Author: Paul Gichia

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A Gut-Wrenching Pivot

David Safeer:

A Gut-Wrenching Pivot

When Kodak shifted from analog to digital, David Safeer found himself at the center of a high-stakes transition. His story reveals what happens when professional decisions clash with personal relationships.

Bio

David Safeer is a leading expert in cash flow optimization, and founder of Cash is Clear Learning Systems, an education and advisory company serving the financial professionals that work with small businesses. He has consulted with hundreds of international small businesses to optimize their cash flow and improve profits.

As vice president and general manager of Kodak Latin America, he transformed his division from years of loss to profitability in 18 months. With a master’s degree in International Management and 20 years working with companies like Morgan Stanley, Dell, and Kodak, he is highly regarded by business owners and CFO’s.

David teaches accountants how to grow their revenue with cash flow advisory services through his Cash is Clear™ certification programs and mastermind groups. He is a trusted advisor to businesses with revenue from $1 million to $20 million.

Topics

  • Navigating layoffs with empathy and integrity
  • The human cost of digital transformation
  • Leading cross-cultural teams through change
  • Making business decisions with moral weight
  • Balancing strategy and compassion in leadership
  • The emotional side of restructuring
  • Why good employees still get let go
  • Leadership lessons from Kodak’s digital shift
  • Hiring vs. upskilling in high-stakes transitions
  • Long-term impacts of hard decisions

Guiding Questions

  • What was the moment you realized restructuring was inevitable?
  • How did you prepare yourself emotionally to lay off people you respected?
  • What made this the most difficult decision of your professional life?
  • How did you weigh loyalty against skillset when choosing who to retain?
  • What surprised you about the aftermath of your decisions?
  • What role did culture and geography play in the restructuring process?
  • How did you grow personally as a result of this experience?
  • How do you handle the long-term relationships with those you had to let go?
  • What would you do differently if faced with a similar challenge today?
  • How can leaders stay compassionate while making high-stakes decisions?

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Purpose Over Paycheck

Steve Eriksen:

Purpose Over Paycheck

He walked away from a six-figure CTO role to chase something deeper. This is the story of how he found clarity — and courage — in a moment of uncertainty.

Bio

Steve Eriksen is the Founder of EventRaptor – the BEST solution for making Virtual Event Management easy!

He’s also a tech integration specialist and automation enthusiast.

In his previous role as the Chief Technology Officer for Mary Morrissey, a life coach certification organization with an 8-figure revenue, he was responsible for all the tech that went into their events with thousands of attendees. When Steve hosted a summit for his own coaching business, he couldn’t find a good system to help him run his event.

So he took his technical background in the events space, combined it with his real-world experience as an event host, and created EventRaptor, a system that makes virtual event management easy.

Everything you see on this site was born out of Steve’s frustration trying to use other event management software, and wanting to create a solution that makes it EASY to host your own virtual event.

Steve is happy to come to your virtual event to talk about EventRaptor, virtual events in general, how to make your virtual event successful, how you can eliminate 90% of the effort involved in setting up your own virtual event, and how that can transform your business.

Note that affiliates are already earning thousands of dollars in commission from EventRaptor. This presents a great opportunity to generate additional income and add value to your event.

Of course, Steve will follow your rules and guidelines, and he has an excellent lead magnet for attendees interested in virtual events. He can also offer strategy sessions, demos and more, as well as a free entry into the EventRaptor Speaker Directory.

More about Steve: over 20 years of studying effective marketing techniques such as Direct Response marketing and NLP (language patterns). Fan of marketing experts Dan Kennedy and Jay Abraham. Former CTO of a major life coach certification and personal development company, self-confessed tech nerd, developer, father, husband, and scuba diver.

Topics

  • The emotional weight of leaving a high-paying, high-status role
  • Navigating uncertainty when you’re multi-skilled
  • The surprising power of virtual networking
  • Creating clarity in a sea of options
  • Lessons from being both CTO and coach
  • Transitioning from employee mindset to entrepreneur
  • Why “figuring it out” takes time—and how to stay the course
  • Tuning your story to resonate with your ideal audience
  • How to test your idea in real time
  • What to expect emotionally after handing in your notice

Guiding Questions

  • What made you realize it was finally time to leave your CTO role?
  • How did it feel to let go of a six-figure salary?
  • With so many possible paths, how did you narrow your focus?
  • Can you walk us through that pivotal networking weekend?
  • What internal doubts did you face during the transition?
  • How did your tech background shape the business you built?
  • What surprised you most after leaving corporate life?
  • How do you help others find clarity in their own careers?
  • Looking back, what do you wish you knew before making the leap?
  • What would you say to someone standing where you once stood?

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Jump Without a Net

Eric Collett:

Jump Without a Net

On the outside, Eric was a respected professional. But inside, stress, guilt, and stagnation were quietly unraveling him—until a single moment forced a life-altering choice.

Bio

Eric Collett is the CEO of A Mind For All Seasons, an innovative company specializing in helping people across the United States to optimize their cognitive and mental health.

He is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant and brain health expert, a licensed residential care administrator, a teacher at the College of Western Idaho, and has also taught at Boise State University.

Eric passionately believes that lifelong learning is a key to finding powerful new solutions to significant challenges and has been working to change lives through innovative brain health interventions, dementia care techniques, program development, and leadership strategies since 2000.

Topics

  • Burnout in the Caregiving Professions
  • Courageous Career Transitions After 40
  • Building a Mission-Driven Business from Scratch
  • The Hidden Toll of Always Being “On Call”
  • How Caregivers Can Reclaim Their Lives
  • Navigating Family Life with a Spouse’s Disability
  • Starting a Business While Still Employed
  • Transforming Personal Struggles into Marketable Expertise
  • Leadership in Memory Care: Lessons That Transcend
  • Creating Work-Life Alignment as a Parent and Spouse

Guiding Questions

  • What was the moment that finally made you say, “I can’t do this anymore”?
  • How did your wife’s medical journey influence your professional transformation?
  • What fears came up when you considered leaving your secure job?
  • How did you mentally shift from being an employee to becoming a business owner?
  • Can you walk us through the negotiation you made with your employer before exiting?
  • What was it like to re-enter that same workplace as a consultant after leaving?
  • How has your family life changed since you started your own business?
  • What advice would you give to someone afraid to take the leap?
  • How did your years in memory care prepare you for entrepreneurship?
  • What does success look like for you now, compared to before your transition?

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Called to Write

Vona Johnson:

Called to Write

She left her career to find more meaning. It took a diagnosis, a pandemic, and divine persistence to show her what truly matters.

Bio

VONA JOHNSON is Living Her MORE. After a successful 30-year career in affordable housing, she felt her soul longing for more peace and fulfillment. Despite many doubts, she summoned the courage to leave the security of her career to step into her true calling: helping others engage their faith. After several starts and stops, she discovered her knack for inspiring others to view retirement not as an end but as a bold new beginning—a chance to live with purpose beyond the workplace.

Through her impactful writing, podcasts, coaching, and speaking, Vona empowers Christians nearing retirement. She helps them find the courage to engage their faith, discover their worth beyond their work, and leave a lasting legacy by using their gifts and talents to fulfill their eternal purpose into the best season of life and beyond.

She lives in Pierre, South Dakota, with her husband, Steve, where she is honored to serve as a city commissioner. They find immense joy in spending time with their three children, their spouses, and six beautiful grandchildren. Some of her favorite activities include reading, attending outdoor music festivals, riding in their ‘64 Ford Galaxie convertible, and producing her video podcast, Courageous Retirement.

To start your journey towards a courageous retirement, connect with Vona at VonaJohnson.com.

Topics

  • Redefining success after retirement
  • When God interrupts your plans
  • Spiritual lessons from a cancer diagnosis
  • Why your story matters—even if it feels unfinished
  • Letting go of worldly metrics for purpose
  • The hidden costs of “just one more course”
  • Publishing your book with divine timing
  • Navigating survivor’s guilt with faith
  • Starting over in midlife with intention
  • How to finish well: faith-based retirement living

Guiding Questions

  • What made you leave a career you loved without a clear next step?
  • You mentioned “checking all the boxes”—how did that eventually fall short?
  • Can you take us to the moment you got your cancer diagnosis and what went through your mind?
  • How did the name of your book, A Different View, first come to you—and what does it mean now?
  • What role did writing the book play in your healing?
  • How did your understanding of faith shift through this experience?
  • What was the most surprising thing you learned when you paused your podcast?
  • How do you approach the idea of retirement differently than most people?
  • What message do you have for someone feeling like they “missed” their calling?
  • How do you encourage people to live for eternal purpose in everyday life?

