We’ve all heard the phrase, “don’t escalate things.” Especially, in the context of work. But, what if there were moments when escalation, done in the right way and with the right intention, was actually the right move? Are there situations when staying silent, or refusing to push an issue further, actually makes a difficult work circumstance worse?  That’s where we’re headed in today’s SPARKED Hot Take episode, where we look at hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Braintrust. And, today, we’re in conversation with Deborah Owens, an executive coach and corporate trainer with 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies. Deborah and I discuss the fuzzy line between constructive and destructive escalation, and how to decide if speaking up could actually solve a problem before it spins out of control. Deborah shares scripts that work when requesting clarification from supervisors, and techniques for diffusing tension when unexpected conflict arises. Through personal stories and client examples, she explores how reframing "escalation" as "elevation" can change your whole approach to difficult workplace issues. We also discuss the important reminder that we are often spinning stories in our minds about what will happen instead of objectively assessing what the best, worst or most likely outcomes might be. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Deborah Owens | Website After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Have you ever struggled with a problem or decision where the solution seemed impossible to see, yet obvious once someone pointed it out? You start kicking yourself for not seeing something that now appears so simple and clear. You're not alone. Nearly everyone has moments where we get stuck, limit our solutions and can't "read the label from inside the jar." How do we gain clarity on our own situations and start making better decisions? In today’s episode, Charlie and I discuss the unconscious patterns, assumptions and emotions that keep us from seeing our own situations clearly. We explore simple but powerful techniques for questioning our default perspectives, inverting problems to gain fresh insights and seeking input from others who can serve as mirrors to reflect our blind spots back to us. You’ll walk away with practical tips and prompts you can use immediately to "get unstuck" and spot options you’ve been missing right under their noses. Charlie explains how questioning old paradigms, reevaluating stakes and shifting mindsets can reveal potential opportunities we have been oblivious to due to being "stuck inside the jar."  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

We’re often told, the only way to succeed in work - and, in no small part - in life, is to pick one or two things, focus intensively, go all in, and say no to anything that distracts you from that path.  But, is it true? Is that really the only way to be both happy and successful? Or, is there a place for a multi-passionate, diversified “portfolio of pursuits” approach to career-building that can lead not just to never having FOMO, but also to joy, meaning, and success? Turns out, the answer to that last question is yes. But, the question is how? And, the choices made and actions taken by my guest on today’s SPARKED podcast, Jason Mendelson, show just how the pieces can sometimes come together to create a near-magical puzzle of paths that let you pursue multiple passions, while still building an incredible career, and living a truly joyful and connected life. Jason is a multi-faceted creative force, true inspiration and just someone who radiates life. With an early passion for music, he thought recording, performing and composing would be his career. But an injury to his hand put an abrupt end to not just his vision and passion, but his very identity as a musician.  Jason mourned the loss, but soon also realized, the space created when music took a back seat let other passions and interests bubble up, leading him first into the world of tech as an engineer, then the practice of law, then entrepreneurship, venture capital, and philanthropy with a healthy dose of overlap in all. Writing also entered the picture, and has woven in and out of nearly every stage. In fact, Jason’s latest book ‘How to Be a Lawyer, bridges the gap between law school and practice, by explaining what professors won’t tell their students in law school and what employers and clients will actually expect from them.  For him, when it come to his career path, it’s never been about “one and only,” but rather “yes, and,” trusting that his passion for any given endeavor will infuse the others with the energy, joy, and even insights needed to allow all pursuits to rise, and Jason to travel a career path filled with variety, joy, and yes, success. SPARKED GUEST BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jason Mendelson | Website YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

You’ve heard about it everywhere - AI, ChatGPT. But what does AI have to do, if anything, with how you live and work and play? With the choices you get to make, and the choices that might be taken from you? With the ability to do more of what you love and less of everything else? Especially in the context of work? These are just some of the big questions and ideas I’m exploring with none other than truly visionary thinker, Kevin Kelly. Kevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the discourse around technology and its potential impact on society for decades. He was the founding editor of Wired magazine, has written for many of the biggest media outlets on the planet, and is a bestselling author, with an impressive array of books, including What Technology Wants and The Inevitable. His latest book, Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier is for anyone seeking to navigate life with grace and creativity. As Senior Maverick at Wired and co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, Kevin is currently spearheading an ambitious project to build a clock in a mountain that will tick for 10,000 years. In addition to his writing, he hosts a daily blog and weekly podcast about cool tools, as well as a weekly newsletter, Recomendo, that curates recommendations of cool stuff. In today's episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of emergent technologies, with a focus on AI, and get to some both exciting and unsettling, but important truths (or at least guesses), unearthing some the most groundbreaking ideas and insights that promise to redefine the very fabric of our existence We talk about:  the role of artificial intelligence in shaping our lives the impact AI may have on creative work and jobs While we’re all in the very early days of this conversation, with many unknowns, the possibilities are truly astonishing and the call to become knowledgeable in this space, no matter your job, organizations, or industry, has become paramount.  SPARKED GUEST BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Kevin Kelly | Website YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Do you feel like you're constantly sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of your patients or clients? Do you struggle with burnout and feel like you have to leave your job to take care of yourself? Do you feel isolated and guilty when you try to advocate for your own well-being? You’re not alone, and as Yvonne proposes, there is another way. A deep irony about those in caring and helping professions is that often they care so much about their clients, patients and mission, the person they forget to take care of is themselves. And, at times, the very organizations, culture and leadership that holds the mission to elevate others, makes doing just that an exercise in futility. We see it time and time again, especially in helping professions and those on the frontline of healthcare and service industries, weighed down by management that is, itself, under stress, under funded, working in the paradigm of overly bureaucratic organizations, heading down a one way path to burnout, or sadly worse. In today’s Sparked Hot Take we welcome new Sparked Brainstrust member Yvonne Ator. Yvonne has seen the devastating consequences of not taking care of oneself in this industry, including burnout and sadly in some cases, suicide, which not only affects the healthcare professionals and the people closest to them but also the patients they serve. If you are sensitive to this topic, a quick heads up, she speaks to it later in the conversation, so take care as you listen or choose not to. Yvonne challenges the common belief that leaving a job is the only solution for those feeling burnt out and provides a unique approach to empower healthcare professionals to become antifragile and make positive changes in their daily work lives. Join us in this thought-provoking conversation and discover the power of self-care in healthcare. Tune in to transform your mindset and take practical steps towards self-care and well-being, so you can continue making a meaningful impact in your field.   It's time to prioritize your own well-being without sacrificing your mission. In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Yvonne Ator | Website Yvonne is the Founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealist, where she coaches heart-centered, mission-driven Physicians and other helping professionals who seek to make a positive impact in the world. She’s become expert in guiding professionals through the tension between being committed to a vision of impact, and the sense of inequity, disillusionment, moral injury, compassion fatigue or burnout that all too often comes with the quest to live authentically and serve to their fullest potential.  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

