Smashing the Plateau

Ann Vanino is a career and new directions coach and author whose passion is collaborating with her clients to create the life they want to live. Prior to coaching, Ann enjoyed a 21-year career in the environmental, health, and safety field, including running New York City's 24-hour chemical emergency response team, responding to over 600 emergencies a year. Ann authors a weekly blog, Opening, and a monthly newsletter, Working Happy, guiding readers to work that leaves them happy at the end of the day.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn what it takes to reinvent yourself when the path forward isn't clear and how vulnerability builds true resilience.

Ann and I discuss:

• Ann's non-linear career journey from Asian history to environmental studies [02:05]
• How she became the leader of NYC's chemical emergency response team [04:14]
• Navigating male-dominated environments as a young woman [06:17]
• Leading without formal authority when people don't listen [08:29]
• What triggered her transition to entrepreneurship [10:14]
• Hitting the glass ceiling and recognizing it wasn't her fault [11:31]
• Starting Williams and Vanino environmental consulting firm [12:36]
• The rainmaker and operator business partnership dynamic [13:33]
• Taking the leap from security-conscious family to coaching [16:48]
• Joining the founding board of International Coach Federation in LA [20:20]
• Her husband's illness and passing in 2022 [20:35]
• Navigating life alone on two acres in wildfire country [21:56]
• The dramatic wildfire evacuation during her home sale [25:00]
• The connection between vulnerability, community, and resilience [29:13]
• Getting comfortable with change as a key to a fulfilling life [32:34]

Ann authors a weekly blog and a monthly newsletter called Working Happy, guiding readers to work that leaves them happy at the end of the day.

Learn more about Ann at: https://annvanino.com, https://annvaninoauthor.com, and https://www.linkedin.com/in/annvanino/

__________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

__________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Susan M. Barber is a leading visibility coach who transforms quiet high achievers into visible and influential leaders so they can confidently position themselves for new opportunities. With over 25 years of experience in leadership roles at Kraft Heinz, she has a deep understanding of the challenges corporate leaders face. Susan is the author and podcast host of The Visibility Factor and author of Your Journey to Visibility Workbook. Her mission is focused on empowering leaders to show their value and be seen for their true talent.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn the key differences between starting a business and running one, and how to build a sustainable enterprise by focusing on what truly moves the needle forward.

Susan and I discuss:

1. The main differences between starting a business and running a business [03:17]
2. What metrics move the needle forward [04:40]
3. Why the choice that scares you the most is the one you should pick [06:33]
4. Things Susan decided not to do and why [08:00]
5. How to avoid the trap of perfectionism [10:21]
6. Key strategies for visibility that help your business [11:22]
7. Common challenges clients face around fear and imposter syndrome [12:51]
8. How to demonstrate capability without having done the exact thing before [14:25]
9. The role of community, collaboration, and peer support in growth [16:21]
10. One thing a corporate refugee can do today to move forward [19:21]
11. Susan's Your Journey to Visibility Workbook [21:49]

Learn more about Susan at https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbarbercoaching/ and https://susanmbarber.com

__________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

__________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Nina is a LinkedIn™ featured brand builder and a content and engagement strategist for creators, coaches, and consultants.

She collaborates with service-based entrepreneurs to develop strategies and create digital content that enable them to grow organically on LinkedIn.

Nina is a recovering producer and documentary filmmaker. She’s seen it all — from the early days of independent features to national TV commercials, corporate mega-shows, and Emmy Award–winning documentaries, including Abraham’s Children, which she produced.

Nina is from Switzerland. She owned 11-pound Dachshund mix who has her well trained.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to spot the right time to pivot, how to use AI without losing your authenticity, and simple LinkedIn routines that build real relationships instead of noise.

Nina and I discuss:

• Nina’s career journey and pivots from filmmaking to online coaching and video marketing [00:02:19]
• The pivot from video production to focusing on organic LinkedIn strategy [00:04:03]
• Techniques to listen for market changes and when to consider a pivot (including AI) [00:05:38]
• How to acknowledge AI in your messaging without chasing every shiny thing [00:08:44]
• The LinkedIn shift from a social graph to an interest graph — why engagement now drives visibility [00:11:00]
• The power of a consistent commenting practice and why you can post less but comment more [00:11:53]
• Nina’s “list of 25” tactic for regular, strategic engagement [00:12:59]
• Why commenting builds meaningful relationships (and comment etiquette to avoid “bro marketing”) [00:13:47]
• Organizing LinkedIn outreach: engagement groups, spreadsheets, and simple CRMs [00:16:51]
• The role of community in business growth and the inspiration/accountability it provides [00:19:32]
• Ideal community size for meaningful connection (Nina’s sweet spot: 30–100) [00:21:41]
• Questions to ask when choosing the right community for your transition (size, topic, demographics, geography, founder) [00:23:08]
• Where to find Nina’s resources (Five Steps to a Perfect LinkedIn Post; Nine Steps to a Near-Perfect LinkedIn Profile) and how to connect with her [00:25:48]

Learn more about Nina at https://clockwiseproductions.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-froriep/

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Dr. Gregory T. Obert is a clinical psychologist and the founder and CEO of the Royal Oasis Psychotherapy Institute, a premier telehealth practice delivering elite, discreet, evidence-based psychotherapy. He brings over 15 years of experience helping thousands navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. He specializes in veterans’ issues, PTSD treatment, and fostering resilience through personalized, holistic care. Additionally, he is the author of The Man on the Bench, a novel about hope amid loss, and the host of the podcast Meditations by Gregory T. Obert, featuring guided meditations for wellness.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to move from structure to self-direction—reframing fear, narrowing your focus, pricing with confidence, and using real community to shorten your path to traction.

Gregory and I discuss:

• Why Gregory chose to start his own practice [05:18]
• Why many keep private practice as a side gig—and the bigger opportunity [05:46]
• The two biggest barriers: fear of variable income and insurance constraints [07:20]
• Referrals, pipelines, and the internal conflict about charging [10:47]
• A simple first step to strengthen your pricing mindset [13:44]
• The hidden knowledge gap: marketing, visibility, and “putting yourself out there” [15:12]
• Differentiation through a few clear specialties (and why it works) [17:50]
• Community as a necessity: one hour > months of Googling [20:04]

Learn more about Gregory and receive premium psychotherapy at www.royaloasispi.com.

Follow him on social media:

Website:https://gregorytobert.com/ 

Locals: https://drgregorytobert.locals.com/ 

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/drgobert 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@docgobert 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorytobert  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrGOBERT 

Libsyn: https://meditationsbygto.libsyn.com/ 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meditations-by-gregory-t-obert/id1168490615

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0esz5sbFAeAmJzPp5NJbz9

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Melanie focuses on practical data science and AI. Her career highlights include driving client outcomes at Petsch Analytics, LLC—her data science consultancy; designing and building custom applications with generative AI and large language models, incorporating humans in the loop, at Palantir Technologies; modeling and analyzing truly big data at the New York Stock Exchange; writing quantitative research and a book on commodity investing at Goldman Sachs; teaching at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA); and serving on the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Council at Purdue University.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to reframe uncertainty, communicate value clearly, and turn vague requests into staged projects that produce quick wins.

Melanie and I discuss:

• Melanie’s career journey and pivotal transitions [01:54]
• How the 2008 crisis led to launching her consultancy and landing an eight-year anchor client [03:21]
• Employee vs. consultant mindsets and why she’s ambivalent about the labels [05:24]
• Teaching students to handle ambiguity and have honest client conversations [07:40]
• Why open, candid dialogue can be easier as a consultant [09:37]
• A mindset shift for corporate refugees to attract the next right clients [13:47]
• Identifying your highest-value skills and applying them to modern needs like generative AI [14:13]
• Communicating with nontechnical stakeholders and using mockups to align quickly [16:50]
• “That’s not my data” — using anomalies to improve data quality and trust [18:05]
• Feedback that matters and the power of meeting audiences where they are (data dictionary story) [19:08]
• The networking story of earning an eight-year client by not hiring someone [21:24]
• Human-first relationships vs. transactional interactions [23:30]
• How to connect with Melanie [24:29]

Learn more about Melanie at http://www.petschanalytics.com/.

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Michael Himmelfarb is the founder of HG Partners, a consulting firm that advises growing tech companies on monetization and go-to-market strategy. He developed a unique consulting model that combines the advantages of AI with the human superpowers of creativity, empathy, and experience to deliver high-impact results in as little as 48 hours. A former GM of a $200M Nielsen business and a five-time tech CXO, he is passionate about teaching consultants how to leverage AI without losing the human trust advantage. His blog, Reframing Forward, explores the future of AI-enhanced business and work.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to use value-based pricing, quick-win offers, and authentic relationship-building to stand out, earn attention, and convert conversations into paid work in a risk-averse market.

Michael and I discuss:

• Michael’s path from corporate leadership to independent consulting [01:49]
• A clear one-sentence offer grounded in value-based pricing [06:24]
• How to capture attention with show-don’t-tell executive summaries and easy-to-buy offers [07:11]
• Why trust beats automation: using AI with human oversight (and a cautionary math example) [10:47]
• Practical advice for consultants struggling to convert interest into revenue [12:12]
• A simple LinkedIn strategy: thoughtful comments that spark real conversations [12:49]
• Community, collaboration, and helping others as a growth engine [14:23]
• Drawing the line between giving value and getting paid (share in the upside) [15:52]
• Cutting through noise: do your own work, use AI for augmentation, quantify outcomes [17:15]
• Shaping the offer: transactional, advisory, recurring, or loss leader—staying flexible [18:54]
• An agile, iterative approach to prompts and analysis for better AI outcomes [20:51]
• The long game of relationships and radical transparency [21:40]
• Where to explore more of Michael’s ideas and connect [23:12]

Learn more about Michael at: www.Hg-partners.com, https://reframingforward.substack.com, and linkedin.com/in/michaelhimmelfarb

Thank you to our sponsor:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Jonny Cooper spent 12 years as a professional musician, touring the world as a pianist before realizing he didn’t want to be broke forever and transitioning into sales. He gained experience selling home improvements, houseboats, hot tubs, and holidays, among other ventures, before building a financial services firm from scratch and scaling it to £10.2 million in turnover prior to selling it to a PLC. 

He then spent a decade in corporate consulting, working with clients such as Aston Martin, Optical Express, Argos, and many others. In 2017, he launched Everyone Hates Marketing, growing it into a 7,500-member Facebook community, and went on to train over 1,200 coaches, therapists, and consultants to launch their own online businesses. In May 2024, Jonny launched CIB to help consultants secure lucrative corporate engagements, and he now works exclusively with a select group of individuals within the CIB community.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to leverage your experience for corporate consulting success and develop a mindset for continuous growth.

Jonny and I discuss:

• How Jonny navigated career pivots, from music to financial services to consulting [01:42]
• The pivotal moment that pushed Jonny to seek new opportunities [01:58]
• Lessons in scaling and selling a service-based business [04:22]
• Why consultative selling is critical for landing corporate clients [10:31]
• The questions you should ask to connect with decision makers [11:10]
• How to use data-driven insights to break through the noise and win contracts [14:23]
• The role of community and peer support for consultants [18:16]
• How to build intentional, high-value communities [20:45]
• The importance of maintaining a growth mindset in your entrepreneurial journey [22:32]
• Jonny’s advice for adapting to new challenges and technologies [23:15]

Learn more about Jonny at https://cib.global/.

Thank you to Our Sponsor:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

______________________________________________________________

About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own. 

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset. Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

______________________________________________________________

Take the Next Step

• Experience the power of community.

Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest

• Not ready to join live yet? Stay connected.

Get practical strategies, stories, and invitations delivered to your inbox:

https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

David Jenyns is a serial entrepreneur, systems devotee, and founder of SYSTEMology, a company dedicated to helping business owners worldwide scale and streamline their operations. With over 20 years of experience in franchising, digital marketing, and business strategy, Jenyns has established himself as a trusted leader in the industry.

After successfully systemizing his own digital agency in 2016, Jenyns turned his attention to helping others achieve the same level of success. He founded SYSTEMology, which offers a proven seven-step process for managing clients and implementing systems in businesses. Today, his mission is to empower business owners to work on their businesses, not in them.

Through his workshops, keynote addresses, and his podcast, Business Processes Simplified, Jenyns has helped thousands of business owners achieve exponential growth and success. He is a passionate advocate for leveraging systems to simplify and streamline business operations, and his commitment to excellence has earned him the trust and admiration of clients and peers alike.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to harness systems thinking and the power of AI to free yourself from daily operations and build a business that truly works for you.

David Andrew and I discuss:

• The story behind his new book, Systems Champion [00:03:16]
• How AI rapidly transformed his business and team [00:03:32]
• The critical role of the “systems and AI champion” [00:05:21]
• How to spot and develop systems champions in your organization [00:06:10]
• The soft skills that matter most for systems champions [00:10:58]
• The challenge of decision-making in times of rapid change [00:15:34]
• Ways systems champions help leaders make better decisions [00:17:55]
• The power of community for systems professionals [00:19:41]
• Why systems-driven businesses are better for everyone [00:21:16]

Learn more about David at: https://www.systemology.com/ and https://www.systemology.com/mediakit/

Thank you to our sponsor:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

Join our subscribers for exclusive access to clear, practical advice from our podcast guests—your road to business mastery is just a click away!

Todd Cherches is the CEO and co-founder of BigBlueGumball, a NYC-based leadership and executive coaching firm. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s “MG 100 Coaches,” a three-time award-winning adjunct professor of leadership at NYU, a lecturer on leadership at Columbia University, a TEDx speaker, and the author of the groundbreaking book, "VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life."

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to leverage relationships, community, and visual thinking to build a thriving business after leaving the corporate world.

Todd and I discuss:

• What led Todd to start his own business [02:47]
• Key challenges in balancing business development and client work [03:32]
• The importance of relationships and community for business growth [04:21]
• How teaching, speaking, and content creation fuel relationship building [05:22]
• Keeping relationships warm over time—especially for introverts [06:36]
• Using LinkedIn to nurture your network [06:36]
• The power of metaphors, analogies, and visual leadership for entrepreneurs [10:16]
• Four ways to communicate ideas visually [11:14]
• How visual thinking helps corporate refugees stand out [15:53]
• Becoming a resource for organizations in a VUCA world [16:55]
• Todd’s “four G’s” philosophy for leadership and community [22:14]
• How to start building your network and why it’s never too late [24:19]

Learn more about Todd at:

https://www.toddcherches.com/

https://www.amazon.com/VisuaLeadership-Leveraging-Visual-Thinking-Leadership/dp/1642933376

https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddcherches/

Thank you to our sponsor:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

Ready to level up? Subscribe for exclusive tips and strategies to drive your success forward!

Thomas M. Jones is a psychotherapist, author, musician, and founder of an innovative technique, The Paradox Process, designed to rapidly transform negative feelings into powerful knowledge and insight—essentially, how to change your life by learning to direct your mind. In the world of medicine, his approach would be described as renegade; however, the proof is inarguable.

Jones has been highly successful in his work for the last 50 years, with a clientele that includes CEOs, television journalists, Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning performers, doctors, musicians, artists, health coaches, social workers, psychologists, and business professionals across the globe.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to recognize and overcome internal obstacles, set meaningful goals, and harness the support of a community on your entrepreneurial journey.

Thomas and I discuss:

• The origins and evolution of the Paradox Process [00:02:41]
• Why traditional therapy felt limiting—and how Thomas innovated beyond it [00:03:00]
• How the Paradox Process helps you break through blocks and limiting beliefs [00:08:32]
• Real-life examples of shifting the internal narrative for success [00:09:55]
• Key mindset shifts for “corporate refugees” transitioning to entrepreneurship [00:12:44]
• Recognizing and honoring your uniqueness as an entrepreneur [00:13:02]
• The importance of setting goals and building a history of success [00:16:10]
• How to handle emotions and setbacks as you build your business [00:18:01]
• The critical role of community, feedback, and accountability [00:21:00]
• Practical encouragement for following your dreams and taking action [00:23:19]
• Where to learn more about Thomas and The Paradox Process [00:24:08]

Learn more about Thomas at:

Paradoxprocess.org/gift

Paradoxprocess.org/mondays

Thank you to our sponsor:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

Stay ahead of the curve—subscribe for curated tips and proven strategies from our podcast guests, and accelerate your path to success!