
The Agile Career Podcast
By Günter Richter

The Agile Career PodcastOct 21, 2022

Turning Your Hobby Into a Business
In this episode, Martin Wachters joins me. We talk about how a hobby can turn into a full-time career. We also cover the importance of other skills and interests that can make this a reality.
Martin is the founder of Muziekles Amsterdam, a Netherlands-based music school. He also has several published online courses and resources to help beginners and more experienced students learn and improve the guitar and piano.
Key Takeaways
If you are not in your ideal career, don't think that the experience or skills you learn are wastedYou may not always land in your dream career, but often something closely related that you might not have initially consideredIt takes courage to quit the comfortable and move into the unknownBringing together areas of interest such as (in Martin's case) music, teaching, entrepreneurship, and technology can create a nicheDon't cater to everyone; pick a nicheStart small by not committing to something big before you have tested the ideaBe willing to think again, as you won't always be rightOnce you create your core offering or service, you can grow an ecosystem of businesses or services around thisResources
Martin recommended the following books:
Connect with Martin
Listeners can learn more about and connect with Martin by visiting:

Does Your Work, Work For You?
In this episode, Sonja Price joins me. We talk about making your career work for you. This means thinking about the guidance and finesse you will need, and what the decision criteria are for choosing what you do in your career. Very importantly, we talk about getting paid what you are worth.
Sonja is a career strategist and founder of Dynamo Careers. She is passionate about empowering professionals to accelerate their career success, to become financially free, and to make a positive impact around the world.
Key Takeaways
Resources
We discussed the following resources on the show:
Does your work = work for you? https://dynamocareers.com/quizHow much more could you earn in your lifetime? https://dynamocareers.com/calculatorHelping people everywhere find a job and company they love - https://www.glassdoor.co.ukSalary insights with https://www.payscale.comMake fair pay a reality https://www.salary.comConnect with Sonja
Listeners can learn more about and connect with Sonja by visiting her website or LinkedIn.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/gunterrichter)
Turn Your Nine To Five Into Your Nine To Alive
In this episode, Bruna de Palo joins me. We talk about changing your nine to five to your nine to alive. We cover mapping your career, finding your ideal role, considering a career in the non-profit sector, and the importance of neuroscience when it comes to your career.
Bruna is a certified leadership, executive & career coach, keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and founder of Think and Act Differently.
Key Takeaways
Don't use your passion as a compass. Create a map to help navigate your careerA good career is one where you can express yourself and be who you areKnow the difference between talents and skillsSpeak to people who have similar characteristics to you. Find out what career role they are in'Learn to turn poison into medicine', i.e. make the most from a bad situationRegulating stress and handling your emotions is importantUse a feedback loop to identify your limiting beliefsDifferentiate your transferable skills from the obviousKnow yourself, know othersResources
We discussed the following resources on the show:
Bruna's TED Talk Bruna's Nine To Alive seriesThis was not strictly discussed on the show, but a great resource to help find a job with purpose, Escape The CityThe Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman DoidgeConnect with Bruna
If listeners are considering a career change or would like to learn more about, and connect with Bruna, please visit her website. You can also sign up for her newsletter on the website.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/gunterrichter)
Growing Your Own Company
In this episode, Jim Barnish joins me and we talk about an alternative to climbing the career ladder. We also talk about how careers no longer follow straight lines; Jim shares how his career didn't follow a traditional straight line either.
Jim has spent the last two decades growing tech companies as an entrepreneur, operator and consultant. Jim now runs Orchid Black, a growth services firm complete with growth experts, just like Jim, that share an incredible track record for making technology companies worth so much more.
Key Takeaways
When considering job opportunities, don't only dwell on the functional aspects of the job but look closely at the company cultureSometimes your dream job isn't your ideal jobDon't underestimate the value of having a coachWhen looking for your ideal role, look beyond the career and personality testsIkigai is a fantastic tool to help find your purpose and ideal roleSuccess is not built on success. It's built on failure. It's built on frustration. Sometimes it's built on catastropheIt is okay to make mistakes, as long as you are learning from themPerseverance and working hard are the basic skills that everyone should developWherever you are on your career or entrepreneurial journey, there is always help availableEven if you are not a project manager, having those skills is importantKey transferable skills are communication, critical thinking, and problem-solvingBeing a team player means that you don't always get the wins yourself, but you help others to achieve those winsResources
We discussed the following resources on the show:
Ikigai on WikipediaThe Squiggly Career: The No.1 Sunday Times Business Bestseller - Ditch the Ladder, Discover Opportunity, Design Your Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah EllisHow Successful People Lead: Taking Your Influence to the Next Level by John C. MaxwellTrillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Handbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan EagleHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieHow to Ikigai: Lessons for Finding Happiness and Living Your Life's Purpose (Ikigai Book, Lagom, Longevity, Peaceful Living) by Tim TamashiroConnect with Jim
Listeners can learn more about and connect with Jim by visiting his LinkedIn page or the Orchid Black website.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/gunterrichter)
10 Things Coaching Rugby Has Taught Me About Leading Teams
I've been coaching youth rugby for eight years now. In that time there have been (and still are) so many lessons that I have learnt. The interesting thing is, these lessons can be directly applied to leadership. In this episode, I dive into more detail on these lessons.
The lessons are:
Listen in for the detail on these learnings.
In this episode I also talk about The Agile Career Podcast being recognised as one of the top 20 careers podcasts in the UK. I am truly honoured by this. Check out the link below to find out more and also to see some other great career-related podcasts that you can listen to.
https://blog.feedspot.com/uk_career_podcasts/

Start Your Side Hustle Today
In this episode, I revisit an earlier episode with Anita Toth, discussing the importance of a side hustle. In Anita's case, it was experimenting with several business models and growing experience. When her role was made redundant, she already had the experience to get her own business up and running. What a fantastic insurance policy!
In today's episode, I bring you seven more reasons why you should start your side hustle sooner than later:
It is low cost and high rewardIt makes you location independentIt helps you grow your wealthIt helps you create multiple streams of incomeYou can scale it beyond your dreamsIt can give you peace of mindYou can control your destinyVery importantly though, I bring you a fantastic deal on this episode. One of my products, the e-learning course "How To Build a Business Plan", has been selected to be part of Infostack's Side Hustle Toolkit 3.0. This means that you get lifetime access to my course (priced at $97) and 30+ other resources (priced at $4,946) for only $49!
What's the catch? There is no catch, other than this deal is only available for a week, till 27 July 2021. Check it out at https://gunterrichter--infostack.thrivecart.com/sh3/.
(Spoiler alert! This is an affiliate link, which means that if you decide to purchase anything, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I have purchased the Side Hustle Toolkit 3.0 product personally and have not been given any free products or anything else for the mentions in this podcast episode. The only consideration is in the form of affiliate commissions. I only promote those products or services that I truly feel deliver value to you, and this purchase of the Side Hustle Toolkit 3.0 is certainly one of those.)
So, are you ready to launch your side hustle? Everything you need to:
Identify a profitable nicheCreate your productBuild your simple sales funnelAutomate your marketingAnd scale to the moonIs available here https://gunterrichter--infostack.thrivecart.com/sh3/
Finally, here are some pics of the new home office/man-cave https://www.instagram.com/p/CRkGtLrrl-W/?utm_medium=copy_link
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Get on Board
In this episode, Fiona Hathorn joins me and we talk about the importance of boards in organisations, and how becoming a board member could enhance your career. Fiona shares the benefits of serving on a board, whether it is a commercial or community-based organisation, and how you might get started.
Fiona is CEO of Women on Boards UK and has several board positions. Fiona launched Women on Boards in 2012 to support women, and men, make the right connections and career choices to get to board level within their own company or to take on a non-executive board role. Since its launch, Women on Boards has supported over 1800 women and a number of men get onto boards.
Key Takeaways
Serving on a board is a great way to further or enhance your careerMany skills you have developed are transferable and will help you fulfil the duties of a board memberServing on a board is ultimately about conformance and performance. Which is your strong skillset?Serving on a board can help you build your future and grow several additional skillsBoards want to understand what value you can add. Know who you are and what you doNetworking outside of your 'box' is a large part of successThere are no certification requirements to serve on a board, and there are many resources available to help youServing as a board member is not limited to commercial organisations. Your local charities and community organisations need help and guidance tooResources
Fiona recommends the following resources to learn more:
The Wates Report - improving corporate governance standardsThree Great Reasons to Consider a Board RoleThe Seven Reasons Why Being a Director is Good for Your CareerAre You Ready for the Boardroom?Get on Board workshopsConnect with Fiona
Listeners can learn more about and connect with Fiona by visiting her LinkedIn page.
Support the show
The Obstacle Is the Opportunity
In this episode, Joe Delagrave joins me; we talk about his love for sport and how he was set to make that his career. Unfortunately, a significant, life-altering event changed everything. Joe shares his journey of how he moved on from, probably, the lowest point of his life to representing the United States internationally, at a competitive level.
Key Takeaways
Recommended Reading
Joe recommends Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff
Resources
The podcast episode discussed the following resources:
The United States Quad Rugby Association - Smashing Stereotypes One Hit At a Time The Wounded Warrior Project - helping veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001The Agile Career ClubConnect with Joe
Listeners can learn more about Joe and connect with him by visiting:
His websiteInstagramTwitterSupport the show
Checking In
In this episode, I talk about why I've been a bit quiet, what I have been busy with, and share some exciting news! Before I summarise the key points of the episode, the exciting news! From Friday 12 March 2021, The Agile Career Podcast will be going live on Clubhouse at 18:00 GMT (13:00 EST, 10:00 PCT, 23:30 IST). We will be talking all things career, where you can ask questions, and more importantly, share your experiences. I look forward to talking to you! Find out more about the Clubhouse event here https://www.joinclubhouse.com/event/xlj9QAOj
Now the other stuff:
And finally, here is a reminder of some of the podcast's most popular episodes:
Understanding Yourself with Jessica Pybus What It Takes to Succeed in Sales with Doug McGeachieGoing Solo with Peter RobinsonDeveloping a Growth Mindset with Crystal MetcalfeProfessional Rugby Player to Medical Doctor with Tom Rees Support the show
Life Changing Events
In this episode, François de Neuville joins me; we talk about significant events that can change both your career and life. François is a high-performance coach but started his career in the military. In the podcast, he talks about how much he loved his time in the military but ultimately, why he chose to leave it. François shares how, in 2018, a tragic and traumatic event changed his life forever, and set him on the path to becoming a coach.
Key Takeaways
It is important to experiment, to help you understand what you truly want. Create the possibility to experiment Both logic and emotion can help you make decisions. It doesn't need to be one or the other There are things that you can predict and control, and there are things that you cannot. It is important to differentiate between the two Even if you are taking seemingly rash decisions, you still need a strategy or plan Sometimes beautiful gifts come wrapped in ugly paper. Think about what you can take away from bad situations Don't spend your life living in the future, focus on the here and now and enjoy what you are doing today Recognise when you are holding yourself back. You can then put yourself out there and achieve good things When setting off on a new path, don't just hope for the best. Think about what it is you want and whyRecommended Reading
François recommends The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Resources
François recommends Mindvalley, the future of education
Connect with François
Listeners can learn more about François by visiting his website or LinkedIn page.

Professional Rugby Player to Medical Doctor
In this episode, Tom Rees joins me, and we talk about significant career shifts. Tom is a medical doctor with the NHS and before that was a professional rugby player, playing for both London Wasps and England. Tom shares how he got started with the sport and ended up as a professional rugby player and goes on to talk about how an injury ended his sports career, how he dealt with it, and how he moved on to a new career.
Key Takeaways
Luck sometimes plays a part in success but working hard, brings that luckSuccess is not an overnight thing. Small achievements, wins, and skills snowball and bring more successHaving someone not making you do anything, but encouraging you to try everything is important. This could be a parent, a coach, or a mentor Take ownership of what is going on with your job or careerIt is the hard work away from the pitch that leads to successExpose yourself to those who are more skilled or experienced and learn from themGet comfortable making mistakes and pushing beyond where you think your limits areTake in advice from other people and use the bits that work for youYou don't need to make a massive impact on the world, just improve a little bit of the world around youDon't define yourself by your jobLean on friends, family and colleagues during tough timesUnderstand that things that have made you successful to this point and then apply to other areasListen to the episode for more gems of wisdom!Recommended Reading
Tom recommended the following books:
Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice by Matthew SyedComplications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul GawandeThe Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul GawandeBeing Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul GawandeFind Out More About Tom
You can find out more about Tom by visiting his Wikipedia page. See Tom in action here and here.
Support the show
Recruitment
In this episode, Eldon Davis joins me where we talk about recruitment and job seeking. Rather than approaching this from a job seekers perspective, we switch contexts and talk about this from a recruiters perspective. Eldon spent 18 years in talent acquisition roles. He talks about how he brought together several interests to shape his career. Eldon also shares some tips for job seekers and career changers and talks about how he is now in a career transition, mentoring and coaching others.
Key Takeaways
Be prepared and planned for chance meetings and networking opportunitiesDon't underestimate the power of networkingSeek first to understand and then be understoodIt is important to understand and demonstrate the difference between features and benefitsAlways keep your skills currentIdentify your limiting beliefs as the first step to overcome themShare your knowledge with othersWhen looking for new roles, do your research and homework about these rolesNetwork and connect with others in similar roles that you are looking forBe resilient because you will get turned down at some stagePlan and organise your dayPractise gratitude and positive affirmationsResources
Eldon referenced the following resources:
Neil Rackam and SPIN SellingMark Walmsley and recruitmentBrian TracyTony RobbinsRecommended Reading
Eldon recommends the following books:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. CoveyMan's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. FranklS.U.M.O (Shut Up, Move On): The Straight-Talking Guide to Succeeding in Life by Paul McGeeConnect with Eldon
Listeners can find out more about Eldon and connect with him on LinkedIn
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Building Communities
In this episode, Felix Wong joins me, and we talk about education, building communities, and passion projects. Felix is APAC Head of Growth at AngelHub, bringing investors and entrepreneurs together. He has an entrepreneurial background which is well suited for his role as well as several side-hustles or passion projects that he is working on. He is very active in the No Code community and sees these tools and platforms as excellent resources to help entrepreneurs realise their goals. In the show, Felix shares how he builds skills, both for himself and others. He also talks about how important it has been for him to allow more people to experience entrepreneurship.
Key Takeaways
Finding your tribe or building your tribe is very important in helping you on your learning journeyThere are many learning resources available, and when it comes to technology, Codeacademy and YouTube are great places to startCommunity building is important because it allows you to build your profile whilst contributingStorytelling is an excellent transferable skill to work onGiving people access to knowledge is important. The beauty of education should not be underestimatedKeeping a career "scoresheet" and reviewing this every quarter is a powerful way of managing your career goals and progression. Set yourself goals on working in different roles, verticals, and organisation size/maturitiesIn addition to your main role, always be looking for problems and how these could be solved, as a side hustleUse no code tools to quickly translate your ideas to reality and then test themNo matter how senior you are, you need to always be learningCreate a routine that will enable your learning goals. Compound your learning experience by making notes of your learnings and the sources of information you've used. Connect with the authors and build your networkResources Mentioned
Felix mentioned the following resources:
CodecademyYouTubeNotionRecommended Reading
Felix recommends What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture by Ben Horowitz
Connecting With Felix
Listeners can learn more about Felix and connect with him by visiting:
LinkedInTwitterInstagramSupport the show
World Mental Health Day
Today is World Mental Health Day, and in this episode, I focus on mental health and wellbeing. The world is going through an extremely turbulent time and it is taking its toll on people lives, relationships, and careers. In the episode, I reflect on Episode 3 and the insight that David Beeney shared. In summary, be kinder to others and to yourself. I also share some tips and thoughts to help in these times.
Key Takeaways
Focus on the present. You cannot control the futureTalk to people you trustDon’t rely on social media or speculation for your news or factsReach out to friends on Skype, Zoom, telephone, and social media. Keep connecting with othersIf you are stuck at home – plan your day and have a routine, as if things were normalKeep exercising, even if it is only for a walkRelax and take time to reflect. Especially on the good things and things you can be grateful forMake sure you get enough, good quality sleepTalk to your kids. Remember this is just a blip for many adults, for many kids this is a defining moment.Remember, this affects everyone – you are not alonePractise kindness and consideration to othersResources Mentioned
I spoke about the following resources in the episode:

How to Get Promoted
In this episode, I talk about the three things that you can do to get promoted or to progress your career. Obviously, there are many things that you can do, and I have taken my experience and the experiences of many others and distilled these down to three key themes. What are they? Let's take a look.
Solution Orientation ResponsibilityPutting your hand upEasy, right? Take a listen to the episode and hear more!

Having a Side Hustle
In this episode, I am joined by Anita Toth who traded her career as a university researcher for a career of self-employment. After completing both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, Anita took on a job at the university. After 16 years, the role was made redundant and Anita needed an alternative. In this show, Anita shares how she applied for over 20 jobs before starting on her own. She shares how she used the skills - especially those she had developed by running several side hustles - to start her new career, the challenges she faced, and ultimately, how she found her niche.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Anita spoke about several resources:
Recommended Reading
Anita recommends reading Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr Seuss.
Connecting With Anita
Listeners can learn more about Anita and connect with her by visiting her website or LinkedIn page.

Behind the Scenes of The Agile Career Podcast
In this episode, I am going to provide a little "behind the scenes" view of the podcast. Quite a few listeners have been asking what it took to get the show running and what it takes every week to get each episode produced. I thought I would share some key points in this short episode. By no means is this a complete guide but hopefully, it will give you an idea of what is involved.
Key Takeaways
You'll need to choose a podcast platform to host your podcast on. This platform then distributes your podcast to all the popular listening platforms. I considered Soundcloud, Buzzsprout, and Audioboom, choosing BuzzsproutYou'll need a decent microphone. I chose the Marantz Pod Pack 1 that included the condenser microphone, the cable, and boom armYou'll need some software to produce the podcast. I use GarageBand on Mac OS. Audacity is also an option for both Mac and Windows computersThere are some optional extras that I use like Canva for producing promotional artwork and Buffer for scheduling social media posts
Resources Mentioned
These are the resources I spoke about in the episode:
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/gunterrichter)

Theory and Practise
In this episode, I am joined by Hanlie Smuts who is an associate professor at the University of Pretoria. Like many professionals, Hanlie completed her undergraduate degree before entering the corporate environment as a software developer. For many of us, this would have been the end of our academic career but Hanlie went on to complete both her Master's degree and her PhD whilst working fulltime jobs as a senior executive. Hanlie shares her story about how she didn't choose between the academic and corporate worlds, but instead, wove the two closely together. She shares how she applied learnings and skills gained in academia to her corporate career and vice-versa.
Key Takeaways
Don't underestimate the importance of learning and never stop learningEven if your career is very technically focused, don't neglect engaging with people and building relationships and people skillsAlways consider the human factor when completing projects, building products, or just completing business as usual activitiesTry and immerse yourself into your surrounding working environment so that you can truly understand how the business you are in, worksAlways be professional and deliver quality workDelegation is an important transferable skill to develop. Start by trusting your teamAlways be open to opportunitiesGiven the opportunity, try and understand all aspects and functional areas of the business that you work inAlways build your networkA skills bubble chart is a great tool to identify the skills you need to be successful in a role, highlight any gaps, and track your progress in developing those skillsThe ability to analyse data is an important transferable skillBuilding resilience will help see you through tough timesBuild your personal brand to ensure that your name is always top of mind when opportunities are being consideredFrameworks are a great tool to help you get things doneDon't forget about your family and other support structures. These are what allow and support you in achieving great thingsYou can work smart by finding your work cadence. Understand what works for you, segment your time, and stick to the rules you set yourself
Connecting With Hanlie
Listeners can find out more about Hanlie and connect with her by visiting her:

Always Be Connecting
In this episode, I am joined by Mark Colgan. After completing his business studies at university, Mark aspired to a job in the marketing industry but finding no suitable roles, he began working as a recruiter. Mark talks about the transferable skills that he developed and how working as a recruiter allowed him to spot a new role that was emerging, that of a digital marketer. He shares how he then changed direction in his career and moved into the digital marketing space. Mark also talks about a moment of realisation whilst travelling South America that led him to develop his career and bring him to a point where he has simultaneous roles helping both organisations and individuals.
Key Takeaways
When at school and university, in many instances we are learning for job or roles that don't yet existWanting to take on more responsibility is a good way to help grow your careerThere is immense value in having a part-time job whilst studyingKnowing the theory of how to do something is important and equally important is having the confidence that you can do itDoing work for friends and family is a great way to practise your skills and build a portfolioCreate a vision for potential employers by asking the question "Imagine what I could do for you?"Combining your strengths and skills to find your niche is a way to differentiate yourself from your competitorsWork hard to spot in-demand skills. Research what similar type roles might be like in ten yearsKeep developing your skills and be comfortable with the unknownWhen presented with opportunities, instead of asking why, ask why not?Always be connecting and give freelyBuild an ecosystem of value and find an audience or industry that you can serveSpeak to people, actively listen, and connect peopleResources Mentioned
We spoke about the following resources:
Recommended Reading
Mark recommends reading What Would Google Do by Jeff Jarvis.
Connecting With Mark
Listeners can learn more about Mark and connect with him by vising his website or LinkedIn page.

Making Big Leaps
In this episode, I am joined by Helen Peatfield who gave up her secure job in London and moved to Thailand. Not only was it a change in location, but also a change in career. Helen shares her story and we talk about her early working years, her big move to Thailand, and how she found her niche and shaped up her new career. She shares plenty of insights about a career in copywriting and generally, changing careers.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Helen shared the following great resources:
Recommended Reading
Helen recommended the following books:
Connecting With Helen
Listeners can learn more about Helen and connect with her by visiting her LinkedIn page.

Building a Skills Inventory
In this episode, I talk about the steps to take to build a skills inventory. I'll cover some of the resources that we spoke about in Episode 17 as well as the specific approach for creating your skills inventory. We'll also talk about why having a skills inventory is important and how you can use it to support your career and learning journeys.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
I used the following resources in this episode:
Recommended Reading
I used and recommend reading What Colour Is Your Parachute? 2020: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard N. Bolles

Identifying the Skills You Need for Success
In this episode, I am joined by Jamie Mackay. Jamie is an employment professional and works with organisations and learning institutes to help them offer relevant learning opportunities to individuals. His work is very focussed on the skills that people need to find suitable employment and build their careers. Jamie shares not only his career story on the show but also some tips, ideas, guidance, and resources that people can use to continue their learning journey.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Jamie shared many resources during the interview:
Recommended Reading
Jamie recommends reading the following books:
Connect with Jamie
Listeners can learn more about and connect with Jamie by visiting his LinkedIn profile or Twitter page.

Coaching
In this episode, I talk about coaching by briefly explaining what coaching is, answering some common questions about coaching and finally, tackling some coaching misconceptions.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
International Coaching FoundationAssociation for CoachingI spoke about the Miracle of Brighton, with Japan beating South Africa in the Rugby World Cup in 2015. It's the best game of rugby I've ever seen.Recommended Reading
I recommend reading The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier

Finding Your Purpose
In this episode, I am joined by Tim van Aarde. Like many of us, Tim started his career in a corporate environment, working for one of the big accounting and auditing firms. He soon found himself thinking that this was not the career for him, as it lacked purpose and he wanted something deeper and more fulfilling from a career.
He set out on a journey, back to university, studying humanities before shifting his focus to theology.
After university, Tim took up a position at a local church and a chance meeting led him on the next step of his journey, which was a move to Burundi in East Africa. Tim shares his wonderful experiences and learnings and how he found purpose in what he was doing.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Tim shared the following in the interview:
Recommended Reading
Tim recommends reading The Change Agent by Lyle E. Schaller

Adaptability and Overcoming Adversity
In this episode, I interview Steve Stewart-Keene. Steve shares his story with us, that begins with a life-changing motorcycle accident and how he had to consider the career options available to him. He talks about some of his earlier jobs before taking on a role with The Prince's Trust, helping vulnerable young people get their lives back on track. Steve then shares how he took a great leap and left the United Kingdom to start and run a resort in the South African bush. He shares some of the challenges that he needed to overcome to make this a reality.
Having made a success of the resort and running it for nine years, Steve talks about his return to the UK and how, after several jobs, found a massively fulfilling role, co-caring for a disabled young man.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Steve spoke about his work and career at The Prince's Trust
Books Mentioned
Steve recommends the following books:
Connect with Steve
Steve does not have a social media presence but listeners are welcome to contact him via the show.

Developing Yourself and Others
In this episode, I interview Matt Roadnight, an Agile and Scum coach. Having developed an interest in IT, Matt completed a BSc. degree and went on to begin his career in a corporate environment. After a stint of travelling, he then went on to join a niche IT services company. It was here that he was given that latitude to work in a way and develop himself that he enjoyed. Acquisition of the IT services company by a large corporate got him reevaluating his position and coupled with an opportunity to provide some Agile coaching independently, Matt left to establish his own business.
Matt now owns and runs SprintAgile and is a founding partner of BeLiminal LLC. Both organisations focus on developing individuals and teams.
Matt shares his journey and the values that he developed that shaped his career and choices. He also talks about the enablers of learning and shares some great resources.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Matt shared the following resources:
Books Mentioned
Matt recommended the following books:
Connect with Matt
Listeners can learn more about Matt and connect with him by visiting his LinkedIn page, Twitter feed, or the BeLiminal website.

Going Solo
In this episode, Peter Robinson joins me. Peter has more than 20 years of experience in the corporate world with recent roles as the Head of IT at Specsavers and the Head of Retail Applications at Dixons Carphone. Peter shares his experiences of entering the corporate world and how he grew alongside a growing organisation, before moving to an even larger organisation. He shares the challenges of delivering change in large organisations and how this ultimately led him to the realisation that working in a large organisation wasn't what he wanted to do.
Peter talks about deciding to join another corporate or go his own way. He shares his experiences of starting on his own and the says the advice that he gives to his 18-year-old daughter, starting her career, is the same advice he would have given to himself at that age.
Key Takeaways
Striking a balance between business and IT skills is important and something that we should all look to achieveWhen addressing skills gaps, we don't need to become an expert in everything, we need to learn the right amount that will move us forwardWhen presented with opportunities to learn something new or challenge yourself, grab those because you never know where they will lead youDon't underestimate the power of networking to help you learn new skills and push you out of your comfort zoneAccept when you don't know things and don't be scared to ask for helpTo get the best out of everyone, you need to adapt your approach and make sure that you develop a personal touch to build relationshipsTake stock of your situation and how much you know - you'll be surprised. Use this to determine your worth.Empathy is important, but don't mistake this for sympathy. We still need to get the job doneRound Table, and other service organisations, are a great way to build your skills and personal network When you are in a challenging situation, don't be scared and trust in yourselfLearn to market yourself and live with being uncomfortableWhen you are at the start of your career, think about a change every five yearsBooks Mentioned
Peter recommends the following books:
Connect with Peter
Listeners can connect with Peter by visiting the HITS Consultancy website or Peter's LinkedIn page.

Developing a Growth Mindset
In this episode, Crystal Metcalfe joins me. Crystal is the UK VP at RGP, a consulting firm that helps customers implement their business strategy. Crystal shares her career journey and talks about how she used a growth mindset that helped her develop the skills she needed when making career transitions. She also talks about moving countries and how she dealt with that.
Key Takeaways
Books Mentioned
Crystal recommends reading The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels by Michael Watkins.
I refer to Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck.
Connect with Crystal
Listeners can connect with Crystal by visiting her LinkedIn page.

Creating Focus
In this episode, I cover the importance of focus and some of the tools that we can use to create and maintain focus. I first talk about focus in the broader context and how we can approach goal setting and track our progress. Next, I speak about focus at a more granular level and share some tips and tricks on how we can maintain focus and avoid distractions.
Key Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Books Mentioned
I recommend reading the following books:
Connect with me
You can connect with me by visiting my website or LinkedIn page.

What It Takes to Succeed in Sales
In this episode, Doug McGeachie joins me. He is Sales Director at Snowflake, a cloud-based data platform company. Doug has built his successful sales career for close on 20 years and in the show, he shares the skills, mindset, and motivation that helped him do this. He talks about the traits that good salespeople need and the approaches that he has used to build new skills and grow existing ones. Doug also talks about the transferable skills that help him coach children's rugby.
Key Takeaways
Books Mentioned
Doug highly recommends reading the following books:
Doug also spoke about using Audible to listen to books. Click here for a free month of Audible by Amazon, with one free book (two if you are already an Amazon Prime member) to keep, even if you cancel.
Post the show, Doug shared a really great list of books, in addition to the above. I will share these in a blog post on my website.
Connect with Doug
You can connect with and learn more about Doug by visiting his LinkedIn page.

Creating Your Own Role
In this episode, Foti Panagiotakopoulos joins me. He is the VP for Growth at euroVPS and also the founder of GrowthMentor. In the show, Foti talks about how he started his career as the only non-technical hire at a very technical company. He shares how he used this opportunity to create and shape the role that it is now.
He also shares the challenges he experienced and how he tackled these in a very surprising way. Take a listen and find out how!
Key Takeaways
Book Mentioned
Foti recommends reading Blue Ocean Strategy by W Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne.
Connect with Foti
You can connect with and learn more about Foti by visiting his LinkedIn page. Find out more about euroVPS and GrowthMentor.

Lifetime Learning
In this episode, Llewelyn Fernandes joins me to talk about making career shifts and how you can equip yourself with the skills and the knowledge that you will need. He shares his journey and how he used an approach of "just-in-time" learning to develop the new skills that he needed.
Llewelyn talks about how he created a niche for himself by bringing together his skills and interests in computing and creativity and becoming a freelance educator. He also shares the importance of having a shed. Listen in for more!
Key Takeaways
Bringing together multiple skills and interests can be an effective way of creating a career nicheAlthough learning new skills can be painful, the journey can be very rewardingTaking a "just-in-time" learning approach is an extremely effective way of learning the right skills at the right time. It avoids a heavy upfront investment in learning things that might not be relevantTrying diverse things like painting, woodworking, pottery, and blacksmithing is a fantastic way of learning to learnNothing worth doing is easy!Whether you are five or 65 years old, you are always able to learnListen and learn from others but make your own mind upGet a shed!Books Mentioned
Llewelyn recommends reading
Connect with Llewelyn
Listeners can connect with Llewelyn and learn more about his business by visiting his website or LinkedIn page.

Understanding Yourself
In this episode, Jessica Pybus joins me to talk about the importance of understanding yourself. Jessica shares how she used this skill to make choices when choosing a career direction, when making tough career decisions, and when growing her career. She talks about how knowing your strengths and weaknesses and how this allows you to focus on what you need to.
Jessica also shares how understanding herself has enabled her to understand others, and why this is an important skill to master in the modern workplace.
Key Takeaways
Knowing what you don't want to do can be as important as knowing what you do want to doKnow and understand your strengths. Once you have done this, you can apply those strengths more effectivelyYou don't have to push yourself to know 100% of everythingBut you do need to sufficiently understand important things enough so that you can easily explain them to othersCuriosity is an important transferable skill because it helps you improve things around you and helps understand others in a better wayBringing people together is an invaluable transferable skill and will serve you well in any situationAlways ask questions. Don't be afraid to speak out and don't be afraid to contribute your ideas
Book Mentioned
Jessica recommends reading Insight: How to Succeed by Seeing Yourself Clearly by Tasha Eurich
Connect with Jessica
Listeners can learn more about Jessica and connect with her on LinkedIn

When Your Dreams Meet Reality
In this episode, actor, Alastair Thomson-Mills joins me. He talks about the tough and, often, not so glamorous journey to becoming a professional actor. Alastair shares the steps he took and the hard work involved in ultimately making his dream come true. He talks about the skills that he has learnt as an actor and how these serve him in other aspects of his life and career. Without giving too much away, Alastair talks about some truly heartwarming experiences.
Key Takeaways
Interesting Things That Alastair Shared
Connect with Alastair
Listeners can learn more about and connect with Alastair via IMDb or his Spotlight profile.
Support the show
Follow Your Heart (But Don't Wear It on Your Sleeve)
In this episode of The Agile Career Podcast, I speak to Romey Jacketts, who after a career of 26 years with British Airways started her own business. In the show, Romey talks about the wealth of available opportunities, making the most of these opportunities, and using them throughout her career and life. Romey also shares some of the setbacks that she faced and how she dealt with these.
Key Takeaways
Books Mentioned
Romey recommends reading:
Music Recommended
Romey also recommended the following piece of music that she finds motivational, especially in challenging times. Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness.
Connect with Romey
Listeners can learn more about, and connect with Romey via her LinkedIn profile.

Building Resilience
In this episode of The Agile Career Podcast I interview David Beeney, founder of Breaking The Silence. In the interview David talks about his journey from a commercial role in the publishing industry to his role as a counsellor and champion for good mental health. He describes the challenges he faced, particulary his mental health, and how this lead him to find his purpose and establish himself as a counsellor.
David shares how his coping mechanisms set the foundation for the transferable skills he built and he also shares some insight into how we can improve our mindset.
Key Takeaways
Book Mentioned
David recommends reading The Conscious Effect: 50 Lessons for Better Organizational Wellbeing by Natasha Wallace.
Connect with David
Listeners can learn more about David Beeney by visiting his website, LinkedIn page or emailing him.

Taking Stock of Your Current Situation
In episode two, I talk about a number of tips for taking stock of your current situation. This is important because understanding where you are, is your first step in determing where you want to end up. These tips and approaches will help you
Recognise what you know and what you don't knowGet clear about what you want to achieveKnow yourselfUltimately, this will help you identify a sort of baseline to get started and to continuously measure progress against.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/gunterrichter)
Podcast Launch
Welcome to The Agile Career Podcast. In this episode, I talk about the thinking behind the podcast and why it is important that we take control of our careers and the skills that we need to develop in order to become employable for life, rather than employed for life.
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