Careers and Cash Flow: Recent Episodes
Dalan Vanterpool
A groovy personal finance podcast that helps professionals connect their career moves to their wealth goals. We teach you the skills needed to build a meaningful career that leads to more time, money and freedom.
Consider this a behind the scenes (mic) episode. We're in the middle of a transition and want you know what's happening. For more, connect with Dalan below. Social media (@dalanvanterpool) and web links: Twitter: twitter.com/dalanvanterpool Instagram: instagram.com/dalanvanterpool Facebook: facebook.com/dalanvanterpool LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dalanvanterpool Website: dalanvanterpool.com
Hello 2021! So many great things to share. I'm technically not supposed to be on the mic so please listen to this before someone on the team tries to take it down. Haha I'm sneaking in here with a quick update on what's been going on behind the scenes, with special peek at the new book that's dropping...soon. Also for anyone who ever thought about attempting something that seemed impossible, I've got some useful reflections from the book writing process for you. We appreciate your support. In the meanwhile, chew on the 200+ episodes, blog posts and videos available at dalanv.com. Listen in for more details, and we'll see you soon. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv
Hi there! I’ll admit today’s episode is a bit odd. It’s more of an update really, with a power tip at the end. We’re taking a step back to make several steps forward. For the month of November we’ll hit pause with two main objectives, amongst a list of other tasks. First up is wrapping up the book project, “No Boss, Only Clients”… unless a different title suddenly rises like hot bread on a rainy day. Second, we’ll be catching up on the back log of guests who want to be featured on the show. No doubt, taking this break has been an extremely difficult decision as we’ve be on the air each week for years now. However, I’d rather keep up the quality. Thank you for understanding and we appreciate your support. In the meanwhile, chew on the 200+ episodes, blog posts and videos available at dalanv.com. Listen in for more details, and we'll see you soon. Have a powerful month! Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with the host on Twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with the show on Twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv
We interrupt the regularly scheduled program for this important message about you. In this uncut straight talk episode, Dalan drops some heavy truths about the relationship you have with your job. Many people let what happens at the office seep into their subconscious and inform their ability to add value to the world outside that corporate structure. News flash: YOU ARE MORE. Learn how to recalibrate the interaction between your career and mission. More on the inside so tune in. Warning: Headphones recommended for this one. Do not play this out loud at the office! :) Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv
Today we continue our breakdown on financial statement essentials, looking at how a Cash Flow Statement actually works. Understanding this statement will enable you to pose more insightful questions about a company’s performance and avoid being fooled by flashy numbers like sales and net income. The golden question: What happened to cash? If you have specific questions send them to hello@careersandcashflow.com or hit us on the socials so we can answer them in a follow-up episode. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: www.buymeacoffee.com/dalanv
Today we continue our breakdown on financial statement essentials, looking at how an income statement actually works. Yes, at the most basic level, it’s Revenue minus Expenses, but we will show you some nuances that can help you get a better understanding of what’s happening in a company. Hint: There are many answers to the question, “How much money did they make?”. If you have specific questions send them to hello@careersandcashflow.com or hit us on the socials so we can answer them in a follow-up episode. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Time to geek out! If you want to master money you need to gain a certain level of comfort with numbers and financial information. Over the next few episodes, we will teach you the basics of how to understand the main financial statements. This is useful when making investment decisions and managing your personal finances. Today’s lesson covers the balance sheet and the main accounting equation: ASSETS = LIABILITIES + EQUITY If you have specific questions send them to hello@careersandcashflow.com or hit us on the socials so we can answer them in a follow up episode. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
The number of sources spewing good and not so good financial information can be overwhelming. On this episode, we will show you 10+ sources where you can find useful information for your personal finance and investing decisions. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
In today’s episode we step back and look at what we are really trying to accomplish. This answer will be different for each person so it’s important to let your definition guide you. What’s your finish line? Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
If you’ve spent any time on the internet recently there’s a good chance you’ve been hit by 1 or 1,000 ads asking you to join a Forex (foreign exchange) trading scheme as the latest way to get rich quickly. Not surprisingly, these promotions spiked during the current pandemic while many people are stuck at home, desperate for a way to make money. Today we keep it quick and dirty with a hot take on whether these schemes are legitimate and how likely you are to become wealthy by joining the club. Warning: Catch figures, not feelings today. 🙂 Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
On this episode, we explain the way dividends work including how you can use them to start building passive (automated) income. We start by debunking some common misunderstandings about stocks and dividends. Following that, you will learn the four key dates to know for navigating dividends. To wrap up, we discuss three dividend types including one you may not think of immediately. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Stock splits are a relatively common action companies take where the trading price of the stock is divided and shareholders receive additional shares. The total value of the shares remains the same, but the price and number of shares outstanding change. At the time of this recording in August 2020, some big-name companies such as Apple and Tesla are less than two weeks away from executing stock splits. In this episode, we explain how it works and what you need to consider in deciding whether to make a move before or after the split. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
If you ever have the chance to observe a baby grow over an extended period of time, you may start to identify some of the same behaviours you see in your adult self or other adults. Today we look at five baby behaviours that are hindering your career and financial goals. Time to grow up! Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Do you just save money or invest it as well? If you’re only saving, then chances are you’re quietly losing money.
As a rough example, if your saving account is paying 1% interest, but inflation is growing at 3%, then you are effectively losing 2% each year. For this reason, money-minded people invest a portion of their money to keep up with and hopefully beat the effect of inflation.
Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Taking your financial status to a new level can feel a lot like moving to a foreign country. You will find that people have different habits here and speak a different language. Let’s start working on crucial vocabulary so you can navigate the financial streets like a boss! Today we explore the difference between a stock market and a stock index. Next week, we look at how you can tap into these to start earning income and value. Essential financial education for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Welcome to the 6th and final (for now at least) part of the Own A Home? series. So far we have covered why this conversation even matters, whether you should buy, build or keep renting, how to get a bank loan approved, working with real estate agents and much more. Here in part 6, we jump into some legal considerations around different ways to structure the deal. Should you own the property in your name or place it as an asset inside a company or other structure? If you buying with a spouse or partner, how do you make sure each person owns the right percentage and protects their interest in the property? *Important Disclaimer* This is for informational purposes only and should NOT be considered official legal advice. Laws and regulations differ by country and jurisdiction, so be sure to consult a qualified lawyer familiar with how things work in your location. Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
On part 5 of the Own A Home? series we bring you the inside secrets to working with a real estate agent to choose the right property for you. Our guest today is Kathleen Vega (full bio here), a real estate agent serving clients in Panamá. On the inside: * Learn how to spot red flags and choose a good agent. * Get an agent's perspective on how close a winning deal. * What to look for when she process and understand. * Understand how to navigate a home-buying fair/convention * What can increase the value of a property and make it easier to rent or sell.
Connect with Kathleen here: Web: www.kathleenvega.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenvegapa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenvegapa Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
New Name? Focus The Fire podcast has been a fun, evolving project over the past 4 years. Now with more clarity, we are refocusing and making adjustments to help our name and branding line up with the content. We want to help professionals like you connect your career moves with your wealth goals. In this special episode, Dalan gives you the story behind the 2020 rebranding to Careers and Cash Flow and what you can expect from the “new” show. Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @careersandCF www.twitter.com/careersandCF Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Before we can seriously talk about investing, let’s get your finances under control with 10 easy ways to save money. Working in accounting and banking for the past 10 years, you get to see the range of ways people manage to make and lose money. This episode is a brief summary of the top things to avoid and rules to follow. If you have any questions or suggestions drop a comment below or connect on twitter. Question of the day: What’s the most money you have ever been able to save? Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
In part 2 of the Own A Home? series we dive into the decision to rent or own. There isn’t always a simple right answer to this question. In this discussion, we explore the pros, cons and other considerations you should weigh when deciding whether you should keep renting or buy/build a home. Question of the day: Do believe it’s better to rent or own? Essential financial advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Owning your first house can be a challenging and intimidating idea for young professionals. In this series, we walk you through the process from mindset to closing the deal, with insights from bankers, builders and real estate agents. Making this first move correctly can trigger the start of a building serious real estate wealth and a set of assets that produce money for generations in your family. If you have specific questions about homeownership send them to dalan@focusthefire.com or on twitter @dalanv. This may also get you a shout out on the podcast! Question of the day: What’s the biggest thing stopping you from owning your first home? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Today we hit pause on the usual conversation to amplify a pressing message that is rocking countries around the world. For centuries unjust practices around racism and colonialism have allowed empires to be built on the backs of oppressed people. The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and countless others in the United States have boiled to the point of global protests. Problems of police brutality, income inequality and racism are certainly not unique to that country. In the Caribbean and further abroad, the remains of these systems continue. Internally people of colour also wrestle with colourism where lighter shades are viewed or consider themselves superior to darker hues. Today our message is simple. Equality, not Pity. Our hope is that all shades and colours of humanity come together to rid our societies of these foolish beliefs and the systems they fuel. #podcastblackout Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
How do you rapidly increase your ability to deliver excellent work and get enough traction to earn the attention of the people who need to notice? You can spend loads of time thinking, studying, planning and theorising about the best practices, or you can start producing. The tough part is accepting that all the work you produce especially in the early stages will not be your best. It may not match up to the other masters of the craft that you admire. You may not be 100% proud but to grow faster, create and produce more. Question of the day: What will you commit to producing more of this year? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
This is an important message for everyone at risk of losing hope in their dreams. If you’re frustrated with the pace of progress and wondering if the success you long for will ever become real, take a few minutes and listen to this message. Question of the day: What are you believing for? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
In case it’s not obvious yet, remote work and online meetings are now a larger part of doing business. The extent of this may very well reduce when(ever) things calm down, but right now video calls via platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx and others are connecting the world. Today we teach you how to avoid some huge fails and present yourself better than the average person online. 1. Dress like a professional - Let the context of the meeting dictate or attire, not your location. 2. Manage the camera angle - A laptop on a desk with a camera shooting up your nose may not be the most flattering angle. Get a box or stack some books to get the camera closer to eye level so you can sit up straight and look at the camera. Consider ditching the built in camera for a decent web cam with 1080p or at least 720p resolution. 3. Look at the camera when you speak, not the screen - To make eye contact with your audience on a video call, look at the camera rather than eyes of whoever you’re talking to. 4. Lighting - Good lighting can go a long way to making you look good, even on a fairly basic camera. Consider sitting near a window with natural sunlight at your side or shining toward your face. Invest in at least on portable light. 5. Audio - Wear headphone to avoid being that person causing annoying feedback on the call. If you want to sound even better, invest in a reasonable USB headset or USB microphone. You want something that say DYNAMIC microphone, not a condenser which is likely to pick up too many little background noises. (Sorry Blue Yeti people, not today.)
Bonus: Join the call early to test your video and audio settings. Tech glitches happen sometimes, but do your part to avoid them like a pro. Question of the day: What's maximum number of video calls or online meetings you’ve had in one day? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanvanterpool.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Let’s talk about why you’re still underpaid and how to negotiate pay and benefits to earn your worth. Are you being paid what you’re worth? Have you thought about asking for more but the idea of that awkward conversation makes you scared or nervous? If you want to learn how smart executives negotiate better compensation you need to listen to these tactics from Denise Liebetrau. She explains how negotiating for more rewards is so much wider than a single conversation, and gives bonus tips on how to boost your executive presence and move like someone that actually deserves serious compensation. Who is Denise Lebetrau? Denise Liebetrau is a HR Consultant, who partners with business leaders, to get the people and performance metrics in place to maximize profit and impact. She is also a Career & Salary Negotiation Coach that helps professionals get paid what they are worth and have careers aligned to their values. Connect with Denise for more coaching, resources and tips Website and services: ProsperConsultingLLC.com Social Media: prosperconsultingllc.com/connect Question of the day: Is there anything about negotiating compensation that makes you uncomfortable? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
When it comes to investing, you need to be clear on your goals for each dollar. Before you put a dollar to work, determine the job description. This is the only way you can really assess whether it doing what you want it to do correctly. In investment banking, the first conversation with a client usually involves some form of the question: What are your objectives? To put it another way, what goals are you trying to accomplish here and what’s your timeline / investment horizon? In this episode we discuss the three (3) main reasons people invest. 1. Cash flow 2. Value appreciation 3. Leverage
Question of the day: What's your main investment goal right now: cash flow, value appreciation or leverage? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.dalanv.com/podcast Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Are you working remotely? The current state of affairs in the world has many office goers figuring out the fun and follies of working remotely. As much as people complain about Mondays, traffic and annoying coworkers, it’s interesting to note the mixed reviews around this new found freedom. Today we discuss the quirks for working from home and reflect on a related article from Bloomberg describing the plight of people trying to preserve boundaries between work life and personal life. This was recorded with a live Twitter/Periscope audience. Article: Three Hours Longer, the Pandemic Workday Has Obliterated Work-Life Balance Question of the day: What do you like or hate most about working from home? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
You’ve seen or heard it before. Some colleague in the office starts reading self-development books and too many fake deep quotes on instagram about living life on your own terms and being an entrepreneur versus a lame employee. They may even listen to podcasts like this and take things slightly out of context. Yea…don’t be that person in the office. Today let’s do some house keeping about how you can share your enthusiasm and enlightenment, without disrespecting the choices others make about their career. Question of the day: What’s the biggest mental shift you are making this quarter? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are 5 more, plus a special free bonus resource at the end. 16. Update your resumé 17. Actually write down your goals and a game plan 18. Make a career development plan for the next 3 years 19. Use the disruption to show your value as a leader using technology 20. Earn promotion points by still delivering results for your team Question of the day: Which tips are you executing first and what would you add to the list? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are 5 more, plus a special free bonus resource at the end. 11. Replace the time you would spend getting dressed or sitting in traffic with specific tasks 12. Shut-up and meditate 13. Work on YOUR business 14. Fix your LinkedIn and other social media profiles 15. Network - Call, message and reconnect Question of the day: How are you using your quarantine time? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are the first 5, plus a special free bonus resource at the end. 6. Write and publish an article related to your craft or industry 7. Record a video or podcast about a relevant topic (for example the one you just researched in #5) 8. Keep a daily quarantine journal to document the experience, new ideas and insights 9. Learn a new skill that can generate money or be a hobby (coding, photography, graphic design) 10. Develop a regular home exercise routine Question of the day: How are you using your quarantine time? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
With COVID-19 gripping the world, many countries are ordering voluntary and in some cases involuntary home quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. This extreme social distancing creates many new challenges for economies, businesses, school and people. It also opens up excellent opportunities for people who leverage the time wisely. Some persons are complaining about being bored, but starting today and into the following weeks we are giving you 20 ways to maximise social distance time and come out of this mess like a boss. Here are the first 5, plus a special free bonus resource at the end. 1. Take a free or paid online course 2. Work on a professional certification 3. Re-discover the lost art of reading 4. Listen to audiobooks and podcasts 5. Research a topic and go deep on developing a robust understanding
Question of the day: How are you using your quarantine time? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
LinkedIn is one of the most powerful yet under used career networking tools available. You get free access to tools and features that can jump start new relationships, build a brand, and help you land that next big job. To help you get the most out of LinkedIn we called in the expert who literally wrote the book on How to Write a Killer LinkedIn profile. Brenda Bernstein is on the mic telling us how she went from Sesame Street, to Yale, to building a business around helping smart executives like you communicate their career through LinkedIn and professional resumés. What’s inside? * Should your summary be in the first or third person? * Biggest mistakes people make on LinkedIn * Creating a multi-language profile * How should your LinkedIn profile be identical to your resumé? * What will make you profile stand out * Taking online relationships offline * …and much more
Connect with Brenda www.TheEssayExpert.com www.TheExecutiveExpert.com www.KillerLinkedInProfile.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendabernstein Click Here for full show notes and $25 of your professional LinkedIn review from Brenda's team. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
It’s no secret that women have been making a serious impact inside and outside the corporate world for centuries. Fortunately, it seems the value of this work is starting to get the recognition, and hopefully compensation it deserves. We’ve been celebrating women on Focus The Fire for many years by making space to share their brilliant stories with the world. Today in honour of International Women’s Day, we flashback to one of those moments featuring Jamila Abston, CPA, partner at EY and true professional rock star. Question of the day: What can we do to level the playing field for women? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
How do people “suddenly” accomplish great things? Sometimes it seems like they pop up out of nowhere with recorded albums, a thriving business, international awards, powerful careers and even published books. Do they possess some superior intelligence not accessible to the rest of us? Do they have more hours in a day or significantly less responsibilities jostling for their attention? In most cases I believe the answer is no, or at least they actively make the answer a no. Let me explain. The problem likely is not that you lack intelligence. In fact, your intelligence may be the very thing fuelling your rampant curiosity and ambitions to explore multiple interesting paths. As a result, shifting amongst these mental and sometimes physical excursions eats away at your time each day. You’ve convinced yourself that each one is a worthy cause and eligible for your immediate attention. To become great at something, to produce brilliant work, for a certain period at least, we have to forsake some other curiosities and unleash extreme focus on the task at hand. This is the bitter price of focus. Related article: http://bit.ly/397ieIl Question of the day: How will you pay the price? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Let’s be brutally honest here. Besides the fluffy talk about fulfilling dreams and helping humanity, you’re working because you want to get paid. That may not be the only reason, but it’s a crucial component otherwise you would be running around hunting for a full-time volunteer position. People will keep showing up at a job for years even though their personal or professional aspirations aren’t being fed, but let the money stop and see how quickly things escalate. But wait a minute, is compensation only about money? Not to downplay the facts here, because money matters. Still, I believe it’s a sign of maturity when you step to the negotiation table demanding more than cash. I want to challenge you think more broadly about compensation beyond just the usual salary and bonus. In this episode we discuss 4 non-cash payments to consider when negotiating. Question of the day: What other great non-cash payments would you add to this list? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
So yes, there’s your job description or whatever. It’s important to hit those points. However, just meeting expectations is a slow path to success. There are skills and talents inside you that just need a little courage and creativity to help you leverage them for career success. You can spend years competing with people on their own terms, or go around them quietly by creating your own lane. Activate your zone of greatness and use it to add value to the organisation. In today’s episode we offer some real life examples to inspire your own game plan. Have a listen and let us know what out-of-office skill you can start bringing to work! Question of the day: What secret skill have you been hiding from your main job? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
In the game of money, interested rates rule the field. A weak understanding can make you lose big or miss huge opportunities. A great career is even better when you can take the money you earn and know how to make it work for you. Today we take you through some common interest concepts that you will encounter when buying a car, a house, investing, or even choosing a bank account. We included a useful article on annual percentage rates at the show notes page: dalanv.com/166-interest-rate-basics Question of the day: If you have $10,000 to invest where would you put it? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
So you’re working hard to build that career and earn money to pay for things that matter to you. School, food, vacation, family expenses, healthcare, potato salad, etc. Today we’re giving you 5 common fees to understand when you decide to put that money to work by investing. 5 Common Investment Fees To Know 1. Management fee 2. Performance fee 3. Early exit fee 4. Account management fee 5. Transaction fee
These fees go by different names so pay attention to how they work. Also I’m not (legally) your financial advisor so be sure to do your own research and ask questions. Other investment education resources: investopedia.com seekingalpha.com bloomberg.com Question of the day: What’s one question you’ve always wanted to ask about personal finance? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
A big part of get a high level position in a company is proving your commitment to the organisation’s long term objectives. Young ambitious professionals often lack the perspective of being the boss who has to decide whether they should take a risk on someone with a promotion or salary increase. In their head, they are weighing whether you will be around adding value for a long time, or if they will have to go through this process with someone else in a year after you get the first bonus cheque and buy a car. Today we discuss one power tip on signalling that you are ready to join executive leadership. Question of the day: What can you do to prove your level of commitment? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Successful careers are built on manual control rather than autopilot. Your ability to recognise when things need attention and make the right adjustments is crucial to building a meaningful career with more time, money and freedom. Today’s guest, Kanika Tolver, specialises in helping professionals repair, or as she would say, “rehab” their careers. If you’re looking to advance in your industry or make a transition this conversation is for you. Who is Kanika Tolver? Kanika is a highly decorated information technology Federal Government professional, rebel entrepreneur and Certified Professional Coach. Kanika is a serial innovator who’s fueled by an extraordinary commitment to social change and helping others create their own “epic lives.” She’s also the CEO and Founder of Career Rehab, LLC in Washington, DC. Career Rehab focuses on assisting career transformations for students, professionals and retirees. The company provides career coaching programs, events, webinars, and digital resources to help people reach their career goals. What’s inside? * A glimpse into Kanika’s latest book, Career Rehab: Rebuild Your Personal Brand and Rethink the Way You Work. * Building and leveraging your personal brand * How to be a brand, not an employee * Navigating corporate spaces with your brand * How to Get Paid Now and earn money, power, and respect * Power tips for women and minorities in business
… and much more! Connect with Kanika Website: http://kanikatolver.com https://twitter.com/KanikaTolver https://www.facebook.com/KanikaRTolver/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanikatolver/ https://www.instagram.com/kanikatolver/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ktolver/ Get the new book Career Rehab: https://amzn.to/30Ad2sS Other book recommendations from Kanika: 21 Laws of Leadership - John Maxwell | https://amzn.to/2RanhRG The Gifts of Imperfection - Brené Brown | https://amzn.to/2NEcTiU Daring Greatly - Brené Brown | https://amzn.to/30B3HBf Question of the day: What part of your career needs the most rehab? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
There are some mental barriers that keep smart professionals from breaking the mould and generating income outside their traditional salary. On this episode of Focus The Fire: * Some of the most common challenges to generating secondary income * How to overcome those challenges * How to start earning at least $100 per day outside your main job
Question of the day: What’s your $100 thing? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Last year I realised that I wasn’t thinking big enough in many areas. To be clear, I really thought I was thinking big, but that wasn’t reflected in many areas of my life, career and business. You see it’s no enough just to have big dreams. We have to match those desires with an operational framework that can sustain that growth. Being exposed to different client negotiations over the year has been extremely useful in learning how people react to price and perceived value. With those lessons in mind the broad theme for the year 2020 is “No More Small Talk: Don’t drop your price, raise these instead”. In this powerful episode I’ll share insights on the three most crucial things you should work on raising this year to experience more personal and professional rewards: 1. Skills, 2. Communication, 3. Clients. Question of the day: What do you need to upgrade the most: skills, communication or clients? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
What a year! As 2019 comes to a close we spent some time reflecting on the best practices to increase your chances of massive success in 2020. Here are 5 crucial things to do in 2020. What else would you add? 1. Stop self-rejecting 2. Take more action 3. Learn while doing 4. Keep good energy 5. Give yourself permission to be a beginner
Question of the day: What changes are you making in 2020 to boost your career? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
The first step to building your side hustle is figuring out what you will offer the market. Today we explore two strategies to help you generate ideas and choose one or two areas to focus. Strategy 1 Make a list of skills or other things you can use to generate additional income. Separate them into three groups as follows: 1. Things you can do/monetise right now 2. Things you can improve or build, then monetise 3. Things you can learn how to do
Strategy 2 Look at what tasks and products people are already using to generate income. Browse gig websites like Fiverr and Upwork to see what people are paying for. You may consider joining the gig / freelance economy through these channels to get some experience, or launching your own distribution channel. Question of the day: What’s something you want to monetise? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Reflecting on the things that really made a positive difference this year, I realised that it kept coming back to the same theme: Overcome self-doubt and do things you never did before. On this episode I share the back story how I ended up presenting my first career training webinar a in December 2019. Question of the day: What have you been talking yourself out of doing? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Growing your career at faster than the average pace requires building relationships with decision makers. These people can be a catalyst to your progress and get you seats at tables that would otherwise be inaccessible. In this episode we provide you six practical tips for networking with high level executives. How do you get connected with powerful people? 1. Research their interests. 2. Lead with value. Save time, make money, build a bridge. 3. Secretaries and personal assistants are the gate keepers! 4. Office parties and social events are prime time. 5. BAM FAM - Book a meeting, From a meeting. 6. Can I walk with you to your next meeting?
Question of the day: Which tip are you going apply first? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Today we continue the money conversation looking at the kinds of limiting beliefs you’ll need to shed to find success on the journey ahead. It’s a flashback to episode 61 that will set up some things are discussing over the next month. Special Announcement On Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 2PM EST I’ll be the guest presenter for the team at Whats Next! Join us for this free webinar and learn how to level up your career over the next two years. Click here for more info and to reserve your seat. Question of the day: What’s the craziest thing you’ve heard about money? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
The people you see winning aren’t necessarily better or smarter than you. However, they are producing more output. Hi, name is Dalan and as President of the Perfectionists and Overthinkers Association I’d like to welcome you to this meeting. Today we talk about reconfiguring your mind for success and getting unstuck. Question of the day: What have you been second guessing yourself on lately? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Trying to figure out your entire life or career in one mouthful can be intimidating. Taking such a long view can also make you feel like you’re not making progress. Here’s a different approach. Divide your career into seasons and episodes similar to a series on Netflix (a good one). What is the main movement you will make happen in the story during this season? What will we learn about the main character (you)? Is there a pivotal episode that will have everyone talking? Question of the day: What’s the big thing that you want to happen in the this season of your career? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Income augmentation sounds fun and exciting but it’s important to be sure you build these income streams the right way. In this episode we talk strategy. Learn what you need to think about before and during the construction of your empire. These five tips are especially crucial if you plan to do this while maintaining your main job. Remember, you don’t need to quit your job to be an entrepreneur. In fact that steady base salary can free you from a load of pressure as you build the other income streams. 5 Tips for Building More Income Streams 1. Cows aren’t always sexy. BCG growth matrix. 2. Resist the urge to start everything at the same time. 3. Results are worth more than talking points. 4. Build smart and sustainable. 5. Document processes and create systems.
Question of the day: Which income building tip was your favourite? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Today we dive into how you can start augmenting your income. Yes you could start a huge business, create a new game changing app or be the next Warren Buffet. That can happen eventually, but let’s say you want to start with an extra few thousand dollars each month, as in this month. Can you monetize something that you currently have or know? Freedom is earned in phases so let’s look at how you can take some smaller steps now to get the money momentum rolling. Question of the day: What is one thing you have or know that can be monitized today? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
At some point in your career you may decided to leave your parents house or stop renting apartments. You want to buy a house. This is a big deal, and we want to make sure you are well-prepared to navigate the process. At this point I’ve purchased homes in three countries, and been involved with the bank financing for numerous other homes, commercial properties and even private islands. Here are some potholes to avoid so you come out like a champ! 1. Take time and don’t rush the process. 2. Get something manageable. 3. This does not have to be your dream house. 4. Understand the financing terms. 5. Investigate the developers and warrantees. 6. Run calculations on the purchase and cost of living. 7. Take your time furnishing the house. 8. Study the market and consider how long you plan to stay.
Question of the day: Which home buying tip did you find most useful? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
It’s been 150 episodes. Whew! Hard to believe sometimes, looking back at the years. Today we reflect on some lessons learned, and share our focus for this next evolution. We are still giving you the essential advice you need to build a career that leads to more time, money, and freedom. Now we are about to lean in on this money thing so you can make career decisions based on what’s best, not what you can afford. Question of the day: What questions do you have about money and personal finance? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Welcome to the final episode of season 1 in our Caribbean Wisdom Series. This season we are featuring brilliant minds from the British Virgin Islands. Today’s guest, Sachkia Barnes, brings hope and a path for those of you who may be in a job that you don’t love. Learn how to use freelancing as a way to gain more freedom and possibly transition into becoming a full entrepreneur. Connect with Sachkia here: www.sachkiabarnes.com Twitter - @sachkiabarnes Instagram - @sachkiabarnes Facebook - /sachkiabarnes LinkedIn - in/sachkiabarnes Sponsor: DV GLOBAL MEDIA Our sponsor for this series is DV Global Media. They are a premium audio production and marketing service providing professional voiceovers for film, radio, audiobooks, ads, custom messaging and much more. If you want to access the power of having experienced voiceover artists, musicians and business people with MBAs at your service contact the team at DV Global Media today. Question of the day: What valuable skill could you leverage or learn to start freelancing? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Welcome to season 1, episode 3 of our Caribbean Wisdom Series. This season we are featuring brilliant minds from the British Virgin Islands. Today’s guest, Micheal Thomas, brings a seasoned perspective from leading a family business that’s been growing for over 50 years. This episode is a master class on how to build a business that creates careers for other people. Mike shares his wisdom on: * Navigating challenges. * Working with your spouse and family. * Networking and negotiating major financing deals with banks. * Building a corporate culture that makes employee stick around. * The big money sitting in so called blue collar jobs. * Riding a bicycle after 20 years and much more.
Guest's website: CTL Home Center ctlbvi.com Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
This is Season 1, Episode 2 of our Caribbean Wisdom Series! During the coming weeks we will feature powerful interviews with some of the brightest minds in the British Virgin Islands. Today we feature Janette Brin, a marketing expert and creative mind behind the fashion and lifestyle brand Caribbean Posh. Hear the story of how she gained leadership roles without compromising her femininity, built a major brand, and overcame personal trauma all while balancing work, family and business. Follow Janette and Caribbean Posh here: IG, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter @caribbeanposh www.caribbeanposh.com Sponsor: DV GLOBAL MEDIA Our sponsor for this series is DV Global Media. They are a premium audio production and marketing service providing professional voiceovers for film, radio, audiobooks, ads, custom messaging. If you want to experience the power of having experienced voiceover artists, musicians and business people with MBAs at your service contact the team at DV Global Media today. Question of the day:What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had trying to build your career and a side hustle? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
This is the start of season 1 of our Caribbean Wisdom Series! During the next three weeks we will feature powerful interviews with some of the brightest minds in the British Virgin Islands. Today we feature Kristin Frazer and rising fashion mogul, Kristin Frazer of Trèfle Designs. Hear the story of how a young lady from a tiny island managed to overcome a $10,000 loss, build a brand, get noticed by Essence Magazine, and land her clothing on major celebrities including Chrisette Michele and Beyonce. Follow Kristin’s Work here: www.trefledesigns.com IG Handle: @trefledesigns @treflehomebvi FB Handle: @trefledesigns @treflehomebvi Click here for a sneak preview of "Project X" Sponsor: DV GLOBAL MEDIA Our sponsor for this series is DV Global Media. They are a premium audio production and marketing service providing professional voiceovers for film, radio, audiobooks, ads, custom messaging. If you want to experience the power of having experienced voiceover artists, musicians and business people with MBAs at your service contact the team at DV Global Media today. Question of the day: Which country should we visit next? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Procrastination is usually step one in breeding a list of other problems like frustration and anxiety. Here’s a quick power tip on how to get unstuck and be on your way to productivity fast. Question of the day: What do you think makes you procrastinate? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
When it comes to career building we often jump to salary negotiation, job hunting, making the right moves in the office and similar topics. But it’s hard to do your best work if your body and mind are unprepared to sustain high performance. To make sure you have right tools to get that fitness level up we invited an expert to break it down.
In this in depth interview JC talks about developing a career in the massive health and fitness industry and practical steps busy professionals like you can take everyday to prepare your body and mind to crush other challenges. We go into the facts behind popular diets like Keto, how to separate the fake and enthusiast fitness gurus on instagram from real experts, fasting and so much more. Special offers: Book your Initial Fitness Assessment with JC Mr. Fitness today. Use promo code HALF to get half off. CLICK HERE Connect with JC: Instagram - @jcmrfitness Web - trisetfitness.com Question of the day: What your biggest fitness goal right now? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
When you start a new career is common to be curious about many areas and eager to be great, at everything. This energy if good, but you must know how to channel it properly. The spray and pray approach may satisfy your curiosity, but serious focus on one or two areas with yield faster results.
Learn more about the power of niche on this episode. Question of the day: What niche could you focus on for the next 3 years? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Lately I’ve been thinking about the balance between credentials and results when it comes to growing a career or business. Which one matters more? Here’s where I’ve gotten so far with the debate. I’d be delighted to hear your take. Question of the day: Credentials or Results? Which one matters more? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Criticism can sting like a bee sometimes, but it’s a crucial ingredient to mastering any skill faster that the average person. People who excel learn how to process feedback without letting it demoralise or overly inflate their ego. Think of it like pruning a tree. Get rid of the dead branches so the best of you can thrive. More on the inside. Question of the day: What was the most useful criticism you ever received? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Your out of office profile, online and in the community can lend serious pre-selling weight to your next move. Before you even arrive at the negotiation table, build the image of yourself as an expert in a particular area. Tune in for more on how to make this happen. Question of the day: What do you want to be known for most? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
I’m fresh off the road recording interviews in the British Virgin Islands for season 1 of our Caribbean wisdom series. This a quick debrief from the trip as well an important less we all have to learn if the plan is get those dreams out of the clouds and make them reality. Question of the day: What have you been stuck on lately? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
What’s your super power? Yes, there’s a job you’ve been hired to do, but what about the skills you use to execute that hobby or side hustle. When your main career seems unrelated you can gain serious mileage by activating those “extra” talents. In this episode we discuss practical step for making this happen and how you can pitch the idea to your team. Question of the day: What’s your other skill? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Before you upgrade to LinkedIn Premium listen to this! If you’re on LinkedIn no doubt you’ve been taunted with upgrading to the elite “Premium” status for some extra perks. Last month I gave it a test run for 30 days to see if it’s worth the monthly investment and what would have to be true for you to really benefit from the features. Tune in for a summary that will help you decide whether it’s the right move for you. Question of the day: Have you used LinkedIn Premium and what would you say is the best feature? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
You don’t need all the attention, just the right attention. In a digital world that has us conditioned to seek validation in likes and follows, I had a human reminder yesterday that consistent hard work in the pursuit of excellence get’s noticed by people who truly understand excellence. For now, remember, the right people are watching. For more on that last point about not being ready, check out this video from one of my favourite creators, Roberto Blake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3Dfsq0Lpxs Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Subscription models are en vogue now and most of us have at least one, or ten! It may be Netflix, Amazon Prime, or countless others. It’s important to keep them organized or they can quietly drain your bank account. Time to plug the financial leaks. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Job security? What is that and do you even want it? Rather, do you want the traditional version? Here’s a different take on how you can approach job security in the modern workplace. Question of the day: What does job security mean to you? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Cleaning up your clutch word vocabulary is a fast way to improve your communication skills and sound like a leader. Today we discuss whether removing uhh, umm, and other fillers can make you sound more articulate and convincing. Clearly, this is good for your career. Or, does it even matter? Question of the day: Are crutch words natural and acceptable, or should we work on removing them ASAP? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
What does is take to win? As in win in a sustainable way that lasts beyond the short term. Not surprisingly, the best things in life are seldom free. Let’s take a look at the things you will need in abundance along the journey. Today we examine the three most valuable currencies you need to succeed in a career.
3 Currencies * Attention * Character * Commitment
Question of the day: Which currency do you need to build the most right now? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Social media is our biggest opportunity and biggest distraction from grasping opportunities. Today we take a careful gaze at these apps and platforms that have captured so much of our time and attention. Are they good or bad? More importantly, how can we leverage what they offer to build our personal brand and career.
Question of the day: What’s your favourite social media platform and why? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
What if you could live forever? What if you could be immortal, or at least have your work live forever? These are things I seriously think about very often. Your purpose in life is strongly connected to what keeps you up at night. It may be a direct cue to your career choice, or something your career will finance indirectly. Here’s a reflective look at what keeps me up at night. I invite you to share yours. Question of the day: What keeps you up at night? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
If you found this podcast I’m willing to guess that you interact with technology regularly. Each day we at least hear about Google, Facebook, Uber, Twitter and other big tech companies. Have you wondered how people actually land one of the seemingly illusive jobs? Today we sit down with Kevin Wu to get the inside scoop on how you can make this happen. Kevin is the co-founder and CEO of Pathrise, a startup that acts as a career accelerator for students and young professionals breaking into the tech industry. Before starting Pathrise, Kevin worked at industry-leading tech companies, most notably as a product manager at Yelp and software engineer at Salesforce. Question of the day: If you had the chance to work for one company for a few years, which would you choose? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Help us create more great content: patreon.com/dalanv
Today we take you behind the mic of our operation and share some messy things we’re working on. In fact, this episode was recorded in that mess! One of the most common reasons for people not starting or quitting too soon is the humbling frustration of not being an expert on day 1, or 100. It’s tough, especially when you’re generally used to being good at the things you’ve been doing for a while. Here’s the irony. The only way to get better is to push through that initial mess for as long as it takes. Here’s the true story of how being afraid to start ugly hindered this show from growing for a long time. Question of the day: What have you been wanting to start? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Support the mission: patreon.com/dalanv
Ok so you got the job. Now what? This first two years will separate the rookies for the rock stars. We’re here to make sure you go hard and carve out your space amidst the tough competition. Today we share three crucial things you need to do during the first two years on the job. Question of the day: Have you done any of these three things already? Tell us about it! (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Make a distinction between one person's experience and what is possible for you. Thoughts are contagious so don’t become small minded by osmosis. More on the inside so tune in. Question of the day: What is one thing someone around you said that you started to believe without real evidence? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
If you’re listening to this any time near the year 2019, you’re aware that there are way too many things competing for our attention daily. Mobile phones alone make it easy to access just about all the information you want and certainly a bunch of other stuff you don’t need. This can have serious negative effects on your own development, but here's how to fix it. More on this inside so check it out. Question of the day: Who is one person you admire and would like to work with one day? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
High performers like to win. Hard work and challenges don’t phase you, but the idea of failure is scary. Sometimes it’s not even true failure, but just the appearance of it that makes you uncomfortable. The pursuit of success seldom takes a straight path, so be willing to make adjustments and course corrections along the way. In basketball, when a player pivots one foot stays planted in one spot while the other one is free to move as needed. You can do the same in your career. Be focused, and flexible. Question of the day: What’s one change or pivot you’re thinking about in your career? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Looking to move up the corporate ladder? Demonstrate that you’re able to handle more. Interesting things happen when you set aside your insecurities and take confidence in your ability to learn whatever is needed. The first thought that often pops into our minds when presented with a new task is “I’ve never done that before and might look stupid if I try”. Maybe so, but once you get past that you can learn to excel in that new area. People who take on incremental tasks are increasingly valuable and can go on to be leaders in the organization. So maybe it’s time for a little more yes. Question of the day: What is your first reaction when asked to do something you’ve never done? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
How do you run your day? Not just the morning routine before you leave home, but the entire day. We often start the day with big ambitious plans, then after lunch we begin to concede defeat and accept that a lot of that stuff will not get done. Here’s one twist to start knocking off some big items early: Do the hard things first. Instead of avoiding seemingly unpleasant tasks, push them to top of your list and attack them hard early in the day. To jump start the day, you may even consider crushing something important but challenging extremely early. After struggling with regular exercise for years, I’m finding many benefits to getting this in early in the morning rather than trying find time in the evening when my body and brain are fatigued. Question of the day: What’s one tough thing you can start crushing early? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
Self-improvement can work much faster when we engage in constructive multi-tasking. While isolating and focusing on one area certainly has its advantages, there are incremental gains available when we consciously choose how much attention to give a primary task, while learning some secondary skills. Take a rounded balanced approach. Health, discipline, education, happiness, overall performance. All of these are important, and you can train more than one area, just not all at the same intensity. Tune in to learn more. Question of the day: What primary and secondary task are you excited to improve today? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Today we begin a mini-series of short actionable tips you can use to boost your career and gain more traction. Today: Be intentional about your self talk. Even when you’re making jokes, be careful because your spirit can’t tell the difference. If someone else’s negative words can make you feel deflated, imagine how much more damage it causes when you are generating the negative vibes internally. Flip that concept and let your word build you up. Of course there is more to success than positive thinking, but this is a crucial part of building your confidence and manifesting greatness. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
In this episode we discuss some mindfulness practices, you can use to increase your focus and overall performance. Yes, making the right moves and connecting with key players in the game are important to your career success, but there is a deeper part that often gets less attention: your mental and spiritual health. Remain calm, this is not about to be a sermon. The point here is that achieving great success takes serious mental toughness and focus. It’s hard to produce your best work when you’re depressed, angry or feeling otherwise lost in life. Question of the day: What do you practice regularly to keep your mind focused? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
In this show we’ll discuss how basketball legend Dwyane Wade moved beyond career to legacy, and reflect on Episode 88 “Career to Legacy” with updated commentary.
Click here to view full show notes and the related video.
Question of the day: Should we do like Dwyane? How can you start transitioning your mindset from career to legacy? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Get a job where you are paid to learn things you wanted to master anyway. I know this may sound a bit counter-intuitive since you think employers are hiring because you are already an expert, but you’d be surprised what they value more. Question of the day: What’s the number one skill you can learn at your “regular job”? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
In a culture that’s constantly pushing us to give more in pursuit of success, is there even room for rest? Over the past few weeks I’ve been confronted with this and want to share some thoughts on how we can make work, work better.
Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
This is the true story of how perfection killed my mojo and made me miss many opportunities for growth. Do you find yourself doing nothing, because you don’t think what you do will be good enough? This is the fastest way to stay exactly where you are. Let’s talk about some great advice I heard this month: start ugly. Question of the day: What is one thing you can start today? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
It’s time to settle this old argument. Is comparison good or bad? Usually I’m pretty decisive, but this time I’m torn. Yes comparison can be toxic, but if managed correctly, it can be a great source of motivation. Have a listen to me arguing with myself, then let me know you thoughts.
Question of the day: Is Comparison the Thief of Joy? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
To get more value from your career you need to increase the amount of value you can offer to clients. By “clients” I mean anyone involved in the chain of events that gets you paid. In some cases this may be the organisation you work for, teammates on a project or external clients. Hard work is great, but we also need to be serious about ongoing professional education. Whether it’s books, courses, podcasts or conferences, be intentional about getting new information and taking massive action. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
If you’ve been wondering how to up your LinkedIn game and optimise your resumé to make that job hunt more successful this is your moment. Today we’re on the mic with Mariyah S. Bryant, founder of the career writing agency, The MFactor. As a Certified Professional Resumé Writer she is giving us the power tactics to make you stand out amidst the ocean of job seekers and win. Tune in to learn more. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Success takes time. Mastering a skill or career often takes longer than expected. There will be moments when you feel like quitting, but consider whether it’s really time to walk away. Have you done the work? Does your strategy need adjustments? Is it time to quit, or is the win on the other side of some hard work? In the words of legendary reggae singer Maxi Priest, let’s discuss whether you need to hold on “just a little bit longer baby”. Question of the day: What is one area of your life or career where you need to hold on just a little bit longer? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
So if I’m hearing you correctly, you want more out of life? More from your career, more return from your investments of time and energy. The good news is that you can have it and you already have most of what it takes to make it happen. The challenging news is that you will need to give more than before to manifest your best self. Tune in to learn why and how to get it done! Question of the day: What is one area of your life where you are ready to give more than before? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
It’s hard to do good work, when you’re in a bad mood. Managing your energy is an active process. On this episode we discuss 10 tactics to protect your energy for high performance. 1. Exercise & rest 2. Food & Nutrition 3. Silence 4. Social Media 5. Friends and family (For a deep dive on this one see Circle of Greatness Part 1 and 2. Episodes 007 and 014) 6. Time management & organisation 7. Delegate 8. Money vs. Time 9. Say no quickly 10. Focus on your WHY
Question of the day: What’s the number one thing that affects your energy? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
We’re all guilty of doing it at some point. Using “I don’t have what it takes yet” as an excuse to avoid starting. It’s not starting that scares you. It’s the fear of failure, or the load of external judgement that litters the path to success. What if you had to accomplish your goals only using the skills and resources you possess now? What if it was life or death? It sort of is! Let’s talk about tapping into the juice inside you. Question of the day: What is one thing you wish you had but don’t really need? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Some things are good but optional. Others are absolutely non-negotiable. This simple distinction determines in part, how much value people place on what you have to offer. It’s how much clients are willing to pay and how much your company is willing to give in return for your work.
Question of the day: What is one must have item on your list? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Have you ever worked on an old computer? I mean an old machine that just does not have the right software to accomplish what you need. The operating system is slow, buggy or plain out cannot run the new programs. Well our minds are similar and your operating system is downloaded when you are very young. This early programming greatly affects how you move through life as a teen and adult. It could even impact your chances of being successful. The good news is that you can upgrade that software. Let’s discuss how on today’s show. Question of the day: What limiting beliefs do you need to reprogram? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
You’re good at your job, or you’re making serious progress toward becoming one of the best. Unfortunately good work alone doesn’t automatically mean you will get paid more money. This year we are not being cute about it. It’s time to get you skilled up AND paid up. Here are seven (7) tactics for you to implement before you even walk into a salary negotiation. Details on the inside so listen up!
Question of the day: Which tactic will you work on first? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Hello January! Yep, it’s that time of the year when many people feel inspired to start crushing fitness goals and diets. Hello February, most of the new fitness enthusiasts have faded like the colour on cheap jeans. When it comes to health and fitness we often focus on the cosmetic reasons to get in shape, but what if Will Smith told your fitness level is linked to your success level? Would you believe it? Tune in to learn more about this connection. Question of the day: What’s your fitness goal for this year? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Here’s a special new year message from Dalan and the team. How to get your mind right for 2019 and insights to what you can expect for the fire squad this year! Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
2018 Review! This year some things went well, and others could have been much better. There are important lessons on both sides and we want to help you learn these for free. We already paid the price in 2018, so here is a cheat sheet for next year. Tune is as we take you behind the mic and share the biggest regret and win of 2018, and how you can leverage this for a powerful 2019. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Each year around this time people are busy making plans and setting goals for the new year. You know the usual suspects: fitness, diets, saving money, reading books. But what about your career? On this episode we share some practical tips to help you be more intentional about what your career will look like 1 year from now. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
100 SHOWS! Yes, it’s hard to believe. Today we’re celebrating a HUGH milestone. After months of planning we finally launched this little podcast idea in March 2016 from a tiny basement studio apartment in the British Virgin Islands. I think we recorded episode one five times before creating something we weren’t too ashamed to release. None of this would be possible without your support, so today, we also celebrate you! On this special episode we take a tour around some highlights from the past 99 episodes, including some classic shows you may have missed if you’re new to the community. Here’s to 100 more high value shows! Thanks for listening. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
The first step to making someone fall in love with you is learning their name! Whether you're networking at a party, leading a team, meeting with clients, or building rapport with other influencers, names are crucial. When it comes to building influence and a career that leads to more time, money and freedom, this skill is a tool of titans! Today we are teaching you practical easy tactics to up your name game in a rush. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Overcoming fear is crucial for many things, especially your career growth. I came a cross something recently that made be realise that what we think is fear, may really be confused with shame or pride. In think short video I offer some useful reflections on a point Brendon Burchard made about being ashamed of small beginnings. Learn what to do while you’re small, to excel when you’re big. Question of the day: What is one thing stopping you from doing “that” thing? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Your career should move you in the direction of more time, money and freedom. The combination is important, since any one element by itself leads to an unbalanced life. Think of that person who fights to the top of the corporate ladder, and get’s paid a great salary. The dark side may be that the company practically owns all their time and the don’t have the freedom to decide when and where they work. Today we take a closer look at freedom. Question of the day: What does freedom mean to you? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
When approaching a task or building a career we are inclined to spend a long time creating the perfect plan. Then, we try to execute this plan cautiously making sure each step is done perfectly. What if perfection and excellence is actually found through taking a bunch of imperfect steps? There is evidence to suggest that people who take more action, even those actions are at the highest desired quality, reach their goals faster than those let fear of imperfection hinder their output. Let’s look at the positive side effect of taking massive action. Question of the day: What are you going to take massive action on this week? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Making the jump from working within an organisation to being an entrepreneur is can be a tough decision. On this episode we discuss the reality of being an entrepreneur and what you need to consider in making this decision. Freedom comes at a stiff price. Are you ready to pay? Question of the day: What are some reasons why you would, or would not become an entrepreneur right now? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
We get trapped in our heads planning, thinking and overthinking. The challenge is that the more time we spend walking in these circles, that harder it is to get started. It’s a vicious cycle, but we are here to help you break free and make progress. Even the smallest bit of action can set you on a path to more satisfaction and accomplishing your goals. Question of the day: What’s one thing you want to get done before this year is over? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
If you’re just trying to have a little fun, make a little money, then burn it at the mall, this may not be for you. But if you have major goals you want to accomplish that will ripple so hard that they affect you, your family and community, then stay tuned. Big dreams require help, especially if you want to get them done faster. The key to this is realising that collaboration is a two way street and it’s not always about money. Think value! Consistently seek ways to add value to other people’s journey and be humble enough to accept or seek help when you need a hand. More on the inside so press play. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
We live in a world that iis conditioning us to believe that we can have anything we want, as soon as we want it. For many simple things this is true, but when it comes to building a career and lifestyle filled with sustainable success, the microwave approach often falls short. Question of the day: What’s one thing you wish you had right now? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Here’s the situation. Like me, you may have met many people who are unhappy with their jobs. They go to work each day but it’s a chore. Maybe that’s you? Recently I heard a story of someone who simply refuses to work until they can do something that makes them happy. Let’s explore two questions: 1. Should your job make you happy? 2. Must you be happy to do good work? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
People who speak multiple languages can almost always bring a extra layer of value to every situation, especially in business. So if you want a shortcut to gaining an edge on the competition in your career THIS IS IT! I’m not suggesting that this is easy, but I will say that it will give you massive and immediate returns for the time invested. This single addition to your communication repertoire will boost your confidence, likability, value and even your bank balance if you apply the steps we teach in this episode. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
So you think you’re ready to take on a leadership role in the company, but you’re having trouble getting the right people to notice that you have what it takes. It this article I will share 8 strategies you can use to signal that you are a leader. This advice comes from a combination of study, personal experience in the corporate world over the last 10 years, and more importantly from top level executives who shared their candid responses on how to become a leader.
Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the mechanics of building a career and forget that it’s all temporary, that is, unless you make it perpetual. The truth for most people is that if for what ever reason they don’t show up for work for an extended period of time, that stream of income will quickly stop flowing. Let’s learn how to use your career as a vehicle for building a legacy that will last for generations. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
This episode is dedicated to every one of US who is hiding behind perfection and using it as excuse to avoid making our attempts to grow public. If there is something in your head, an idea, goal, project, career move, whatever, and you’ve been talking yourself out of it because you’re afraid it won’t be good enough, this 10 minutes will change your life. If not, it was only 10 minutes so listen anyway. Ha! Fail out loud and let’s close the gap between you and your dreams today. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Similar to the rise of the internet over the past 20 years, blockchain technology is about to transform the way we do work, business and life. This mean exciting new opportunities and challenges for your career. If you’re curious about how technology can allow you to work remotely in a dynamic team stay tuned. Joseph Snyder (CEO) and Chris Brown (CTO) of Lannister Holdings are on the mic to get us ready to thrive in this new world. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Learn how to wake up each day with more energy and drive to accomplish your dreams. We’ve been setting goals yes, but does the very thought of your goals get you fired up? Do they make your eyebrow rise and your heart beat faster? Here’s how to live life with more energy regardless of where you are on the journey. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
We’re on the mic today with Joel Quass who is unlocking insider secrets on how to write a resume that converts, and find success on your next job interview. This a rare opportunity to get inside the mind of the person who will decide whether your resumé is worth a call back. Learn what top level executives are looking for when you arrive at a job interview.
Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
We're on the mic with Jamila Abston, who is a Partner with Ernst & Young LLP New York. Jamila worked, networked and earned her place in the top tier of corporate leadership. Featured in Black Enterprise and interviewed by the NY Stock Exchange, she joins us on Focus The Fire to give you the tactics she used to blaze this trail.
Learn how to build a career smart and fast!
*This episode is a bit longer than our usual 15-20 minutes, but trust me, you don't want to miss a single drop of this powerful information.
Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
In your career development it’s crucial to engage with people who are more advanced that you. This may mean they have more experience, money, connections or other assets. Some will inspire you from a distance, others will teach and some will invite you to participate in what they are building. Great…but don’t get confused. Their success is not yours. The goal is to get to a place where you are adding at least as much value as you are getting from the relationship. Be impressed, be inspired, but don’t be confused. Remember to stay focused and get yours! Players get paid more than cheerleaders. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Is there a difference between personal and professional development? Maybe, but I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. If the line is there, it’s probably dotted or very thin. Either way let’s learn how to leverage the skills we learn for the office and those we learn for life. That’s right, this is one time double dipping is approved and encouraged! Question of the day: What’s one skill you use outside the office that might be a super power in your career? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Sometimes we let a desire to be complex hinder us from getting started and sharing ideas with the world. It’s understandable. With so many smart people out there doing great work, we naturally want to be sure we are adding something valuable to the conversation. Perhaps the best thing we can add is a simple explanation to things people will find very useful. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Time is our most precious resource. As a high performer hungry for a career the leads to more time, money and freedom you have to master how to maximise the time available each day. Here are four power tips to start making this happen today.
- Be more intentional about scheduling your time.
- Be extremely present and focused on each task.
- Manage your mental time.
- Power Lunch!
Tune in for a full breakdown of how it works.
