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We discuss how dreams inspire our future work.

Dreams are part of the components that help us to seek and do meaningful work and careers.

Paired with exploration, strategy, and action, dreams help us achieve career success. These four components weave together like DNA, in countless combinations, to create a pathway for people to seek and do meaningful work.

In this episode, Dan relives his early career dreams. And his guest, Dr. Charles Glassman, recalls how well-meaning people in his teenage years tried talking him out of a medical career. Through sheer determination, he overcame average high school performance to become a well respected physician and social media’s “Coach MD.” Starts at 9:35

Since recording the podcast interview in 2019, Dr. Glassman has retired from medical practice to become CEO of wellness start-up Victor. It is developing interactive tools to channel the mind and enable people to tap into their innate abilities.

Dan compares the weaving of the four career journey components to strands of DNA:

“When I established The Dan Smolen Experience at the beginning of 2018, I had in mind a career journey model that looked like strands of DNA, made up of countless combinations of four components. And while our DNA were pre-determined at conception, the strands of our career empowerment DNA are determined by us throughout our working lives.

We get to choose what they are.”

Whether a careerist is new to work, or embarking on a new career act, their dreams inspire future work.

About our guest:

Charles Glassman earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and his M.D. from New York Medical College. Dr. Glassman’s health and wellness start-up, Victor, is based in Pomona, New York.

EPISODE DATE: May 7, 2021

Social media:

Brain Drain: The Breakthrough that will Change Your Life (Amazon.com)

Fake News Stories by Your Brain (FREE E-Book)

Coach MD Website

Coach MD YouTube Channel

Coach MD Facebook Page

Coach MD Twitter Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:46 — 56.0MB)

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Fostering a civil workplace is key to the future of work.

As organizations reintroduce their people to the workplace, they must also reckon with social responsibility.

It is one thing for management to express a desire for positive social change. It is quite another to “walk the talk” to create a civil work environment.

Sejal Thakkar understands the sting of incivility like few others. During her teenage years in the Chicago suburbs, she suffered from near daily racial prejudice and bullying.

Now, as a self-described Chief Civility Officer; Sejal uses her personal experience to provide effective workplace training that fosters civility.

In this episode, Sejal:

• Describes her role as Chief Civility Officer for TrainXtra. Starts at 2:57
• Relives growing up as a bullied “other” in the Chicago suburbs. Starts at 4:26
• Relates the experience of representing clients accused of workplace incivility, bias, and discrimination. Starts at 7:52
• Defines the term microagression. Starts at 21:58
• Pairs the civility narrative with the return to the workplace. Starts at 29:39
• Explains how fostering a civil workplace provides positive ROI benefits. Starts at 32:12

In the wake of Covid, remote work, and civil unrest, Sejal believes that we have hit an inflection point for fostering a civil workplace:

“[There have been] so many things happening in such a short period of time that people are not putting up with B.S. at work, anymore.”

About our guest:

Sejal Thakkar earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University. She is a TEDx speaker focused on bias. Sejal lives and works in the Bay Area of California.

EPISODE DATE: April 30, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– TrainXtra Website

– TEDx: The Pain, Power, and Paradox of Bias

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:49 — 46.5MB)

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Few issues pair as precariously as A.I. and the future of work.

Artificial intelligence or A.I. frightens people who fear that robots will take away their jobs and paychecks.

Truth be told, A.I. will soon replace millions of low-skill jobs, for it can manage many tasks faster and better than people.

But A.I. has no heart; only people can do jobs that require human touch and interaction.

To help us understand A.I. and the future of work, we turn to Prateek Joshi. The author of numerous books on Artificial Intelligence, Prateek is the Founder and CEO of Plutoshift, a company that uses A.I. to make the world a better place.

In this episode, Prateek:

• Describes Plutoshift and his role in the company. Starts at 3:03
• Defines A.I. and contrasts it with Machine Learning. Starts at 3:51
• Addresses workforce concerns that A.I. takes jobs away from people. Starts at 8:52
• Illustrates how Plutoshift helps clients involved with providing clean and potable water. Starts at 13:03
• Identifies the training and advanced skill that he seeks in hired talent. Starts at 20:25
• Tells us how, beyond his work, he adds fun and enjoyable activity to each day. Starts at 27:59

In regards to A.I. and the future of work, Prateek says:

“One of the biggest things that [we look for] is the ability to learn. [Are you] the type of person who has learned how to learn?”

About our guest:

Prateek Joshi earned a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka and a Masters of Science in Computer Vision from USC. He is the author of numerous books on Artificial Intelligence. Prateek lives and works in Palo Alto, California.

EPISODE DATE: April 23, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Plutoshift Website

– Prateek Joshi Website

– Amazon Author Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:11 — 44.3MB)

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We pose five questions on post pandemic work experiences to our guest, Edythe Richards.

Edythe is an Emotional Intelligence expert. She is also the new host of the EQ at Work podcast which explores how EQ may be used to positively shape the future of work.

As we emerge from the pandemic, some of us will travel back to co-located offices. The prospect of returning is both exciting and terrifying.

People used to working remotely for more than a year may be ill-prepared for their return to the office. With that in mind, we ask Edythe for answers to these five future of work questions:

1. What does one do if someone thrusts their hand out for a handshake? Starts at 4:55
2. How do we negotiate others’ needs for personal space? Starts at 8:46
3. How do we empower those who want to work anywhere but at a traditional office setting? Starts at 13:29
4. How do we reduce Zoom time and encourage more asynchronous communication? Starts at 20:12
5. How do we contend with post-pandemic “irrational exuberance?” Starts at 25:03

What is more, Edythe expresses the need for intentionality in our ongoing work communications:

“[For me], it’s about the difference between urgent and important. So, I think that smart organizations are going to differentiate between what’s urgent and what’s important.”

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: April 16, 2021

Social media:

– Website

– EQ at Work Podcast

– Myers Briggs Question Corner Podcast

– LinkedIn Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:41 — 46.3MB)

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Entrepreneurs need financial security to scale business, but also have choices to do meaningful work.

And more broadly speaking, financial security plays a big role in the future of work.

Some entrepreneurs strive to scale take their start-ups public. But, more often than not, they are just people looking for autonomy to create products and services that solve vexing problems. And their pursuits typically take the form of side hustles.

Angela Anderson is a veteran wealth advisor who counsels entrepreneurs and other careerists to make sound money decisions.

With a process of thorough engagement that includes money therapy and other tools, Angela frees people to build wealth.  That allows them choices to enjoy a good retirement or for a second act career that may favor social purpose.

In this episode, Angela:

• Introduces her company and the value that it provides her clients. Starts at 3:08
• Explains the sports metaphor that conveys her unique value proposition. Starts at 4:18
• Offers examples of what clients seek for financial security. Starts at 7:22
• Describes the experience of working with people who may be career successful, but not financially sophisticated. Starts at 15:41
• Recalls the money lessons she learned from her time in the Peace Corps. Starts at 21:58
• Discusses how wealth building considerations factor for doing work with a purpose. Starts at 25:56

About our guest:

Angela Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Spanish from Adams State University. She lives and works in Colorado.

EPISODE DATE: April 9, 2021

Social media:

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Website

– Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:34 — 43.4MB)

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We revisit some amazing interviews with workplace futurists who helped the future of work to become present.

Astronishingly, 2020 ushered in massive changes in how and where we work.

Helping to us navigate the changes are these featured guests from The Dan Smolen Podcast:

Anne Driscoll and Chris Schultz: Launch Pad is their co-working community of first believers.

Anne and Chris, the married co-founders of Launch Pad., celebrate co-working by fostering a community of first believers. Starts at 2:04

Nellie Hayat: she leads workplace transformation at VergeSense.

