In today’s conversation, Elena sits down with Stephen Seidel—entrepreneur, creative connector, and founder of the Seidel Agency and Gents Journey—to explore the power of transformation in our personal and professional lives.From his early days navigating family dynamics as a people pleaser, to engineering at Penn State, to a bold career shift into acting and pioneering YouTube content creation, Stephen’s journey is packed with pivotal moments and unexpected turns. Stephen opens up about what led him to start his own agency, his experiences being laid off, and how embracing creativity became an essential part of his career.The conversation dives deep into self-awareness, personal branding, and the challenges of showing up authentically in today’s world of content creation. Stephen also shares the intimate story behind Gents Journey, a men’s mental health collective born out of personal grief, change, and the quest for meaningful connection. With tools like the Journey Deck, he’s helping men—and leaders from all walks of life—spark deeper conversations and build genuine relationships.If you’ve ever struggled with vulnerability, wondered how to stay true to your mission, or simply want to hear inspiring stories about resilience, creativity, and human connection, this episode is for you. Tune in as Elena and Stephen discuss practical advice, powerful anecdotes, and the importance of embracing the shifts that shape who we are.Time stamps:00:00 Pursuing Empowerment Beyond Acting05:25 Citizen Journalism's Evolution06:54 Cultivating Authentic Leadership Presence11:08 Surviving Alone: A Zoom Story13:35 Breaking Stereotypes: Deep Conversations18:49 Engaging Audiences Through Micro Posts23:00 Male Loneliness and Connection Solutions26:36 Empathy and Purpose-Driven Marketing29:52 Vision Board Creation Guide30:49 "Embracing Self-Awareness Journey"36:41 Passion-Driven Success and Growth37:55 "Two Decades to Success"Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenseidel/Company website: https://theseidelagency.com/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy