The Eric Koester Creator Institute

36% of the U.S. workforce has freelanced this year -- and it may offer one of the best ways to grow and manage your own career path. According to author and Babson Professor Diane Mulcahy, the future is quickly becoming about developing a portfolio of work -- perhaps its a full-time job and something on the side to scratch our creative itch or perhaps its a freelance career made up of multiple clients and a variety of work. In our conversation we'll go deeper into how Diane is coaching MBAs and undergrads to re-think careers through the lens of building a portfolio of meaningful work, and how a new set of skills -- the creator skillset -- is critical as each of us makes that transition.  The New Yorker calls her book Gig Economy "part economic argument and part how-to guide."  And in this episode we'll explore how you can reframe work through a portfolio approach and you can have more control, attain more financial flexibility and discover more meaningful work. BUT you might have to do something a little different than those around you.

On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Chris Voss -- former FBI Hostage Negotiator, the founder of Black Swan and the author of Wall Street Journal Bestseller Never Split the Difference -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.

Every human interaction is a negotiation -- we just usually don't think of them that way. But what if you thought of these everyday human interactions as negotiations where your life literally depended on the outcome?  Would you act differently? Would you listen to the demands? Chris Voss is the author of Never Split the Difference and worked in the FBI (and the police force) for over 20 years as a top hostage negotiator, working over 150 kidnappings (probably more but he says he lost count). He shares the power of empathy in every interaction as a way to re-think our engagements and get better outcomes. And he shares one of my favorite insights about the power of generosity on getting what we want -- why psychologically nearly all of us want to 'repay' the favors done for us.  You'll learn how to think purposefully about each interaction to get what you want, when you want it without having to split the difference. Plus I learned what to do if I was ever taken hostage to dramatically improve my chances of making it out alive.  

On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Joe Mechlinski -- the founder of SHIFT and the author of NY Times Bestseller Grow Regardless and new release Shift the Workplace -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.

Do you have a chip on your shoulder? Researchers say that can a good thing -- some of the world's best like Tom Brady or Steve Jobs use their resentment to prove people wrong again and again. But it can also stop us in our tracks if we fixate on these insecurities. For Joe Mechlinski, he grew up in a rough part of Baltimore until a football scholarship landed him a Johns Hopkins with limited reading and writing skills.  Just how does that guy wind up publishing a NY Times Bestseller that bumped 50 Shades of Grey from the top spot? That chip on his shoulder. Our discussion talks about how to use the insecurities and resentment we all have somewhere -- and continue to create things -- companies, books, podcasts, teams -- and grow.  That "prove it" mentality comes when we decide to invest in creating things that others can judge for themselves, and how each of us can use our own chips for good.  

On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Donna Khalife -- the founder and CEO of children's educational company Surprise Ride, author and Shark Tank alum -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.

How do you decide?  Experts say our decision-making process as either rational or emotional -- meaning we are carefully deliberate, or just act and go with our gut. For Donna Khalife her life was a series of rational, deliberate decisions that led her to the top Business School and job offers in Wall Street and Silicon Valley.  And she took "none of the above", choosing a life following her passions that has led her to the hills of Hollywood, a top rated author and today a Shark Tank alum who's company Surprise Ride has raised millions after first being passed over by the Sharks.  In the second part of our discussion, we'll explore her experiences as an entrepreneur -- how a chance opportunity to appear on Shark Tank forced her and her sister to find their way, overcome rejection and build the business that would make their parents proud.  You'll understand how to prepare for your moment when the clock counts down, the lights go on and it's your chance to pitch in front of millions on a nationally televised stage. 

How do you decide?  Experts say our decision-making process as either rational or emotional -- meaning we are carefully deliberate, or just act and go with our gut. For Donna Khalife her life was a series of rational, deliberate decisions that led her to the top Business School and job offers in Wall Street and Silicon Valley.  And she took "none of the above", choosing a life following her passions that has led her to the hills of Hollywood, a top rated author and today a Shark Tank alum who's company Surprise Ride has raised millions after first being passed over by the Sharks.  In the first part of our discussion, you'll hear how Donna acted 'rationally emotional' by choosing to create her own path that in hindsight isn't all that risky or crazy -- and how you can do the same.  It's a fascinating conversation showing the power of winning in the decision-making moment. 

On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Aneesh Chopra -- the founder and CEO of CareJourney and the country's first Chief Technology Officer under President Obama -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.

How can we convince people to bet on us?  It happens all the time -- getting hired, landing an investment in our startup and even people the people who we convince to date or eventually marry us!  For President Obama's first Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, he'd assumed politics was his path and ran for Lt. Governor of Virginia... but he lost.  Hoping to break into startups, he soon realized he'd need to raise big bucks to attack the huge problems he saw in the health care sector.  So what could a lifetime policy wonk and government bureaucrat do to get cofounders, VCs and employees to bet on him?  Eric talks with Aneesh about his time in the White House -- including being coined "The Indian George Clooney" by John Stewart on the Daily Show -- and how sometimes what we create is often just as important as what we've done to get others to bet on us.  Eric shows how making a bet on ourselves can help us learn where to go, and offer powerful evidence to others we hope to influence.