The 100 Jobs Project

Ever wondered what it’s like to be an interior designer? 

In this episode, I'm joined by Lisa Morton, a holistic interior designer, Certified Master of Feng Shui, author, and founder of Pure Living with Lisa Morton. Lisa shares how 20 years of industry experience took her from designing the interiors of private jets for clients around the world, to building her own business as a designer.

We chat about the early days of breaking into the design industry, how she built her expertise, and what ultimately inspired her to step away from corporate life and launch her own business. Lisa shares how she found her first clients, grew her brand, discovered Feng Shui, and expanded her work into the world of holistic interior design through her signature Intuitive Home Method.

We also dive into the process of writing a book, starting a podcast, and what a typical day looks like now—from Zoom calls with clients and recording episodes of her own podcast to finding moments of peace outdoors with her dogs.

Whether you're curious about interior design, entrepreneurship, Feng Shui, or simply creating a career that's aligned with who you are, this conversation is full of inspiration and practical insights.

Connect with Lisa:

🔗 Website: https://www.purelivingwithlisamorton.com/
🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4N6pGTU3l1jGW5F2xdWygt?si=41ba0d064be6464f
📍Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purelivingwithlisamorton
📚 Book: https://www.amazon.com/Aligned-Home-Holistic-Restore-Well-Being-ebook/dp/B0FXHKDCPF 

In this recap episode, I’m reflecting on some of the biggest themes that came up across my last ten conversations (interviews 11-20!): unexpected career pivots, balancing passion with practicality, confidence, creativity, and the boundaries guests set to make the most of their careers and their lives.

Whether you’ve listened to every episode or are just discovering the podcast, this recap is a chance to step back and look at the bigger picture emerging from the first 20 jobs we've discovered together.

Links to all featured episodes are below:

011 – PLANNING LUXURY EVENTS IN THE HAMPTONS & BEYOND: A Glimpse Into the Life of a Media & Events CEO
https://open.spotify.com/episode/34prjSG2Ou5D8eMOyoVtpb?si=kzt7abZ1TFO0lvB0-Gxprg
(Find Vanessa on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/vanessapgordon/) 

012 – LIFE OF A SHOW(DOG): Building a Dog Grooming Business — From Local Clients to Competition Wins https://open.spotify.com/episode/3B8LuqyK1yHd2b8RMcawud?si=TwVhEDjhSSWFeOEdjVyTYw 

(Find Ashleigh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allbreedashleigh/)

013 – A LITTLE WINING & DINING: What Work Is Like as a Woman (& Student!) in Telecom Sales https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fWsWyVuk0qL70NGRj1S6e?si=CiKmDrl2QdqjOM7ds4_uQA 

014 – WORKING AS A WOMAN: Building a Career in Workplace Research While Balancing Life at Home https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gC8LjmDONaKtMxsEXFuQA?si=70f45b28ea96478e
(Find Karina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate.homemaker)

015 – TYING SHOELACES CHANGES LIVES: The Path to Pediatric Occupational Therapy https://open.spotify.com/episode/37R5Vg2ATeQQYCJPZErsAf?si=M1Rp2yMZT6i9glNuNxTdnQ 

016 – BUILDING AN ETSY BUSINESS: Scaling a “Side Quest” To Thousands of Sales https://open.spotify.com/episode/5H8N8JCQyam1I7Bm1pv0st?si=d98196e8be924057 

017 – WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY AN AIRPLANE? Behind the scenes of the International Business Development https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VbNp0tp8ODHH5PgS8I56y?si=22a6274201954d8d 

018 – TEACHERS CHANGE LIVES: A Day in the Life of an Elementary School Teacher https://open.spotify.com/episode/4XwewUare95ZCYPFnFLSE9?si=96e86a0107ae41e8 

019 – JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS: Inside a Fourth-Generation Moving Company https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BwtOjP4bV3UrQ5fKjqqxO?si=f4ee2541eb694238 

020 – SEMPER FI, LADIES: Basic Training, Deployments & 10 Years in the Marine Corps

https://open.spotify.com/episode/49qK3J398YixX6j4mZlmgG?si=SKHpCqq7SD6-gh6wAEIe9Q 

In this episode, Mysti shares how a last-minute shift during her senior year of high school led her from planning a future in dance to enlisting in the Marine Corps—and ultimately spending nearly a decade in military service.

What drew her in? Structure, stability, and the opportunity to build a meaningful career. 

As we chat, Mysti shares about everything from basic training and her two deployments, to what she wore to work and how she juggled her relationship and family with a busy military schedule.

If you’re curious about the realities of day-to-day life in the military, or interested in how women navigate careers in (very) male-dominated fields, this episode is of you!

What’s it like to build a career inside a family business that’s been around for four generations?

In this episode, I sit down with Mollie, who works in Texas as the VP of Sales for a moving company, that specializes in residential, commercial and corporate relocations — and has been in her family for decades.  

After earning a master’s degree in a completely different field, she shares how she ultimately found her way into the family business and into a sales leadership role.

We talk about what life looks like when no two workdays are the same — from frequent travel and site visits to coordinating unique, high-value moves. Mollie also shares what it’s like to balance family relationships with work, how she unwinds, and the day-to-day details of life in her role.

A great episode for anyone curious about careers in sales, logistics or family-run businesses.

In this episode, I chat with Amber, a 5th grade English Language Arts teacher at a Title I school in Maryland. She shares how she never originally planned to become a teacher, what changed for her in college, and how after teaching for a while, she eventually continued on to pursue a master’s degree in Learning, Diversity & Urban Studies at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

We talk about her experience teaching in Spanish through a dual immersion program, finding the age group that was the right fit, and what it looks like to support students from diverse backgrounds, including children facing poverty and learning English as a second language.

Amber talks about moving to a new city, and also gives an honest look at the day-to-day realities of the job — from lesson prep and summers off, to factors that impact teacher salaries across the country. And of course, a few  sweet and funny moments with students that make the work so meaningful.

Plus, if you’ve ever been curious about the practical side of the job, Amber shares what she wears to school, what’s always in her work bag, and what a normal day really looks like before morning arrival to wrapping up the day beyond the final bell.

Ever wondered what goes into selling airplanes around the world?

Caroline works in International Business Development for a global aerospace and defense manufacturer (aka, helping develop relationships with customers buying aircrafts or related services). Her focus is the Asia Pacific region, which means she's frequently traveling around the world for meetings, events and airshows. In this episode, Caroline shares what her day-to-day looks like both at home and on the road, and how she finds time for grad school when she’s not at work. 

We also talk about how growing up in a multicultural household with close family ties to Lebanon and Belgium, along with several study abroad experiences, sparked her passion for international business. Caroline opens up about landing a job offer that was paused during the pandemic, pivoting into another role, and making strategic internal moves to ultimately reach the position she had been working toward.

Beyond the job itself, we dive into balancing an intense travel schedule with family, friendships, and life with her fiancé, along with a few favorite travel tips. Caroline also shares thoughtful advice on mentors, career growth, and finding meaning in your life right now, even while building toward bigger goals.

You may like this episode if you’re  interested in international business, travel-heavy careers, networking or mentorship.

Have you ever daydreamed about starting an Etsy shop—but weren’t sure where to begin?

In this episode, I talk with Jenna, a Kansas City, MO–based small business owner who turned a side project into a thriving Etsy shop with 2,500+ sales in just a few months.

After launching her career in communications and events at an IT company that was acquired by Oracle Corporation, and later working in the nonprofit space, Jenna stepped away from full-time work during COVID to care for her first child. What followed was a series of “side quests”—from photography to resume writing to 3D-printed products—that ultimately led her to launch her Etsy business.

We get into how she built and scaled her shop, from pricing and packaging to shipping, reviews, and getting discovered online—plus the resources she used to learn it all herself. She also shares what day-to-day life looks like (everything from frozen burritos to true crime podcasts!) while balancing her business and being home with three young kids.

This episode is for anyone curious about starting an Etsy shop, juggling work and childcare, or building something of your own in a busy season of life.

🏡 Check out Jenna’s Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintbyPrintCoShop 

📷 Find PrintbyPrintCo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printbyprintco/ 

✅ Follow the 100 Jobs Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/100jobsproject 

🔗 Find us online: 100jobsproject.com

In this episode, Laurel shares her journey to becoming a pediatric occupational therapist—starting with a childhood friendship that first sparked her interest in special education. After getting hands-on experience in the classroom and learning from mentors, she discovered occupational therapy and set out on a path that would take her across the country (three times!) for grad school and new opportunities.

We talk about how she chose her graduate program, what OT school actually looks like, and how she found internships, picked a specialty, and landed her first job. Laurel also shares how COVID reshaped her work with clients—and how her role has evolved over time, from in-person, hands-on sessions to working remotely as a mom of two.

Plus, we get into the day-to-day realities of the job (yes, that includes bringing toothbrushes, shoelaces, and even pots and pans to work), skiing on the weekends, and the meaningful, full-circle moments that make it all worth it.

This episode is perfect for: anyone curious about occupational therapy or interested in healthcare careers, working with children, or figuring out how to pivot your path while balancing relationships, moves, and family life.

What happens when you have your first child, no maternity leave, and suddenly need to rethink your entire career path?

In this episode, I talk with Karina, the Director of Global Strategic Workplace Insights at Great Place To Work and the creator behind @corporate.homemaker, an Instagram account highlighting the real experience of being a working mom in corporate America.

As we hear, Karina’s career path didn’t start in the corporate world. After college, she worked as a writer and ghostwriter in the travel space, but when she had her first daughter—with no maternity benefits, a toxic work culture and a partner working at a pizzeria—she made an intimidating leap into the tech industry as a ghostwriter. That pivot eventually led her into leadership roles, and brought her childhood love of acting and writing back  into her work today through speaking, presenting, and storytelling.

In our conversation, we talk about balancing work and family as a mom of four, the impact of workplace benefits like IVF support and maternity leave, working from home, and how she stays present in both her career and motherhood.

If you’re in the middle of shifting jobs, navigating workplace culture, thinking about having kids, or balancing work with motherhood, or  this episode might be the one for you! 
 Find Karina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporate.homemaker/  

What does it actually mean to “wine and dine” clients in a sales career?

In this episode, I sit down with Jessie — an account director at a major telecom company (by day!) and an MBA student (by night!). After growing up in Atlanta with lots of different interests, Jessie discovered the world of sales through a college sales club that opened the door to internships, competitions, and eventually her first full-time job.

We talk about the different types of sales careers that exist, how Jessie’s responsibilities have evolved as she’s grown in her career, and how she navigated asking her employer about starting an MBA program and relocating to a new state.

We also get into the real-life details — from what’s always in her work bag (Laneige lip mask included), to what her day-to-day looks like, and how “wining and dining” customers is really about building genuine relationships that last far beyond a single meeting.

If you’ve ever thought about pivoting into sales, or making a big life shift (like a move or school program!) while working, this is an episode worth checking out.