Are you afraid of taking the next step in your career? This conversation will completely change how you think about fear. Dr Michelle Gibbings is a globally recognised workplace expert, award-winning author, and former senior executive with 30+ years of leadership experience. Her insight about fear being your career compass (not your enemy) is a game-changer for anyone feeling stuck or uncertain about their next move. In this episode, Michelle reveals why the most successful leaders embrace being uncomfortable, how self-awareness gaps are killing careers, and why waiting for your organisation to develop you is career suicide. If you've ever felt nervous about a presentation, scared about a career change, or uncertain about stepping into leadership, this episode shows you how to reframe those feelings as your secret weapon.

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✨Pre-Order The Bold Move✨

📚 The Bold Move: https://www.theboldmovebook.com

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Connect with me:

🔵 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

🟪 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

♦️Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

🌀Pivotr: https://www.pivotr.com

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Connect with Michelle:

♦️Website: https://michellegibbings.com

🔵LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellegibbings/

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and Michelle's introduction

04:12 - Career defined by love of adventure and choice

05:51 - Why regret scared her more than taking action

09:06 - The meditation retreat decision that changed everything

11:19 - Career and life decisions work hand in hand

13:00 - Learning to listen to your intuition and emotions as data

17:04 - What 30 years in corporate taught her about leadership

20:00 - Why you never know what you're capable of until you do it

22:01 - Bad boss vs ineffective boss - the self-awareness gap

25:17 - The relational focus that transforms leadership

26:25 - Skills leaders need for the next 5-10 years

29:08 - Why AI becomes an equaliser between good and average performers

32:15 - Learning in the cracks for time-poor professionals

36:09 - The importance of boundaries and saying no

38:18 - What Michelle loves about running her own business

43:18 - What professionals are struggling with right now

45:39 - Why you must be the leader of your own career

47:14 - Why fear is actually a good thing

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About Michelle: PhD, Chartered Manager, Professional Certified Coach, and author of three globally translated books including "Bad Boss," "Step Up," and "Career Leap." She's worked with major organisations including ANZ, CBA, NAB, Telstra, and Westpac.

Feeling stuck while AI transforms every industry? This episode gives you the exact roadmap to stay ahead.

In this solo episode, I break down the 7 essential strategies you need to future-proof your career before AI disrupts your industry. No fluff, no fear-mongering - just practical steps you can take today to position yourself as indispensable in the new economy.

Whether you're worried about job security, confused about what skills to learn, or feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change, this episode cuts through the noise and gives you a clear action plan.

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PRE-SALE - THE BOLD MOVE:

📚 The Bold Move Book: https://www.theboldmovebook.com

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Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

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Key Moments:

- Why working WITH AI beats fighting against it

- The human skills that become superpowers in an AI world

- How to build a skills portfolio that stays relevant

- Creating a personal brand without becoming an influencer

- Shifting from task-doer to problem-solver mindset

- Exploring career pivots before you need them

- The curiosity and adaptability mindset for constant change

- Old Me vs Bold Me: Which version will you choose?

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7 Ways to Future-Proof Your Career:

1. Learn AI tools and work with technology, not against it

2. Double down on human skills (communication, empathy, leadership)

3. Keep your skills portfolio fresh with monthly learning sprints

4. Build a visible personal brand in your industry

5. Focus on solving problems, not just completing tasks

6. Explore career pivots and transferable skills now

7. Stay curious, adaptable, and embrace continuous learning

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Mentioned Tools & Resources:

- Super Whisper (voice-to-text AI tool)

- Claude AI and ChatGPT for brainstorming

- LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, Seek for career research

- Pivotr - AI career mentoring tool (launching soon)

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome & van life update - book sent to print!

01:24 - Why AI and career future-proofing is the #1 question right now

03:36 - Thank you to Bold Move book presale supporters + bonus details

04:30 - The unique position: hearing from both employers and candidates

05:44 - Way #1: Learn AI - work WITH it, not against it

08:01 - Super Whisper tool example: brain dump to AI for solutions

10:17 - Way #2: Double down on your human skills

11:30 - Why employers now ask for human skills 10x more than before

12:43 - Way #3: Keep your skills portfolio fresh with monthly sprints

14:50 - Way #4: Build a visible personal brand (not influencer level)

16:00 - What are you known for in your organisation?

17:07 - Way #5: Focus on solving problems, not just doing tasks

19:21 - Making yourself redundant in your own business example

21:20 - Way #6: Explore career pivots before you need one

22:00 - Starting with your current strengths and transferable skills

23:44 - From corporate ladder to portfolio career "zigzag" approach

26:06 - Way #7: Stay curious and adaptable - change is constant

27:00 - Being vulnerable: future-proofing my own recruitment business

28:25 - Mindset shift: excitement over fear about the future

29:00 - The only thing stopping you is your own mindset

30:32 - Old Me vs Bold Me: Which version will you choose?

31:30 - One bold action challenge + where to connect

Worried about AI taking your job? This conversation will change how you think about career security forever.

Carina Parisella leads AI strategy for 12,000+ technology workers at ANZ Bank. She's witnessing workplace transformation firsthand and has a blunt message: stop waiting for someone else to save your career.

In this episode, she reveals why the "too busy to upskill" excuse could destroy your future, how to become strategically "redundant" before AI does it for you, and the mindset shift that separates career survivors from casualties.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the pace of change, uncertain about your job security, or guilty about not having time to learn new skills, this conversation is for you.

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Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

📚 The Bold Move Book: https://www.theboldmovebook.com

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Connect with Carina:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carinaparisella/

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Key Moments:

• Career zigzag strategy vs linear career paths

• Power skills that matter more than technical expertise

• Why "too busy to upskill" is an excuse that kills careers

• How to ruthlessly prioritise learning when time-poor

• ANZ's AI literacy program for 55,000 employees worldwide

• Inside AI immersion centres and prompt engineering training

• Why you can't wait for leaders to provide all the answers

• Using ChatGPT as your personal career advisor

• The difference between mentors and sponsors in your career

• How to get sponsors without directly asking for them

• Barack Obama's advice on being memorable at work

• Why quiet quitting days are over for job security

• Building a growth mindset through feedback and self-awareness

• Dealing with imposter syndrome at every career level

• Know enough to be dangerous philosophy for the AI era

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Timestamps:

Feeling stuck in your career? Worried that your skills won't transfer to a new industry? Think it's too late to make a major career change? This episode will completely shift your perspective on what's possible.

For the first time ever, I'm sharing my personal career pivot story - how I went from running spa treatments to becoming a top-performing technology recruiter with zero tech background. If you think beauty therapy and tech recruitment have nothing in common, you're about to discover why that thinking is holding you back from your next bold move.

I'll walk you through my exact 4-step Bold Pivot Formula that took me from feeling completely out of my depth in a group interview to becoming the top consultant at my agency. This isn't just theory - it's the proven framework I used to completely reinvent my career, and it's the same formula that's worked for thousands of career changers.

Whether you're facing industry disruption, feeling unfulfilled in your current role, or just ready for something completely different, this episode gives you the roadmap to make it happen.

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📚 The Bold Move Book - Available for Presale:

Presale here: https://www.theboldmovebook.com

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🎙️ Connect with Georgie:

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

🤖 Early access to Pivotr: https://www.pivotr.com

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What You'll Learn in the Episode:

• The Bold Pivot Formula: My 4-step framework for successfully changing careers (Begin where you are, Opportunities open to you, Learn what you need, Do the work)

• How to identify your transferable skills and package them for a completely different industry

• Why your "irrelevant" experience might be exactly what makes you stand out in your target field

• The mindset shift that turns imposter syndrome into your competitive advantage

• How to research new industries and have conversations that open doors to opportunities

• Why being "prepared to suck" is essential for career growth and confidence building

• The exact steps I took to transition from beauty therapy to tech recruitment with no prior experience

• How to tailor your CV and interview approach when you don't tick all the boxes

• Why the playing field has never been more level for career changers in the age of AI

• How courage builds competence, which builds confidence (not the other way around)

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⏱️ Episode Timeline:

07:00 - Why presales matter for The Bold Move book (and what's included in the incredible presale offer)

12:00 - Introduction to the Bold Pivot Formula and why career reinvention is inevitable

15:00 - My backstory: From beauty school to working spas across the globe

17:00 - Step 1: Begin Where You Are - How to identify your hard and human skills

19:00 - Step 2: Opportunities Open to You - Using job sites and networking to explore possibilities

