Lessons from a Quitter (Goli Kalkhoran)

So many of you ask me how to navigate family and spousal support when making huge changes in your career. 

I figured it might be interesting to hear it from the spouse’s perspective. 

While our experience is unique to us, I think it can help you in approaching these subject.s

In this episode, we talk about. 

• What his experience was of me walking away from my legal career 
• How he thought the podcast was the wrong move for me (WHAT?!?) 
• How I stopped seeking his permission and instead asked for what I needed. 
• The best part of this journey. 
• And so much more. 

This week, we tackle a big topic in high-achieving communities like this one: Imposter Syndrome. So many of my clients, who have years of experience, degrees, great reviews, insane accomplishments, still believe the lie that they have no idea what they’re doing. Why is that? This episode tackles why we hold on to the thoughts causing Imposter Syndrome so tightly and how to start loosening that grip.

We all know how to work hard to achieve things but we’re terrible at actually enjoying them. That’s because our society loves to glorify hard work but shame the people who have anything– rest, joy, money, pleasure, food. So we think we want those things, we hustle to get them, and then we’re wracked with guilt when we actually have them. 

Learning to have is a skill and, on today’s episode, I teach you how to start building it.

In the latest episode of "Lessons from a Quitter," the focus is on overcoming the fear of not being ready to pursue new projects or dreams. I emphasize that the feeling of readiness is often an illusion, driven by fear and the desire for perfection. I encourage listeners to take action despite feeling uncertain or unprepared, as true growth and success come from iterative learning and pushing beyond comfort zones. I also share personal anecdotes and practical advice on embracing imperfection, managing fear, and taking actionable steps toward achieving your goals.

This week I want to talk to you about how you view your work and why it matters. If you’ve been around for a bit, you know that life is always 50/50 and that’s true about work too. Your thoughts create your reality and impact your experience. So many of us are adding to our own unhappiness simply because of our own expectations. Today we dive into why that is and what we can do about it.

I gotta say, this podcast episode might just be the most important one I've ever recorded. We often beat ourselves up, wish we were different, and blame our brains for not working like everyone else's. But what if all that self-judgment is actually holding us back from enjoying life and pursuing our dreams?

It's okay to be different, and it's okay to seek growth while accepting ourselves. Let's explore this idea together and find ways to be kinder to ourselves.

So many of the people that I talk to that feel stuck and want to quit have the same fear: What if I quit this stable career and the next thing I try doesn’t work out? Or, even if it does work out, what if I don’t like that career either? It seems like staying in what you know, even if you are unhappy, is a better decision.

Well, that is why I’m so excited to have the inspiring Lauretta Ihonor on the show today. Lauretta didn’t quit one, or two, careers. She has quit 5 different careers in order to find her true passion and lead a life she loves.

Lauretta started her professional life as a medical doctor after graduating from University College London in 2008. After working as a junior doctor at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London for a year, she left medicine to find a career that felt better suited to her. This turned into an almost decade-long journey, that involved four degrees, five career changes and six careers (including working as a fashion stylist for Net a Porter, and as a TV journalist/producer for the BBC and CNN International). After noticing the lack of support for career changers in the UK, she founded The Ambition Plan - a digital career change platform for ambitious women who are eager to do fulfilling work, but unsure of what they truly want to do with their lives - in May 2018. The Ambition Plan now provides career clarity coaching, masterclasses and online expert-led resources to help women across the globe get clear about what they want to do with their lives and create a plan for doing so.

Lauretta’s journey is a testament to the fact that you don’t have to have it all figured out. Once you take that first jump, you gain the courage and confidence to know that you’ll figure it out. And you also realize that you never have to settle, no matter how many jumps it takes.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How Lauretta walked away from being a doctor, even when her supervisors thought she needed a psychological evaluation for deciding to leave.
• How she went on a decade long journey, including working in fashion, journalism, and nutritional consulting, to find her true passion.  
• Why Lauretta feels that she is luckier than most people.
• How a career coach was pivotal in helping her gain the clarity she needed to find her calling
• Why she developed The Ambition Plan and where she hopes to take it.
• Why you should never make a decision from a place of fear

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The 4 Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss
• Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
• Mind Valley, Christie Marie Sheldon.

Where to find Lauretta:

• Website: theambitionplan.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/theambitionplan
• Twitter: twitter.com/theambitionplan
• Facebook: facebook.com/theambitionplan
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/theambitionplan

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• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
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On this week’s episode, I talk with Zubin Pratap, a recovering lawyer turned entrepreneur turned software engineer. After over 14 years in international corporate law, Zubin went into commercial roles and then eventually taught himself to code at 37 and became a software engineer at Google at 39.  Today he is still working as an engineer and educator and spends nights and weekends privately coaching committed career changers on how to transition to tech. Zubin is a prime example of how to pivot in your career and follow your dreams but also how you need to shift your thoughts along the way.

Find Zubin here:

• Free webinar: https://futurecoderstraining.com
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap
• Twitter: @ZubinPratap
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5GcpG4iD0Rtwr5llQPZ9Qg

In this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we conclude our series on goal-setting by tackling the often-overlooked yet critical step: what to do after setting your goal. I share actionable tips to break your goal into manageable steps, focus on short-term milestones, and embrace the inevitable challenges along the way. You'll learn why expecting inconsistency is key, how to avoid all-or-nothing thinking, and the importance of weekly evaluations to adapt and improve. If you're ready to build momentum and finally achieve your goals, this episode will provide the tools and mindset shifts you need to succeed.

In this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we talk about the importance of taking vacation time. I emphasize on the fact that taking a break is not a luxury, but a necessity. The capitalist system has conditioned us to believe that productivity equals worth, and as a result, many of us struggle to take time off work. We need to change our mindset around vacation time and stop equating rest with laziness.

The Puritan work ethic, combined with the capitalist system, has led to the idea that hard work equals godliness. This narrative has been ingrained in us for decades, and it can be hard to break free from it. However, taking time off is essential for our mental and physical health. Tune in to this episode to check in on your thoughts around taking a break. Are you able to enjoy your vacation without feeling guilty or trying to maximize that time to do more?!

Cheers to 100 episodes!! I’m not great at celebrating small wins. My brain loves to just keep pushing forward. Move the goalposts. Focus on everything I haven’t accomplished.  And while that serves me in some ways, it often makes me miss the whole journey. So I’m intentionally slowing down and appreciating the process. 100 episodes.  80+ in-depth conversations with incredible people.  Almost 2 years of podcasting. My whole life has changed. And that’s worth celebrating. Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported this journey! I love you all.  This week I talk about the lessons I've learned through these 100 episodes as well as an update about where my business is heading.

We got to sit down with Kaveh Mostafavi, the founder and CEO of EcoCare Supply, a wholesale distribution firm focused on sustainable products and systems. EcoCare is one of the nation’s fastest growing supply companies and helps customers increase their bottom line while reducing environmental impact. However, before starting Ecocare, Kaveh started out his career as an attorney in Arizona specializing in bankruptcy law. In addition to his law practice, Kaveh opened two Pancheros restaurants in Arizona as a franchisee. His experience as a restauranteur, specifically witnessing the amount of waste in his restaurants, led him to create EcoCare. In a couple of short years, Kaveh has grown EcoCare into a 7-figure company.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why Kaveh chose to become a lawyer and how he ended up working as a bankruptcy lawyer.
• How he opened up his own practice as well as two Pancheros restaurants.
• What his experience as a franchisee taught him.
• Why he sold his law practice and his franchise restaurant to go work for a supply company
• How he pushed past people thinking he was crazy for quitting law to start a company he didn’t know anything about.
• How he ended up working for both a murderer and a fraud and why that made him want to be his own boss.
• How he got his idea for EcoCare Supply and how he started it.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey.

Where to find Kaveh:  

• Ecocaresupply.com
• Thecompostninja.com
• kaveh@ecocaresupply.com

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How it's never too late to start over.
• How if you want something different you should do something about it.
• Why you should create a vision and then take action.
• And so much more!

