The Big Balance

Most of us are familiar with concept of an org chart or structure, but some organizations are beginning to abandon this vertical structure in favor of a more fluid and cross-functional concept. Which approach is better for a work-life balance? In this episode, John wonders how we can best combat any confusion around our org structures. Can we create clearly defined roles for ourselves and teammates, regardless of our spot on the totem pole?

We're all pressured do more, do better, do it faster. This can be helpful if it pushes us to break barriers we didn't know we could pass - yet, all too often, unrealistic expectations will set us up for failure. In this episode, Brian talks about the dangers of over-promising and the inevitable under-delivering that follows.

Brian and John have talked extensively about enjoying today's work-from-home environment. Yet not everyone is as enthusiastic about the current state of things. Andy, a Gen-Xer more on the fence about work-from-home, joins as the show's first guest host.

Picking up a new hobby or learning a new skill can be scary and oftentimes a daunting task and John and Brian take the hard stance that the concept of the “overnight success story” is a myth. Using his own experiences as a sample, John walks us through his growth as a musician, with samples of music he’s created throughout the years.

Feel free to explore some more of John's music featured in the show:

https://oliveview.bandcamp.com/album/crash-late

https://baltimorecults.bandcamp.com/

https://chattykathy.bandcamp.com/

https://braingreaseandtheganjapolice.bandcamp.com/

https://underwaterrobots.bandcamp.com/

A carpenter can take pride in seeing the home he built for a family. But what about the white collar worker struggling to see beyond their cubicle walls? Feeling satisfied is hard when you can’t see the impact your job has. In this episode, John talks about feeling a sense of satisfaction, either through finding meaning – or creating it.

Bonus episode! Really, more of a short rant. Bonus rant! What does algorithmic music mean to the workplace, and why do Brian and John hate the implications?

We all feel like the star in the film of our own lives. But this self-centered view reduces everyone else to merely supporting cast, and leads us to quick (and ill-informed) judgments of others. In this episode, Brian describes a more holistic view to help improve our interpersonal relationships.

Multitasking is a skill that everyone wants and every employer values. But what if our pursuit of multitasking is doing more harm than good? Brian breaks down the problems with trying to split attention between too many tasks, and offers an alternative approach to getting things done.

In a previous episode, we talked about how today's job seekers have more leverage than ever before. However, this may not be true for everyone. A recent report shows that Gen-X may be struggling more than Millennials. Brian and John reflect on the implications of this report in this short episode.

We talked through some work-life balance job seeking strategies in a previous episode. In this episode, John puts his money where his mouth is and puts those strategies to the test as he reenters the job market.