21:00 - How I tailored my CV to match recruitment job requirements using transferable skills

23:00 - The bold move that got me the interview (and why calling directly works)

26:00 - Step 3: Learn What You Need - Preparing for the knowledge gaps

28:00 - Step 4: Do the Work - Why being prepared to suck is essential for growth

30:00 - How I went from fumbling calls to becoming the top performer in 18 months

32:00 - Why this is the perfect time for career pivots in the age of AI

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Key Career Pivot Insights:

🌀 On Transferable Skills: "I literally just treated it like any other client call that I'd had in beauty... my transferable skills, the skills that I had acquired from beauty, from that industry, translated beautifully into technology recruitment."

⏰ On Timing and Opportunity: "This is the unfair advantage now, right? Like no one's got 10 years in software engineering. No one's got 20 years in AI... The level playing field has never been so level in my entire career."

🌱 On Building Confidence: "You don't wait until you feel ready. You don't wait until you feel confident. You first and foremost have to have courage because courage then builds competence. And once you start having the competence, you then build confidence."

🔸 On Embracing the Learning Curve: "Anytime you make a pivot or anytime you go to do something new, you're going to have to be prepared to suck a little... through these courageous actions that you take, that's what builds confidence."

🎯 On Taking Action: "The answer to life isn't just coasting and feeling comfortable and never pushing ourselves to do anything better... I wanted to make this work. So I did everything in my power to make it work."

Feeling stuck in your career? Think it's too late to make a change? Meet Jane Jackson, who proves that career reinvention is not only possible but can lead to extraordinary success.

From flight attendant at 17 to Nike-sponsored athlete to successful career coach at 40, Jane's journey through 5 career changes and 5 country moves will completely shift how you think about career progression. After moving countries with teenage daughters, and rebuilding her entire professional life from scratch, Jane discovered the frameworks that help thousands of professionals navigate successful career transitions.

In this episode, you'll discover why your "messy" career path might actually be your greatest asset, how to identify your transferable skills, and the exact steps to reinvent yourself at any age. If you've ever felt like your career journey doesn't follow the traditional playbook, this conversation will be your roadmap to freedom.

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Connect with me

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

📚 Early access to Pivotr (AI Career Mentor): https://www.pivotr.com

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Connect with Jane Jackson

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janejackson/

🔸 Website: https://janejacksoncoach.com/

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💡 What You'll Learn About Career Transition:

- How to successfully reinvent your career at any age (Jane's 5 career changes prove it's possible)

- The career anchor method: discover what truly drives your career decisions

- Why non-linear career paths are actually an advantage in today's job market

- How to identify and leverage your transferable skills across industries

- The values assessment technique that reveals why you feel unsatisfied at work

- Jane's framework for navigating major life transitions while building career success

- How to turn crisis moments into career opportunities and growth

- The self-belief strategies that overcome imposter syndrome and career doubt

- Why resilience and adaptability are the most valuable career skills for the future

- Practical steps for career pivoting when you feel completely lost

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⏱️ Career Transition Timeline:

05:00 - Jane's incredible career journey: from flight attendant to career coach

08:00 - The pivotal moment at 40: how personal crisis led to career breakthrough

12:00 - From Korean Airlines cabin crew to Nike-sponsored fitness champion

15:00 - The ultimate career reinvention: moving countries, divorce, and starting over

18:00 - The childhood experience that built Jane's resilience and adaptability

23:00 - How tough times create the skills needed for successful career transitions

25:00 - The career anchor framework: finding what truly drives your decisions

28:00 - Georgie's struggle: balancing ambitious career goals with personal fulfillment

32:00 - Jane's advice for managing the "two sides" of professional ambition

35:00 - Why values alignment is crucial for career satisfaction and success

40:00 - The reality of career transitions for women: timing, family, and financial independence

44:00 - How to stay relevant in an AI-driven job market through continuous learning

48:00 - The transferable skills framework: identifying what makes you valuable anywhere

52:00 - Overcoming self-limiting beliefs and building unshakeable career confidence

56:00 - The power of accomplishment-based resumes and personal branding

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📝 The Bottom Line:

Your career doesn't have to follow a linear path to be successful. Jane Jackson's story proves that career reinvention is not only possible at any age, but that the skills you develop through life's challenges become your greatest professional assets. Whether you're feeling stuck, facing redundancy, or simply questioning your career direction, the key is gaining clarity on your values and career anchor, then taking strategic action to move toward work that truly fulfills you.