Where to find Peter:  

• Email: Docglatz@gmail.com
• Website: berthabus.com

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In this episode, we delve deep into the struggle many of us face in figuring out what we truly want in life. Contrary to popular belief, there's no magic formula or secret code to unlock our one true passion. We explore why so many of us feel lost, disconnected from ourselves, and constantly chasing an elusive idea of success. I challenge the notion that we must find a grandiose purpose and emphasize the importance of self-discovery.  Instead, I share with you a new approach: give yourself a year to figure it out. By giving ourselves the gift of time and introspection, we can uncover what truly lights us up and design a life we love, one step at a time.

This week, we dive into the new viral trend of Quiet Quitting and why it’s a problematic term.

Quiet Quitting is a trend on social media where people stop going above and beyond their job descriptions and instead only do what they’re paid to do. 

This is, in no way, quitting. 

And it’s harmful to call it that because it operates under the assumption that the employee is doing something wrong when really they’re setting up proper boundaries. 

On the podcast this week, I dive deeper into why this is problematic and what we should be calling it instead. 

This week on the podcast, I talk about why you shouldn’t quit your job.. at least not yet.

I’m not saying you need to stay in your job and just learn to be happy in it, but if you don’t manage your thoughts and maybe set some boundaries, the reasons you’re unhappy now will follow you from one job to the next.

I've been coaching more and more people on the issue of layoffs as it's been coming up frequently in my membership, the Quitter Club. In this episode, I talk about the practical and emotional aspects of dealing with layoffs.

While the practical steps like updating resumes and networking are important, a significant source of pain and anxiety comes from our thoughts and emotions surrounding the idea of being laid off.

It’s important to understand how our thoughts about potential layoffs, dread, anxiety, and uncertainty can add so much unnecessary drama and suffering to an already difficult situation.

Learning how to process our emotions, and not solely focus on trying to control the uncertainty of the situation, can help us navigate this difficult time. I share strategies and techniques for managing the emotional impact of layoffs, drawing on my experience coaching clients in similar situations. Tune in to learn how to navigate the challenges of layoffs with resilience and self-compassion.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why they chose to go the E-commerce route
• How to make better use of your time
• What it took to create their online businesses
• How it cay pay off to play for the long game
• Why you don't need to have everything figured out right away to take that first step
• And so much more!

Where to find Steve:  

• Shop: https://bumblebeelinens.com
• Blog: https://MyWifeQuitHerJob.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywifequit
• Online Course: https://profitableonlinestore.com/
• Conference: http://sellerssummit.com/

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The goal in life is to be happy, right? Well, maybe not. Today on the show, we have the incredible Dr. Zelana Montminy, a clinical psychologist and reformed happiness researcher. Dr. Zelana used to focus on how people could be happier in their lives but she quickly found, through her research, that the more we obsess over happiness in our society, the more people are unhappy. She saw that the people that were content and fulfilled in their lives were the ones that were resilient to whatever life threw at them.

Dr. Zelana is now a renowned wellness architect, providing an unparalleled realistic perspective rooted in science. Whether it’s as a bestselling author, working with celebrities, hosting a television show, or leading a transformational retreat, Dr. Zelana is paving the way for mental fitness. A prominent figure in Positive Psychology and one of Maria Shriver’s Architects of Change, Dr. Zelana is the author of bestselling 21 Days to Resilience. She speaks around the world and is a go-to authority in the media appearing on Access Live, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors and more. She also makes ongoing contributions to the pages of Real Simple Magazine, Health Magazine, Redbook, Better Home & Gardens, and the list goes on.

I love this conversation with Dr. Zelana about why resilience is so important and how we can build it in our lives.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why we shouldn’t focus on happiness but rather try to build up our resilience
• What resilience actually is and how to start building it
• How to know when your unhappiness should lead to change v. when to weather the storm
• What actionable steps can you take to build resilience
• What is the difference between habits and goals
• How to build resilience in your kids, and more

Where to find Dr. Zelana:  

• Website: www.drzelana.com
• Instagram: @dr.zelana
• email: contact@drzelana.com

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• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
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In this episode, I delve into the concept of thinking on purpose. We often find ourselves on autopilot, letting our subconscious run the show, leading to feelings of being out of control. Our brains are wired to focus on the negative, but by understanding our biases and thought patterns, we can regain control. Listen to learn the power of shifting our attention spotlight to focus on positive aspects and challenge our automatic negative thoughts.

In this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we tackle the feeling of being "stuck." So many of us feel paralyzed in jobs, relationships, or situations that no longer serve us, leaving us unsure of the path forward. Through some tough love, I guide listeners to understand that feeling "stuck" often stems from fearing the difficult choices ahead, not a lack of options. Together, we’ll explore reframing this mindset, identifying actionable steps, and the importance of making intentional decisions. By the end, you’ll have a framework to get "unstuck" and make choices that align with the life you truly want.

Merry Christmas!!! Happy Holidays friends!!

Thank you so much for tuning in to the show. I can’t tell you how much it means to me! We’re almost at 6 months and already have over 10,000 downloads! I’m honestly so grateful to be able to do this podcast and I can’t thank you guys enough!!

While I usually only do interviews, I wanted to take this holiday episode to talk a little bit more about the new year and goal-setting so that hopefully you can get closer to your goal of quitting whatever is making you unhappy. Now, I know that the whole “New Year, New Me” gets a really bad wrap and people roll their eyes at resolutions. But setting goals is not the problem. Not following through is the problem. We should all be re-evaluating our lives and what we want to change all the time!

This quote by Matthey Kelly sums up exactly what is wrong with how we usually set goals. We’re an impatient bunch and we want change now. But that sets you up for failure because we typically only stick to things that we can turn into habits and keep up with in the long-term.

So this year, I don’t want you to focus on what you can do in the next 2 months. I want you to focus on what you can do in the next 2 years.

I talk all about why the approach in the book, The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy is the best way to approach goal-setting. In this book, Darren Hardy talks about how making little, small changes will completely change your life. You don’t need to lose 20lbs in a month. You need to cut 100 calories every day. And over time, that 100 calories will transform the way you look, feel, and act.

Make sure to check out the whole episode before you start writing your goals!

We’ll be back next week with an all-new interview episode!

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This week on Lessons from a Quitter, we continue our three-part miniseries on redefining goal setting. We break down the pitfalls of traditional approaches to goals and advocate for focusing on just one priority per year. Learn how this strategy builds self-trust, minimizes overwhelm, and creates lasting habits. Whether you're juggling personal and professional ambitions or battling self-doubt, this episode will inspire you to set meaningful goals without sacrificing your well-being. Plus, hear more about the upcoming “Goals That Stick” workshop, a full-day event designed to help you master goal-setting for sustainable success.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why she felt drawn to the path of becoming a lawyer
• How everything suddenly changed when she got her dream job
• How a common interest in candles sparked the idea for their company
• How they utilized their local female network to help get the word out about their business
• And so much more!

Where to find Annie:  

• Website: https://tajacollection.com/
• Email: info@tajacollection.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tajatribe
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajacollection/?hl=en

Resources mentioned:

• Coupon code for TAJA Collection: GOLI15

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
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This week I had the opportunity to chat with Marc Allen, a strategy consultant to social impact and development funders worldwide, advising them on how to create greater human impact with their investments. We talk all about why skills are valuable. Namely how we can look at the skills we’ve acquired, instead of the career we’ve pursued, in order to help serve us in our next projects. 

I love this episode because it is all about self-reinvention and seeking purpose. While those are both tricky paths to navigate, Marc’s own journey shows that with some resilience and open-mindedness, it’s not as impossible as we like to think. 

Marc worked as an attorney for four years at one of the top law firms in the UK and Paris. But after taking two thought-provoking trips in 2014 to Iran and New Orleans, it was clear to him that he didn’t want to be a lawyer. He witnessed so many people harnessing their skills to wear different hats and be useful in their communities. It was eye-opening to take note of people who were in very adverse situations making due with their circumstances. They used what they could offer the world in unorthodox and slightly creative ways to get around systems that aren’t always inclusive. The inspiration to quit stemmed from these micro-case studies of progress despite the environment. Marc had to quit. In 2015, he finally did without a real plan or clear idea of what was next.  

For the next two years, he tried out different careers and spent time on his passion project, a blog called The Great Everything. 

By focusing on the skills he had and the various facets of his personality, Marc finally found a career that he loves. He retrained as a strategy consultant to philanthropies. He is now able to spend his days helping large funders create the biggest impact with their money. 

I got to talk to Marc about how the skills he acquired as a lawyer serve him in his new role.

We dive into how he first sensed doubt when his work began to feel unimportant. He was not connected to the outcomes of his cases. But instead of spiraling and worrying that his next move absolutely needed to be in law, he opened himself to a ton of new opportunities. 

First, he evaluated the skills he built over the years. As an attorney, Mark developed a strong and unwavering work ethic. He also developed a strong backbone and self-confidence. He also navigated difficult internal power dynamics to get to the opportunities he wanted with tact and patience. All of these characteristics aid him in his role as Engagement Manager at Camber Collective. Marc manages strategy and coalition design for companies, countries, funds, and philanthropies looking to outsize their social impact. He has found the perfect fit BECAUSE of all the skills he has acquired through his career. 

The thought of starting over is daunting, especially if you are going into a field where you have little to no experience. It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-doubt when you realize that you are starting from a novice level. But, as Marc puts it, take an honest look at your life and think about what you’re going to regret when you’re 75. When you’re in a difficult place, think about, “Would I rather stay here and hope my situation improves? Or am I going to be brave and actually go out and do something about it?” Are you willing to be uncomfortable for a bit and set up challenges and force yourself to rise to the occasion? 

When we embrace the idea that we are so much more than one job or one interest, we open ourselves up to immense personal growth. Gratitude for our skills and our gradual evolution will help us push forward and overcome negative self-talk and open ourselves up to different opportunities. 

Find Marc here:

LinkedIn

Passion Project

Employer

In this episode of Lessons From A Quitter, we tackle the deep-rooted expectations and "shoulds" that often keep us stuck in careers that no longer serve us. Joined by Nicole Kalil, we explore how to identify and meet your own needs, break free from societal delusions, and embrace a mindset shift for more freedom and joy. We discuss the reality of careers—no dream job is perfect—and the power of small, intentional steps toward rediscovery. Nicole shares practical tools, including her confidence-building workbook, to help you rewrite the rules and create a fulfilling life on your own terms.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why it's important to adopt a learning mindset.
• Why you are 100% responsible for your life.
• How change is a process and not an event.
• And so much more!

Where to find Julian:  

• Website: http://www.julianmather.com/
• Email: julian@julianmather.com

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I’m so excited to have my student, Christina, on the podcast this week! I want you to understand the huge impact learning how to manage your mind has on every part of your life. Christina's story is the perfect example! Since taking my 6 month program, she has gone from being scared to talk in front of other people to signing up for an improv class, having no idea what else she wanted to do to enrolling in a 10-week real estate rookie boot camp, and having no idea how to manage her emotions to helping coach those around her. But the most amazing part of her journey is she was able to completely stop taking her anxiety medication. Her anxiety was such a crippling part of her life that she missed out on annual girls trips for years. Not anymore! She went on this year’s trip and they’re already planning the next one. She really is the poster child for how managing your mind can create a ripple effect in your life. Make sure to listen to the episode to see how she shifted her mindset to start getting massive results in her life.

In this episode, I dive into the workings of our brains and the perpetual need for growth. Modern life may spare us from primal struggles, but our brains are wired to seek challenges. I explore why we can often face mental decline when we stop actively problem-solving and how to set intentional goals, not as a validation of worth but as problems to solve. Join me in redefining goal-setting as choosing challenges that lead to growth. As we approach the year-end: What problem do you want to give your brain to solve? Dive into this episode and let's plan to knock out 2024.

This week on the podcast, I’m answering your questions! As you may know, I have a button on my website that lets you leave me a voice message--any burning question you have, any topic I haven’t yet covered-- you can record it right there and I'll answer it on the podcast. Today's episode is our first listener Q&A! I’m taking a few of the questions that I haven't answered on the podcast yet and diving in! 

If you like this episode and want to hear more or you have your own question you want me to answer, go to lessonsfromaquitter.com/podcast and leave me a message!

While Vishesh is clearly talented, we dive into how his mindset has helped set him apart from so many others that pursue the same dreams. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• why it’s important to pursue your passions
• how putting in the work to learn enables your success
• how reframing and mindset can change everything
• and so much more

Find Vishesh here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/v_chachra/ Website: http://www.vchachra.com/ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5189387/

Welcome to the latest episode of Lessons from a Quitter. This week, we dive into the concept that life is always a mix of good and bad emotions, often referred to as "50/50." We discuss how the societal belief in achieving ultimate happiness through external successes leads to perpetual dissatisfaction and the harmful pursuit of fleeting pleasures. By embracing the natural ebb and flow of emotions, we can liberate ourselves from unrealistic expectations and focus on genuine personal growth. Tune in to learn why managing your mindset is crucial for fulfillment and how accepting life's duality can lead to a more balanced, content existence.

Today we got to talk to Steve about how he made the jump from systems engineer in IT to being a therapist.

Steve McCready got his BA from Brown University in American Studies. After graduating and not knowing what he wanted to do, Steve focused on his interest in computers and forged a career in IT. He climbed the corporate ladder as a systems engineer but became frustrated that he wasn’t actually helping his customers. After his own personal experience in therapy, Steve realized that his passion truly lied in helping people on a one-on-one basis through counseling. He returned to school at the University of San Francisco to get his master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. And now, for over 15 years, Steve McCready has been working as a therapist, focusing his practice on helping people who are ‘too nice’ get the clarity, courage, and confidence they need to stand up for themselves and live happy, successful, and fulfilling lives.

Today we talked to Steve about how he figured out what he would do next when he wanted to leave his career in IT, how he pushed back the false narratives he created about himself, and how we can get better at literally anything that interests us.  

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why Steve felt unfulfilled in his role as a systems engineer even though he is interested in computers and electronics
• How he moved past the negative internal voices that told him he couldn’t do anything else
• How therapy helped him personally and also exposed him to a new career path
• How changing a career when you’re a little older can be a huge benefit
• How to get over the stories we have created about ourselves
• What the difference between therapy and coaching is
• How we can get better at any endeavor if we just work at it.  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Dead Poets Society

Where to find Steve:

• www.stevemccready.com
• steve@stevemccready.com
• www.limbicvisions.com

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Too often, we're stuck in automatic thinking. Our brain just adopts the beliefs and thoughts it was fed from society. It becomes unconscious. Just a repetitive loop of thoughts in the background of our head. But if we're going to create the lives that we truly want to live we have to learn how to think on purpose. Whenever I teach thought work, I often get questions like "okay, I have the thought I wanna change, now what?" So this week I want to help you identify the thoughts to change and teach you how to practice new ones - this exercise is one of my favorites and it is truly life-changing.

lessonsfromaquitter.com

In this episode, I tackle the common fear among stay-at-home moms or those contemplating a work hiatus— the worry that stepping back into the workforce is impossible. We delve into the duality of facing the real-world challenges of returning to the workforce after a hiatus and managing our thoughts about them. It's not about blindly positive thinking, but acknowledging systemic issues while understanding the power of our mindset. From combating discrimination to owning your value, I share insights on navigating the professional landscape after a long career break (like staying home to raise children).

This week I'm finally addressing one of the biggest blocks for most people: Overcoming The Fear of What Others Think. There is a reason that so many of keep falling into patterns of doing what others expect of us even if it makes us miserable. We're evolutionarily wired to want to be accepted by our tribe. But while it is natural it doesn't mean we have to keep living this way. In this episode, I break down how to push past the fear of what other people think about you and start living a life on your own terms.

What if you quit your career and start over only to find out that the new career also isn’t something you love?!

I think that is one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck. We have this idea that if we jump, then the next thing has to be our purpose. So we become frenetic about finding it. We become so obsessed that we can’t slow down long enough to figure out what we actually like (see the problem here?)

Having come out on the other side of this process, I now see that there is no 1 thing. Life is a series of experiments and, with each one, you learn a little bit more about yourself.

And if you have the courage to keep trying, you get closer and closer to your calling.

That's why I love having people on the podcast who have quit multiple times and had the courage to keep trying. 

Today, on the show, I got to talk to Mary Eberle about her super interesting career path.

Mary is a former lawyer who reinvented herself as a genetic genealogist. She quit two previous careers and now has a fascinating and rewarding career solving family mysteries. (how cool is that?!)

Mary founded DNA Hunters, where she solves family mysteries by analyzing DNA test results and genealogical records. Many of her clients have been trying to solve their family mysteries for decades—and sometimes even over multiple generations. Family mysteries include “Who are my birth parents?” and “Is my surname the correct surname?”

To solve family mysteries, she applies many skills from her 10 years as a DNA lab technician (Career #1) and her 13+ years as a biotech patent attorney (Career #2). She finds great satisfaction in repurposing these skills to provide long-sought-after answers to her clients.

Check out her story!

Mary's Links:

Website: https://dnahunters.com

Free download:  https://dnahunters.com/dna-roadmap-2/  

This week I want to talk to you about boundaries. I’ve been getting a lot of questions on the free monthly coaching calls, people saying do I just tolerate bad behavior and manage my mind around it? And I think it’s really important that we get clear on what boundaries are and what boundaries are not, where to set them and what will likely happen after you set the boundary. So this week I want to help you understand that the only thing you control is you and how putting up boundaries and managing your mind can free you of the should’s.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• My experience with launching this podcast! Specifically, how taking a risk in my own life led me to realize the opportunity in doing so.
• The breaking point that led Pye to quit his job and take a risk on himself
• How failed attempts at funding projects and business ventures became opportunities for exploration, self-discovery, and ultimately, success
• How he created a multi-million dollar business in photography with a positive “learning mindset”
• Why Pye has a “passionate dislike” of the word “stable” and the illusion it creates
• Where Pye believes most fear comes from and why it limits your opportunities and potential
• How developing a “Learning Mindset” allowed Pye to turn quitting and “failing” into growth, opportunity, and success

Upcoming Events:

• LFAQ Live Event Sign Up
• Masterclass Sign Up

Resources from the Show:

• Visit Lin and  Jirsa Photography and explore his phenomenal photo blog

• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King, ebook
• Listen to more inspiring quitters on my webpage!

Where to find  Pye Jirsa:

• Instagram:@pyejirsa
• Photography Instagram: @linandjirsa
• SLR Lounge Instagram: @slrlounge

If you were inspired by this episode of  “Lessons from a Quitter” with Pye Jirsa, I know you will find inspiration in other lessons from quitters on my website.  Enjoy listening!

This week I want to talk to you about how to go after your dream life. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the past month. Taking this trip with my family is one way I’m going after my dream life. And the process is actually really simple, it’s just two steps. I want to show you that the things you want are possible because whether you think you can or you can’t you’re right. So this week I’m sharing the two-step process for going after your dream life and how I'm applying that in my own life.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why you should just follow that little spark.
• How it can be so much better than you've ever dreamed of.
• No one knows what they're doing!
• And so much more!

Where to find Kayse:  

• Website: https://kaysemorris.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaysemorris/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachingonless/
• Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gogetterspodcast/
• 10 step workbook: https://teachingonless.lpages.co/the-first-10-steps-to-selling-your-teaching-resources-online-lead-magnet
• Email: kayse@teachingonless.com

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

By far, the #1 question I get asked is some version of:

“I hate my job but I have no idea what else I would do. How do I find some clarity?!”

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that no one can give you a clear answer to that question. Because what you’re really saying is: “I’ve lost touch with who I really am. I’ve done what I was supposed to do and found myself unhappy. I feel lost and don’t know how to get back to what I truly want.” 

The clarity you’re looking for can’t come from outside of you. The answer isn’t in some online assessment. It has to come from within. It only comes from getting a better understanding of who you are when you aren’t trying to please everyone else or look perfect.

But here is the good news: Doing the work to find clarity in what you want to do with your life will change every single aspect of it. It will bring you back to yourself. It’ll lead to more self-compassion, self-trust, and self-acceptance.

It will help you stop the self-sabotage that will otherwise continue to ruin your life. It will give you control over your own internal state so you’re not at the mercy of reacting to everyone and everything around you. 

It will let you show up as the full, flawed human that you are so you can experience all that there is in this life. What more important work is there?! So don’t go for the easy answer. Take the time to find out who you truly are and do it on purpose. 

This week in the podcast, I go more in-depth into how to start discovering clarity in what you truly want.

This week, I wanted to talk about the art of dreaming bigger and why it is so important. The reason you aren't clear about what you want in life stems from the fact that you're constantly limiting yourself. You've stopped dreaming. You've settled for what's "realistic" even though deep down you know there is more. Part of finding that dream life is letting yourself set bigger goals to create a clear vision of what you want. You need to allow yourself to want things that seem intangible and then create small, actionable goals to reach them. Let me teach you how.

On this week's episode, we talk about the duality of life, the good and the bad. Life is always going to throw curveballs at us and we need to deconstruct the idea that we need to be happy all the time. Owning our dissatisfaction and working toward goals that allow for small wins will help us be more fulfilled. 

We also have a Find Your Path challenge in October: Sign up here www.quitterclub.com/mindset

What if the secret to your happiness wasn't in getting to the next milestone, or doing a bunch of things that society tells you to do, or accomplishing anything?  What if the secret was in undoing all of the BS you were sold?  What if the secret was in returning to who you were always meant to be before you were forced to be something you're not? This week on the podcast, I got to talk to Erika Gerdes about how she left the dream career and dream life -- an executive at Google, married with 2 young kids -- to start undoing the facade that she had built around herself.  We'll talk about how it took a divorce and quitting a job at the height of her career, and one she actually liked, for Erika to master the Art of Undoing -- a framework that she now uses to help other people. We talk all about how she jumped without a plan while being a single mom of two little girls and the sole breadwinner!  Erika is such an incredible example of the fact that you can always go back to who you were always meant to be. 

This week I want to talk to you about the law of polarity, also called the law of duality. It’s the idea that the only way you can experience something is because you have experienced the opposite of it. And if you’ve been around for awhile, you know I always talk about life being 50/50 - you can only experience the good, if you’ve experienced the bad. So this week I want to talk to you about how you don’t have to be scared of those negative emotions and how you can use them to live the biggest, fullest life you want.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How no one has confidence before they start.
• How clarity also doesn't come before action.
• Why you should stop worrying about finding your passion.

Guest panel podcast episodes:  

• Ep. 6 Why you don't need passion to scale a successful business with Pye Jirsa
• Ep. 9 How Laurie Rowen disrupted the legal profession to create the career she wanted
• Ep. 22 How Sara Rezvanpour Rose created her dream job as creative counsel at The Jungalow
• Ep. 31 How Shinah Chang quit the straight path of law for Crooked Calligraphy

Resources mentioned:

• Group coaching waitlist

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

When we start thinking about career change, we tend to jump into overdrive and want to change everything in the next couple of months. But then we get overwhelmed by all the things that need to be changed.

On today’s episode, I teach you how to use 5-year plans to get past that overwhelm and figure out exactly what it is you want to do. When you can slow yourself down enough to see that all you need is baby steps, the change becomes much more manageable.

