Courtney Spence on How Travel Creates Cathartic Moments

In Chapter 5 of 19 in her 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive Courtney Spence answers "What Have You Found Most Rewarding About Traveling to New Places?"  Spence notes how the art and journey of traveling has helped her find breakthrough moments in her life.  She notes the trips need not be exotic; rather, it is about the experiences that make a trip and resulting positive and inspirational impact they have in her life.  Courtney Spence returns to CYF for her Year 3 interview.  As Founder and Executive Director, Spence leads non-profit Students of the World to empower college students to use film, photography, and journalism to tell stories of global issues and the organizations working to address them.  Spence graduated with a BA in History from Duke University.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen: What have you found most rewarding about traveling to new places?

Courtney Spence: I think new places prompts new ideas. Big landscapes prompt big ideas. I think there is so much to the art and the journey of traveling. Even if it’s being in an airport or flying in an airplane or being in a train or driving a car, I think that it’s not about the destination, as much as it is about the actual journey itself. And I’ve realized that I’m fortunate that I’ve always loved the journey. I actually love flying. I, you know, couldn’t help that I’m really short and so the little spaces I can fit into easily, but I really do enjoy that process of meeting new people and seeing things I hadn’t seen before and really have, particularly in the last 6 months, recognized the need – when you’re trying to think of new things, or you’re trying to go through a breakthrough or you’re up against a wall and you just – you’re in a rut or you need something big to shift, you’ve gotta move yourself out of the location that you’ve been in and the locations quite frankly that you’re familiar with to really breakthrough effectively. At least that’s what I need.

So, I’ve seen it happen and I’ve been able to sort of reflect on the moments where we have gone through breakthroughs with Students of the World, which are also breakthroughs for me personally. They’ve really come from going to new places. And, you know, places like Chesapeake Bay or Norfolk, Virginia, I mean they’re very – it doesn’t have to be exotic necessarily, it just has to be new. So I’ve learned a lot about that, and particularly recently, so.

Taking a Career Break to Do Things You Love

In Chapter 13 of 15 in her 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "How Are You Learning to Apply Your Passions in New Ways?"  French shares how taking time away from work has given her more time and energy to devote to her passions.  She creates time for singing in choir and physical activity while embracing married life. 

Audrey Parker French returns to CYF for her Year 3 interview after a one-year sabbatical from work and getting married.  She co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm.  In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies.  In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners.  She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: How are you learning to apply your passions in new ways?

Audrey Parker French: Well, it’s kind of coming naturally, I found that I’ve had time to rejoin a choir, I’ve been a singer all my life in my spare time, and I really just – it’s kind of a natural thing. 

I’ve had the time and I’ve wanted to get back into that and I have more time and energy to devote to it than I did before, so it’s actually having an even more fulfilling impact on my life than it did before when I was trying to wedge it in between a work day and you know, work business travel and all sorts of projects, I can actually have time for singing. I can have time for a healthier exercise routine. Physical health is one of my passions and before it was not something that I allowed or made the time – really made the time to do. And again, that was my choice but to have the time for those things, to have the time with family, to have the time to go spend that – spend time outside.

My husband and I both really love the outdoors and we can just go and just sit somewhere and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. I’ve always loved nature and it’s something that I’ve gotten to enjoy more now that I’ve had more time.

I also realized that for about the 5 or 6 years that I’ve been working so hard, I pretty much missed all the movies and pop culture happenings that had been going on in the world, and so my husband’s had fun kind of saying, “Well, let me show you this movie that you probably never heard of.” Because it came out in 2008 or whatever and it’s true, I’ve gotten caught up on movies and things that have happened, you know, in the world that I just – I didn’t have time for before.

Finding Meaningful Work in Public Service Career - Matt Curtis

In Chapter 18 of 18 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, public affairs and communications strategist Matt Curtis answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?"  Curtis shares how he finds joy and fulfillment working across communities, governments, and individuals solving problems.  He notes how his current private sector job allows him to make a measurable difference across communities by connecting private and public sector channels.  Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was communications director for Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn.  In 2011, Curtis won "Austinite of the Year" in the Austin Under 40 Awards.  He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas.

