SPARKED

Are you tired of feeling drained and unfocused at work? Do you wish you could harness your brain’s full creative potential without sacrificing productivity? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Mithu Storoni, a neuroscience researcher and ophthalmic surgeon, reveals revolutionary insights from her book Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work. Imagine a world where you can effortlessly align your workflow with your brain’s natural rhythms, optimizing focus, creativity, and overall performance. Dr. Storoni exposes the flaws of the traditional 9-5 workday, shedding light on how our industrial-era approach to work actively undermines our cognitive abilities. But fear not, for she offers a transformative framework to redesign your workday around your brain’s unique needs. Discover how to “find your flame” – the work that ignites your intrinsic motivation, “get in gear” by aligning tasks with your optimal cognitive states, and “run in rhythm” by respecting your brain’s neurocycles. You can find Mithu at: Website | LinkedIn | Book Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment, More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

Dr. Emily Anhalt, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Coa, shares her expertise on emotional fitness. She discusses seven core traits essential for navigating emotions with resilience and empathy. Emily highlights the transformative power of discomfort for personal growth and the delicate balance between empathy and boundaries in relationships. She also emphasizes the role of playfulness in the workplace to foster creativity and collaboration. Tune in for practical insights to enhance your emotional agility and well-being!

Mitch Joel, a marketing visionary and co-founder of ThinkersOne, dives into the fascinating intersection of AI and creativity. He introduces his 'PACE' framework, which encourages using AI to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity. Mitch emphasizes that technology should foster personal expression and collaboration. He also explores the evolving concept of 'taste' in creative processes and highlights the significance of agency for creatives in an AI-driven landscape, advocating for thoughtful engagement and continuous self-discovery.

Today’s Career Transformation Story features a trailblazer's journey from the apex of the corporate tech world to embracing the path of the solopreneur coach. It's a tale of reclaiming autonomy and giving voice to one's innermost callings. My guest today is Christian Röpke, who spent over a decade rising through AI leadership roles like Head of AI and Chief Technology Officer at startups in Berlin's white-hot tech scene. Despite the prestigious positions, an insistent voice stirred inside longing for more ownership and creative freedom. With the Primary Sparketype® Sage and Maven as his Shadow, Christian felt an innate drive to enlighten others through deep insight and perspective-shifting wisdom. Yet his corporate roles, however elite, inevitably boxed in that expression. So Christian took a leap into the uncertainty of solopreneurship, now guiding businesses on their AI journeys while finally honoring his soul's work as a catalyst for "aha" moments. ~~~ And if you’d like to share your career transformation story on the Sparked podcast, to inspire others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own career paths, we encourage you to apply to be a guest and check out the form in the show notes. Because we believe that everyone deserves to find fulfillment and purpose in their work. To apply, please check out this form. We can't wait to hear from you! Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment, More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website Presented by LinkedIn.

A transformative journey unfolds as the host shares insights from a 17-month personal experiment aimed at enhancing joy and meaning in life. The focus is on crafting a fulfilling future through playful projects and holistic experiments in vitality, connection, and creativity. Listeners hear about bold identity shifts, confronting fears, and the joys and failures of navigating a life centered on deep values. This journey invites everyone to embrace their own experiments for a more vibrant and intentional life.

Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a French Algerian neuroscientist and entrepreneur, shares her inspiring journey from tech executive to startup founder. She introduces the concept of living life as a series of tiny experiments, emphasizing the value of embracing uncertainty in career and personal choices. Le Cunff discusses her PACT framework and how reframing life's decisions as experiments can lead to genuine fulfillment. Her insights encourage listeners to prioritize personal joy and curiosity over societal expectations while navigating the complexities of modern life.

Madeline Mann, a human resources leader and career strategist, discusses her innovative concept of transforming from a job seeker to a 'job shopper.' She highlights the pitfalls of traditional job applications and advocates for a more proactive approach. Mann emphasizes the importance of aligning one’s skills with company needs and building a personal brand. As remote work and AI reshape the job market, she offers strategies for standing out and engaging in meaningful dialogues during interviews, making career decisions more strategic.

Kat Thackray, Founder of People Equals Purpose, shares her journey from a top design consultant to an entrepreneurship focused on transforming team dynamics. She discusses the toll of climbing the corporate ladder and the physical stress it caused. Kat reflects on childhood work perceptions and how they shaped her career choices. The conversation delves into navigating the emotional challenges of leaving a stable job for the freedom of entrepreneurship, and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in fostering healthy workplace dynamics.

Seth Godin, a renowned author and entrepreneur, shares insights from his latest book, "This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans." He discusses the importance of crafting a long-term life strategy that prioritizes meaningful choices over short-term gratification. The conversation covers living intentionally versus going with the flow, and how self-identity shapes our actions. Godin emphasizes the balance between desire for freedom and belonging, while also exploring how systemic change starts with individual actions. His practical advice encourages listeners to embrace self-awareness and rethink their life strategies.

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. In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | WebsiteJadah 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 here.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. 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?Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The WebsitePresented by LinkedIn.Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. Differentiate yourself as a certified professional with a powerful command of the Sparketype® body of knowledge, professional-level tools, processes, engagement formats, and strategies, while equipping yourself to guide individuals, groups and teams through change with confidence and clarity. Learn more & apply to the Certified Sparketype ® Advisor Training and Certification today. Presented by LinkedIn.