The Next Shift Podcast

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This episode is brought to you based on NUMEROUS conversations I've had with CURRENT officers, wanting to transition out of Law Enforcement...but are also things I believe EVERY officer needs, whether actively transitioning out or not.

There have been a few common themes and I address them in this episode.

These 3 things are not necessarily in order and the second and third CAN/SHOULD be adapted to YOU and YOUR life.

The FIRST thing every officer should have is a CURRENT resume.

The SECOND thing every officer should have is a NON-LE hobby/side hustle that allows them to unplug from LEO life and brings some sort of joy...and even better if it also brings additional network/income.

The THIRD thing every officer should have is a daily ROUTINE.

If you need help with translating your skills for your resume, download my 25 Transferable LE Skills sheet, here.

If you need help creating a daily routine that works for you and your life, download my Daily Habit Tracker, here.

If you need additional help with ANY of these, I am always just one call away. Book your FREE call here.

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This week's episode is a chat with Kory Pfeiffer, who JUST transitioned out of law enforcement in August 2023, which I thought was a perspective that NEEDED to be shared.

This was an extra special episode for me because it not only shows the power of the internet...but also the power of asking for help from those who've been there before you. Kory was the first person to trust me to help him through this transition, by hiring me as his Transition Coach.

Kory was THE ideal client, in that he was open-minded, coachable, and willing to do the work...which allowed him to land a new role that he loves, within our 3.5 months working together.

In this episode, Kory dives into...

- His decision to get out of law enforcement and dealing with the, "What are you thinking?" people.
- What it was like to be one foot in and one foot out...applying for jobs while still showing up and staying safe at work.
- The importance of COMMUNICATION with those also affected by your transition out of law enforcement.
- What it is like to be the "rookie" again and the ability to let go of the identity, allowing him to feel like he's becoming a better husband.

While I can't say Kory's results (finding a new career so quickly) are TYPICAL, they clearly are POSSIBLE and working with someone who's been there, done that can be very helpful. If you'e been working on transitioning and finding yourself feeling stuck, book a FREE discovery call here to see if we're a good fit to work together. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This week's episode is short and sweet and all about the importance of DEBRIEFING your career before embarking on your Next Shift.

How many times have you debriefed an incident while on the job? HOPEFULLY several…any major and critical incident…but I know that is not always the case. In fact, when I first posted about the DEBRIEF event I am hosting, alongside a few incredible people who serve first responders, I got feedback from several officers that they had NEVER debriefed an incident. It made me think back and I also have never debriefed an incident...which is a total disservice to first responders.

I understand that even with a debrief, we can still carry parts of those incidents with us, piling on top of the seemingly “simple” calls and trauma we face nightly. It is important that we acknowledge the things we see and do each shift are NOT normal. We may be able to disassociate from it while on the job, but what about when we're no longer in that line of work and the images creep in or the sounds or the smells?

One critical incident no one prepares us for or thinks about debriefing is the end of our career…especially if it’s TAKEN from us before our expected departure.

This is partially due to us being “just a number,” and departments not really caring what happens to us after we leave…and partially because of our “I’m fine. I’m not asking for help,” mentality.

Well, I’m here to change that and so are the incredible people tagged below, who are putting this event on with me! We are PASSIONATE about serving you and ensuring that you feel seen and heard, whether still on the job or dealing with the transition.

We are hosting a FREE event for current and former law enforcement and their families, who are planning for or struggling with the transition.

We will be sharing our own stories and struggles, followed by a Q&A session and an opportunity for you to share YOUR story, with time to mingle/connect afterwards.

The event is 11/4/23 from 0900 - 1200 hours, and the location is TBD in the KC area, based on interest, as well as virtual. You can sign up to show your interest here and once the details on location are finalized, you will receive an e-mail.

To "meet" your panelists, be sure to follow them below:

Rachel Murdock on instagram and LinkedIn
Kim Colegrove on instagram and LinkedIn
Kip Nelson on instagram and LinkedIn

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This week's episode is a chat with Winston Pingeon, ex-Capitol Police Officer, turned sales pro.

Winston was an officer at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and was assaulted in the line of duty. He had already been considering leaving the force and moving back home for personal reasons and that day was really the final pin in his career.

After leaving the force, Winston got into online sales, selling technology solutions to Law Enforcement to help officers' lives be safer and easier. One thing he said and I know some of you will want to hear, was, "The public safety technology vendor world is really large. And you know, once you're in it, it's small, of course, but there's a lot of options out there of companies that are doing really good work." This part of his transition story was very interesting to me and proof that opportunities are all around us, we just have to be open to seeing them.

Transitioning out of the field also allowed Winston to really lean into his passion, which is his artwork, as almost a form of therapy. So much so that he has submitted artwork to The Smithsonian National Museum of American History!

There is so much to Winston's story...I hope you listen with an open mind and gain a few new perspectives or realize the opportunities surrounding you every day.

Be sure to follow Winston on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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In this week's episode, I talk about finding YOUR definition of success, by answering six questions about you.

You can Google the definition of success and you'll find a multitude of various definitions, but all similar. You can talk to five different people and find a multitude of various definitions, but all similar. Have you ever taken the time to define what success is to YOU?

It can be quite a task, considering the number of definitions already out there and the societal norms MOST fall victim to. My hope is that with giving you these six questions about yourself, you will be able to create your own definition of success and go after it.

They are questions based on the 5 W's and an H.
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
- How?

It's a solo episode, so you know I'm gonna ask you to grab some paper and answer the questions I ask in the episode. Here is a question guide you can print and use.

Some of the questions will take longer to think on and answer...some may even stump you. If that is the case...embrace that. Dig into it. Ask yourself "Why" 5 times backwards if you get stuck.

If you find yourself stuck or want to dig deeper into your answers, schedule your FREE 30-minute discovery call to see if we should work together. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

Send us Fan Mail

One of the number one things I hear from both former and current Law Enforcement is that it's never the job that gets to them...it's all the other bullshit that comes with it. All the external factors (ie. schedule, command staff, new policies, prosecutor, media, etc) mount up and eventually turn to resentment and burnout.

In this week's episode, I chat with Bryce Lee, a current LEO in Texas and the host of the Stoic Sentinel Podcast...which is one of the first podcasts I was ever asked to be on. You can listen to our episode here.

You may be wondering why I am interviewing someone who is a current officer. I decided to interview and share Bryce's military to police transition story, as well as his intro to Stoicism and what it's done for him on the job, as a resource to YOU...especially if you are someone who's ever had external stressors of the job get to you.

Bryce chats about how getting into Brazilian JuiJitsu and coming across Ryan Holiday books, namely Ego is the Enemy, created a self awareness in him he didn't know he needed. He chats about how Stoicism has made him a better husband, father, officer, and person in general...which is something I think we can all say we want out of ourselves.

This episode was a ton of fun and I am excited to dig into Stoicism myself. I've already started reading Ego is the Enemy! I hope you love this episode as much as I do and if you would like to connect with Bryce and dig deeper into Stoicism, make sure you follow him on LinkedIn and/or his podcast, highlighted above. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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"I wish I knew then what I know now." Something we have probably all said a time or two. I know I have and now I'm so thankful I have a platform or three, LOL, that allows me to share those lessons so others don't have to suffer as long as I did.

When I try to look back at the end of my career and start of my transition into life after law enforcement, my first reaction is not to. It SUCKED! It was mentally painful and it is not something I like to relive. From the outside, it may have looked like I was pressing forward and moving on, but on the inside I felt like I was imploding. However, looking back in order to better serve those embarking on their transition, also helps me realize how far I've come and what is possible for those considering the transition or going through it now...with less pain, confusion, and suffering. That is why I CHOOSE to take myself back to 2016.

While it should not have taken two years of a self pity party to pull myself up and out of a depressive state, where I asked myself daily, "Who am I? What am I supposed to do?  What is wrong with me? There has to be more to life than this, right?" It did. And the three things I discuss in this episode that helped my transition FINALLY start going a little smoother were: 1. Acceptance 2. Community 3. Getting out of your comfort zone.

Which of these did you/are you struggling with the most?

If you are struggling with one or all three, please feel free to schedule a FREE 30-minute discovery call here and we can chat to see if we're a good fit to help you work through your transition.

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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First and foremost, I would like to thank Michael A. Bailey, Sr.- CPP®  for his service to our great nation is the US Air Force, especially this week as we remember the horrific events of 9/11, then for his service to his community. 

Mike started his law enforcement career as a civil service deputy in Rural Iowa, then moved onto being a patrol deputy who loved getting impaired drivers off the road, and then spent some time in investigations…including a promotion to sergeant, then back to the road as a sergeant, which was his favorite role. 

Not only had he achieved all the goals he’d set for his career, he also got to a point where his body had taken a beating and he began looking to transition. After 17 years on the job, he decided to give his body a break and transition to the private sector. He has now been out for 10 years and through his transition to corporate security, he rediscovered a passion for writing and has had two articles published in Security Management Magazine, through ASIS. 

His reminder to you is that you are more than “just a cop.” Never stop learning and never stop growing. 

Be sure to give Mike a follow on LinkedIn and reach out to him if his story resonates with you. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

Send us Fan Mail

In law enforcement, we expect the unexpected ALL night EVERY night, throughout our shift.

We are trained to adapt and handle ANY situation the streets throws at us; and we do so without hesitation, making the best decision we can, with what we have at the moment.

Why is it then that we have expectations for our lives/careers, that when life throws a curveball at us, we lose it? We feel lost and out of control, despite handling the unexpected so easily when it is dealing with others.

In this episode, I talk about the power of expecting the unexpected. Preparing yourself through visualization, just as they taught us in the academy... to mentally prepare for any situation we might encounter.

The truth is, none of us know what tomorrow holds and we NEVER know when our career may come to an end and we have to figure out what life after law enforcement looks like. I'd rather help you prepare for that day, versus let it smack you in the face like it did me. The added stress of looking for a new job, ensuring bills are paid, and healing...on top of losing your career CAN be A LOT...too much for some and I need you to know I am here for you and have your back.

If you want to chat about preparing for life after law enforcement or you're feeling stuck in your career/the transition out, book a FREE call with me here. No strings attached, just a conversation with someone who's been there, done that. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

Send us Fan Mail

There are a lot of reasons we get into Law Enforcement, but hearing Justin say that watching the events of 9/11 unfold and seeing the heroes run toward the chaos vs everyone else running away as his reason, gave me chills.

He moved back to the US from Canada shortly after 9/11, where he started as a Community Services Officer in Washington State, then went on to become a deputy at a local county. He served as patrol, FTO, K-9, detective, and on several task force spots.

He’s been through some shit, including ambush attacks and co-worker suicides, and PROACTIVELY sought help to deal with it.  #endthestigma

He used the FOP free college benefit to get his Bachelors degree, while he served as a detective, and is now getting his Masters in Military & Emergency Responder Psychology.

He has successfully transitioned out of Law Enforcement…about 13 months ago…after serving 20 years and is now doing Ethics Law Investigations, working from home, with his K-9 partner by his side.  He also described himself as an avid hiker/meditator and he loves to travel, especially outside the US.

FUN FACT about Justin…he and his K-9 partner were featured on the Discovery Channel show ‘Dark Woods Justice, “The chase.”

Be sure to follow Justin on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND  @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review. 

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift