Author, entrepreneur, coach, and speaker Jenny Blake has a passion for helping people move beyond burnout and create the kind of work and life that truly inspires them. Jenny joins the show today to discuss her work at startups and at Google, which then led to her own big pivot and starting her own business. She talks about what inspired her to write her first book, Life After College, while still working at Google. Jenny also shares her journey of going out on her own, the methodology behind her popular book, Pivot, and how she turned the scary moments of remote work and side hustling into blazing a trail for others.

Key Takeaways

[4:09] Jenny grew up in the Bay area and attended UCLA, originally thinking she may be interested in a career in politics or working on a presidential campaign. She interned for Rock the Vote and loved the passion and energy behind the movement.

[5:11] Fun fact: Jenny's mom is a landscape architect in Stanford, so a lot of the beautiful scenery you see is in part thanks to her!

[7:55] After several years at Google, Jenny felt intuitively that she'd outgrown her role. She talked to the Google Adwords product training team and shared her vision of being a speaker and author. She knew she couldn't maintain both the training and the book project and now was the time to go full-time and invest in herself and her own business.

[9:25] High net growth individuals want to pivot more frequently than others, and we must reduce the obsession with promotion as the only way forward.

[15:04] Jenny started to see the extra time as a challenge to make money and to earn twice as much in half the time with joy and ease. Both she and I saw this time of being on their own almost as a year in "school" where we can create our own curriculum and studies.

[22:10] Don't underestimate the power of corporate alumni networks and solopreneur networking groups. Keep a list of the people you enjoy connecting with within the company and make the relationship a two-way connection.

[24:29] It's okay to take some time and decompress when you go from a fast-paced job to one with free times, but don't let the "rest monster" in for too long.

[32:26] Great leaders work with their staff on what success means to them, and what their overall vision is. That way they can have an open dialogue and recognize what areas can be shaped to fit the needs of both parties. It's not about more money and a fancier title for everyone.

[41:01] Jenny is very interested in mentoring others that are structurally shut out from society. She helps the incarcerated and newly released pivot in their own situation through Defy Ventures and finds a whole new type of inspiration working with the clients.

Resources:

Purchase Bring Your Whole Self to Work and gain access to bonus material

Mike Robbins Website

Mike Robbins Podcast

Mike Robbins on Facebook

Mike Robbins on Twitter

Mike Robbins on Instagram

TED Radio Hour

Life After College

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, by Jenny Blake

Pivot Method

Google

"10,000 Hours of Neurosis"

Puppies Behind Bars

Defy Ventures