How Becoming a Father Changes Your Life - James McCormick

In Chapter 2 of 18 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, legal career advisor James McCormick answers "How Has Becoming a Father Changed Your Life?"  He notes how all attention and priorities shift first and foremost to his son, Jack.  At a higher level, McCormick offers the centering that comes from putting a priority on the most meaningful relationships in his life, including his growing family.  James McCormick is a Partner at Empire Search Partners in New York City.  Previously, he practiced law as an employee benefits and executive compensation attorney for Proskauer Rose and Jones Day.  He earned a JD at Tulane Law School and a BA in History at the University of Michigan. 

How to Apply Business Passion in Law Career - James McCormick

In Chapter 11 of 18 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, legal career advisor James McCormick answers "What Do You Enjoy Most About What You Do?"  McCormick shares how he has learned to appreciate working on the business side of the practice of law and helping law firms, corporations, and financial institutions solve talent problems through his network of relationships.  James McCormick is a Partner at Empire Search Partners in New York City.  Previously, he practiced law as an employee benefits and executive compensation attorney for Proskauer Rose and Jones Day.  He earned a JD at Tulane Law School and a BA in History at the University of Michigan. 

How Michael Margolis Learns to Live and Work on His Own Terms

In Chapter 4 of 17 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "What Do You Enjoy Most About What You Do?"  Michael shares what he enjoys about working on his own terms and building a company out of his New York City apartment.  He shares how advisors, collaborators, and partners have helped him build business momentum and grow his team.  Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative.  He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University. 

Michael Margolis on How Family Relationships Change With Age

In Chapter 7 of 17 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How Are Your Family Relationships Changing as You Get Older?"  Margolis notes what has led to an increasing amount of acceptance and reduced conflict levels over time.  He shares experiences from a previous marriage that caused family friction and how things have changed and improved since that time. 

Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative.  He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University. 

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: How are your family relationships changing as you get older?

Michael Margolis: A lot less conflict in my family relationships. I would say it’s interesting, it’s been a much greater sense of acceptance of my parents and my brother and likewise the way that I feel with my parents and brother, you know, accepting me as well. Yeah, it’s become a lot easier as time has gone on. I mean, the last relationship I was married for a few years and during that relationship I was with a partner that took a very antagonistic sort of place with my family. So, that I think is something to be very sensitive to and you don’t even realize it because you're trying to please your partner and all the issues that they have with your family, you sort of take it on and I probably created more drama than necessarily needed to be there. 

So, it’s helped to also have a partner now that is far more -- a far calmer disposition in one that she gets along really well with my family and I get along well with hers. So, it’s just been a place of easiness. You know, I never forget though one of my favorite sayings that somebody taught me in my mid-20’s was, you know “Michael, if you think you're enlightened just go spend a weekend with your family”, right? So, all of those patterns, it doesn’t how old you get, you will always be your parents’ child, right? You’ll always be your, you know, I’ll always be my brother’s younger brother.

So, those dynamics are always there but I think as we grow older there’s just, at least for me it’s been a mellowing and a greater sense of acceptance of each other and being able to just spend time appreciating each other. 

How to Cultivate and Mature Your Creative Process - Michael Margolis

In Chapter 11 of 17 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How is Your Creative Toolbox Changing?"  Margolis shares how he is shifting his creative inspiration from outside-in to inside-out.  He details how the stimulation is shifting from external to internal, specifically working with the experience, knowledge and tools gained to create and produce.  Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative.  He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University. 

Finding Your Best by Stringing Together Small Wins

In Chapter 3 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "When Are You at Your Best?"  He shares how he is happiest and most confident when he finds himself atop a series of small successes, be they work accomplishments, social experiences, or simply enjoying a day. 

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: When are you at your best?

Brett Goldman: I'm at my best after I've had small successes. Usually I compile successes on top of successes, and that's when I'm happiest, and when I feel the most confident and I'm able to go out and kind of bravely face the world and know that I can do something, pretty much whatever I wanna do. 