Nellie, the Head of Workplace Transformation at VergeSense, helps companies and people get the most out of their workplaces, wherever they happen to be. Starts at 8:39

Dan Rosenzweig: he co-founded KettleSpace to offer co-working spaces with a sense of place.

Dan explains how KettleSpace benefits workforce professionals who need an inspiring place to meet others or do heads-down work. KettleSpace also helps the owners and operators of venues—like restaurants and hotels—fill their underutilized spaces with happy workforce professionals. Starts at 15:05

Marti Konstant: she drives the future of work agility mindset.

Marti conveys the importance of agility in the workplace. Especially as we exit the pandemic, agility will be mission-critical in the future of work. Start at 20:40

Darren Murph: he is the world’s first Head of Remote Work.

Darren, the Head of Remote Work at GitLab, recounts the joy of people who get to live and work for this 100 percent distributed workforce company wherever they choose. Starts at 26:29

In 2021, each of our guests helped the future of work to become present.

EPISODE DATE: April 2, 2021

Social media:

–    Launch Pad Website

–    VergeSense Website

–    KettleSpace Website

–    Konstant Change Website

–    GitLab Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:50 — 52.0MB)

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When we achieve a career agility mindset, we benefit with boundless opportunities in the future of work.

A year out from the start of the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, one key driver has emerged for people in the workforce: a career agility mindset.

Agility is the-most important attribute of successful career professionals. People now must respond to new tasks, skill requirements, company directives, and market factors. And given that more of us work from anywhere, agility becomes a key success indicator for remote and hybrid workplaces.

Marti Konstant of Konstant Change is a globally recognized workplace futurist.

As one of the top experts in career agility, Marti helps people to succeed in fluid work environments.

In this episode, Marti:

• Describes Konstant Change and its unique value proposition for clients. Starts at 2:40
• Defines the agility mindset and provides reasons as to why it is important for career development. Starts at 3:37
• Offers perspective on why people who work are often resistant to change. Starts at 4:57
• Discusses why C-suites should embrace change in how work is performed. Starts at 10:14
• Provides insight on the agile workforce and the importance of project management skill. Starts at 12:51
• Considers changes in workforce composition, benefit portability, and worker safety nets. Starts at 26:29
• Provides perspective on people pivoting to smaller localities to work. Starts at 29:18

About our guest:

Marti Konstant is an author, consultant, and globally recognized workplace futurist. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Marti lives and works in Chicago.

EPISODE DATE: March 26, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Twitter 

– Website

– Activate Your Agile Career (Book Page)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:37 — 29.7MB)

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Emerging from the pandemic. virtual assistants help professionals to succeed. They take over many critical tasks that are associated with scaling a business.

As millions of business founders and entrepreneurs settle into remote work, many of them turn to virtual assistants for help.

As principal of VirtualKGB.com, Kate Gable Bright delivers the capabilities of big marketing services companies. Often times, Kate launches marketing campaigns, increases sales, and builds formidable social media presences for her clients’ brands.

Kate’s background is impressive. For years, she led a successful experiential marketing agency. Then, during the pandemic, Kate decided the time was right for her to apply her considerable talents via a virtual assistance company, providing project management expertise to a wide range of clients.

In this episode, Kate:

• Introduces VirtualKGB.com and the unique value it provides entrepreneurs, CEOs, and company founders. Starts at 2:18
• Describes some of the stressors that keep her clients up at night. Starts at 3:58
• Explains how she overcomes the “do it all” mentality. Starts at 8:28
• Illustrates the positive experiences of clients who launch side-hustles like online businesses. Starts at 11:28
• Offers what she likes about being an entrepreneur. Starts at 17:03

Clearly, virtual assistants will help professionals to succeed and inform many best practices in the future of work.

About our guest:

Kate Gable Bright earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. Prior to launching VirtualKGB.com, she ran a successful experiential marketing agency. Kate lives and works in Southern California.

EPISODE DATE: March 19, 2021

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:08 — 44.2MB)

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Launch Pad is a coworking community of first believers founded by Anne Driscoll and Chris Schultz.

Anne and Chris know firsthand the struggles of starting a business.  As serial start-up entrepreneurs, they often heard “no” or “that will never work.” Thus, in establishing Launch Pad’s first believer premise, Anne and Chris set up their coworking brand and members for success.

First believers help each other overcome the stresses and strains of scaling start-up businesses.

Often, they provide one another critical sales, marketing, technological, and operational support. What is more, they help once struggling local communities become great places to live and work.

With locations in five U.S. cities and growing, Launch Pad provides workspace, essential resources, and a supportive community structure that empowers entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Anne and Chris:

• Introduce Launch Pad and its mission. Starts at 3:06
• Describe the brand’s unique value proposition. Starts at 3:44
• Define the term “first believers” and demonstrate why it is important. Starts at 5:13
• Illustrate Launch Pad’s member experience. Starts at 8:22
• Support the notion of a smaller scale path to success. Starts at 11:28
• Explore the benefits of the guild economy, maker movement, and localism. Starts at 18:48
• Provide their take on the future of work trends that are pointing people to gigs and side hustles. Starts at 24:30

According to Chris, Launch Pad ascribes to noble purpose:

“[Our goal] is to help entrepreneurs succeed, because we want to focus on the economic impacts of the communities that we service.”

In support of a coworking community of first believers, Anne adds:

“We spend a lot of time with city governments across the country, talking about the importance of entrepreneurship, the importance of creating a hub.”

About our guests:

Anne Driscoll and Chris Schultz are co-founders of Launch Pad. In prior roles, Anne was an executive at Google and several tech start-ups. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Queens University. Chris founded numerous start-ups and provided angel investment capital to others. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business. Anne and Chris are married; they and their young daughter live in the Bay Area of California.

EPISODE DATE: March 12, 2021

Social media:

– Instagram – Launch Pad

– LinkedIn – Launch Pad

– LinkedIn – Anne Driscoll

– LinkedIn – Chris Schultz

– Twitter – Launch Pad

– Twitter – Anne Driscoll

– Twitter – Chris Schultz

– Website – Launch Pad

– YouTube Channel – Launch Pad

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:16 — 40.3MB)

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As hiring managers navigate the future of work, they must also help to create opportunities for a neurodiverse workforce.

Larysa Kautz is the President and CEO of Melwood, a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities find and do meaningful work.

In the broad future of work discussion, neurodiversity gets scant attention. And yet the number of neurodiverse people in the workforce is considerable.

The neurodiverse workforce often includes people with physical or intellectual disability. Furthermore, its ranks include people on the autism spectrum, and, those diagnosed with ADHD.

However, one year since the pandemic started, the neurodiverse workforce expanded to include so-called Covid long-haulers. These are people who now suffer long-term and permanent disability. What is more, they may present with difficult conditions, such as brain fog and balance issues, that require special workplace accommodations.

In this episode, Larysa:

• Describes Melwood and its mission. Starts at 2:57
• Defines neurdiversity. Starts at 3:38
• Illustrates the challenges neurodiverse candidates encounter when applying for work. Starts at 4:52
• Explains the benefits neurodiverse workers gain when working from home is an option. Starts at 10:07
• Looks back at the 30-year history of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Starts at 13:27
• Discusses the positive future of work benefits of hiring and supporting neurodiverse workers. Starts at 23:48

Hiring managers must create opportunities for a neurodiverse workforce. And yet, Larysa points out a glaring injustice that has long plagued the disabled:

“It’s still legal in this country to pay people with disabilities less than the minimum wage.”

About our guest:

Larysa Kautz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Connecticut College and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School. Larysa lives and works in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

EPISODE DATE: March 5, 2021

Social media:

– Facebook

– Instagram

– Twitter

– Website