There’s this myth in the world of business that, if you’re tough enough, practiced enough, and motivated enough, you can push hard, 24-7, for months, quarters, years even and endure all manner of obstacles, stressors, adversity, circumstances and cycles without the need to ease off, step back, recover and refuel along the way. That capacity, we’re told, is somewhere between the expectation and the aspiration. It’s where the magic happens, the big triumphs, the legendary careers. Except, it’s not. It’s a total fantasy. We, as humans, don’t work like that. There is literally no domain in work and life that requires high-level performance that works like that either. And, when we hold ourselves to the impossible standard of constant, elite-level performance, especially on the back of 3 years of brutalizing upheaval, isolation, overwork, overwhelm, and burnout, it’s a recipe for personal and professional disaster. And, as leaders, it’s also a recipe for wildly-dysfunctional workplace culture, unrealistic expectations, exploitation and disintegration. So as we emerge from 3 years of turmoil and seemingly head straight into yet another season of uncertainty, how do we acknowledge the human experience in the middle of it? How we lead during these times will be mission critical in not just meeting our goals, but also preserving our humanity.  That’s where we’re heading in today's Sparked Hot Take with Brainstrust member, strategic advisor, executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey.  Charlie and I examine the reality that we're now in, where we’re being tasked to show up, often in extreme circumstances with great limitation of resources, and perform as if everything is fabulous, we’re all well-rested, chilled-out, mentally and physically on-point and ready to roll persistently at the highest levels.  Charlie draws some powerful parallels between his experience as a leader in the military, building his own organization, coaching senior leaders in companies of all sizes, and other domains where elite, high-stakes performance is demanded in environments defined by high-stress and endless uncertainty. And we explore a set of powerful insights and reframes to help leaders and team members not just survive this moment, but thrive in it. So, if you're ready to learn how to manage stress, lead with compassion, and boost innovation, join us for this insightful episode. And remember, it's time to prioritize recovery time for both individual well-being and overall societal health. In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Have you ever felt like you're on a hamster wheel, constantly running, but not getting anywhere? It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of life and business, losing sight of the bigger picture. But what if you could hit pause and take a moment to reflect on the past year and plan for the future? In this Sparked Hot Take episode, Sparked Braintrust mentor, Jadah Sellner, and I explore a powerful practice, built around an annual family retreat that integrates personal and business goals. Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media and the She Builds Collective, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author.  In this episode, Jadah details her annual family retreat and the prompts she uses to create a thoughtful experience that integrates personal and business goals. You'll discover the ground rules for the retreat, including negotiation and decision-making processes. You'll also learn about the exercises and strategic planning involved in identifying priorities and action items. But it's not all work and no play. The retreat also includes rest and restoration, and it's the perfect opportunity to recharge for the year ahead.  Jadah and her family have been practicing this retreat since 2017, and it has transformed their lives. The retreat involves reflection, celebration, and planning for the future, and it's not just for families. Jadah uses this process with pretty much all of her business clients as well, and the revelations and sense of purpose and direction are always powerful. So, if you're ready to hit pause and take a moment to reflect on the past year and plan for the future, then this episode is for you. You'll learn about the process of dreaming and planning for the next six months, and how to create a "next level vision" for your life and business. And who knows, maybe you'll even be inspired to start your own annual family retreat.  SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author, including her new book, ‘She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life’, order a copy here. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Ever notice how, the moment you step into a new level of accomplishment and visioning, it’s amazing, but it almost always comes along with a success-sized helping of struggle, fear and uncertainty that leads to suffering? Our guest today, Laura Gassner Otting calls this, "wonderhell,” that moment where you’re both celebrating and simultaneously grappling with the burden of your potential to do more, be more, achieve more. It’s both wonderful, and it’s hell. According to Laura, "Wonderhell" is an essential part of any journey that finds you striving for something more. The burden of your potential is real, maybe even unavoidable, but the suffering doesn’t have to be. The success industrial complex, which teaches us to grind harder, lean in, and achieve more to be happy, leaves us unprepared for the messy middle, filled with doubt and uncertainty.  In her new book ‘Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should...and What To Do About It’, she offers a toolkit to help people achieve their potential, with a "choose your own adventure" journey through three towns of Impostor Town, Doubtsville and Burnout City, each with five rides, to help people overcome their fears and doubts. Whether you're an entrepreneur or simply trying to achieve a personal goal, this episode offers practical tips and strategies for redefining your relationship with doubt and uncertainty and embracing wonder hell as a necessary part of the journey to success. Laura also speaks from a place of personal experience. She’s has literally spent decades riding the Wonderhell roller-coaster, and developed a powerful set of tools to help find your way through with more ease and less chaos and suffering. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Laura Gassner Otting | Website  Laura Gassner Otting is an Author, Catalyst, and Executive Coach and inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo by helping audiences think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their current, limited scope of belief. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah Daily. She served as a Presidential Appointee in the White House and founded, ran, and sold her own global search firm. Her bestselling book, Limitless, was chosen by Robin Roberts as one of Good Morning America's Favorite Books of the Year. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Are you unknowingly harnessing the power of anxiety to drive your success? In today's fast-paced, high-pressure world, it's no secret that anxiety is on the rise. But what if we told you that anxiety could be the key to unlocking your true potential? Welcome to our podcast, where we dive into the world of anxious achievers, and explore how mental health plays a crucial role in the success of leaders everywhere. In this riveting episode, we will uncover the fascinating relationship between anxiety and achievement, shattering the stigma around mental health in the world of leadership. This is where we’re heading in today’s fascinating SPARKED hot take, and we’re welcoming another expert guide, Morra Aarons-Mele. With Morra’s depth of expertise we’re uncovering the often underestimated and misunderstood elements of anxiety. We look at how embracing anxiety can fuel your ambition and drive you to new heights. Morra share’s the hidden strengths of anxious leaders and how deep empathy and awareness is transforming leadership and the way we think about success. She offers powerful strategies for channeling anxiety into productive energy and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. As well as the surprising research that links high-functioning anxiety with extraordinary leadership. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Morra Aarons-Mele as we delve into the untold stories of anxious achievers and discover a refreshing reframe for those of us who have felt our experiences with anxiety were an obstacle for our success or would be perceived as a weakness. Tune in to learn more about the misconceptions of anxiety and how to harness the power of anxiety for success in your work and life. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Morra Aarons-Mele | Website | LinkedIn Morra is the host of the top leadership podcast, The Anxious Achiever, which is also the name of her upcoming book, The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower, will be published by Harvard Business Review Press in April 2023. Morra has dedicated her career to helping people rethink the relationship between their mental health and their leadership. In 2010, she founded the award-winning digital consulting firm, Women Online, which has since become a powerhouse in the world of digital campaigning. Morra's impressive career spans across working with political and social leaders, including helping Hillary Clinton log on for her first internet chat, launching digital campaigns for President Obama, Malala Yousafzai, the United Nations, the CDC, and many more. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Are you tired of the 9-to-5 grind? Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a fulfilling and sustainable portfolio career? In today's SPARKED Hot Take episode, we’re back with Joy Batra for part two of our fascinating conversation on community building as a freelancer and how to approach a portfolio or freelance career as a whole. If you missed the first part of our conversation with Joy, I encourage you to scroll back and listen as she shares a concept she calls ‘portfolios of community’ and how that can help us to understand where and how to cultivate community as a freelancer. In this episode you’ll discover surprising insights from the journey of our guest, Joy Batra, and the depth of wisdom she’s collected from the 50 freelancers she interviewed. Joy shares the three main reasons people decide to return to a traditional job and why it might be time to reframe how we look at ‘going back’ to mainstream roles and instead unpack the false dichotomy of freelancing vs. full-time work and embrace the value of a portfolio career. We discuss how freelancers can navigate the shame and judgment that comes with making unconventional career choices and how flexibility and adaptability are essential for thriving in the ever-changing world of work, which is more important than ever in a hybrid environment. Get ready to break free from conventional thinking and embrace the boundless opportunities of a portfolio career and life. Join us in this eye-opening conversation with Joy Batra, as we uncover the secrets to living and thriving in a world that is constantly evolving. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Joy Batra | Website | LinkedIn Joy Batra is founder of Quartz Consulting, a freelance consulting firm that has advised start-ups, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Gunderson Dettmer, JioSaavn, and briefly as a Bollywood actress (long story). Joy spends her days as Head of Legal at Syndicate Protocol and her free time freelancing in the arts. Joy has lived or worked in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the UK. She currently splits her time between NYC and Boston. Joy holds a JD/MBA from Harvard University. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. Have you ever found yourself stuck in the endless cycle of indecision, unable to make a choice, and constantly seeking input from others? What if we told you that the key to making better decisions lies within you, and that decision by committee may not be the best approach? In this episode of SPARKED, we dive deep into the art of decision-making and explore the different types of decision-makers out there. From "mavens" who seek more information to "spontaneous" decision-makers who rely on their gut feelings, we discuss the pros and cons of each approach and provide insights into how to make better decisions. Throughout this conversation, we reveal the five most important takeaways you'll learn: There are different types of decision-makers, and each has their strengths and weaknesses. Some seek more information before making a decision, while spontaneous decision-makers go with their instincts. Understanding your own decision-making style can help you make better choices. Trusting yourself is crucial when making decisions. While it's important to seek input from others, ultimately, you are the one who knows best what's right for you. Decision by committee can be dangerous, especially when everyone involved has a stake in the outcome. It's essential to take ownership of your decisions and not rely on others to make them for you. Time can be a significant factor in decision-making, but it's essential not to rush into a choice without considering all the options. Sometimes taking a step back and allowing yourself time to think can lead to better outcomes. Finally, we discuss the dangers of absolutes in decision-making and how to balance the risk with the potential reward. By being open to possibilities and weighing the risks and benefits, you can make more informed and better decisions. So, whether you're a spontaneous decision-maker or a careful planner, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in to learn more about the art of decision-making and how to make better choices for yourself and your business. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Karen Wright | Website Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. Question - when it comes to work, do you really care about being more productive, or is the real goal to get all the important stuff done, but in a way that actually gives you back more free time to do the things, in both work and life, that you’re genuinely passionate about and excited to do? Because, they’re not the same.  Sometimes, we talk about productivity as if it’s the end-goal. It’s not. The real goal is what it gives us. Which begs a question, are all those productivity methods, tools, strategies actually working for you? Are they giving you back your life? And the free time to choose what matters most, even if it’s just taking a nap or playing, and spend more time doing just that? This is where we’re heading in today’s provocative hot take with SPARKED Braintrust regular, Jenny Blake. These Hot Take episodes are where we look at hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Braintrust. In today’s Hot Take episode, Jonathan & Jenny discuss: The benefit of scheduling a ‘do not schedule’ time block on your calendar Asking what can you batch, delegate or automate? The power of A-synchronous communication tools How a rolling agenda can save you time and bring less friction to a meeting Why we need to run our own experiments on when and what works best for us Why we shouldn’t underestimate how helpful systems & processes can be ie. Canned or Guided Responses in your email for repeating conversations And, today, we’re going on a myth-busting journey, taking a bit of an ax to old school ideas of productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness, and sharing powerful insights and practical tools from her body of work designed not just to help you be more productive, but to literally create a volume of free time you never knew was possible.   Jenny also reminds us that ‘Free Time’ is not about floating through life as if on perpetual vacation. Free Time is about optionality: the ability to choose when you work, with whom, and on the projects that most excite you—on the work that you and only you can do. It is about moving from friction to flow through the power of focus and smart systems. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  IN CONVERSATION WITH: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

We constantly encounter complex problems at home, in our places of work, and in society at large. Even if we had all the time and money in the world, sometimes no good solution can be found. So, what should we do, especially when we can’t wait? The answer: a workaround. For ages, global corporations have been lecturing small organizations and not-for-profits on how to get things done. As it turns out, it should have been the other way around. Small, scrappy businesses, startups, and even individuals have loads to teach us about moving through adversity and thinking creatively. So in today's SPARKED Hot Take episode, we’re welcoming expert guide, Paulo Savaget, to share his perspective on what he calls, The Four Workarounds, and how some of the most valuable lessons about problem-solving can be learned from the scrappiest groups. Jonathan & Paulo discuss: What Paulo defines as a workaround What are the ‘The Four Workarounds’ What can we learn from scrappy start ups Why we need to be courageous and experimental SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Paulo Savaget | Website | LinkedIn Paulo is associate professor at University of Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science and Saïd Business School. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar and has a background working as a researcher, consultant, and entrepreneur, finding innovative solutions for a more inclusive world. He currently resides in Oxford. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Over the last few years, there’s been a massive acceleration in the trend of people leaving mainstream jobs to start their own business, from freelancing or private practices to portfolio careers. Largely in the name of freedom. But, many are also finding, they’re giving up something big along the way. A sense of community, comradery, and belonging. And, it may even lead to increasing levels of social isolation or even loneliness. If you’ve ever worked in a corporate role or within any team, you’ll be familiar with how your relationships and professional friendships are built into that environment. Often we don’t need to deliberately seek community, because it is already all around us. Which is why maintaining professional relationships or building new ones, can be an unanticipated layer to the experience of moving into the world of freelance. So in today’s, SPARKED Hot Take episode, that’s the discussion we’re diving into. And today we’re welcoming a new expert guide into the fold and hearing from Joy Batra. Joy has had a fascinating portfolio career and has embraced a multi-passionate life. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School with a JD/MBA, but instead of taking a prestigious job in the field she landed an acting contract in Bollywood instead. Joy is founder of Quartz Consulting, a freelance consulting firm that has advised start-ups, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies. She spends her days as Head of Legal at Syndicate Protocol and her free time freelancing in the arts.  Joy is fascinated by how millions of people are using freelancing to support both their corporate and creative sides. And has turned this passion into her first book, The Freelance Mindset: Unleashing Your Side Hustles for Better Work, Play, and Life. With this multi-passionate lens, Joy is perfectly placed to share insights on how to create community when you’re navigating the freelance world and how to cultivate a sense of belonging when it is no longer built in by default as it may have been in a ‘9-5’. Jonathan & Joy discuss: What Joy calls ‘portfolios of community’ Uncovering levels of connection and how they can help us to understand where and how to cultivate community as a freelancer Examining what style of community experience works best for each of us The pitfalls of comparing 9-5 community vs freelance community and why instead we should embrace the customizable nature of freelance community building SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Joy Batra | Website | LinkedIn Joy Batra is founder of Quartz Consulting, a freelance consulting firm that has advised start-ups, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Gunderson Dettmer, JioSaavn, and briefly as a Bollywood actress (long story). Joy spends her days as Head of Legal at Syndicate Protocol and her free time freelancing in the arts. Joy has lived or worked in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the UK. She currently splits her time between NYC and Boston. Joy holds a JD/MBA from Harvard University. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Following on from last week’s episode we dig deeper into how to ask for help in a way that is more likely to actually get you the support or guidance you are looking for. Deborah shares supportive guidelines and a powerful shift in approach that will change how you look at asking for help. She shares that it is worth being bold when it comes to asking for what you need and reminds us that the right ask, at the right time, with someone willing and able to help you, could very well be life-changing, so it’s a muscle worth learning to flex more often. We also dive into practical steps that help you know how to most-effectively communicate your request for help. In part two of today’s Hot Take episode, Jonathan & Deborah discuss: The ‘Big Ask’ that changed Deborah’s career trajectory Why you need to be super specific when you ask The importance of of modelling A powerful mind-shift when approaching asking for help And why we should be bold and try a ‘life-changing ask’ SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Deborah Owens | Website After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. There’s a mythology in work and in life, of the individual who goes out and does all the things they want to do, completely on their own. The Self-reliant, capable of anything and everything human. We have a misguided story that that kind of self-sufficiency is an achievement, that anything less than that is a burden, and asking for help is a sign of weakness, lack, or inability. This myth is doing us a lot of harm and, in turn, causing a lot of suffering, and keeping us from not only succeeding at a higher level in every area of life, but also creating opportunities to more deeply connect with other people.  But, how do we ask for help, in a world where no one teaches us how, and we’re concerned about how our request will land? The reality is none of us have all the answers, and while we could probably figure out many things on our own, why would you when you could garner support from someone who has walked the path before you? Why wouldn’t you ask for guidance and potentially save yourself time, money, stress and disappointment? And build deeper relationships along the way. In part one of today’s Hot Take episode, Jonathan & Deborah discuss: Why should we ask for help & why it’s so difficult Research that reveals the surprising reasons we don’t ask for help The benefit of garnering support from someone who has walked the path before you And why we should ask for what we actually need rather than what we think we can get SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Deborah Owens | Website After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

It’s a challenge we all deal with. We show up, work incredibly hard, strive to create something powerful, unique, impactful. And, yet, it lands with a thud. Maybe not an outright failure, but also nowhere close to what you thought could or would happen.  Creative disappointment is a part of the process of making anything great. Whether it’s a book, a brand, a company, product, culture, or beyond, you will, inevitably, be disappointed along the way. Sometimes with yourself, other times by the reaction or response from others. What you do, how you handle these moments, is critically important, not just to long-term success, but to how you feel along the way.  In today’s Hot Take episode, Jonathan & Cynthia discuss: Why don't we talk about creative disappointment? The issue with being ‘bright sided’ too early Understanding failure as a part of the learning process versus adding to a story about our identity The importance of sitting with something instead of rushing through it Powerful questions to ask yourself Today we are diving into creative disappointment. We look at what it is, why it can impact us so deeply and the lasting impression it can leave if we don’t have a way to process it. Cynthia offers a reflection on the issue with being ‘bright-sided’ too early and why it’s important to sit with something instead of rushing through it. We offer some new perspectives, frames and tools for the creative person / entrepreneur and a way to look at failures and setbacks as an inevitable part of the learning process, as opposed to affixing greater meaning to them and, in turn, to our identities. To round out the conversation Cynthia offers some powerful questions we can ourselves and work through with a trusted friend or professional to uncover what’s really occurring when we experience creative disappointment. As always, we hope you enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on what it means to be creative, to grieve how we thought things would go and how to move through it rather than bury it. We hope it supports you the next time you’re experiencing something similar. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

What if this was the year you actually did the thing that you have dreamed of doing, the thing that’s been in the back of your mind for months or years, maybe even decades? The thing that when you think about it, your whole body responds – exhilarated in part, energized. You can feel it in your heart. And if you’re being honest, maybe along with that tingling of excitement, there’s even a touch of fear and doubt. Well, what if this was the year and now was the time to begin? How would that feel to you? If it’s even remotely inspiring or appealing and motivating, this very special episode is for you. If you’re ready, but if you’re not even sure where to begin, this episode is for you. This is a special episode for SPARKED and is part of our ‘January Kickstart Your Life Series’, and the focus is on a very powerful framework that I have been developing and testing, using and refining for years that I call Success Scaffolding. I am going to walk you through the 8 critical elements that are immensely powerful, unlock keys and guideposts that’ll let you – maybe for the first time ever feel so much more confident and have a real actionable roadmap to finally do that thing that you have yearned to do.  This framework will help you get there and keep you inspired and supported along the way. And I’m also gonna do something I have never done before. As I share each element, I will also share how I tapped this very framework to conceive, launch, and grow this powerful new body of work, set of tools, products, experiences, trainings, books, and the entire company, that is Spark Endeavors, around these things I call the Sparketypes, which as you probably know, is a set of archetypes that I developed to help people discover and then center work that makes them come alive. The power of Success Scaffolding is that it kept me going through incredible challenges and self-doubt. My greatest hope is that it serves as a template for you to do and be and make real whatever it is that inspires you. Not someday, but starting today. You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE. More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. You’ve spent years becoming really good at what you do. Expert level. And, you’ve reached the end of your ability to serve clients on an individual basis. It’s time to scale. But, how do you scale a business and find ways to duplicate yourself when offering highly-skilled, one to one services? Especially, without degrading the quality of the service you envision? Is that even possible? If so, what would it take? And, how do Sparketypes play into these questions? In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. LISTENER:  Ryan - Sparketype: Maker/Scientist | Essentialist QUESTION: Today’s listener Ryan, spent 15 years as a CEO of three companies, one of which he scaled into a market leader with 11-million users across 45 states. He has raised funding, built huge teams and acquired nearly a dozen companies across this time. He has taken this knowledge and founded a company providing executive coaching for entrepreneurs and is consistently booked out with happy clients. Now, he wants to scale, but is conscious of his one on one capacity and is now asking, how can you ensure that you can successfully scale without losing the special sauce that currently helps his clients? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

Got a career or business question for the Braintrust? Submit here. So many of us look at the world we live in, and wonder how we might make a bigger impact. After a decade in academic setting, with a focus on career advising and HR, today’s guest, Claire, is now a parent to two children at the beginning of their teen years, and a new leader in elected government. And, she’s proud of how she accomplished this, even in light of her Anti Performer impulse.  Jonathan & Karen discuss: The potential blindspot of trading time for money Time doesn't always equal value and results Truly reviewing how many projects you have on your plate, including being human Altruism and gift economy blended with the reality of needing to be remunerated  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. LISTENER: Claire - Sparketype: Advisor/Essentialist | Performer QUESTION: Listener Claire wants to devote herself to not just making a big impact on her community, but also being there for her family, exploring the development and launch of a communal housing project with a focus on the values of sustainability and simplicity, and reimagining how she might bring her vision and services to those in need, in a more egalitarian and equitable way. She’s deeply concerned about what she sees as the commoditization and consumerization of people and services. And, she’s wondering, what’s really possible here? How can she affect the greatest change, in her community and her own and family’s lives? What decisions and models might help her figure out what to say yes and no to?  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website   Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn. Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn. Presented by LinkedIn.

How do we find the time to make our own art? How do you blend your own creative or expressive practice with running a business? Today’s listener Claudia presents this question. She has been running a successful Paint Your Pottery Studio with her sister, which impressively survived the pandemic, and is now seeing revenues go back up as people yearn to make and gather. Jonathan & Cynthia offer: JF’s Three stages of business growth How to delegate or alter your role to find the spark How to find learning opportunities in your existing situation How to use a specific project as a way to cultivate a creative pursuit And the real reason we don't make time for our creativity LISTENER: Claudia - Sparketype: Maker/Maven, Anti - Performer QUESTION: Today’s listener Claudia, has been running a successful Paint Your Pottery Studio with her sister, which impressively survived the pandemic, and is now seeing revenues go back up as people yearn to make and gather. Claudia loves being part of the community they’ve built around the business, enjoys teaching pottery to kids and is glad to be finally in a creative field. However she’s feeling the pull to prioritize her own artistic expression and finds that while the business is successful and gives her a certain sense of stability, the day to day load of the business doesn’t allow her time to make her own art. And, now the lease is due for renewal next year, and she’s trying to figure out if she should she stay and build, or go and refocus on her own Sparked expression?  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Can social conditioning, past experiences, and external pressure affect the way we explore figuring out our Sparketype? Or, for that matter, any metric we might look to, as a way to help figure out what drives us? And how do we turn down the volume on social conditioning and perceived expectations, determine what our “truest truths” really are, and express ourselves in a more aligned way? Today’s listener, Sarah, asks these interesting questions, after re-taking the Sparketypes Assessment a year later and getting a result she felt was much closer to who she really was.  Jonathan & Jadah offer: How to acknowledge what you’ve already uncovered Avoiding the trap of comparing ourselves to our past selves when our seasons of life change Asking ‘where is the social conditioning coming from?’ Two ways to gather information and come to an answers Why we should build in unstructured and unscheduled days/time How to know if your sparketype is right for you? In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author, including her new book, ‘She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life’, now available for pre-order. LISTENER: Sarah - Sparketype: Sage (Primary), Scientist (Shadow), Advocate (Anti) QUESTION: Today’s listener, Sarah, shares her experience of supporting multi-billion dollar retail businesses, as the head of change management and helping people and businesses work through transformations. She has been the right hand to many high level execs and spearheaded big results and impact but like so many of us, done so at her own expense and with a lot of burnout. After becoming a new mom in the depths of the Global Pandemic, she resigned from her executive position. Now Sarah is at a crossroads with a solid foundation of skills and accomplishments but this time wants to create a chapter of work that is more aligned with her innate impulses. She shares that she has achieved success in the past with hustle and no spark and this time wants to find more flow and bring back the spark. To do this she wants to have a deeper understanding of her Sparketype, especially since she received a different result having retaken the assessment after all the above shifts. It brings her to her main question - can your past experiences, especially challenging or traumatic ones, distort your view of yourself and therefore affect your Sparketype results? Can social conditioning and external feedback interfere with finding work and expression that is more aligned for us - and if so, how do we reduce its impact or even eliminate it altogether? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. How do you satisfy an impulse to build a living around multiple passions and be in constant learning and growth mode, in a work world that keeps pushing you to pick a single passion or skill-set, become an expert and just keep doing that one thing for life?  Jonathan & Jenny offer: Closing the communication gap with multiple resumes / portfolios Pitching your varied skillset as an asset and differentiator not a detractor Is it about the size of the organization or actually the scope of opportunity for growth / learning? Finding your thriving style instead of trying to ‘fit or pigeon hole’ How to query all the ‘shoulds’ Find your guiding lights, even if you’re not connected with them directly Concept mentioned: Steven Johnson ‘The adjacent possible’ - quick explainer In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  LISTENER: Sarah, Sparketype: Maven/Performer Today's listener Sarah shares that when she works in less purposeful, single-focused, non-growth-oriented roles she becomes drained and uninspired once the initial novelty has worn off. She wants to reclaim ‘play’ and variety, pursue different passions and she’s fine always learning and not being an established expert in any one domain. But, Sarah feels like potential employers want to hire people who are committed to one craft and is feeling pressured to pick a path or profession that feels too limiting. And, she’s not alone. So, how do you handle expressing an impulse for many things when the world of work wants you to be one thing? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. Today’s listener Paulina asks, as an Essentialist who thrives and is energized by chaos, problem solving and ‘putting out fires’, when you run your own consultancy and need to wear all the hats, but things settle into a fairly dialed-in mode where that Essentialist impulse isn’t so organically activate any more, how do you keep feeling Sparked? And it is more about finding satisfaction and joy in everyday, non chaotic work or finding ways to get back into Essentialist mode again. Jonathan & Deb offer: How to reframe chaos Could expansion be the next exciting challenge? How Creative destruction can keep you in your purpose Can you break your business and reimagine without giving it away? All customers want to know is did you get the results and can you duplicate it? In today’s episode Jonathan is in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Deborah Owens | Website After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive. LISTENER: Paulina’s Sparketype - Primary: Essentialist, Shadow: Maven, Anti: Performer QUESTION: Today’s listener Paulina, describes herself as the kind of person who runs towards fires and loves creating systems and strategies to make things simpler and easier for her clients and has been getting incredible results. But she shares that as time has gone on and things have gotten more predictable, she’s lost that spark that I used to have.  So whilst building the business and not quite at the point of delegating or hiring, she asks if it’s possible to find fulfillment in the necessary day to day maintenance of running a business or is there a way to reimagine the experience and feel sparked by her work again? ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

How do you balance the desire to try something new whilst also wanting to feel like an expert in your field? And how do you know when you are expert ‘enough’ to guide others on a subject? Jonathan & Cynthia offer: How to gain confidence when our skills are invisible to us How to see our own expertise & talent How to have patience while learning new subject matter How to reframe teaching & releasing needing to know everything before beginning to guide others In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. LISTENER: Lily - Sparketype: Advisor/Maven QUESTION: Today’s listener, Lily, is posing that question. She shares that she is craving something new to sink her teeth into, especially as a Maven, but also wants to feel like enough of an expert to market herself confidently and not feel like a fraud. The real question being how do you build credibility and expertise in a new career field and sell your services with confidence or do we all have to go through the inevitable dip before the new skills settle in? And how do you move through that as a high achiever with high expectations of yourself? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Loss and grief. They’re experiences none of us will escape. But some losses are so deep, they shatter your model of the world and lead to a re-examination of how you want to spend your time on the planet. In work, in relationships, in life.  That’s the theme of today’s conversation on the SPARKED Podcast where, following the loss of a child, listener, Scott, finds himself at a sudden crossroads in mid-life. He’s left a long career in financial services in search of something new and more fulfilling. Something that feels more intentional that will quench the quest for knowledge and creative thirst of his Maven/Maker Sparketype combo.  We discuss: Why saying no to everything might not be ideal advice Reframing to move with grief not past it  Offering yourself grace in world shattering transitions   In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. LISTENER: Scott - Sparketype: Maven/Maker QUESTION: Listener Scott, has left a long career in financial services in search of something new and more fulfilling. Something that feels more intentional that will quench the quest for knowledge and creative thirst of his Maven/Maker Sparketype combo. While Scott’s experience was unique and profound and many people’s biggest fear, many of us have endured existential disruptions over the last few years that have led to re-examine all parts of work and life. And, we’ve wondered, how do we best use our time when we’re closing the chapter on something we’ve done for decades? How do we honor and integrate the profound upheaval and change grief and loss can instigate? And how do we open up the next chapter intentionally and without feeling drawn into things that don’t serve our interests, innate impulses and full expression? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Last week on SPARKED we heard from DJ Didonna about the potential life changing experience of taking a sabbatical. And after much pondering and planning, Jonathan did just that, a month stepped away from two companies and almost all work responsibilities to pursue a creative project or two. So this week on SPARKED, Jonathan shares his reflections on the experience. He shares: How he prepared to take the time away from his multiple roles What he aimed to achieve A surprising discovery about his humanness Was it long enough? And would he do it again? Missed last week's ep? Listen here. Find more about DJ Didonnas project here: Website | Learn About Your Sabbatical Style  More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

What if you could take anywhere from a month to a year off work to clear your mind, pursue a creative vision, travel or just create the space to reclaim your energy, focus and inspiration? Safe bet, most people would jump on that opportunity. But then comes the reality check. Sure, it’d be amazing, but I could never make it happen. But, what if you could? What if taking a sabbatical is actually more doable than you ever imagined? What if there were ideas, tools, and strategies that would help you step away and reset your mind, body, and life? My guest today on SPARKED, DJ DiDonna, says, it's not only more doable than most people imagine, it may actually hold the key to your ability to reset and regimagine the way you work for years to come.   DJ is the founder of The Sabbatical Project, a research and advocacy nonprofit that is on a mission to define, explore, and research sabbaticals and their impact on non-academics. His work on sabbaticals has appeared in TIME magazine, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Quartz, Fortune and at TEDx in Silicon Valley. And today, we dive into some of the ideas and stories that appear in his upcoming book based on hundreds of interviews with sabbatical-takers from across the world.  You can find DJ at: Website | Learn About Your Sabbatical Style | LinkedIn More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Charlie discuss: Work ways vs team habits How the pandemic, #MeToo and Black Lives Matter came together to show us that the social order is not working - the system is broken, so what are we going to do about it? The difference between understanding something in theory vs in practice How do you express the language of belonging and inclusion in remote teams vs co-located teams And a powerful question to ask to build belonging in your teams This week we’re bringing you another SPARKED Hot Takes segment, where we tackle hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Braintrust. And, today, we’re hearing from Charlie Gilkey. Charlie is a strategic advisor, executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing and the creator of the Momentum app. Today we take a deep dive into team habits and look at how the past few years of global disruption and rapid change have forced us to re-examine what it means to belong and feel supported in our workplaces and what habits and rituals might support this. Charlie gives us some interesting insight on how we took for granted the social fabric that just existed in workplaces before we went remote and we ask how do you express the language of belonging and inclusion in remote teams vs co-located teams? And, he offers a powerful question to ask your employees & colleagues to build belonging in your teams. Enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on work ways, team habits and the importance of cultivating belonging and inclusion in all work spaces. Learn more about Charlie Gilkey: Website More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

So many people have said yes to the quest to blaze their own paths in business over these last few years, whether founding a company, a private practice or any other endeavor. When building a business from scratch, it can feel like we need to wear all the hats. All the time. So how do we do that when not everything is a natural talent or drive or impulse? Often, we yearn to do just parts we’re good at, and that light us up. And we want to run from all the other necessary, but emptying work. But there’s no one else to do that work. Jonathan & Jadah discuss: How can you reframe what sales means to you What do you actually need to start a business Reimagining ways of getting more support Coaching in a field you once worked in Giving yourself grace as a beginner In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author, including her new book, ‘She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life’, now available for pre-order. LISTENER: Natalie - Sparketype: Nurturer/Advisor QUESTION: Listener, Natalie, shares her story of the past year and all the big shifts, including a personal journey into wellness, healing modalities and mindfulness while working as an ICU Registered Nurse and then losing her job due to a medical issue. She reframed that moment as an opportunity to follow her emerging passion and build a business as a wellness coach and a meditation teacher. And she’s wondering how to stand in the work that lights you up when you’re starting something new and, by the very nature of a new business, you have to do so many other things that don’t play nice with what Sparks you? Are there unique ways we can approach structure, process, technology, marketing, sales, systems and more that bring less resistance and more ease to the experience? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

