Chuck Cooper, founder of Whitewater Consulting, shares his journey of transitioning from the corporate world to starting his own consulting company. He emphasizes the importance of valuing individuals and building trust and unity among teams. Chuck discusses the significance of real-life experience and wisdom in leadership and the need for effective communication. He highlights the need for leaders to remain curious and ask questions, as well as the importance of creating personal mission, vision, and values. Chuck also emphasizes the need for leaders to reward themselves and give themselves grace.

Learn more about Chuck at www.whitewaterconsulting.net

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast

Antonio Vaglica, a former athlete turned entrepreneur, shares his journey of building two successful businesses and the importance of small consistent habits. He emphasizes the need to focus on micro wins and daily habits to achieve long-term success. Antonio discusses the role of sports in entrepreneurship and how it provides valuable lessons in resilience, teamwork, and failure. He also talks about his consulting firm that helps growth-oriented entrepreneurs maximize their enterprise value and his community, Consistency Wins, which supports high achievers on their entrepreneurial journey. Antonio highlights the importance of mindset, personal development, and building a strong team to achieve success.

Takeaways

• Small consistent habits lead to long-term success
• Sports provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurship
• Mindset and personal development are crucial for growth
• Building a strong team and network is essential for success

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast

Dr. Sharon Hull, founder of Metta Solutions, LLC and author of 'Professional Careers by Design,' discusses the importance of being intentional in our careers and lives. She emphasizes the need to press pause, reflect on our values, and make decisions that align with what matters most to us. Dr. Hull also highlights the shift happening in the workplace, where employees are seeking organizations that prioritize intentionality and provide a custom-crafted experience. She provides a framework for discernment, managing change, and taking a lifelong perspective on our careers. The book offers practical guidance for individuals and organizations to navigate career choices and create a meaningful work-life balance.

Connect and learn more about Dr. Hull via this link - www.drsharonhull.com

Takeaways

• Press pause and reflect on your values and what matters most to you in your career and life.
• Be intentional in your decision-making and align your choices with your values.
• The workplace is shifting, and organizations that prioritize intentionality will have a competitive advantage.
• Dr. Hull's book, 'Professional Careers by Design,' provides a framework for discernment, managing change, and taking a lifelong perspective on your career.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast

Shara Ruffin, an independently licensed clinical social worker and former psychotherapist, shares her journey to becoming an entrepreneur and the challenges she faced along the way. She discusses the pivotal moment that led her to pivot into entrepreneurship after failing her board exam and losing her job. Shara emphasizes the importance of faith and prayer in her journey and how it played a crucial role in her success. She also highlights the significance of sharing the nitty-gritty and hard parts of her story to inspire others. Shara's story is a testament to perseverance and the power of turning adversity into opportunity. Shara Ruffin shares her personal journey of overcoming trauma and mental health challenges while building a successful business. She emphasizes the importance of connection and support in her work, providing emotional support and guidance to her colleagues. Shara's approach is holistic, focusing not only on passing exams but also on the mental and emotional well-being of her clients. She encourages individuals to recognize their own worth and to focus on the process of achieving their goals. Shara's story is a reminder that success is a continuous journey of growth and self-improvement.

Connect with Shara via Linkedin @shararuffin

Takeaways

• Adversity can serve as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
• Having faith and relying on prayer can provide guidance and strength during challenging times.
• Sharing the nitty-gritty and hard parts of your story can inspire and connect with others.
• Success is often born out of pain and perseverance.
• Turning adversity into opportunity can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths. Trauma and mental health challenges can shape a person's journey and success.
• Connection and support are vital in overcoming challenges and achieving goals.
• A holistic approach that considers mental and emotional well-being is important in any endeavor.
• Recognize your own worth and focus on the process of achieving your goals.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast

Frank Kitchen, a motivational speaker and author, shares his journey from a career in training and leadership development to becoming a professional speaker. He emphasizes the importance of talent and passion in pursuing a career and the impact of competitiveness on driving performance. Frank's story highlights the evolution of his career and the diverse industries he has impacted through his speaking engagements. The conversation explores the concept of healthy competition and its impact on personal growth, success, and relationships. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing potential, inspiring others, and fostering a supportive community of driven individuals. The discussion also delves into the idea of competitive collaboration and the positive influence of ambitious and driven individuals on each other's success.

