Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contactㅤPre-order Jay Schwedelson's new book, Stupider People Have Done It (out June 9, 2026).All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206ㅤSubscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletterㅤRegister for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.comㅤRegister for Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.comㅤConnect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/askㅤLeave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!ㅤConnect with Russ Harp and follow the launch of Russ Harp Media. He is open to conversations about digital marketing work, career advice, or the foster care and adoption journey.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/russharpmediaEmail: [email protected]: @russharpmediaWebsite: russharpmedia.comㅤGetting laid off with two young kids at home, an adoption date on the calendar, and a family counting on you is the kind of thing that flattens most people. Russ Harp did close to the opposite, turning a birthday post into 130-plus real conversations by being honest about what happened and asking people what they actually thought he was good at. Jay Schwedelson found him after that post stopped the scroll, and what comes out of it is less a job-hunt story than a working example of choosing gratitude and vulnerability over "woe is me."ㅤBest Moments:(05:31) The layoff took out 40 people, more than half the marketing team, one day before his sons' naming ceremony.(06:01) Two days of prayer and drumming at a Prairie Band ceremony pull his identity out of his job title.(07:48) Instead of collecting happy-birthday messages, he asks his whole network what he is actually good at.(08:29) One honest post becomes 130-plus replies, coffees, and calls, relationships instead of resumes.(11:04) The line from Jay's book that lit the fuse, the regret of not starting beats failure.(16:53) His two foster sons, adopted young, redefine what resilience actually looks like.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related