Stop waiting for the "perfect" time or the "right" opportunity. Your messy, non-linear career path might be exactly what prepares you for extraordinary success. The most important step is the first one – and it's never too late to take it.

Feeling trapped in the corporate grind? Dreaming of location independence but don't know where to start?

This episode is your roadmap to freedom. I'm taking you behind the scenes of my 12-year journey from being monitored during lunch breaks in a rigid corporate job to running a successful business from wherever I choose - including my current 3-month stint working from a converted Sprinter van.

But this isn't just another "quit your job and travel" story. I'm sharing the exact steps, the sacrifices, the skills I built, and the reality check moments that got me here. Plus, the honest truth about what working from a van is actually like (spoiler: it's not always Instagram perfect).

If you've ever felt stuck in the 9-5 trap and wondered if there's another way, this episode will show you exactly how to build a life of true freedom - and what it really takes to get there.

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Connect with me

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

📚 Early access to Pivotr (AI Career Mentor): https://www.pivotr.com

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💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

- The exact 12-year roadmap from corporate employee to location-independent entrepreneur

- Why you need to build skills BEFORE you make the leap (and how long to wait)

- The importance of getting crystal clear on your values before designing your freedom

- How I built CH Solutions while still working corporate and when I knew it was time to leave

- The real challenges of working from a van (wet dogs, rain days, and tiny spaces)

- Why you should hire a van first before committing to van life

- How to design your life around different seasons and honour multiple parts of yourself

- The essential tech setup for working remotely (why Starlink is non-negotiable)

- How to balance "CEO Georgie" with "Hippie Georgie" in the same life

- Why freedom should be your #1 career goal and how to build it strategically

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⏱️ Timestamps:

02:18 - Why freedom has always been my core value

04:31 - The corporate job that triggered my anxiety and panic attacks

06:44 - Step 1: Getting crystal clear on what you actually want

08:56 - How COVID and the Gold Coast led to the van life idea

11:21 - The unglamorous reality of van life (wet dogs and rainy days)

13:30 - Essential advice: hire a van first before you commit

15:54 - Balancing CEO Georgie vs Hippie Georgie in one life

18:13 - How I design my environment to match my goals

20:34 - Why good internet is absolutely non-negotiable for remote work

22:53 - The mindset shift from excuses to execution

24:42 - Updates on The Bold Move book and Pivotr launch

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🚀 Mentioned in This Episode:

- CH Solutions (my recruitment agency)

- The Bold Move (my upcoming book launching November)

- Pivotr (AI Career Mentor launching soon)

- Starlink internet for remote work

- Home and Away (blame this for my Australian dream!)

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🗺️ The Freedom Formula Framework:

Phase 1: Clarity (Years 1-2)

- Identify your core values (mine: freedom, health, growth)

- Define what success actually means to YOU

- Map out your ideal working day, environment, and lifestyle

- Stop chasing other people's version of success

Phase 2: Skill Building (Years 3-7)

- Stay in corporate longer than you want to build valuable skills

- Become someone who's in demand in your industry

- Don't quit before you're ready - patience is key

- Build your reputation and network while employed

Phase 3: Strategic Transition (Years 8-12)

- Start your business while still employed (reduce risk)

- Build it to profitability before making the full leap

- Test and validate your business model first

- Create multiple income streams for security

Phase 4: Freedom Design (Ongoing)

- Design your life in seasons that honour different parts of you

- Match your environment to your current goals

- Build systems that support location independence

- Invest in quality tech and infrastructure

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📝 Key Takeaway:

Freedom isn't about escaping responsibility - it's about building the skills, systems, and business that give you choices. The "overnight success" you see on social media is usually 10+ years in the making. Start with clarity on your values, build valuable skills, and make strategic moves that compound over time. And remember: you don't have to choose between ambition and freedom - you can design a life that honours both.

"Life is not about or. I don't have to choose one or the other. I can have both."

Think working harder and letting your work "speak for itself" will get you promoted? Think again.

