In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Brett Elmgren and Drew Dudley dive into what it really means to thrive in your career—not just in terms of title and salary, but in finding purpose, peace, and joy along the way. This episode is packed with practical advice, honest reflections, and stories that inspire listeners to take charge of their own career paths.

Whether you’re early in your journey, feeling stuck mid-career, or rethinking your next chapter, Brett and Drew offer the kind of guidance that moves beyond the clichés and gets to the heart of what helps people truly flourish at work.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The goal of this episode: help listeners find clarity on what they want career-wise. [0:05:00]
• The difference between a sponsor and a mentor, and why you should find a sponsor. [0:07:26]
• Brett and Drew share the most valuable career advice they’ve ever received. [0:09:46]
• Defining the words ‘success, freedom, security, and peace’ in terms of your career. [0:26:35]
• The importance of considering how your career affects the rest of your life. [0:31:45]
• Brett tells us about the career clarity framework he created. [0:37:00]
• The importance of figuring out what freedom looks like to you. [0:46:28]
• What financial exit philosophy is and how it differs for each person. [0:54:48]

Quotes:

“Step one of any good career development plan is to just be awesome – at what you do.” — Brett Elmgren [0:16:19]

“I don’t think most people are afraid of failing. They’re afraid of choosing the wrong goal and shutting off other options.” — Drew Dudley [0:19:21]

“Genuine ambiguity is better than a false sense of certainty.” — Brett Elmgren [0:23:47]

“I don’t chase my ambition anymore, I’m looking for peace.” — Drew Dudley [0:30:35]

“You want to make sure that whatever career choice you make is not in tension in a significant way with your personal values.” — Brett Elmgren [0:38:24]

“If the ambition is security, ask people to find what security is to them.” — Drew Dudley [0:57:33]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Daniel Pink Commencement Speech

Drew Dudley | Everyday Leadership

Brett Elmgren | Axom Leadership