In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer interviews Kate Gigax, founder of Development Corps, to discuss the transition from “Act One” to “Act Two” in one's career and life. The conversation focuses on being confident in expressing what you want and the value you bring. Kate emphasizes the importance of finding time for oneself and engaging in self-reflection. She encourages listeners to break up their schedules and find small pockets of time for rejuvenation and self-discovery.

Through personal examples, she demonstrates how taking risks and pursuing what feels out of the ordinary can lead to greater success and fulfillment. The episode challenges the misconception that transitioning to Act Two always means becoming an entrepreneur. Kate and Melina highlight that there are various paths to finding fulfillment and creating change, whether it's within existing structures or through entrepreneurship. They emphasize the need for self-worth and believing in one's capabilities beyond societal expectations.

Listeners of this episode will gain practical advice on navigating transitions, finding personal fulfillment, and becoming confident in expressing their value. By embracing self-reflection, taking risks, and designing their own path, individuals can create a more meaningful Act Two in their careers and lives.

In this episode:

Discover the art of embracing Act Two in your professional and personal life for renewed achievement.
Learn why introspection and ‘me-time’ are essential for your mental health and holistic success.
Unearth the thrill and potential benefits of venturing into uncharted, even taboo, territories.
Grasp the courage to voice your needs and showcase your worth confidently.
Explore ways to find fulfillment that extend beyond starting your own business and learn why variety is important.

Show Notes:

00:00:00 - Introduction,
Melina Palmer welcomes Kate Gigax to The Brainy Business podcast and introduces her as a leadership coach and facilitator with expertise in organizational psychology and neuroscience.

00:03:23 - Connection to Arizona State University,
Kate discusses her connection to Arizona State University and her work with Robert Cialdini, Steve Neuberg, Doug Kenrick and Dave Lundberg-Kenrick on the Psych for Life initiative, which aims to make peer-reviewed psychological research more accessible.

00:07:42 - Psychological Contracts,
Kate explains her research on psychological contracts, which are the expectations and perceptions individuals have about their relationship with their organization. She discusses the impact of breaches in these contracts and the importance of effective communication in managing change.

00:11:25 - Managing Change and Preserving Relationships,
Kate emphasizes the role of managers and supervisors in preserving relationships and managing change effectively. She highlights the importance of open communication, empathy, and acknowledging the difficulty of the situation.

00:14:40 - Leadership Development and Coaching,
Kate discusses her work as an executive coach and her focus on helping high-achieving individuals navigate their careers and define their own success. She emphasizes the importance of mindset shifts and rewiring old thinking habits for achieving success and fulfillment.

00:16:10 - Importance of Difficult Conversations,
Melina and Kate discuss the significance of having difficult conversations in the workplace and how they contribute to building trust and maintaining a high relational psychological contract. They emphasize the need for clear communication, transparency, and addressing challenging topics in order to foster a positive work culture.

00:17:53 - Recommended Resources on Difficult Conversations,
Melina suggests listening to Kwame Christian's podcast, Negotiate Anything, and watching his Ted Talk on difficult conversations. They also mention Stephen M.R. Covey's episode on The Speed of Trust and Scott Miller's book, The Ultimate Guide to Great Mentorship, which provides valuable insights on setting boundaries.

00:19:08 - The Implicit Parts of Culture,
Kate highlights the importance of being intentional about addressing the implicit parts of organizational culture. They discuss how implicit cultural norms around conflict and boundaries can impact relationships and collaboration. They encourage leaders to be transparent and deliberate in fostering a positive work culture.

00:23:39 - Repairing Breached Contracts,
The guest advises leaders to have difficult conversations to repair breaches in the psychological contract. They emphasize the need for consistency, action, and acknowledging fault. They also discuss the importance of helping employees feel valued and recognized, as this contributes to repairing relationships and maintaining trust.

00:26:35 - The Power of Recognition and Specific Feedback,
Kate emphasizes the importance of recognizing and appreciating employees' contributions in a specific and meaningful way. She shares the SBI model and why it is one of her go-to recommendations for people to use.

00:30:18 - The Desire for Simpler Jobs,
Many people daydream about having simpler jobs that are less stressful, but in reality, these jobs may not provide the fulfillment and satisfaction they think they want. High achievers often find ways to excel in any role and end up back where they started.

00:31:34 - Act Two: Middle Career,
Act Two occurs in middle career when individuals go through a transition period. This often happens due to a breakdown, such as burnout or a wake-up call. Act Two is about designing a life based on personal wants and needs, rather than striving for success.

00:37:25 - Starting Act Two,
Starting Act Two can be overwhelming, especially for those who have been focused on others and their careers. Starting small by identifying personal wants and needs is crucial. Developing reflective practices, clarifying values, and recognizing strengths are key steps in the transition to Act Two.

00:39:37 - The Importance of Values,
Knowing one's values is essential in Act Two. Values act as guideposts for decision-making and help individuals align their actions with what truly matters to them. Values can also provide clarity when facing difficulties or making important life and career choices.

00:42:43 - Doubling Down on Strengths,
Act Two is about betting on oneself and building a career around personal values and strengths. Utility players in Act One, who try to be everything for everyone, must shift their focus to double down on their unique abilities and become

00:44:26 - The Importance of Finding Time,
Kate and Melina discuss the importance of finding time for oneself. Melina shares insights from Cassie Holmes’ book, Happier Hour, that people are happiest when the have between two and five hours of discretionary time during the day. She shares about the need to break up the 2-hour time commitment into manageable chunks.

00:46:09 - Embracing the "Wouldn't It Be Cool If" Mindset,
Kate introduces the concept of the "Wouldn't it be cool if" mindset and encourages listeners to explore their own version of what they would love to do, regardless of feasibility.

00:47:55 - Challenging Limiting Beliefs,
Act Two is about challenging the belief that certain goals are impossible and pushing beyond your comfort zone to achieve even greater success. Kate encourages listeners to design their own path instead of playing within someone else's design.

00:51:44 - Selling Your Value,
Kate emphasizes the importance of selling your ideas and passions with confidence to attract the right people and opportunities. It's about claiming your worth and showing the value you bring to the table.

00:54:09 - Conclusion,
Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation.

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Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.

Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:

Finding Confidence in Conflict, by Kwame Christian
The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey
What Your Employees Need and Can’t Tell You, by Melina Palmer
The Ultimate Guide to Great Mentorship, by Scott Miller
Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes

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Top Recommended Next Episode: Happier Hour, with Cassie Holmes (ep 257)

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321. Confidently Designing Your Path: Expressing Your Worth in Act Two - Kate Gigax

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