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The new year and the pandemic inform how we use space to live and work.

It turns out that one good thing happened in 2020. Because we sheltered in place for weeks and months, we discovered that we could work successfully from home or in a hybrid combination of traditional and untraditional work spaces.

In 2021, how we use space to live and work will be entirely up to us.

During the early pandemic months, millions of people left big cities for anywhere else. They bought homes in suburbs, exurbs, and rural communities. What is more, they are reimagining their new places as professionally designed TV studios for Zoom sessions.

By living and working remotely, people slashed their monthly out-of-pocket commuting costs. The hours of time recovered by not commuting provided people opportunities to engage with family members, rest, or increase their productivity.

Yes, in 2020, people became more productive on the job.

In the past 12 months, animal shelters emptied as people adopted dogs and cats. Surely, the happiest heartbeats in the home belong to our new furry family members.

Surely, we are in, or are about to enter, the worst part of the Covid pandemic. During the next weeks and months, we will lose more people, everyday, than died on 9/11. And Covid will, for the foreseeable future, be our leading cause of death.

But when we get through Covid, we will be a stronger, more agile, and happier workforce. And that is because we will have more say in the work that we do and our space to live and work.

EPISODE DATE: January 1, 2021

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Comedy empowers veterans careers: see how ASAP’s novel stand-up comedy training program helps the people who served enjoy meaningful lives and work.

The Armed Services Arts Partnership or ASAP is a nonprofit organization that uses stand-up comedy training to empower people to connect with beautiful dreams and meaningful work.

ASAP cultivates community and growth among veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers through the arts. But their real impact is in liberating people from fear, pain, and loss, to get them to a place of joy and empowerment. People who have benefitted from ASAP training and programming use their newfound creativity to confidently express themselves and their purpose, and find greater success and happiness in life and work. ASAP programming is available in the Washington DC metropolitan area as well as in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

To understand how comedy empowers veterans’ careers, we met with ASAP’s executive director Brian Jenkins. We also sat down with Monica Daly who performed her five-minute stand-up comedy set before a live audience at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia.

During this episode, recorded in the Fall of 2019, you will discover:

• What the Armed Services Arts Partnership is about. Starts at 2:28
• Comedian Monica Daly’s take on ASAP and the benefits that it provides her. Starts at 7:07
• A sampling of Monica’s stand-up set. Starts at 13:54
• What participants may expect during their stand-up comedy training program. Starts at 15:02

As comedy empowers veterans careers, we hope it can extend to the millions of front-line workers who are fighting the Coronavirus pandemic.

About our guests:

Brian Jenkins received a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. His life path, which aligned with community building and social responsibility, prepared him well to be the Executive Director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership. Brian lives in Northern Virginia.

Monica Daly grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs of Northern Virginia and is a US Army veteran. A member of the federal government workforce, she is settling into a new assignment based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before agreeing to relocate to Indianapolis, Monica made sure that there were plenty of comedy clubs for her to play.

EPISODE DATE: December 25, 2020

Social media:

ASAP website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Twitter

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In the Spring of 2017, we interviewed noted labor historian and academic David Jacobs, and we asked him: what does it mean to work?

Nearly four years have passed since we interviewed Professor Jacobs, and yet very little in the workforce has changed.

People who work still have to place their financial concerns above all other considerations. And yet, in this interview, Professor Jacobs describes the ways that our work can become meaningful and fulfilling.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What does it mean to work? Starts at 3:18
• The concept of “labor capitalism.” Starts at 5:12
• The current lack of a social safety net for workers. Starts at 10:31
• Where he believes that the workforce is headed. Starts at 27:37
• The emergence of the worker-activist. Starts at 28:44

What was true in 2017 remains true entering 2021: finding and doing meaningful work may not happen with employment in one job. Many of us are doing gigs and side-hustles to make ends meet, but also do work with greater purpose. Nearly four years later, we are still asking: what does it mean to work?

About our guest:

David Jacobs is an Associate Professor of Labor and Sustainability at the Graves School of Business at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. What is more, he is the author of The Disunited States of America: Employment Relations Systems in Conflict. Professor Jacobs lives in Montgomery County, Maryland.

EPISODE DATE: December 18, 2020

Social media:

– Amazon.com book page

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When you discover your personality type, you can benefit in the future of work doing meaningful work.

Globally recognized Myers-Briggs expert Edythe Richards returns to podcast. By administering Myers-Briggs assessments, she helps people enjoy better life and work experiences.

In this episode, Edythe takes us through the utility and benefits of a Myers-Briggs assessment by reviewing Dan Smolen’s personality type results. To that end, knowing your Myers-Briggs type can help you engage better with others, and, find and do meaningful work.

In key interview segments, Edythe:

• Summarizes the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and its components.  Starts at 4:27
• Reviews in detail the results of Dan’s Myers-Briggs assessment. Starts at 5:21
• Differentiates between Extroverted and Introverted personality types. Starts at 8:51
• Contrasts Sensing and Intuitive personality types. Starts at 10:59
• Compares Thinking and Feeling personality types. Starts at 14:56
• Describes Judging and Perceiving personality types. Starts at 17:09

Clearly, when you discover your personality type success often follows.

“[Myers-Briggs] helps us feel more empowered to make better decisions for our lives and careers.”

About our guest:

Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Edythe is a globally recognized expert on Myers-Briggs and Emotional Intelligence. Her career counseling consultancy called A Top Career is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

EPISODE DATE: December 11, 2020

Social media:

– Website

– Myers Briggs Question Corner Podcast

– LinkedIn Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:18 — 59.5MB)

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As the pandemic rages on and unemployment spikes, one online platform engages former employees.

Forward thinking brands that must furlough large numbers of people use online alumni community platforms. They help former headcount develop new skill, find jobs at other companies, or return to the company in new full-time employment roles or contracting assignments.

To that end, alumni communities engage former employees, because of tech innovators like James Sinclair. He is the co-founder of EnterpriseAlumni.

In this episode, James describes:

• The value proposition of alumni community platforms. Starts at 2:21
• Benefits associated with engaging former company workers. Starts at 3:21
• How the protests happening across the US in 2020 are driving corporate social impact. Starts at 11:01
• Two interview questions managers are now asking hired talent. Starts at 17:27
• The benefits of an agile workforce. Starts at 26:40
• How to achieve meaningful work. Starts at 36:23

What is more, by leveraging the EnterpriseAlumni online platform to engage former employees, James demonstrates the positive future of work impact of alumni engagement:

“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?’”

About our guest:

James Sinclair is the Chief Executive & Co-Founder of EnterpriseAlumni, an online platform that engages former company employees. James’ background is in large enterprise innovation; previously, he worked for IBM, SAP & EDS. He lives and works in Southern California. 

EPISODE DATE: December 4, 2020

Social media:

– Website

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:17 — 51.3MB)

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In this episode, two headhunters discuss recruiting.

During 1998, Victoria James and Dan Smolen both entered the executive recruiting field. After 20 years, Dan moved on to future of work thought-leadership and podcasting, However, Victoria still enjoys a great run in placing executive-level candidates.

Victoria is the founder and president of Victoria James Executive Search.

Her company is a nationally recognized recruitment firm that places top marketing and sales executives across the U.S. Victoria relies on finely tuned consultative sales skill to draw top candidates into great executive roles.

In this episode, Victoria describes:

• Being a successful female executive in a male-dominated culture. Starts at 2:10
• The events that led to her surprising headhunting career-pivot. Starts at 5:28
• The critical importance of well-written candidate résumés. Starts at 16:44
• How technology, and LinkedIn, have transformed headhunting. Starts at 21:46
• The success that she enjoys in working from home. Starts at 23:34

On knowing when to leave a job, Victoria says:

“Sometimes, you just [meet up with someone and] don’t hit it off, no matter what you do or how good you are. That’s a signal for most people to start thinking about another environment.”

When these two headhunters discuss recruiting, listeners can discover valuable insight that they can use to find and do meaningful work.

About our guest:

Victoria James earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bloomfield College and an MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. She and her company are based in South Kent, Connecticut.

EPISODE DATE: November 27, 2020

Social Media:

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Victoria James Executive Search Website

– Featured Blog Post: Tackling the Work from Home Dilemma (Again)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:01 — 50.8MB)

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One thing is clear: localism shapes the future of work.

This week, we re-visit our 2018 interview with Doug Ross and Morley Winograd. They are, with Mike Hais, the co-authors of the book Healing American Democracy: Going Local.

When Joe Biden becomes President on January 20, 2021, he will engage with a deeply divided government. Meantime, real governing power is “going local” by moving to our nation’s city councils and county boards.

And besides, local lawmakers, not the president nor Congress, will scale our nation’s economy and drive the future of work.

In this episode, Doug and Morley discuss how localism shapes the future of work. They:

• Explain why so many Americans have lost faith in our current top-down form of American Democracy. Starts at 4:47
• Define their concept of “constitutional localism” and describe how it would operate and provide benefit. Starts at 7:05
• Illustrate how “turning scale upside down” to create and staff smaller numbers of new jobs—dozens versus thousands—would help local communities thrive. Starts at 20:01
• Identify how localism can become the linchpin for success in creating more meaningful work opportunities. Starts at 23:47

Furthermore, as localism shapes the future of work, Morley says:

“People aren’t trying to create the next Budweiser. [They are trying to create] the next IPA that they can sell in the local bar and to drive a nice little employment world that is self-contained and capable of hiring and keeping people at work in their community.”

About our guests:

Doug Ross and Morley Winograd are nationally known and respected political practitioners who cross solid data and wishful thinking to paint a hopeful portrait of America based on the idea of constitutional localism.

Doug was a state senator from Michigan and a U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Morley is a Senior Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School Center on Communication and Leadership Policy. He was a Michigan state political party chair and White House Senior Policy Advisor to Vice President Al Gore. Along with their co-author Mike Hais, they’ve written six books between them.

EPISODE DATE: November 20, 2020

Social media:

– Healing America: Going Local Website

– Mike and Morley Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:48 — 10.7MB)

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Let’s ditch the monthly unemployment report.

On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden assumes the U.S. Presidency. But, right now, Mr. Biden focuses time and energy on forming task forces to mitigate the spread of COVID. He will also put in place the supply chain necessary to deliver a vaccine to some 330 million Americans.

COVID will consume the new president’s early days and months in office. But, the economic pain of American workers also factors. Already, President-elect Biden’s transition team is thinking about how to get people who want to work, and who need to work, back on the job.

For over 100 years, the U.S. government published monthly stats on unemployment. That report must update to one that factors the health and wellness of all workers, especially underemployed ones.

Important considerations:

• As of October 2020, 11 million full-time American workers remain unemployed. That’s down from the high water mark of Spring 2020 (23 million workers);
• That 11 million-member cohort does not include self-employed contract talent, gig workers, part-time employees, or under-employed people;
• Payscale.com’s survey indicates that 46 percent of American workers say that they are under-employed. That’s 71 million people!

Not all workers seek full-time employment. So, when we ditch the monthly unemployment report, we better reflect the changes in how American workers seek and do work.

Benefit Portability would help all workers.

The Biden Administration should allow American workers to take their hard earned benefits with them. Benefit Portability would enable them to port their 401k investments and other things from job to job, and over their lifetimes. Currently, when someone leaves a full-time job, their retirement assets cash-out. And it often becomes the responsibility of the worker to manage those assets parked in an IRA. Often, that doesn’t work out well.

First things first: let’s ditch the monthly unemployment report, to tell a truer story of the health and well-being of American workers.

EPISODE DATE: October 13, 2020

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Subject-matter expert Edythe Richards explains the connection between Emotional Intelligence and Hybrid Work. 

Emotional intelligence or EQ helps people to be aware of, control, and express their emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

As the pandemic continues into a tenth month, nearly 8 out of every 10 full-time workers have shifted to remote or hybrid work settings. EQ helps them to seek a clear understanding of others who also work in separate locations.

In this episode, Edythe discusses:

• Her insights about the dramatic shift to remote and hybrid work. Starts at 2:17
• The special challenges faced by her clients experiencing workplace transitions. Starts at 6:10
• How people who use Zoom for work can benefit from EQ. Starts at 8:17
• Employing EQ while working remotely to achieve emotional presence. Starts at 16:52

Edythe explains how Emotional Intelligence and Hybrid Work relate to our current stress-packed reality:

“[There is an] EQ element called stress tolerance, which is essentially our ability, and tendency, to manage stressful situations. For many of us, our stress levels are going to be amplified during this time.”

About our guest:

Edythe Richards received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Her nationally recognized career counseling consultancy, A Top Career, is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

EPISODE DATE: November 6, 2020

Social media:

– Website

– Myers Briggs Question Corner Podcast

– LinkedIn Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:05 — 55.1MB)

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Workforce expert Adrienne Shoch joins the podcast to encourage us to create hybrid workplace presence.

“[We are] constantly helping people get comfortable with certainty. It likes the same thing. It likes routines and all kinds of things. And, we don’t live like that, anymore.”

Adrienne Shoch of five to one in Washington, D.C. is a brilliant thought-leader in workforce and the future of work.

A frequent guest, she returns to The Dan Smolen Podcast to help us make the hybrid workplace model, that splits time between home and traditional office settings, more meaningful. To that end, Adrienne wants us all to create hybrid workplace presence. When we do that, we will get more out of our work experience.

Actually, we will thrive.

In this episode, Adrienne discusses:

• Key insights of clients who have migrated to hybrid workplaces. Starts at 2:20
• Steps that hiring managers and people take to make hybrid successful and enabling of presence. Starts at 6:20
• How people may be paired with others to work remotely or at the office. Starts at 13:24
• Helping people thrive where and when they want to work. Starts at 19:59

Adrienne gets to “why” we should create hybrid workforce presence:

“So the game is, the trick is, to help people get comfortable with uncertainty. It is not about being agile or resilient; it is about being adaptive. And that takes different skills and intentions.”

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. She lives and works in Washington, D.C.

EPISODE DATE: October 30, 2020

Social media:

– Website

– Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page