What do you do when the job you’ve had for years and the organization you work for change in ways that no longer feel compatible with you doing your best work, showing up as your best self and truly coming alive? Today’s listener, Gretchen, shares how major changes to her job as a college professor, after decades in the classroom, and also awakening to the call to let a different part of her take the lead, are inspiring new questions and insights. In a bid to add some variety to her role she began mentoring her college's football team, and much to her surprise, found that she really enjoyed it, potentially even more than teaching, a profession she’d been doing for over 20 years. As she considers her next steps, she wonders whether you adapt an existing role to your evolving interests, and if so, how? And is there a way to put your unique spin on a longstanding, traditional profession to reimagine doing it in a way that Sparks you again? In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  LISTENER: Gretchen, Sparketype: Advisor/Sage YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Cynthia talk about: What is the purpose of inspiration Who are your creative ancestors The dance between consuming vs being inspired by vs deconstructing & learning Tapping into how a creative work makes you feel and how to infuse your creativity The humbling nature of writing and many drafts needed How to listen out for your inner bullsh*t detector We’re super-excited to be introducing some fresh new formats to the mix here on the SPARKED podcast. Our new Hot Takes segments, which we launched a few weeks back, tackle hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Braintrust. And, today, we’re sharing this Hot Take with Cynthia Morris. Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach.  Today we shine the spotlight on creative inspiration and how to turn it into action taking and output. We explore the purpose of inspiration, understanding who our creative ancestors are, and more. And in this time of reimagining, global burnout and upheaval we look at the difference between passively consuming, being simply inspired and the desire to deconstruct and learn from the art we’re enjoying. Cynthia shares a great strategy for journaling to connect with your ‘artist self’ and we both reflect on the many drafts it takes to create great work and the humbling nature of writing. Enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on creativity, inspiration and expression, we hope it ignites some creative action taking of your own. Learn more about Cynthia Morris: Website More on Sparketypes: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Charlie discuss: 1. Stop conflating stability and freedom 2. How career gaps can be perceived 3. How to find freedom when some industries are slow moving 4. How many times can you start over? In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. LISTENER:  Alyse - Sparketype: (Primary) Scientist, (Secondary) Sage, (Anti) Maker QUESTION: Today’s listener Alyse shares a story and question that will resonate with so many. Returning to corporate work after maternity leave, she no longer feels energized by her previous role. And, by the way, this experience is so universal for so many who are finding themselves returning to work in different ways, after being changed by these last few years. Having discovered her Scientist Sparketype, she now understands her yearning to push into the next unknown, explore new burning questions and solve different problems. And she’s starting to realize why she dreads feeling bored at work and is, in her words, perpetually impatient for what might come next.  Alyse wants to move on from repetitive work and find something more self-directed and mission oriented, like criminal justice reform. But is worried about her resume, which is becoming a list of short stints at very different places. She’s feeling the “should” of settling down for several years and building tenure in a secure and well paid job, while also feeling that if you’re going to spend days away from your young family, ideally you’d want to spend that time doing something valuable and interesting.  Which sets up the query, how do you balance your need for novelty and full-expression with a value around security? And how many times can you start over, or is that just the nature of modern careers these days. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Cynthia discuss: When considering options believing there are ‘no false steps’ Does your age affect your willingness to run ‘career experiments’? What actually is a portfolio career? Studying a process versus a specific domain or industry Getting really clear about what you want your days to look like Ever hear the phrase portfolio career? It’s become shorthand for blending different things to create a career and a living that draws upon and expresses different interests and passions. In today’s episode, listener Michael, shares the story of his ‘portfolio career’ as he describes it and the pros and cons with that working style. Michael has gained experience in teaching, tutoring, managing a not-for-profit program and even coaching and is now completing a masters in design. As graduation approaches, he is contemplating what to do next. When reflecting on his portfolio career he shares a love of the flexibility, freedom and creativity it enables, and a dislike of the responsibility, organization and lack of security that it brings. In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. LISTENER: Michael - Sparketype: Advisor/Maven | Nurturer QUESTION: Listener Michael poses the question, do you follow your latest area of interest and continue to collect portfolio career roles or should you find a traditional employer and potentially more job security and collaboration? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Cyndie discuss: Creating a tool for folks to feel seen and understood If we can know ourselves and find work that makes us come alive, imagine what that could do on a societal and global level for problem solving, innovation, productivity and wellbeing levels What it means to be ‘pathologically steeped in possibility’ Making things that move people And JF reveals the one thing he still hoards What does it actually take to find and do work that makes you come alive? Or, as we say, that sparks you? And, what does that even mean?  Today we’re taking you deeper into the mysterious world of the Sparketypes, sharing where they came from, how the global phenom that’s become the Sparketype Assessment took shape and led, eventually to the book, SPARKED, and this very podcast. And we’ll talk about how discovering your Sparketype profile can help you reimagine and reinvent your work and career to feel so much more alive. And, to help tease these ideas out, I’ve invited a dear friend and collaborator, big hearted human renowned keynote speaker, community builder, personal power alchemist, bestselling author, and all around truth-teller, Cyndie Spiegel, to lead the conversation.  YOUR HOST: Cyndie Spiegal - Website YOUR GUEST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Karen discuss: Unpacking assumptions about yourself Alternative ways of sharing & teaching Identifying your advantages Busting the ‘6 Figure’ coaching myth Building the business you actually want to build In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. LISTENER: Kaycee - Sparketype: Sage/Maker - Performer QUESTION: Listener Kaycee asks what do you do when the thing that seems to come hardest for you, is also the thing you feel you need to do in order to succeed at your job? She feels like she needs to center her ‘inner performer’ to reach larger audiences outside of her community, in order to further build credibility and trustworthiness beyond her personal network. But, that’s also her Anti Sparketype - or heaviest lift - when it comes to work. And, by the way, Kaycee’s not alone, as the Performer is, by far, the most common Anti Sparketypes in our research of more than 700,000 people now. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Jenny talk about: How you don't have to have your pivot planned out Using experiments to collect data Following the full body yes What is a project based purpose? How do we look at uncertainty differently? Are you a builder, maintainer or an optimizer?   We’re super-excited to be introducing some fresh new formats to the mix here on the SPARKED podcast. Our new Hot Takes segments, which we just launched a few weeks back, tackle hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Braintrust. And, today, we’re sharing the second Sparked Hot Take, this time with Jenny Blake.  We talk about something that Jenny and I often muse on off-mic; uncertainty, reinventing work & life and putting yourself in the path of pivot, as Jenny says. We’re taking a fresh approach to ‘pivots’, especially in this time of across the board uncertainty. We discuss ways of courageously embracing change and using experiments to collect data about what you might be called to do next. How do you follow the full body yes? And what is ‘project based purpose’? We question why some of us prefer building things over maintaining them and how to embrace your preferences. And, deepening into this conversation on pivoting and uncertainty is Sparked Braintrust advisor, Jenny Blake. Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  Enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on change and experimentation in a time when most of us have been navigating both. Learn more about Jenny Blake: Website More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Jonathan & Azuraye chat about: The call to come home to the family business Recovering from a natural disaster that almost took everything Using the Sparketypes as a hiring tool Leading with folks’ Sparketypes as a way to remove organizational friction And why we need trust & safety in workplaces We’re super-excited to be introducing some fresh new formats to the mix here on the SPARKED podcast and today, we’re sharing the second installment in a fun new episode format we’re calling SPARKED Stories, where we spotlight the experience of one person and explore how they’ve built a living and life that honors, celebrates, and centers the parts of themselves that truly make them and their work come alive. That sparks what they do, and who they are. And today, I want to introduce you to Azuraye Wycoff. She grew up in Boulder, Colorado, on a family farm - now Yellow Barn Farm - that’d been used for everything from horses to food, but then headed East to go to college and thought she was never coming back. She founded a moving company in Boston, but something inside her called her back to Boulder in the fall of 2020. And shortly after she arrived, she was greeted with a profoundly transformational experience in the form of a wildfire that almost destroyed the family farm. At the last minute, shifting winds spared it, leaving her with a mission. To reimagine the land as a regenerative, sustainable, biodynamic ecosystem, not just a farm, but a community where they're bringing together different farmers and local stakeholders to create something truly extraordinary together. And, the Sparketypes, as we’ll discover, played a very cool role in all of this.  Learn more about Azuraye & the Yellow Barn Farm: Website: www.yellowbarn.farm Insta: @yellowbarn.farm And more on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

“We need people to lean on when things don't go as planned because we're gonna spiral down to the bottom. But then we're going to recover, when we have the processing and sharing in the disappointment, the sadness, the frustration. Naming that when it does happen and it doesn't work out and allowing that part of you to be seen from a safe person is really helpful for you to then get back and try something else again.” Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author. LISTENER: Brandi - Sparketype: Primary: Nurturer, Shadow: Advocate, Anti: Performer QUESTION: Listener Brandi, sets up a really relatable scenario where as a visionary in her industry she feels frustrated by the slow moving pace of systemic progress. She wants to find a home for her Sparketype drives to Nurturer and Advocate, but feels unfulfilled and bogged down in the day-to-day tasks of her job and volunteer roles. She poses the question, how do you find a way to spotlight a yearning for helping others in a way that feels more impactful and step away from the minutiae of day to day tasks in a culture and system that doesn’t easily support a different approach? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

We’re super excited to be introducing some fresh new formats to the mix here on the SPARKED podcast. Our new Hot Takes segments, which we just launched last week, tackle hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Braintrust. And, today, we’re sharing a fun new episode format we’re calling SPARKED Stories, where we spotlight the experience of one person and explore how they’ve built a living and life that honors, celebrates, and centers the parts of themselves that truly make them and their work come alive. That sparks what they do, and who they are. And today, we’re going to start with a spotlight on the story of someone our listeners have come to know and appreciate, but you likely didn’t know about the stories and experiences that got him where he is. I’m talking about SPARKED Braintrust member, Charlie Gilkey. Now you may know Charlie's work. He runs a company called Productive Flourishing, which is all about helping people get things out of their heads and figuring out how to actually take the actions to produce the things that they so deeply want to make real in the world as a maker myself. His work has resonated so profoundly with me, which is why he’s a part of the SPARKED Braintrust. But, Charlie also has a really powerful background. He came out of the military where the decisions that he was making, the systems and processes that he was building, the advising and mentoring and coaching, and leading that he was doing very often had extraordinary stakes. Life and death stakes. If he chose wrong, lives were at risk in a part of the world that was very far from where he grew up. He's since written a fantastic book called Start Finishing, which is all about his methodology.  As we sat down to dive into Charlie’s Sparked Story, I wanted to understand what were his deep impulses for the things that he's done and what have been the through lines. And, of course, along the way, he shares his Sparketype profile and we dive into how that has informed the different types of work he’s said yes and no to, the way that he has stepped into them, and what he's learned along the way about how he makes decisions that better aligned with that.     SPARKED STORY GUEST: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

“What we're seeing is that organizations are trending towards putting what I'll call programmatic things in place. Whereas employees are craving relational support.” I am so excited to introduce a new episode format that we’ll be mixing in, alongside our listener question episodes, that we call SPARKED Hot Takes. These SPARKED hot take episodes focus in on a big issue in the world of work, something deeply relevant to all of us. We’ll dive into the angles and nuances with an expert member of the SPARKED Braintrust, teasing out the real questions, the nuanced assumptions, the parts no one else talks about, and what we can do to make work and life better. More alive. In today’s first-ever Sparked Hot Take, we’re taking an unusual look at what it’s like to lead in this complicated, often upside-down moment, and how leaders, themselves, are struggling with their own humanity, at the same time they’re being asked to take care of those they lead, and deliver bottom-line results in a world where both feel near impossible.  And, deepening into this conversation on leadership and humanity is Sparked Braintrust advisor, Karen Wright. Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. Enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on leading and humanity at a time when both are hard to access. SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Listener Marie asks, "When looking for niche job roles that match your criteria, how do you have patience in the process?" Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  LISTENER: Marie, Sparketype: Essentialist/Maven, Anti: Nurturer QUESTION: Listener, Marie, shares a story of her job scouting that is aiming to strike the ideal balance between role & organization fit, skillset match and desirable location. She expresses her frustration with the apparent lack of appealing options and asks is there a way to reframe her situation? Marie puts forward the query, how do you find niche industry roles that match your search criteria and is there a way to look outside the box if you’re feeling discouraged with the search process? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. LISTENER:  Hilde - Sparketype: Advisor/Sage, Anti: Maker & Essentialist QUESTION: Listener, Hilde, asks an interesting question that we know a lot of multi-passionate folks ask themselves, do you have to choose one area to focus on or specialize in? Hilde shares her experience of taking the leap into coaching and entrepreneurship and it not going as smoothly as she’d hoped. Now back in the corporate space and bolstered by the leadership feedback loop, she’s plotting her next move. Hilde poses the query, if you’re marketing yourself as a coach or mentor, do you need to have a niche or a special area of interest? Or can you embrace the multi-passionate approach. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. LISTENER: Marcelle - Sparketype: Scientist/Warrior | Anti- Performer QUESTION: Listener Marcelle, is looking at leadership in light of the pandemic, recent global events and conflicts and is asking what’s working? What’s not working? And how can she harness her skills to work towards solving some of these big problems. And, how do our Sparketypes fit into this conversation? Marcelle is curious to know how she can impact the future of leadership and to tackle training our leaders to have more compassion and empathy and potentially curb the ‘Great Resignation’ that we’re seeing across the globe.  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

