Short Story Long: Life Lessons from Leaders, Coaches, and Entrepreneurs
Beki Fraser
50 episodes
6 hours ago
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What if safety and fulfillment were not opposites, but partners you could design on purpose? We walk through a practical, human path from control to contribution—using a true story about shifting from programming to journalism as a lens for smarter career bets and better leadership. Rather than glorifying big leaps, we unpack how small, low‑stakes experiments reveal fit, build confidence, and protect wha...
All content for Short Story Long: Life Lessons from Leaders, Coaches, and Entrepreneurs is the property of Beki Fraser and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What if safety and fulfillment were not opposites, but partners you could design on purpose? We walk through a practical, human path from control to contribution—using a true story about shifting from programming to journalism as a lens for smarter career bets and better leadership. Rather than glorifying big leaps, we unpack how small, low‑stakes experiments reveal fit, build confidence, and protect wha...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What if safety and fulfillment were not opposites, but partners you could design on purpose? We walk through a practical, human path from control to contribution—using a true story about shifting from programming to journalism as a lens for smarter career bets and better leadership. Rather than glorifying big leaps, we unpack how small, low‑stakes experiments reveal fit, build confidence, and protect wha...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What if the safest choice isn’t the most honest one? That question frames a candid conversation with science journalist Holden Galusha, who started in programming for stability and found his voice by following curiosity, not clichés. A personal loss forced a new lens—regret minimization—sparking a shift from IT to writing that wasn’t a reckless jump, but a series of smart, low-risk experiments that grew ...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. The ground will shift—so what do you train for? We dive into resilience you can actually use: the steady, repeatable practice of recovering with intention, not the myth of unbreakable confidence. Sparked by Greg Stephens’ honest story about near-misses and next steps, we explore how leaders build credibility through consistent recovery, not perfect outcomes, and why the quiet choice to pause can change t...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. Some choices don’t arrive with fanfare—they hit like a shove out of the nest. Greg Stevens shares the moment he was on his own at seventeen and the vow that followed: choose the path that honors your gut, then move one step at a time until the dream is real. That commitment led him to Baylor without a safety net, into door-to-door sales to fund tuition, and eventually into a career coaching leaders throu...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. Ever feel like your career is steering you instead of the other way around? We dig into the shift from autopilot to agency and unpack how development-minded leadership turns growth into a daily practice rather than a once-a-year form. Drawing on Tammy’s pivot from partnership to solo work, we explore how intentional choices, clear boundaries, and visible value help you build momentum without burning out....
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What happens when you finally take control of your career? Tammy Daniels' story reveals how one pivotal decision transformed her professional trajectory and personal understanding. After years of following the work at established law firms, Tammy found herself at a crossroads. The legal work had become "mundane and perfunctory," leaving her in a state of complacency. When faced with yet another firm tra...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. Layoffs shatter our sense of security and challenge our professional identity in profound ways. Whether you've just received the news, survived while colleagues departed, or sense the anxiety of possible workforce reductions, this episode offers crucial guidance for navigating before, during, and after these difficult transitions. The shock of job loss often comes with confusion about what happened and ...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. When the rug is pulled out from under your career, what comes next? Steve Jaffe knows this disorienting experience all too well. After weathering four layoffs across his 25-year marketing career, he's transformed from someone devastated by job loss to someone who "sails right through it like water off a duck's back." Steve's journey reveals a profound truth about career disruptions: they're detours, not...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What happens when the version of success you've been told to follow no longer fits who you really are? Chris Blount faced this question head-on, making the brave choice to honor his authentic self by leaving behind security for something unknown but true. Our lives are shaped by countless messages about who we "should" be – from parents, community members, and even strangers. These influences create sto...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What happens when the blueprint you've been handed for success starts suffocating your soul? Chris Blount's journey offers a compelling answer to this question that many of us face but few dare to confront. Growing up in a blue-collar New Orleans family, Chris absorbed the message that a man's worth was measured solely by his ability to provide. "You work until you don't. That is everything that you're ...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. Ever found yourself drowning in tasks but wondering why you're not growing as a leader? You might be caught in what I call the "breadth trap" – mistaking busyness for advancement and spreading yourself too thin across responsibilities without developing true expertise. After my conversation with Shannon King about broken organizational promises, I realized how many of us tie our worth to external valida...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. The moment Shannon King declined a lateral position after returning from maternity leave, she knew exactly what it meant – unemployment. Yet, she felt completely at peace with her decision. After seven years of building a department from scratch and countless promises of leadership opportunities, the restructuring that happened during her maternity leave revealed a harsh truth: corporate loyalty often fl...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. The leap from technical expert to strategic leader requires more than skill—it demands a shift in mindset. This episode highlights the subtle but powerful communication shifts that signal executive readiness, and the importance of creating space—for yourself and your team—to focus on what matters most. For leaders with technical backgrounds, it’s a practical look at what it actually means to ...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. In this episode, I reconnect with Aaron Wilkerson, a former client and thoughtful leader whose growth journey offers real insight into what it takes to move from technical expert to strategic leader. Together, we explore how leadership evolves beyond having the right answers — into building team capacity, developing others, and aligning your work with broader business strategy. Aaron shares what sh...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. Show Notes (199 words): What’s the difference between staying busy and making meaningful progress? Focused leadership reshapes the way we work—and how we feel about that work. It’s easy to default to being available, involved, and responsive. But the most impactful leaders aren’t doing more—they’re doing what matters most. With candid insights from my own challenges staying focused, learn practical...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. This episode explores Namon's journey from a decade in sales to a new path in human resources. Blending his creative identity as DJ Blue with a growing passion for people-focused work, Namon shares how formal education became a tool for finding focus and making intentional choices. With honesty and insight, he reflects on the shift from “going with the flow” to choosing a direction with clarity. Th...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. In this special anniversary episode, we’re turning the mic around! To mark 10 years of full-time coaching through my business, Focus for Growth, I’m stepping into the guest seat. My friend and podcast producer, Richard Dodds, hosts the conversation as we look back on a decade of coaching, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Join us as I share insights from ten years of working with growth-minde...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. Leadership isn't just about managing others—it's about managing yourself with intention. Drawing from a powerful conversation with Alan Heyman, this episode dives deep into two critical leadership skills: setting boundaries and creating psychological safety. Connect with Beki on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/BekiFraser Learn more about her coaching: TheIntrovertedSkeptic.com Follow Short Story Long's Linked...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. From drowning in meetings to discovering his authentic path, Alan Heyman's journey reveals what happens when we acknowledge the disconnect between career expectations and reality. This transformative conversation pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to recognize when a prestigious role isn't actually the right fit – and finding the courage to make a change. Whether you're questioning your curre...
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. Let's dig into the powerful distinction between following someone else's blueprint and charting your own authentic path as a leader. This episode explores how effective leadership begins with managing your internal reactions—especially fear. When emotions rise, it's easy to take things personally or default to defensiveness. But with awareness, leaders can pause, recognize the fear underneath, and choose...
Short Story Long: Life Lessons from Leaders, Coaches, and Entrepreneurs
Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it. What if safety and fulfillment were not opposites, but partners you could design on purpose? We walk through a practical, human path from control to contribution—using a true story about shifting from programming to journalism as a lens for smarter career bets and better leadership. Rather than glorifying big leaps, we unpack how small, low‑stakes experiments reveal fit, build confidence, and protect wha...
