Work Mom Says, Don't Be An Idiot!

#WorkMomSays taking your Paid Time Off (PTO) is essential for personal and professional well-being. In this episode, Lori Jo Vest addresses the myth that the office can't survive without you and emphasizes the importance of stepping away from work. The post Episode 51 – You’re Not That Essential, Take Your PTO appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays that enthusiasm is a secret weapon in career success. In this episode, Lori delves into how genuine enthusiasm can differentiate you from others in the workplace, enhance your energy, and positively impact your career trajectory The post Episode 50 – The Career Hack They Don't Teach in College: Enthusiasm appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays that the best career advice focuses on continuous learning, building strong relationships, and taking action even when you're not ready. The post Episode 49 – The Best Career Advice You'll Get This Week appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays one of the best ways to make yourself an asset in the workplace is by being the calm in the storm. In this episode, learn how to stay level-headed during stressful professional situations and avoid getting lost in your emotions. The post Episode 48 – Keeping Your Calm When Those Around You Freak Out appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays that knowing when and how to give notice is essential for a smooth career transition. In this episode, learn the importance of providing a two week notice in professional environments and when immediate departure from a toxic workplace is justified. Discover insights on maintaining professionalism, recognizing red flags, and the impact of leaving a job gracefully or abruptly. The post Episode 47 – Is 2 Weeks Notice ALWAYS Necessary? Nope! appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays that resilience is a critical skill for personal and professional success. In this episode, learn how to maintain composure through life's ups and downs by developing resilience. Discover strategies for managing emotions, building a support network, and learning continuously so you can handle challenges with a calm and steady approach. The post Episode 46 – Resilience as a Career Skill appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays that transforming seemingly temporary roles into fulfilling careers requires adaptability and a proactive approach. In this episode, Lori Jo Vest chats with Kyle Elsasser, who shares his journey from taking a bridge job out of necessity to creating a thriving career path. The post Episode 45: Making the Best of Where You Are appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays that actively seeking ways to increase your value to your employer and exploring opportunities beyond your current position are key to making more money in 2025. In this episode, discover strategic steps you can take to earn a higher income. The post Episode 44: New Year, More Money appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

#WorkMomSays that the quality of your work - both who you are at work and your work product - determines your success. In this episode, learn just how important the quality of your presentation and relationships as well as your work output are when building a solid career. The post Episode 43: The Quality of Your Work Determines Your Career Success appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

In this episode, Work Mom Lori Jo Vest discusses the importance of workplace politics and relationships. Her main piece of advice? Prioritize creating positive, connected relationships and exhibiting strategic behavior in the workplace. The post Episode 42: Office Politics for Beginners appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Trying to level up your personal and professional lives? Try putting an emphasis on growth in both areas, and you'll grow your career success, too. In this episode, Lori Jo Vest shares ways you can become a lifelong learner and feed your mind with great information that will help you live a life you love. The post Episode 41: The Power of Personal & Professional Growth for Career Success appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Are you struggling to determine your career path? Career Dad and Work Mom are here to help! Career Dad Kerry Doyle joins us to talk about his work helping young people find their passion and career BEFORE dropping thousands of dollars on college OR if you just don't feel like college is right for you. From networking to prioritizing your passions to the many ways to get to know an industry before you enter it, we cover a ton of ground. The post Episode 40: Finding The Right Career Path appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

It's never too early to start building a solid career, so Work Mom is sharing a few key ways to jumpstart your career BEFORE you get into the workforce. The post Episode 39: Kick-Starting Your Career When You're Just Starting Out appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Shit happens at work, but what matters most is how well you handle situations that go horribly wrong. Work Mom shares her step-by-step approach for effectively addressing and solving workplace mishaps. The post Episode 38 – When Things Go Horribly Wrong appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

