A hearty, desuckified welcome back to Judy Cirullo, who previously shared her wisdom on episode 13 of the DesuckifyWork® podcast.

She’s here today to talk about something that many of us spend a lot of energy trying to avoid—difficult conversations. Judy is an expert on this topic—as the founder of Grow Strong Teams she helps business owners and execs create cultures rooted in trust and accountability.

If you’re resisting having a tough conversation with someone at work, this is a must listen. Judy will show you the way.

MicroPod Guest: Judy CirulloMicroPod Focus: Having Difficult ConversationsMicroPod Insight: Hard conversations are hard. But not having them makes work a lot harder.

To watch on YouTube, please click here.

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #executivecoaching #difficultconversations

Creatives should be given way more opportunity to make a meaningful impact. On client business and on the world.

This is the magic wand wish from Ashley Rutstein, today’s guest on the DesuckifyWork® podcast (originally aired live on 12/11). Ashley is a freelance creative director, copywriter and the creator of @stuffaboutadvertising, with over 117K followers on TikTok(!) and nearly 25K on Instagram.

And she believes creatives can do so much more than make TV spots. We can influence operational changes, develop new products and help the world rethink some of our greatest challenges, like the environment and complex social issues.

This would make work feel a whole lot more meaningful, wouldn’t’ it?

But changes like this don’t happen without some fundamental shifts in the ad industry, according to Ashley.

🐱 Leaders need to help people feel safe sharing dumb ideas

🐱 Agencies should be more transparent about their values and client selection criteria

🐱 We all need to create more positive outlets for community vs. the toxic forums we often see

I find Ashley’s take on the ad biz to be refreshingly real and optimistic. I think you will too.

You can follow Ashley on LinkedIn. And check out @StuffAboutAdvertising on TikTok (🤞), Instagram and YouTube. You should also check out her private membership community called Internal Review at stuffaboutadvertising.com. It’s a delightful antidote to the toxic communities you’ll find elsewhere in the ad biz.

My site and my Substack newsletter are certified non-toxic as well. I’m on a mission to make work suck less and I’d love for you to join me. Want to make that desuckification happen ASAP? Let’s set up a free half hour coaching session.

If you enjoyed the episode, please like, share, rate, review, subscribe or consider going on the DesuckifyWork® diet… you can eat anything you want as long as you take a picture of yourself mid-chew with your food arranged into the shape of our logo on your tongue.

Bye, everyone!

If you’d like to watch the episode on YouTube, please click here.

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #advertising #creativity #executivecoaching #stuffaboutadvertising

Age is just a number.

Yeah, I know, I call BS on that too when I’m sitting at home nursing my aching back as I wonder if I’ll ever touch my toes again.

But Willie Pietersen has other ideas. At 88 years old, this former lawyer and CEO is a professor at Columbia’s graduate school of business, recently published his second book and consults with some the world’s biggest and best-known organizations.

And I had the good fortune to speak with him as today’s guest on the DesuckifyWork® podcast.

The secret to his success is the same secret he shares with leaders in his work:

🐱 Stay relentlessly curious - never stop searching for satisfying answers to life’s biggest questions.

🐱 Live life at a reasonable pace - make time for reflection every day to keep yourself from getting swept up in the swirl of the inconsequential.

🐱 Cultivate moral courage - know what you stand for and act accordingly, always.

Sounds like solid advice to me. Which isn’t surprising coming from one of the most intelligent and thoughtful people I’ve ever met.

Now, here’s your chance to meet the incomparable Willie Pietersen.

You can follow Willie on LinkedIn. And check out his site at williepietersen.com. While you’re there, make sure you take a peak at his latest book, Leadership—The Inside Story: Time-Tested Prescriptions for Those Who Seek to Lead.

My site and my Substack newsletter are quite peak-worthy as well. I’m on a mission to make work suck less and I’d love for you to join me. Want to make that desuckification happen ASAP? Let’s set up a free half hour coaching session.

If you enjoyed the episode, please like, share, rate, review, subscribe or consider running around the country like Forrest Gump and writing “for a good time, listen to the DesuckifyWork® podcast” on the inside of every bathroom stall you pop into along the way. Don’t forget to include the circle-R or our lawyers will track you down using elaborate handwriting analysis techniques in collaboration with our partners in the deep state.

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #executivecoaching #advertising #creativity #leadership #moralcourage #curiosity

If you’d like to watch the episode on YouTube, please click here.