Question of the day: What are some other areas like lunch where you can restructure the time? (Comment below or on twitter) Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
On this Episode we sit down with Michele Badie, host of the Career Tipper podcast and author of “Confidently You: 21-Day Action Plan To Your Professional Best”. in this exclusive interview for the Fire Squad (you!), Michele unboxes practical techniques to help you grow into your professional best. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Your first job may not be your dream job. Maybe your second one will be less than perfect as well. Even so, the people you meet and experiences you collect along the way are priceless. Those same relationships can be useful later. This episode teaches you how to manage the exit process and walk out the door with integrity and respect. How to quit your job like a boss! Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
If you’ve ever tried to accomplish anything great then you’re already familiar with the sense of fear that makes you question your ability to succeed. Or even more strangely, it may be a fear of how you will handle things if you find massive success. In any case we can’t allow this to overshadow our will to move forward. More on the inside. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Before we can seriously talk about investing, let’s get your finances under control with 10 easy ways to save money. Working in accounting and banking for the past 10 years, you get to see the range of ways people manage to make and lose money. This episode is a brief summary of the top things to avoid and rules to follow.
Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Do you travel for business? On this episode we drop a load of insider tips to help you move like an expert traveller and stand out as a serious executive. This is more than a “what to pack” conversation so tune in to learn more. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
So you did all the stuff they told you to do. Goals written, podcasts loaded and listened to, liked multiple motivational quotes on social media. But there is a problem. Many of us get started then eventually fall off the ride and lose momentum for various reasons. Perhaps the number one reason is that we keep stopping for APPLAUSE. In this episode we teach you how to avoid this trap and keep working even when people aren’t clapping. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
We’ve been doing a lot of thing about why so many people have big dreams and struggle to make them a reality. What’s the real thing that separates the dreamers from the doers? On this episode we break down the one lesson that helped us get to this point. 10,000 reasons why you should to the hard things that will get you like life you desire! New Youtube Video: 3 Steps to Start Building a More Focused Career https://youtu.be/yPEgA0je2v4 Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Let’s face it. Corporate life can be a jungle with many people fighting clean and dirty for that top spot. This can be the case on any team of high performers. Here are five practical strategies you can start using today to carve out your space as a valuable asset. * Make your boss’s life easier.
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Bring the best energy to every situation
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Become an expert in 1 mission critical aspect of the business.
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Build strong relationships with clients
- Be the face and voice of something
Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Full show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
What do you want more than anything? What do you dream about, think about, wish for? People usually have great answers for these questions, but the conversation gets awkward when you start talking about what they are willing to sacrifice to get there. It’s hard to get extraordinary results by only taking ordinary action. Today we look at the real price of achieving greatness. Than narrow, deep focus that requires you to set aside some things are good and useful, but perhaps not mission critical. Question of the day: What is your one thing and what are you willing to sacrifice to get it? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Have you ever felt like quitting your job? We’ve all been there at some point and if not, keep working, it will come! Last’s we sent an article about things to consider before you quit your job. Today we take a closer look at that decision process. Being an entrepreneur is hard work and not everyone is interested. It’s also not a requirement for having a meaningful life. While you may never actually quit, let’s discuss why you definitely need to be ready to quit your job. Question: What’s is the biggest thing you need to do right now, to help you get ready to quit your job? Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
This week our guest is Devoreaux Walton, a personal improvement expert. She is the President and Founder of The Poise Pursuit, a personal branding company and The Prep Pursuit, an etiquette and style online media company, based in Dallas, Texas. Devoreaux breaks down the secrets behind using the way you look and behave in every situation to maximise your success inside and outside the office. Visit the show notes for special Fire Squad discounts on training courses from The Poise Pursuit: Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
It’s easy to get caught up in the busy work of building your career and miss the important details along the way. This time we don’t mean the specifics of manoeuvring office politics or crunching numbers. We’re talking about the intricate way nature, art, music and other things shape our world. If you can start appreciating those things, the next step is seeing the beauty in people. When this happens, you’re on the way to becoming a strong leader. You can look beyond a person’s work and see the desires that fuel them daily. Use that to lead your team to their best! Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
Let’s be honest. Producing great work, is hard. Even when you’re a high performing, confident person, there are things we keep putting of until tomorrow, next week, or next year.
Inside:
- Understanding what in your mind is really holding you back
- How to reprogram that thinking
- 3 step process to gain momentum toward your goal
- Special challenge! #FTF30days
See you on the other side of progress! Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Connect with show on twitter @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire
One of the most crucial parts of your success will be your ability to gain and use influence responsibly. It’s not enough to just be good at your job or have great ideas. Getting the right people to notice your skills and buy into your ideas requires influence.
Inside: * How influence works * Why it’s important to free value to other people with out expectations * The law of reciprocity * 2 Easy ways you can start adding value and gaining influence today - Information & Introduction
Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com
At some point in your career you’ll hit a wall (or several) where you have difficulty growing beyond what you’ve mastered. Because you’re a high performer, people get used to you performing highly in a particular area and it’s difficult for them to imagine you expanding.
In this episode you'll learn how to push past these barriers to grow your influence and credibility.
Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. *Send us a voice note directly on www.focusthefire.com Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
Fail, feedback, fix, then launch again…and again…and again. Each time listening to the people you are trying to serve and making small or big adjustments as needed. 4 Reasons to Chase Failure * Less pressure to be perfect creates more freedom to create * Removes the fear of criticism because you took control and invited it from day 1 * Faster way to learn while gaining momentum * Break through the wall of procrastination and analysis
Tune in for a more in depth discussion. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
We teach young professionals the skills needed to enjoy a meaningful career that leads to more time, money and freedom. Time is asset you can’t save or regain once it’s lost. Let’s discuss how it fits into the framework of building a meaningful career. Essential career advice for ambitious young professionals. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
We teach young professionals the skills needed to enjoy a meaningful career that leads to more time, money and freedom. Last week we touched freedom (Ep. 060), today it’s money. Tune in as we crush some limiting beliefs and get you ready for the win.
Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
Having a sense of agency or control around your career is one of the best feelings. You wake up each day feeling powerful, knowing that you are moving in the direction that you choose, rather than just following someone else’s instructions in exchange for a cheque. Question: What does freedom look like to you? Respond via email or via twitter. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
It’s no secret becoming a respected leader in your field requires consistent learning. However making steady progress on education amidst all the other crucial tasks is challenging. This is often because we take a casual approach with loose plans hoping that books will get read and courses taken. Even when we’re able to skim through some material, we only reap a small percentage of the benefits since there was no implementation plan.
To experience the most progress in the least amount of time we have to schedule our learning activities like any other important appointment or meeting.
Question: What’s your top learning goal right now? Respond below or via twitter. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
How do you react and recover when life slaps you with a big fat NO? Do you retreat in fear or use that fuel to reinvent your approach and try again? Learning how to deal with rejection is a crucial part of your professional success whether it’s dealing with clients, asking for a raise or pitching to investors.
Take a listen as we unpack the right way to interpret “no”.
Question: What’s your NO story and how did you recover?
Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
A few months ago I shared the stage with some very smart people at TEDx Tortola. Today I’m sharing the live recording of the talk, about getting your ideas into the wider world when you live in a pretty isolated place. Let these ideas inspire your creativity and challenge you to give the world your gift. What’s one thing you would love to share with the world? How are you making it happen? Tell us about it on twitter @dalanv or email dalan@focusthefire.com for a chance to have your story featured on the show. Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
Two words that come up often when we start talking about success are discipline and passion. Which one is more crucial to helping you achieve the life you desire? On this episode I’ll share my take on why I believe discipline wins, but more importantly, I invite you to weigh in on the debate. There are many passionate people, but it takes discipline to execute and keep executing! Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
Using your personal brand as a filter is a great way to simplify your life. How may times have you been faced with a touch decision or wasted too much time on what should have been a simple choice? On this episode we unlock the power of one question: “Is this consistent with my brand?”.
Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
For different reasons sometime we forget who we are and lose focus on why we are on this journey. Here’s the true story of how my identify got stolen and how you can avoid letting it sidetrack your professional development. 4 consequences of identify theft: * Treated like an imposter or begin suffering from imposter syndrome. Maybe I don’t deserve to be here? * Access denied to certain places * Face several odd questions and challenges * Wasted time
Remember your name! Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
Some argue that jazz is one of the most intellectually challenging genres of music. The need for technical skills, rapid response to change and ability to improvise are similar to traits of great leaders.
Tune in for a "slightly" biased take on jazz and leadership.
Show notes and other resources: www.focusthefire.com/053-jazz-lessons-leadership Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Note: While classical musicians exhibit some of these traits as well, they are the very heart of jazz genre and crucial to executing good improvisation.
Pay close attention next time you hear someone, or yourself, discussing goals and plans. We get excited about what we want to do, and where we want to go, but seldom talk about what we have to leave behind.
Full shownotes: www.focusthefire.com/052-timetoleave
Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
Many times we focus on the things we don't have and use them as an excuse for being less than awesome. Let's break that cycle and push ourselves to produce prolific work using everything available right now.
Show notes and other resources available at www.focusthefire.com
Connect with host on twitter @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv
It’s easy to do great work occasionally. Maybe we’ve all seen moments of fleeting awesomeness in other people or the mirror. The question now is how do we discipline our minds and bodies to perform at this high level more often? On this episode we explore two guiding principles that can be a foundation for our lives this year, and beyond. Let’s have a look at how quality and consistency can move us swiftly toward success. Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Have you had the frustrating experience where people like your work, but not enough to pay for it? If you’re ready to push past average and position yourself as a professional worth real money, this show is for you.
Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
How to adjust your career approach to get the rewards you deserve. If you completed degree or any kind of special training, you may be waiting for the corresponding boost in compensation or position. Let's look at what may be causing the delay and how we can close the gap. Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
On this episode we consider approaching your career like a country. How is your balance of trade?
Are the ideas, energy and products you have available worth the rewards you're after?
Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
On the journey from average to amazing, you’ll soon realize that there are several skills you need to learn or improve. But as a high performer I’m willing to bet that you’re already busy and short on time. In that case, we need to make the learning process as efficient as possible. One way to accomplish this is by deciding exactly how competent you need to be at each skill. Some things require you to be an expert, while in others you only need enough to communicate with the external pros you hire. Show notes and illustrations: focusthefire.com/skillsandlevels 1. Skills to master 2. Skills to be proficient 3. Skills to understand 4. Skills to appreciate and delegate
Twitter: @dalanv | @focusthefire
In this episode we look at things you need to consider before joining your next team or hunting for a new opportunity. It’s deeper than time and money. To get the return you deserve, you’ll need to join an ecosystem that allows you to thrive. Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
The Focus the Fire podcast dedicated to helping people like you design and create more meaningful careers. 40+ hours each week is way too much time to burn being miserable or unintentional. On this episode we look at a powerful way to reframe your professional life and move from being an employee, to a super hero in your own movie series. Who doesn’t love a good story right? Let’s get started with some of your own epic tales. Here are 10 Questions to guide your story: 1. What are the abilities you want to showcase in this narrative? “Tell us about a time when you had to…” 2. Besides you, who are the other main characters needed to make this a great story? 3. What is the major problem or conflict that you will solve? 4. Can you describe it vividly in numbers, costs, or how long (time) the problem has been around? 5. Why do you feel a strong desire to address this issue? 6. Are there particular skills you have now or will develop to handle this issue like a boss? 7. In 2-3 brief sentences, what is your plan of action? How will you save the day (or hour)? 8. What challenges do you expect along the path to success? 9. What is the outcome or resolution you would like to produce? 10. How will this impact people directly involved or your community?
