You won’t get what you don’t chase when it comes to your career, and the answer is always no to the questions you don’t ask, says Tylar Bell, CEO of Gem State Gymnastics. With that in mind, he recommends taking some risks when it comes to building a career that’s right for you.

Before he became the owner of Gem State Gymnastics, Tylar was Director of Sales in the beverage distribution industry. His background in sales and marketing as well as his knowledge in back office functions have served him well as he transitioned to business ownership.

In addition to running Gem State Gymnastics, Tylar started Advanced Clinical Trauma Services last January in response to the great need for trauma care in the Treasure Valley. ACTS provides trauma-informed holistic healing to anyone dealing with any kind of trauma, including underserved populations, such as trafficking, veterans, first responders, foster kids and more.

Episode links and resources:

• Gem State Gymnastics
• Advanced Clinical Trauma Services
• Community Outreach Behavioral Services
• So Called Episode Archive
  • So Called: Ron Gambassi, Founder, Gem State Investment Advisors
  • So Called: Jim McColly, Physician Assistant, Boise VA

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If you’re too comfortable in your role, it’s time to lean in to being uncomfortable - figure out what you don’t know and start learning. Madison Warner, Leadership Development Manager at the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, says challenging yourself is the key to growth and happiness in your work.

And she should know. Just a few years after her graduation from Boise State, Madison runs the Boise Young Professionals and Leadership Boise programs at the Boise Metro Chamber, and she sees ample opportunity to learn and grow within the organization. Whether you’re a recent graduate or further along in your career, Madison offers helpful advice on careers and connecting to your community.

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Career paths aren’t always obvious, and it can take time and effort to find meaningful, engaging work. If you’re in that situation, Brie Sandow, Nurse and Director of the Enterprise Resource and Staffing Center of Excellence at St. Luke’s Health System, suggests staying positive and embracing the opportunity to contribute wherever you are. Brie finds that all of her experiences over the years have made a positive contribution to the person and leader she is today, where she serves others by providing inspiration, influence, and support.

While studying to become a nurse, Brie worked at St. Luke’s in several clinical and non-clinical roles over the years, from checking in patients to working night shifts. These experiences in different roles and across functions at St. Luke’s give her a unique perspective in her current role, where she directs the staffing and scheduling strategy for the health system. She enjoys the scope and positive impact her role has for both patients and nurses in Idaho and, potentially beyond.

Brie is President of the American Nurses Association-Idaho and is currently running for the national Board of Directors for the ANA.

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If you use all your energy thinking about what’s next, you may miss what’s happening right now. Gemma Gaudette, Host of Idaho Matters on Boise State Public Radio, recommends taking a moment to enjoy where you are, rather than focusing on where you’re not. When Gemma began her career, she was focused on the next move, the next raise, and the next city on her way to working in television news in a major market. Ultimately that career did not satisfy the work-life balance she sought. Her work in and out of broadcast journalism, however, led to her a perfect fit with Idaho Matters.

Having lived all over Idaho, Gemma knows the different points of view and distinct cultures that exist across the state. Whether or not you agree with the differing opinions, Gemma hopes that Idaho Matters will continue to inform listeners and challenge their understanding of these topics and of one another.

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How do you measure success? It's best done on your own terms, according to Jessi Roberts, CEO of Cheekys. Comparing yourself to others causes you to rush and miss out on enjoying the process of building and growing a business, a career, and your life.

Jessi recommends setting your own standards for success and using them to guide decision making. For Cheekys, that means asking, "Are we making an authentic connection with our customers?"

Check out Jessi's book, Backroads Bosslady, to learn more about her story and life.

Check out Cheekys Boutique here and on Facebook to learn more about the brand.

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Burnt out? Lean in and be part of the solution. Saying “yes” to opportunities and experiences is a prescription to discover what fills your cup and lead a more satisfying life. For Dr. Mary Barinaga, that means teaching the next generation of Idaho physicians.

Mary, assistant clinical dean at the University of Washington for Idaho WWAMI, has a unique perspective on Idaho’s medical school: she’s also a product of the program, which allowed her to stay in Idaho for her training and medical practice.

Mary is the director of the TRUST program, which specifically focuses on developing rural physicians. She also is a board member of the Idaho Medical Association and volunteers at the Friendship Clinic with Idaho's uninsured.

Learn more about Idaho WWAMI at https://www.uidaho.edu/academics/wwami/about

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What are the things that excite you the most from your work experience? Reflecting on those common threads may help you discover the best career for you. That's how it happened for Megan Blanchard, Training and Organizational Development Coordinator for the City of Boise. 

For Megan, focusing on people first and developing leaders were the common threads in all her jobs, and from there, she found the organizational development field. 

Megan draws on all aspects of her diverse background and collective experience to develop leaders throughout the large and varied City of Boise workforce.

One of the efforts Megan is most proud of when it comes to leadership development at the City is the Connect Boise program, a journey that began with a listening tour and evolved into an innovative performance management system and more.  

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Figuring out the "what" and "how" is often the easiest part of work. Identifying your "why" requires more effort but is ultimately worthwhile. Setting aside time to define your why brings clarity in thought and decision making, according to Tara Malek, co-owner of Smith + Malek Law Firm. Articulating your purpose - saying it out loud - creates commitment and accountability.

Tara knew from a young age that she wanted to practice law, but her path to ownership in a private firm took a different route than she imagined and involved a few major job changes. Looking back on her experience, Tara recommends pushing past the fear of change. Making fear-based decisions, she says, is a hard habit to break and will never result in living your best life. 

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We learn some career lessons again and again, and sometimes we just need to get out of our own way. When this happens, Kate Nelson, Director of Economic Opportunity at Jannus, suggests that we be kind to ourselves, remembering that we may not get it right 100% of the time. More important is our ability to learn when we fail and practice persistence, even when it's difficult. 

Kate's abilities and drive took her a long way in the private sector, but that career was ultimately unfulfilling. By calling on some pivotal moments in her early schooling, where she learned about justice and empathy, and drawing on her volunteer work with refugees, she replotted her course and found a career she loves. 

Up next for Kate: taking on predatory lending practices, where she will draw on her grit and determination. She is prepared to hear many "nos" along the way, but knows the potential for positive change is worth the effort.

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If every opportunity looks golden, you might need a better plan. If you can't distinguish the glitter from the gold, you'll run yourself ragged chasing anything and everything that comes your way.

Steve Wieland, Managing Partner at Mooney Wieland PLLC, says your career plan doesn't necessarily have to be detailed or include a lot of numbers - it just needs to be enough to keep you on track when you check your progress.

As managing partner, Steve is focused on business strategy and saving costs for clients and the firm alike. He finds satisfaction in creating opportunities for the attorneys at the firm to use their highest skills and enjoys the variety of clients and businesses he works with in commercial law.

When you've been wronged, it is natural to want to go to war, but it is often draining - financially and emotionally. When faced with a conflict, Steve suggests that seeking an amicable agreement before taking legal can help you maintain a sense of control in the matter and free you of anger.

If you’d like to talk about careers in Commercial Law and at Mooney Wieland, you can connect with Steve at [email protected]

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