In this episode, I dive into how to navigate the inevitable doubts and fears that arise when making big decisions, especially ones without certainty. I share insights on how our brains resist change to keep us "safe," leading us to second-guess and doubt our choices. Doubt doesn't mean you're on the wrong path; it's simply your brain's way of coping. By acknowledging and managing these feelings, you can continue to move forward and take action, even when your brain tries to hold you back. Listen for tips to keep fear from driving your actions.

While the podcast showcases the specific steps and tactics people used to start over in new careers, my goal is to actually demonstrate the mindset that you need to take the leap. 

Because without the mindset, all of the tactics in the world won’t help you start over. If you get stuck in the fear and the doubt, you’ll be stuck forever. 

Through my own journey and talking with over 90 quitters, I’ve come to realize that the most important mindset shift is in truly understanding that you CAN figure anything out. Once you become comfortable with the unknown, not because you’re certain, but because you’re confident in your ability to figure it out, you become unstoppable. 

No one embodies that mentality more than my guest this week, Emily Sexton. 

Emily started out on Wall Street as Vice President of Communications and Change Management. Feeling like something was missing, she quit without knowing her next move. When Emily discovered the opportunity to open up a pop-up retail truck that would combine her love of fashion with her desire to support female vendors from developing countries, a cause she was passionate about, she jumped on it. 

With no retail experience, Emily leaned on her community to make the pop-up shop a success. A year later, she turned the Flourish Market into a brick-and-mortar shop. And when she was presented with the opportunity to move to a bigger space, she seized that too. But the space was actually too big for just a retail shop. Emily had to figure out what to do with all the extra space. So in the Summer of 2019, she launched The Locality, a co-working space + incubator for 60 female entrepreneurs, with membership spots selling out before construction even started!

And now with the Covid pandemic, when so many businesses are struggling, Emily took only a couple of days to pivot her co-working space into an online membership.

She is such a testament to the fact that opportunities are all around us, if we’re willing to see them. Her outlook and attitude are infectious. And she provides the hope and clarity we need in this time!

Erin spent 22 years climbing the corporate ladder and climbed her way right up to the very top as CEO of PayFlex, Inc., a large healthcare financial company. As the CEO, Erin was in charge of overseeing 1000 employees and over $2bn in financial assets.  In late 2018, just when things were getting really good, Erin decided to exit the corporate world after 22 years and go down a path less traveled to start b Authentic inc.

Erin felt pulled to help create a new generation of authentic, diverse, and humble leaders. She started her own business, b Authentic Inc., where she hopes to change the face of Corporate America. Through individual and company trainings, Erin is on a mission to toss aside traditional approaches and help teach the very things that made her such a successful leader.

On this episode, we dive deep into what made Erin make the switch and how we can make the switch when we are no longer being served in our current role.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How she climbed her way up the corporate ladder to become the CEO of PayFlex, Inc.
• How she dealt with the feeling of always wanting more and how she used that to fuel her achievements
• Why she walked away from her amazing CEO position
• How she navigated her jump with her spouse and her advice for how to get your spouse on board with your next move.
• Why she wanted to start her current business, b Authentic Inc., and how she hopes to shape the new generation of leaders

Where to find Erin:  

• Website: https://www.bauthenticinc.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/bAuthenticInc
• https://www.instagram.com/b_authentic_inc/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-hatzikostas/

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

I love this conversation with Pye! It was such a raw and in-depth conversation about the illusion of stability, the origin of most people’s fears, and the importance of developing a learning mindset.

What is so fascinating about Pye’s journey is not just that he jumped from being a CPA to becoming a founder of an award-winning, multi-million dollar photography studio, it’s that he did that without having a passion for or knowing the first thing about photography.

Like most of us, Pye started going down the traditional path. He became a CPA and worked for Ernst & Young before realizing that he did not like what he was doing. He quit, along with his two best friends Justin and Chris, in order to start a tech startup. When the funding for their startup fell through, the friends took on web development clients. One of their clients needed photographs taken and Pye assured them that they had a photography department that could take care of it!

What I love about his story is that most people would not only shirk at taking on a task that they don’t know how to do but also avoid a “creative” profession that they are not skilled in. Pye, realizing that photography was a skill that could be acquired, looked at entering the wedding photography industry as a business and not a passion.

That eye towards business has led Pye, and his partners, to create Lin and Jirsa Photography, a boutique Southern California wedding and portrait photography studio composed of an incredible creative team of 50 people that shoots over 300 weddings each year, with nearly 1,000 yearly client commissions. He is also a founder and partner in SLR Lounge, a premium educational community geared towards providing photographers with real-world shoot education with nearly a million monthly readers.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• My experience with launching this podcast! Specifically, how taking a risk in my own life led me to realize the opportunity in doing so.
• The breaking point that led Pye to quit his job and take a risk on himself
• How failed attempts at funding projects and business ventures became opportunities for exploration, self-discovery, and ultimately, success
• How he created a multi-million dollar business in photography with a positive “learning mindset”
• Why Pye has a “passionate dislike” of the word “stable” and the illusion it creates
• Where Pye believes most fear comes from and why it limits your opportunities and potential
• How developing a “Learning Mindset” allowed Pye to turn quitting and “failing” into growth, opportunity, and success

Resources from the Show:

• Visit Lin and  Jirsa Photography and explore his phenomenal photo blog.

• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King, ebook
• Listen to more inspiring quitters on my webpage!

Where to find  Pye Jirsa:

• Instagram: @pyejirsa

• Photography Instagram: @linandjirsa

• SLR Lounge Instagram: @slrlounge

If you were inspired by this episode of  “Lessons from a Quitter” with Pye Jirsa, I know you will find inspiration in other lessons from quitters on my website.  Enjoy listening!  

This week on the podcast, I have my former student, Cynthia. Before joining the program, Cynthia had been working at the same company for five years, was over-worked and stressed all the time. She worked nights and weekends and was missing out on time with her family. Right before the program began, Cynthia’s mother suddenly passed away and she was scared to email her boss to ask for time off. That was the breaking point for her and she knew she couldn’t stay stuck in this job anymore. Cynthia is now working a part-time job she loves, she has a four-day weekend every week and enrolled in a course to widen her skill set. But more than that, Cynthia’s mindset has totally changed and it’s so incredible to listen to her story.

This week I want to talk to you about finding your purpose. Most of us have this notion that there is one purpose to our lives and we should be deeply fulfilled and if we’re not, then something is wrong. So we go out and try to find our purpose, but how do you even know if you’ve found it? This week, I explain the problem in finding your purpose and offer my thoughts on how to reframe this major issue.

Welcome to the latest episode of Lessons from a Quitter, where we explore self-trust and its critical role in our lives. This episode is a replay of a foundational topic about developing self-trust, essential for those contemplating significant life changes or struggling with decision-making. Host Goli, discusses the importance of self-trust, why many of us lack it, and how our upbringing and societal norms often undermine our confidence in our own decisions. Goli also shares exciting news about the podcast's new YouTube channel, aiming to reach a broader audience with visual content. Tune in to learn how to rebuild your self-trust and confidently pursue your passions.

Typically, on this show, we feature stories of people who have quit their careers and started over in a completely different field. I’m so excited to talk to Nicole on this episode to show that you don’t have to do that. If you like the field that you’re in but want something more, be it flexibility, more money, more ownership etc, it is time to think outside of the box.

Nicole started out her healthcare PR career in 2002 at a large medical device company, Guidant Corporation, where she learned the trade for 5 years. When the company was acquired by Abbott in 2006, Nicole was no longer allowed to keep her part-time status. Because she wanted the flexibility of staying at home with her kids and having a career, Nicole quit her job and started her career as a medtech PR consultant, working primarily with startups to launch their companies and products. She hired her first fulltime employee in 2016. Today her agency has approximately 20 employees and offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Orange County.

Nicole is also a founding member of MedtechWomen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to highlighting women leaders in the medical technology industry. She was named a 2015 PR Executive of the Year by the Business Intelligence Group and is a finalist for PR News' 2019 Top Women in Healthcare Awards.

We talk all about how taking that jump, and knowing how to value yourself, led Nicole to create an incredible business that also gave her the flexibility she wanted.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How to recognize the value you bring in your career and how to charge accordingly
• How she realized it was time to make the jump
• Why setting up a business isn’t as difficult as people make it seem.
• How freelancers can provide a lot of value that companies can’t provide
• Why you shouldn’t work for free
• Why the riches are in the niches
• How she grew her company from being a single consultant to 20 employees
• Why she believes in investing in yourself even if you’re not making money yet
• And much more!

Where to find Nicole:  

• Website: https://healthandcommerce.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoleosmer

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleosmer/

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on Toxic Work Environments. 

The term “toxic” is thrown around so often that it has all but lost its meaning. It’s hard to know what truly is toxic and what is something we just don’t like. 

In this series, I’ll dive into how to start discerning what is toxic, what you have control over and how to think about your career in a way that will serve you. 

Last episode dealt with Toxic Coworkers.

This episode deals with Toxic Bosses and other people who have a direct impact on your job. 

Next week, we’ll dive into jobs that have toxic hours, tasks, or conditions that are not ideal.

So many of you are stuck because your parents, friends, or co-workers simply don’t understand why you want to take this “risk”. 

Here’s the truth: They don’t have to support you. And you still get to make the decision you want for your life. 

Would it be nice if everyone saw the world the way you did and could fully understand your dreams? Yes, of course it would be.

Do you need that before you actually take the jump? Absolutely not.

The real reason you feel like you need their support is because if they believe in you, it’s easier for YOU to believe in YOU. 

When other people express doubt, it triggers the fear and insecurity you already have in this big decision. So you become defensive and spend all of your energy trying to convince them it’s the right choice. 

But what you’re really doing is trying to convince yourself. If someone else can see your vision, then it helps reassure that part of your brain that is also screaming “This is insane! We’re going to regret it!”

They don’t have to understand what you want to do. YOU have to understand what you want to do.

They don’t have to believe in you. You have to believe in you. 

You will still have doubt. Hell, you can even agree with them that it’s a crazy decision. And you still get to make it. 

If you struggle with this, this week’s podcast is for you. I dive deeper into this concept and explain how you can start moving past needing everyone’s support. 

In the latest episode of Lessons From A Quitter, we tackle the pervasive fear of failure and how it holds us back from pursuing our dreams. Whether it’s launching a business, starting a creative project, or switching careers, fear often paralyzes us with thoughts of embarrassment or shame. This episode reframes failure as a natural and essential part of growth, urging listeners to question the worst-case scenario and confront the limiting beliefs behind their fear. You’ll leave empowered with actionable insights to embrace failure as a learning tool, freeing you to take bold steps toward the life you desire.

One of the main issues I see with people who give up on their goals is that they’re setting too many. 

You get 1 goal per year. That’s it. No exceptions. 

On today's episode I explain how picking one goal can 

• help you skip overwhelm 
• give you a filter to make decisions 
• and get you to be nicer to yourself

It's the difference between hitting your goals and giving up. 

This week's episode covers the opportunity costs of staying stuck. Opportunity costs are what you give up by foregoing potential alternative routes to choose your given path. I want you to think about the fact that you're are always making a decision. And you're always giving something up for that decision. Oftentimes our brains, like to believe that if we stay stuck, if nothing has changed on the outside, we're just doing what we've always done and we haven't lost anything. But that's not true. In today's episode, I dive deep into what it costs you to keep holding on to your sunk costs in the hopes that you make your decisions from a more intentional place. 

Today, we’re going to talk about choosing one goal. Every time I talk about this, I get the most responses that I get to really anything that I talk about. People are upset and they want to explain to me why they should have more than one goal, why it's different for them, why they need to do so much more. And there's a lot of misconceptions of what this one goal rule is.

It's perfect timing for this episode as we finished the first quarter of the year, and it’s time to check in and see how you did on your goals. How did that work? If it didn’t work out the way you wanted I want you to maybe suspend your concerns or your skepticism of this concept for quarter two. Just try it. You can always go back. You can have all your goals in Q3 if you want, but just try for the next three months. If I just choose one goal to focus on, let's see how I do.

In this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we chat with the incredible Latina entrepreneur behind the Yo Quiero Dineropodcast and the newly published author of Financially Lit. We explore her journey from food blogger to financial educator, diving into how she used her paycheck as an “angel investor” to build her future. She shares valuable insights about breaking cultural stereotypes, overcoming fear, and taking up space as a Latina in the personal finance world. This episode is packed with actionable tips for those looking to pivot their careers, start a business, or redefine their identity and passions.

On this episode I talk about why you should be doing personal development, what it's for and what it's not for.

Spoiler alert: if anything you're doing is to feel more worthy, you're doing personal development wrong.

In this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, I’m deep diving on my love for online business–where all you need is determination and a solid idea. We're living in a time where starting a business requires minimal capital and access to millions of potential customers. Listen to debunk the myth of market saturation and learn the vast untapped potential awaiting entrepreneurs. From AI to niche services, the digital landscape offers endless possibilities. Don't let doubt hold you back; it's time to seize the moment and explore the world of online entrepreneurship if this is what you’ve been seeking. Join me in learning the limitless potential of entrepreneurship and learn how to build a business that aligns with your passions and goals.

In the latest episode of "Lessons from a Quitter," I explore how traditional career paths can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction. Emphasizing the importance of questioning conventional advice, I advocate for a proactive career design by identifying and leveraging unique personal strengths. The discussion highlights how breaking away from standard expectations and creating value in innovative ways can enhance career satisfaction and advancement. I also encourage listeners to look beyond the usual grind, consider alternative career paths, and take control of their professional futures. For those seeking further guidance, I introduces resources available through the Quitter Club.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How no one actually knows what they're doing and you don't have to do it alone.
• How fulfillment comes from giving yourself time and space to do the things you want to do.
• Why it's important to think about the limitations you're arguing for.
• And so much more!

Where to find Lindsey:  

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/llindseyschwartz
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/powerhouse_women
• Website: www.powerhousewomen.co

Resources Mentioned:

• 5 Steps To Finding Your Calling PDF

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast
  •  

Today I have the honor of talking to Dave Hollis, CEO of The Hollis Company. If you’re living under a rock and haven’t heard yet of Dave or, his wife, Rachel Hollis, just know that they are on a tour of world domination to help every person become a better version of themselves.

Rachel has been building a career, first, in the lifestyle blog space and, more recently, in the personal development arena for the past 15 years. She has 2 New York Times Best-Selling books (Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing), is one of the most sought after motivational speakers, has 2 top-rated podcasts, and has been called the female Tony Robbins.

Dave stepped in as CEO of The Hollis Company just 10 months ago to lead the expansion plans in the next, exciting phase — focusing on media (books/podcasts/live coaching/radio/tv), live events and merchandise.

But before taking on this role, Dave had an incredibly successful 17-year career at the Walt Disney Company which culminated in his role as President of Theatrical Distribution. Dave was in charge of global theatrical sales for Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucas film. During his tenure, Disney had industry breaking records such as the first $7 billion in global ticket sales in one year and the only studio to cross $6 billion two years in a row.

His job was, by all accounts, “the dream” -- high paying, high glamour, highly respected. And yet, I talked to Dave about why it became unfulfilling and how he came to the decision to walk away. This episode is full of inspiration and incredible wisdom about how we all should be approaching our lives.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why the very thing that made Dave’s role at Disney a dream job was the thing that ultimately led him to quit
• What 3 circumstances in his life at the time led Dave to decide to make the leap
• How a conversation about personal development with Rachel changed the trajectory of his life
• Why you should be honoring the struggle
• What Dave would have done if he didn’t have the opportunity to run the Hollis Company
• What it’s like to work with your wife
• And so much more!