Connect with Frank via his website www.frankkitchen.com

Takeaways:

• The combination of talent and passion is essential for pursuing a fulfilling career.
• Competitiveness can drive performance and inspire others to achieve their best.
• The evolution of a career can lead to unexpected opportunities and diverse industry impacts.
• Recognizing talent and harnessing competitiveness can lead to personal and professional growth. Healthy competition can inspire personal growth and success.
• Prioritizing potential and fostering a supportive community of driven individuals is essential for personal and collective success.
• Ambitious and driven individuals can positively influence each other's success through competitive collaboration.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast

Doug Noll, an award-winning author, speaker, and trainer, shares his journey from being a trial lawyer to becoming a peacemaker and mediator. He discusses how his practice of Tai Chi and the realization of the limitations of the legal system led him to make the decision to leave his law practice and pursue a career in conflict resolution. Doug also explains the concept of affect labeling, a three-step process that involves ignoring the words, reading the emotions, and reflecting back the speaker's emotions using U statements. In this conversation, Doug Noll discusses the power of affect labeling and its ability to de-escalate conflicts and build rapport. He explains how affect labeling can be used in various contexts, such as parenting, coaching, and sales. Noll emphasizes the importance of emotional mastery and the role of emotions in effective communication. He also challenges the notion of competition and highlights the value of serving others and creating a more peaceful world. Noll provides resources for further exploration of affect labeling and offers workshops, coaching, and training.

Connect with Doug via his website www.dougnoll.com

Takeaways

• Putting your mind to something can lead to amazing accomplishments over time.
• Transitioning from one career to another may require personal growth and patience.
• Success can be redefined to prioritize service to others.
• Being open to opportunities can lead to unexpected and impactful projects.
• Affect labeling is a powerful technique for deescalating conflicts by reflecting back the speaker's emotions. Affect labeling is a powerful tool for de-escalating conflicts and building rapport.
• Affect labeling can be used in various contexts, including parenting, coaching, and sales.
• Emotional mastery is essential for effective communication and understanding others.
• Competition has its place, but it should not define our lives.
• Serving others and creating a more peaceful world should be the focus of our actions.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast

Helen Hanison, a leadership coach and author, discusses the importance of career transformation and finding alignment between personal values and professional goals. She shares her own experience of being stuck in a career that didn't align with her values and the process she went through to make a change. Hanison emphasizes the need for readiness and self-awareness when considering a career transition. She also highlights the cost of staying stuck and the importance of valuing oneself and one's career direction. The process of career transformation involves building a career compass, redesigning one's career, and developing a mindset for success.

Helen's highly anticipated book, "Unstuck, " is scheduled for an official launch on June 19th! 🗓️ As a special treat for all the loyal Career Competitor audience, we will be offering an exclusive sneak peek just before the big day. Join Helen for a thrilling Zoom launch party and secure your copy at a special one-day price of just 99 cents! To receive your Zoom invites, send a message to helen@helenhanison.com and steve@careercompetitor.com with the subject line "Unstuck."

Takeaways

• Career transformation requires readiness and self-awareness.
• Staying stuck in a career that doesn't align with personal values has a cost.
• Valuing oneself and one's career direction is crucial for fulfillment.
• The process of career transformation involves building a career compass, redesigning one's career, and developing a mindset for success.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast

Chris Hood, a keynote speaker and expert in merging customer success with digital strategy, shares insights on the importance of customer-centric cultures and the power of storytelling. He emphasizes the need to break through assumptions and change mindsets to prioritize customer needs. Hood discusses the seven-stage framework outlined in his book, Customer Transformation, and highlights the significance of building a customer-focused culture throughout the organization. He also emphasizes the relevance of storytelling in communication, providing tips on using relevant experiences and keywords to engage and connect with others.

Connect with Chris via his website - www.chrishood.com

Takeaways

• Break through assumptions and change mindsets to prioritize customer needs.
• Build a customer-focused culture throughout the organization.
• Utilize storytelling to engage and connect with others.
• Use relevant experiences and keywords to make communication more impactful.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast