Create with Franz

Are you sending out hundreds of resumes only to be met with total silence?

When the responses don't come, it's easy to start doubting your worth. You wonder if you're good enough, and that insecurity starts to bleed into your daily life. But what if the problem isn't you? What if the problem is a "filter" that doesn't even know you exist?

Today, we are joined by Aleksandra Lemańska, the founder of LemanSkills and a powerhouse leadership strategist. A former professional violinist turned Management Engineer and Startup Founder, Aleksandra's journey is one of incredible resilience. Diagnosed with MS six years ago, she has proven that private setbacks can be the catalyst for extraordinary professional value.

In this episode, Aleksandra pulls back the curtain on the "System" used by medium and large companies. She explains why talented people are being filtered out before a human even sees their CV and provides the exact blueprint for tailoring your message, keywords, and visibility to ensure you are the one who gets the call.

What we navigate in this episode:

• Cracking the Filter: Understanding the tags and keywords that determine if your CV lives or dies.
• The Power of Tailoring: Why sending fewer, smarter applications is the key to recruitment success.
• Building Visibility: How to create an online presence that speaks for you before you enter the room.
• Resilience & Reach: How Aleksandra uses her experience with MS to lead with "Smart Leadership" and mental sanity.

If you've been feeling invisible in the job market, this episode is your roadmap to becoming seen, heard, and hired.

Topics covered: Aleksandra Lemańska, LemanSkills, how to beat ATS filters, resume keyword optimization, leadership growth, career reinvention 2026, smart leadership, communication intelligence (CQ), startup founder coaching, overcoming recruitment silence, why my resume is not landing me offers of interviews, am I good enough for this job.

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Are you failing to get hired because you lack talent, or because the system is broken?

In 2026, hiring has become reactive and performative. Companies are chasing titles without defining roles, leaving talented professionals stuck in a cycle of burnout and "hiring failures." Today, we are joined by Stephanie Michelle Pimentel, the "LATAM Whisperer" and founder of Lumena Global Advisory.

From a background in forensic psychology to building a global advisory firm from scratch, Stephanie has navigated the complex world of U.S.–Latin American expansion with one core rule: Mindset before mechanics.

Stephanie pulls back the curtain on why companies are struggling to hire and explains how you can position yourself as a bridge, not a bottleneck, in a global market.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ The Hiring Truth: Why unclear roles and "performative leadership" are the real reasons behind hiring failures.

✅ The Cultural Superpower: How cultural intelligence and human-first leadership beat automation every time.

✅ Mindset Rewiring: Moving from "survival-mode" thinking to a leadership identity, especially for first-generation professionals.

✅ Execution over Hype: Why the professionals who translate strategy into action are the ones who will be indispensable in 2026.

If you're tired of the "hiring hype" and want to understand how to build a career with integrity and global reach, Stephanie is your guide.

Topics covered: Stephanie Michelle Pimentel, Lumena Global Advisory, hiring truths 2026, LATAM business expansion, cultural intelligence in leadership, performative leadership, first-generation success, global job market trends, human-first HR, career reinvention, hard time finding work.

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/ecWbegcy5y8

Are you building a career on autopilot, or are you actually in the driver's seat?

Today, we meet Billy Moyer, a man who started his first company at 21 using his childhood savings bonds and has since founded over a dozen businesses. As the CEO of SOS Leadership, Billy has spent his life answering one question: Why do talented leaders get stuck?

He argues that most of us are leading from the "Upside Down"—focusing so hard on external results and "chasing identity before income" that we forget to check the internal drivers shaping our decisions. Billy is here to help us navigate the shift from unconscious autopilot to a leadership style rooted in stewardship, empathy, and clarity.

In this episode, we explore:

• The "Upside Down": How to recognize when you're leading from a place of shadow or misalignment.
• Identity vs. Income: Why chasing status before substance stalls your progress.
• Stacking Habits: The "Built-from-Zero" blueprint for building expertise in small, repeatable steps.
• Leadership as Stewardship: Using your authority to lift others and create dignity in the workplace.

If you feel like you're driving toward outcomes without self-awareness, this episode is your reflection exercise to get back on track.

When it comes to faith, Billy says "Faith gives me an internal compass. It pulls me back when I drift toward control, urgency, or self-importance. It reminds me that influence is borrowed, not owned, and that real leadership shows up in how you treat people when no one is watching. At its best, my leadership is about stewardship, not status. Using whatever authority I have to lift others, create dignity, and leave things better than I found them. That's the standard I keep coming back to."

Find Billy here: https://www.collectiveadvisors.com/insights/blog/leadership-marriage-building-a-life-in-austin/

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Is your career stuck because of a skills gap—or a character gap?

In 2026, when everyone is using the same AI tools, the only way to stand out is through your humanity. Today, we're joined by Jim Carlough, the Leadership Identity Architect. Mentored under the legendary Ross Perot, Jim has spent 30 years learning that true success isn't about power—it's about the 6 Pillars of Character.

Jim shares how to navigate the shift from "just an employee" to an indispensable leader who leads with care, integrity, and humor. This episode is a masterclass in reinventing your professional identity by focusing on the qualities that machines can never replicate.

Inside the Episode:

✅ The Identity Shift: Why you must see yourself as the authority before anyone else will.

✅ The 6 Pillars: Cultivating the human qualities—like Integrity and Stability—that make you unreplaceable.

✅ The Perot Standard: Real-world stories of grit and the courage to show up for your people.

✅ The Cure for Burnout: Why a character-driven life is the secret to staying energized in a draining world.

Want to learn more? Check out Jim's book here with my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/45piuBF The title is: The Six Pillars Of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success

Topics covered: leadership identity architecture, Ross Perot business lessons, how to be a leader in 2026, 6 Pillars of Leadership, management vs leadership, career advancement for professionals, overcoming imposter syndrome, high-stakes decision making, AI-proof career skills, burnout, high turnover, how to lead, human qualities to develop, Jim Carlough, leadership character, 6 pillars of success, how to be indispensable at work, career reinvention 2026, professional identity gap, human skills for job seekers, leading with integrity.

Find Jim here: https://www.jimcarlough.com

Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/Wh4e0tXqRXw

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

What do you do when the plan falls apart? In 2026, we are told that AI will solve everything, but many of us feel more disconnected and overwhelmed than ever.

Today, we are joined by Dr. Diane Dye, a nationally recognized strategist and CEO advisor who turned her own layoff into a doctorate and a groundbreaking framework. Diane is here to help us navigate the heavy emotions of unemployment and reinvent our biggest setbacks into what she calls "Critical Opportunities."

We dive into why AI hasn't actually made office work "better" and how the growing gap in human connection is actually your biggest chance to stand out. If you are ready to move past the "change fatigue" and start building momentum, this episode is your blueprint.

What we are navigating today:

✅ The Critical Opportunity Method: How to turn a layoff into a launchpad for your next big move.

✅ The Productivity Myth: Why AI is making us lonelier and how to reclaim your human value.

✅ Experimentation Strategy: How to stop "job hunting" and start experimenting with your future.

✅ Managing People Risk: Understanding how to present yourself as a strategic asset to any leader.

Topics covered: Dr. Diane Dye, career reinvention 2026, navigating a layoff, Critical Opportunity Method, human connection at work, career growth for women, overcoming change fatigue, strategic job search, create a decent resume, how to find work

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/MNy0vnu9O_I

Find Dr Diane Dye here: http://drdianedye.com

Is your daily to-do list stopping you from actually enjoying your life?

We've all been there—buried under "grunt work," feeling like a tiny cog in a giant machine. My guest today, Terence Townsend, says it's time to step out of the "engine room."

Terence is back to show us that you don't need to be a tech genius to win in 2026. He teaches us how to move from being an Operator (the person doing all the boring, repetitive tasks) to an Architect (the person who designs a better way to work).

We're talking about "Administrative Slop"—that mess of emails and paperwork that drains your spirit—and how to use AI as your own "Digital Steward" to handle the boring stuff for you. This isn't just about technology; it's about reclaiming your time so you can build the life and career you actually crave.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The Mess Audit: How to find the tasks that are stealing your time.
• Your New Assistant: How to make AI work for you, not the other way around.
• Staying True: How to make sure your work stays honest and effective.
• The Path Forward: How to become the architect of your own future.

If you're ready to clear the clutter and focus on what matters, this conversation is for you.

SPECIAL OFFER for you listeners of Create!

Terence has some great books for you.

"Build Your First Digital Steward" comes with a free 'Build Your First Digital Steward' poster. More can be found at https://tepublishers.systeme.io/bookverse

A special offer for you: 50% Discount on all of his E-books on BookVerse (discount code: BUILDIN2026)

What is RelevanceAI? https://relevanceai.com/

Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/G4yMR6CvSSU

Topics covered: AI for career growth, Terence Townsend, business automation 2026, productivity for non-tech founders, AI for productivity at work, how to use AI to save time, stop feeling overwhelmed at work, career growth tips 2026, how to get more done in less time, AI tools for employees, stand out in a new job, administrative task automation, how to manage a heavy workload, future-proof your career.

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

In 2026, the job market feels more like a broken machine than a ladder to success. On one side, we have high-performing professionals drowning in burnout, doing the work of three people just to stay afloat. On the other side, we have brilliant, experienced women—many in their 40s with degrees and decades of expertise—who send out 80 resumes and receive nothing but silence.

Today, I'm joined by leadership strategist and HEART Goals™ creator, Charlene Ridley. Charlene doesn't just offer "hustle" advice; she offers a professional audit for your soul. We dive deep into why 80% of employees are burning out and how the "invisible" job seeker can re-position themselves to be seen, heard, and hired.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Burnout Trap: Why "jumping ship" in a panic leads to pay cuts and how to audit your alignment before you break.
• The Invisible Professional: Why qualified women are being overlooked and the exact shift needed to reclaim your professional identity.
• The HEART Goals™ Framework: A simple, SHRM-accredited system to move from misalignment to purpose-driven performance.
• The Faith Pillar: How rooting your identity in Jesus Christ provides the resilience to thrive when the marketplace feels unstable.

Whether you are exhausted at your desk or desperate for an interview, this episode gives you the language, clarity, and agency to take your power back. There are several key messages here for you. God didn't design you to just "survive" the work week; He designed you to thrive in your purpose. You don't need to be perfect, you just need to get started. Remember that life is more than just what we earn!

Topics covered:

Career alignment 2026, how to get hired in 2026, overcoming career burnout, women returning to work at 40, HEART Goals framework, Charlene Ridley, job search strategies for women, professional identity transition, leadership strategy 2026, faith-based career coaching, finding purpose in work, mid-career job hunt tips, resilience in the workplace, AI job disruption strategies, biblical success principles.

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Find Charlene here: https://www.charleneridley.com

Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/FMdATGDIxfg

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/get-the-job-you-want-avoid-the-burnout-trap/id1525928967?i=1000748778026

What if the only thing standing between you and your success is a "bug" in your mental software?

Blessing Platinum-Williams spent years living under a self-fulfilling prophecy. Told from a young age that she was "stupid" and would never amount to anything, those words became a background program that killed her confidence. Today, she is a lawyer, a software developer, and the creator of Tonely AI—but reaching this level required a total system overhaul.

Blessing reveals the exact roadmap she took to break free, navigating through 80 hours of therapy and a deep spiritual renewal. If you've ever felt like an impostor or let someone else's opinion define your ceiling, this episode is your manual for a mental reboot.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Faith + Therapy Bridge: Why pairing professional counseling with a relationship with God was the key to her breakthrough.
• Reprogramming the Mind: How to delete the lies of the past and "re-code" your identity using Scripture.
• The Power of Words: How her work with Tonely AI proves that the words we use—both digitally and internally—dictate our success.
• Breaking the Cycle: Moving from being "unseen" to becoming a tech leader and a voice of influence.

Stop living by the world's "beta version" of you. It's time to step into the high-performance life God designed.

