Today’s episode is for anyone who’s ever sat in a cubicle at a soul-sucking job and thought, “There’s gotta be more than this.”

Meet Andrew Stanley. Eight years ago, he was crunching numbers as a financial analyst. And now? He’s doing stand-up comedy; telling jokes on stages across the country. And not just any jokes — clean, smart, relatable comedy that’s earned him a spot among the South’s funniest (literally — he won “Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant”).

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to trade-in a traditional job to something that looks nothing like your résumé. From bombing at open mics, to navigating self-doubt, to preparing for his very first comedy special, Andrew opens up about his challenges, successes and the dangers in the comedy world, and how faith and family have played a critical role in staying tethered to reality.

We also dig into what it means to persevere, connecting with your audience, and whether Botox actually makes you funnier.

So wherever you are — on your commute, your lunch break, or just avoiding going back to that spreadsheet — join me at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia for this inspiring and hilarious conversation with comedian Andrew Stanley.

You can find Andrew Stanley at: https://www.andrewstanleycomedy.com/

Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant: https://www.accountantsarefunnytoo.com/

Our interview was recorded live in Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia.

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/
You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

A few months back, I was grabbing dinner with my friend Mark Fogel, and in the middle of our conversation about this very podcast, he leaned in and said, “You have to interview James Sarvis.”

So I did.

James is the kind of person who’s built a career of commitment. He started at Delta Air Lines over 50 years ago — yes, five-zero — starting at the very bottom: cleaning bathrooms. Today, he’s the VP of Global Cleanliness. But his story goes way beyond job titles.

Over the years, James has held just about every position short of flying the plane: from leading airport customer service across 220 airports, to overseeing 24,000 flight attendants, to helping shape Delta’s global partnerships. He's been through wars, recessions, a pandemic, mergers, even a hostile takeover attempt — and through it all, he’s stayed grounded by one thing: a deep sense of purpose and loyalty.

We talked about legacy, leadership, mentorship, being an 18-year-old college dropout, surviving a plane crash with his family, and why — even after five decades — he’s still not done.

You can find James Sarvis at:

• LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-sarvis-7183592/
• Email: james.a.sarvis@delta.com

Our interview was recorded live at Delta Air Lines global headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia: www.delta.com

Special thanks to Whitney Li for her production assistance!

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/
You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com

This week I was truly fortunate to meet with David Guthrie, an extremely successful technology executive, who has built and enjoyed the sale of multiple tech companies, worked in venture capital, continues to serve on multiple boards, holds 20 patents, has been married for 33 yrs and has 5 amazing children. Sounds like a charmed life, right? Well, not so fast. David’s life might be better described as a miraculous 57-year mountain climb without a rope. You see, David was born with Cystic Fibrosis, which has significantly impacted his lungs and digestion, so he has literally been living one breath at a time. His is a remarkable story of perseverance, sharing why he still goes to work every day, and where he finds the fuel to put one foot in front of the other. I think you’ll find his story both encouraging and a timely kick in the pants.

You can find David Guthrie at https://www.guthrietech.com/; or on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidguthrie/; or email at: david@lydiasjoy.com or david@repay.com.

Our interview was recorded live OKCafe in Atlanta, Georgia: https://www.okcafe.com/

Click to text Bruce now!

About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/
You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com