Consuming Careers

Have you heard of the “Paradox of Generosity”? It goes like this: the more you give, the better off you are; but, very few people are especially generous. Why is that? This week on Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Chris Gabriel who discovered his purpose and passion (and his training) has equipped him to not only be generous, but to build a framework to help others, if done wisely and well, be generous in ways that can make a transformational impact on the giver, receiver, society and the world. 

You’ll hear that a significant inspiration for Chris’ generosity journey is City of Refuge in Atlanta, a faith-based environment that helps individuals and families transition out of crisis. 

And that’s where we catch up with Chris for breakfast…

Find out more about Chris’ book “WISEgenerosity: A Guide to Purposeful and Productive Living and Giving” at: https://wisegenerosity.com/

You can find Chris Gabriel by email: [email protected] or on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gabriel-cima%C2%AE-200a952/

Our interview was recorded live in the Workforce Innovation Hub at City of Refuge in Atlanta, Georgia: https://www.cityofrefugeatl.org/

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

I’ve been working since I was about 14 yrs old, and though I’ve tried to stay healthy, I haven’t really given much thought to what impact fitness might have on my career. On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Russ Yeager, a renowned fitness expert and trainer, who shares his encouraging journey from being a husky 11yr old, to competitive bodybuilder, to helping train friends, and ultimately building a successful career around fitness. But early in his fitness career, Russ discovered his own ‘thorn in the flesh’, forcing him to reexamine what’s truly important, and how consistency and finding a healthy balance between work, family and faith has been the key. And for an added bonus, Russ shares several exercise and nutrition tips along the way.

You can find Russ Yeager on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram:

• IG: @russyeaher or @FTJC
• LinkeIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russyeager
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/Russyeagercoaching

Who is Jack Lalanne?: https://jacklalanne.com/

Our interview was recorded live at Russ’ fitness studio, Fitness Together, in John’s Creek, Georgia: https://fitnesstogether.com/johnscreek/about-fitness-together

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

On this episode of Consuming Careers, we spend some time with Joe Oquist, a recognized thought leader in the areas of Generative AI, Humanoid Robotics and Quantum Computing. We discuss how GenAI is impacting the future of work, the influence it will have in our daily lives, and some practical steps you can take to stay informed on its benefits and risks.

You can find and follow Joe Oquist on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeoquist/

Our interview was recorded live Cauley Creek Park in Johns Creek, Georgia: https://johnscreekga.gov/recreation-parks/parks/cauley-creek-park/

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

Let's be honest, who among us hasn't felt like they were in way over their heads at some point? On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we're blessed to have the incredible Laurie Gray with us. She shares her deeply personal journey through something many of us can relate to - impostor syndrome. Yep, she's been there, she's lived it, and she's come out the other side. We're going to delve into her experiences, the physical and emotional challenges she faced, and how she overcame them all. Laurie is also a renowned expert in the field of customer experience, and she shares her insights on that too. But hold onto your seats, because she's also going to take us on a ride through her adventures in professional rock crawling. And you do not want to miss that!

An overview of Laurie’s professional rock crawling adventures: https://www.ladiesoffroadnetwork.com/laurie-gray-2017-werock-competitor/

You can find Laurie Gray at www.lauriegray.com or on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriegray/

Our interview was recorded live on the front porch of Laurie’s log cabin home in Waleska, Georgia.

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

Hey Friends, this week on Consuming Careers, I want to introduce you to a man who's taken a simple, everyday thing, like firewood, and turned it into a luxury experience. His name is Leroy Hite, the visionary founder of Cutting Edge Firewood. From their hub in Atlanta, Georgia, Cutting Edge Firewood delivers kiln dried firewood to thousands of customers all over our nation. For over a decade-and-a-half, Leroy has been on a relentless pursuit to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary: to provide his clientele with a world class fire experience. It all began with a dream: to revolutionize the firewood industry; an ambitious goal that has now evolved into an international success. His mission? To ensure that his customers enjoy the same superior experience with firewood as they do with their other luxury products and services. But, as with any trailblazing entrepreneur, Leroy's journey has been paved with sleepless nights, grit and sacrifices.

So, let's jump into my conversation with Leroy, as we discover how he's making firewood sexy..

You can find Leroy Hite on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firewoodandcookingwood/

You can also learn more about Cutting Edge Firewood at: https://www.cuttingedgefirewood.com/

Interview was recorded live in the middle of the 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse of Cutting Edge Firewood in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

Talk about leaving a legacy… What if you could directly influence the customer experience of millions of people who visit one of America’s most successful restaurant chains?  On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Andre’ Kennebrew who, over his 15 year career with Chick-fil-A, was directly responsible for hiring and mentoring over 500 store operators across the country. His passion for growing people and leaving a legacy has not only shaped the impact he’s made throughout his career, but also directs how he continues to influence the lives of everyone he meets. And to prove it, he shares his cell number on the podcast and invites you to give him a call!

You can find Andre' on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-kennebrew-70b8825/

Our interview recorded live at a very busy Matthews Cafeteria in downtown Tucker, Georgia: https://www.matthewscafeteria.net/

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

How many 2-sport professional athletes can you name? Jim Thorpe, Tim Tebow, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson…? On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, I had the privilege of having a very transparent conversation with another 2-sport pro athlete, Quincy Carter. You may remember Quincy as a former Chicago Cubs minor league outfielder, quarterback for The University of Georgia Bulldogs, and NFL quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets. But on August 4, 2004, everything changed, with a highly publicized release from the Cowboys and a downward spiral through a 15 year battle with a substance addiction. Thankfully, Quincy’s story doesn’t end there, and his life is now being restored with a sense of purpose and a new mission… but I’ll let you hear more about that from him.

A note to the listener: this episode discusses the topic of alcohol and drug addiction, so please be mindful of those who might overhear this podcast. 

You can find and follow Quincy Carter at: 

• Instagram: quincylevoncarter
• Facebook: quincylevon.carter
• Twitter/X: quincylcarter

To learn more about The Quincy Carter Foundation: www.theQuincyCarterFoundation.com 

About Quincy Carter 17 QB School: https://quincycarter17.com/

Interview recorded live in the main gym of Gresham Park Recreation Center in Atlanta, Georgia: https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks/gresham-recreation-center

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

I’ve always loved a good story about entrepreneurship, but today, we're going to talk about something a little different - intrapreneurship. On this episode of Consuming Careers, I’m thrilled to share a brisk conversation I recently had with the brilliant Louis Gump. Louis has just penned an insightful book called "The Inside Innovator". It's all about how you can spark innovation and launch new products or services right where you are - within your current company. And Louis knows what he's talking about. He's been at the forefront of multiple technology launches at The Weather Channel, CNN and Cox Media Group. He's mastered the art of navigating the complex environments of large corporations to introduce products and services that align with a company's mission while leveraging its core competencies. 

You can find Louis Gump at on LinkedIN at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisgump/, or on the web at: https://louisgump.com/

Louis’ forthcoming book, to be released on March 12, 2024: “The Inside Innovator: A Practical Guide to Intrapreneurship”; or on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/8myBRhm

Interview recorded live over breakfast at The Silver Skillet Restaurant in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. You can find out more at: https://www.thesilverskillet.com/

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

Entrepreneurship often comes in many flavors: and some people thrust themselves into it, and others have it thrust upon them. This week on Consuming Careers, I’m meeting with Paul Masters, who fell “accidentally” into a lifelong career of entrepreneurship, and learned that it was exactly where he needed to be. Not without his fair share of challenges, Paul grew his passion for leading his own business into a platform for coaching others so that they could build legacies of success in their own lives.

You can connect with Paul Masters at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmastersatlanta/

For more information on Perissos Executive Coaching: https://www.perissosleader.com/

“Chazown: Discover and Pursue God's Purpose for Your Life” by Craig Greoschel: https://a.co/d/0hGC16e

Interview recorded live at The Crossing Steakhouse in Historic Norcross, Georgia. You can find them at: https://www.thecrossingofnorcross.com/

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]

Have you ever thought of trading in your career to pursue a lifetime dream? I’m sure we all have at one time or another. On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers we’re sitting down with Chris Schramm who, along with his wife Renee, traded in his lucrative career and comfortable suburban lifestyle for a 52 foot yacht, and has been sailing the world for the past 3 years. Do you have a vision for a different career path or lifestyle shift? Could you be persuaded to make that trade… to burn the ships? Join my conversation with Chris and find out.

You can follow Chris and Renee Schramm on social media at: 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SVOceanaire
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_the_oceanaire/

For more info on Normal40 and “The Trade” by Lon Stroschein:

• https://www.normal40.com/
• “The Trade” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fo4n5k7

Interview recorded live at Mellow Mushroom in Suwannee, Georgia. You can find out more and all their locations at: https://www.mellowmushroom.com/

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ 
You can email at: [email protected]