Consuming Careers

We circle back with Chris Schramm who we interviewed in episode 15 with one question I Forgot2Ask. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

Did you know that there are approximately 400,000 children in the foster care system in the U.S. alone, but many children age-out of foster care without a permanent or lasting sense of family? This week on Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Andy Cook. Andy’s the President & CEO of Promise686, where, for the last 11+ years, he and his team have been working tirelessly on the frontlines of the child welfare crisis by mobilizing church communities to care for vulnerable children. We’re talking with Andy about how he got started, what caused him to quit a perfectly good, stable career in education to join Promise686, and what the organization is doing to impact (as they put it) the “unrelenting, unending cycle of foster care”. I really think you’re going to enjoy this story, and I’ll even bet you know someone who’s been impacted by the work of Promise686. You can find and follow Andy Cook at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-cook-9425883/ To learn more about Promise686, check out: https://promise686.org/ Interview recorded live at Virtue Village in Peachtree Corners, Georgia; https://www.virtuevillage.com/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

We circle back with Laurie Gray who we interviewed in episode 21 with one question I Forgot2Ask. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

In this episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Mar Kushner. Now, you’ve probably never heard of Mar Kushner, but I’ve been working with Mar for the last 4 years, but it wasn’t until 2 years ago that I got a chance to hear her inspiring story of perseverance. Raised in Pakistan, a casualty of an arranged marriage that brought her to the US and into an abusive relationship, escaping back to Pakistan into cultural isolation due to her divorce, and ultimately a last chance opportunity to start over alone in the US with a plane ticket, an education, and just $300 in her pocket. Although you might hear from Mar an unassuming tone of modesty or diffidence, I suspect it is more likely a veneer of quiet confidence that covers her raw determination and steadfast grit. I think you’ll be encouraged by Mar’s story, and you probably won’t forget her name anytime soon. You can find Mar Kushner on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar-kushner-83977146/ Our interview was recorded live at the offices of RGP in Atlanta, Georgia: www.rgp.com Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

It’s been said that ‘culture is what we make of the world around us’. It’s episode 27 of Consuming Careers podcast, and we’re meeting with Chris Carneal, founder and CEO of Booster. And if you’re not familiar with Booster, you’re gonna hear all about it in a few minutes. But more than just a successful company, there’s a bigger story here. It's how Chris and his team took their core Virtues (not “values”) and put them to the test, most notably the virtue of GRIT. What you’ll hear is more than just hollow words on a wall, but guiding virtues that helped him and his team navigate some of business’ most dangerous waters. And the result? a stronger and more magnetic culture that continues to thrive today. We also go out of our way to unpack a few of the strategies that Chris employs to make an impact at Booster, that you can make it as well, wherever you are. And that, my friends, is the art of creating culture. You can find and follow Chris Carneal at: https://www.chriscarneal.com/ To learn more about Booster, check out: https://www.choosebooster.com/ “Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling” by Andy Crouch: https://a.co/d/1bWjoTn Interview recorded live in Chris’ office at Booster in Peachtree Corners, Georgia Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Cathy Cox, the President of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. And if you don’t know Cathy, then you’re in for a real treat! Born and raised in Bainbridge, Georgia, Cathy's journey is a remarkable blend of journalism, law, politics and education. She is a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, a beacon of inspiration, and a true testament of what it means to embrace a servant leader lifestyle. Cathy is no stranger to leadership roles. Before stepping into her current role as the President of GCSU, she was the Dean of Mercer University School of Law, and even before that, she was President of Young Harris College for a decade. Now, Cathy's story begins in a rather unique way. She started by pursuing a horticulture degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. But soon her journey diverted to follow her love for journalism at the University of Georgia, where she graduated and then worked for The Times of Gainesville and The Post-Searchlight of Bainbridge, where her stories on local crime and courts sparked her interest in law. That’s when she realized she could combine her love for writing and the law, obtaining a JD from Mercer Law School. She then went on to practice law in her hometown of Bainbridge and in Atlanta for about a decade. And if that’s not enough, during that time, she also served in the Georgia House of Representatives. But one of the real highlights of her career was when she shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the first woman in Georgia’s history to serve as Secretary of State. You can find and follow Cathy Cox at: Instagram: @GCSUPresident To learn more about Georgia College & State University at: https://www.gcsu.edu/ Interview recorded live in the front porch of Adkinson Hall at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia: https://libguides.gcsu.edu/c.php?g=21285&p=124659 Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re sitting down with Caleb Bonsi, a young professional who shares his journey to discover purpose and meaning in his work, as he endeavors to integrate his Ghanaian roots into his career at LinkedIn and beyond. He also shares his experience of working at LinkedIn, as well as the contrast between the GenZ, Millennial and BabyBoomer views of work. You can find Caleb Bonsi on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-bonsi/ Multiply Men podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MultiplyMen Our interview was recorded live the Fully Furnished Ministries warehouse in Berkeley Lake, Georgia: https://fullyfurnishedministries.org/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

Have you heard of the “Paradox of Generosity”? It goes like this: the more you give, the better off you are; but, very few people are especially generous. Why is that? This week on Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Chris Gabriel who discovered his purpose and passion (and his training) has equipped him to not only be generous, but to build a framework to help others, if done wisely and well, be generous in ways that can make a transformational impact on the giver, receiver, society and the world. You’ll hear that a significant inspiration for Chris’ generosity journey is City of Refuge in Atlanta, a faith-based environment that helps individuals and families transition out of crisis. And that’s where we catch up with Chris for breakfast… Find out more about Chris’ book “WISEgenerosity: A Guide to Purposeful and Productive Living and Giving” at: https://wisegenerosity.com/ You can find Chris Gabriel by email: chris@wisegenerocity.com or on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gabriel-cima%C2%AE-200a952/ Our interview was recorded live in the Workforce Innovation Hub at City of Refuge in Atlanta, Georgia: https://www.cityofrefugeatl.org/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

I’ve been working since I was about 14 yrs old, and though I’ve tried to stay healthy, I haven’t really given much thought to what impact fitness might have on my career. On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Russ Yeager, a renowned fitness expert and trainer, who shares his encouraging journey from being a husky 11yr old, to competitive bodybuilder, to helping train friends, and ultimately building a successful career around fitness. But early in his fitness career, Russ discovered his own ‘thorn in the flesh’, forcing him to reexamine what’s truly important, and how consistency and finding a healthy balance between work, family and faith has been the key. And for an added bonus, Russ shares several exercise and nutrition tips along the way. You can find Russ Yeager on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram: IG: @russyeaher or @FTJCLinkeIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russyeagerFB: https://www.facebook.com/RussyeagercoachingWho is Jack Lalanne?: https://jacklalanne.com/ Our interview was recorded live at Russ’ fitness studio, Fitness Together, in John’s Creek, Georgia: https://fitnesstogether.com/johnscreek/about-fitness-together Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

On this episode of Consuming Careers, we spend some time with Joe Oquist, a recognized thought leader in the areas of Generative AI, Humanoid Robotics and Quantum Computing. We discuss how GenAI is impacting the future of work, the influence it will have in our daily lives, and some practical steps you can take to stay informed on its benefits and risks. You can find and follow Joe Oquist on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeoquist/ Our interview was recorded live Cauley Creek Park in Johns Creek, Georgia: https://johnscreekga.gov/recreation-parks/parks/cauley-creek-park/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

Let's be honest, who among us hasn't felt like they were in way over their heads at some point? On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we're blessed to have the incredible Laurie Gray with us. She shares her deeply personal journey through something many of us can relate to - impostor syndrome. Yep, she's been there, she's lived it, and she's come out the other side. We're going to delve into her experiences, the physical and emotional challenges she faced, and how she overcame them all. Laurie is also a renowned expert in the field of customer experience, and she shares her insights on that too. But hold onto your seats, because she's also going to take us on a ride through her adventures in professional rock crawling. And you do not want to miss that! An overview of Laurie’s professional rock crawling adventures: https://www.ladiesoffroadnetwork.com/laurie-gray-2017-werock-competitor/ You can find Laurie Gray at www.lauriegray.com or on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriegray/ Our interview was recorded live on the front porch of Laurie’s log cabin home in Waleska, Georgia. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

Hey Friends, this week on Consuming Careers, I want to introduce you to a man who's taken a simple, everyday thing, like firewood, and turned it into a luxury experience. His name is Leroy Hite, the visionary founder of Cutting Edge Firewood. From their hub in Atlanta, Georgia, Cutting Edge Firewood delivers kiln dried firewood to thousands of customers all over our nation. For over a decade-and-a-half, Leroy has been on a relentless pursuit to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary: to provide his clientele with a world class fire experience. It all began with a dream: to revolutionize the firewood industry; an ambitious goal that has now evolved into an international success. His mission? To ensure that his customers enjoy the same superior experience with firewood as they do with their other luxury products and services. But, as with any trailblazing entrepreneur, Leroy's journey has been paved with sleepless nights, grit and sacrifices. So, let's jump into my conversation with Leroy, as we discover how he's making firewood sexy.. You can find Leroy Hite on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firewoodandcookingwood/ You can also learn more about Cutting Edge Firewood at: https://www.cuttingedgefirewood.com/ Interview was recorded live in the middle of the 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse of Cutting Edge Firewood in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

Talk about leaving a legacy… What if you could directly influence the customer experience of millions of people who visit one of America’s most successful restaurant chains? On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Andre’ Kennebrew who, over his 15 year career with Chick-fil-A, was directly responsible for hiring and mentoring over 500 store operators across the country. His passion for growing people and leaving a legacy has not only shaped the impact he’s made throughout his career, but also directs how he continues to influence the lives of everyone he meets. And to prove it, he shares his cell number on the podcast and invites you to give him a call! You can find Andre' on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-kennebrew-70b8825/ Our interview recorded live at a very busy Matthews Cafeteria in downtown Tucker, Georgia: https://www.matthewscafeteria.net/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

How many 2-sport professional athletes can you name? Jim Thorpe, Tim Tebow, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson…? On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, I had the privilege of having a very transparent conversation with another 2-sport pro athlete, Quincy Carter. You may remember Quincy as a former Chicago Cubs minor league outfielder, quarterback for The University of Georgia Bulldogs, and NFL quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets. But on August 4, 2004, everything changed, with a highly publicized release from the Cowboys and a downward spiral through a 15 year battle with a substance addiction. Thankfully, Quincy’s story doesn’t end there, and his life is now being restored with a sense of purpose and a new mission… but I’ll let you hear more about that from him. A note to the listener: this episode discusses the topic of alcohol and drug addiction, so please be mindful of those who might overhear this podcast. You can find and follow Quincy Carter at: Instagram: quincylevoncarterFacebook: quincylevon.carterTwitter/X: quincylcarterTo learn more about The Quincy Carter Foundation: www.theQuincyCarterFoundation.com About Quincy Carter 17 QB School: https://quincycarter17.com/ Interview recorded live in the main gym of Gresham Park Recreation Center in Atlanta, Georgia: https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks/gresham-recreation-center Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

I’ve always loved a good story about entrepreneurship, but today, we're going to talk about something a little different - intrapreneurship. On this episode of Consuming Careers, I’m thrilled to share a brisk conversation I recently had with the brilliant Louis Gump. Louis has just penned an insightful book called "The Inside Innovator". It's all about how you can spark innovation and launch new products or services right where you are - within your current company. And Louis knows what he's talking about. He's been at the forefront of multiple technology launches at The Weather Channel, CNN and Cox Media Group. He's mastered the art of navigating the complex environments of large corporations to introduce products and services that align with a company's mission while leveraging its core competencies. You can find Louis Gump at on LinkedIN at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisgump/, or on the web at: https://louisgump.com/ Louis’ forthcoming book, to be released on March 12, 2024: “The Inside Innovator: A Practical Guide to Intrapreneurship”; or on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/8myBRhm Interview recorded live over breakfast at The Silver Skillet Restaurant in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. You can find out more at: https://www.thesilverskillet.com/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

Entrepreneurship often comes in many flavors: and some people thrust themselves into it, and others have it thrust upon them. This week on Consuming Careers, I’m meeting with Paul Masters, who fell “accidentally” into a lifelong career of entrepreneurship, and learned that it was exactly where he needed to be. Not without his fair share of challenges, Paul grew his passion for leading his own business into a platform for coaching others so that they could build legacies of success in their own lives. You can connect with Paul Masters at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmastersatlanta/ For more information on Perissos Executive Coaching: https://www.perissosleader.com/ “Chazown: Discover and Pursue God's Purpose for Your Life” by Craig Greoschel: https://a.co/d/0hGC16e Interview recorded live at The Crossing Steakhouse in Historic Norcross, Georgia. You can find them at: https://www.thecrossingofnorcross.com/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

Have you ever thought of trading in your career to pursue a lifetime dream? I’m sure we all have at one time or another. On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers we’re sitting down with Chris Schramm who, along with his wife Renee, traded in his lucrative career and comfortable suburban lifestyle for a 52 foot yacht, and has been sailing the world for the past 3 years. Do you have a vision for a different career path or lifestyle shift? Could you be persuaded to make that trade… to burn the ships? Join my conversation with Chris and find out. You can follow Chris and Renee Schramm on social media at: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SVOceanaireInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_the_oceanaire/For more info on Normal40 and “The Trade” by Lon Stroschein: https://www.normal40.com/“The Trade” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fo4n5k7Interview recorded live at Mellow Mushroom in Suwannee, Georgia. You can find out more and all their locations at: https://www.mellowmushroom.com/ Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

I think you’d agree that one of the most tragic artifacts of today’s society is the proliferation of human trafficking. In this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Ian Mitchell, who, while on his quest for a meaningful purpose in his life, was awakened to the horrors of human trafficking. Slowly, he began to realize that his entire career was preparing for a battle. Today, Ian is a leader in the fight against sex trafficking, child exploitation, and elder scams, but not with weapons or force; instead, by attacking the lifeblood that fuels these hideous crimes: the digital flow of money. A word of caution: due to the sensitive nature of this topic, please be mindful of those who may overhear this podcast. You can find Ian Mitchell at: https://www.iantmitchell.com/. Also at: Spotify: Ian Mitchll - https://open.spotify.com/artist/31fwXkfT11l03GkbLvDkMeLinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantmitchell/Matt Friedman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-friedman-9788555/ About The Knoble: Learn more at: https://www.TheKnoble.com About the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/home Cabo Fish Taco: https://www.cabofishtaco.com/ Interview recorded live at Ian’s house near Outlook Mountain, TN. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

As Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” In this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re spending time with Mark Myers, who, after 20yrs in the electronics industry, found himself facing a life-altering tragedy: the loss of his youngest daughter to childhood cancer. In the aftermath, Mark found a new sense of purpose for his work and his relationships, and a redeeming clarity to focus on the things that really matter in his life, but not without the struggle of a day-by-day walk through the tension between hope and loss. You can find Mark Myers at: mark@smileyforkylie.org About Smiley for Kylie: Smiley For Kylie is non-profit organization that exists for the purpose of funding research that will lead to safer and more effective cures for childhood cancer, as well as other charitable purposes related to raising awareness of childhood cancer and supporting those impacted by it. Learn more at: https://www.smileyforkylie.org Find out more about CURE Childhood Cancer at: https://curechildhoodcancer.org/ You can find Mark’s book, “Missing Kylie: A Father's Search for Meaning in Tragedy” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hrZmF65 Interview recorded live on a cold winter morning on the Smiley for Kylie bench at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, Georgia. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

If you work, then you’re all too familiar with networking. But do you network to make a sale or to truly make a difference? In this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, I’m meeting with Ricky Steele who has invested his life in investing in others. Ricky has become one of the most well known and respected business developers in the Southeast, but not without significant personal sacrifice. Ricky not only shares his approach to networking, but also his calling for pursuing relationships with authentic empathy and generosity. You can find Ricky Steele at: ricky@rickysteele.net, or LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickysteele/FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/ricky.steeleTwitter/X - @rickysteeleRicky Steele’s book “The Heart of Networking” is available here: “The Heart of Networking Third Edition” is available on both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. A signed version is also available on Shopify at www.heartofnetworking.net. Interview recorded live over a perfectly cooked petite filet and an amazing Cabernet at McKendrick's Steakhouse in Atlanta, Georgia: https://www.mckendricks.com A special thanks to Carol Conway, General Manager, for her gracious hospitality, and to Mark for his outstanding service. Thank you! Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do. You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/ You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com