About the Episode

There is no doubt that you have a proper job title for yourself. But, also, there are things you enjoy doing while you’re not at work. For example, you may be an accountant who enjoys Netflix marathons, a lawyer who enjoys ballroom dancing, and an engineer who enjoys helping out at animal shelters. However,  the first part regarding your job title is generally irrelevant on most occasions. Instead, asking follow-up questions about your human factor is more engaging. If you give it some thought, there is a job title, but behind the job title is a human being. Hence the last bit merely speaks to what other aspects of your life you are beyond the job title. Yet many of us don’t view ourselves that way.

John Garrett is my guest for today’s episode of the Pursuit of Learning podcast. He is a thought leader, agent of change, and podcast host whose purpose is to improve workplaces. He is a two-time Emmy nominee, and he is best at championing the human side of professionals, consulting with businesses to promote more productive cultures, and shedding light on the deep personal lives of their employees. Also, he was named one of Accounting Today’s top 100 most influential persons in the field after delivering compelling keynotes about his studies and recording over 300 podcast episodes of What’s Your And?.

What’s Your “And?” is a riveting wake-up call that defies the prevalent thinking that professionals must conform to a particular stereotype to succeed in the workplace. In today’s conversation, we evaluate the impact of these non-work interests on their careers and how to attract and retain people who share your passion and comprehend theirs. Also, he illustrates how deviating from the usual by sharing your non-work interests makes you a better professional and makes your firm more suited to attract and retain talent and customers. In addition, following years of his research work history as a successful CPA and stand-up comedian and his podcast interviews with hundreds of top professionals, John describes the future of professionalism as one in which we all bring our whole selves to work. Moreover, we explore how sharing our hobbies boosts job performance, fosters culture, and fortifies relationships with coworkers and clients in today’s discussion.