Free Agent with Meg Schmitz

Career transition and reinvention are no longer a rare path, they are the new normal. A confluence of factors in our world has led to career displacement or a change in what work means to us. Whether it's the lack of job security in corporate, getting older and wanting to leave an unfulfilling job, or external factors like the pandemic, many people are choosing the path of free agency. It allows them to take control of their lives and maximize their full potential. This is especially true for seasoned professionals who want a more meaningful job in the second or third part of their careers. Their work and life experience make them perfect candidates for a new career direction. Why is this moment in history creating a massive push for career reinvention? How do we hone in on where we can be most valuable in a new career? In this episode, I'm joined by career transition coach, author of Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50, and speaker John Tarnoff. He talks about the factors and forces driving the career transition trend. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode Why people over 50 make great candidates for career pivots As we get older, we tend to pivot from a focus on material wealth to a focus on meaning, purpose, and spirituality. This meaning and purpose can be applied to our profession and the work that we do. By going into a second career that's aligned with a value proposition, we can get more fulfillment. How to set yourself apart in the job market Instead of trying to apply for every single job available, come up with a value proposition that aligns you with a specific profession. If you get clear on the value you provide and have a really clear sense of the impact you can make in your work, you're going to find jobs that align with that. That way, you're not doing their work for them, you're doing your work for them. The importance of closing open mental loops The things that have been on your to-do list for years occupy valuable space in your head and in your psyche. They create subtle anxiety and interfere with your ability to move forward. In order to be more efficient and more valuable in your career pivot, you have to clear out those open loops. Guest Bio John Tarnoff is a Breakthrough Executive & Career Transition Coach, Strategist for Professionals across Mid, Late, & Second-Act Careers, Keynote Speaker and Best-selling Author of Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50. John provides career counseling for baby Boomers and late-career professionals looking to defy ageism, work beyond retirement, and pivot to a new job or new business as a second act or encore career. For more information and to find out about John's coaching visit https://www.johntarnoff.com.

The volatility and uncertainty of 2020 has made insurance a bigger deal than ever before. In this environment, commercial insurance agents have become trusted advisors who help free agents operate in a turbulent and fast-changing world. Not only are business owners contending with the insurance needed to keep their businesses going. They are also dealing with new coverage demands and the constant need to evaluate their systems to make sure they're compliant, accurate and consistent. How has the pandemic impacted businesses and their insurance? What are the biggest concerns of business owners right now? What areas of insurance should we be paying attention to? In this episode, Commercial Insurance Advisor and Vice President at Associated Agencies, Julie Silverman talks about how the business insurance world is responding to the pandemic. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode How insurance is helping business owners retain their valued employees One of the biggest challenges business owners are facing is being able to keep key employees onboard, and affording to pay them in some capacity to show that we value them. Key person insurance and other protections, benefits and bonuses have become a lifeline for free agents. The impact of growth on insurance While some businesses have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, many other companies are seeing an explosion of growth and demand in their services. Because they are busier than ever before, business owners are struggling to keep up with the new insurance coverage needs of operating a business in these uncertain times. Why entrepreneurs are so necessary right now This is not a bad time to get into business, and it's not predatory to want to get into business. Many areas have a demand for businesses who can become lifelines and trusted advisors to help them navigate these times. There's still a need for business leaders who can step in and do their part to help their communities. Guest Bio Julie Silverman is a Commercial Insurance Advisor and Vice President at Associated Agencies, Inc. She is a Strategic Advisor in helping organizations and individuals with their primary goals and initiatives. Associated is a full service brokerage firm that assists individuals and businesses with their Insurance & Risk Mitigation, Compliance, Cyber Security, WC, EPLI, Creative Employee Benefit Programs and all individual insurance needs. Associated's longevity in the business (over 130 years) allows them to draw upon years of experience, and unparalleled expertise. They service clients nationwide as well as globally, which allows them to create innovative solutions to all clients' risk management needs that will in turn drive down costs and maximize compliance. To get in touch with Julie, send an email to [email protected].

