Beth Goff-McMillan, CEO of SKG, joins the podcast to share how her love of wandering and exploring the world began in childhood road trips across the United States, sparking a lifelong curiosity about people and places. She highlights the value she finds in observing human connection, whether in small towns or across continents, and how these experiences help her relate to others and ask deeper questions at work. Beth recalls a transformative solo adventure in South Africa, where she discovered that people everywhere share the same basic desires for their families. She stresses the importance of making time for personal interests and encourages prioritizing one's own goals, believing that time is life's truest currency. At SKG, Beth fosters a culture where employees are supported in pursuing passions outside of work through initiatives like the "Tell Us About Yourself" form and the Culture Club. She encourages others to carve out even small amounts of time for their "And," emphasizing the power of authenticity and balance in life.

Episode Highlights

· Traveling and exploring from a young age shaped her worldview, inspiring curiosity about how people live and connect in different places.
· Human connection is central. Whether through wandering, meeting strangers, or watching others, the act of engaging and understanding is foundational.
· Experiencing other cultures and asking deep questions fosters relatability and empathy, which translates directly into her leadership as a CEO.
· At SKG, she encourages employees to pursue personal passions and goals, not just work achievements, through activities like the "Tell Us About Yourself" form and the Culture Club.
· Managing time intentionally and carving out space for personal interests is essential. Time is our true currency, and balancing it is crucial for happiness and growth.

Jackie Meyer shares her love for world travel, describing how exploring new cultures, especially in Costa Rica, has become a core part of her family's life. She talks about the importance of prioritizing personal passions and time with loved ones, even making major career decisions to support these experiences. Jackie highlights how travel has helped her prevent burnout, encouraging boundaries and planning to maintain a healthy work-life balance. She also discusses how pursuing her "And" connects her more deeply with family, friends, and colleagues, fostering creativity and well-being. Jackie is a strong advocate for blending professional life with personal interests, believing that nurturing multiple sides of oneself leads to fulfillment. Her journey and insights inspire others to reflect on their own passions and find ways to bring them into daily life.

Episode Highlights

· Jackie emphasizes planning the year with travel and family time as a top priority, restructuring her life to avoid burnout and ensure joy outside work.
· She stresses the importance of setting boundaries and recommends putting personal plans first to prevent work from overtaking all aspects of life.
· Her journey from workaholism and burnout led her to realize the necessity of "finding herself" and nurturing her passions outside professional obligations.
· Jackie encourages setting small, achievable goals in different areas of life (like travel, health, etc.), instead of trying to optimize everything at once, using her balance wheel methodology.

Dan McMahon shares his journey from being a CPA to embracing improvisational and stand-up comedy as powerful hobbies that helped him become more confident, authentic, and fulfilled outside of work. Dan talks about how he started improv as a way to break out of old routines and found that it made him a better listener, collaborator, and public speaker. He also describes how performing stand-up, despite its nerve-wracking moments, became an exhilarating way to push himself outside his comfort zone. Dan credits improv and stand-up for giving him new depth, helping him build stronger relationships with clients, and encouraging those around him to be more authentic. He discusses the importance of finding passions that bring joy and insists that sharing those interests makes everyone better professionals. Dan encourages listeners to focus on what completes them as individuals, suggesting that authenticity and personal passions enrich both life and work.

Episode Highlights

· Dan credits his years in improv and dabbling in stand-up comedy with making him more confident, a better listener, and more collaborative, ultimately improving his personal and professional life.
· He intentionally steps outside his comfort zone (like performing stand-up) to demonstrate the importance of courage. Not just for his own growth, but to inspire his clients to do the same.
· Dan emphasizes the value of being authentic with clients and colleagues, sharing his passions and hobbies openly. He notes that this authenticity has made client relationships more natural and rewarding.
· He stresses that focusing solely on the technical side of the job is not enough. Having passions and interests outside of work makes us more complete and enjoyable to be around.
· His advice for others is to pursue what makes you happy, even if it seems like no one cares. Over time, you'll attract the right people who appreciate your depth and individuality.