Titans of Transition

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Discover the secrets to navigating career transitions from Sharon Belden Castonguay, the Executive Director of the Career Center at Wesleyan University, as she shares invaluable insights from her multifaceted career journey. Uncover the power of leveraging your unique strengths to stand out in any field while understanding the dynamic process of identity evolution. Sharon's personal experiences shed light on the often conflicting societal expectations and personal aspirations that shape our professional paths.

Explore the pressures and complexities faced by students and parents in the competitive college admissions landscape. We'll discuss how early decision-making can stifle experimentation and the importance of genuine experiences to truly confirm career aspirations. Learn why visibility and perceived stability of certain careers like medicine and law often overshadow equally viable but less recognized fields such as cybersecurity, and how the illusion of job security plays a role in these choices.

Gain practical advice on building resilience and adaptability for career satisfaction. From hands-on experiences to the journey of skill development, Sharon highlights the necessity of early self-reflection and continuous evaluation of personal and professional goals. Through personal anecdotes, we delve into the challenges of drastic career shifts and emphasize the importance of professional networking. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to achieve fulfillment and adaptability in today's ever-evolving job market.

Sharon's TEDx talk
The Psychology of Career Decisions

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Unlocking Worship Guitar Mastery: Insights From Leading Artists

Join host Joe Miller in a must-watch episode of Titans of Transition as he dives into the world of worship guitar with some of his favorite worship guitar artists. This insightful discussion covers career transitions, discovering and using personal gifts, and achieving fulfillment in one's career and life.  In this special episode focused on worship music Joe assembled a panel of some of his favorite seasoned guitarists who share their journeys, techniques, gear recommendations, and tips for playing in worship settings. Learn how to balance gear and creativity while maintaining a heart of worship. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced musician, this episode offers practical advice on mastering your craft and enhancing your worship sound.

The interview panel:
Justin Chan: @AllAboutWorshipGuitar
Matthew Dale: @mathew_dale
Jason Houtsma: @worshipartistry
Charl Coetzee: @WorshipGuitarSkills
Sam Wittek: @SamWittek
Tyler Miller: @tylermillerguitar

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In this episode of Titans of Transition, host Joe engages Nicole Calhoun in a deep conversation about the intricacies of career development, self-discovery, and overcoming challenges in the professional landscape. Nicole shares her journey from being a software engineer to embracing roles in project management, IT,  risk management, and eventually finding her passion in speaking, coaching and leadership development. She emphasizes the importance of trying new things, building networks, showing up as one's full self in the workplace, and the instrumental role of executive presence in career advancement.

Nicole's stories and insights offer valuable guidance for anyone feeling stuck in their career, seeking to understand their next steps or looking to transition into new roles. Her experiences with diverse roles, including unexpected ventures like selling children's party supplies, underscore the belief that no experience is wasted and every step can be a stepping stone towards something greater.

If you would like to contact Nicole the best way it to message her on LinkedIn.  Here's her profile page.

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Knowing and leveraging your natural, innate strengths leads to greater success in work and life!

Join Amy Bruske, the president of Kolbe Corp, and I as we discuss the importance of personal wiring for success. The interview provides insights into different personality assessment tools, with a focus on the Kolbe Index. Amy explains the distinct benefits of the Kolbe system and its unique approach to understanding cognitive strengths and the conative part of the mind. She also shares her personal career journey and how understanding her own Kolbe results changed her career. The conversation highlights how understanding one’s personal wiring can aid in career decisions and how using systems like Kolbe can improve not only personal performance but also team dynamics and longevity in a role or career.  - Joe  @TitanCoach

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Revive Your Career: Building Trust and Strengthening Relationships at Work

Feeling stuck or unappreciated at work? This video offers actionable advice on developing healthier relationships with your superiors to aid your career growth. Using an experience from Joe's own career, it explores the concept of the 'Emotional Bank Account', a model put forth by Stephen Covey. The speaker suggests shifting perspectives from trying to get bosses to listen to us, to trying to understand them and their needs. This shift can grow your account balance, develop trust and foster stronger relationships in the workplace. This practical tactic, applicable to anyone, regardless of the number of years spent working, might be simple, but is often overlooked and could be the key to unlocking career growth. Comments and suggestions for future video topics are welcomed.

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Discover the three secrets to success from Gabe Peterson, a true powerhouse in both his career and personal life. From conquering ultra races in the Alps on minimal sleep to reaching the pinnacle of his professional journey, Gabe reveals his winning approach. Join us as we delve into the world of individualism, self-control, and unlocking your true potential. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation with Gabe Peterson on the Titans of Transition Podcast. Subscribe now for more incredible interviews and insights!

Video Version

Gabe's Youtube Channel

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Gabe Peterson, an accomplished ultra runner and a high-level IT leader, shares his journey in both worlds in this episode of Titans of Transition. Gabe constantly seeks out new challenges, whether it's running a 200-mile race or launching a major business project. Gabe's approach centers around setting lofty long-term goals and then breaking them down into manageable, bite-sized objectives. He discusses how these strategic actions and mindset translated into his successful career in IT management. While sharing his insights, Gabe emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey, staying humble, and always committing to a growth mindset. Gabe's story is both inspiring and instructive, offering valuable advice for achieving success in any field.

Gabe's YouTube Channel
Gabe's LinkedIn Profile

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Ever dreamt of making a dramatic career shift? Our guest for today, Justin Chan, did exactly that! From a successful chemical engineer to a full-time worship guitarist and music teacher, Justin's journey is both inspiring and thought-provoking. Tune in as we delve into his unique career transition and how he fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a rockstar. His experiences at the Methodist School of Music and his commitment to various church training programs in Singapore reflect his dedication to his craft and music ministry.

What does a typical day for a full-time worship musician look like? Justin takes us through his multi-faceted roles, sharing how he balances band training, concert music arrangement, and reviewing footage of churches' worship services. He also shares his adaptability in navigating the pandemic, leveraging digital platforms like YouTube and Zoom to continue his ministry work and keep the music alive. From sharing video seminars to creating worship music videos, Justin's commitment to the ministry remains unwavering amidst changing times.

Finally, we unravel the realities of full-time music ministry with Justin. It's not just about creating music; it involves budget management, report writing, and decision-making for equipment purchases. Justin offers his insights on making the right career moves, understanding the difference between gifts and skills, and making choices that honor our responsibilities. This enlightening conversation with Justin Chan is not just for those considering a career in music ministry, but for anyone seeking inspiration from a unique career journey. Join us, and let's explore the power of passion and purpose together.

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Ever wonder what it's like to use the universal language of music to connect with audiences and transform strangers into friends? Accomplished pianist and composer, Kelsey Lee Cate, takes us on a journey, sharing her experience of utilizing music as a bridge to reach beyond borders and create a sense of community. Kelsey lets us into her world of classical training, her adventures with improvisation, and the unique, often emotional, atmospheres she creates with her music, capturing the hearts of her audience in venues as diverse as restaurants, churches, and malls.

Our conversation also touches on an inspiring story of a young girl named Meryl, and how Kelsey's music acted as a bridge, connecting her to Meryl and many others. Kelsey's exploration into live streaming and collaborations has expanded her network and infused her creativity with new energy. She lets us in on her innovative projects, including a riveting live-streamed dueling piano performance and the recording of personalized songs, all aimed at enhancing connection through her music.

As we wrap up our conversation, we spotlight Kelsey's collaboration with pianist Jason Lux, providing a sneak peek into their inspiring improvisations on classics such as 'Edelweiss' and 'Favorite Things'. We also get a glimpse of Kelsey's upcoming endeavors, including interviewing inspiring folks, creating music videos, hosting house concerts, and crafting custom songs. This heartfelt discussion with Kelsey Lee Kate is sure to inspire you to appreciate the power of music in connecting people and creating community. Come, tune in, and let the music in.

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Ever wondered how musicians navigate the modern music industry and create sustainable careers? Join me as we sit down with John Nathan Cordy, a UK-based working guitarist, who shares invaluable insights into his experiences with both traditional and contemporary approaches in the industry. From getting signed and playing in function bands to touring and creating online content, John opens up about the various income streams that come with his line of work, such as YouTube ad revenue, Patreon, donations, and gear presets.

Dive into John's daily life as a working musician and discover the importance of maintaining balance by taking breaks from work. Listen as he shares his creative process, the role YouTube plays in his music career, and valuable advice for younger musicians looking to connect with more experienced industry professionals. Additionally, we discuss how having an intentional workflow and consistency can help develop mastery in any field.

Tune in as we explore John's journey as a musician, how he dials in his guitar tones with different modelers, and the ongoing debate between amp versus modelers. Learn how he monetizes his videos and the advice he offers to others seeking their own unique musical voice. Don't miss this engaging and informative episode filled with valuable insights and tips for aspiring and established musicians alike.

Joe Miller

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