The reality of free agency is that our businesses are something we can never fully disconnect from. This is rewarding but also stressful and emotionally taxing. When we have so much responsibility and so much is required from us, the business can take over our entire lives. There are pieces we need to put in place to make sure we're not carrying more than we can manage. We need to make sure that our personal relationships and emotional health don't suffer at the expense of our businesses. A brand makes marketing easier, clear priorities and boundaries keep us healthy, and strategic relationships give us support and resources. Where do we start when it comes to building a brand? How do we strike a work-life balance from the get-go? How can we forge relationships in a socially distanced world? In the second part of my interview with business coach and strategist Ethan Chazin, he shares the things we need to prioritize as business owners, and some of the challenges entrepreneurs are facing today. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode How to practice conscious prioritization in our business Even though we're with our businesses all the time, we can't focus on it to the detriment of our personal lives and primary relationships. It's self-damaging and also does a disservice to our families. Prioritize your family and build the business around them. The power of building a brand based on your Big Why What sets us apart in business ownership is our brand. It's the thing that makes us remarkable, memorable and pushes people to want to work with and for us. Our brand is built on the foundation of our big why and personal values, and this instantly becomes the culture that underpins everything we do. Why relationships matter in business It's easy to focus on the things that make us money, but cultivating relationships is just as important and valuable to the business as marketing. Whether we're looking for coaching, mentorship, funding, employees and support, we can't do it without relationships. We have to focus on forging and cultivating relationships because that provides the resources we need. Guest Bio Ethan Chazin is a business, executive and transformation coach, speaker, author and founder and president of The Chazin Group. The Chazin Group delivers executive coaching, business consulting, strategic planning, business coaching to entrepreneurs, start-ups and business owners to plan, launch and grow world-class organizations and achieve top line and bottom line results. Ethan applies his 20 years of experience in Corporate America leading teams through significant transformation, by leveraging employee engagement to unleash people's untapped potential and provide organizations with lasting competitive advantage. He is passionate About Driving Employee Empowerment to Maximize Profits, Productivity, and Performance. For more information, visit https://thechazingroup.com, email ethan@thechazingroup or phone (917) 239-5571.

Some of the world's best entrepreneurs became free agents to escape a toxic corporate culture. It's easy to feel disposable in the corporate machine and become the victim of restructuring, downsizing and other unfavorable cost-cutting measures. Toxic corporate culture has created the platform for people to jump into free agency and experience true impact and fulfillment. By removing the shackles of a corporate overlord, we create our own path to freedom and success on our own terms. Entrepreneurship is anything but smooth sailing, but free agents know that being their own boss beats even the best day in corporate. What should entrepreneurs leaving corporate be aware of? How can we overcome the loneliness that comes with free agency? What are the rewards of running your own business? In this episode, I'm joined by business coach, strategist, speaker and author, Ethan Chazin. He talks about getting downsized 9 times, leaving the corporate meat grinder and why he wanted to be a free agent. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode How corporate culture impacts lives and careers In corporate, many highly skilled individuals find themselves at the mercy of a culture that deems them disposable. Marketing is never seen as critically important so it easily gets restructured, downsized or cut meaning there's never any job security. We can experience freedom by taking those valuable skills into free agency. Why a support network is critical to our success Solo practitioners often feel overwhelmed by their own inner state. If we don't have people to provide support, it can feel lonely in our business, and we start to operate with blinders on. We need to create a strong support network around us and have people in our lives who can be strategic voices, champions and advocates. Key attributes that prepare you for entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship is an emotionally and mentally demanding pursuit. In order to make it through the challenges, we need to have thick skin, a sense of humor, a tenacious approach to going forward, brutal self-honesty, maturity, and an ability to identify our blind spots. Guest Bio Ethan Chazin is a business, executive and transformation coach, speaker, author and founder and president of The Chazin Group. The Chazin Group delivers executive coaching, business consulting, strategic planning, business coaching to entrepreneurs, start-ups and business owners to plan, launch and grow world-class organizations and achieve top line and bottom line results. Ethan applies his 20 years of experience in Corporate America leading teams through significant transformation, by leveraging employee engagement to unleash people's untapped potential and provide organizations with lasting competitive advantage. He is passionate About Driving Employee Empowerment to Maximize Profits, Productivity, and Performance. For more information, visit https://thechazingroup.com/, email ethan@thechazingroup or phone (917) 239-5571.

The pandemic has affected businesses across the country in different ways that are unique to each industry and locale. For companies that go beyond the call of a 9 to 5 business, the pandemic created more intensity and complexities to operate under. Since health services are essential in the pandemic, the day-to-day operations have had to shift. Leaders have had to focus on keeping things running efficiently, protecting the people they serve, and making sure the business survives and even thrives. ComForcare Senior Services is one of these essential businesses that have made quick changes during the pandemic. The business owners have successfully adjusted to the new normal while also thinking of business beyond the pandemic. What has the ComForcare Senior Services team done differently in order to survive, and to thrive through the pandemic? What does business ownership offer that working in corporate doesn't? In this episode, Dave Morbeck shares the rewards of free agency business ownership, how the pandemic has impacted his companies and how they are responding to it. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode Why being a free agent is more rewarding than corporate In corporate, we're just cogs in a wheel, and we don't usually see the end result of our work or the direct outcome of our efforts. In your own business, you get to feel the reward of seeing the direct results of your daily effort while also enjoying the impact that your business makes. The importance of focusing on our own well being in a demanding businessOne of the biggest challenges of running a 24-hour health business is finding or carving out the time to rest and re-energize as the business owner. As much as we care about the wellbeing of the people we serve, we also have to prioritize our own health. Continuous improvement vs. perfection Our goal as business owners shouldn't be to aim for perfection but rather to strive for continuous improvement. Seeking perfection is an unattainable goal, but if we work hard to get better every single day, we will see better outcomes. Guest Bio Dave Morbeck is the President/Owner at ComForcare Senior Services and owner of Just like Home Adult Day Center. After leaving a 20 year corporate career, Dave and his wife got into the franchise business. ComForcare provides in-home non-medical services for Seniors and Pregnant Women who need assistance. In addition to their franchise, they opened an adult day center. For more information on the home care service visit https://www.comforcare.com/wisconsin/west-bend or call 262.674.1515. To learn more about the Adult Day Center visit https://justlikehomeadultdaycenter.com or call 262.423.4411.

Covid-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives, and businesses have had to adjust to new market and customer demands. While some industries came to a halt because of the pandemic, others have seen an explosion in demand. The Antimicrobial Protection space has gone from being relatively unknown to one of the most necessary services in a covid-19 world. A fast ramp up of business in a pandemic brings its own unique set of challenges, including more competition, operational volumes and procedures. How can we set ourselves apart in a high-demand industry that has a lot of noise and competitors? When so many of our competitors only care about the short-term gain, what do we need to focus on if we're in it for the long haul? In this episode, entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, and president of GreenUp Solutions, Andy Weins shared how the pandemic impacted his new business, and how he's ensuring the longevity of his company. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode How to create sustainable business solutions Sustainable business solutions need to be economically viable, socially desirable and environmentally sound. It's about taking a scientific approach, and using it to fulfil the needs of the consumer while making it economically viable as a commercial product. Why investing in people in important Following a process leads to success, but we can't leave our employees out of it. An engaged workforce is the key to making sure a process actually works. We need to invest in people and training as much as we invest in the process itself. The importance of having the right expectations when we expand The profitability we'll have with one site isn't always repeatable across the board to all our franchise locations. Even if we follow the exact same path and use the same systems, our locations won't have the same results. Each location and area has its own variables, which need to be considered. Guest Bio Andy Weins is an entrepreneur, leader, soldier, TEDx Speaker, and president of GreenUp Solutions. GreenUp Solutions focuses on advanced Long-term Antimicrobial Protection for Work and Living Spaces. Their guiding principles are cultural leadership, environmental impact, and organizational efficiency. For more information visit https://www.greenupsolutions.org and connect with Andy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyweins.

2020 has been a challenging time for entrepreneurs, but business is far from dead. Even though we've had to adapt to the virtual space and struggled with a sense of isolation from our business support structure - many businesses are thriving, seeing significant growth and an increase in their effectiveness. My goal is to help people transition into business ownership and navigate this new world. I want to provide support so you can make the leap to franchise ownership and land on your feet. Now more than ever, business owners need a space that can inspire and encourage them. This podcast is that space. How is Zoom creating more freedom for business owners, and how can we create a community of ongoing support for businesses operating in a socially distanced world? In part 2 of my conversation with author, speaker and entrepreneur, Tamara Burkett, we discuss pivoting our businesses during a pandemic. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode How franchising puts us in control of our destiny We have the power to generate our own income instead of being at the mercy of a boss or company. We can set our own financial goals and adapt our operations and activities to meet them. Despite the economic outlook, we are empowered by our own abilities to control what we earn. How to maintain a sense of 'virtual community' Building a community and having a support system is so important in the entrepreneurial journey. The pandemic has made it harder to tap into that community and have the support we need to continue to expand our businesses. Business owners have pivoted to using virtual platforms to grow and nurture their communities. The surprising impact of the pandemic on business Even in the midst of a pandemic, business owners are still finding success and supporting their communities. While the media may paint a grim picture, there are business owners who are currently thriving. Sharing our stories is important because it can inspire people to re-engage with entrepreneurship and make better decisions for their future. Guest Bio Tamara Burkett is a CRM consultant, virtual meeting facilitator, author, speaker and entrepreneur. She fully believes in the power of personal connection to motivate, inspire, and educate. She helps companies squeeze every penny of profitability and service out of their current CRM. Her services include CRM selection, customization, CRM strategy, training, coaching, virtual training and logistics & social selling training. Tamara Burkett knows that authentic relationships are the lifeblood of a thriving business. She also understands that nurturing those relationships in a meaningful way requires both a personal touch and the proper technology. Through her consulting and training company, Tamara helps entrepreneurs and small business owners identify and onboard the system best suited to help them scale their business. Using the results of her signature 5-point personalized assessment Tamara's clients are able to quickly automate their backend systems and start working on what matters. For more information, visit https://www.tamaraburkett.com or go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaraburkett1

Taking the leap from corporate America to business ownership is an incredible journey that changed my life. Successfully making that transition isn't as simple as changing where we work, it's about actually changing who we are, and transforming from the traditional corporate persona to a mindset of business ownership. We have to shed some of the habits we picked up in the corporate world, so we can create thriving working environments and nurture good working relationships. This can be a challenging shift to make but in my own experience and through my clients, I know it's possible with the right support. That's why I created this podcast. I wanted to create a space of inspiration and encouragement with stories from real business owners who have found freedom through franchising. In our first episode, I'm joined by Tamara Burkett, an entrepreneur and consultant I've had the joy of partnering with in my own business. We discuss our own unique journeys to business ownership, and why there's so much power in sharing our stories. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode The value of our life experiences in business Social media and podcasting give us the opportunity to share lessons from our unique journeys and life experiences. People are searching for a story to inspire them to chase their own dreams. Our unique stories and experiences make our marketing more compelling, engaging and honest. How a corporate mindset can hurt our business If we take a corporate mentality into our business endeavors, we risk creating a toxic work environment. We'll ultimately replicate the same mindset and culture that made us leave corporate in the first place. Why business is the ultimate empowerment vehicle Starting our own franchise business gives us 100% ownership of each day of our lives, which is both empowering and rewarding. It gives us the freedom to create a business that feels authentic to us and a life around the things that are most important to us. Guest Bio Tamara Burkett is a CRM consultant, virtual meeting facilitator, author, speaker and entrepreneur. She fully believes in the power of personal connection to motivate, inspire, and educate. She helps companies squeeze every penny of profitability and service out of their current CRM. Her services include CRM selection, customization, CRM strategy, training, coaching, virtual training and logistics & social selling training. Tamara Burkett knows that authentic relationships are the lifeblood of a thriving business. She also understands that nurturing those relationships in a meaningful way requires both a personal touch and the proper technology. Through her consulting and training company, Tamara helps entrepreneurs and small business owners identify and onboard the system best suited to help them scale their business. Using the results of her signature 5-point personalized assessment Tamara's clients are able to quickly automate their backend systems and start working on what matters. For more information, visit https://www.tamaraburkett.com or go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaraburkett1