Career Coaching Xs and Os

Ep 58 - How Non-Technical Employees Can Build the Right AI Skills

In this episode of Career Coaching Xs and Os, Mark breaks down one of the most urgent questions facing today’s workforce: How can non‑technical employees stay competitive in an AI‑driven world? Drawing from his work at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship and his hands‑on experience coaching emerging leaders, Mark outlines a clear, accessible roadmap for developing practical AI fluency — no coding required.

He explains why AI literacy is becoming the new baseline skill, how effective prompting can dramatically improve productivity, and why understanding where AI fits into everyday workflows is more important than understanding how the technology is built. Mark also highlights the human skills that become even more valuable in an AI‑enabled workplace — judgment, communication, creativity, and ethical reasoning.

This episode gives listeners a grounded, confidence‑building framework for embracing AI as a collaborator rather than a threat. Whether you’re an early‑career professional, a mid‑career manager, or someone re‑entering the workforce, Mark offers the Xs and Os you need to stay relevant, adaptable, and future‑ready.

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Want To Co-host An Episode of Career Coaching Xs and Os?
If you want to be entered into a drawing where the winner(s) are offered the opportunity to co-host the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, please do the following:  
Buy My Book - Career Coaching Xs and Os: How to Master the Game of Career Development from Amazon - https://a.co/d/f7irTML
Write a review for my book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0CXMM24R1
Follow me on one of the following social media platforms:                    
X.com       -    @ceyeroconsltg                  
Instagram -    @ceyeroconsulting                  
Facebook  -    @ceyeroconsulting    
Post a message on one of the Social Media platforms above stating that you submitted a review on Amazon. We will randomly select the winner(s) from the list of reviewers on August 31, 2024.        
                                                                   
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Want to improve your negotiation skills? Take the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge. The goal of the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge is to desensitize yourself to the pain of rejection and to overcome fear. Check out the website at https://www.rejectiontherapy.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy. I took several challenges. Click the links to see if I got rejected during my negotiations: (1) Rejection 7: Speak Over Costco's Intercom - https://youtu.be/AycKKgP21fQ (2) Rejection 43: Hug a Walmart Greeter - https://youtu.be/GSjyly_C8pM    Subscribe to Ceyero Consulting's YouTube Channel. Track my progress as I complete all 100

Challenges.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7lxMSEtBOAgNBOPrmA9O_w   Need help launching your startup or small business? Please check out my book, #Guerrillapreneur: Small Business Strategy for Davids Wanting to Defeat Goliath, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.  

If you like the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, you might also like my other business podcasts, #Guerrillapreneur: The Art of Waging Small Business Warfare (Mastermind Interviews with Entrepreneurs, Consultants, and Business Mavericks) and #Gigging: Everything and Sharing Economy (news and predictions about the Sharing Economy).

BUY MY NEW BOOKS
I have a new book!  It is called Career Coaching Xs and Os: How To Master the Game of Career Development.  Transform your career trajectory with insider knowledge and actionable advice, all packed into one game-changing guide.   Get your copy on Amazon at https://a.co/d/f7irTML
I have an old book! It is called Guerrillapreneur: Small Business Strategy For Davids Wanting To Defeat Goliaths. If you're a fan of the Gig and Sharing Economy, you'll love how I applied this thinking to outsmart corporate giants. Get your copy on Amazon.  

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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/career-coaching-xs-and-os--3047801/support.

Ep 57 - Potluck Politics- Why Showing Up Matters Even If You Hate RTO

Welcome back to the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast—the show where we uncover the strategies, challenges, and breakthroughs that shape meaningful career success. In this episode, we dive into the frustration surrounding the Return-To-Office policy and whether employees should participate in holiday potluck events. 

Let’s be real—most of us don’t wake up excited about the office potluck. Especially if you’re already frustrated with the whole return‑to‑office push. But here’s the truth: skipping that Thanksgiving potluck could cost you more than you think. Career growth isn’t just about the work you do at your desk—it’s about the relationships you build when no one’s talking about deadlines or deliverables. That potluck? It’s a low‑stakes arena where visibility, goodwill, and connection are on the table—literally. So before you roll your eyes and stay home, let’s talk about why showing up, even for a plate of turkey and stuffing, might be the smartest career move you make this season.

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Want To Co-host An Episode of Career Coaching Xs and Os?
If you want to be entered into a drawing where the winner(s) are offered the opportunity to co-host the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, please do the following:  
Buy My Book - Career Coaching Xs and Os: How to Master the Game of Career Development from Amazon - https://a.co/d/f7irTML
Write a review for my book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0CXMM24R1
Follow me on one of the following social media platforms: 
                  
X.com       -    @ceyeroconsltg                  
Instagram -    @ceyeroconsulting                  
Facebook  -    @ceyeroconsulting    
Post a message on one of the Social Media platforms above stating that you submitted a review on Amazon. We will randomly select the winner(s) from the list of reviewers on August 31, 2024.        
                                                                   
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Want to improve your negotiation skills? Take the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge. The goal of the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge is to desensitize yourself to the pain of rejection and to overcome fear. Check out the website at https://www.rejectiontherapy.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy. I took several challenges. Click the links to see if I got rejected during my negotiations: (1) Rejection 7: Speak Over Costco's Intercom - https://youtu.be/AycKKgP21fQ (2) Rejection 43: Hug a Walmart Greeter - https://youtu.be/GSjyly_C8pM    Subscribe to Ceyero Consulting's YouTube Channel. Track my progress as I complete all 100

Challenges.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7lxMSEtBOAgNBOPrmA9O_w   Need help launching your startup or small business? Please check out my book, #Guerrillapreneur: Small Business Strategy for Davids Wanting to Defeat Goliath, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.  

If you like the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, you might also like my other business podcasts, #Guerrillapreneur: The Art of Waging Small Business Warfare (Mastermind Interviews with Entrepreneurs, Consultants, and Business Mavericks) and #Gigging: Everything and Sharing Economy (news and predictions about the Sharing Economy).

BUY MY NEW BOOKS
I have a new book!  It is called Career Coaching Xs and Os: How To Master the Game of Career Development.  Transform your career trajectory with insider knowledge and actionable advice, all packed into one game-changing guide.   Get your copy on Amazon at https://a.co/d/f7irTML
I have an old book! It is called Guerrillapreneur: Small Business Strategy For Davids Wanting To Defeat Goliaths. If you're a fan of the Gig and Sharing Economy, you'll love how I applied this thinking to outsmart corporate giants. Get your copy on Amazon.  

SOURCES
Return-to-office policies are 'creeping up,' researcher says. Many workers would rather quit

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/career-coaching-xs-and-os--3047801/support.

Episode 56 – Your Bad Intentions Are Killing Your Startup

Welcome back to the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast—the show where we uncover the strategies, challenges, and breakthroughs that shape meaningful career success. In this episode, we dive into a compelling coaching session with the founder of a cutting-edge fintech startup facing a leadership crisis. After missing a critical launch deadline due to a compliance failure, the founder took swift and severe action—demoting the Compliance Officer, revoking some of his founder shares, and resorting to verbal beratement. This pattern of high-pressure leadership had begun affecting the entire executive team, pushing them toward burnout and creating a culture teetering on the edge of sabotage. Recognizing the urgent need for a reset, the founder scheduled a coaching session with me. What advice did I offer? How do you turn a failing leadership dynamic into a thriving, high-performance culture? Stay tuned as I break down the insights, strategies, and mindset shifts that could change the course of this startup—and maybe even your own leadership approach. If you enjoy this podcast, we’d love your support! Subscribe, leave a comment on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, or your favorite platform. To become a Loyal Listener on Spreaker.com, visit us on the Spreaker platform.

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Want To Co-host An Episode of Career Coaching Xs and Os? If you want to be entered into a drawing where the winner(s) are offered the opportunity to co-host the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, please do the following:  
Buy My Book - Career Coaching Xs and Os: How to Master the Game of Career Development from Amazon - https://a.co/d/f7irTML
Write a review for my book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0CXMM24R1
Follow me on one of the following social media platforms: 
                  
X.com       -    @ceyeroconsltg                  
Instagram -    @ceyeroconsulting                  
Facebook  -    @ceyeroconsulting    
Post a message on one of the Social Media platforms above stating that you submitted a review on Amazon. We will randomly select the winner(s) from the list of reviewers on August 31, 2024.        
                                                                   
**************
Want to improve your negotiation skills? Take the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge. The goal of the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge is to desensitize yourself to the pain of rejection and to overcome fear. Check out the website at https://www.rejectiontherapy.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy. I took several challenges. Click the links to see if I got rejected during my negotiations: (1) Rejection 7: Speak Over Costco's Intercom - https://youtu.be/AycKKgP21fQ (2) Rejection 43: Hug a Walmart Greeter - https://youtu.be/GSjyly_C8pM    Subscribe to Ceyero Consulting's YouTube Channel. Track my progress as I complete all 100

Challenges.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7lxMSEtBOAgNBOPrmA9O_w   Need help launching your startup or small business? Please check out my book, #Guerrillapreneur: Small Business Strategy for Davids Wanting to Defeat Goliath, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.  

If you like the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, you might also like my other business podcasts, #Guerrillapreneur: The Art of Waging Small Business Warfare (Mastermind Interviews with Entrepreneurs, Consultants, and Business Mavericks) and #Gigging: Everything and Sharing Economy (news and predictions about the Sharing Economy).

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/career-coaching-xs-and-os--3047801/support.

Episode 55 – Tragic Magic: A Discussion with Former Silicon Valley Executive Regan Caruthers

Welcome back to the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast—the show where we uncover the strategies, stories, and secrets behind meaningful career success. Today, we have an inspiring conversation with Regan Caruthers, a former Silicon Valley executive in the educational software industry. Regan’s meteoric rise to corporate leadership was impressive, yet behind her professional achievements lay a journey marked by personal struggles and profound transformation.

After navigating the challenges of corporate ascension and a turbulent first marriage, Regan made the courageous decision to confront her inner brokenness and embrace the path of healing and self-discovery. Her life took a dramatic turn as she began to practice the wisdom she had carried with her all along, creating a powerful ripple effect of change.

In this episode, we delve into Regan’s remarkable journey and explore the lessons from her memoir, Tragic Magic: A Memoir. Her story is a compelling reminder to reflect on what we’re truly pursuing in life and whether it aligns with our deepest values and happiness.

Get ready to be inspired and introspective—this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

If you enjoy this podcast, we’d love your support! Subscribe, leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, or your favorite platform. To become a Loyal Listener on Spreaker.com, visit us at [insert link here]. Thank you for helping us continue to share impactful stories like Regan’s!"

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Guest Links:

Website - https://regancaruthers.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/regan.caruthers
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/regancaruthers/
Email - connect@regancaruthers.com
Tragic Magic - https://www.amazon.com/Tragic-Magic-Memoir-Regan-Caruthers/dp/1890586862/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2KLIIIOY0V0RA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.E00z-CSCV6jkuWl8RhS-ddNlkxKMEYXIWmmhJLp52kLGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.3AoXqwtURERYC37LnBBz1_1ozYKwrGx5YituEyqqvYA&dib_tag=se&keywords=tragic+magic+regan+carruthers&qid=1737486562&sprefix=tragic+m%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1

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Want To Co-host An Episode of Career Coaching Xs and Os? If you want to be entered into a drawing where the winner(s) are offered the opportunity to co-host the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, please do the following:  

Buy My Book - Career Coaching Xs and Os: How to Master the Game of Career Development from Amazon - https://a.co/d/f7irTML
Write a review for my book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0CXMM24R1
Follow me on one of the following social media platforms: 
                  
X.com       -    @ceyeroconsltg                  
Instagram -    @ceyeroconsulting                  
Facebook  -    @ceyeroconsulting    
Post a message on one of the Social Media platforms above stating that you submitted a review on Amazon. We will randomly select the winner(s) from the list of reviewers on August 31, 2024.        
                                                                   
**************
Want to improve your negotiation skills? Take the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge. The goal of the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge is to desensitize yourself to the pain of rejection and to overcome fear. Check out the website at https://www.rejectiontherapy.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy. I took several challenges. Click the links to see if I got rejected during my negotiations: (1) Rejection 7: Speak Over Costco's Intercom - https://youtu.be/AycKKgP21fQ (2) Rejection 43: Hug a Walmart Greeter - https://youtu.be/GSjyly_C8pM    Subscribe to Ceyero Consulting's YouTube Channel. Track my progress as I complete all 100

Challenges.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7lxMSEtBOAgNBOPrmA9O_w   Need help launching your startup or small business? Please check out my book, #Guerrillapreneur: Small Business Strategy for Davids Wanting to Defeat Goliath, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.  

If you like the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, you might also like my other business podcasts, #Guerrillapreneur: The Art of Waging Small Business Warfare (Mastermind Interviews with Entrepreneurs, Consultants, and Business Mavericks) and #Gigging: Everything and Sharing Economy (news and predictions about the Sharing Economy).

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/career-coaching-xs-and-os--3047801/support.

Episode 54 – All Startups Should Use PIPs

Welcome to another episode of the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, where we unlock the strategies and secrets of career success. In today's discussion, we'll explore why all startups should use Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs). I'll share my recent consultation with a startup fintech CEO struggling to address underperformance among his senior team members. These individuals had agreements for equity in the startup at an agreed-upon trigger date, but the CEO hadn't defined the performance he expected from them.

Performance Improvement Plans are essential for supervisors and direct reports to address and resolve performance issues. As a startup leader, you should implement PIPs with all your employees from day one.

Do you want a copy of my PIP Guide? Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.ceyero.com, and we'll send it to you.

If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and leave us a comment on Apple Podcast, Spreaker, or your favorite podcast platform. To support this podcast as a Loyal Listener on Spreaker.com, please use this link: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/career-coaching-xs-and-os--3047801/support.

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Want To Co-host An Episode of Career Coaching Xs and Os? If you want to be entered into a drawing where the winner(s) are offered the opportunity to co-host the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, please do the following:  

Buy My Book - Career Coaching Xs and Os: How to Master the Game of Career Development from Amazon - https://a.co/d/f7irTML

Write a review for my book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B0CXMM24R1

Follow me on one of the following social media platforms: 
                  
X.com       -    @ceyeroconsltg                  
Instagram -    @ceyeroconsulting                  
Facebook  -    @ceyeroconsulting    

Post a message on one of the Social Media platforms above stating that you submitted a review on Amazon. We will randomly select the winner(s) from the list of reviewers on August 31, 2024.        
                                                                   
**************
Want to improve your negotiation skills? Take the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge. The goal of the 100 Days of Rejection Therapy Challenge is to desensitize yourself to the pain of rejection and to overcome fear. Check out the website at https://www.rejectiontherapy.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy. I took several challenges. Click the links to see if I got rejected during my negotiations: (1) Rejection 7: Speak Over Costco's Intercom - https://youtu.be/AycKKgP21fQ (2) Rejection 43: Hug a Walmart Greeter - https://youtu.be/GSjyly_C8pM    Subscribe to Ceyero Consulting's YouTube Channel. Track my progress as I complete all 100

Challenges.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7lxMSEtBOAgNBOPrmA9O_w   Need help launching your startup or small business? Please check out my book, #Guerrillapreneur: Small Business Strategy for Davids Wanting to Defeat Goliath, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.  

If you like the Career Coaching Xs and Os podcast, you might also like my other business podcasts, #Guerrillapreneur: The Art of Waging Small Business Warfare (Mastermind Interviews with Entrepreneurs, Consultants, and Business Mavericks) and #Gigging: Everything and Sharing Economy (news and predictions about the Sharing Economy).