Meet Claire Seeber, leadership consultant, career coach, and author of "Less Hustle, More Happy," who's about to flip everything you've been told about career advancement on its head. After 15+ years in HR working with organisations worldwide, Claire discovered that most people are only operating with 50% of the career success equation.

In this episode, Claire reveals the career currency framework that's helped thousands of professionals go from stuck to strategic, shares her incredible story of resilience (including being stranded on a boat for 11 weeks during COVID), and breaks down exactly how to build the visibility and relationships that actually drive career progression.

If you've ever felt frustrated about being overlooked for opportunities despite your hard work, this conversation will change how you think about career strategy forever.

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Connect with Georgie

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

📚 Early access to Pivotr (AI Career Mentor): https://www.pivotr.com

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Connect with Claire

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claireseeber/

🔸 Website: https://claireseeber.com.au/

📚 Book: "Less Hustle, More Happy": https://claireseeber.com.au/book/

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💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The 50/50 career currency rule that most professionals are missing

• Why "your work will speak for itself" is outdated career advice

• How to practice strategic self-promotion without feeling pushy

• The difference between resilience and anti-fragility (and why it matters)

• Claire's framework for knowing yourself before growing yourself

• How to identify who needs to know you for your next career move

• Why most retention strategies fail (and what actually works)

• The career exercise that helped Claire transition from employee to entrepreneur

• How to build relationships that accelerate your career growth

• What companies are getting wrong about keeping great talent

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⏱️ Timestamps:

05:00 - Who is Claire and what drives her work with organisations

08:06 - The biggest lessons from transitioning from employee to entrepreneur

13:08 - The career exercise that changed everything: loves vs. frustrations

17:01 - Why asking the right questions beats staying stuck

18:37 - Claire's incredible resilience story: 11 weeks stranded at sea during COVID

23:51 - The difference between resilience and anti-fragility

30:00 - How to reframe challenges as adventures (practical mindset shifts)

31:00 - What companies are getting wrong about talent retention

35:05 - Why throwing money at people doesn't solve engagement

38:04 - How to actually know your people (beyond surveys)

43:08 - The flexibility debate: what great talent really wants

44:09 - Individual strategies: how to step up and be visible

46:36 - The career currency equation: 50% performance + 50% relationships

49:04 - Strategic self-promotion that actually works

52:37 - The framework for building career-advancing relationships

57:11 - Claire's book journey and the 5-part career framework

58:47 - The powerful statistic that will change how you think about work

🚀 Mentioned in This Episode:

• "Less Hustle, More Happy" by Claire Seeber

• The ELEVATE online program for career development

• 2024 Gallup Report on employee disengagement ($8.9 trillion cost)

• Career currency framework: Performance + Relationships

• Strategic self-promotion techniques

• Anti-fragility vs resilience concepts

• The "loves vs frustrations" career exercise

📋 Claire's Career Success Framework:

The 50/50 Rule:

• 50% Performance (delivering outcomes, not just knowing things)

• 50% Relationships (visibility with decision-makers)

Strategic Self-Promotion Steps:

1. Get clear on what you actually want (not just "growth")

2. Identify who needs to know you for that next move

3. Build genuine relationships with those decision-makers

4. Communicate your interests and ask for feedback

5. Demonstrate value while making your aspirations known

The Career Exercise:

• List what you do on your best days at work

• List what you do on your worst days at work

• Analyse the patterns and design your next move around more of what lights you up

📝 Key Takeaway:

Stop waiting to be discovered. Career success isn't just about working harder—it's about working strategically. Performance gets you in the game, but relationships and visibility get you promoted. The most successful professionals understand that career currency comes from being known by the right people for the right reasons, not just from being the smartest person in the room.

Your career is 25,550 days if you live to 70. What do you want to get out of it beyond just paying your bills?

Think LinkedIn is just for when you're job hunting? Think again.

With 87% of recruiters using LinkedIn every single day, your profile isn't just a nice-to-have, it's your career insurance policy. And in today's rapidly changing job market, most people are setting themselves up to be completely invisible to the opportunities that matter.

I'm joined by my business partner and co-founder Pam Caldwell to pull back the curtain on exactly how recruiters are really finding talent in 2025. We're sharing the insider secrets, the common mistakes that cost people opportunities, and the step-by-step strategy to turn your LinkedIn profile into a headhunting magnet.
If you want to future-proof your career and have opportunities coming to you before you even need them, this episode is essential listening.

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Connect with us
🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caldwellpamela/

🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

🏢 CH Solutions: https://www.ch.solutions

🌀 PIVOTR: https://www.pivotr.com

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💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

- Why 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn every single day (and what this means for you)

- How AI tools in LinkedIn Recruiter are changing talent discovery forever

- The profile picture mistakes that instantly turn recruiters off

- Why your LinkedIn profile should reflect your present, not your past

- How to make yourself searchable when recruiters upload job descriptions

- The gentle engagement strategy that keeps you visible without being salesy

- Why LinkedIn is the most positive social media platform for professionals

- How to use LinkedIn as a networking engine to research your dream companies

- The power of community support during career transitions

- Why your personal brand online and offline must align

_________________

⏱️ Timestamps:

01:51 - Why LinkedIn is your career insurance policy

04:24 - The biggest LinkedIn profile mistakes recruiters see daily

06:09 - The Google search reality check everyone needs

08:03 - Job title clarity and why it matters more than ever

10:21 - How AI in LinkedIn Recruiter is changing talent discovery

12:19 - The career preparation strategy for uncertain times

15:36 - Simple engagement tactics that increase your visibility

18:23 - The networking goldmine hiding in plain sight
19:49 - How to position yourself as a thought leader

21:44 - Why LinkedIn is the most supportive social platform

24:09 - The step-by-step LinkedIn optimisation checklist

27:58 - Using LinkedIn as your professional learning tool

29:24 - Supporting colleagues during redundancy periods

31:49 - Why the next 3 years will be challenging for job seekers

34:16 - LinkedIn as a networking engine for dream companies

36:10 - Authenticity online vs offline alignment

38:00 - Final advice for maximising LinkedIn opportunities

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🚀 Mentioned in This Episode:

- LinkedIn Recruiter AI tools

- ChatGPT and Claude for profile optimisation

- Canva as an example company for research

- The importance of skills endorsements and certifications

- Professional photography vs smartphone photos

- Banner images and headline optimisation

- Featured posts and evergreen content

_________________

📝 Key Takeaway:

Your LinkedIn profile isn't just for job hunting; it's your digital real estate and career insurance policy. In a world where 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn daily and AI tools are changing how talent is discovered, being invisible online means missing out on opportunities you don't even know exist. Invest time in your LinkedIn presence now, before you need it, and watch opportunities start coming to you instead of you chasing them.

What if I told you that your brain is literally designed to make you miserable? And that the harder you fight against negative thoughts, the stronger they become?

Meet Declan Edwards, a happiness researcher who turned his own struggles with unhappiness into a career dedicated to understanding the science of joy. After years of battling self-doubt and not knowing who he was, Declan discovered something powerful: happiness isn't something you're born with or without. It's a skill you can learn.

In this conversation, we dive deep into why so many of us feel stuck despite doing "all the right things," the fascinating psychology behind our worst-case scenario thinking, and the practical tools that actually work to rewire your brain for lasting happiness.
If you've been exhausted from trying to "think positive" all the time, this episode will completely shift how you approach your mental wellbeing.

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Connect with me
🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/
🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard
🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com
📚 Early access to Pivotr (AI Career Mentor): https://www.pivotr.com

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Connect with Declan
🔹LinkedIn
🎙️ Podcast: "How to be Happy" (episodes on individual and workplace happiness)
🌐 Website: Free resources and tools available
📱 Social: Search "Declan Edwards," "BU Happiness College," or "That Happiness Guy" on any platform

All the links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/that_happiness_guy

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💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

- Why your brain is wired to focus on worst-case scenarios (and how this kept our ancestors alive)

- The "Brown Bear Experiment" that proves what we resist will persist

- How to "dance with your thoughts" instead of fighting them
- The difference between mental health awareness and mental health action
- Why happiness has a "set range" and how to expand yours
- The 3 fundamental practices that stack the deck in your favour for happiness
- How to break free from the "I'll be happy when" trap
- Why comparing yourself to others steals your joy (and what to do instead)

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⏱️ Timestamps:

02:13 - How Declan became "that happiness guy"

07:17 - Why challenging experiences can lead to meaningful growth

10:42 - The comparison trap and hedonic treadmill

14:56 - Balancing your inner CEO and inner monk

16:12 - What really steals happiness from us

18:04 - The expectation trap and how to escape it

21:17 - Why we set impossible timelines for ourselves

23:36 - The 3 fundamentals: Physical health supports mental health

25:51 - Getting your thoughts out of your head

28:02 - Breaking the thought-feeling spiral

29:14 - How to dance with difficult emotions instead of fighting them

31:56 - The Brown Bear Experiment explained

35:35 - Are we talking about mental health too much?

