Episode 83. Pursuing a passion is common career advice we all hear, but is it good advice we should be preaching?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Drew Ingle, author of 'Pride Over Passion: Five Rules to Career Satisfaction.' The conversation delves into Drew's journey of finding a satisfying and enjoyable career, which he subsequently chronicled in his book.

They discuss the impact of upbringing on career drive, the importance of balancing passion and skill, and the role of failure and relationships in professional development. Drew also shares his experiences moving through different career phases, including his insights on the significance of continuous learning and emotional intelligence. This episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone navigating their career path, especially those entering the workforce.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Drew Ingle: Author of Pride Over Passion
• 00:53 Drew's Early Career Journey
• 05:23 The Impact of COVID and Writing a Book
• 06:38 The Reality of Following Your Passion
• 09:21 Balancing Passion and Skills
• 14:06 Lessons from Football
• 19:08 Finding Your North Star
• 24:10 Choosing Career Paths: Money vs. Happiness
• 25:38 Embracing Failure: Emotional Intelligence
• 27:40 Teaching Kids About Failure
• 34:44 The Importance of Relationships in Career
• 41:01 Writing and Publishing a Book
• 42:40 Pride Over Passion: Key Takeaways
• 45:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 82. Some of the most important things to us are relationships and family. Winning at both can mean the difference between success or struggle.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Casey Jacox, a keynote speaker, consultant for sales leaders, and host of the podcast Quarterback Dadcast.

Jacox discusses his career transition from a successful sales executive at Kforce to writing "Win the Relationship, Not the Deal," and becoming an executive coach. The conversation delves into the dual themes of balancing fatherhood with professional life and building meaningful relationships in sales.

Casey shares insights on embracing vulnerability, the importance of emotional intelligence in career growth, and practical tips for being present as a dad. He also offers anecdotes from his own experiences and highlights the value of curiosity and patience in fostering both personal and professional relationships.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Casey Jacox
• 01:10 Casey's Career Journey
• 02:04 Family Life and Work Balance
• 03:43 Early Career Aspirations
• 05:17 Transition to Coaching and Writing
• 07:52 The Importance of Relationships in Sales
• 09:39 Becoming an Executive Coach
• 15:29 Belief and Overcoming Fear
• 22:12 Practical Sales and Coaching Tips
• 25:54 Overcoming Professional Challenges
• 26:29 The Power of a Growth Mindset
• 29:41 Starting the Quarterback Dadcast
• 32:15 Common Struggles of Modern Dads
• 35:43 Balancing Parenting and Personal Growth
• 42:09 The Importance of Meaningful Relationships
• 47:24 Embracing Gratitude and Final Thoughts

Episode 81. Sales is the engine of any successful business, yet many professionals are afraid of sales, struggle to do it well without a proper system. What separates top-performing organizations and people from everyone else?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Gui Costin, founder of Dakota, a firm specializing in investment sales and distribution. Costin shares his journey in sales, the lessons he’s learned about respecting the sales process, and how a structured approach can transform results.

They discuss the fundamentals of winning deals, the power of persistence, and why having a repeatable sales system is crucial for long-term success. Costin also shares insights on finding the right role, aligning your strengths with the right job, and building a career where you can thrive.

The episode provides valuable takeaways for sales professionals, business leaders, and anyone looking to refine their sales strategy and create a career that’s both fulfilling and built for success.

Episode 80. The professional careers of many impressive people have spanned some combination of investing (or private equity), operating (and/or founding a business) and advising. But when and how do we consider the right balance and the right time for each?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Robert Levin, an M&A expert and founder of CIS Ventures. Levin shares his journey from working in various industries and founding companies to transitioning into private equity.

They discuss Levin's extensive experience, covering topics like the evolution of private equity, the opportunities in lower middle market businesses, raising capital, advisory roles, and the key differences between being an operator and investor. Levin also gives advice on how to navigate the intricacies of raising capital, the importance of having the right team, and strategic thinking, particularly in leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

The episode provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and business operators looking to understand the complexities and opportunities within the private equity landscape.

• 00:00 Introduction to Lifetime at Work Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Robert Levin: From Founder to Private Equity
• 01:20 Robert's Early Life and Career Beginnings
• 04:01 Transition to Private Equity and Advisory Work
• 05:07 Understanding the Private Equity Landscape
• 10:12 Private Equity's Impact on Various Industries
• 13:27 Comparing Roles: Operator vs. Private Equity Investor
• 20:10 Future Opportunities in Private Equity
• 28:57 Challenges in Matching Investors and Businesses
• 29:43 Early Stage Struggles and Investor Expectations
• 31:22 Importance of People in Business Success
• 34:17 Recruiting vs. Hiring: Building the Right Team
• 37:15 Raising Capital: Strategies and Advice
• 44:53 Interviewing Investors: A Crucial Skill
• 49:43 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Episode 79. AI is transforming the workplace at a rapid pace—some see it as a threat, while others embrace it as a tool for unprecedented productivity. But what does it really mean for knowledge workers like us?

In this episode of Lifetime at Work, host Greg Martin sits down with Matt Leta, founder of Future Works, an AI-native professional services firm. Matt is also the author of LEAP, a book about how organizations can embrace innovation and AI, and the founder of Future Horizon, a non-profit supporting innovators. Through Future Works, he has collaborated with major companies like Apple, Google, Blueplanet Energy, and GNC.

Matt shares his unique perspective on AI’s impact on the workplace and how he found himself at the forefront of this transformation. His journey began when he launched a remote agency, unknowingly setting the stage for an AI-driven future by digitizing everything his company did. When AI’s potential became clear, he leaned in—and hasn’t looked back.

This conversation explores how we can understand and work with AI, the challenges humans will face as automation accelerates, and the deeper search for meaning we may all undergo as technology reshapes our roles. Matt believes the future is coming fast, and there’s a lot to unpack.

Episode 78. AI can be both a scary development and a great advancement to improve productivity - but what does it mean for us as workers in the knowledge economy?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Greg Shove, a serial entrepreneur and AI expert. Shove discusses his journey from Canada to Silicon Valley, his various startups, and his current ventures - Section and Machine & Partners.

The conversation centers on AI's role in transforming the workspace and education. Shove emphasizes the importance of adopting AI to stay competitive, highlighting the rapid advancements in AI technology and its potential impact on various industries. He also provides insights into how individuals and companies can leverage AI to enhance productivity, optimize operations, and prepare for the future. The discussion extends to the evolving value of traditional education in an AI-driven world and the need for both employers and educational institutions to adapt to these changes.

• 00:00 Introduction to Lifetime at Work Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Greg Shove: A Journey from Canada to Silicon Valley
• 01:45 Early Career and First Startup Success
• 03:41 The Move to Silicon Valley and Business School
• 06:18 Venturing into AI: Founding Section and Machine & Partners
• 08:43 Navigating Challenges and Pivots in Business
• 12:21 The Impact of AI on the Workforce
• 27:02 Optimizing with AI: The Next Step
• 27:44 Transforming Products and Services with AI
• 28:31 The Impact of AI on Incumbents
• 29:23 Big Tech's AI Ambitions
• 37:00 The Future of Education in an AI World
• 46:09 The Role of AI in Upskilling
• 52:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 77. We’re all driven to have an impact of some sort or another at work. Likewise, when we invest, having an impact is a very nice bonus as well. In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Mike Winterfield, founder of Active Impact Investments, Canada’s largest climate tech seed fund.

They discuss Mike's journey from recruitment to founding a clean technology venture capital fund, the types of companies he invests in, and how these companies are addressing climate change while generating financial returns. Mike shares his strategies for evaluating potential investments and the importance of having a high-functioning board.

He also offers career advice for those looking to make an impact and resources for learning more about climate tech.

• 00:00 Introduction to Lifetime at Work Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Mike Winterfield: Founder of Active Impact Investments
• 01:18 Mike's Career Journey and Investment Philosophy
• 03:43 Building and Supporting Climate Tech Startups
• 17:34 The Importance of Board Roles and Governance
• 30:56 Recruiting Top Talent for Startups
• 35:44 Balancing Social Impact with Financial Returns
• 37:35 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Final Thoughts
• 42:21 Closing Remarks and How to Stay Connected

Episode 76. Those with careers in Venture Capital live an exciting life, trying to discover young founders who can create the next great product and company to drive incredible returns. In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, Greg Martin interviews Raif Barbaros, a venture capital partner at Mistral Venture Partners.

Raif shares his journey from being a CTO and founder of various startups to becoming a venture capitalist. The conversation covers strategies for success in venture capital, the Canadian venture capital landscape compared to the US, and the importance of understanding market size and having founder empathy.

Raif also offers advice for young founders and aspiring tech professionals. The episode provides valuable insights into what it takes to thrive in the VC world and the tech industry.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:17 Guest Introduction: Raif Barbaros
• 01:37 Raif's Early Life and Career Beginnings
• 02:04 Transition to Canada and Early Career
• 05:02 Defining the Role of a CTO
• 08:51 Journey into Venture Capital
• 13:34 Mistral Venture Partners: Strategy and Differentiation
• 18:52 Investment Approach and Competition
• 24:38 Unexpected Funding Connections
• 25:28 Strategies for New VCs
• 26:20 Investment Focus and Background
• 28:18 The Long-Term Game of VC Compensation
• 34:07 The Role of a VC in a Startup
• 41:26 Advice for Aspiring Founders
• 44:26 Closing Remarks and Contact Information