In this final b Cause episode of 2020, Erin and Nicole decided to give you a fun episode that includes their original "The Twelve Days of Work-mas." Plus, Nicole surprises Erin with her work rendition of Santa Baby.  The Twelve Days of Work-mas 12 hour workday 11th hour deadline 10 interns sleeping 9 hours of meetings 8 corporate trainings A 7 year-old Intern 6 feet of distance 5 gooooldeeen handcuffs... 4 minute break 3 PowerPoints A 2-percent raise And a promo-o-tion to a trainee Happy Holidays from both Erin & Nicole! To preorder Erin's book You Do You(ish):   Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "We're going to serenade 2020 right out the door." "I totally prepared, I got cash, wine, pizza bagels, and snow melt." "Cash and cleavage is going to get you through."

"You need to sell yourself" they say. But here's the truth: most people turn that into a babbling diatribe that likely does more harm than good. Why? Because there is an art to the "pitch". Whether you're pitching yourself for a promotion or to get on The Moth, there is a 3-part system that can change everything. As with anything, Erin and Nicole bring you powerful advice through real-world, real-time examples. The goal is to all grow and rise together. This episode is no exception.  This week Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata Grant once again join each other for another "How Was Your Week" episode. Nicole has a Covid scare, but she has the Italian magic of pastina, AKA "the life-saving juice." She updates everyone on her company's Christmas commercial debacle from a few weeks back. The short story: after all that drama, they're not using it. Time for take 2. Erin talks us through her latest embarrassing obsession: Instagram Reels. After shunning it for a long time, she may have found her calling. Although she may need some support from the listeners to overcome the mocking from her kids. Erin asks Nicole about The Moth, one of Nicole's favorite storytelling platforms, and her plans to pitch an idea. Which leads into a conversation on how to pitch an idea. Which leads into a conversation on how to pitch effectively, whether it's for a story idea, a Ted Talk, or a promotion at work. While different, there are elements to a good pitch which are applicable no matter the platform. Erin talks through the three key aspects of a successful pitch: the hook, the switch, and creating the connection. Nicole then talks about her idea for a pitch to The Moth. She and Erin discuss some ideas for how to approach the pitch. From writing the first draft, to cutting that draft into pieces and giving yourself the visual space to look at it differently. Erin uses her pitch writing process for her TEDx Talk as a comparative piece for Nicole as she goes into the process of her own pitch. Aside from the actual technique of pitch writing, they discuss the positives that come from taking a step toward doing something new. Whether you want to write a book, do a TV show, start a podcast, or get a new role at ork. Writing a pitch to bring your idea to life can actually bring you to life. Erin shares a story about one of her clients who needed help making a pitch at work for a promotion. She talks about how to apply the same three elements to this work situation: from prepping a hook (in this scenario that's your "superhero statement"), to writing a switch, to building a connection with the audience.  We end with a hilarious story from Nicole and her board meeting for her Foundation this week. You'll have to listen in to learn more about Exhibit C!  To preorder Erin's book You Do You(ish):   Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "Every week Nicole has a crazy week, and this one is no exception." "My hair looked like a helmet...but a glamorous helmet." "A pitch needs intrigue, excitement, and curiosity." "Connection is all about flipping the table. IF I were on the other side of the table, what would I want?" "The first thing you do is write a shitty first draft." "The shorter and more succinct you need to be, the more work it takes." "Get the arc down, then focus on what is the main lesson. Go through it in layers." "I'm not trying to change you. I'm trying to change your addiction." "This is the Venn Diagram of all things Nicole." "You're not interviewing for the job you already have. Tell them what you can do, not what you've done." "Always think what is most important to the person on the other side of the table." "Things I'm doing are so transactional. What I need is something transformational." "If you're looking for Reference C, it's not fucking there!"

"Here is what I know. That I don't know. There is power in the unknown. Sit in the I don't know. It's a confident place to be. Trust me." -Christina Glickman. This week, Erin sits down with Christina Glickman, speaker and author of the bestselling book, "Xtra: The Art of Being", to find out just what it means to be unapologetically confident. And a little "xtra" too. They get straight into it discussing authenticity, Christina's book, and her life to this point. How she got to where she is, the steps she took, and all those things she didn't do that got her there. We often talk about choices we made that led us somewhere, but not the things we didn't do that led us here, or the things we chose not to do. Christina is a form believer in serving yourself before others, and that's not a selfish viewpoint, it's a necessary step to ensure your own happiness and success. Erin Hatzikostas asks Christina to talk about her younger years, if she struggled with who she was and where she was going. One moment stands out: being told that her ACT test scores weren't good enough, and she should reconsider her life plans (a fairly daunting conversation for a young student.) A big turning point for Christina though was getting into advertising, entering a world where you do have to fake it (a bit) until you make it. Erin asks about the loss of Christina's parents, how it changed the trajectory of her life. Christina explains the affect her parents had on her when they were alive, how they inspired her and shaped her. But, also, how the pain and suffering she experienced formed her into who she is now.  This leads into a conversation on parenting, with Erin asking Christina if she has any advice from her own experience of parenthood.  They discuss Christina's hair, and the funny story that led to a style that defines her (or does she define her hair?!) Christina talks about how being your authentic self can cause people to think you're trying to make a statement, when actually you're trying to not make a statement. You're just trying to be: you. Erin poses the question: is it more important to find out who you are, or define who you want to be in the future? For Christina, knowing who you are is the first step to help define where you are going. You have to know yourself before you know your potential.  Erin digs in further, asking what pisses her off, what steps does she take to become less apologetic and more confident, and what steps does she suggest other people take to get where they want to be. Christina has some tough love messages for anyone that feels stuck.  To end, Erin asks the most important question of all: Where does Christina shop for her attire? You'll have to tune in to find out! Follow Christina on Instagram: @christinaglickman To purchase her book, search "xtra: the art of being" on Amazon To preorder Erin's book You Do You(ish):   Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "I only do what I want. You won't see me showing up in a way that's not serving myself." "This is yours. Not mine. Take it...whatever you have going on isn't mine to own. My bags are heavy enough." "The most profound relationship you'll have is with yourself." "Sitting in the unknown, sitting in the uncomfortable. These things are easy to say, but are you doing them?" "The world is aching for you to do what you love. Look for it. Find it. Hold on to it. Then let it go. When it doesn't give you joy. The search is the real happiness." "Movement was everything." "My list of wrongs in this world is large, but I know what I do right." "Get clear on what you want for your family and stick to it." "When it comes to my kids, I don't want them to be anything but themselves." "Sometimes when we arrive as our authentic selves people assume we're trying to make a statement." "There is no magic, it's hard work." "You don't lift somebody else if you feel bad about yourself." "Whatever it takes to get you out of bed in the morning, just do it." "The first asshole you're going to run into is yourself."

Performance evaluations: are they a proverbial party or just the most inefficient pyramid scheme? This week, Erin & Nicole riff on everything from performance evaluations to showing true gratitude to how to handle the pressures of the holiday season (including insane corporate deadlines like shooting a Christmas video by 10am on a Monday.) This episode is a rollercoaster of hysterics, deep thinking, and meows. Listen in if you want all the feels. In this week's b Cause podcast, Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata Grant first start by talking about workplace performance evaluations. Will Nicole follow Erin's advice and Tweet her way through this year's evaluation? Erin asks Nicole about her Holiday (meow) plans and mentions her friends quarantine rules for the kids - if you think it would be hard to keep a teenager in their room for two weeks, wait until you hear Nicole's idea of quarantine.  Nicole talks about her day off, spending it (meow) taking a voluntary Covid test. But, as only would happen to Nicole, it ended up involving a dance-show from the staff at the testing center. They also talk about the upcoming holiday season, and the often-unnecessary stress, work and pressure that women tend to largely place on themselves. They suggest this year is a good year to lower those expectations and give yourself, and others, the grace of doing things a little simpler and with a little less stress. What are some traditions you have that maybe won't be the best idea this year? And what, this year especially, could we do differently to reach out to everyone and keep up the holiday spirit (meow) even if this year it all feels a bit different. Erin and Nicole tell us what they are grateful for this year, which leads into a discussion about the journey they've both taken into podcasting. How they approached it, where it's going, and why it's working.  They discuss authenticity, how it can be manipulated in the corporate space, and how to keep things truly authentic. You have to model it, not parade it. You don't talk about it, you demonstrate it.  Nicole ends the episode with a hilarious story about her being summoned to help with the Christmas video at work. That comes as a script in Spanish. And needs to be filmed in front of a green energy site. And it's raining. And it's Covid. And it's needed by Monday 10am. Tis the season! To preorder Erin's book You Do You(ish):   Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments:  "Gratitude is the attitude." "Twitter: the mental meanderings of Nicole's brain." "This is the most inefficient pyramid scheme I've ever seen." "The smell of death in this car is likely related to food...maybe beer." "Dunkin Donuts is a ubiquitous experience here." "You don't have to do anything. Don't 'should' on yourself this holiday." "The holidays are exhausting. Just doing all the things we think we're supposed to do." "The ground has been shifting a lot this year." "Be a little gracious, show a little gratitude, by maybe bating somebody's hook." "Authenticity has given us the opportunity to control both the circumstances and the outcomes of our decisions." "The lends I use for authenticity if: if I were on the other side, what would I want?" "With authenticity, you don't talk about it, you demonstrate it." "If I say this, I will probably start World War III." "The Christmas video is either being filmed at a dump in Bridgeport or in the Mailroom."

What is your body telling you these days? It's highly likely that you're burnt-out at work. OR maybe, it's simply that you're bored-out. This week's episode dives deep into the signs, and remedies, for those of you feeling burnt-out at work. IT's an important episode, because we want you to see these signs well before Kea saw hers. Your health, family, and friends will thank you.  This week Erin sits down with Kea Meyers Duggan - a life/career coach, and a professional speaker - to discuss her life, her struggles and her successes, in an episode that everyone can relate to. Erin starts out by asking about young Kea. She dives into what her childhood was like, and how it shaped her into who she is today. Kea remembers watching the 1984 Olympics with her dad, and him telling her, "You can do whatever you put your mind to." She talks how she necessarily understand that statement fully at the time. But later it became a guiding light for her...a way to find determination to do whatever she wanted to do. Erin asks Kea why she went into marketing. Kea explains she almost chose to pursue Marine Biology, and decided to follow advertising and marketing instead. But as she carried forward in her career, she couldn't help but question if she'd made the right choice. Her father stepped back in and suggested she start her own company, because she's be good at it plus she's also bad at being told what to do.  Kea's first entrepreneurial venture was a dog walking and pet sitting business. However, KEa realized that human interaction was key to her happiness (and while dogs are cute, they don't make for great conversations.) She decided to go back to corporate America while she decided on her next move. She decided to start a coaching business, but working a 9-5 job while also trying to run a business on the side can easily build to an unstable point. One day, while sitting at her desk typing an email, she thought she was having a stroke. Luckily, instead, it was her body giving her a big wake-up call - a massive anxiety attack.  Erin asks Kea what steps she took to try and reverse the situation. Kea said the first thing she did was to simply talk to a friend and tell them what had happened. The second, was to take a step back and think about her next move, how to handle the situation, and what she really wanted to do moving forward. Erin moves on to ask how people cans et up boundaries for themselves. Kea says to first check-in with yourself. What has you feeling so burned out and uncomfortable? Then, picture your ideal situation. What would it look like if everything was how you wanted it to be? They discuss how to take a breath and carve some time out for yourself. In summary? Just do it. There is always something else to do, so you have to take a stand and take that time when you need it. They end by explaining how you discern between being burned out vs. being bored-out. Burnout manifests itself physically; insomnia, body ailments like migraines, GI issues. Intense cynicism is also a major sign of being burnt out at work. Bored-out usually manifests itself through signs like listlessness, inability to sit still, being easily distracted. And the only remedy? It's time for a change!     Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "It's the small moments that end up shaping your life in a major way." "I was always more interested in the ads than in the show." "If I were to die tomorrow, would I be glad that this were my eulogy?" "I need to be in community with other people in some way, shape or form." "You have to get your stress under control as soon as possible, otherwise things will not get better." "You seek inspiration from those around you. Not just those above you." "Our group is a no-bullshit group." "There's never going to be a 'good time' to not be online or not be available." "Self-care and rejuvenation look different for everybody."

If you think about Linkedin as a place to head when you need a new job, you are missing the boat. Completely. You need to think about LinkedIn less like a digital resume and more like a dating app. This week, Erin and Nicole dive deep into Nicole's profile as a proxy for helping you to understand the power of LinkedIn and the small changes you can make to ensure you stand out and maximize its value for you. Of course, this is all done with a healthy dose of humor and sarcasm (we'll just say "sorry" ahead of time to all the career HR professionals out there.) Before they hit LinkedIn though, Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata Grant discuss the authentic epiphanies they had as it related to the U.S Presidential election. They think about how important it's becoming that political figures, no matter which side of the aisle, need to come across authentically for people to connect with them and vote for them. They also discuss the passing of Alex Trebek, and the nostalgic loss that it is for so many people. If you had fifteen hours of Zoom calls would you still want to cook dinner, or would you settle for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for the third day in a row? You can guess which one Nicole chose. Nicole talks about how she is dealing with work at the moment. Does it feel like you're stuck in Groundhog Day too? You might not be so alone. Erin follows this by explaining some changes that are happening at her old workplace, and the realization she had about the extreme value she has placed on creating her own business and making a real impact beyond a corporate paycheck. Moving the conversation back to Nicole's LinkedIn profile. Erin talks about how the platform is more "real" than you might want it to be. That it's really important to treat it like a 3D world vs. just an online resume or CV. Erin discusses how to effectively use LinkedIn, including the biggest mistake people make: waiting until they need a new job to use the platform. She talks about how you should be engaging with it regularly to maximize your potential opportunities.  They talk through building a successful profile and presence on LinkedIn. What should your photo look like? How to approach writing your bio. Erin talks about how to use humility to anchor your moments of success. After the profile section, they move on to discuss how to be active on LinkedIn in a way that sees your network grow through engagement. Do more than just like a post, comment on it. Be thoughtful, ask questions, write your own posts. Erin then talks about how to write stories on LinkedIn, and the exponential benefits it can open up for you without you even realizing it. the LinkedIn algorithms mean that your posts can stay "alive" for weeks, and the more you interact on LinkedIn the Longer that happens for. And lastly, Erin's book, You do You(ish), is available for preorder! Pre-order You Do You(ish) Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "People say 'she's showing us what women can do.' But no, she's showing us what authenticity can do." "Authenticity is gender neutral, advantage women." "I ate Reece's Peanut Butter Cups for dinner three days this week." "I think it might be a dog treadmill." "I feel like I'm stuck in Groundhog Day a little bit." "My goal isn't to be ok ith making less doing what I love, my goal is to do something I love and make more." "An entrepreneur should be consistently raising their own value." "If you start to think about LinkedIn when it's time to find a new job, you are way too frickin' late." "No great jobs come from the sausage factory process." "You should be writing your LinkedIn profile like you've had one glass of wine." "The problem with these buzzwords is no one is going to actually read it. There's nothing exciting, there's nothing funny. "If you have time to scroll through Facebook, you have time to scroll through LinkedIn. You just have to cultivate yourself a bit more." "You need to put value in, before you get value back out."

Nicole interviews Ted Yang, a 13-time Serial Entrepreneur. MIT Engineer. Hedge Fund Executive. Author. Do-Gooder. Dad. Ted is not the kind of guy to sit on something important or big. If he sees a problem, the engineer in him looks to fix it. If he sees a financial opportunity or gap, the finance guy in him is figuring out how to leverage it. As part of this calculus, he wasn't always focused on personal evolution or self-reflection (despite that being a mantra of at least one former employer.) But when he and his wife Christine's micro-premiere triplets were born at 24 weeks in 2008, he realized he was on a different kind of journey. For a guy that knows no limits on success, just how far was he willing to go for his family and their future? The answer: whatever it takes. Coming out on November 17th, 2020 - World Prematurity Day - Ted talks about his new book, "Table for Five" the story from a father's unique perspective of the sudden joy of a miracle family, followed by the loss of his son Raymond and the fight for the survival of a daughter and son. This then followed by years of painful medical interventions and diagnosis of autism. The experience forced him to contend with things like vulnerability, powerlessness gratitude, the value of small successes, and embracing change in hard times. Ted also talks about being the son of Chinese immigrants, his drive for success and the expectation that fatherhood would simply fit into this model. But in facing a future that didn't look like a neat predictive model he found new ways to bring agency over his life, including becoming an entrepreneur.  Knowing each other from philanthropy circles, Nicole can't help but discuss Ted's recent entrepreneurial foray for good as a co-founder of 4-CT.org, a hugely successful COVID-19 relief start-up delivering aid and helping to scale-up impactful projects state-wide in Connecticut. Despite this, Ted talks about his thoughts on philanthropy, why he always had an aversion to the term or the idea of being a Philanthropist, even now people are starting to call him one. As they talk about non-profits , entrepreneurship for good, and balancing multiple projects at once, Ted gives insight on what brought him to tell the story of his triplets now and what he hopes will come of it: that his unique perspective might give others the agency they need in their life to face the unthinkable and know that authentic success and happiness is possible, if yet still unrecognizable.  Here's how you can find Ted Yang:  Amazon pre-order:   #1 New Release for Fatherhood #1 New Release for Pregnancy and Childbirth Book site: LinkedIn:   Twitter: @tedsensei   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "Ted is a - GSD - get shit done kinda guy." "I went down a fairly stereotypical path for an Asian living in America." "I needed it, cathartically, for myself. It was about putting down on paper some of the journey and some of the thoughts." "If you see another father opening up and being vulnerable, and that helps you open up and tell your story, that's great." "Saying 'my parents were horrible I'd never do this to my own children'...and then eating your words." "I'm not naturally emotive, I've become a lot more reflective obviously, but trying to put that down is hard." "When there's no wifi, boom. Headphones on, no interruptions." "Being entirely powerless like that, is a somewhat unique experience." "You're living within a blueprint that someone else has laid out for you." "There was a certain amount of looking around and thinking, well look where other people are and look where I am in this crisis."

Is your work consuming you? Or maybe instead, are you constantly consuming, so you have to work? Yeah, read that again. This week, Erin interviews Ryan Sterling, CEO of Future You Wealth and author of "You're making other people rich" to talk about how you should be looking at your wealth management strategy in an entirely different way. He talks about the cycle of consumption and how that can distort your view of happiness and your path forward.  This week, Erin interviews Ryan Sterling, CEO of Future You Wealth and author of "You're making other people rich" to talk about how you should be looking at your wealth management strategy in an entirely different way. He talks about the cycle of consumption and how that can distort your view of happiness and your path forward.  Erin sits down with Ryan Sterling, the CEO of Future You Wealth, and a fellow TEDx speaker. Ryan is transforming and modernizing how we think about wealth accumulation and our mindset around it. They both share their experiences with TEDx, that it's like preparing for so long only to have it all finish in a flash. Were their Chili's margaritas the proper capstone to this life-long dream?!  Ryan talks about his financial mindset journey over the last several years, where he went from being outcome-oriented, to focussing on the journey itself.  He talks about setting a financial goal he had for himself, and the epiphany he had when he actually reached his goal. That joy he expected to have? It was nowhere to be found. He realized all he was doing was continuing to consume more and more things. When he took a step back, he realized that both he and his wife were on a path to nowhere (potentially, quite literally.) That's when he decided to clear his mind, starting by eating cleaner for a few months. That gave him just enough space and clarity for both he and his wife to start turning their life around. They both reconsidered how they were living, and that was the beginning of a powerful transformation. Erin follows this with a story of her own realization that she wanted to make a change in life, looking at her financial situation and thinking 'I could keep remodeling the house, or I could take the time and space to figure out what's really next in life.' Ryan asked himself "what do I want?"  What did he want his days to look and feel like? Who did he want to spend time with? After he removed the constraints of money and material things, he realized it was autonomy, freedom, and agency over his life that he wanted most. From there he was then able to look at this actions and ask whether that would help him live the life he wanted or not. They move on to talk about a system that is designed for us to be consumers. Ryan asks "How do we fight back against an intentionally designed system? You can't buy your way to happiness, so what can you do to get there?" Ryan talks about his own experience - signing up for a marathon and starting to write more. He didn't do this because it was some guaranteed road to happiness. He did this because he was no longer consuming, he was creating. He had a hobby, he had goals, he had personal achievements that didn't require consumption (except maybe more calories for all that running.) They end with Erin asking more about Ryan's book "You're Making Other People Rich." Ryan explained that he hopes it will help people invest in their own future, and show people how to truly own their life. Check out his book: "You're Making Other People Rich: Save, Invest, and Spend with Intention" Linkedin: Ryan Sterling Instagram: @theryansterling Website: TEDx Talk: "The Simple Path to Financial Independence"   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "For the last 10 years I wanted to be a TED speaker, and then you're up there for 12 minutes and it's done." "I've just finished my talk, now I'm in Chili's...but no one in Chili's knows or cares." "There's all these big moments in my life, with huge build-up and excitement, but then they're over." "The last few years I've shifted my mindset from just focussing on the outcome, to focussing on the journey." "You are successful because you are obedient to the call." "We were taking energy from each other and not giving each other energy." "We were caught in a cycle of consumption." "How do we design a life that's for us?" "We were going down a highway in the left lane at high speed, then we tapped the breaks, took the next exit, and took another look at the map to see where we really wanted to go." "Why are we consuming, why aren't we owning?" "How do we fight back against an intentionally designed system?" We fight with intention." "There's so many attachments we all have, we need to go through a process of detaching." When the universe gives you clues, explore it a little more." "Do it your own way."

Work has such funny shit, why aren't we laughing at it more? Open office spaces, the bane of your existence. A sensory nightmare resembling sweatshops, these places are enough to drive anyone insane. But do they actually inspire collaboration, or do they just help you listen in on one-side of your colleagues' marital problem debates? From the co-hosts of the b Cause podcast with Erin & Nicole, they take to the coach to say the things you are thinking but are too afraid to say out loud (well, at least on the internet.) Check out more on our b Authentic inc Youtube Channel:

In these video-conference-crazed times, we are literally looking at ourselves in the mirror every single day. But it's even more important to also figuratively look at yourself in the mirror as well. This week, Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata Grant swing the Zoom Camera spotlight right onto the sinkholes that they're both sitting in and talk about how they (and you) can climb out of them. This week, Nicole wakes up to two giant sinkholes right outside of her door, which Erin thinks is a pretty big-ass metaphor for how things have been going for her at work lately. In the meantime, Erin has entirely lost her memory and her mojo. Well, that's not entirely true, but she is feeling pretty burned out. She discusses needing to take a step back for some time to process things after her TEDx Talk and all of the work building up to it. She explores advice she was given to help fuel her fire at the start of the day. Nicole discusses having a new team at work and having to go through Myers Briggs testing and how much she just loves putting people's personalities into boxes (not.) How does mimicking behavior help, or not help, us? Nicole disagrees with typecasting, feeling that it can do more harm than good. Erin then shares with us the last time she took the Myers Briggs test, over 20 years ago when she was still an intern! And while her stand-out personality might have been a deficit then, it ended up being the thing that fuelled her career and serves as a metaphor for everything she now stands for - authenticity! Nicole talks about a new situation at work: a new boss and a new style of management. She reflects on how this has been a difficult transition, but also how she can, with hindsight, see some things that may have been missing before. Erin follows this by talking about the importance of small things that leaders can do to make a huge impact. She tells a story of when she had a new boss at work, and how the style and approach of that new boss gave Erin just enough permission to be herself. That small nuance made a huge difference.  Erin and Nicole contemplate why do high achievers struggle and doubt themselves? Erin thinks it's because they do their best work when challenged. If the environment isn't challenging enough, then the high achievers often lose their mojo. Nicole brings up the scary situation that recently emerged in Erin's small hometown of Elk Rapids, Michigan. They talk about the recent events involving the stalking and potential hostage taking of Michigan's Governor. The plot was thankfully spoiled but was intended to all take place in her hometown and less than one mile from her parents', and her childhood, home.  They end by going over Nicole's homework from last week. I.e. every day write five things she's good at (instead of just handling emergencies and crises.) Nicole tells us how this exercise has helped her mindset and how she views her strengths.   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "We now all live in the TV show, Candid Camera." "My WTF moment is that I can't remember what happened 3 hours ago." "Swallow the frog." "I needed to figure out what fuels my fire on a micro, and a macro level, and how I can start my day with that." "We spend a lot of time looking at where we are and mimicking situations around us to be successful." "I think introverts have very rich inner lives." "If your every day is mundane work, it's a sign you're not aligned with the things you love." "I didn't know what I didn't know." "There might be groups you call your nemesis, but a lot of times it's easier to work for them than against them." "That meeting could have been horrible or amazing. All she had to do was give me permission to be authentic, and she did that." "If it's too much of the same, it doesn't give you the same adrenaline and excitement and intellectual stimulation that fuels you to be the best you." "'Maybe' is actually a worse place than 'no'." "There's a lot of ways to see the world and a lot of ways to approach it in a positive mindset."