40:10 - The upper limit problem and happiness set points

42:04 - Set point theory vs set range theory

47:57 - How to be happier at work

54:33 - The ripple effect of workplace happiness on society

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🚀 Mentioned in This Episode:

BU Happiness College
"How to be Happy" podcast
The Nordic Edge (book on Scandinavian happiness research)
Gay Hendricks - "The Big Leap"
Set point theory and set range theory
The Brown Bear Experiment
Negative cognitive bias
Neuroplasticity research
Tony Robbins’ approach to motivation

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🧠 Key Tools & Techniques:

- Two-word check-in: Capture how you feel in only two words each day
- Physical happiness foundation: Adequate water, movement, and sleep
- Name it to tame it: Expand your emotional literacy
- Otter app: For voice journaling and getting thoughts out of your head
- Gratitude practice: The antidote to expectation
- Mindfulness and meditation: To expand your happiness set range

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📝 Key Takeaway:
Happiness isn't about never feeling negative emotions or having everything figured out. It's about developing the skills to navigate life with more resilience, self-compassion, and intentionality. Your brain may be wired for survival (which includes worst-case thinking), but you can train it to experience more joy through consistent daily practices that work WITH your psychology, not against it.

In today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to chase multiple big dreams at once.
I'm currently writing a book with Wiley, building an AI career mentor tool called Pivotr, running my recruitment company, hosting this podcast, and managing Sisterhood Club…

Here's what nobody tells you: It's messy. It's unglamorous. And most days, nobody's cheering you on.
I'm sharing this because I'm tired of seeing the highlight reel without the behind-the-scenes reality. If you're in your own "messy middle" right now, whether it's a career change, a side project, or a bold goal you've been putting off, this episode is your permission slip to keep going.

I'm taking you inside my 4 AM mornings, my weekend sacrifices, and the five critical lessons I'm learning while navigating this season of intense growth.

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Connect with me
🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/
🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard
🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com
📚 Early access to Pivotr (AI Career Mentor): https://www.pivotr.com

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💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

- Why prioritisation beats work-life balance when pursuing big goals
- The unglamorous reality of building something meaningful (spoiler: it's not Instagram-worthy)
- Why waiting for the "perfect time" is the biggest career mistake you can make
- How to act when you don't feel confident (courage comes first, confidence follows)
- Why you don't need a perfect roadmap to start moving forward
- The truth about sacrifice, seasons, and what it really takes to level up

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⏱️ Timestamps:

00:01 - Why I'm sharing the messy behind-the-scenes right now

02:21 - What I'm working on: The book, the AI tool, and everything in between

04:43 - Lesson 1: The power of seasons and strategic prioritisation

09:10 - How to manage conflicting priorities without losing your mind

11:36 - Why "work-life balance" advice doesn't work when you're levelling up

13:51 - Lesson 2: None of this is glamorous (and that's the point)

16:10 - The quote that's keeping me going: "You'll be rewarded in public for work you do in private"

18:21 - Lesson 3: Stop waiting for permission or the perfect time

20:35 - Why "one day" never comes (and what to do instead)

22:52 - Lesson 4: Courage before confidence, why imposter syndrome never goes away

25:16 - Lesson 5: You don't need a perfect roadmap to make progress

27:34 - Final thoughts: We're all in the messy middle together

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🚀 Mentioned in This Episode:

The Bold Move (my upcoming book with Wiley)

Pivotr - AI Career Mentor Tool

AI tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini

Tony Robbins quote: "You'll be rewarded in public for the work you do in private"

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📝 Key Takeaway:
Success isn't about having it all figured out. It's about showing up consistently in the unglamorous moments when nobody's watching. If you're in your own messy middle right now, remember: progress over perfection, courage before confidence, and action despite fear.