Show Notes:
What happens when the story you’ve been telling yourself about your career no longer fits?

In this episode, John speaks with Laura Barbante, amarketing professional in Australia whose career path took her from government work to unemployment—and back again with a renewed sense of purpose. Together, they explore what it means to rebuild a professional identity, create authentic personal-brand content, and navigate an industry being transformed by AI.

John opens with a reflection on Taylor Swift—how sheturned imperfection into identity and made vulnerability her brand. Later, he shares a story about a client struggling to see the link between the job she wants and the one she feels she has to take, and why the only way to build a brand is to simply start.

Because sometimes, suffering is okay—so long as you’re theone steering the ship.

In this episode:

• Turning career setbacks into storylines worth telling
• Finding meaning (and marketing value) in imperfection
• How AI is reshaping the marketing world—and how to adapt
• Building your personal brand when you’re not sure where to start
• Why progress begins with giving yourself permission to begin

Visit johnfialkowski.com for coaching, podcast archives, and ways to support the show.

More on this episode

Music Credits:
Intro:

Afro Beat Pop by HitsLab from Pixabay

Intermission:

Balance 2023 by VernonMaytone and Brotheration Records from Pixabay –

More from Brotheration Reggae

Lo-Fi Midnight Hip Hop  by GrandProject from Pixabay

Outro:

We Dub a long way – Instrumental by Brotheration Records from Pixabay

What if confidence isn’t something you earn through titles, promotions, or endless hard work? What if the real shift comes from stepping into the right environment — the soil where you can actually grow?

In this episode, John explores the idea of place and purpose — from Josephine Baker finding her stage in Paris, to Jimi Hendrix breaking through in London, to Jackie Robinson building his strength in Montreal before entering the major leagues. Sometimes, confidence comes not from “toughening up” but from changing where, and how, we plant ourselves.

John is joined by Elaine Yuen, Intuitive Confidence Coach and creator of the Thrive Confidence Self-Mastery program. Elaine shares her philosophy of intuitive confidence and how breaking free of inherited patterns allows us to stop chasing validation and start thriving on our own terms. Together, they discuss:

• Why environment and culture shape our beliefs more than we realize

• How generational patterns of over-giving and people-pleasing hold us back

• Practical steps to separate yourself from “poisoned soil” and self-limiting beliefs

• Why knowing yourself is the foundation for meaningful growth

This is an episode about confidence, self-knowledge, and the places — literal and internal — that allow us to flourish.

Resources 

• Learn more about Elaine’s work: Thrive Confidence Self-Mastery Program – Booking Link

  Free guide: [Building Unshakable Confidence – Freebie Link]

  
  

  Links:

  Visit ⁠⁠johnfialkowski.com⁠⁠ to learn how you can support the show

  Show Notes - johnfialkowski.com/podcast/self-validation-13

  Follow John on Linkedin ⁠⁠@johnfialkowski⁠

  Sources:

  ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/30/black-french-american-rights-activist-josephine-baker-enters-pantheon 

  https://www.mlb.com/news/jackie-robinson-in-canada/c-44750760

  Music:

  Intro:

  Luxury Lounge Jazz Groove – Hotel Lobby Ambience by  NiKneT_Art from Pixabay

  Intermission:

  Dub Reggae Lofi HipHop by Musinova from Free Music Archieves

  Outro:

  Summer Jazz Cocktail by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay  

  
  

  
  

Synopsis:

Remember the Freedom 55 dream? Retire early, live free, enjoy the good life. In Thailand, Kasikornbank has reimagined that dream — except now the cut-off is 45, and it’s not about freedom, it’s about AI and spreadsheets. What looks like early retirement is really a story about cost-cutting, technology, and assumptions about age and value.

In this episode, John breaks down what KBank is doing, pushes back on the easy narratives, and explores what it really means when work, technology, and human value collide. Along the way, he challenges the assumptions we make about ourselves and each other — the same ones that feed doubt about who we are and what we bring to the table. The episode ends with a piece of homework: What’s the one thing you’d like people to know about you?

