Two Projects To Close Out 2024
Two "Back Pocket Ideas" for you to check out
When I started my business a few years ago, I wanted to save time for Back Pocket Ideas (I wrote about these here)
Basically, projects that I could invest time in that I thought might one day have exponential impact. The criteria had to be threefold:
They were projects I was genuinely passionate about and intrinsically motivated by. So much so that I would do the work for free
I would have to collaborate with these with other people, and specifically, people who I enjoyed working with and partnering with
They had to be things that I would be comfortable with being attached to for a period of decades
As a result, each year, I identify a few projects that meet these criteria and invest time into them.
Transparently, 2022 and 2023 were so focused on figuring out how to do the business work that that my ideas for back pocket ideas and these types of projects didn’t get off the ground. The good news is that I made up for that in 2024. And since you read this newsletter, I’m excited to share them with you first.
Project 1: The Business Breakdown Podcast
This fall, I launched a passion project that’s been brewing in my mind for some time: The Business Breakdown Podcast. It’s a podcast inspired by one of the most rewarding aspects of my three years as an entrepreneur and owner of a leadership development consulting business—learning from others who share the same journey.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with remarkable individuals in the leadership, talent, and HR space. These include trainers, facilitators, coaches, and consultants who excel in their craft and navigate the challenges and triumphs of running their own businesses.
These conversations have been a lifeline for me. They’ve provided insights, encouragement, and a sense of camaraderie that’s hard to find elsewhere. They’ve also been a source of inspiration, sparking an idea: What if we created a space to talk about these experiences, share our successes and mistakes, and offer valuable lessons to others on similar paths?
For the first season of the podcast, I convinced 14 talented friends—entrepreneurs I’ve met over the years—to share their stories. Each episode features candid conversations about their entrepreneurial journeys, from the early struggles to the strategies that brought success.
These individuals opened up about their insights, lessons learned, and the realities of building people-based businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned business owner, their stories are rich with takeaways to help you grow and thrive. They have also served up to me, my own informal learning journey to upleveling as an entrepreneur.
Action: Season 1 of The Business Breakdown Podcast is available now (Apple, Spotify) and includes 15 episodes and stories of entrepreneurs. It also includes my own story (the most recent episode)
If you’re already an entrepreneur on the journey or thinking about going off as a solopreneur or entrepreneur, listen to the podcast. I would love to know what you think.
Project 2: My Latest Book: Career Habits
The next project is my latest book, Career Habits: Enduring Strategies for Career Success.
A decade ago I graduated from business school and went on a journey to figure out what great leaders who I admired and respected did to define and achieve their own career success. This led to many twists and turns, from starting a blog, writing my first book, launching multiple podcasts, starting my career as a speaker and facilitator, and eventually, leaving the corporate world to build my own leadership development consulting firm.
Along the way, I developed my own point of view on the principles and practices for managing your career, and taught it to many leaders. And that's where my book comes into play.
It’s based on my work over the last decade — from keynotes and workshops to coaching sessions and personal conversations — where I’ve helped thousands of leaders understand how to effectively manage their careers.
It’s also filled with lessons and strategies I’ve personally relied on to navigate my own career, all aimed with the goal of giving people practices and principles they can use each day to achieve their career goals.
About a year and a half ago, a few clients for whom I had done this workshop had asked me if ever thought about writing a book about this and who encouraged me to do so. At first, I was hesitant to take it on. At the time, I was working on an idea for another book (which I am working on right now..) but the more that I thought about it and put together the draft, the more that I realized I needed to write it because of how much everything in those workshops had helped me get to the point of where I am today.
In many ways, the book is a dedication to all of the people who encouraged, inspired, and supported me in my career, including the many of you who open, read, and share what’s in this newsletter with your contacts and networks.
Additionally, One of other main motivations for writing the book stems from one of my beliefs about the importance of sharing knowledge and information. My hope is to get the book into the hands of hundreds of thousands of people because I think everyone should have access to learn the skills to manage their career. To me, this is a lifetime project, one that will go beyond when I am talking about career development.
Action: If this book resonates, buy a copy on Amazon today, either for yourself, or a peer, colleague or leader. Additionally, if you are an HR, L&D or Talent leader, a non-profit or association professional, or a higher education professional, check out this website to get a free copy of your book.
Closing
It’s been a busy but rewarding 2024. Thank you to everyone who reads this, who shares feedback and who shares this with their friends and colleagues. I appreciate all of your support. If you check out either of these projects I would have to hear what you think.