The Zack Arnold Podcast

Given the vast amounts of fear & uncertainty surrounding not only the job market in general but specifically in the entertainment industry with the writer’s strike, we figured now is the perfect time to evaluate where you are in your career path, identify your unique strengths, and make the changes necessary to take you one step closer, if not all the way, to your dream job.That’s why for the month of May we’ll be releasing one of our most popular top 5 podcast playlists where I’ve narrowed down over 200 of my podcast conversations down to the 5 best authors and experts who can help you design the more balanced, more sustainable, and more fulfilling creative career that you deserve. In this top 5 series you will hear a range of topics covered such as how to navigate difficult career transitions, finding your why, how to be happy and successful at the same, how to overcome creative burnout, and how to effectively tell your own story.If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.Without further adieu, here is the final part of this five interview series with Chris Vogler, a Hollywood story consultant and author of the wildly popular guidebook to mythic structure for storytellers, The Writer’s Journey. Whether you’re interested in learning how to apply the Hero’s Journey to your own work, or if you’re looking for ways to better understand (and rewrite) your own personal story, this conversation is for you.You can find the original show notes for this interview at optimizeyourself.me/episode205.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Given the vast amounts of fear & uncertainty surrounding not only the job market in general but specifically in the entertainment industry with the writer’s strike, we figured now is the perfect time to evaluate where you are in your career path, identify your unique strengths, and make the changes necessary to take you one step closer, if not all the way, to your dream job.That’s why for the month of May we’ll be releasing one of our most popular top 5 podcast playlists where I’ve narrowed down over 200 of my podcast conversations down to the 5 best authors and experts who can help you design the more balanced, more sustainable, and more fulfilling creative career that you deserve. In this top 5 series you will hear a range of topics covered such as how to navigate difficult career transitions, finding your why, how to be happy and successful at the same, how to overcome creative burnout, and how to effectively tell your own story.If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.Without further adieu, here is the fourth part of this five interview series with Eric Barker, author of Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong. In this episode, we do a deep dive into the epidemic of creative burnout, what the signs are, and what you can do to get yourself out of it. You can find the original show notes for this interview at optimizeyourself.me/episode03.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Given the vast amounts of fear & uncertainty surrounding not only the job market in general but specifically in the entertainment industry with the writer’s strike, we figured now is the perfect time to evaluate where you are in your career path, identify your unique strengths, and make the changes necessary to take you one step closer, if not all the way, to your dream job.That’s why for the month of May we’ll be releasing one of our most popular top 5 podcast playlists where I’ve narrowed down over 200 of my podcast conversations down to the 5 best authors and experts who can help you design the more balanced, more sustainable, and more fulfilling creative career that you deserve. In this top 5 series you will hear a range of topics covered such as how to navigate difficult career transitions, finding your why, how to be happy and successful at the same, how to overcome creative burnout, and how to effectively tell your own story.If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.Without further adieu, here is the third part of this five interview series with bestselling author, lecturer and founder of the Happiness Studies Academy, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar where we have a candid discussion about whether happiness and success are mutually exclusive and the differences between a job vs a career vs a calling.You can find the original show notes for this interview at optimizeyourself.me/episode132.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Given the vast amounts of fear & uncertainty surrounding not only the job market in general but specifically in the entertainment industry with the writer’s strike, we figured now is the perfect time to evaluate where you are in your career path, identify your unique strengths, and make the changes necessary to take you one step closer, if not all the way, to your dream job.That’s why for the month of May we’ll be releasing one of our most popular top 5 podcast playlists where I’ve narrowed down over 200 of my podcast conversations down to the 5 best authors and experts who can help you design the more balanced, more sustainable, and more fulfilling creative career that you deserve. In this top 5 series you will hear a range of topics covered such as how to navigate difficult career transitions, finding your why, how to be happy and successful at the same, how to overcome creative burnout, and how to effectively tell your own story.If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.Without further adieu, here is the second part of this five interview series with David Mead, co-author of Find Your Why written alongside legendary bestselling author and expert on leadership Simon Sinek, where we discuss the importance of just that - finding your why - and how it will help you clarify your career path so you can find more purpose and fulfillment in your work.You can find the original show notes for this interview at optimizeyourself.me/episode48.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Given the vast amounts of fear & uncertainty surrounding not only the job market in general but specifically in the entertainment industry with the writer’s strike, we figured now is the perfect time to evaluate where you are in your career path, identify your unique strengths, and make the changes necessary to take you one step closer, if not all the way, to your dream job.That’s why for the month of May we’ll be releasing one of our most popular top 5 podcast playlists where I’ve narrowed down over 200 of my podcast conversations down to the 5 best authors and experts who can help you design the more balanced, more sustainable, and more fulfilling creative career that you deserve. In this top 5 series you will hear a range of topics covered such as how to navigate difficult career transitions, finding your why, how to be happy and successful at the same, how to overcome creative burnout, and how to effectively tell your own story.If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.Without further adieu, here is episode one of my five-part interview series with the bestselling author and founder of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Ramit Sethi, who is also my business mentor and the reason I have been able to transition from “editor” to “entrepreneur”. Ramit is an expert on helping people design their own rich life, and if you haven’t caught it already, I highly recommend checking out his brand new Netflix show which was a top 10 show how t Get Rich. The original show notes for this conversation can be found at optimizeyourself.me/episode105.