Themes: Nostalgia vs. Reality, AI as Tool vs. Threat, Ageism Reframed, The Broken Ladder, The Absurd “Life Map”, Technology & Human Potential, Adaptability as the Human Edge, Self-Doubt & Personal Brand, Challenging AssumptionsLinks:

Visit ⁠johnfialkowski.com⁠ to learn how you can support the show

Follow John on Linkedin ⁠@johnfialkowski

Sources:

Retired at 45+, can you find a new job? - Warunrat Katmat, Bangkok Biz NewsKBank Offers Early Retirement at 45, Shaking Thai Job Market - ASEAN Now

Modern life design concepts when starting to retire at the age of 45 - Brand Buffet

Boomer revolution: That Freedom 55 guy is still working ... and he's from Victoria - Michael D. Reid - Times Colonist

Fridges And Washing Machines Liberated Women, Study Suggests - Universite de Montreal - ScienceDaily

Original Freedom 55 Commercial -

Music:

Smooth Chill Jazz by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AllWorldMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay 

Intermission:

A Bit Redundant Gagmesharkoff from Free Music Archives

Outro:

Bebop Jazz Bedroom: LOPKERJO from Free Music Archives

Let’s Declare Ourselves Emperor
Guest: Sharon Secondus
Theme: Networking, Personal Brand, and Building Your Empire From Scratch

Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build a network and personal brand—especially when you’re starting from scratch. Whether you’ve moved cities, changed industries, or simply feel stuck and underappreciated in your current role, this conversation is for you.

Inspired by the strange and bold story of Emperor Norton I—a failed businessman who reinvented himself into a San Francisco icon—we dig into the power of self-declaration, relationship-building, and showing up with purpose.

My guest, Sharon Secondus, has done just that: navigating career transitions, moving continents, and cultivating a network built not on self-promotion, but sincerity. Together, we explore how brand and network combine to create not just visibility, but power—and how anyone can start, no matter where they are

About our Guest:

Sharon Secondus is a professional in the healthcare technology space with a background in Health Informatics, she is passionate about transforming complex healthcare data into actionable insights that measurably improve patient care and growth strategy. Also a 2-time former international student in England /US and now mentoring others from a global perspective. She is a dedicated mentor and coach, leading impactful professional development and personal branding workshops at Seemenow33. Through her guidance, international students navigate their journeys with confidence, turning challenges into inspiring growth opportunities.

Learn more at Seemenow33

Music By: Ketsa

Theme:

Smooth Chill Jazz by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AllWorldMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay

Intermission:

Soul Epic by Ketsa from Free Music Archives

Jazz For The Rain by Ketsa from Free Music Archives

Closing:

Importance by Ketsa from Free Music Archives

Links:

Visit johnfialkowski.com to learn how you can support the show

Follow John on Linkedin @johnfialkowski

Your Challenge This Week

Write down one thing you want a stranger to know about you. Submit it in the comments.
I’ll tell you mine, if you tell me yours.

Episode Ten: My Own Personal Guru

What do you do when the biggest obstacle in your business… is you?

In this episode, I put the Good John in front of the Bad John—the version of me that avoids, delays, and quietly convinces himself that effort is pointless. Along the way, we talk gurus, comfort zones, and a little New Age weirdness. (Yes, Sai Baba makes an appearance.)

I’m joined by career coach Abdelaziz Bourassi, all the way from New Caledonia, for a conversation about alignment, ambition, and getting out of your own way—even when you’re not "ready."

If you’ve been stuck, circling the same problems, or wondering if it’s time to shift how you show up in your work—this one’s for you.

📺 Videos + extras at johnfialkowski.com and on YouTube

🧭 Free resources from ⁠Abdelaziz⁠:⁠

Escape the 9-5 Trap: Steps to Transition to a Fulfilling Career⁠

⁠Free Strategy call for the first five listeners ⁠

🎧 Music by ⁠Holizna - Support him on Patreon

Music:Theme: Smooth Chill Jazz by ⁠⁠⁠⁠AllWorldMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay

Intermission: Retro Synth By Holizna from Free Music Archive

Classic by Holizna from Free Music Archive

Outro: Night Driving by Holizna from Free Music Archive

You can lift it. But should you? This episode explores the hidden cost of capability—how strength, hustle, and good intentions can trap us in outdated versions of success. Featuring utopian French socialists, Romanian dictators, and one very tired admissions officer, we look at the shift from doing the work… to defining the work.

Music:Theme: Smooth Chill Jazz by ⁠⁠⁠AllWorldMusic⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay

Intermission: Jungle Waves by DIMMYSADfrom Pixabay

Outro: Vintage Rock byDIMMYSADfrom Pixabay

Episode 8: Here for a Good Time, Not a Long Time

What if the job you’re in isn’t forever—and that’s okay?

In this episode, John explores the value of temporary work, misaligned roles, and contract gigs that aren’t your dream job. From polishing cars at the auto show to managing a bike shop, to listening to Trooper blast from a truck stereo—this one’s about showing up, experimenting, and knowing when it’s time to move on.

You’ll hear about:

• Why “low-stakes” jobs are the perfect place to take bold risks

• How interviews can reveal more about you and them

• What it means to leave a job with confidence, not just frustration

• And yes… the legend of Billy Bronco

This one’s for the young worker, the burnt-out manager, and anyone stuck in a role that isn’t quite right. You’re not here to play it safe. You’re here to find out who you are—and where you’re going next.

Hosted by Career Coach John Fialkowski

Career Coaching with John — thoughtful approaches for lasting change.

Show Notes: www.johnfialkowski.com

Music Credits:

Theme: Music by ⁠⁠AllWorldMusic⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠Pixabay

Intermission: Music by NicholasPanek from Pixabay

Outro: Music by nickpanek620from Pixabay

Episode Seven: The Demographic Gridlock
In Part Two of Scarcity in a Land of Plenty, we shift the lens from tech to demographics — and ask why, in a world that claims there's a labour shortage, so many people still feel stuck.

From Baby Boomer capital preservation to Millennial risk aversion, this episode explores how wealth, leadership, and opportunity have gotten tangled across generations. We talk about politics, anger, and the Charlton Heston end-of-the-world trilogy you didn’t know you needed.

Because this isn’t just an economic story — it’s a story about movement, about why we’re frozen, and what it might take to break free.

Hosted by career coach John Fialkowski.

Show notes at ⁠johnfialkowski.com⁠

Music Credits

Theme: Music by ⁠AllWorldMusic⁠ from ⁠Pixabay

Intermission: Musicby Electronic-Sensesfrom Pixabay

When a talented employee reaches out across her company to explore new possibilities, her initiative is met with silence, control, and suspicion. In this episode, we explore what it means to be micromanaged, misunderstood, and stuck in survival-mode leadership — and how to reclaim your power anyway.

We begin with the story of Frank Farian — the voice behind Boney M and Milli Vanilli — and draw a surprising parallel to a modern-day workplace dilemma.

This episode is about power, perception, and what happens when people refuse to stay small.

Show notes at johnfialkowski.com

Music Credits

Theme: Music by AllWorldMusic from Pixabay

80's Retro Synthwave: Music by Bohdan Kuzmin from Pixabay

Chill Beats: Music by BohdanKuzmin from Pixabay

In this episode, we start with the radical Oneida Community—a group that rejected the rules of the modern economy—and use their story to examine why today’s job boards fail so many of us. We explore how technology has transformed hiring, why unemployment is often a systemic mismatch—not a personal failure—and what both job seekers and employers can do to find alignment in a confusing market.

It’s time to stop waiting to be picked. Start thinking like an entrepreneur.

Visit johnfialkowski.com to learn more.