What if the key to transforming your work and your life starts with one bold question: “What if I don’t have to sacrifice who I am to succeed?”

In this episode of Finding the Upside, I sit down with a purpose-driven coach and fellow rebel-with-a-cause, TJ Bennett—creator of The DeSuckify Work podcast and newsletter, and a man on a mission to help people rediscover joy and meaning in their work.

TJ shares his own evolution from 25 years in advertising to his leap into coaching, where he now guides individuals and organizations to align work with their purpose, finding their why. We discuss the realities of walking away from what’s familiar to pursue what’s authentic, and the fears that come with untethering from steady paychecks and unfulfilling career paths.

This episode is a deep dive into the culture of work - what's broken, what’s possible, and how values-based leadership can radically shift both company culture and individual fulfillment. We unpack everything from the myth of “stability” to how Gen Z is showing up unapologetically curious and values-driven. We also challenge traditional hiring models, discuss why performative company values are a liability, and offer practical insight into helping the next generation (and ourselves) define purpose - not by title, but by strength, impact, and joy.

Whether you're a leader trying to achieve cultural change, a professional feeling out of alignment, or someone simply craving more authenticity in the workplace - this conversation will light a fire under your seat and remind us: Work shouldn’t require us to trade our soul for a salary. 

This is also a call to corporate leaders defining these environments to do a better job -- to start normalizing the power of showing up whole, living your values out loud, and finding the upside in a new way of working. Discover how to join in on the movement to ‘Desuckify Work’ and help ‘Change the World of Work Forever.’

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:49] TJ Bennett’s Journey 

• [11:41] The Pendulum Swing of Purpose and Meaning

• [14:48] THIS Still Lingers in the Workplace

• [24:19] The Instagram Effect

• [31:56] Generation Z’s Resistance and What We Can Learn From Them

• [41:26] The Competitive Landscape Has Changed

Episode Show Notes  

TJ Bennett | Instagram

TJ Bennett | Facebook

TJ Bennett | LinkedIn

The DeSuckify Work Podcast | Podcast

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram 

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠  

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn 

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

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