become

being charitable with praise

This episode's guest is Jason Jackson. Jason began working for the State of Nebraska in 2016 as the Chief HR Officer for the Governor and continues to serve in that capacity as well as being the Department of Administrative Services Director since 2018. Originally from California, Jason moved to Nebraska because he wanted to experience the “Good Life,” and return to public service. As the Governor’s CHRO, Jason is responsible for driving strategic talent initiatives to enable a more efficient and customer focused state workforce. Prior to joining State Government, Jason worked in HR in the software industry. Before beginning his HR career, Jason served for five years as a Navy Officer, earning the Navy Achievement Medal and Navy Commendation Medal for his service in the War on Terrorism. Jason is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and has earned a Master of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

bridge the gap to independence

Have you ever met a person and thought, "Wow, the legacy they are living, and at some point will leave behind, is something out of this world!"? When those moments happen to me, I usually walk away thinking, "How can I be a better version of myself?" Or, "What more can I do to leave my own imprint in this world?" The thoughts tend to get introspective real quick! Bryan Seck, the Executive Director at Lincoln Literacy is one of those people to me. Bryan has had a vast career starting by teaching English in Peace Corps Kazakhstan to launching nonprofit programs and collaborating on workforce development projects. His current role at Lincoln Literacy, has him supporting his team who provides English and workplace skills to our newest neighbors. Bryan's resume is impressive, but it's his heart that speaks volumes! He is creating a legacy with a mindset that work should not be everything in your life. Your passion also does not have to be nonprofit...you can just "do stuff". In this conversation, Bryan and I are going to talk about the ways we can all leave a legacy manifested through charity and love.
"MyLink":  https://lincolnne.mylnk.app/categories?language=en

Cry. Laugh. Drink Coffee.

Here's some solid advice: dare yourself to be different. Think about it. In today's world we are surrounded by influencers. Influencers in tech, sports, politics, and self-improvement, just to name a few. Influencers can absolutely be helpful in things like learning something new or staying in "the know". But, on the other hand, really cool things can happen too when we decide to create our own ideas, instead of blending in with the crowd. Leya Helmer, works as a talent acquisition recruiter for a hospital. She focuses on putting together events like job fairs, screening applicants, interviewing and in the end finding the best job fit for those seeking a new opportunity. In recruitment there tends to be a lot of influencers. Influence can come from the applicant's expectations of culture, pay and benefits, or growth for their career. The recruiter can also influence a job seekers decision on whether the job is the right fit for them or not. Again, influence is everywhere. 
But, today, let's dare ourselves to be different; ignore the status quo and follow our hearts. 

just the "right size"

Different phenomena surround the concept of wanting to "organize well." Minimalism, essentialism, intentional living, downsizing, and rightsizing just to name a few. Many of us may turn to the internet for advice on which method will work best for our organizing needs. We find there are many methods and one size doesn't fit all. And that's ok! Jeannine Bryant is a "rightsizing expert"! She is the owner and CEO of Changing Spaces SRS, a senior move management company. While at work, Jeannine focuses on helping older adults through the downsizing and moving process. While she's not at work, she finds great gratification on staying organized in her own life. Jeannine considers staying organized her coping mechanism – it's how she gets through life! In this episode, Jeannine will talk about how getting rid of excess stuff in our lives helps us to be so much lighter and more free! A life hack that will surely bring great benefit!

new trend: asking for help

Why is asking for help so hard? Is it the fear of rejection? The appearance of incompetence? Or, it is the emotion of embarrassment? The inner voice can be a loud one sometimes! Creating constant chatter which gets intertwined in our reality. But why...why do we do this to ourselves? When you really think about it, shouldn't we feel encouraged that we've surrounded ourselves with kind and compassionate people who are ready to lend a helping hand? Kerry Semrad, General Manager at KZUM Community Radio, is all about asking for help. As an expert in public media, she is constantly building a strong and smart community of partnerships. Partnerships that can positively influence the impact she helps make on the radio for her listeners and supporters. In this episode, Kerry and I are going to explore what it might be like to turn down the volume of our inner voice and find the positive side to asking for help. Join us as we build a new partnership!

kindness matters

What comes to mind when you think about making a gesture of gratitude towards a good friend... is it a gift, like a bouquet of flowers? Is it sharing your time with them, by taking them out to coffee? Or is it sharing a simple smile as you pass them by? The way we share our happiness and gratitude for others shows up in different ways. There is no right or wrong way, however, in my opinion, there is one thing to always keep in mind... is your gesture coming from a place of authenticity. Are you being your best self in that moment? Tracy Haefele chooses to spend her time giving back to others by encouraging them to be their best selves. Bringing joy to others, while helping them understand that THEY too can bring joy to others, is her passion. Tracy and I are going to discuss the idea behind small acts, compared to big gestures and how sometimes the most valuable gift is just recognizing that another person wants to be "seen" and accepted.

carefree curiosity

When was the last time you thought about your favorite color, your favorite animal or your favorite way to spend time? As we go through life, our priorities change. This is not a bad thing to have happen. However, sometimes we do lose the memories of the things that once made us happy. Think back to your days in school, out on the playground, debating with your best friend whether blue or orange is the best color! In this episode, I have the privilege of talking to Spencer (Juniper) Pleskac-Clinch. Spencer is a fourth grade student who approaches the opportunities of life with curiosity, meeting each day as joyful and energy-giving. She describes herself as a female who sees beauty in the color black, loves eating at Pho Factory and drinking Boba tea. She has also identified the wolf as her favorite animal. Join us in this conversation!

the fun in exploration

Many of us have encountered an event like a job interview where we are asked, "what are your strengths"? And, "what are your weaknesses"? Others have been asked to reflect on their strengths by taking a personality assessment or strengths finder quiz. In any situation, I'm sure we can agree...knowing one's strengths is a big ask! Cliff Troyer, an Employment Specialist at Nebraska Vocational Rehab with the Department of Education, centers his expertise around helping students with Individualized Educational Plans and other disabilities to prepare for their next steps after high school. Through his work, Cliff will help these students identify and articulate their strengths in order to build confidence in their employment and career activity endeavors. In this episode, Cliff is going to share his advice on how we can develop a way to advocate our strengths for our own personal gain as well as how our strengths can also benefit others during the exploration and journey into a fulfilling career!

be YOU (because that's enough)

In my opinion, one of the hardest parts about being human is coping with the fact that it's hard to be your true self day in and day out. We may say things like, "I know who I am" or "I stopped keeping up with the Joneses a long time ago". But, I feel the fact of the matter is that every day we battle external pressures that cause us to behave in a way that doesn't align with who we tell people we are. I'm not casting fault; it's easy to do. At least, I know I'm guilty of this...all I want is to be popular, right? Chad Thies is in the business of knowing and serving people. As the founder and president of Zelle HR Solutions, he oversees a unique business model which is devoted to building impactful relationships with clients to ensure healthy organizational growth and development. In essence, Chad has a passion for people. He thanks his Nebraskan roots which taught him good ole’ fashioned values of hard work, sacrifice, and determination. In this conversation, I'm going to explore what authenticity could look like as the center-fold of a good work ethic and how staying true to who you are can actually create more "yes" and "success" in a life of becoming.

the gift of aging

Death is usually an uncomfortable topic to talk about. At least, most of us don't use it as a conversation starter at a dinner party! It is, however, something we as humans think about or encounter often. Julie Masters, professor of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Omaha, concentrates her work on aging and end-of-life. While educating her students, she eludes to the values of meaning and purpose as a way to live well. Emphasizing that finding connection to something greater than oneself can greatly prolong your desire to live. Julie's fascination around what it means to age has helped her become comfortable with the topic of death. In this conversation, we will explore why it's important to think about and discuss each stage of life and why living well can help us to die well.