Episodi

  • 128. When It's Time to Change, Even If It's Working | Julian Lighton on Progress, Purpose, and Navigating Your Next

    128. When It's Time to Change, Even If It's Working | Julian Lighton on Progress, Purpose, and Navigating Your Next
    May 20 2026
    Have you ever found yourself in something that works on paper… but doesn't really feel right anymore? That's the question at the center of this conversation with Julian Lighton, executive coach, strategist, and author of Navigating Your Next. Julian has spent decades helping leaders and organizations navigate change, but this conversation isn't just about career strategy — it's about identity, growth, and learning how to recognize when something no longer fits. Julian's own path has been anything but linear. Trained originally in law at Oxford, he realized early that he didn't want the life attached to the career he had prepared for. That decision began a journey across startups, consulting, Cisco, McKinsey, and executive leadership roles — each step driven less by title and more by what he calls "progress over progression." In other words, focusing on becoming better rather than simply climbing higher. One of the most compelling parts of our conversation centers around competency versus passion. Julian challenges the modern obsession with "following your passion," arguing instead that confidence and fulfillment are often built through becoming deeply competent at something meaningful. Passion can fuel us, but discipline, consistency, and learning are what sustain long-term growth. We also explore the emotional side of change: fear, identity, risk, and the uncomfortable realization that success doesn't always equal happiness. Julian shares stories of leaving environments that no longer aligned with who he was becoming, including a major move from London to San Francisco that completely reshaped his career and life. He talks openly about failure, why learning requires discomfort, and why some of the most successful people he knows are also deeply unhappy because they pursued progression without questioning what they actually wanted. Throughout the episode, Julian returns to three key questions: Am I learning?Am I in the right context?Am I surrounded by the right people? Those questions become a framework not just for career decisions, but for life itself. This episode is ultimately about responsibility — understanding that no one is coming to rescue you, and that meaningful change begins the moment you decide you're no longer willing to stay where you are. It's a conversation about growth, risk, purpose, and the realization that the point may not be the destination at all… but the journey itself. Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.comwww.billellis.comwww.brandingforresults.comIG - @wcellisFacebook - @CoachBillEllisFacebook - @bill.ellis LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellisBook: Women Who Won Links for This Episode: https://www.julianlighton.com Navigating Your Next: https://amzn.to/4eV8CVU Quick Episode Summary: 00:00 – Introduction + "When It's Time to Change, Even If It's Working"01:00 – Julian's background in law and choosing not to become a barrister04:00 – Joining a startup before startups existed08:30 – How early career experiences shaped everything that followed09:30 – Progress vs. progression explained13:00 – Why these ideas apply far beyond business careers14:00 – "What discussion should never happen without you in the room?"16:00 – Competency vs. passion: what actually creates success?20:00 – Why expertise is more accessible today than ever before22:00 – Discipline, identity, and "doing is being"24:00 – Taking opportunities before feeling fully ready27:00 – Recognizing when leadership or culture no longer fits30:00 – Learning, context, and culture: Julian's framework for change31:00 – Moving from London to San Francisco in the 1990s37:00 – Fear, risk, and deciding what you're no longer willing to tolerate40:00 – Why change begins with personal responsibility42:00 – Choosing the right work, context, and people45:00 – Career success vs. balanced life49:00 – Failure, learning, and why growth requires discomfort54:00 – "It's about the journey, not the destination"56:00 – Closing reflections + final thoughts What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters — their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.
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    57 min
  • 127. The Long Game: Susan Friedmann on Purpose, Publishing, and Staying Excited About Life

    127. The Long Game: Susan Friedmann on Purpose, Publishing, and Staying Excited About Life
    May 13 2026
    In this episode of What's the Point?, I sit down with Susan Friedmann, founder of Aviva Publishing and Marketing, to talk about longevity — not just in business, but in life. What does it take to stay engaged with something over time without becoming stale, stuck, or disconnected from yourself? Susan has spent decades helping nonfiction authors bring their books into the world, but what stood out most in our conversation wasn't simply publishing. It was her honesty about passion, reinvention, and recognizing when something no longer fits. She reflects on starting in the trade show industry, building expertise there for more than two decades, and eventually realizing she had lost the excitement that once fueled her work. That recognition led her toward publishing — first for her own books, then eventually for more than 1,200 titles through her company. Throughout the episode, Susan shares what authors often misunderstand about success. Many believe publishing the book is the finish line, when in reality it's only the beginning. Marketing, she explains, is a long game built on consistency, clarity, and understanding exactly who you're trying to help. The same principle applies far beyond books: meaningful work requires ongoing attention and adaptation. We also explore identity — how difficult it can be to let go of the version of yourself you've spent years building. Susan speaks candidly about the fear of starting over later in life, losing the title that once defined her, and realizing that excitement and curiosity mattered more than simply maintaining familiarity. It's a conversation many listeners will recognize, especially anyone wrestling with whether to stay in something that no longer feels alive. Another recurring theme is learning. Susan talks about travel, exposure to different cultures, communication in long relationships, and even the role AI now plays in creativity and publishing. Rather than resisting change, she looks for ways to stay curious. Her belief is simple: if something feels stale, explore it from another angle. Find new perspectives. Keep learning. Ultimately, this conversation is about paying attention — to your work, your relationships, and yourself. Longevity isn't passive. It requires honesty, adaptation, communication, and the courage to ask whether what once fit still does. Susan reminds us that staying engaged is less about holding onto one identity forever and more about continuing to grow into the next version of yourself. What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters — their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do. Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com www.billellis.comwww.brandingforresults.comIG - @wcellisFacebook - @CoachBillEllisFacebook - @bill.ellis LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellisBook: Women Who Won Links for This Episode: Email: susan@avivapubs.comWebsite(s) https://avivapubs.com SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanfriedmannInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.marketer/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avivapubsPODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-marketing-mentors/id1053995420BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-A.-Friedmann/author/B001ILM7BA Quick Episode Summary: 00:00 – Introduction + "Staying Engaged: The Point of Longevity"01:00 – Susan Friedmann's work helping nonfiction authors02:00 – What authors really want from writing a book03:00 – Why marketing to "everyone" never works05:00 – Editing, attention spans, and book covers that matter08:00 – Passion, confidence, and believing in your work10:00 – Being honest about what you can and can't do11:00 – The biggest mistakes authors make13:00 – Why publishing is only the beginning15:00 – The long game of marketing and consistency18:00 – Susan's early career and trade show expertise20:00 – Getting rejected three times before success22:00 – How Aviva Publishing unexpectedly evolved23:00 – Losing passion and recognizing it was time to change25:00 – Identity, reinvention, and starting over later in life27:00 – Adapting to technology, AI, and publishing shifts31:00 – Staying excited instead of becoming stale33:00 – Creativity, AI, and finding fresh perspectives35:00 – What makes something truly "work"37:00 – Learning from people, travel, and different cultures39:00 – The secret to long relationships: communication and honesty42:00 – Feeling like you don't belong and what travel teaches us46:00 – Knowing when something no longer fits49:00 – Being brave enough to change your life52:00 – "What's the point?" Susan's answer on gratitude and purpose
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    54 min
  • 126. Choosing a Life Before You've Lived It | Alex Dworsky & Gabriel DeSanti from Staj

    126. Choosing a Life Before You've Lived It | Alex Dworsky & Gabriel DeSanti from Staj
    May 6 2026

    How do you choose a career before you've really lived life?

    That's the question at the center of this conversation with Alex Dworsky and Gabriel DeSanti, co-founders of Staj. Most of us are asked to decide what we want to do at 18, 20, or 22 — long before we've had enough experience to truly understand what those choices mean. And while some people land in the right place, many others find themselves years into a path that no longer fits.

    Alex shares her experience inside corporate America, where careers often follow a predictable path shaped by expectations, environment, and stability. But as time goes on, many people begin to question whether what they chose actually aligns with who they are becoming. Gabriel's journey offers a different perspective — pivoting early from a technical trade into content creation, ultimately building a career around exploring what different jobs are really like from the inside.

    Together, they unpack why so many people stay in roles that don't fulfill them. Fear plays a major role — fear of losing stability, identity, or success. For many, it's not just about changing jobs, but about walking away from something that looks "successful" on paper. That tension — between comfort and fulfillment — is where people often feel stuck.

    A key theme throughout this episode is the lack of real exposure. Most career decisions are made with limited information, based on what we're told, what we see around us, or what seems safe. Even internships, which are supposed to offer insight, often fall short by showing only a narrow slice of the job rather than the full picture.

    This conversation challenges the idea that choosing once is enough. Instead, it invites a different approach: staying curious, experimenting, and being willing to reassess what success actually means at different stages of life.

    Because sometimes the real work isn't choosing the right path — it's recognizing when the one you chose no longer fits.

    What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters — their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.

    Connect with Bill:

    • bill@billellis.com
    • www.billellis.com
    • www.brandingforresults.com
    • IG - @wcellis
    • Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
    • Facebook - @bill.ellis
    • LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
    • Book: Women Who Won

    Links for This Episode:

    • Name: Gabriel DeSanti
    • Email: gabe@gabedesanti.com
    • Name: Alex Dworsky
    • Email: admin@gostaj.com

    SOCIAL MEDIA INFO:

    • IG: https://www.instagram.com/gabriel.desanti
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-desanti
    • IG: https://www.instagram.com/go_staj

    Quick Episode Summary:

    • 00:00 – Why choosing a career early is so difficult
    • 01:30 – The idea behind Staj (try before you commit)
    • 03:00 – Alex's corporate career and COVID shift
    • 06:00 – Gabriel's early pivot and "world's longest resume"
    • 08:30 – Why people outgrow their careers
    • 10:00 – Why most people stay in jobs that don't fit
    • 12:00 – How we actually choose careers at 18–22
    • 14:00 – The problem with internships
    • 16:00 – Fear, identity, and career changes
    • 18:30 – The "golden handcuffs" problem
    • 21:00 – Why people don't explore other paths
    • 24:00 – Who understands Staj immediately (and who doesn't)
    • 27:00 – Why small businesses get it faster
    • 30:00 – Hiring, risk, and finding the right fit
    • 33:00 – Why internships don't fully solve the problem
    • 36:00 – Unexpected jobs and hidden career paths
    • 40:00 – How to explore without quitting everything
    • 45:00 – What to do if your career feels wrong
    • 50:00 – Redefining success over time
    • 53:00 – Final reflections on choice and fulfillment
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    1 ora e 7 min
  • 125. Andi Simon: The Stories We Believe—and Why They Make Change So Hard

    125. Andi Simon: The Stories We Believe—and Why They Make Change So Hard
    Apr 29 2026
    In this episode of What's the Point?, Bill Ellis sits down with Andi Simon—corporate anthropologist, author, and founder of Simon Associates—to explore a deceptively simple question: Why is it so hard to see what's right in front of us? Andi has spent decades studying how people think, behave, and—most importantly—how they make meaning. From working with banks and healthcare systems to helping leaders navigate transformation, she's seen the same pattern over and over again: People don't resist change because they lack information.They resist change because of the stories they believe. These stories—often invisible to us—shape how we interpret the world, what we notice, and what we ignore. Even when evidence is clear, our brains filter reality through familiar patterns, protecting us from discomfort but also limiting growth. Through real-world examples, Andi explains how habits, myths, and internal narratives keep individuals and organizations stuck—and how change only begins when we learn to see differently, not just think differently . This is a conversation about perception, identity, and the quiet forces shaping every decision we make. Key Takeaways We Don't See Reality—We See Our Story Humans are meaning-makers, interpreting the world through internal narratives that feel true, even when they're incomplete .Change Doesn't Come From New Information People don't change because they're told something new—they change when they experience something that shifts how they see.Habits Protect Us—But Also Limit Us Our brains prioritize efficiency and familiarity, making it easier to stay the same than to grow.Myths Shape Behavior More Than Facts Many beliefs about identity, capability, and success are repeated assumptions—not proven truths.Change Requires Small Wins and Visibility Momentum builds through shared experience, not instruction. People change when they see others changing too.Curiosity Is the Gateway to Growth The most underused skill in personal growth is curiosity—the willingness to question what feels "obvious." What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters - their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do. Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com www.billellis.comwww.brandingforresults.comIG - @wcellisFacebook - @CoachBillEllisFacebook - @bill.ellis LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellisBook: Women Who Won Links for This Episode: Email asimon@simonassociates.netWebsite(s) https://www.andisimon.com SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andisimon/Andi's Podcast: https://www.simonassociates.net/category/podcast/BOOKS: https://www.andisimon.com/the-books Quick Episode Summary: 00:00 – Introduction: Why we miss what's right in front of us01:00 – Meet Andi Simon: corporate anthropologist and meaning-maker02:00 – What anthropology really studies04:00 – Discovering that humans live inside stories06:00 – Why people don't change—even when told to07:30 – Habits and invisible patterns in behavior09:00 – Why disruption often requires a crisis10:30 – The brain, storytelling, and filtering reality12:00 – Why people must see change to believe it13:30 – Resistance inside organizations and individuals15:00 – Copycat behavior and how change spreads17:00 – Leadership vs. management mindset18:30 – Why change feels mentally exhausting20:00 – Small wins and positive reinforcement21:30 – Why people need to feel they matter22:30 – Myths: beliefs that feel true but aren't24:00 – Breaking myths through real examples25:30 – Imposter syndrome and identity shifts27:00 – Creating a new narrative29:00 – Why we try to fix the future using the past30:00 – Curiosity vs. fear31:00 – Resistance and identity transitions33:00 – Losing structure, purpose, and community35:00 – Why purpose matters37:00 – Why we delay change38:30 – Habits and human efficiency40:00 – Loyalty vs. familiarity42:00 – What people misunderstand about change43:00 – Curiosity as a life skill44:30 – Endings as transitions46:00 – Embracing what's next47:00 – What's the point? Embrace change
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    49 min
  • 124. The Price of Change: David Schnurman on Choice, Family, and What Really Matters

    124. The Price of Change: David Schnurman on Choice, Family, and What Really Matters
    Mar 4 2026

    In this episode of What's the Point?, Bill Ellis sits down with David Schnurman to explore a question many of us quietly carry: what do we think will happen when we change our lives?

    Change often begins with hope. A new job, a new city, a new path — we imagine it will give us clarity, fulfillment, or relief from whatever feels unresolved. But as David reflects throughout this conversation, change doesn't always deliver exactly what we think we're buying.

    Together, Bill and David explore the deeper motivations behind the choices we make. Family expectations, personal responsibility, ambition, and identity all shape the way we pursue change. Sometimes those choices bring us closer to what matters most. Other times they reveal that the answers we're searching for can't be found simply by changing circumstances.

    David shares reflections on how family influences the decisions we make, the stories we tell ourselves about success, and the quiet tension between the life we build and the life we imagined. It's an honest conversation about responsibility, perspective, and the complicated nature of personal reinvention.

    Ultimately, this episode invites listeners to step back and ask a deeper question: when we pursue change, are we chasing something external — or searching for something within ourselves?

    What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters — their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.

    Connect with Bill:

    • bill@billellis.com
    • www.billellis.com
    • www.brandingforresults.com
    • IG - @wcellis
    • Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
    • Facebook - @bill.ellis
    • LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
    • Book: Women Who Won

    Links for This Episode:

    LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidschnurman/

    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/davidschnurman/

    CURRENT PROJECTS / OFFERINGS

    • Author of Eleven Suitcases – a memoir about family, identity, and reducing life to what matters most
    • Author of The Fast Forward Mindset – focused on fear, focus, and intentional action
    • CEO of Lawline – leading online CLE and professional development for attorneys
    • Host of the Lawyers Who Learn podcast – interviews with legal and business leaders on lifelong learning and growth
    • Speaker & Keynote Presenter – topics include leadership, navigating change, mindset, and living with intention\

    Quick Episode Summary:

    • 00:00 – Introduction to David Schnurman
    • 01:20 – The idea behind life-changing decisions
    • 03:45 – What we imagine change will give us
    • 06:30 – How family shapes the choices we make
    • 09:10 – The tension between ambition and responsibility
    • 12:05 – When expectations don't match reality
    • 15:20 – Identity, growth, and the stories we tell ourselves
    • 18:40 – Why change alone doesn't always bring fulfillment
    • 21:15 – Learning what truly matters
    • 24:10 – How perspective evolves over time
    • 27:30 – Navigating life transitions
    • 30:10 – What keeps people moving forward
    • 33:20 – The deeper meaning behind our choices
    • 36:40 – David reflects on purpose and family
    • 39:30 – David answers: "What's the Point?"
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    1 ora e 5 min
  • 123. Built to Serve: Omar Ritter on Leadership, Discipline, and Living With Purpose

    123. Built to Serve: Omar Ritter on Leadership, Discipline, and Living With Purpose
    Feb 25 2026

    In this episode of What's the Point?, I sit down with Omar Ritter for a conversation about discipline, leadership, and what it really means to live with purpose.

    Omar's story is rooted in challenge. He reflects on the moments that shaped him — not just professionally, but internally. We talk about early lessons in responsibility, learning how to carry weight, and what it means to choose growth instead of comfort.

    Throughout our conversation, a theme keeps surfacing: discipline. Not the loud kind. Not the performative kind. But the quiet, daily commitment to becoming someone you can depend on. Omar speaks candidly about leadership — not as a title, but as stewardship. Influence carries responsibility. Authority demands integrity. And the strongest leaders are often the ones willing to do the unseen work.

    We explore what keeps someone moving forward when results aren't immediate. What drives you when applause fades? Omar's answer isn't flashy. It's anchored in consistency, values, and faith. He challenges the idea that purpose is a single lightning-bolt moment and instead reframes it as a series of intentional choices over time.

    This is a conversation about grit without ego, strength without arrogance, and ambition that stays grounded. It's a reminder that discovering what matters often requires testing what doesn't — and that real growth shapes not only what we build, but who we become.

    What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters – their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.

    Connect with Bill:

    • bill@billellis.com
    • www.billellis.com
    • www.brandingforresults.com
    • IG - @wcellis
    • Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
    • Facebook - @bill.ellis
    • LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
    • Book: Women Who Won

    Links for This Episode:

    • ​​Name: Omar Ritter
    • Website(s) http://omarritter.com
    • SOCIAL MEDIA INFO:
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/omar-ritter-cpa-sphr
    • Instagram: omar.ritter.9
    • Youtube: @‌ORitter1
    • BOOK: West Point to Wall Street - available for purchase at:
    • https://a.co/d/9LSBgOZ
    • http://omarritter.com

    Quick Episode Summary:

    • 00:00 – Welcome + Introducing Omar Ritter
    • 01:20 – Omar's early influences and foundational lessons
    • 03:45 – The turning points that shaped his leadership mindset
    • 06:10 – Discipline: what it actually means
    • 08:30 – Responsibility before recognition
    • 11:00 – Leadership as stewardship, not status
    • 14:20 – Learning through adversity
    • 17:00 – Faith, values, and internal grounding
    • 19:30 – What drives growth beyond external success
    • 22:00 – Influence, integrity, and consistency
    • 24:40 – What keeps you going when motivation fades
    • 27:30 – Redefining strength
    • 30:00 – Daily habits that build long-term character
    • 33:15 – How Omar approaches setbacks
    • 36:40 – What he hopes others take from his journey
    • 39:10 – Omar answers: "What's the point?"
    • 41:00 – Closing reflections
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    53 min
  • 122. Ron Kmetovicz: What We Carry Forward About Money, Work and Independence

    122. Ron Kmetovicz: What We Carry Forward About Money, Work and Independence
    Feb 18 2026

    In this episode of What's the Point?, Bill Ellis sits down with Ron Kmetovicz—engineer, entrepreneur, investor, and author of Ghost Money: The Pathway to Financial Independence.

    This conversation isn't about getting rich quickly. It's about what quietly sustains a life.

    Ron reflects on growing up in an entrepreneurial farm family in Pennsylvania, working in early Silicon Valley labs during major technological shifts, and building a career grounded in confidence rather than accumulation. He shares the philosophy behind "ghost money"—multiple revenue streams paired with minimal debt—and explains why independence matters more than image.

    From navigating the dot-com crash to thinking carefully about what he will (and won't) leave behind for future generations, Ron explores how money, discipline, inheritance, and physical vitality all intersect.

    This episode invites listeners to consider: Are you chasing money—or freedom? And what are you really passing forward?

    What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters – their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.

    Connect with Bill:

    • bill@billellis.com
    • www.billellis.com
    • www.brandingforresults.com
    • IG - @wcellis
    • Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
    • Facebook - @bill.ellis
    • LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
    • Book: Women Who Won

    Links for This Episode:

    • Email ron@ghostmoneythebook.com
    • Website(s) http://www.ghostmoneythebook.com

    Quick Episode Summary:

    • 00:00 – Introduction: Money as independence, not just income
    • 02:00 – Early realization: personal responsibility in his twenties
    • 03:00 – Growing up on a Pennsylvania farm with entrepreneurial roots
    • 05:00 – From military service (father) to early cable television innovation
    • 08:00 – Aerospace vs. collaborative lab culture
    • 10:00 – Early investing and stock analysis in the 1970s
    • 12:30 – "Enough is enough": redefining financial goals
    • 14:00 – Debt as the true trap
    • 16:00 – Witnessing early internet and GPS development
    • 18:00 – Confidence from competence, not income
    • 20:00 – Why he never subscribed to 16-hour grind culture
    • 21:00 – Skill-building in the age of AI
    • 24:00 – Defining "Ghost Money"
    • 26:00 – A practical example: teaching a 16-year-old to build multiple revenue streams
    • 30:00 – Advertising, comparison, and financial traps
    • 34:00 – Three steps: enjoy your work, invest 20%, leave it alone
    • 36:00 – Emergency resilience and the danger of credit dependence
    • 38:00 – Physical independence and active aging
    • 41:00 – Writing the book as legacy for great-grandchildren
    • 44:00 – Surviving the dot-com crash
    • 45:00 – Why he won't leave lump-sum inheritances
    • 48:00 – Optimism with caution in relationships
    • 49:00 – Final advice: identify skill gaps and correct them
    • 50:00 – What's the point? "Work hard, play hard… and have a little ghost money."
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    49 min
  • 121. Remember You're Dying: Annie Dike on Change, Courage, and Finding Meaning Without Tidy Answers

    121. Remember You're Dying: Annie Dike on Change, Courage, and Finding Meaning Without Tidy Answers
    Feb 4 2026
    Welcome to What's the Point? — the show where we explore what shapes us, what changes us, and what gives our lives meaning over time. In this episode, I'm joined by Annie Dike — a writer whose life has moved through wildly different worlds: a complex early life in Clovis, New Mexico, a career in law, years living and working at sea, and a steady commitment to writing as a way of making sense of experience. Annie begins in Clovis — a place she once wanted to escape, but later came to appreciate for what it gave her: creativity, closeness with her brother, and a tough kind of resilience built in a childhood without many resources. She also talks about what it was like growing up between two very different environments after her parents divorced — traveling across the country to Alabama and experiencing how different landscapes, people, and family structures can expand your world. From there, Annie takes us into what she calls her "supposed to" track — the version of success built on prestige, degrees, salary, and stability. She pursued law largely because it felt like a parachute: a way to avoid the financial struggle she knew as a kid. And while she became successful on paper, she also became deeply unhappy — especially working defense for corporations and insurance companies. The more she sensed her work didn't align with her core, the harder it became to ignore. Annie also shares the personal side of that same season: marriage, divorce, and the quiet shame she carried as she tried to keep her life looking "fine" from the outside. But that divorce became a turning point — proof she could change something hard. And soon after, she faced the bigger question: if I can change this… can I change everything else that isn't working too? A major part of Annie's next chapter is Philip, her partner — someone who saw strengths in her that she couldn't see in herself. She describes imposter syndrome as a constant companion, yet also shows how trust and relationship can become a bridge to courage. Their sailing life becomes a living metaphor: night watches, shared responsibility, and the kind of communication that has to be honest because the stakes are real. Annie makes a powerful point: trust is built through communication — even the awkward, pride-challenging kind. We also talk about identity — how hard it is to answer "what do you do?" when your life doesn't fit a neat box. Annie's story is a reminder that purpose isn't always discovered in one dramatic moment. Sometimes it's built through reinvention: lawyer, cruiser, writer, speaker, and now novelist again — someone who keeps returning to the work of meaning through words. Toward the end, Annie reflects on what she hopes readers take from Clovis: a willingness to accept change, and deeper empathy for people different from us — including her brother's experience and the layers of struggle that can exist beneath the surface. And when I ask the question I ask every guest — "What's the point?" — Annie answers with a line that lands like a bell: "Remember you're dying." Not as darkness, but as permission: take the risk, be brave, do the thing, and live awake. Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com www.billellis.comwww.brandingforresults.comIG - @wcellisFacebook - @CoachBillEllisFacebook - @bill.ellis LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellisBook: Women Who Won Contact Info: Email annie@anniedikeauthor.com Website(s) http://www.anniedikeauthor.com SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/anniedike.author Instagram https://www.instagram.com/anniedikeauthor/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AnnieDikeAuthor Author's chapter by chapter reading of Clovis BOOK Clovis https://www.amazon.com/Clovis-Annie-Dike/dp/B0FPMFZD66/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Quick Episode Summary: 00:00 – Welcome + who Annie Dike is (writer, law, life at sea)01:00 – Clovis, New Mexico: childhood, poverty, creativity, family03:10 – Parents divorced + traveling between New Mexico and Alabama05:00 – Annie's dad: bull riding, cowboy life, resilience + humor08:40 – "Get out of Clovis": school, achievement, pressure, exhaustion10:00 – Choosing law on the "supposed to" track (money, stability)12:00 – Practicing defense law + the work not feeling right13:00 – Marriage, divorce, and keeping it quiet out of fear14:10 – Realizing divorce was possible… and work might need to change too17:00 – Leaving the firm: fear, freedom, and starting over20:20 – Identity shift: "What do you do?" vs "Who are you?"21:40 – Imposter syndrome + Philip seeing strengths she can't see23:10 – Agreeing to sail around the world + becoming a strong "cruiser"25:00 – Cruisers vs sailors (what that really means)26:40 – Trust on a boat: night shifts, responsibility, judgment calls27:40 – Communication as the foundation of trust29:30 – Redefining success + "enough" + becoming a sailing writer33:00 – New chapter: selling the boat, travel, writing novels34...
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    49 min