Topics covered: how to build self-confidence, overcoming self-doubt, Christian mindset renewal, breaking negative self-talk, how to believe in yourself, success mindset for women, overcoming childhood trauma, the power of words in communication, Tonely AI, Blessing Platinum-Williams, faith-based confidence, identity in God, reprogramming the mind for success, healing through therapy and faith, mental health awareness for Christians, confidence for entrepreneurs, how to find your purpose, from fear to faith.

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Follow me and my art journey here: https://substack.com/@franzsidney

Therapy: https://www.facebook.com/franzsidneytherapy/reviews

Instagram @CreatewithFranz

Find out about Tonely AI: https://www.usetonely.ai/

Watch this interview on video: https://youtu.be/wmwAbdMI2ek

Imagine staring death in the face, being declared brain-dead, and surviving only to be told you may never walk, speak, or think clearly again. That was the reality for former professional free-rider Matt Potratz after a massive avalanche crushed his body and left him in a coma for 41 days.

In this gripping conversation, Matt shares the raw, life-changing lessons he learned during his 88 days in the hospital and his arduous journey of recovery. He reveals how his accident didn't just break his body—it ignited a vibrant, passionate new walk with God.

Matt's story is a powerful testimony to the truth that adversity isn't just something to endure, but a gift that can be turned into triumph. He shares the simple, yet profound, shift that changed everything: responding to crisis instead of reacting to it, and involving God in the process.

In this episode, you will learn:

❄️ How to turn defeat into drive when faced with overwhelming challenges.

❄️ The practical difference between reacting to pain and responding in faith.

❄️ How Matt found a deeper relationship with God and a new purpose after being told he would never be "mentally normal" again.

Tune in for a story of resilience that will inspire you to transform your toughest trials into your greatest triumphs.

Topics covered: Gift of Adversity, Responding vs Reacting, Turning Tragedy to Triumph, Faith in Crisis, Overcoming Adversity, Avalanche Survivor, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Broken Neck Recovery, Leaning on God, Vibrant Relationship with God, Christian Resilience, God-inspired Life, Finding Purpose After Trauma, Mental Resilience.

Find Matt here: https://liferadicallychanged.com/

Buy his audio book with my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4rctFHg

Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/np_mm0tNk8Y

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Follow me and my art journey here: https://substack.com/@franzsidney

Therapy: https://www.facebook.com/franzsidneytherapy/reviews

Instagram @CreatewithFranz

You can be searching for meaning everywhere—in religion, in politics, in service—and still feel utterly broken inside. What if that deep emptiness is the one thing blocking your healing from PTSD and anxiety?

Justin McLane shares a powerful story of radical transformation. Raised in an anti-Christian home, Justin spent nearly 28 years actively practicing paganism... in an attempt to fill a persistent void and overcome a deep feeling of emptiness.

As a U.S. Army Combat veteran, Justin recounts how his internal battles with PTSD, depression, and anxiety mirrored his external search for meaning. His journey to faith began when he made a conscious decision to quest: Was it truly possible that God existed? As his honest quest led him to a personal relationship with God, his mindset changed, and his mental health followed: the PTSD, depression, and anxiety all melted away.

However, his conversion created new divisions: both his parents and other relatives stopped speaking to him... Justin uses his experience to address why we stop communicating with people we disagree with and shares the crucial need to keep the lines of dialogue open.

Now a full-time pastor, Justin proves that you can anchor yourself in faith and truly unleash your potential. In this episode, he shares how it felt to have the absence of God in our life.

He also gives us the exact practical, actionable strategies that will bring small - but fundamental - changes in our life. With consistency, those steps into a new realm help us to develop a personal relationship with God and to find freedom from the internal and external conflicts that divide us.

Topic covered: how to fill a void in life, why do i feel empty inside, lost spiritual meaning, spiritual awakening, searching for purpose, conversion from paganism to christianity, ex pagan finds God, starting a relationship with God, Christian healing ptsd, faith over depression and anxiety, military veteran ptsd faith, how to talk to family about faith, religious family conflict, Justin mclane pagan to pastor.

🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too.

🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution.

✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness.

❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!

Follow me and my art journey here: https://substack.com/@franzsidney

Therapy: https://www.facebook.com/franzsidneytherapy/reviews

Instagram @CreatewithFranz

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/dZ2ZD2mCiyI