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You're here for tips on leveling up your career, but here's a bonus tip on leveling up your investments. Check out Public Public is an investing platform where you can invest in stocks, options, bonds, ETFs and crypto all in one place. Public is a modern brokerage and has brought innovation to aspects of investing that were dinosaur y. I'll give you an example. Public is one of the only brokerages to offer self directed investing in bonds Treasuries, which have historically been sold primarily through a government website. But with Public you can invest in Treasuries with just a few clicks right from your phone. And Public allows you to make fractional investments in bonds. So before fractional bonds on Public you had to buy government bonds starting with a $1,000 investment at a minimum. And if you wanted to invest in any more than that, you could only invest in $100 increments. Now you can buy bonds for as little as $100 and for any dollar amount on Public. That's just one example of how Public is making it easier to invest. But there are a ton more and you can explore them for yourself@public.com helpwanted to get started with your portfolio today, go to public.com helpwanted this is a paid endorsement for public investing. Full disclosure and conditions can be found in the podcast description doesn't it feel.
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Like every time you step out the door you have to pay a fee? I mean it is nuts. I've been traveling a lot for the holidays and the amount of fees I pay just to get from point A to point B, it is mind boggling and it makes it really hard to stick with my spending plan when we're trying to make progress. Life's curveballs often feel like taking one step forward and two steps back. A Chime checking account makes financial progress easier with features like no maintenance fees, fee free overdraft up to $200, or getting paid up to days early with direct deposit. Learn more@chime.com helpwanted and once you go to chime.com helpwanted you'll learn more about the fee free overdraft up to $200. And let me tell you, that is such a game changer. Make progress towards a better financial future with Chime. Open your account in two minutes@chime.com helpwanted that's chime.com helpwanted Chime feels like Progress Banking Services and Debit card provided by the Bancorp Bank NA or Stride Bank NA Members FDIC Spot Me Eligibility requirements And overdraft limits apply. Boosts are available to eligible Chime members enrolled in SpotMe and are subject to monthly limits. Timing depends on submission of payment file Fees apply at out of network ATMs.
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This is help Wanted, the show that makes your work work for you. I'm Jason Pfeiffer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magaz.
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And I'm money expert Nicole Lapin. On Tuesdays, Jason and I answer the helpline and help callers solve their work problems.
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And on Thursdays, I give you one way to improve your work and build a career or company you love.
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And it starts now.
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You want to do something new, but there's a problem. And here is that problem. Your current thing is just so comfortable. You know, it's like, why take a new job when you know your current one so well? Why pivot at your company when the old thing kinda works? Why make new friends when your current ones are fine? Well, here's why. Because you are allowed to want more, and you deserve to get more. So how do you escape the trap of being too comfortable? How do you overcome the fear of leaving something behind and moving forward? Here's how. It's an idea I call transfer of value. It's a way to move on from old things. And once you master it, you will feel more empowered and able to seize new opportunities. Today, I'll explain how it works, and to start, let's see how it plays out in a very simple way. My son Fenn used to hate new shoes. He would kick and scream and refuse to wear them. He would say, they're not comfortable. I want my old shoes. And every time I told him the same thing, I'd say, fen, your old shoes used to be your new shoes, and you hated them when they were new. Then you wore those new shoes and they became comfort. And then they became your old shoes that you want to keep right now. That will happen again with these new shoes. Your new shoes will become your old shoes. And surprise, surprise. This never worked. I mean, he is a child. But it got me thinking. This is the mistake that we all make. In some way, Fen was conflating something he wants, which was comfort, with the current source of what he wants, which was old shoes. And if we want to move forward with confidence, we must decouple these things. We must know what we want and see a better way to get it. So here's how to do that. We need to know how to know what we want. When Fen complains about his shoes, he's actually going through a logic Chain. And it's a really familiar one. There are four parts to it. So here it is. Number one, my old thing has a distinct value. Number two, I am afraid to give up that distinct value. Number three. Yes, I see some benefits of a new thing, but I'm not sure it'll include that distinct value from the old thing. And then number four. Therefore, I'd rather keep the old thing, even if it has many downsides. Right. So let's apply that to Fen. So in Fen's case, number one, his old shoes are comfortable. Number two, he's afraid to wear uncomfortable shoes. Number three, he knows that his new shoes are sturdy and not smelly. Those are good things. But he's unsure if they'll be comfortable, which is the distinct value he actually wants. Number four. Therefore, he's willing to keep his old stinky shoes, even though they are stinky and falling apart. You've done this too, haven't you? I sure have. For example, at age 28, I was an entry level editor at Boston Magazine. And I got a dream job offer from Men's Health, which meant moving to New York City. What I wanted to do. That is exactly what I wanted to do. But I nearly turned that down. You know why? Because I followed the same logic chain. I was thinking, number one, Boston Magazine was comfortable and I was well liked there. Number two, I was afraid of proving myself in a new environment. What if I wasn't comfortable and well liked at Men's Health? Number three, Men's Health offered more career opportunities and it paid better. But again, I wasn't sure if I'd be valued there. Number four. Therefore, maybe it's better to just stay in Boston. And had I actually stayed, I would have stunted my career growth and abandoned my dreams. So how do we escape this trap? The answer is, it's time for what I said at the beginning of this episode. It is time for a value transfer. Before we give up something old, we must understand what we truly value about that old thing. Then we must find a clear pathway to getting it in the new thing. We don't often think about this, not consciously, at least, but we must. So here are four questions to ask yourself whenever you're weighing old against new. What do I value most about the old thing? This is the distinct value that I'm talking about. Then, number two, what are the benefits of the new thing? Then number three, can the old thing's distinct value be found in the new thing? And if so, how? And then, number four, once that value has been transferred Am I happier? In other words, you're isolating the thing that you love about the old thing and then thinking about how you can find it in the new thing. Then you imagine having it all the value of the old thing, plus all the benefits of the new thing. And you ask yourself, am I happier this way? And if the answer is yes, then you take action. This is basically what I did at Boston Magazine when I thought about going to Men's Health. I thought, number one, what do I value most about the old thing? And the answer is, people liked me. I arrived every day feeling supported and trusted. That was distinct value. Number two, what are the benefits of the new thing? The answer is more pay, major career move, living in New York, and new adventure. Number three, can the old things distinct value be found in the new thing? And if so, how? Which is another way of saying, can I become well liked at Men's Health? Well, let's see. Why did I succeed at Boston Magazine? It was because I'd made friends and proven my abilities. And how did I do that? By being nice and working hard. Well, okay, I can do that at Men's Health too. So, number four, once that value has been transferred, am I happier? Let's imagine it. I'll be well liked and trusted at Men's Health. I will make more money. I will be further along in my career, and I'll be living where I always wanted to live, in New York. So, yes, I would be happier. Voila. The value transfer was complete. I took the job, moved to New York, and went on to build the life that I have today. So what value will you transfer? I get it. Leaving things is scary. Change is hard. So let's remember, although an old thing may be good, there is nothing inherently good about something old. Many old things are wonderful, of course. Old friends, old T shirts, old habits. We should treasure and protect the ones that still give us joy. But oldness by itself doesn't make something better. We can find greatness in new things, too. Like I said before, you are allowed to want more, and you deserve to get more. So find the best parts of old things, then keep only that part and upgrade everything else. Help Wanted is a production of Money News Network. Help Wanted is hosted by me, Jason.
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Pfeiffer, and me, Nicole Lapin. Our executive producer is Morgan Lavoie. You want some help? Email our helpline@helpwantedoneynewsnetwork.com for the chance to have some of your questions answered on the show. And follow us on Instagramoneynews and TikTok on the news network for exclusive content and to see our beautiful faces. Maybe a little dance?
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Oh, I didn't sign up for that.
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All right, well, talk to you soon.
Help Wanted Podcast Episode Summary: "It's Time to Leave 'Good Enough' Behind"
Podcast Information:
In the February 20, 2025 episode of Help Wanted, hosts Jason Feifer and Nicole Lapin delve into the pervasive issue of settling for "good enough" in one’s professional and personal life. They explore the psychological barriers that prevent individuals from striving for more and provide actionable strategies to overcome complacency.
Jason kicks off the conversation by addressing the common dilemma many face: the safety of the familiar versus the uncertainty of the new. He poses critical questions such as, "Why take a new job when you know your current one so well?" and "Why pivot at your company when the old thing kinda works?"
Jason introduces the concept of Transfer of Value, a strategy designed to help individuals move beyond their comfort zones by decoupling the value they associate with their current situation from the fear of change.
Jason Feifer (03:35): “You are allowed to want more, and you deserve to get more.”
He emphasizes that recognizing and transferring the intrinsic value of what one currently has to new opportunities is crucial for personal and professional growth.
To illustrate the concept, Jason shares a personal anecdote about his hesitancy to leave Boston Magazine for a dream job offer from Men's Health in New York City.
Jason Feifer (06:15): “At age 28, I was an entry-level editor at Boston Magazine. I got a dream job offer from Men's Health, which meant moving to New York City. It was exactly what I wanted, but I nearly turned it down.”
He breaks down his internal decision-making process using a four-step logic chain:
Jason admits that following this logic chain would have stunted his career growth.
To aid listeners in applying the Transfer of Value concept, Jason outlines four critical questions to evaluate before making a change:
Jason Feifer (09:20): “Isolate the thing that you love about the old thing and then think about how you can find it in the new thing. Then imagine having all the value of the old thing, plus all the benefits of the new thing.”
By systematically answering these questions, individuals can make informed decisions that balance cherished values with the advantages of new opportunities.
Nicole Lapin complements Jason’s discussion by highlighting the financial aspects of leaving "good enough." She emphasizes the importance of aligning career changes with one’s financial goals to ensure sustainable growth.
Nicole Lapin (12:45): “Making a strategic move isn’t just about the immediate benefits; it’s about setting yourself up for long-term financial success.”
She advises listeners to consider how career advancements can lead to better financial stability and opportunities, reinforcing the episode’s theme of striving for more.
In wrapping up the episode, Jason and Nicole reaffirm the necessity of stepping out of comfort zones to achieve greater fulfillment and success.
Jason Feifer (15:30): “Oldness by itself doesn’t make something better. We can find greatness in new things, too.”
They encourage listeners to cherish what they love about their current situations while remaining open to new possibilities that offer enhanced value and opportunities.
The episode "It's Time to Leave 'Good Enough' Behind" serves as a motivational guide for listeners hesitant to pursue new opportunities due to fear and complacency. By introducing the Transfer of Value concept and providing practical steps, Jason Feifer and Nicole Lapin empower individuals to make proactive changes that align with their aspirations and deserve more.
Notable Quotes:
Connect with Help Wanted: For personalized advice and to have your work-related questions answered, email helpline@moneynewsnetwork.com or follow Money News Network on Instagram and TikTok for exclusive content.