Where to find Dave:  

• Website: www.theholliscompany.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrdavehollis
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrdavehollis
• Podcast: Rise Together

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• Mindset, by Carol Dweck

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

In this podcast episode, I explore the pervasive role of fear in our lives, particularly when pursuing dreams and change. Fear, often rooted in the fear of failure and negative emotions, can paralyze us. The key is to confront these fears by answering critical questions about the worst-case scenarios. Realizing that we can handle these emotions empowers us to take risks and move forward. Listen for the questions you should be asking yourself to face fear head-on and to get to where you want.

Pleasance Silicki has had 2 major career transitions. But as you’ll see from the interview today, each career she’s had has put her on the path to the next thing. So what was her journey? Well, Pleasance received her Masters in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a teacher, and then a principal, of urban elementary schools. After already feeling burned out from the job, a school shooting prompted Pleasance to leave her position.

She went on to follow her passion for yoga and opened up numerous yoga studios around the DC area. After running those studios successfully for a number of years, circumstances outside of her control led her to close them down.

Pleasance is now an author, teacher, speaker, podcaster, mentor, creator, and magic-maker.

She is the founder of Thrive, an online self-care class and community. She also facilitates Stress Management and Self-Care workshops and retreats to a variety of groups and does one-on-one private mentorships based on Ayurvedic, Buddhist, and positive psychology teachings. Pleasance is also the author of Delight: 8 Principles for Living with Joy And Ease and the host of the Soulful SelfCare Sessions Podcast.

I got to talk to Pleasance about how each stage in her life and each step on her journey led her to the next thing, the lessons she’s learned from pivoting numerous times, and how she approaches her career today.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why she wanted to become a elementary school teacher
• How she became a principal at a Charter School
• How a school shooting changed the course of her career
• How she got a dream job at Lululemon
• Why it is so important to take baby steps and not worry about the end goal
• How she ended up opening numerous yoga studios around DC
• The lessons she learned from having to close down those studios
• How she has evolved her career into consulting, mentorship, and teaching the spiritual practices founded on Ayurveda, Buddhism, yoga, and positive psychology.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Body of Work, by Pamela Slim
• Delight: 8 Principles for Living with Joy And Ease, Pleasance Silicki
• Book Recommendations

Where to find Pleasance:

• Soulful Selfcare Sessions
• pleasance@lilomm.com
• www.instagram.com/lilommyoga

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

I want to talk about the equation that you need to think about when you want to quit your job. 

Today’s conversation with Ann Masciarotte is so important!! On this podcast, I’ve talked a lot about the fact that in today’s world, with the internet, you can really create a business out of anything you are passionate about. Literally, you can find someone that is making money around a topic that you love. You just have to think outside of the box.

And that is why I love what Ann is doing! Ann is the Chief Curator and President of the Whitney George Collection, an art advisory firm that she established after leaving a decades-long career as a strategy consultant and product manager. The Whitney George Collection was born of Ann's belief that fine art doesn't have to be intimidating, and that it should be a prominent part of every home, office, commercial and public space. Through her work with The Collection, Ann collaborates with home- and business-owners, and residential and commercial interior designers to curate and source artwork that personalizes and elevates their interior spaces. As a lifelong art collector who comes from a family of artists, Ann loves sharing with and educating others on the joys of buying and living with original art.

The Whitney George Collection is primarily focused on promoting standout art and artists who have a unique, dynamic, and intriguing, yet accessible, style and point of view. Ann and the team at The Collection pride themselves on being able to work with nearly any budget, because there is plenty of phenomenal art in the world that doesn't come with a blue chip price tag. The Collection also believes in supporting and promoting living artists, who contribute to a richer social fabric within their local and global communities.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How Ann made the jump from consultant/project manager to business owner
• How having kids changed her perspective and led her to want to start her own business
• How she originally went the safe route and tried to start her own consultancy but quickly realized that her heart wasn’t in it
• How she realized that she might be able to start a business around her passion for art
• How she structured the business model for her art business
• Why you just have to start and realize that you’ll just figure it out along the way.
• Practical advice about how anybody can buy authentic art for their homes

Where to find Ann:

• Website: www.whitneygeorgecollection.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/wgfineart

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In the latest episode of "Lessons from a Quitter," I dive into what to expect after quitting your job and how to navigate the challenges that come up. Many people believe that once they quit their jobs, their problems will disappear. However, the reality is that your brain will quickly start panicking and doubting your decision. I explain why this is normal and why our brains are wired to prioritize safety and productivity. I provide strategies for managing these fears, including creating a plan before quitting, acknowledging that your brain's panic is normal, and detaching yourself from fearful thoughts. By understanding and managing these challenges, you can confidently move forward and design a life you love.

In this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we tackle the overwhelming weight of the world and explore how to manage it without burning out. I discuss the importance of shifting our perspective on progress, finding empowerment in small, meaningful actions, and accepting that no one can "save the world" alone. Instead, I share ways to focus on what you can control, build a supportive community, and set realistic boundaries to protect your mental health. Join me as we redefine success—not through perfection or endless productivity, but through sustainable change and resilience in both life and career.

What stops a lot of people from quitting careers that they don’t like is that they don’t know what else they would do. Well, today’s guest, provides an excellent example in how to develop your passions on the side while still working in your day job.

Joanne Bourgault is a dentist based in Saskatoon, Canada. When she found herself unfulfilled with her current work, Joanne began working in the online space on the side. After dabbling in various roles, she found that she loved working as a copywriter and marketing strategist. You can now find her helping female entrepreneurs grow their businesses doing meaningful work so that they can design lives that suit them and their families - instead of settling for "average."

What I love about her journey is that she is taking the time to find what she truly loves, editing as necessary, and building her dream without having to quit her job and make dramatic changes. Her story is the perfect example of how to put in the work to give yourself a realistic escape from a job you hate.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why Joanne left her career in accounting to go to dental school
• How working with a life coach led her to realize that she wanted to transition out of dentistry too
• How she experimented with different side hustles to figure out what she really liked
• How she dealt with talking to her husband and family about leaving dentistry
• How she deals with her changing identity from dentist to marketer
• How she finds the time to balance her full-time job, family life, and side hustle.

Where to find Joanne:  

• Website:  joannebourgault.com
• Instagram: @joanne_bourgault

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• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

In this episode, I explore the power of long-term thinking and breaking down goals into manageable building blocks. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of quick fixes, I share personal examples of how taking a more gradual approach to change, whether it's in business or your personal goals, can lead to lasting transformation. By giving yourself the time and flexibility to evolve over several years, you can achieve meaningful, sustainable growth. Embrace the journey and discover the compounding effect of patience and persistence.

On this week’s episode, I talk with Kathryn Finney, a former Yale-trained epidemiologist turned blogger turned investor and philanthropist. Before Wordpress even existed and you had to print out photos and then scan and upload them online, Kathryn created her blog, The Budget Fashionista. After running that for many years, she sold the blog and founded digitalundivided, a social enterprise focused on helping Black women own their work. She then went on to found and manage Genius Guild, a $20M venture fund. At the onset of the pandemic, she wanted to do more to support Black-women owned businesses so she founded The Doonie Fund, giving out micro-investments from her own personal investment. Most recently, she published Build The D*mn Thing: How To Start A Successful Business If You’re Not A Rich White Guy, in it she empowers entrepreneurs to take advantage of their unique networks and resources. Kathryn has such an incredible quitter story and I can’t wait for you to hear more from her on the episode.

On this week’s episode, I talk with Deepa Purushothaman, a former partner at Deloitte turned author and speaker. In her book released earlier this month, Deepa draws on conversations she had with hundreds of women of color about their experiences in the workplace. I think her work is so important and is just the beginning of the change we can create in Corporate America.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How to exercise your power and show up for yourself
• How colleagues can be advocates and allies to women of color
• How to find community during a pandemic
• And so much more

Find Deepa here:

Website: https://www.deepapuru.com/

To purchase her book:  https://www.deepapuru.com/author

In this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we dive into the process of navigating career transitions without the pressure of needing to know the "perfect" next step. We explore the three stages of quitting: burnout recovery, stopping people-pleasing, and embracing your true desires. Whether you’re thinking of quitting to pursue a passion or rediscovering joy in your current role, we break down how to set short-term goals, avoid panic, and create space for exploration. Join us as we discuss how to quit burnout, stop playing small, and thrive by redesigning a career and life you truly love. Also, doors are opening for Quitter Club on Sept 10th! You don't want to miss out! Listen now for more info!

This week on the podcast, I have my former student, Lisa McFadden. From a young age, Lisa knew she wanted to be a writer but let other people talk her into a more stable career path. Burnt out and at her wits’ end, she was absolutely miserable when she signed up for my 6 month program. During the program, Lisa had a major a-ha moment that changed her life completely. Since finishing the program, she has resigned from her corporate job, moved states and started her own coaching business helping writers overcome writer’s block and develop their own process. Most importantly, she’s overcome her own writer’s block and is able to make a living doing what she loves. Lisa claims my 6 month program changed her life, listen to the episode to find out how. Find Lisa here: Instagram: @TheWritersMindset Facebook: Lisa McFadden Website: Lisa McFadden Film

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How the fear doesn't go away.
• Why you deserve the same love you give everyone else.
• How we all have inner intuition and the importance of listening close enough.
• And so much more!

Where to find Jenna:  

• Instagram: instagram.com/jennairvin
• Website: jstandingtall.com

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• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

This is part 1 of a 3-part series on toxic work environments. 

The term “toxic” is thrown around so often that it has all but lost its meaning. It’s hard to know what truly is toxic and what is something we just don’t like. 

In this series, I’ll dive into how to start discerning what is toxic, what you have control over and how to think about your career in a way that will serve you. 

This episode deals specifically with toxic coworkers. But the principles can be applied to anything that is a part of your work life but doesn’t have a direct impact on you completing your duties. 

Part 2 will dive into toxic bosses or anything that does have a direct impact on your work.

And Part 3 will explore toxic jobs, meaning tasks, hours, or conditions that are not ideal.

We all care what other people think, even if we pretend like we don’t. A healthy relationship with other people’s opinions is actually needed. It teaches us what works in communities and what doesn’t. It keeps people accountable to each other. However, so many of us, myself included, let the obsession with what other people think run amok and control our whole lives.

We’ve been raised to be nice and not make any waves. Especially in the corporate setting, we place value on being a team player and suppressing your own needs for the greater good. Over time, that completely hinders our lives. We play small, keep quiet and make sure that other people’s needs are met over ours. It can cause an unbearable amount of stress and sadness. Ultimately, it leads to us not living lives on our own terms.

This is glaringly evident when it comes to staying in a career you hate. So much of what keeps us stuck is our fear of what other people will think or say, how our family/friends will react, how upset our spouse will be, etc. If you’re going to find the courage to go after a life you love, you first have to learn how to stop people pleasing and be your authentic self.

On this week’s episode, I’m so excited to have on Dr. Aziz Gazipura to talk about his book Not Nice and how we can go about limiting these toxic tendencies we’ve picked up. Dr. Aziz is the world’s leading confidence expert. He helps people break free from hesitation, fear, and self-doubt so they can rapidly grow their businesses, become more powerful leaders, and enjoy outstanding relationships. He completed his doctoral training at Stanford and Palo Alto Universities and is the founder of the Center For Social Confidence. He has a large online following with his podcast and YouTube videos and is the author of two additional best selling books: The Solution To Social Anxiety and The Art Of Extraordinary Confidence.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why niceness isn’t rooted in goodness but rather in fear
• How to deal with the long view of changing your view to being more authentically yourself
• How to handle other people’s emotions in reaction to you speaking up for yourself
• Why it is necessary to be authentically yourself even if it hurts the people closest to you.
• How Embarrassment Inoculation can change your life

Where to find Dr. Aziz:  

• Website: https://www.socialconfidencecenter.com/
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DrAzizCoach
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAzizGazipura/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GetMoreConfidence

Resources mentioned

• Dying to be Me, by Anita Moorjani
• Mind Over Medicine, by Dr. Lissa Rankin
• Do It Scared, by Scott Allan

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
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This week's episode is a replay of Episode 50: How Blogging Helped Leslie Samuel Get And Then Quit His Dream Career.

It’s hard not to smile while listening to today’s guest talk about his journey and you’ll see why. Leslie’s story is something we can all learn so much from. Through determination and a genuine love of teaching biology, he managed to land himself his dream job as a biology professor without getting a Ph.D! Crazy, right? So many of us are stuck believing that we have to go the traditional route to pursue the things we love, but that really isn’t the case anymore.

Before Leslie landed his dream job, he started out as a high school teacher with a huge love for science and biology. Coincidently, in 2008, he also stumbled upon a way to make money online through blogging. He used his newfound skills to create a blog, Interactive Biology, where he taught Biology the way he wanted. He would make interactive, high-energy videos illustrating various concepts like how an action potential works. It was this very blog that ultimately landed him his dream job.

By chance, he had received an email one day about an open teaching position in a doctoral program. Was he qualified? Absolutely not. Did it stop him from applying? Not even in the slightest. Leslie interviewed for the job and made it very clear that he wasn’t qualified, but he showed them his blog that was evidence of his knowledge and teaching style. Within an hour of leaving that interview, he received a phone call saying he got the job.

Leslie’s story is living proof that you don’t have to do everything the traditional route. You can feel (and be) unqualified for the job or position that you want, but if you truly love something enough and you put in the work, the opportunities will come!

But the best part of Leslie’s story is the fact that blogging opened up a whole new world of impact for him. He realized how many lives he was changing by teaching other people how to grow and monetize their blogs. He ultimately decided to leave his dream job as a professor to focus exclusively on his latest blog, Become A Blogger, where he is taking on the mission of “Changing The World One Blog At A Time.”

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why you should make a change in your life if you’re unhappy.
• Why you don’t need to pursue things the traditional way.
• How everyone has something they can share with other people.
• How the technology today makes it easy to start a side hustle.
• And so much more!

Where to find Leslie:

Website

Resources Mentioned:

Interactive Biology YouTube

•  We're obsessed with trying to find the "right" answer because we think that will give us some semblance of "control" over our future.⁠ "How do I know which direction is the right one for me?"⁠ Everyone who wants to quit their job asks some version of this question:⁠ I always answer the same way:⁠
• The bad news is that there is no right answer. But the good news is that there is no right answer. The more you go down this road, the more you start to realize that the world is full of possibilities. And each step forward uncovers a whole set of new opportunities.⁠ But you have to be willing to push past the discomfort of taking a step without knowing the end result in order to open yourself up to those possibilities.⁠ This week on the podcast, I had the honor of talking to the incredible Dr. Maria Phalime. We discussed her journey out of medicine and how it took her years to get over the guilt of leaving and to begin discovering all the opportunities that are available to her. Her story is such an inspiring example that you don't have to have it figured out in order to leave.⁠

Resources mentioned:

• Stuck to Strategy sign up

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Trust what you're feeling.
• If you don't have everything figured out, that's okay!
• Put your story out there.
• And so much more!

Where to find Maria:  

• Website: https://www.mariaphalime.co.za/
• TedTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeHqgambbcI

Follow along for more:

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In the latest episode of Lessons From a Quitter, I share how our jobs often become a significant part of our identity, making it challenging to detach from them. I discuss the underlying fears and shame that drive this attachment, as well as the pressure to be perfect in our roles. Listen and learn how to challenge the notion that our worth is tied to our work and encourage self-acceptance beyond titles and achievements. This episode offers valuable insights for everyone, whether you're considering quitting or not. Join me in this discussion of self-discovery and find liberation from the limitations of societal expectations.

This week I am thrilled to have Cher Hale on the show. What I love most about Cher's story is how she demonstrates that we can each find ways, in our own lives and work, to right the wrongs we see in our society. One of the best part about entrepreneurship is that you have the freedom to do things your own way. And that's exactly what Cher is doing!