Click here to download the free Work Stories Guide today! Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Control your money today with this powerful tool. Join Dalan and 1000s of other people who enjoy the freedom of knowing exactly what their money is doing (and not doing!). What’s the point of all of this really? Chasing jobs, promotions, connecting with influential people, generating income. The truth is that you will probably never feel like you have enough money. It’s like sugar and other drugs - addictive. You set financial goals. Maybe its buying a house, taking a fancy vacation, seeing your bank account hit a certain number, paying off debt, saving money. No matter how high the goal, reaching it will only build your confidence and increase your appetite. So if we begin with money as the end goal, there will be no end, just a life filled with cycles of dissatisfaction. In this episode I share my no-nonsense approach to budgeting and the main software/app I use for managing personal finances. Money is a means, don’t let it be your end. Try YNAB FREE for 1 month: http://bit.ly/2gNsu26 Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Learn how to increase the progress toward the life you deserve. Develop a mindset to overcome complacency. Forget school for a minute. Besides that, when was your last graduation? Home: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
High performers and persons seeking to grow in leadership often have multiple skills in motion. While juggling multiple projects can feel exciting and give the illusion of productivity, it’s important to identify and remove distractions. To achieve massive success we have to find our highest use and exploit that mode. This may mean ending other activities that are positive. Here are reflections on "The Dip” by Seth Godin. I look forward to hearing yours. Links: Seth Godin “The Dip” http://amzn.to/2uGMmWY Web: www.focusthefire.com Twitter: @dalanv www.twitter.com/dalanv Twitter: @focusthefire www.twitter.com/focusthefire Facebook | Instagram: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Your mind is consuming material constantly. Learn how being intentional about this content can boost your performance quickly. Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Are you really working for someone else? In this episode we take a brief look at why it’s crucial to maintain your high quality performance. Have a listen and let us know what you think. Twitter: @dalanv Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
038 - The problem with passionate people
There are so many passionate people walking and talking around. But why do these passions yield little success? In this episode we start examining part of the underlying problem and get you on the path to living a powerful life. There is a fire burning inside each person, but we find two common challenges: 1. In one case their passion is burning so low that it can’t generate enough heat to change the state of their lives. 2. Their passion is burning very high, but lacks the focus needed to make progress in a specific direction. Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
037 - What kind of company am I dating? 6 types of companies you dated before, or you are giving your love to right now: Sweat Shop / Burn out program Incubator Couch Potato Old Boys Club Growing Organization University Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus The Fire Episode 036 - How to scale you * Systems over transactions * Get what's inside your head on paper. * Document the process, especially for things you seem to do intuitively. * Experiment with delegating certain tasks, or just ask someone to follow your instructions. * + Where to they ask questions? + What went well or wrong? + How can it be more clear? + Can it be more efficient? * There's only 1 you, but millions of dollars to make. * Put your time toward its highest use. * + Is this task part of my core skills? + Is there someone else who can do this better or faster, while I do something more profitable? * Review the process for improvements and adjust quickly * Shorten the feedback loop * + Create, test, review, adjust. Repeat. + Don't let fear lure you into procrastination * Tools to assist * + Microsoft word / Apple Pages + Evernote + Trello
Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
035 - Finding your G spot You might be good at several things, but there are 1 or 2 areas where your natural ability begins to shine brighter than usual. This doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically be amazing at this skill but you feel a level of comfort that makes you want to linger there and perfect that craft. As you get closer to that place you get excited about explore how deep the experience can go. This is your area of genius, your “G-spot” and magic lives here! Finding your G-spot * What skill or area would you be willing to invested at least 5% of your income to develop and train? * If you could invest the time needed to be come an expert in one thing, what would it be? * What are the top three things that make you miserable at work? (Talking to people, sitting behind a desk, crunching numbers, et cetera)
Surviving the search * Identify a compelling reason for finding your G-spot. What specific needs will this satisfy in your life and the people or causes you care about? * Try to turn your current assignment into paid research & development for your G-spot * Schedule a specific time or amount of time you will spend each day perfecting your craft
Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Start with why (Simon Sinek) * You need a deep rooted conviction, linked to a tangible outcome. * + Internal outcome - What will this do for you personally? + External outcome - What will this do for the people or causes you care about?
What are some of the usual reasons people people don't meet their goals? * Lack of discipline * Unrealistic goal * Lose focus * Underestimated the work involved
Don't be overwhelmed by the big mission. Constantly ask yourself what is the next rationale step? Focus on that. "Nothing happens until the pain for remaining the same outweighs the pain of change." - Arthur Burt More on the details on the inside. Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
033 - Glimpse of Greatness: Get exposed! Remember that feeling when you see someone doing something on a level or scale you wish you could? “I wish I could sing like that.” “I can only dream of speaking like that.” “She seems confident, like she owns this room. These experiences are CRUCIAL to our development. Take in this episode on the side-effects of being exposed to greatness. What is an activity or cause that really makes you feel alive? If you could spend your life learning how to do something better, what would it be? Who can you identify that’s already doing it at a high level? In 2017, find a way to get exposed to them and their work. It can be a book, online course, videos, conference or other method. More on the details on the inside. Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
032 - Lovers and Friends: Choosing the right partners It’s almost time for those awkward office holiday parties and family gatherings. Besides pretending to laugh at a litany of bad jokes, you’ll also have to introduce important people to your partner. Here are a few things to consider when deciding who to have as your guest. * Do you want a partner or a project? * As a high performer your reputation is priceless. Beware people who have little to lose. * Resource: “His Needs Her Needs” by Willard F. Harley, Jr. * People close to you have greater access to your emotional state. Keep security tight! * Does your partner’s value system match the things that are important to you? * What is their attitude toward money?
More on the details on the inside. Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
031 - The mind for money All the tips, tricks and fancy money management advice in the world won’t make a difference if you don’t master these things first. Start with why (Simon Sinek) * You need a deep rooted conviction, linked to a tangible outcome. * + Internal outcome - What will this do for you personally? + External outcome - What will this do for the people or causes you care about?
What are your limiting beliefs about wealth and money? * That’s not for me. I can’t do it. Money is bad. * Big man - Small man complex * I’m entitled to a life of luxury. * It’s too complicated. I can’t afford to save.
Integrity and Discipline * Take a holistic approach. Let integrity and discipline be characteristics that flow through different parts of your life. * Deferred gratification. Sacrifice now, enjoy later, celebrate small wins often.
YOU are a small business! * Entrepreneurs? Your business is not your pocket book. Keep things separate! * Budget, track expenses, plan for large purchases, plan for large inflows (re-invest or save?) * You can’t grow what you don’t track. Set specific targets. * Consider how you will improve and market your services to reach the people who can pay you more money.
Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
030 - It’s either training day or showtime: Today’s pain is prep work On this episode Dalan shares a personal message on how to maintain your focus when frustration wants to take over. Your dreams are becoming more vivid and with that comes a strong desire to arrive, QUICKLY! Well what should we do in the meanwhile until that big day? Everyday before your ambitions materialize is training day. Do the prep work so you can go hard for showtime. More details on the inside. Click play. Put some rocket fuel in your career. Grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
I’m not saying you have to love your job right now, but there is a better way to hate your job. Here are some constructive ways to channel that energy into moving toward the lifestyle you desire. * Everything has a purpose for a time. Embrace it then move on. * Do what you need to for right now. * Time is limited. Focus on making yourself better.
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
028 - Tech tools to help manage your life and business On Episode 028 I give a quick run down of some of the apps and other tools I use to manage life and business. this is of course not an exhaustive list of options, but they are options nonetheless. Share your experience with any of these tools, or tell us about any great tech tools you use! I’m @dalanv on twitter and would love to hear from you. File management * Dropbox - Cloud storage, file sharing * Google Drive - Cloud storage, file sharing
Apps * Good Reader - Read and annotate PDF documents * Microsoft Outlook for iOS * Authy - 2-Factor verification * Evernote - Note keeping, project management, to do lists, reminders, * YNAB - You Need A Budget * TripCase * LinkedIn Jobs
Web hosting and design * Wordpress + DIVI Theme * Our go to wizard for this stuff is ShoesOptional.com. Tell Jeff we sent you. :)
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
027 - Do something scary everyday: Overcoming fear is a skill So many of us let fear stop us from lighting a fire on the inside and switching on greatness. In this episode we share a useful technique for learning how to function at a high level even when you’re scared. Practice! Push through one silly fear after the next until your strong enough to tackle the one that stands between you and your dreams. I’ll be on twitter @dalanv so let’s connect. Share one of your silly fears. How did it feel to finally push through it? Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
026 - Manage your reputation: News travels! * When there’s a big (or small) opportunity on the table people start asking two (2) questions: + Who do you know? What do you know about them? * Since word of mouth is still a powerful, compelling medium, it’s important to manage your reputation. * Ask for feedback and collect testimonials! * Reality check: The company or boss are in business to make money, not to make you happy. If you want more from them, it’s your responsibility to build a compelling case. * Professionals are “Always On”! Even outside the office, the person controlling the next opportunity may be watching. Have fun, but consider how it will impact your reputation. * Quick take-away on character: It can take a lifetime to build, and 30 seconds to destroy.
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
025 - Mastering the weekend: The key to a productive week * Take time to mediate and center yourself + Be intentional about your leisure time. Make it a mini event, even if it’s just you! * Move your body, if you’re able. Get some exercise, outdoors if you can! * Read something specific to your profession and another specific to your journey * Use the time to think about a complex problem outside your traditional work environment * Draft emails. Consider using a service like Boomerang to schedule emails that will automatically be sent later. * Work on your vision board and action plan + If you could design your ideal lifestyle (which you can!) how would it look? + What three (3) actions will you absolutely take toward your goals during the coming week. * Rest early, rise early.
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
024 - Are you a 1D, 2D or 3D person? (Part 1) * It's hard for people to believe that you can be good at more than thing. * One dimensional people. Only capable of assuming singular traditional roles. + Limited to people's expectations and stereotypes. + Defined by the basic skills of their degree or profession * Two dimensional - Able to manage people and tasks + Competent in multiple technical skills that seem unrelated on the surface + Refuse to live and work within the limits of poorly crafted job descriptions * 3 dimensional - Able to navigate the technical and esoteric. And, not or. Art and science + Execute tasks, manage people, AND inspire people to imagine a new future
The challenges: 1. How can 2D and 3D people convince a world run by 1D people that they exist and that we can coexist? 2. How do you communicate that you are more than your job history or resume? 3. How can managers spot 2D and 3D talent and leverage these anomalies to benefit the organization? 4. How can 2D and 3D people present themselves as non-threatening enough to gain access to opportunities where they can demonstrate their powerful contributions?
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
023 - Are you a million dollar product? * Focus on making yourself more valuable and you’ll attract opportunites and wealth * Focus on what’s in front you but be prepared for the next move + Train like it’s for the olympics; start early! * Get on the offense team. Get in the business of the business. + What area is really bringing in the most revenue or directly reducing costs + Be involved in establishing and maintaining relationships with customers * What can you offer where 1,000 people, would be willing to pay just $10 per month? + 1000 x $10 = $10,000 per month + $10,000 x 12 months = $120,000 per year! * Get addicted to progress and self improvement
Links: Pat Flynn - Smart Passive Income http://www.smartpassiveincome.com Fatman Scoop - Put Your Hands Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0rLJKgB8X4 Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
022 - Create a new normal: Do something you’ve never done before We spend lots of time talking about how life is, and how awesome we wish it could be. Here’s the question: What are you changing to create that new normal? In this episode we discuss how to develop the flexible mindset needed to make magic happen! Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
021 - Phone vs. Email: Real business still require real connections Article 1: "Emails Only, Please: 10 Reasons Phone Calls Are A Waste of Time” by Jason DeMers (Forbes.com Contributor) * http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2014/08/27/emails-only-please-10-reasons-phone-calls-are-a-waste-of-time/2/#1eb90abb77d0
Article 2: "Why a Phone Call Is Better Than an Email (Usually)” by Ross Mccammon (Entrepreneur.com Contributor) * https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238385
- Consider whether this warrants a call.
- Is this your first crucial interaction? Yes, call.
- Do you need a quick yes/no, or do you need to understand how they feel about an issue? Yes, call.
- Send an agenda before the call just like a live meeting. This focuses everyone's mind on the specific issues or outcomes you want to achieve.
- Set a time expectation. "This should take us about 30 minutes. I value your time so we will do our honor that with an efficient conversation." This says (politely) let's keep small talk to a minimum and get to work because we are all busy.
- Help people prepare by sending material they need to review in advance.
- Send a manual or automated reminder.
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
020 - Why I hate requesting vacation: How to let your pain power your dreams Are you fed up with not being able to live life on your own terms? Do you dream about making decisions without being limited by your income? Do you get frustrated with how far or fast your journey is progressing? In this episode, learn how to let that same frustration be a source power. Oh, and also hear why I hate requesting vacation. Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
019 - Structure brings freedom - How to free your mind and have more time Learn how systematizing your life can lead to more time, autonomy and money! Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
018 - Progress feeds on criticism: Listen, learn, adjust, improve People who want to grow fast, embrace criticism. Learn how to evaluate feedback and let it groom you to perfection. Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
017 - Book smart, Emotion dumb: Control your emotions and own every situation Becoming an emotional Jedi is one way to fast track your ascent to greatness! Here are three tools to help you control your feelings and own every situation. Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
016 - Live life with more energy! People memorize the way you make them feel and react to that energy. Learn how to get your energy level up even when you’re doing some that’s not that thrilling. Energy UP = Results UP! Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
015 - Bend, but don't break: The power of pushing through disappointments In this episode we examine the differences between how the greats and not so greats manage situations that didn’t go as planned. Do you become overwhelmed with disappointment and frustration at times? Learn how to re-examine and re-imagine the case. * What is "no” really? * The fallacy of overnight success * Jump to the next small solution
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
014 - Circle of Greatness Part 2: Who’s in your starting five? In this episode we discuss things you should consider when recruiting people for your inner circle. For more context and value, listen to Part 1 on Episode 007. Layer 1 * People, causes and communities you want to help.
Layer 2 * People and causes you want to influence.
Layer 3 * People and energy that will influence you.
Layer 4 * Partners with a similar vision who will help you build, while you do the same for them.
People in your inner circle play three roles in your life: 1. Windows - How do people see you? 2. Mirrors - How do you see yourself? 3. Glasses - How do you see the world?
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire Episode 013 - The ability to focus and re-focus QUICKLY: Live life like a photographer Do minor disappointments distract you from accomplishing your goals? Well, photographers can teach us some important lessons on how to overcome this challenge. * Photographers are able to focus and re-focus QUICKLY * Take more than one shot * Keep shooting! * Sunk costs are not an automatic reason to continue down that path
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 012 - How to embrace now and prepare for next Have you ever been frustrated with how fast or slow you’re moving? Do you wrestle with staying engaged with daily tasks because your mind is busy with the goals you really want to accomplish? In this episode we share some interesting ways to manage these dynamics. * Gratitude * View your current experience as Research & Development * Be very specific about what you are focusing on at any time
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money. For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
In this episode we explore how to makeyour mind addicted to achieving your goals. * If you want to stay focused, give yourself a target * Give your mind ataste of the life you desire
Put some rocket fuel in yourcareer, grow faster, make deeper connections and moremoney. For more information visitfocusthefire.com and join thecommunity list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook|Instagram|Twitter:@focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 010 - When your why gets big enough, you will make a way In this episode, we discuss the best way to stay fired up and focused on your goals. If you never shared a bed with an elephant, tune in to learn why this may be a great idea!
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
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Focus the fire 009 - You can do anything, but you can’t do EVERYthing * You can do anything, but you can’t do EVERYthing...at the same level * You can do anything, but you can’t do EVERYthing...at the same time * You can do anything, but you can’t do EVERYthing...on your own * Tap into the power of focusing on ONE thing at a time * Be present with a task, idea, vision * Specialize, scale, then pivot
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
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Focus the Fire 008 - Don’t be intimidated: Greatness is yours for the taking * Increase your value - education, experiences and results * Understand your value * Rehearse your craft + You can read books and take classes all day but until you start doing, you won't develop the confidence that makes people excited to compensate you at a high level + You can perfect what you don't start * What is your unique value proposition? How can you solve a problem better anyone else? * Understand that everyone above you started lower than where they are right now. * What is really separating you from them? + Education, time, opportunity + On the inside you are just as good or even better! * Move quickly from impressed to inspired! + You can spend time being fascinated by people's success or you can direct your energy toward dissecting and replicating that moves that helped them create those results. * Confidence offends the weak. Be prepared for the static. * Take control. No one can intimidate you. You can only allow yourself to be intimidated. * Take the limits off what you've been conditioned to think you deserve, and what you think you have the capacity to accomplish.
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox.
Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 007 - Creating a circle of greatness (Part 1) In this episode we discuss a simple framework for managing the people and energy in your surroundings. Learn how to set specific types of objectives for various groups and adjust the influences affecting how fast you grow. Layer 1 * People, causes and communities you want to help.
Layer 2 * People and causes you want to influence.
Layer 3 * People and energy that will influence you.
Layer 4 * Partners with similar vision who will help you build, while you do the same for them.
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox.
Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 006 - Own your happiness!: How to be content without becoming complacent
In this episode we discuss how you can maintain a sense of balance along the journey to amazing, without getting too comfortable. How do you take that sense of dissatisfaction and transform it into positive energy that drives you forward? Dalan serves up a candid reality check on what it means to work for someone else, while carving a path to your own dreams. Learn how to take control of the situation so that you maximize the experience!
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox.
Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 005 - The art of being an "also-preneur"
- Choose a side hustle where the timing doesn't conflict with your main career.
- Who do you want to help? Describe Angie.
- How many people do you want to help?
- Why do you really want to do this? Money, time, freedom, autonomy
- Discipline. The minute you're not on someone else's clock, then you are immediately on yours. Make every second count.
- How much is your time worth? Per hour? You want to make $X each month. Ok. So how much money should your efforts be generating each hour.
- Learn to say No politely, without regret.
- 4 questions to filter your time:
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- What will I learn
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- What will I earn
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- How will I grow
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- Who will I help?
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- Automate processes where possible
- Use the weekend to plan your weekday moves
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Be a constant learner. Education for results is crucial.
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Decide whether you want this to be a permanent side hustle or scale to a full time business, but keep this private until the time is right.
- How can you leverage one for the other? Transfer of skills between the two worlds.
- Why also-preneurs make great employees:
- Less dependent on the company to satisfy their need for self actualization
- Familiar with taking personal responsibility
- Builders and unifiers
- Practice inspiring others toward a common cause
- Less fear of failure. Willing to offer new ideas
- Understand what it means to empower others to do good work
- Initiative
- Also-preneurs work best when the company supports or at least approves their other pursuits. Willing to give the company even more value in return for increased flexibility.
- Know when to give the main career more attention. Perception is reality. Flexibility is a two way street.
- If you want more freedom and flexibility, you have to out perform everyone else, to compensate for the perceived inequity.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 004 - Let’s talk about your in-side hustle! Many people believe you have to choose between being an entrepreneur or working for someone else. What if we could teach you how to do both? This episode is not about a side hustle. Let's talk about your in-side hustle! * Your current career is the perfect time to practice being an entrepreneur without all the risks * Adjust your mindset from poverty to plenty * If you’re working for your job, make sure it’s working for you * Take ownership of your area * View your job as research, development or funding for your passion * Take pride in your work and inspire others to do the same * Pretend the rise or fall of the organization depends on you
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 003 - Rising to the Top * Become a technical expert * Build relationships and social capital * Solve big problems * Be a well versus a cup * You can’t expect big returns if your waiting in line with a tiny cup * Request feedback and embrace criticism * Demonstrate the ability to manage people
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox. Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus the Fire 002 - Be Unforgettable
Prepare to get fired!…or better yet, replaced. If you to want grow, become a legend!
In this episode we teach you how to make being around you an amazing experience that people will remember, and want to repeat. Forget being the best. Become a legend where you are and move on the the next level of success.
- Develop a deep understanding of who you are and what you believe
- Have a genuine desire to add value to the people and places you encounter
- Spend time understanding people’s pain points
- Try to solve big problems
- Do simple things that are uncommon
- Eye contact
- Pause before responding
- Keep your word
- Unforgettable vs. Irreplaceable
Put some rocket fuel in your career, grow faster, make deeper connections and more money.
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox.
Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)
Focus The Fire - Episode 1
Introduction episode covering the following points: * What is this show about?
* PODCAST teaching young professionals how to transform from average employee to amazing leader!
* Who is your host? My story?
* Frequency of the show
* Why create THIS show?
* Who should listen to this show?
For more information visit focusthefire.com and join the community list to get fire in your inbox.
Facebook|Instagram|Twitter: @focusthefire (show) or @dalanv (host)