Did you start a new job? Or have you been at your job for a while, but your boss or many of your coworkers are new? If it feels like you are working with strangers, then now is the time to build stronger relationships at your job.

This episode contains:

🎙 A short outline of what you should do to establish your professional brand and relationships to set yourself up for success at your new job.

🎙 Lists of professional and personal questions to ask your new coworkers and boss, which will help you quickly build rapport and trust, understand the culture at the company, and what is expected of you.

🎙 Common questions you should avoid asking others at work and why.

Deedre recorded this podcast on March 3, 2023, but the file was corrupted, so it was re-recorded on March 5, 2023, for your listening pleasure!

Wishing you much success in your job search and career.

Connect with or follow Deedre Daniel here:

https://interestingconversations.com/links/

Some of Deedre's favorite tales to go with cocktails. Although they are probably unsafe to share in most corporate environments, they should bring you some smiles and points to ponder over your weekend with your adult friends and family. 

🎙A close encounter with the scary ghost girl from the movie, The Ring.

🎙How accepting an invitation from a stranger led to a lesson in self-acceptance.

🎙A talking parrot who let the cat out of the bag.

🎙Bonus Track: The most romantic thing Deedre's husband ever said to her. 

Have you recently lost your job or are worried you will be let go soon? Perhaps you are thinking about quitting your job in the future. Listen to this list of tips and ideas to help you through this major life transition. (Please share this with your friends who need the information.) 

Below are links to resources you may find useful. Check back as new resources will be added in the future. 

U.S. Government Healthcare Links:

https://www.healthcare.gov/

https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/6173

An article from Bankrate about what to do with your 401K. (Please read other articles and talk to your financial advisor, too).

https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/8-tips-on-moving-401k-after-leaving-job/#:~:text=You%20have%2060%20days%20to,with%20tax%20liabilities%20and%20penalties.

Online Therapy Options: 

https://try.talkspace.com/

https://www.betterhelp.com/

https://get.cerebral.com/

https://www.pridecounseling.com/

https://larkr-site.webflow.io/

Side Hustle Ideas: 

https://www.flexjobs.com/

https://www.upwork.com/

https://www.fiverr.com/

https://www.freelancer.com/

https://problogger.com/jobs/

https://www.reddit.com/r/WorkOnline/

Skills and Personality Assessments:

GALLUP – CLIFTONSTRENGTHS

https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx

KNACK

https://knackapp.com/personal

NEVER TRIED IT, BUT LOOKS INTERESTING:

123 Test

https://www.123test.com/competency-test/#

Certifications and Tech Courses: 

Grow with Google:

https://grow.google/certificates/it-support/#?modal_active=none

https://www.udemy.com/

https://www.coursera.org/

Resume Builders: 

https://www.myperfectresume.com/

https://novoresume.com/

AI Writing Assistants:

https://writesonic.com/

https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/

https://www.jasper.ai/

More to come!

Disclaimer: 

The resources, tips, ideas, and lessons learned covered in this episode are based on Deedre’s personal experience after leaving her long career at GEICO.

This is not professional advice. Always consult lawyers, financial advisors, your local human resource staff, and medical personnel. View the information provided on this podcast and in the show notes above as an incomplete guide or a loose checklist. This is a starting point to help you with your job transition. Your situation is unique. Some of these ideas and suggestions may not apply or work for you.

So take what you need, leave what you don't, and do some research. Always consult with licensed medical providers, financial planners, and other qualified professionals! Please explore all the other options to make the best decision for you and your family.

Wishing you much success! XOXO

Do you think artificial intelligence will eliminate or enhance your job soon? Deedre talks about how artificial intelligence entertained her with an interesting conversation while she recovered from a bad bout of the flu.

🎙Her interesting encounter with Writesonic, the “better version” of ChatGPT, and how you can use it in your personal and professional life - including launching a unicorn startup today!

🎙Interesting conversations with artificial intelligence, like its commentary about God, how to kiss up to your robot boss in the near future, and how to milk a cockroach.   

🎙The real reason why she has never been to the Chippendales or Thunder Down Under performances.

🎙Her Oscar-nominated movie recommendations – and warnings.

🎙And why you should always ask for extra free drink tickets.

Deedre tells a story about an abandoned puppy that led her to give a stranger $1,000 one year later. Deedre flies solo in this 13-minute episode, which was recorded on Friday the 13th.

A selection of our favorite conversations. Use this time to catch up on older episodes before we release new ones in 2023! 

Highlights from the first season of the Shut Up and Say Something!® podcast. Huge thanks to our guests, who contributed to over 30 hours of interesting, inspiring, and educational conversations for our new show in 2022. Selecting only four minutes of footage was the most challenging task because there were so many fascinating topics to choose from.

We target Fridays for new episodes, and our goal is to release them at 11:11 AM Eastern. Each platform seems to have different processing times, which means the latest episode may not appear on your favorite streaming platform right at 11:11 AM Eastern. Follow the Shut Up and Say Something! podcast because that will ensure you know when the next episode is available for you. 

Go forward, my friends. Be interesting. 

Do you want to leave your job? Do you want an entirely different career, but don't know where to start or think it is too late to make that kind of change? Listen in as Maria Scarangella and  Deedre Daniel talk about:

🎙 Figuring out when it is the right time for you to leave your job for other opportunities.    

🎙 The “Sunday Scaries” and what they signal to you.

🎙 The importance of determining your values and finding a career that aligns with them.

🎙 Understanding that you don’t have to do one thing forever. You can change career paths at any time.  

🎙 How to mitigate some of the inherent risks of starting a business.   

🎙 The main differences between working for yourself vs. corporate life.  

🎙 When you should compromise and when you should not.   

🎙 The importance of trying something new and embracing the lessons mistakes teach us.

🎙 Humanomics – Maria’s course she developed to help businesses find the ROI in treating their employees better.

🎙 A better solution to the mass layoffs recently happening in America.

This episode ends with some questions from The Very Interesting Game – some are brand new. One was written just before this podcast recording. Stick around to hear Maria’s answers.

Bio:

Mara Scarangella is a dynamic senior leader with decades of experience in business operations and human resources. She is a thought leader focused on talent strategy, leadership development, data-driven decision making, and coaching. She retired from GEICO, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc, after 37 years. Her expertise includes executive management, strategic planning, creative problem solving, P&L management, workforce planning, HR services, and sales. Maria holds an MBA from Adelphi University and a BS in Business Management from St John’s University. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), International Coaching Federation (ICF), Co-Active Training Institute (CTI), Advancing Women Executives (AWE), Executive Networks (EN), the Association for Talent Development (ATD), and WSJ Women.

Do you know someone who lives a fascinating life or looks at the world through the lens of humor? Nominate them on a future episode by sending several ridiculous and intriguing questions about them to [email protected]. No need to send a BIO or fill out a lengthy application! If your nominee is selected, you will receive a shout-out on that episode, a SHUT UP and SAY SOMETHING!® sticker, and a mug of your choice from the merch page on interestingconversations.com.

Contact or Follow Deedre Daniel here:

https://interestingconversations.com/links/

Originally recorded on December 14, 2022

Do you want to travel more but think you don't have the money to do it? Do you stay home and watch Netflix because you think that is the only entertainment you can afford? Do you want to start a writing side hustle? Trent Modglin is the publisher, writer, and creator of three popular Chicago magazines. He talks to Deedre Daniel about:

🎙 How Deedre became a Florida State University alumnus without technically graduating from the institution.   

🎙 How Trent turned his passion project (which was also a creative way to score free event tickets, restaurant meals, and beers) into a profitable business for 14 years.

🎙 His creative money-making solution when COVID-19 shut down his business.

🎙 The importance of learning new technical skills and how to sell yourself and your ideas.

🎙 How he heard “No” 27 times before he got to his first “Yes.”  

🎙 The importance of cultivating real relationships to grow and sustain your business.

🎙 How Trent immersed himself into the Chicago micro-brewing universe.

🎙 Trent’s money-saving travel tips for you.

🎙 Why his wife slept with 16 other people during their honeymoon.

🎙 His “must do and see” ideas for you the next time you visit Chicago – including a small bar that serves the best deep-dish pizza.  

This episode ends with some questions from The Very Interesting Game – some are brand new. One was written just before this podcast recording. Stick around to hear Trent’s funny answers.

Bio:

Trent is the Publisher of several magazines: The Real Park Ridge, Illinois Brewing, and The Real Chicago (currently on hiatus). He was a senior editor at Pro Football weekly. He is a proud Florida State alum who still gets more nervous on football Saturdays than he should. He is also a semi-patient herder of cats – because he coaches 3rd grade flag football and basketball so he can spend more time with his cute son, Owen.

Do you know someone who lives a fascinating life or looks at the world through the lens of humor? Nominate them on a future episode by sending several ridiculous and intriguing questions about them to [email protected]. No need to send a BIO or fill out a lengthy application! If your nominee is selected, you will receive a shout-out on that episode, a SHUT UP and SAY SOMETHING!® sticker, and a mug of your choice from the merch page on interestingconversations.com.

Contact or Follow Deedre Daniel here:

https://interestingconversations.com/links/

Originally recorded on December 5, 2022

Your dreams won't chase you, so why not chase them instead? Jae Choe is the owner and Master Instructor of the famed Karate Beyond dojo in Lakeland, Florida. He talks to Deedre Daniel about:

🎙 The importance of following your passion and finding ways to incorporate it during various stages in your life.

🎙 Side hustles.

🎙 The modernized approach he takes in teaching karate at his dojo.

🎙 Why he thinks you should do yoga in your thirties, forties, and beyond.

🎙 A “super-hero” gene that prevents armpit odor.  

🎙 “Interesting” internet money-making schemes.   

🎙 His general pet peeves – plus one that includes a particular Lakeland jogger.

This episode ends with some questions from The Very Interesting Game® – some are brand new! One was written just before this podcast recording. Stick around to hear Jae’s funny answers.

Bio:

Jae Choe is the owner and Master Instructor of the famed Karate Beyond dojo in Lakeland, Florida. He is also the host of the popular Lakeland-centric podcast, the Jae Choe Show, and he was recently featured in The Lakelander magazine as one of the Top Ten people to know.

Do you know someone who lives a fascinating life or looks at the world through the lens of humor? Nominate them on a future episode by sending several ridiculous and intriguing questions about them to [email protected]. No need to send a BIO or fill out a lengthy application! If your nominee is selected, you will receive a shout-out on that episode, a SHUT UP and SAY SOMETHING!® sticker, and a mug of your choice from the merch page on interestingconversations.com.

Contact or Follow Deedre Daniel here:

https://interestingconversations.com/links/

Originally recorded on November 28, 2022