It doesn't have to necessarily be an accomplishment, per se, at work or in my social life or anything. It can just be enjoyment of the day or something like that, you know? I'm very driven by moods and if I can kind of pile one mood onto the next, then that usually gets me going into a more confident and happy and success-prone state. 

How to Break Out of a Comfort Zone and Find New Things to Do

In Chapter 10 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "What is Your Comfort Zone and What Do You Do to Break Free of Living in It?"  He shares how he constantly monitors his satisfaction with thing that become routine in his life, always trying new things and bringing them into his regular activity pattern if they are a fit.  Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  Where is your comfort zone and what do you do to break free of living in it?

Brett Goldman: I'm definitely a creature of habit. My comfort zone is my routine. But there's no doubt that I delight in getting out of that routine. It's kind of like a Eureka-moment, where I just decide I'm not gonna do routine. And then I turn left or whatever I'm doing, it really doesn't -- I don't think it through too much, sometimes I just get sick of the routine, sometimes I know that I don't wanna be in the routine so I go out of my comfort zone and when I get out of my comfort zone, there's usually great things anyway, I usually discover good things when I'm out of my comfort zone, and then they become incorporated into the routine. 

Erik Michielsen: How do you make that happen?

Brett Goldman: You know, once something is a good experience that was outside of the routine and I found it, then I'll go back to it. Usually until I get sick of it. 

How to Be Happier by Turning Work Projects into Play - Jason Anello

In Chapter 5 of 20 in his 2012 interview, creative director Jason Anello answers "When Are You at Your Best?"  Anello notes he is at his best when happy and shares how he does it.  By turning work projects into play activities Anello achieves happiness and personal best.  Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at marketing services agency Manifold Partners.  He is also the co-founder of the Forking Tasty Brooklyn supper club.  Previously, Anello held creative leadership roles at Yahoo! and Ogilvy & Mather.  He graduated from the University at Albany. 

Finding Joy in Affecting How Others See the World - Doug Jaeger

In Chapter 4 of 17 in his 2012 interview, entrepreneur Doug Jaeger answers "What Do You Enjoy Most About What You Do?"  Jaeger notes how he finds joy creating and making things or stimuli - designs, experiences, products - that shape how others see the world.  He revels in understanding the reactions from what he presents and using that to shape future work.  Doug Jaeger is the co-founder of JaegerSloan, a multimedia design services firm in New York City.  His street front office doubles as the JS55 Gallery. Jaeger is also an adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts (SVA).  He graduated from Syracuse University.

Why to Partner in Business With Your Partner in Life - Doug Jaeger

In Chapter 6 of 17 in his 2012 interview, entrepreneur Doug Jaeger answers "What is It Like to Partner in Business With Your Partner in Life?"  Jaeger shares what has happened since deciding to formally collaborate on creative projects, including co-founding a business, with his fiancee.  Doug Jaeger is the co-founder of JaegerSloan, a multimedia design services firm in New York City.  His street front office doubles as the JS55 Gallery. Jaeger is also an adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts (SVA).  He graduated from Syracuse University.

What It Feels Like to Make Your Business Idea Real - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 5 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "Since we last spoke a year ago, what has been the most exciting thing to happen in your life?"  He notes the satisfaction of understanding global influencer culture and bringing a team together to produce a global event series across New York City, London, and Berlin.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Finding Happiness in Challenge and Competition - Julie Hession

In Chapter 3 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, food entrepreneur Julie Hession answers "How Do You Define and Measure Success in What You Do?"  A self-described competitive person, Hession makes sure to stay busy and have a full, if not overwhelming, list of things to do.  She finds it energizes her and compels her to do her best work.  Julie Hession is the founder of Julie Anne's All Natural Granola Company.  Passionate about food since childhood, Hession has developed her career by food blogging, cooking contests, and starting fine food companies.  Hession earned an MBA in Marketing from Duke University and a BA from UNLV. 

Why to Compete in Food Cookoff Contests - Julie Hession

In Chapter 17 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, food entrepreneur Julie Hession answers "What Motivates You to Enter Food Competitions and How are You Getting Better at Them?"  Hession notes her super competitive nature and love of challenges.  She learns what type of competitions are best suited to her interests and then learns to embrace the experiences, meet new friends, and enjoy rewards when she wins.  Julie Hession is the founder of Julie Anne's All Natural Granola Company.  Passionate about food since childhood, Hession has developed her career by food blogging, cooking contests, and starting fine food companies.  Hession earned an MBA in Marketing from Duke University and a BA from UNLV. 

Jullien Gordon on What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder

In Chapter 1 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?"  Gordon, who shares his recent engagement to be married, notes how a progressive challenge is staying balanced as his relationship becomes a larger part of his life.  He notes how not forcing things and being present in the moment is allowing him to live more fluidly, productively, and stress free.  He notes the big moments have come through relationships, most often through being true to himself.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  What’s getting easier and what’s getting harder in your life?

Jullien Gordon:  Wow!  So I just got engaged about two weeks ago, yeah so I’m excited about that.  So what’s getting more difficult is, how I actually shift my business model so that I’m not traveling as much as I currently do so definitely looking into the productization of the things that I’m doing and how to scale that via licensing, training the trainer etcetera.  So that’s definitely getting more difficult is holding that balance now that I’m committed to another person and of course in the future other little persons.  So really just thinking about that now before it gets out of balance and out of control. 

What’s getting easier is…what’s getting easier?  I don’t know if anything’s getting easier.  What’s getting easier is me not forcing things and me just being very present in the moment, being who I’m being and trusting that things will come.  I would say when I started out on this path a lot of things were forced, I was pushing, pushing, pushing and now as I’m moving through the world in a great alignment with my purpose I really feel an attraction based –yeah, I had like – when I look at all my deals and relationships and things like that, they’ve all come through just my relationships.  They haven’t been me doing SCO optimization or advertising on Google or great designs of flyers and banners.  It hasn’t been any of that that has led to the business that I’ve been able to generate and so I realize that as I’m more of who I am and making my – being clear about my unique contribution that opportunities are coming out of every different direction and so I come into the new year and like yeah I think my business is gonna go in this direction and then all of a sudden these two opportunities come and I’m in this direction and this direction still doing my purpose but in ways that I couldn’t even imagine on my own.

Jullien Gordon on How to Maximize Quality of Life on Your Own Terms

In Chapter 7 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "Why Do You Differentiate Between Cost of Living and Quality of Living?"  Gordon finds quality of living and cost of living are not necessarily positively correlated.  He finds financial freedom does not always create time freedom and chooses to have time freedom as he lives.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  Why do you differentiate between cost of living versus quality of living?

Jullien Gordon:  Wow!  So I think in regards to the American dream, we bought into this notion that our quality of living increases with our cost of living, that they’re correlative, right?  But I found that knowing what my cost of living is, what is enough for me has actually given me the freedom to actually move more powerfully with any excess income that I have beyond my cost of living. 

My cost of living is a lot of lower than a lot of people yet my quality of living is a lot higher and so we bought into this notion and played this game of income maximization as if financial freedom is actually always gonna give us time freedom and that’s not always true.  If you’re working 80 hours a week for $150,000 a year you’re actually losing out on time freedom and you have to delay your time freedom until the end of life called “retirement.”  I’m actually having my time freedom as I go along life and even Gallop did some research on well-being where they showed that the average retirement age of people who live beyond the age of 95 was 85 years old.  It wasn’t 65 years old, right? 

So this notion of “Oh I want to retire early” most people who want to retire early actually hate what they do and so since our career is such a big chunk of our lives we need to figure out how to make that fulfilling, make it feel like vacation when you’re doing your work because you love it so much and there’s this hidden tax that we have on us when we’re doing things that we hate, psychologically and physically that we don’t acknowledge until our clock stops ticking and so I’m more concerned with quality of life than anything and so to be honest my cost of living though I’m – I don’t have kids and I don’t own a home, my cost of living is about $3000 a month and that’s with my student loans and my quality of living is through the roof and so for me that just breaks this assumption that cost of living and quality of living are directly connected or correlated.