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Is Never Normal the future of work? Author and business futurist Greg Verdino believes that the answer is YES.

“Leaders need to become more comfortable with how to manage [people] remotely, and, I think, [have always had] this problem in that they hire adults and treat them like children.”

– Author and Business Futurist Greg Verdino

In his new book Never Normal: Uncommon Ideas for Leaders Who Don’t Settle for the Status Quo, Greg Verdino describes how the answer to constant disruption at work is not technology but rather agile and resilient people.

The pandemic provided a perfect backdrop for discussing with Greg the dramatic forces that have, in an instant, upset our traditional ways of working.

With sudden changes in where we work, the work that we do, and so much uncertainty in what it means to do work, Never Normal is the future of work.

In this episode, Greg:

• Describes what Never Normal: Uncommon Ideas for Leaders Who Don’t Settle for the Status Quo is about and why he wrote it. Starts at 1:48
• Offers why a lack of resources is a “lame excuse” for today’s management. Starts at 3:45
• Provides his thoughts on how Never Normal enmeshes into the future of work. Starts at 8:41
• Responds to the question: will Never Normal be the death of big companies? Starts at 18:33

Describing the Never Normal paradigm shift, Greg says of the future of work:

“This is what work looks like now, and, I don’t think we are going to go back. You can’t shove it back into a box.”

About our guest:

Greg Verdino is a highly regarded authority on “the digital now.” He is a veteran marketing executive who has done brilliant work for leading advertised brands, and, the co-founder of Adapt Manifesto. Greg earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wesleyan University. He lives and works in the Long Island suburbs of New York City.

EPISODE DATE: August 14, 2020

Social media:

– Website

– Twitter

– Amazon Book Page

– Adapt Manifesto

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:00 — 42.6MB)

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New York Times best-selling author Daniel Pink writes that autonomy, mastery, and purpose drive our pursuit of meaningful work.

About this episode:

“[The idea] that if you simply dangle money in front of people and they will perform better is a fundamentally erroneous proposition.”

– Daniel Pink

Daniel Pink inspires our future of work and meaningful work thought-leadership.

The author of DRIVE: The Surprising Truth of What Motivates Us demonstrates how autonomy, mastery, and purpose lead people to pursue meaningful work and careers.

In good economies and bad, what drives us to live and work remains unchanged.

Millions in the American workforce adjust to working from home, or suffer through job loss. Yet often, their motivations drive them towards positive purpose and meaning.

In this episode, we discuss how:

• Autonomy, mastery, and purpose motivations take root in our lives. Starts at 2:07
• Corporate managers often believe that money is the only work-performance motivator. Starts at 5:06
• The pandemic affects our thoughts. Starts at 10:44
• Answering “what is my sentence?” can aid your purpose and meaningful work career goals. Starts at 22:00
• Regret can help improve our lives and work. Starts at 25:58

About our guest:

Daniel Pink earned a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School where he edited the Yale Law and Policy Review. Currently, he is writing a seventh book on the subject of regret. Daniel lives and works in Washington, D.C.

EPISODE DATE: August 7, 2020

Social media:

– Daniel Pink Website

– World Regret Survey

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:41 — 39.4MB)

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Typical entrepreneurs focus on winning funding rounds and scaling revenue. However, one woman is now guiding the Resilient Entrepreneur to make the world a better place.

About this episode:

“[You] can have a business plan on paper, but then the first day that you start your business, everything changes. So, the skills of how:

• flexible are you?
• do you adapt?
• you take things as not going your way?

are learning opportunities.”

– Regina Bernal, Entrepreneurship Manager for the University of San Diego

In this episode, we meet Regina Bernal. Regina is the University of San Diego School of Business’ Entrepreneurship Manager. She guides student entrepreneurs to think beyond typical start-up business metrics to more meaningful ends.

Simply stated, she is guiding the Resilient Entrepreneur.

Regina leads a movement that promotes entrepreneurs who are hell bent on launching successful and scalable businesses while creating better outcomes for the planet, people, and communities.

In this episode, Regina describes:

• The mission behind her role as University of San Diego School of Business’ Entrepreneurship Manager. Starts at 2:08
• Challenges faced by today’s entrepreneurs whose purpose is affected by the pandemic. Starts at 3:34
• The Resilient Entrepreneur. Starts at 11:03
• How the gift of time may benefit socially distanced student entrepreneurs. Starts at 17:13
• Her public speaking and writing experiences. Starts at 21:44

Regina also offers up the story behind guiding the Resilient Entrepreneur:

“When we decided that we weren’t going to have our big pitch competition, we thought how can we continue to add value right now to our students and pivot into something that they immediately need and can support them [with]? That’s when we thought about resiliency.”

About our guest:

Regina Bernal received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Masters of Science in Leadership from the University of San Diego. She is a passionate member of the San Diego start-up community, a TEDx speaker, and a thought-leader who publishes commentaries on entrepreneurship. Regina lives and works in San Diego, California.

EPISODE DATE: July 31, 2020

Social media:

– Website

– LinkedIn

– Resilient Entrepreneur Series

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:20 — 43.1MB)

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Can work make you healthy? It’s a provocative question with an interesting answer.

“I truly believe that work as a medium is the purest way, and perhaps the only way, to think about actually discovering health.”

– Denise Brouder, Founder of SWAYworkplace

As an executive in the financial services sector, Denise Brouder discovered that work can be unhealthful.

The demands of a high stress career, and the needs of her young and growing family, made Denise realize that people often suffer ill health from the work that they do.

Inspired to make work meaningful she founded SWAYworkplace, a professional community and career platform that enables overworked people to transition to, and succeed in, a flexible workplace.

Denise leads people to the meaningful work of their dreams while proving her case that work CAN make you healthy.

Growing up on the western coast of Ireland, Denise adopted a strong Irish work-ethic. Driven by talent and ambition, she got an executive-level job on Wall Street working for a premier financial services company. In striving to do her job well, and balance the work and non-work parts of her day, she embarked on a quest to make work healthy for herself and millions of other people in the American workforce.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The story behind SWAYworkplace and its mission to empower people at work. Starts at 2:01
• The WHY moment when she discovered her passion for the future of work building a proactive and nurtured workplace. Starts at 3:51
• How work can make you healthy. Starts at 16:53

Denise also discusses a future of work that is inclusive and reflects the value of workforce stakeholders:

“The future of work is no longer a top-down mechanism. [I think that] real, true, meaningful change and innovation is going to come from the bottom up in community type settings.”

About our guest:

Denise Brouder earned a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Limerick and an MBA in International Finance from Fordham University. She lives and works in the New York City suburbs of New Jersey.

EPISODE DATE: July 24, 2020

Social media:

– Website

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:42 — 43.6MB)

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Serial entrepreneur Isar Meitis’ tribal lessons foster meaningful work.

About this episode: 

“In my core, I’m a teacher. If there was a great way to make a living as a teacher, I’d be a teacher. I thrive when I teach.”

– Isar Meitis, Founder of the e-tribe

Isar Meitis‘ life story and experience are truly inspiring.

With a deep passion for teaching and empowering people, Isar provides tribal lessons to manage our time and priorities, be attentive to our family and friends, and still do the meaningful work of our dreams.

In this episode, Isar describes:

• The e-tribe and its mission to help people become successful. Starts at 1:53
• His time-management best practices. Starts at 9:12
• How we all can explore and do meaningful work. Starts at 23:24

Useful hack: Isar uses the free Trello app to fulfill his project and time management needs.

About our guest:

As a young man, Isar Meitis piloted a fighter jet. The experience trained him to make split-second decisions and yet remain grounded and focused after each mission. His intense military training pivoted him to a successful career as a high tech executive and serial start-up entrepreneur who today offers tribal lessons for living a successful life doing meaningful work. Isar graduated from the IAF Flight School and earned a Masters in Business Administration from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College. He lives and works in Orlando, Florida.