In the latest episode, join Work Mom Lori Jo Vest for a special conversation about mental toughness with chef, influencer, and healthy cooking coach Jacqueline Laurencelle. The post Episode 37 – “Mental Toughness” appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Is it hard for you to accept constructive criticism without getting defensive? This episode is for you! Work Mom Lori Jo Vest shares her advice for handling feedback and criticism with grace. The post Episode 36 – When and How to Say No at Work appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Is it hard for you to accept constructive criticism without getting defensive? This episode is for you! Work Mom Lori Jo Vest shares her advice for handling feedback and criticism with grace. The post Episode 35 – Handling Feedback and Criticism with Grace appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Hate networking? You've come to the right place! In the latest episode, join Work Mom Lori Jo Vest for a conversation with the Reluctant Networker Greg Peters. They discuss all the ways you can get the most out of networking for business, even if you're a serious introvert. The post Episode 34 – Reluctant Networkers Unite appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Do you have big professional or personal dreams that you don't know how to make a reality? A mastermind group might be the answer to your problem. In the latest episode of Work Mom Says, join Work Mom Lori Jo Vest for a quick discussion about mastermind groups and all the success you can achieve when your network holds you accountable. The post Episode 33 – Master Your Mind with Masterminds appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

In the first episode of 2024, join Work Mom Lori Jo Vest as she urges you to become 100% responsible for your career and your success. From the myth of job security to the importance of career cushioning and side hustles, she offers many ways to take full control of your career. The post Episode 32 – You're 100% Responsible for Your Career appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Are you a recent college graduate interested in starting your career with your best foot forward? Do you have a few years of experience and are looking for tips on getting that next big promotion? Either way, this episode is for you! Carolyn Sauer, Director of Business Development at Schaltbau GmbH, joins Work Mom to discuss her 10 guiding principles for jumpstarting your career and standing out as an asset at work. From the importance of timely and accurate work to being a great, empathetic communicator and becoming a valuable asset to your team, we cover a ton of ground. The post Episode 31 – Jumpstarting Your Career appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Hello everybody. I'm Lori Jo Vest. Thank you for joining me for this episode of Work Mom Says Don't Be an Idiot today. We're going to talk about imposter syndrome. Now, this podcast is for young professionals, id level professionals maybe, to help you learn to play the emotional contact sport of business. The post Episode 30 –Overcoming Imposter Syndrome appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Contrary to popular belief, Elon Musk isn't any smarter than you or me. He may have a genius level IQ, but his lack of emotional intelligence seriously affects his ability to be an effective leader.  The post Episode 29 –No, Elon Musk Isn't Smarter Than You appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Want to create a better work-life balance? I offer my top tips for blending your work and personal life. From the strong data behind the importance of work-life balance to making yourself a priority and taking care of your health, this episode is loaded with great info for making it all work. The post Episode 28 – Mastering the Work-Life Blend appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

To build a successful career, you must start with building your reputation. Your reputation precedes you, and if you can create a strong reputation, it can only help you get that next great opportunity. From consistent professional behavior to engaging on LinkedIn to paying attention to industry news, I share a few top ways to market yourself and create a strong reputation. The post Episode 27 –Marketing Yourself appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

It's launch week for my new book Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot! 38 Lessons You Don't Want to Learn the Hard Way! To celebrate, I wanted to share the origin story behind this podcast and why I became Work Mom. Later, I give you a sneak peek at the book and share a few never-before-seen chapters. The post Episode 26 –The Origin of Work Mom Says (Plus a Sneak Peek at My Upcoming Book) appeared first on Work Mom Says®.

Founder and CEO of Maximum Communications Ayana King joined us for a fantastic discussion about how to do the intentional, personal work of anti-racist allyship. From the different types of microaggressions to the danger of quiet racists, we cover a wide variety of topics. The post Episode 25 – “How to Be a Better Ally: You Have to Do the Work” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

Work Mom wrote a book! My latest book “Work Mom Says: Don't Be An Idiot! 38 Lessons You Don't Want to Learn the Hard Way” comes out April 1st. To celebrate its upcoming launch, I'm giving you a sneak peek into a few of those lessons. The post Episode 24 – “A Sneak Peek at My Upcoming Book” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

As the year comes to an end, it's essential to reflect on the year and prepare for the one ahead. I share five ways to prepare for 2023 right now, so you can start off the new year on the right foot. The post Episode 23 – “5 Ways to Make 2023 Your Best Year Yet” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

College teaches you a lot, but it rarely teaches you how to create a successful career. Young professionals Kiley Transit and Molly Wagner join me for a fantastic conversation about the top ten things they've learned in the first few years of their career that they wished they learned in college. The post Episode 22 – “Ten Things They Don’t Tell You in College” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 20 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, we explore ways to use LinkedIn that actually help you build relationships and better your career. We invited Angela Buccellato of the Resume Rescue to join young professional Molly Wagner in a discussion of the power of LinkedIn when you're just starting your career. The post Episode 21 – “What's Your Trauma?” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 20 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, we explore ways to use LinkedIn that actually help you build relationships and better your career. We invited Angela Buccellato of the Resume Rescue to join young professional Molly Wagner in a discussion of the power of LinkedIn when you're just starting your career. The post Episode 20 – “Just Do the Damn Thing (on LinkedIn)” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 19 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, join Work Mom (Lori Jo Vest) for a fascinating discussion with Bob Cargill about his new book, “Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons.” Cargill uses his book to share twenty critical lessons he learned during his lengthy career in marketing, advertising and copywriting. The post Episode 19 – “Teachable Moments In One Man's Career” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 18 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, join Work Mom (Lori Jo Vest) and Chrissie Zavicar as we dig into the topic of sobriety. Chrissie is the CEO of E-Link Consulting and is outspoken about her sobriety journey. We explore multiple facets of sobriety from the common fears of becoming “boring” when you quit to the healthy ways to cope with your trauma. The post Episode 18 – “Sober is the New Black” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

Do you work for an idiot boss? In episode 17 on Work Mom Says, Work Mom (Lori Jo Vest) offers some tips and tricks for surviving and thriving under an idiot boss. From learning how to “finesse” people to staying strategic and out of workplace drama, we help you get the most out of working for an idiot boss without losing your mind. The post Episode 17 – “How to Work for an Idiot” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

As more employers push to bring employees back in person, they may want to bring play into the office as well. In episode 16 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, we explore ways to bring play into the workplace. We invited young professional Molly Wagner to join brand strategist Angela Ficorelli in a discussion of all the benefits to playful work. The post Episode 16 – “Play More at Work” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

Does networking really suck? Or does your attitude toward networking and making new business connections suck? In episode 15 of "Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot!", we dig into ways you can make networking work for you. In fact, you may actually end up enjoying it after listening. We invited young professional Kiley Transit to join networking coach Wendy Caverly in a discussion of techniques you can use to create more meaningful connections so that attending your next networking event is much, much easier.  The post Episode 15 – “Networking Sucks: What to Do Instead” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 14 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, Join Work Mom (Lori Jo Vest)for a conversation about her top 10 bits of career advice she's gleaned from business coaches. From making friends in your industry to when it's okay to burn that bridge, Lori shares new ways to think that can help you reach your full potential. The post Episode 14 – “Coaches Give the Best Career Advice” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 13 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, Join Work Mom (Lori Jo Vest) and Certified Professional Career Coach Heather Coleman-Voss for a conversation about narcissism at work. They discuss how to recognize and avoid narcissistic bosses as well as how to strengthen your own defenses. The post Episode 13 – “Narcissism at Work & When to Get Out” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 12 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, Join Work Mom (Lori Jo Vest) as she shares her top advice for achieving your goals in 2022. She discusses the strategies that have helped her hold herself accountable, visualize her goals, and create a supportive community. The post Episode 12 – “The Value of Vision & Community.” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 11 of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, Join Work Mom (Lori Jo Vest) and two seasoned professionals, John Reed of Rain BDM and Laura Khalil of Brave by Design, in a conversation about Idiot Bosses. The most common question Work Mom gets is "I work for an idiot! How can I make this work?" The answer? Sometimes you can, and sometimes, you can't. (Or you shouldn't.) The post Episode 11 – Practice on a Harmless Idiot appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 9 of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, Work Mom provides a firehose of career tips you can use right now—what to start doing and what to stop doing—to grow your professionalism and your business success. Looking for some basic career advice? This episode is action-oriented and easy to digest. The post Episode 9 – “3 Things to Start Doing Now and 3 Things to Stop Doing Now” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In episode 8 of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, our guest Dominique Wilson, senior art director, coach and entrepreneur/founder of LoveUToo and Show and Tell Academy, join us again (Yay!) to talk about Procrastination and Focus. The post Episode 8 – “Procrastination and Regaining Your Focus” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says, Work Mom discusses the "little white lie" and whether you can still have integrity if you use "harmless" untruths to make things easier for yourself and others. Hint: Those tiny little lies may not be as harmless as you think. The post Episode 7 – “Integrity and the Little White Lie” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says: Don't Be an Idiot, we talk about what it's like being a black American in the workplace. Our guests are Dominique Wilson, senior art director, coach and entrepreneur/founder of LoveUToo and Show and Tell Academy, and Ayana King, social media/content strategy coach, diversity educator, and entrepreneur/founder of Maximum Communications. The post Episode 6 – “Being Black at Work” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, we talk about what it’s like being a black American in the workplace. Our guests are Dominique Wilson, senior art director, coach and entrepreneur/founder of LoveUToo and Show and Tell Academy, and Ayana King, social media/content strategy coach, diversity educator, and entrepreneur/founder of Maximum Communications. This conversation went deep, including answers to the questions: What kinds of concerns do black team members have that their white coworkers don’t have to think about? How does a black professional know when someone is an ally? What do melanin-challenged people who want to become better allies need to know and what should they do next? There’s so much more, too. Have a listen, then connect with Lori Jo Vest on LinkedIn (aka Work Mom) and tell us what you’d like us to talk about next. The post Episode Six – “Being Black at Work” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, Work Mom talks to Ashley Karbal and Sydney Newton, who are both recent college grads and ad agency marketing coordinators; and of course, Randy Stephenson, our awesome audio dude. The group discusses how to break that feeling of “stuck” so you can choose what you do next in every situation. Then we move on to the topic of leaving a job. How do you know when it’s the right time to move on to a new job or a new company? The post Episode Four – “Getting Unstuck and How Do You Know When It’s Time to Go?” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, Work Mom talks to Ashley Karbal and Sydney Newton, who are both recent college grads and ad agency marketing coordinators; and of course, Randy Stephenson, our awesome audio dude. The group discusses how to break that feeling of “stuck” so you can choose what you do next in every situation. Then we move on to the topic of leaving a job. How do you know when it’s the right time to move on to a new job or a new company? The post Episode Four – “Getting Unstuck and How Do You Know When It’s Time to Go?” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, Lori talks to Dominique Wilson, art director at an ad agency and founder/self-acceptance and color coach of LoveUTo at https://www.loveutoo.com/; Sydney Newton, recent college graduate and ad agency marketing coordinator; and of course, our audio engineer and color commentator, Randy Stephenson of Stage 3 Audio at https://www.randystephenson.com/.   The group shares stories about “mean people” – including how to think about and manage your work relationships with them – before jumping into confidence, looking at what happens when you don’t have it and how to overcome a lack of confidence in the workplace. The post Episode Three – “Mean People and Your Confidence Game” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, we talk about who you are at the office and how a side hustle can help you accelerate your business education. Artist, musician and designer Brach Goodman shares how his side hustles make him a better everything. And – BONUS – Randy Stephenson, audio dude and owner of Stage 3 Audio, joins in to add a little color and share his experience as a business owner. The post Episode Two – “Personas and Side Hustles” appeared first on Work Mom Says.

In this episode of Work Mom Says: Don’t Be an Idiot, Lori talks to Amanda Dalka, an advertising designer and college student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Amanda shares a few stories from her already storied 18-month career. Lori and Amanda cover a several work challenges, including drinking at work, inappropriate behavior by bosses and clients, and the value of building strong relationships with people who can’t do anything for you. The post Episode One – “Drunk and Disorderly” or “That Time Amanda Had to Hire Her Mom” appeared first on Work Mom Says.