emotional resilience in children, and why he is inspired to build Greatness Factories around the world.

The Business lexicon is littered with sports metaphors like “The Ball's In Their Court”, “Full Court Press”, and “Slam Dunk.” But Cicely's guest this week literally combines his experience as a basketball coach to help people take their careers to the next level. His name is Michael Burt. Coach Burt has been called “America's Coach,” and offers the unique blend of a former championship basketball coach mixed with a deep methodology of inner-engineering people to produce at a higher level in the business world. In part one, Coach Burt talks about how his coaching career started at the age of 15, why Stephen R. Covey inspired his leadership journey, and how he helps teams activate their “prey drive.”

Cicely concludes her chat with Ilene Rein, the founder of Pounding Pavement 101, where she shares the deep secrets from the view of the Recruiter. In part two, Ilene discusses how her daughter became another one of her successful clients, how she coaches people to make a great first impression, and how job seekers can market themselves to prospective recruiters.

This week, Cicely welcomes Ilene Rein. Ilene runs an executive search firm focused on the placement of marketing, sales, and engineers and is the founder of Pounding Pavement 101, where she shares the deep secrets from the view of the Recruiter. In part one, Ilene talks about the inspiration for creating Pounding Pavement 101, her thoughts on the 'great resignation', the long-term effects of the pandemic on recruiting, and the right way to write a resume.

Cicely wraps up her conversation with Scotty Alpaugh, the author of the book “Have no fear, there's always F-ing next year: (a COVID-19 tale)”. In part two, Scotty shares the importance of perspective, if he reads the reviews of his book on Amazon, and why everyone should watch Ted Lasso.

Scotty Alpaugh pulls up a chair this week. Scotty works at one of the world's largest wealth management companies, he served in the Army's 3rd Infantry Division before being injured in combat in Baghdad, and he is a cancer survivor. He's also the author of the book “Have no fear, there's always F-ing next year: (a COVID-19 tale)”. In part one, Scotty talks about the conversation with his father that changed his outlook on life, his experience of serving the country after 9/11, and how he's used humor to combat adversity.

Cicely wraps up her conversation with Sergeant Major Keith Craig, the author of Serving To Lead. In part two, Sergeant Major talks about the benefits of adding veterans to corporate teams, the importance of knowing your purpose, and why service & leadership is represented by three words: Be Know Do.