In this episode, I’m happy to be joined by my business school classmate, Mike Trigg. Mike has worked for twenty-five years in Silicon Valley as a founder, executive, and investor in dozens of venture-funded technology start-ups. And now he’s turned his attention to creative pursuits, having just published his first novel, a corporate thriller called “Bit Flip.”

In this fun conversation where Mike and I talk about the book, we discuss what it’s like to have an entrepreneurial career in tech, the role of ambition in Silicon Valley and how it plays a central role in the book, the shifting view of the tech industry today, and how an unbridled and over-abundance of ambition is resulting in negative impacts in our world. The book is meant to be a cultural critique and to get people thinking. Mike wanted “Bit Flip” to “be a cautionary tale for people coming to Silicon Valley embarking on their careers to say, ‘I need to keep this in balance. I need to do this in a way that is sustainable, not just for two years of doing a startup but for the 40 years of my career.’”

I encourage you to pick up the book for a fun, energetic read that will make you reflect on your own ambitions.

Mike - I loved this conversation! Congratulations on the book and can’t wait to read the next one!

Resources Mentioned

Find Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/triggmike/

Learn more about Bit Flip and Book #2 in the works!: https://www.miketrigg.com/books

Get the book, Bit Flip: https://www.amazon.com/Bit-Flip-Novel-Mike-Trigg-ebook/dp/B09NPTXQK8/

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This episode builds on the series that kicked off the year on planning and living a more sustainable+ambitious year. Kathy Oneto, founder of Sustainable Ambition, is back with Part 2 of the Q3 Review to now focus on Q4 planning.

Here she talks about dialing in your ambitions for the end of the year, creating a sustaining plan to avoid the end-of-year crush, and has you focus, despite her own resistance, to looking ahead to 2023 to make initial plans for making it all more sustainable if you expect the fourth quarter to be demanding.

A reminder that E79 and this episode are good ones to do while out on a walk or making time for quiet reflection. You’ll likely want to pause the episode, think, take notes, and then hit play again. Have your notes app ready or have a journal nearby!

Here’s to an ambitious, sustainable, and joyful end to the year!

Resources Mentioned

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a voice note or a question that might be read and answered here on the podcast! Go to https://bit.ly/sapodcast-ask

Learn more about the Sustainable Ambition 12-Month Workbook+Planner: Your Life+Work Resilience Rx: https://sustainableambition.com/books/#workbookplanner

Polarity Management by Cultivating Leadership & Jennifer Garvey Berger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyuFr4gTzjU

“The Thinking Mindset vs. The Doing Mindset: Pick One (And Only One)” by Art Markman: https://99u.adobe.com/articles/7240/the-thinking-mindset-vs-the-doing-mindset-pick-one-and-only-one

E52: On Setting Your Own Pace with Kathy Oneto: https://sustainableambition.com/sapodcast/52

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In this episode, Kathy Oneto, founder of Sustainable Ambition, builds on the series that kicked off the year on planning and living a more sustainable+ambitious year. In this episode, we check in on your Q3 progress. Then in Part 2, we’ll look at planning for Q4 to avoid the end-of-year crush and make our end to the year more sustainable.

A reminder that these episodes are good ones to do while out on a walk or making time for quiet reflection. You’ll likely want to pause the episode, think, take notes, and then hit play again. Have your notes app ready or have a journal nearby!

As we look back to Q3, we want to think about: How have things gone? What worked? What didn’t work? Kathy shares her experiences and learning on working with discernment and when to operate from this or that or this and that around goal setting, free-thinking vs. directed attention, and thinking vs. doing times.

Now it’s your turn! What did you learn, and what do you want to practice next?

And be sure to listen in for Part 2 to plan a sustainable close to the year.

Resources Mentioned

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a voice note or a question that might be read and answered here on the podcast! Go to https://bit.ly/sapodcast-ask

Learn more about the Sustainable Ambition 12-Month Workbook+Planner: Your Life+Work Resilience Rx: sustainableambition.com/planner2022

Polarity Management by Cultivating Leadership & Jennifer Garvey Berger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyuFr4gTzjU

“The Thinking Mindset vs. The Doing Mindset: Pick One (And Only One)” by Art Markman: https://99u.adobe.com/articles/7240/the-thinking-mindset-vs-the-doing-mindset-pick-one-and-only-one

Thanks for Listening!

If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!

Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcast

I’d love to hear what’s on your mind! Take the Sustainable Ambition Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/sapodcast-survey

Submit a question or comment for future episodes at [email protected]

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Joining me today is Stephanie Movahhed, a leadership coach based in my hometown of San Francisco. In this conversation, Stephanie talks us through her career journey and offers learning and tips from her personal and coaching experiences.

Stephanie has had an interesting career full of pivots that have kept her challenged and growing. Her experiences are a great illustration of staying engaged and in action to help identify one’s next career arc. What comes through is how Stephanie has always been guided by what was important to her and her values, interests, curiosities, and what was calling her next. She also shares how she has leaned into experimentation to de-risk career transitions.

We close with Stephanie offering thoughts on how to step into living and working aligned with one’s values, how to build supporting routines, and how one can coach themselves if they don’t have access to a resource.

Stephanie - thank you for sharing your journey and your tips for navigating pivots in one’s career! I truly believe your story is an inspiration for how others can navigate their career journeys with more joy, confidence, and ease.

Resources Mentioned

Find Stephanie: www.stephaniemovahhed.com

Find Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smovahhed/

Episode 76. On Finding the Courage to Step Back to Go Forward in Your Career with Kathy Oneto: https://sustainableambition.com/sapodcast/76

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Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcast

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Today I’m joined by Jeffrey Shaw, author of The Self Employed Life and host of the podcast of the same name. Jeffrey is a champion of self-employment and through his book, podcast, institute, and coaching guides people to lead a successful life of self-employment.

In this conversation, we hear what pulled Jeffrey into self-employment for his entire career and what’s given him the focus to support others choosing this courageous path. We cover a lot of ground discussing what calls people to self-employment, the importance of giving yourself a runway before making the leap, getting clear on who you are and your offer, accepting the integration between our businesses and our lives, and much more.

Jeffrey - Thank you so much for being on! I so appreciate all the work you do to champion self-employment and to guide those courageous souls choosing this path.

Resources Mentioned

Find Jeffrey: https://www.jeffreyshaw.com/

Get the book: https://www.jeffreyshaw.com/the-self-employed-life

The Self Employed Business Institute: https://www.selfemployedbusinessinstitute.com/

The Self-Employed Assessment: https://selfemployedassessment.com/

Thanks for Listening!

If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!

Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcast

I’d love to hear what’s on your mind! Take the Sustainable Ambition Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/sapodcast-survey

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In this solo episode, host Kathy Oneto builds on Episode 75 with Dr. Dawn Graham where they talked about building confidence to make a career switch. Hear Kathy answer a listener question that builds on that prior conversation: “How does one find the courage to take a step back in their career to then move forward onto a new path? And what are smart ways to do that?”

Kathy shares six smart actions to consider from her research, the podcast, and what she’s personally learned over the years that can help build your courage and give you the confidence to step into what’s calling you next.

Ready to make a switch? Let’s get you started.

Resources Mentioned

Pivot: The Only Move that Matters is Your Next One: https://www.amazon.com/Pivot-Only-Move-That-Matters/dp/1591848202

Dorie Clark’s HBR Article, “Don’t Focus on Your Job at the Expense of Your Career:” https://hbr.org/2022/08/dont-focus-on-your-job-at-the-expense-of-your-career

Sustainable Ambition What’s Taking Shape Exercise: https://sustainableambition.com/whats-taking-shape

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a voice note or a question that might be read and answered here on the podcast! Go to https://bit.ly/sapodcast-ask

Thanks for Listening!

If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!

Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcast

I’d love to hear what’s on your mind! Take the Sustainable Ambition Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/sapodcast-survey

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In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Dawn Graham, a career switch coach and author of "Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success."

If you are contemplating a career switch, this episode is for you. What I appreciate about Dawn’s approach in her book is that she tells you the really reallys, because she doesn’t want you to be surprised. We’ll have more resilience to get through the process if we have realistic expectations of what it will take to move from this to that.

Yet, for that reason, I start with why we should be optimistic about the process. What makes it worth it to step into making a career switch? Then we delve into aspects of the book and core principles Dawn lays out that help you get confident in your switch so you can show that confidence to hiring managers, giving them the confidence to hire you.

We cover a lot of ground also discussing being market focused, putting aside ego, and forming relationships with people who can become personal ambassadors. And a parting word of wisdom from Dawn that we champion here at Sustainable Ambition: pay attention to your career with a yearly check-in. Don’t go on autopilot.

Thank you so much for being on, Dawn! You offer switchers a great roadmap to get confident in making a change that will put them on a more fulfilling path.

Resources Mentioned

Learn more about Dawn: www.drdawnoncareers.com

Find Dawn on Twitter: @DrDawnGraham

Learn about the book: https://www.amazon.com/Switchers-Professionals-Change-Careers-Success/dp/0814439632

Thanks for Listening!

If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!

Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcast

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In this episode, host Kathy Oneto talks about how age should not be viewed as a limiter. If we want to be ambitious in our second stage, “Go for it!” Despite what Arthur Brooks writes in his recent book, “From Strength to Strength,” decline is not inevitable. Sure, our intelligence may shift, as he claims, but there are more types of intelligence than he references, and there’s plenty of evidence that bucks the claim that older workers don’t perform as well as younger workers.

Frankly, this is what gets us fired up. These are the types of claims that don’t serve us and create a dangerous narrative that suggests that companies shouldn’t hire older workers when the evidence suggests otherwise.

A different book, “The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success,” by Albert-László Barabási suggests the opposite of what Brooks claims. The fifth law says, “With persistence, success can come at any time.”

Sustainable Ambition is possible. Find your ambition, then get to work. Be consistent and be persistent.

Resources Mentioned

From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life: https://arthurbrooks.com/book/from-strength-to-strength/

The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success: https://barabasi.com/book/the-formula

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a voice note or a question that might be read and answered here on the podcast! Go to https://bit.ly/sapodcast-ask

Thanks for Listening!

If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!

Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcast

I’d love to hear what’s on your mind! Take the Sustainable Ambition Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/sapodcast-survey

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Today I’m joined by Al Dea, the founder of Betterwork Labs, an organization focused on helping companies create cultures where their people can thrive. Al is an author, speaker, podcast host, and researcher on workplace trends and talent development.

In this conversation, we talk about key aspects of building a sustainable career. Both Al and I believe in paying attention, following your curiosities, and the power of community. Al shares more on the importance of being self-reflective while also getting into action, building your career operating system, and fostering a mindset for career growth. Al offers a lot of great wisdom bombs in here!

Al - I love what you champion and appreciate your ambition to create better work for all. Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us!

Resources Mentioned

Find Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aldea1/

Better Work Labs: https://betterworklabs.com/

Al’s Podcast, MBA Insider: https://mbaschooled.com/podcasts/

Al’s other business: MBASchooled.com

Thanks for Listening!

If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!

Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcast

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In this Sustainable Ambition (SA) Quick Tip, host Kathy Oneto talks about career arcs with adventure, grace, and courage. Often when people are at a career inflection point, they can feel angst and guilt and be cautious. Why? Because there’s a lot of well meaning, yet inaccurate, work and career advice out there that sets the wrong expectations. When we aren’t able to live up to those expectations, stress manifests. Instead, Kathy talks about reframing towards adventure, grace, and courage to help reduce the stress associated with such transitions and, most importantly, redirect our energy to help us enjoy and make positive progress on our career journeys.

Resources Mentioned

I’d love to hear from you! Send me a voice note or a question that might be read and answered here on the podcast! Go to https://bit.ly/sapodcast-ask

“Range” by David Epstein: https://davidepstein.com/the-range/

Episode 9 - On A Year Off & Deviating from the Norm with David Brown - https://sustainableambition.com/sapodcast/9

Episode 35 - On Good Risk, Lifestyle Design, & Courage to Step Off the Path with Mike Murgatroyd: https://sustainableambition.com/sapodcast/35

Thanks for Listening!

If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!

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