EPISODE DATE: July 17, 2020

Social media:

LinkedIn

Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:25 — 22.6MB)

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Discover how a radio deejay’s meaningful work is rewarded with a global following for 1970’s-era Disco music.

About this episode:

We travel across-the-pond to chat with Russell White, a London-based executive recruiter who doubles as a radio deejay or presenter playing 1970s-era Disco music. During the day, Russ places professional talent in executive jobs for United Kingdom and European Union companies. But when the sun sets, he becomes Retro Russ.

It is behind the microphone where this radio deejay does truly meaningful work.

Through terrestrial and internet broadcaster Delite Radio, Retro Russ has gained an appreciative following for Disco around the globe.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The origin story of Retro Russ, the radio presenter. Starts at 3:23
• How Retro Russ influenced the music choices of house producers. Starts at 7:41
• The intersectionality of [our] executive search and radio careers. Starts at 11:05

Since this January 2020 recorded interview, Russ has started a second radio show called Sunday Mid-Morning Delite with Retro Russ. 

About our guest:

Russell White is a veteran executive recruiter and the managing partner of London-based Premier Consultants which places people in a variety of senior-level marketing job assignments. Also, he is known around the globe as Retro Russ, a deejay presenting 1970s Disco music on Delite Radio. Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Business Studies from Middlesex University. He lives and works in London, England.

EPISODE DATE: July 10, 2020

Social Media:

– Delite Radio

– Discolicious on Delite Radio with Retro Russ

– Sunday Mid-Morning Delite with Retro Russ 

– Facebook

– Instagram

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:26 — 43.2MB)

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Virtual professionalism is critical to doing meaningful work.

About this episode:

“Not only are we at an inflection point, what [it feels like to me] is an acceleration of catch-up, because the world is moving in this direction, anyway.”

– Adrienne Shoch, Workforce Engagement Expert

A key driver to virtual professionalism: it’s all about being present.

Adrienne discusses how we can match our new-found skill using Zoom, Skype, Webex, and other platforms, to be more present with, and gain more understanding from, co-workers.

Virtual professionalism matters. because many of us now work from home, permanently.

In this episode, Adrienne:

• Expands on the inflection point and the acceleration of “catch-up.” Starts at 2:15
• Describes generative listening and its importance. Starts at 5:50
• Offers how to use virtual professionalism skills. Starts at 12:23
• Elaborates on the importance of intent. Starts at 17:07
• Relates to the value of time. Starts at 23:07

About our guest:

Adrienne Shoch is the founder of five to one and an expert on workforce engagement. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and studied at University of Paris – Sorbonne, and, the Neuroleadership Institute. Adrienne lives and works in Washington, D.C.

EPISODE DATE: July 3, 2020

Social media:

Website

Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:40 — 50.4MB)

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Student leadership and meaningful work go together.

About this episode:

“We’re all leaders in some way, shape, or form.”

-Courtney Owens, Assistant Director of Student Leadership; Ithaca College Office of Student Engagement

Student leadership leads to meaningful work. Coincidentally, leadership programming prepares college students for success doing work that protects the planet and empowers people and community.

People who develop student leadership skill in college enter the workforce as agile participants who are able to pivot to changing circumstances.

So, as colleges and universities welcome back Fall 2020 semester students, Ithaca College will resume its student leadership programming. Undergraduates in the program will learn how to start careers doing meaningful work.

The pursuit of meaningful work is a big driver for Ithaca College.

Courtney Owens, the Assistant Director of Student Leadership at Ithaca College’s Office of Student Engagement, helps students enter the workforce to make a positive difference in the world.

We recorded this podcast episode during December 2019, soon after I addressed the Ithaca College’s Student Leadership Forum.

In this episode, Courtney:

• Summarizes Ithaca College’s student leadership program. Starts at 3:43
• Explains the “WE” aspect of student leadership programming. Starts at 5:45
• Offers her description of meaningful work. Starts at 9:03
• Discusses the generational differences affecting meaningful work priorities. Starts at 18:33
• Offers listeners advice for seeking and doing meaningful work. Starts at 30:34

About our guest:

Courtney Owens earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from Western Kentucky University. She lives and works in Ithaca, New York.

EPISODE DATE: June 26, 2020

Social media:

–Website

–Twitter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:29 — 36.4MB)

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About this episode:

“What I do, on a day in and day out basis, is that I am there for them [and just build] relationships and become a trusted companion.”

-Mike Shochet, Lead Chaplain of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police

We are well into June 2020, a month informed by the grotesquely shocking death of George Floyd—under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. That shockwave has led many to call for defunding police departments across the United States.

Some now ask: is police work meaningful work?

Two years ago, we sat down for a conversation with Mike Shochet. Tightrope Podcast listeners discovered how Mike’s meaningful work career spanned three acts, as TV news reporter, Baltimore City cop, and now as police chaplain.

Ordained as a cantor in Reform Judaism, Mike merged his experience as a beat cop with deep spirituality to become the lead chaplain of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police.

By tending to the pastoral needs of law enforcement personnel, Mike Shochet does the meaningful work of his dreams.

The vexing issues discussed in this episode, recorded in early June of 2018, remain untended. Going forward, we hope (and pray) that police work lives up to the motto: to serve and protect.

In this episode, Mike discusses:

• The role of police chaplain. Starts at 2:26
• Why police officers often don’t like uneventful days. Starts at 8:12
• His view on office candidate screening. Starts at 12:55
• How first-hand experience with pain and neglect informs his chaplaincy. Starts at 15:18
• The role of empathy in police work. Starts at 20:11

About our guest:

Mike Shochet received a Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College. He and his family live in Fairfax County, Virginia.

EPISODE DATE: June 19, 2020

Social media:

– Fairfax County Police Chaplaincy

– Biography, Temple Rodef Shalom

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:29 — 59.8MB)

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About this episode:

“One of the things that [companies] haven’t done that we start to see is tell you ‘Hey, take a moment and take stock of your life. Where are you? Where do you want to be? And, how do we help you get there?’”

-James Sinclair, Chief Executive of EnterpriseAlumni

In 2020, a major inflection point in the future of work has emerged.

Forward thinking companies that furloughed large numbers of workers are using alumni communities to engage their cast-offs through skill development, help finding work at other companies, and offers to return to the fold in new full-time employee or independent contract roles.

Leading this alumni community and meaningful work revolution is James Sinclair.

His company, EnterpriseAlumni, enables managers to communicate with their former employees in meaningful ways, keep the lifetime value of talent investment strong, and, to help their former workers build lives doing meaningful work.

In this episode, James describes:

• The value proposition of alumni communities. Starts at 2:31
• Benefits associated with engaging former company workers. Starts at 3:31
• How the riots happening across the US are driving corporate social impact. Starts at 11:11
• Two interview questions managers are now asking hired talent. Starts at 17:38
• The benefits of an agile workforce. Starts at 26:50
• How to achieve meaningful work. Starts at 36:34

About our guest:

James Sinclair is the Chief Executive & Co-Founder of EnterpriseAlumni. James’ background is in large enterprise innovation. He worked for companies including IBM, SAP & EDS. Outside of his day job, he contributes to media on future of work, large enterprise innovation, and entrepreneurship topics. James lives and works in Southern California. 

EPISODE DATE: June 12, 2020

Social media:

–Website

–LinkedIn

–Twitter

Media credits: Former worker facing Zoom screen, fizkes for iStock Photo; James Sinclair portrait, EnterpriseAlumni.

Note: in the intro, we regretfully referred to the current events as “riots.” That was unintentional and we regret the error.

Please check out our most recent podcast episodes and blog posts on The Dan Smolen Experience website.