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The Generosity Shift

Shaquille Telford:

The Generosity Shift

In a season of lack, Shaquille made an unusual pivot. Rather than chasing income, he leaned into giving—and the results were nothing short of remarkable.

Bio

I believe the more we give, the more we receive, and my purpose is to prove that.

My journey started in 2021 with my first business. Despite making an early sale, finding clients proved challenging. Despite trying various tactics, from reaching out to ads, I was unsuccessful. With my funds depleted, I reluctantly tried hosting events.

To my surprise, my first event brought in referrals, leading to two new clients. Encouraged by this success, I continued hosting events, refining my approach each time.

As I consistently garnered referrals, I realized the system I was running was very repeatable. It was time to help others do the same, specifically sales coaches. Having invested in coaching myself, I understand their struggles. Many lack a system for client acquisition or get overwhelmed with client work, neglecting to attract new ones.

This is my way of giving back to those who’ve impacted me the most.

Topics

  • The mindset shift from scarcity to generosity
  • How giving creates unexpected opportunities
  • Rebuilding a business after failure
  • Identifying your true purpose through hardship
  • Event marketing strategies that actually work
  • Lessons in resilience from solo fatherhood
  • Creating meaningful client experiences through events
  • Why business isn’t just about money
  • Teaching as a foundational identity
  • How to turn a personal low into a professional high

Guiding Questions

  • What was going through your mind when your business collapsed?
  • How did becoming a father influence your personal transformation?
  • At what point did you realize giving was more powerful than getting?
  • What were some of the first things you gave, even when you had nothing?
  • How did this new mindset affect your relationships and opportunities?
  • What does “purpose” mean to you today, and how did you discover it?
  • Can you walk us through your approach to creating impactful events?
  • What’s a lesson from your lowest moment that you carry with you daily?
  • How do you help your clients build events that reflect their identity?
  • What would you say to someone who feels stuck and desperate like you once did?

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From Fear to Freedom

Amanda Hietter:

From Fear to Freedom

Faced with an unlivable choice, Amanda took a leap of faith that separated her from everything she knew. What she gained in return was clarity, calling, and a future filled with purpose.

Bio

Amanda Hietter is the CEO and owner of Across the Horizon Travel, specializing in curated retreats and corporate travel experiences. With a passion for seamless, stress-free travel planning, Amanda works with business coaches, wellness leaders, corporate teams, and faith-based organizations to design transformative retreats and executive travel solutions. From luxury wellness escapes to high-impact leadership retreats and incentive trips, she ensures that every journey is purpose-driven and tailored to meet her clients’ unique needs.

With over three years of industry experience and multiple certifications with top destinations, Amanda has built a reputation for delivering VIP service and high-end travel experiences. She handles all logistics, including flights, accommodations, meeting spaces, excursions, airport transfers, and travel insurance—allowing her clients to focus on their mission without worrying about the details. Whether it’s an immersive team-building retreat, a faith-based pilgrimage, or a strategic business mastermind, Amanda’s expertise ensures an effortless and enriching travel experience.

Amanda is an active member of the Business Leaders Network (BLN), where she connects with professionals who prioritize growth, leadership, and collaboration. Through BLN and other industry connections, she continues to expand her network, offering innovative travel solutions that elevate businesses and organizations.

Rooted in her faith, Amanda is passionate about bringing people together through meaningful travel experiences. She collaborates with pastors, speakers, and corporate leaders to create journeys that foster personal and professional transformation. One of her signature offerings is the Footsteps of Jesus Tour, a guided spiritual experience through the Holy Land designed to deepen participants’ faith.

A seasoned entrepreneur with a strong social media presence, Amanda leverages platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube to share insights on leadership retreats, corporate travel trends, and the impact of travel on personal and business growth. Her mission is to help businesses and leaders unlock new opportunities through world-class travel experiences that inspire, connect, and transform.

When she’s not planning retreats and corporate getaways, Amanda enjoys networking, attending business events, and spending time with her family. Her commitment to excellence and personalized service continues to position Across the Horizon Travel as a leader in corporate and retreat travel.

Topics

  • Rebuilding your life after rock bottom
  • Faith-based entrepreneurship and Kingdom collaboration
  • Addiction recovery through spiritual structure
  • How boundaries and structure can save a life
  • Turning pain into purpose through nonprofit work
  • Navigating the challenges of single motherhood
  • God’s voice in major life decisions
  • Planning transformational retreats for healing and growth
  • The vision and launch of a purpose-driven nonprofit
  • Aligning your business with divine calling

Guiding Questions

  • Take us back to November 2021—what was happening in your life then?
  • What made you decide to move in with your parents rather than stay in Georgia?
  • How did your parents’ rules serve as a turning point for your addiction?
  • What role did your faith play in your transformation during those early months?
  • Can you describe the moment you realized your life had truly begun to change?
  • Tell us about the vision behind your travel business, Across the Horizon Travel.
  • What inspired your nonprofit, From Fear to Freedom, and how is it developing?
  • How has your past as a paralegal shaped your mission to help abused women?
  • What was your experience like at the Savior’s Summit, and how did it confirm your calling?
  • Looking back, what would you say to the woman you were in 2021?

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Fired and Thriving

Kevin Weber:

Fired and Thriving

Kevin Weber was laid off from his dream job at AWS on the same day as his wedding anniversary. What followed was an unexpected leap into entrepreneurship that began with a spreadsheet, a phone call, and a whole lot of hustle.

Bio

Highly strategic and technical. I am a result-oriented Cloud Architect with proven experience assessing a company’s internal processes, strategies, information systems and workflow procedures to optimize and enhance business performance. I carefully align Information Technology strategies with business objectives to reduce costs, improve information flows, report to stakeholders/managers, train and guide employees regarding system issues, and mitigate risks associated with information. I am continuously serving as a key role in spanning architecture definitions and governance for growing organizations.

Topics

  • How to turn unexpected layoffs into career pivots
  • Building a one-person consulting firm from scratch
  • Navigating the emotional fallout of job loss
  • The power of professional networks in times of crisis
  • Freelance vs. full-time: What most people don’t realize
  • Packaging and pricing your expertise as a consultant
  • Running a business solo without burning out
  • Finding your identity after losing your dream job
  • The mindset shift from employee to business owner
  • Keeping consulting work fulfilling without scaling

Guiding Questions

  • What was going through your mind the day you got laid off from AWS?
  • How did your network play a role in launching your consulting business?
  • Can you walk us through how your first client found you?
  • What was the hardest part about transitioning from employee to business owner?
  • How do you define success now compared to when you worked at AWS?
  • What’s been your biggest challenge running a one-person firm?
  • Why have you chosen not to scale beyond a small team?
  • How do you structure your day to stay productive without burning out?
  • What advice would you give someone afraid of leaving a corporate job?
  • How did this experience change your professional identity?

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One Heart at a Time

Dr. Roz Rosner:

One Heart at a Time

What if love wasn’t weak, but essential? Dr. Roz Rosner’s story takes us through a deeply personal and spiritual shift that began with a single moment at a training in Atlanta—and changed everything after.

Bio

Dr. Elizabeth Rosner, affectionately known as DrRoz, is a visionary leader and the heart behind Love Revolution. Through her work, DrRoz seeks to inspire and empower individuals to lead with love, compassion, and nonviolence. Love Revolution encompasses a range of initiatives, including DebtFreeDegree, Leading with L.O.V.E., and Nonviolence365 Trainer for The King Center. By integrating these elements, DrRoz offers a comprehensive framework for personal and collective transformation. She believes her mission is teaching 8 Billion people to LOVE 8 Billion people, one heart at a time. Discover the power of love-centered leadership and join her Love Revolution today!!!

Topics

  • The philosophy of Nonviolence365 and its daily practice
  • Agape love vs. other forms of love
  • The myth of independence and the truth of interconnectedness
  • Lessons from studying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. every day
  • How to teach love as a skill, not a feeling
  • The role of conflict in building community
  • Why the means must match the ends
  • Parenting regrets and how we pass on violence
  • Moving from debate to dialogue
  • Building the Beloved Community in modern society

Guiding Questions

  • What did you believe about love before discovering Dr. King’s philosophy—and what changed?
  • Can you walk us through the moment at the King Center that shifted your life?
  • What does it mean to live nonviolently in everyday situations?
  • How did studying Dr. King an hour a day transform your thinking?
  • Why is agape love so central to your work?
  • You say independence is a myth—can you explain that?
  • How does “Love Revolution” differ from other movements for change?
  • What do you wish more people understood about conflict?
  • Can you share a moment where practicing nonviolence changed the outcome of a situation?
  • What’s your vision for the Beloved Community—and how do we get there?

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Watch Me Run Again

Sheila Buswell:

Watch Me Run Again

She was told she’d never run again. Instead, she ran farther than she ever had before—and discovered her true strength when she stopped.

Bio

Sheila Buswell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Buswell Biomedical, a group that focuses on achieving physical mobility through technology. 

In 1997, Sheila joined the army, and in 1998 a generator fell on her foot in Bosnia; 20 years later her Mom fell and broke her hip, and when she saw her mom battling the same problems she had it bothered her profusely. Her mom was in a rehabilitation hospital in Arizona for 3 weeks and went from 110 Pound to 99 pounds; she had to be accompanied for all the activities of daily living like toileting by a healthcare worker. She realized that it had been 20 years since her own accident, and nothing had changed in how people are treated in rehabilitation hospitals.  

After receiving a medical discharge in 2001, Sheila moved to Missouri to continue her education, earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2005 from Missouri University of Science and Technology (then UMR). Sheila also holds an MS in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University.

Sheila developed the concept for the Upward Mobility (UPMO) in 2018 to help improve quality of life at rehabilitation centers. Sheila’s goal today is for people to start thinking of AI as a way to solve problems and a tool at our disposal, instead of fearing it.

Sheila is also the author of Is This Seat For Me? which shares the stories of a diverse group of accomplished individuals who struggled with self- doubt and found ways to overcome it.

Topics

  • Redefining identity after physical injury
  • The mental side of resilience and endurance
  • How movement shaped her thinking
  • From athlete to yogi: a 12-year evolution
  • Using pain as a pivot point
  • Letting go of who you were to embrace who you are
  • Why stillness can be more challenging than motion
  • How physical challenges build mental grit for business and life
  • Comparison culture in athletics and recovery
  • The shifting relationship with your body over time

Guiding Questions

  • What did running represent to you before your injury?
  • Can you take us back to the moment you were told you’d never run again?
  • How did your mindset change as you transitioned from running to yoga?
  • What role did identity play in your recovery journey?
  • Were there moments you doubted your ability to reinvent yourself?
  • How has your definition of resilience evolved over time?
  • What lessons from endurance sports have translated into your business life?
  • What was the hardest part—physically or emotionally—about giving up long-distance running?
  • Can you talk about the mental shift required to embrace stillness after so much motion?
  • What would you say to someone who feels “lost” without their former identity?

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Manifesting a Joyful Life

Lori Pieper:

Manifesting a Joyful Life

On the morning of 9/11, Lori Pieper found herself steps away from a national tragedy. That moment sparked a deep internal shift, eventually leading her to question her career, her purpose, and how she could truly serve others.

Bio

Lori Pieper is an author, Architect of Joy, and the founder of Journey to Inner Joy. She empowers overwhelmed women to live their lives with clarity, passion and purpose. Her unique programs combine the timeless insights of ancient sages with the cutting-edge knowledge of modern science to empower transformation. Lori’s clients find their courage to set appropriate boundaries and make brave choices in alignment with their heart and soul, thus going from burnout to balance, and reclaiming their joy.

Topics

  • Witnessing 9/11 firsthand and the ripple effects on her worldview
  • The pressure of being a woman in corporate tech during crisis
  • Why trauma can become a catalyst for spiritual awakening
  • How living in Australia reshaped her understanding of wellness
  • Reiki, spiritual connection, and why it didn’t “stick” at first
  • The power of primordial sound meditation and how it works
  • Why intention-setting and soul questions can change your path
  • How she manifested the perfect corporate job—and the perfect exit
  • Transitioning from tech professional to inner joy guide
  • Empowering women to find their voice through intentional living

Guiding Questions

  • Can you take us back to where you were on 9/11 and what you felt in that moment?
  • How did witnessing such a major historical event change your view of your work and your purpose?
  • What role did stress play in pushing you to seek a different lifestyle?
  • How did your time in Australia influence your understanding of health and healing?
  • You mentioned Reiki didn’t resonate at first—what was missing?
  • What is primordial sound meditation and how did it unlock something in you?
  • Can you walk us through your process of intention-setting and manifestation?
  • You mentioned a “perfect exit strategy” from corporate—what made it perfect?
  • What kind of transformation do you now help other women experience?

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