The Generalist World Pod

What You'll LearnHow to leverage your network's second-degree connections rather than direct contacts when job hunting as a generalistWhy the 50+ demographic represents untapped talent with unique adaptability forged through decades of technological changeHow to position yourself as the "wild card candidate" when working with recruiters who prefer specialistsWhy listing multiple companies on LinkedIn actually increases your visibility to executive search firmsHow generalist skills become increasingly valuable in senior leadership roles where cross-functional translation is essentialWhy saying yes to opportunities that don't make immediate sense creates unexpected career pathwaysHow to lead teams of specialists without competing with their expertise through humility and translationWhy micro-networks like Generalist World are replacing broad platforms as the future of professional networkingSome TakeawaysNetwork relationships operate on delayed reciprocity and trust-building.Recruiters use LinkedIn as a competitor-mining tool, which disadvantages generalists but creates specific opportunities.The 50+ workforce faces structural disadvantages from demographic homogeneity in hiring rather than intentional ageism.Career progression for generalists follows a counterintuitive pattern where early-career sacrifice leads to senior-level advantage.Business failure is contextual and environmental rather than purely execution-based, making timing and market positioning crucial.Professional micro-networks are replacing broad platforms as the primary value creation mechanism in career development.Leading specialist teams requires deliberate humility and role clarity around being the translator rather than the smartest person.Career resilience requires accepting that lows make highs better while maintaining benchmarks for when to pivot.The entrepreneurship explosion driven by AI and shifting employment norms creates new pathways for midlife generalists.Links:Where to find JonathanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsimpsontarling/Twitter: https://x.com/JSimpsonTarlingWhere to find Milly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/Website: http://www.millytamati.com/Generalist World resources:Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qbGzMUMDCK5v3XbvRANmD?si=b1d7af51c24e43eeThe Generalist Quiz: https://www.generalistquiz.com/Essays: https://www.generalistcareer.com/Upcoming events: https://lu.ma/generalist.eventsPositioning Guidebook: https://www.generalist.world/positioning

Karolina Sarna is a physicist-turned strategy coach and founder. Originally trained in atmospheric physics, she moved from research to applied space systems, then into data science and product leadership roles. Her work has ranged from building satellite mission components to designing end-to-end data pipelines to leading product and strategic initiatives for emerging tech teams. Karolina is also the founder of Rebel Strategy Lab, where she coaches mid-career “rebel leaders” and helps companies build strategy that aligns people, planet, and profit.What you'll learn:How to pivot your career using “A-to-B” moves—shifting just one variable at a time to evolve instead of start overWhy uncertainty can sometimes feel safer than certainty, and how to use that awareness to keep your options openA simple “hell yes or no” filter to choose which projects to say yes to when you have many possible pathsHow to give clear, timely, non-personal feedback that builds trust and helps people improve quicklyHow to build a consulting practice gradually, including setting a realistic 12–18 month runway and fallback criteriaWhy investing in tools that improve understanding of AI-generated output (like code visualizers) builds confidence and qualityWhere to find KarolinaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolina-sarna/Website: https://rebelstrategylab.com/Unmute Newsletter:Where to find MillyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/Website: http://www.millytamati.com/Generalist World resources:Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3aEZh5jzzPjVJW45MIl6Vc?si=6aa4a65865ab4ae1Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/expert-facilitator-shares-golden-advice/id1814092399?i=1000729702455Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yaxmJW7ogmgThe Generalist Quiz: https://www.generalistquiz.com/The AI fluency Quiz: https://www.aiskillsquiz.com/Upcoming events: https://lu.ma/generalist.eventsPositioning Guidebook: https://www.generalist.world/positioningThe Generalist Quiz: https://www.generalistquiz.com/

What You'll LearnHow to design workshop experiences using the Kaos Pilots 5E model (excitement, entry, engagement, exit, extension) to guide groups from their current state to desired outcomesWhy maintaining neutrality as a facilitator—using clean questions and avoiding evaluative responses—creates psychological safety and equal participation across diverse groupsThe critical distinction between transactional, emotional, and social communication layers that remote organizations must address to build genuine connection beyond their immediate teamsHow "starter energy" versus "maintainer energy" defines career trajectories and why recognizing your natural inclination accelerates professional fulfillment and business successWhy the first 15 minutes of any large gathering determine engagement levels and how to create comfort through active welcoming, voice activation, and multiple participation pathwaysThe power of testing business ideas systematically before committing, allowing energy levels and genuine interest to guide strategic decisions rather than assumptionsHow simplicity and clarity in online facilitation trumps complex tools, with methods like liberating structures' "1-4-All" providing individual reflection time before group discussionWhy gathering people around cultural topics and human experiences—not just social hours—builds the emotional connections that remote teams desperately need for collaborationSome TakeawaysPurpose precedes gathering—clarity prevents cultural damageRemote work demands intentional emotional connectionNeutrality enables authentic participationStarter energy differs fundamentally from maintainer energyComfort creates engagement; safety remains subjectiveSystematic testing reveals sustainable business modelsBroad methodologies solve specific pain pointsAI amplifies the necessity for human facilitationJoy fuels impact; depletion destroys itLinks:Where to find PerleLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perlelc/Website: www.needworkshops.comUnmute Newsletter: https://unmute.beehiiv.com/subscribeWhere to find MillyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/Website: http://www.millytamati.com/Generalist World resources:Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qbGzMUMDCK5v3XbvRANmD?si=b1d7af51c24e43eeThe Generalist Quiz: https://www.generalistquiz.com/Essays: https://www.generalistcareer.com/Upcoming events: https://lu.ma/generalist.eventsPositioning Guidebook: https://www.generalist.world/positioning

What You'll LearnHow to advocate effectively for flexible work arrangements by getting clear on specific needs and organizational obstaclesWhy trust is the foundation of successful remote work policies and how it operates reciprocally between employers and employeesHow to tell professional stories where location isn't the central element of successStrategic approaches to building flexible work policies that cascade from CEO beliefs through entire organizationsWhy surveillance and micromanagement create compliance issues rather than solving productivity concernsHow identity shifts throughout careers and the importance of allowing people to pivot and evolveMethods for crafting portfolio careers that blend consulting, speaking, and thought leadershipWhy ageing represents opportunity rather than limitation in modern work structuresSome TakeawaysEffective flexibility advocacy requires precision and preparationTrust shifts form rather than disappearingSurveillance creates the problems it aims to solveStrategic flexibility requires comprehensive organisational integrationCareer narratives must transcend location-based successIdentity evolution demands adaptability and acceptancePortfolio careers need integrated expertiseAge represents opportunity, not declineFuture success demands story-crafting over credentialsLinks:Where to find NolaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolasimon/Website: https://www.nolasimon.com/Substack: https://nolasimonhrcoe.substack.com/Where to find MillyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/Website: http://www.millytamati.com/Generalist World resources:Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qbGzMUMDCK5v3XbvRANmD?si=b1d7af51c24e43eeThe Generalist Quiz: https://www.generalistquiz.com/Essays: https://www.generalistcareer.com/Upcoming events: https://lu.ma/generalist.eventsPositioning Guidebook: https://www.generalist.world/positioning

What You'll LearnHow to break the "whiteboard paralysis" that keeps founders stuck in planning mode instead of testing ideasWhy situational leadership frameworks help founders delegate effectively without losing controlThe specific methodology behind "decision journaling" to build confidence in high-stakes choicesHow to create a "Keystone document" that makes AI 10x more effective for business operationsWhy reframing sales as problem-solving eliminates the "icky" feeling around business developmentThe two critical mistakes that prevent 90% of founders from successfully scaling their businessesHow to design operational workflows around individual energy patterns and zone of geniusWhy 2024-2025 represents a golden age for founders despite market volatility and AI disruptionSome Takeaways:The "No Battle Plan Survives Contact" PrincipleThe Delegation Paradox for ScalingDecision Journaling for Founder ConfidenceThe Keystone Document RevolutionSales as Service, Not TransactionThe AI Implementation Sweet SpotThe Mom Test for Real Customer InsightsCommunity-Driven Business TransitionsThe Golden Age Contrarian ViewLinks:Where to find CaitlinLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceoferguson/Website - https://www.coopilots.io/Podcast: https://groundsforgrowth.podbean.com/Where to find MillyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/Website: http://www.millytamati.com/Generalist World resources:Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qbGzMUMDCK5v3XbvRANmD?si=b1d7af51c24e43eeThe Generalist Quiz: https://www.generalistquiz.com/Essays: https://www.generalistcareer.com/Upcoming events: https://lu.ma/generalist.eventsPositioning Guidebook: https://www.generalist.world/positioning

What you'll learn:How to identify misalignment through body awareness and journaling techniquesThe framework for transitioning from traditional employment to entrepreneurship without rigid planningMethods for balancing masculine and feminine energy cycles in business decision-makingStrategies for "batch cooking" work sessions to optimize productivity and restTechniques for maintaining technology-life balance through intentional nature timeHow to use cycle tracking for strategic business and project planningThe importance of community containers for sustainable professional growthPractical approaches for following intuitive guidance in career transitionsSome takeaways:Body-based alignment assessmentVision-over-process entrepreneurshipCyclical work optimizationStrategic technology boundariesCommunity as competitive advantageIntuitive business timingPublishing-over-producing strategyGrounding mechanisms for digital entrepreneursTransition courage frameworkLinks:Where to find IshitaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishita-agarwal1/The Cosmic Touch: https://the-cosmic-touch.mvt.so/Menu of Generalist Services: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGyH7c-g6k/XT-K_EffF42ruIl5y90UWw/editWhere to find MillyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/Website: http://www.millytamati.com/Generalist World resources:Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qbGzMUMDCK5v3XbvRANmD?si=b1d7af51c24e43eeThe Generalist Quiz: https://www.generalistquiz.com/Essays: https://www.generalistcareer.com/Upcoming events: https://lu.ma/generalist.eventsPositioning Guidebook: https://www.generalist.world/positioning