Jon and Tom discuss self-discovery and personal branding, sharing challenges in defining their unique value and contributions. This episode sets the stage for future discussions on personal and professional development, offering insights and inspiration through candid conversations and relatable experiences.

They reflect on how their Midwestern and evangelical Protestant upbringings instilled humility and a strong work ethic, complicating self-promotion. Emphasizing career intentionality, they share personal anecdotes, like Jon's early art award and Tom's proactive strategies.

They explore complexity theory, illustrating how simple rules lead to emergent behaviors, and discuss ethical considerations in influencing behavior through design and marketing. Using a hiking analogy, they emphasize adaptability in career paths, advocating for designing one's career with adaptable rules for emergent opportunities.

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