Help Wanted

You can't say yes to every opportunity, which begs the question: When should you say no?Today, Jason will give you an answer. It’s a simple framework that he learned from Brian Lee, the cofounder of LegalZoom. And he learned it by accidentally almost killing the company. Now you can benefit from his mistake.

Today, Jason tells Nicole a story of a very recent— and very public— failure. He explains what happened, how he panicked, and ultimately, what advice he got from a friend that made him feel better.

You have the right stuff: You’re talented, smart, and good at what you do. But the right people aren’t noticing. So here’s a difficult truth you must take seriously: you are a high-quality person, but you can’t compete on quality alone. Today, Jason shows you how to get noticed another way. 

Jason and Nicole got a wonderfully crafted piece of constructive criticism from a listener: they swear too much on the show! Today, Nicole and Jason explain how they decided where to draw their line when it comes to swearing— and they teach you how to calibrate the trade-off between raw personality and professionalism.

Misunderstandings often arise from vague requests. A recent breakfast order mishap sparked a realization about asking for what you truly want. Clarity in communication is essential; bundling irrelevant details can cloud intentions. By defining your goals before making requests, you can significantly improve interactions. Also, the podcast offers strategies for effective questioning that lead to better relationships and problem-solving. Want to become someone's hero? It starts with asking the right way!

Today’s caller has been slowly increasing her rates over time with market trends—except for one of her earliest clients, who's still paying the same old low pricing. She knows it’s time to raise those rates, but the thought of having that conversation is totally stressing her out. Today, Jason and Nicole give her strategies to help her feel more comfortable with having the conversation successfully.

Today Jason shares two strategies he uses to stop obsessing over small mistakes. He calls them Thinking Downward, and the Grading Curve. They’ve helped him bounce back from his imperfect moments — and he thinks they can help you too.

Nicole and Jason discuss the best and worst ways to ask for an intro, including the importance of context, setting boundaries, and maintaining relationships. They share experiences of mishandled introductions and offer tips on crafting thoughtful intro emails.

You’re trying to solve a problem. But you’re stumped. So you keep asking the same question: How do I do this one thing? But what if you’re asking the wrong question?Today, Jason will show you how to back up and ask the “earlier question.” And he'll start by showing you how he just used this trick… and helped a big company solve a big problem.

Today, Jason and Nicole explore a taboo topic: the give-and-take struggle between a demanding career and parenthood. Jason and Nicole have noticed a reticence in others to talk about this experience for fear of judgment or misunderstanding. But in this conversation, Jason and Nicole speak honestly. Plus, what's the best way to tell your coworker you're expecting?