work-life balance Archives

188: Sabbatical Secrets – How to Take an Intentional Career Break with Laura Nguyen

by Max Ahumada | Sep 30, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, we look at the underestimated value of taking strategic career breaks with Laura Nguyen, author of “Career Break Compass: Navigating Your Path to a Balanced Life Through Intentional Time Off.”

Laura is an experienced marketing executive with an extensive background in data-driven marketing, digital marketing and communications for Fortune 500 companies. She is also a certified executive coach, helping mid-career, high-achieving leaders go from burned out to balanced.

Her book shares practical steps to plan and execute a fulfilling and career-enriching break, and how structured time off can lead to significant gains in productivity and personal well-being.

The challenge of maintaining career momentum and drive amidst chronic overwork and lack of work-life balance is a serious issue for many mid- and senior-level professionals. Career breaks are increasingly recognized as essential for long-term career success and personal happiness, yet many don’t pursue them for fear of professional repercussions.

So press play and let’s chat… Laura’s insights will offer strategies and practical advice for intentional career pauses that enhance both personal and professional growth!

184: Give Me 90 Days and I’ll Give You a Career Transformation with Bruno Yoshioka | Principal Manager at Microsoft

by Max Ahumada | Sep 2, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, you’ll see what career transformation looks like with Bruno Yoshioka, graduate of the Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint, my intensive coaching program for engineering leaders.

Bruno is currently a Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft working on Microsoft Intune, a cloud-based endpoint management solution. He joined Microsoft out of college in 2014 after completing undergraduate degrees in computer science and music performance.

Throughout his 10+ years of working at Microsoft, he has experienced ups and downs from burnout to great success and elation, and found himself at one of those low points in late 2023.

That’s when he silenced the skeptic in his head, and joined a community of like-minded engineering leaders in coaching and training for career growth and lifestyle design.

He’ll share how he changed his mindset from fixed to growth, renewed his energy, created extreme clarity in his purpose and vision, and overall transformed the quality of his work life…

In just ninety days.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to get off the bleachers and into the arena of your life!

182: Take a Plunge Over the Growth Edge with Christopher Belcastro | Chief Technology Officer

by Max Ahumada | Aug 19, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, we talk with Christopher Belcastro, a high performing and focused CTO with global leadership experience managing large, diverse engineering projects & teams.

Christopher is one of us. He has over a dozen years of product development experience in power electronics for mission critical power protection applications.

If you want to be known for your ability to transform organizational performance, driving revenue and operating results for your company, then stick around because that’s what Christopher is known for.

But it didn’t come easy. After being told by HR when he was a new engineering manager that, “people don’t like working for you,” he had to make major adjustments or go down in flames.

Spoiler alert, he’s a successful CTO now, and he shares those lessons learned with you today.

A coach at heart, Christopher loves to give back to the global engineering community.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to take the plunge over your growth edge!

159: Who Else Wants More Energy at Work?

by Max Ahumada | Mar 11, 2024 | Podcast

Are you ready to unlock your full potential by prioritizing health and fitness?

In this episode, I share a surprising revelation from my time at the gym that transformed my perspective on career success. From casual encounters with gym buddies to discovering they were top executives, I realized a common thread: the correlation between physical fitness and professional achievement.

I delve into why a strong body is crucial for a strong mind and how prioritizing health can elevate performance in all areas of life.

Join me as I challenge engineering leaders to become subject matter experts not only in their technical fields but also in sleep, movement, and nutrition. Discover simple yet powerful ways to optimize energy levels and unlock your full potential.

So press play and let’s chat about maximizing performance through holistic well-being.

153: How to Master the Calendar and Get More Done

by Max Ahumada | Jan 29, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, we discuss a common struggle we engineers face: mastering our calendars.

Inspired by an email from a listener named Will, who felt overwhelmed and struggled to get things done, we explore the crucial skill of calendar management.

I share five actionable tips, from guarding your best hours to winning the morning, to help you take control of your time. These tips are just the tip of the iceberg – there are seven more waiting for you in the downloadable PDF scorecard.

Remember, you have all the time there is, and by implementing these strategies, you can shift from feeling overwhelmed to experiencing joy and flow.

So press play and let’s chat about reclaiming your calendar and mastering your time.

152: Biggest Lie Blocking Happiness is Everywhere with Eric Nehrlich | Chief of Staff @ Google

by Max Ahumada | Jan 22, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, you’ll meet Eric Nehrlich. He used to be miserable.

An achiever who always exceeded expectations, he landed a dream job at Google. But a couple years later he was working 8am to midnight every day, including most weekends, drowning in emails and meetings.

Eric felt completely stuck, with no idea how his life was ever going to change.

Today, his work is meaningful and inspiring, and he is happy. Eric spends quality time with his family, while still having time for his own pursuits.

What changed?

He realized he had a choice.

Now an Executive Coach to top technology leaders at companies like X (Twitter), Amazon, and of course Google, Eric authored the book, “You Have a Choice: Beyond Hard Work to Meaningful Impact”, to help you realize the same thing.

So press play and let’s chat… if you want to be happy and successful in your career, the choice is yours.

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