The Zack Arnold Podcast [Case Study] From the FBI to Hollywood: Anatomy of An Unlikely Career Pivot | with Kathy Robinson
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In today's episode, I sit down with Kathy Robinson, a longtime member of the Optimizer community and one of my coaching students who has made a remarkable career transition. Kathy is on the path to being a film and video editor and currently working as a TV assistant for a small cable network. But her journey here is anything but typical. Before joining the entertainment industry, she spent over a decade in federal law enforcement working with the FBI. She is also a proud Navy veteran.
Kathy discovered her passion for storytelling while working at the FBI, using her creativity to solve problems. Kathy opens up about the fears she had to overcome to pursue a completely new career and how she found her "tribe" through the Optimizer community. Together, we explored how her transferrable skills — like managing torpedoes in the Navy and working as an investigative operations analyst at the FBI — could be repurposed to fit into the different but highly detailed and pressure driven demands of the entertainment industry.
Kathy’s story is a powerful reminder that starting over is not starting from scratch. Instead, it’s about leveraging what you’ve already learned to build something new. Her journey is sure to inspire anyone considering a bold career move.
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Here's What You'll Learn:
- Zack reveals what he knew about Kathy from the first time they met
- The realization Kathy had while still working at the FBI
- KEY TAKEAWAY: Making a career transition is not starting over
- The important lesson Kathy learned from Zack that stuck with her through her journey into the creative world
- The first thing that needed to change for Kathy in order to successfully make a career transition
- The biggest obstacle Kathy had, where it came from and the lesson she learned from the Optimizer coaching program to overcome it
- How to say 'no' to the wrong opportunities
- Why Kathy stayed in a toxic work culture for so long
- Where Kathy's resilience comes from
- How building habits helped Kathy when she retired from the FBI
- How Kathy got her current job and why she loves it
- How managing torpedoes in the Navy is relevant to becoming a TV editor
- The advice that Kathy will give her past self and the advice that her future self will give to her present self
Useful Resources Mentioned:
The Mark of the Maker (Short 1991) - IMDb
How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear | Optimize Yourself
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The Art of the Pivot: Going From Freelancer to Entrepreneur | with Nick Milo
Terrified to Make a Big Change In Your Life? Start By “Showing Up Small” | with Eddy Roche
Navigating The ‘Messy Middle’ of Life & Career Transitions | with Melissa Costello
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
The Link Between Telling Your Story & Identifying Your Purpose (And How to Do Both) | with Dan Davis
Guest Bio:
Kathy Robinson
Kathy Robinson is a film and video editor transitioning from a decade-long career in Federal law enforcement to pursue her passion for storytelling and visual media. Her previous role instilled a strong foundation of adaptability, resourcefulness, and the ability to excel under pressure. These skills have seamlessly translated into her video editing career, where she has contributed to diverse freelance projects with non-profit organizations, marketing agencies, and independent filmmakers. Through these experiences, she developed a keen eye for detail, technical proficiency, and a collaborative approach to creative problem-solving.
One of her proudest achievements as a video editor was collaborating with her former DePaul University classmates on an independent 30-second film during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2021. Tasked with creating a 90-second short film using only a cell phone and incorporating the elements of "high heel" and "button," her team's ingenuity and teamwork earned them the WaFL audience award. Her enthusiasm for taking on new challenges and her dedication to continuous learning drive her to create impactful and engaging content in every project she undertakes.
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content