APPLY FOR THE SEPTEMBER INTAKE OF THE CERTIFIED SPARKETYPE ADVISOR TRAINING HERE. Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  LISTENER: Joy - Sparketype: Advisor/Essentialist QUESTION: Listener Joy shares a fascinating story of growing up with an iconic entrepreneurial legacy, becoming involved in that family business, then starting, running and selling multiple companies before moving into the coaching space. After losing momentum during the pandemic, and now being ready to step back into coaching in a more authentic, focused way, she asks, when you’re rebuilding, how do you find the confidence to show up, ignore all the shiny object advice that can so easily take you off track, and build around who you really are and what you need and want to offer? When it comes to building a coaching practice Joy asks, how do you put yourself out there in an authentic way? And when building a business in a saturated market, how do you avoid the comparison trap and find the courage to stay in your lane and own your unique talent and offering? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author. LISTENER: Heidi - Sparketype: Advocate/Warrior | Anti Maker QUESTION: Listener Heidi, poses a big question that is very pertinent to this moment in time. She shares her devotion to advocacy particularly around climate activism and asks how do you harness your skillset to show up in work and life and make a meaningful difference? Heidi is hopeful that a lot of us are also asking the same question when it comes to the climate crisis and asks how do you know where to focus your energy to have the biggest impact? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. LISTENER:  Kerry - Sparketype: Warrior/Essentialist, Anti: Scientist QUESTION: Listener Kerry, shares her experience that many folks find themselves in, when their lifelong career no longer serves their life circumstance, in this case, raising a young family. Kerry shares her passion for writing, leading and problem solving and asks, how do you repurpose your skills when your availability for work changes? And how do you prioritize your own goals whilst juggling the demands of parenting, homeschooling and supporting your partner's business? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. LISTENER: Mell - Sparketype: Maven/Advocate QUESTION: Listener Mell, shares an interesting query about how to balance her desire to learn new things and advocate for what she cares about most with a recent diagnosis that may make those desires harder to act on. Mell puts forward the question, how do you embrace your innate impulse and find joy in work and life whilst navigating newly discovered neurodiversity? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions RESOURCES MENTIONED: Stumbling toward genius podcast episode with Cory Huff How to ADHD YouTube channel Book: The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success: How to Use Your Brain’s Executive Skills to Keep Up, Stay Calm, and Get Organized at Work and at Home Book: Daily Rituals: How Artists Work More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Deborah Owens | Website After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive. LISTENER: Ariel - Sparketype: Advisor QUESTION: Listener Ariel shares a story of solo entrepreneurship that we often hear, where half of the day-to-day work really lights her up but the other half is a heavier lift. As can often happen when you’re trying to wear all the hats. Ariel has a sense that she could expand her team and grow the business but is questioning if that’s in alignment for her. She poses the question, what do you do when your values and your personality type don't necessarily line up? And how do you untangle external influence with your own personal drivers, when making these big decisions. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors -  the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. LISTENER:  Jade - Sparketype: Maker/Maven QUESTION: Listener Jade poses a question that I’m sure a lot of our Makers and creators have also wondered, what can you do to see more ideas through to completion. Jade shares her experience of feeling tied down in the ‘busy-work’ of her daily job while being called to diversify her income and embrace a ‘side hustle’.  So the essence of the question is how do you make the most of the small amount of time you have in the ‘in-between’ moments and how do you follow through more often to generate the outcomes and feelings that you really want to have. And underneath that is the question, do we need to in the first place do any of this or is there magic in the mess of the maker and not centering some of these impulses as the fundamental way we earn our living. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. LISTENER: Trisha - Sparketype: Maven/Sage, Anti: Scientist QUESTION: Listener Trisha shares a moment of transition after taking a much needed break from the workforce, which so many of us have done in our lives. Especially after discovering more about yourself, this becomes a hugely relevant question - in this instance, discovering her Sparketype profile, and wanting to find work that aligns more closely with your primary impulse and is less likely to end in burnout. Trisha is curious to know if there are specific professions that are particularly suited to her Sparketype? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author. LISTENER: Quentin - Sparketype: Primary: Nurturer, Shadow: Advisor, Anti: Performer QUESTION: Listener Quentin asks a very interesting question, can your interests and therefore your Sparketype, change over time? Or is it a matter of understanding what your primary impulses are and how they are best expressed in different seasons of life, and shifting around them? Quentin puts forward a query we often get at Sparketype HQ - can you do your Sparketype assessment more than once and will it change over the course of your life? But there are some bigger, deeper questions embedded once we dive into what’s really going on here. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  LISTENER: Jen - Sparketype: Maven (Primary)/Advisor (Shadow) | Advocate (Anti) QUESTION: Listener Jen wonders how to scale impact and income, once you’ve discovered what Sparks you, but it feels limited by the simple fact that there’s only one of you, and there’s only so much you can charge. In Jen’s case, the quiet, deep work of 1:1 coaching and support is where she is most lit up, but knows that it isn’t scalable in a way that will meet her goals. So Jen asks how do you become more comfortable with a working model that can expand and serve more people but is outside your comfort zone or more specifically, is there a way for her to do work differently? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors -  the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. LISTENER: Bree - Sparketype: Advisor/Sage, Anti: Essentialist QUESTION: Listener Bree shares her story of experience of a role reversal with her partner, moving from full time parenting back into the workforce. And with that asks how do you combine multiple skills and passions? When you have a passion project, like writing books, calling to you, how do you balance that with a leadership role and overseeing big projects at work? Bree poses the query that many of us face, how do you approach tasks that you may be skilled at but no longer find them interesting? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Deborah Owens | Website After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive. LISTENER: Liana - Sparketype: Nurturer/Maven QUESTION: Listener Liana shares a conundrum that many of us have pondered. Do you stay in the well-paying job and build up your savings or do you go part-time in order to do more of what lights you up and as Liana puts it ‘live your best life sooner.’ The question being, what do you value more money or your time? And is that even a real dichotomy? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. LISTENER:  Kayla - Sparketype: Maven/Advisor, Anti: Advocate QUESTION: Listener Kayla, shares an experience that is common across a lot of industries right now and wants to know, especially as a leader, how to combat the deep fatigue and burnout that so many are experiencing and reignite the passion for work and for team collaboration, when everyone is so exhausted?  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now.  LISTENER: Paula - Sparketype: Essentialist/Maven, Anti: Performer QUESTION: Listener Paula shares a powerful story about a season of devotion to her family and her family business, and her emerging passion to shift focus to something new, and how that brings up all sorts of questions about everything from familial responsibility to purpose, passion and the freedom to choose your next move. Paula wrote in to share her story with us, so we’ve asked Shelley from our team to “read it into the conversation,” for us. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. LISTENER: Lisa - Sparketype: Essentialist/Sage QUESTION: Listener Lisa shares an experience and a question so many of us grapple with. You’re in a career, doing well, and have even said yes to a few things on the side and the blend is actually working. But, you’re starting to see a time where it might not, and you’re wondering if and when you should do something about it.  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author. LISTENER: Nida - Sparketype: Advisor/Advocate QUESTION: Listener Nida shares how she’s in a moment where literally every part of her life - her work, her marriage, even the country she’s living in - is in a state of profound change, but along the way, she’s discovered a passion to help people find their voices, but she also feels like, before she can do that, she need to find her own again. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive. LISTENER: Jessica - Sparketype: Advocate/Essentialist QUESTION: Listener Jessica shares a moment of inflection, after practicing law for 22 years, she was feeling like it was time for something new, a different way to be of service and tap her Advocate Sparketype, but there were layers we’d need to unpeel to get to the deeper heart of her question.  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Deborah Owens | Website After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive. LISTENER: Katie - Sparketype: Advisor/Nurturer QUESTION: Listener Katie shares her experience of being a highly-accomplished square peg in a round hole, who got tired of being drawn into roles at the highest level, succeeding, and yet still feeling like the what she was being tasked with doing and accomplishing was seriously misaligned with who she was.  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach. LISTENER: Lauren - Sparketype: Maven/Nurturer QUESTION: Listener Lauren shares a moment of genuine inflection where she knows what she wants to do next, but also feels beholden to the job she has now, and who it’s serving, and also isn’t so quick to walk away from the years she’s already earned toward retirement and benefits, even though it’ll be another decades before any of that can be cashed out. And, burnout and depletion are a big part of this conversation, too, which I know is such a common feeling these days. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author. LISTENER: Becca - Sparketype: Nurturer (Primary)/Advisor (Shadow) | Scientist (Anti) QUESTION: Once you’ve found what makes your life meaningful, how do you make it sustainable, how do you monetize it AND be careful about the monetizing of it not dipping into the joy that it brings? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website Karen is founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach and advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of The Accidental Alpha Woman. LISTENER: Jeff - Sparketype: Advisor (Primary)/Performer (Shadow) | Essentialist (Anti) QUESTION: How do I create the next great thing for me, when I have no clear path or even direction? Beyond the cliche of one step forward. How do I utilize my superpowers in a way that makes impact? YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. LISTENER:  Amy - Sparketype: Advisor/Sage QUESTION: How can I focus to make choices in the space of paradox of choice? But, as we’ll also learn, there’s a whole lot more going on underneath that question, especially for Amy who is in the midst of a career reinvention, as are so many now. YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust.  In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is the bestselling author of Life After College, the groundbreaking book PIVOT, and her soon to publish Free Time, and also an incredible career and business strategist. LISTENER: Megan - Sparketype: Maven/Maker QUESTION: How do you know when the best time to make a jump is, especially when you’re clear on exactly what you’re jumping into and, in fact, have already started building it on the side?  YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.  How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

We’re all in a moment. Asking big questions. Especially about work. Should I stay, or should I go? Just keep my head down and ride it out? Or tap out and do something new? Is there a way to keep the security of a paycheck, but reimagine what I’m doing to give me more purpose, excitement, and joy? How do I navigate overwhelm and burnout, the work-from-home that’s somehow morphed into never-stop-working? What about starting my own thing? How do I know when it’s time to leap? Can work actually give me more than just money? And should I even expect that? These are the questions we dive into on the SPARKED podcast.  SPARKED is co-hosted by Jonathan Fields, a dad, husband, founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast. Jonathan is also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED. Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to me and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. Then, we dive in, sharing eye-opening, often surprising insights, ideas, strategies, resources and tips to help navigate this moment in a way that helps not only the listener who posed the question, but all if embrace more of the work that makes us come alive, and less of what empties us out. So, come join us, as we explore how to spark your work and life. More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.