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Philippe Danielides is a former Wall Street lawyer and corporate communications consultant turned professional life and career coach. He is the author of The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want and co-creator of The Garden - a group learning retreat in Greece inspired by the teachings of ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus on the art and practice of living well. Needless to say, Philippe and I have a fascinating conversation spanning a wide range of topics (burnout, sailing, the meaning of life…).Today Philippe shares with us the story of his own drastic and unexpected career shift, which came as a result of reaching burnout, unfulfillment, and illness despite having "reached the pinnacle of success." Through his journey towards building a life of fulfillment and health, he has acquired a wealth of knowledge and tools that he generously shares with us. Philippe provides not only practical steps to identify what you really want to do with your life but also inspiration and encouragement to start walking the path towards fulfillment and embrace the support of others along the way.Whether you are considering your own drastic career shift and need support managing self-doubt and criticism (coming from yourself or those around you), are wondering how to find the right community to help you advance your existing career, or are even looking for guidance in determining what it is you actually want to do with your life, this conversation is a must-listen.Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn:The shocking similarities between lawyers and creatives…How to navigate a massive career transition when faced with doubt (from yourself and others)The importance of seeking community and asking for helpHow to break away from our cultural definition of success (and why that’s crucial)The first essential step to take if you’re struggling to decide what to do with you lifeWhy the western struggle for individualism is working against youThe two biggest fears that keep us stuck in careers that don’t serve usThe first two steps you can take if you’re ready to change your realityThe 3 ingredients to happiness (that you might not expect)The changes you can make to if you don’t want to leave your job, but want to enjoy it moreUseful Resources Mentioned:The Blue Pen ProjectThe GardenThe Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually WantContinue to Listen & LearnHow to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina SnyderThe Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will StorrUsing the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris VoglerHow to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie DukeI need help making a career transitionGuest Bio: Philippe Danielides Philippe Danielides is a former Wall Street lawyer and corporate communications consultant turned professional coach, and the author of The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want.His coaching is focused on helping lawyers and other habitual high-achievers to live more engaged and energized lives by answering one critically important question, and then providing them with the strategic and practical support to translate that answer into a reality. That question is, “What do I actually want?”And for reasons explained by what he calls The Red Pen Problem, it is a particularly daunting and challenging question for many lawyers to answer, and why it’s so often set aside (albeit unintentionally) in favor of answering more achievable yet ultimately unsatisfying questions like “What should I want?” or “What do I realistically think I can get?”Philippe holds a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College and received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center. He’s a native New Yorker and somehow, also, a slow walker, which continues to annoy his fast-paced New York friends and family.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Chris Orsi, 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

Chris Salters is a freelance editor working on brand films, commercials and documentaries, as well as a long time member of the Optimize Yourself Coaching and Membership program. While we could spend multiple episodes talking about Chris’ success in both his career and the coaching program, instead, today we’re talking about how Chris reached out to me after “dropping the ball” and being fired from work.Being a veteran in the industry, Chris is no stranger to difficult tasks, challenges, shifting timetables, and high levels of stress. However while in this particular situation, despite the confidence Chris had that he could manage it, he ultimately failed. Today we dive deep into the situation and discuss how failure is a positive aspect in all of our lives despite what it may seem, and that even having a ton of “experience” in a particular field does not exempt you from encountering a moment of failure.Chris shares the difficulties of dealing with failure (despite the encouraging words surrounding him) and we break down ways in which you can use these heavy emotions to in turn feel more motivated. We are ALL going to experience failure (and quite frankly, already have) and my conversation with Chris will not only help you better embrace the experience when it happens, it will help you understand there is no faster catapult towards success.Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeHere’s What You’ll Learn:Why being fired affected Chris so deeply, despite being a veteran to the stress and challenges of his professionThe real reason you should be upfront about the skills you lack (that benefits you)The key difference between inspiration and motivation and why you should know the differenceThe words of encouragement Chris received from his spouse that helped him throughHow failure changed Chris’ workflow for the betterThe benefit of negative emotions and how you can use them for motivationWhy Chris’ instinct to charge less after being fired was a harmful and bad ideaThe specific “human skills” you can bring to the workplace that make you more valuable than technical skillsWhat Chris did that made the producer of the job that fired him reach out to work together againThe ONE thing Chris would have done knowing what he knows now (and it’s not doing the job better)Useful Resources Mentioned:Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D.Continue to Listen & LearnEp218: How to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie DukeEp194: How ‘The Great Resignation’ Caused Us to Question Everything About the Way We Work (and How to Quit if It’s Time to Move On) | with Anthony KlotzEp216: Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’Ep148: “I Was Fired For Requesting a Single Mental Health Day” | with Jim PageEp113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian7 Red Flags You Might Be Burned Out (Or You’re Headed There)Severance Is Not Only the Dystopian Future of Workplace Burnout…In Many Ways We’re Already There[CASE STUDY] Why I Said No to a Job (A Great One)…During a PandemicTired of Holding it Together All the Time? Here are Five Basic Needs to Get You Back On TrackGuest Bio:CHRIS SALTERS   Chris Salters is a freelance editor, working on brand films, commercials, and documentaries. He’s based in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, father of 2, likes woodworking, triathlons, and copious amounts of coffee.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

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist"Expected value is not just about money. It can be measured in health, well being, happiness, time, self-fulfillment, satisfaction in relationships or anything else that affects you."- Annie DukeAnnie Duke is an author, speaker and a consultant in the decision-making space. And as a former professional poker player who has won $4 million in tournament poker, I’d say she has figured out a thing or two in regard to making decisions (especially under pressure). Her book, Thinking in Bets, is a national bestseller and today, we’re going to talk about her latest book, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.In our conversation, Annie and I talk about her unique approach to the concept of quitting, drawing from her study of cognitive psychology and experience in playing tournament poker. We talk about why people tend to default in making bad decisions, and how learning to quit can actually be one of the best avenues you can take on the road to success. Annie walks us through the specific techniques she teaches for the art of decision making, and how you can apply these to your life (and choices) moving forward.If you feel uncertain on whether or not you should quit (whether that be a job, a relationship, a goal, or even a system of habits) Annie’s simple and direct techniques will no doubt have you on the path towards making a clear decision. Her unique take on decision making backed by her study of cognitive psychology are the perfect combination for an eye opening conversation that I can’t wait for you to hear.Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn:Annie’s unique journey of going from a student of cognitive psychology to an award winning professional poker player to what she does todayHow the concept of a 2-way door is important in helping us decide whether to pursue something or notWhy Annie doesn’t like the phrase “make your own luck” and what we should be doing instead (from a logical poker perspective)Why quitting can be one of the greatest strategies available for reaching successThe real danger in staying where you shouldn’t…The concept of “kill criteria” and how you can use it to know for certain whether or not it’s time to quitWhat loss aversion means and how it’s stopping us from making progressHow we can use “expected value” to guide our decision makingAnnie puts me in the hot seat to workshop my American Ninja Warrior goalSo…how do you REALLY know if you should grit it or quit it?Useful Resources Mentioned:Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk AwayThinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the FactsJeff Bezos' Two-Way Door DecisionRANGE: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World - David EpsteinMindset: The New Psychology of Success - Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D.Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything - Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. DubnerThinking in Bets SubstackAlliance for Decision EducationContinue to Listen & LearnChase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’How ‘The Great Resignation’ Caused Us to Question Everything About the Way We Work (and How to Quit if It’s Time to Move On) | with Anthony KlotzHow to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina SnyderWhat Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey CofoneHow to Live a Better Life Simply by Asking Better Questions | with Marc Champagne7 Red Flags You Might Be Burned Out (Or You’re Headed There)Severance Is Not Only the Dystopian Future of Workplace Burnout…In Many Ways We’re Already ThereMental Health is Not a Luxury…Even For “Top Guns” | with Eddie Hamilton, ACE [Pt 2]Mob Scene CEO Tom Grane on What It Takes to Succeed in Trailers & Marketing (Without Sacrificing Work-Life Balance)“I Was Fired For Requesting a Single Mental Health Day” | with Jim PagePromoting Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Sanity In the Edit Bay | with Kevin Tent, ACEThe Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace TashjianGuest Bio: Annie Duke Annie Duke is an author, speaker, and consultant in the decision-making space, as well as Special Partner focused on Decision Science at First Round Capital Partners, a seed stage venture fund. Annie’s latest book, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, was released in 2022 from Portfolio, a Penguin Random House imprint. Her previous book, Thinking in Bets, is a national bestseller. As a former professional poker player, she has won more than $4 million in tournament poker. During her career, Annie won a World Series of Poker bracelet and is the only woman to have won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions and the NBC National Poker Heads-Up Championship. She retired from the game in 2012. Prior to becoming a professional poker player, Annie was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.Annie is the co-founder of The Alliance for Decision Education, a non-profit whose mission is to improve lives by empowering students through decision skills education. She is a member of the National Board of After-School All-Stars and the Board of Directors of the Franklin Institute and serves on the board of the Renew Democracy Initiative.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

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content