Career Competitor

The "Career Competitor" podcast is hosted by Steve Mellor.

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Latest Episodes

Episode 290: How to Break Free from Perfectionism Without Losing Your Edge with Mitch Matthews

Episode 290: How to Break Free from Perfectionism Without Losing Your Edge with Mitch Matthews

Ever feel like no matter how much you achieve, it’s still not enough? Like the goalposts keep moving and the pressure to look successful is crushing the joy of actually being successful?

Mitch Matthews is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and success coach who helps people dream bigger, think better, and do more of what they’re built to do. Through his coaching programs and top-ranked Dream Think Do podcast, Mitch empowers leaders and entrepreneurs to overcome limiting beliefs, build intentional habits, and lead with courage and authenticity.

In this conversation, Steve sits down with Mitch Matthews to explore one of the biggest challenges high-achievers face: perfectionism.

They unpack how the constant drive to get it right often robs us of peace, creativity, and real growth. Mitch shares his personal journey from corporate success to coaching freedom, revealing how embracing imperfection not only changed his work, but his life.

Together, they dive into actionable tools for shifting your mindset from performance to purpose, building confidence that isn’t tied to results, and learning how to lead yourself (and others) through seasons of uncertainty and self-doubt.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own standards, this episode is your permission slip to redefine success on your terms.

Key Topics

  • The hidden cost of perfectionism in leadership and entrepreneurship
  • How to turn pressure into purpose
  • The power of curiosity in breaking the perfection cycle
  • Redefining success beyond achievement
  • Building emotional awareness and resilience
  • How to coach yourself out of performance-driven burnout
  • The difference between excellence and perfection
  • Real tools to reconnect with creativity and authenticity


Links & Resources Mentioned

#GrowthReadyPodcast #LeadershipMindset #HighPerformanceCoach #PerfectionismRecovery #MindsetShift #SelfLeadership #EntrepreneurGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #PurposeDriven #AuthenticLeadership

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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


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Episode 289: Be One of a Kind: Redefining Success and Time with Mike Milligan, CFP

Episode 289: Be One of a Kind: Redefining Success and Time with Mike Milligan, CFP

Ever feel like you’re just treading water, trying to grow, lead, and live with purpose, but never quite feeling in control?

Today’s guest, Mike Milligan, grew up in extreme poverty, endured personal tragedy, and still built a thriving multi–seven-figure business while living life on his own terms. His story of resilience and intentional living is a masterclass in turning adversity into fuel.

About the Guest: Mike Milligan, CFP® is a financial educator, author, and founder of One Oak Financial (“One of a Kind Financial”). A North Carolina native who overcame poverty and personal loss, Mike has dedicated his career to helping others live unique, purposeful lives through personalized financial planning. He also teaches financial literacy at Old Dominion University and is the author of The One of a Kind Financial Plan.

About the Episode: In this episode, Steve Mellor sits down with Mike Milligan to discuss what it really means to live an exceptional life. From growing up in poverty to leading a multi–seven-figure business, Mike shares how defining his mission,“Be one of a kind and never miss a moment”, has transformed the way he leads, works, and lives.

They explore why you must put value on your time, how to say no with purpose, and why being “selfish” might be the key to serving others better.

  • What it means to be “growth-ready”
  • How tragedy can inspire transformation
  • Why saying “no” more often can lead to freedom
  • The illusion of work-life balance vs. being exceptional at both
  • Protecting your time as if it were money
  • Creating personal mission statements that drive focus and clarity
  • Daily micro-wins and how to structure your mornings for success
  • Redefining risk and legacy through intentional living

Links & Resources

  • Guest Website: https://1oakfinancial.com/
  • Book: The One of a Kind Financial Plan (available on Amazon)
  • Course: Personal Financial Planning – Old Dominion University

#GrowthReadyPodcast #LeadershipMindset #BeOneOfAKind #HighPerformanceHabits #MindsetMatters #TimeManagement #PersonalGrowthJourney #EntrepreneurLife #SuccessMindset #PurposeDrivenLife

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Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 288: Trust Your Gut & Outwork the Rest: Building Legacy Through Leadership with Nathan Pearce

Episode 288: Trust Your Gut & Outwork the Rest: Building Legacy Through Leadership with Nathan Pearce

About the Guest: Nathan Pearce is the founder and CEO of Pearce Bespoke, a rapidly growing men’s custom tailoring brand redefining what it means to “look good, feel good.” From running a t-shirt business in his early 20s to building a national franchise in custom suiting, Nathan’s journey is a masterclass in grit, vision, and learning from losses rather than fearing failure. Through his company and charity initiative For Good Measure, Nathan is proving that confidence can be custom-tailored.

About the Episode: In this episode, Steve sits down in person with Baton Rouge-based entrepreneur Nathan Pearce to uncover the lessons behind his explosive business growth — and the mindset that keeps him grounded. From selling his first company to creating a nationwide tailoring brand, Nathan opens up about trusting his gut, building teams who believe in your vision, and learning that leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about showing up.

Steve and Nathan also dive into what it means to be growth ready — how to balance ambition with reflection, handle losses without losing faith, and lead with authenticity at home and at work. This conversation is packed with raw honesty, practical wisdom, and a contagious drive to keep building, learning, and leading.

Key Topics:

  • What it truly means to be growth ready
  • Learning from losses vs. failures
  • The importance of trusting your gut as a leader
  • Building and scaling Pearce Bespoke
  • The balance between vision and pivoting in business
  • Leadership lessons and leading through empathy
  • The “don’t be a victim” mindset
  • Legacy, purpose, and family balance
  • For Good Measure — giving confidence through custom clothing

Links & Resources Mentioned

  • Pearce Bespoke: www.pearcebespoke.com
  • For Good Measure Charity Campaign: Nominate someone deserving through the Pearce Bespoke website
  • Follow Pearce Bespoke on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
  • GrowthReady Podcast: www.growthready.com

Send us a text

Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 287 - Exercising Agency: Choosing Change and Growth with Meg Trucano

Episode 287 - Exercising Agency: Choosing Change and Growth with Meg Trucano

High performers like us can get stuck chasing outcomes, living by ‘shoulds,’ and searching for the perfect choice. That black-and-white thinking keeps us on autopilot and robs us of momentum.

Today’s guest, coach and Changeology host Meg Trucano, has lived this work. After burning out in a prestigious research career, a single question, ‘How will you feel a year from now if nothing changes?’, sparked a complete pivot. Now she helps high-achieving women create identity-level change with what she calls small acts of rebellion, like dropping old rules that don’t serve you and reclaiming your time.     

If you’re ready to trade perfectionism for progress, you’ll learn how intention, agency, and aligned action create real movement, and how to give yourself permission to change your mind.

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About the Guest: Meg Trucano is a coach, podcaster, and change advocate who helps high-achieving women navigate major life transitions with clarity and intention. Through her coaching practice and her podcast Changeology, she empowers clients to rediscover their agency, break free from limiting “shoulds,” and create meaningful, identity-level transformation.

Episode Summary: In this powerful conversation, Steve sits down with Meg Trucano to explore what it really means to be growth ready. Meg shares her perspective on the trifecta of growth—intention, agency, and aligned action—and how choosing to “exercise agency” is the key to creating lasting change.

Together, they dive into why we’re so prone to black-and-white thinking, the cultural obsession with productivity and outcomes, and how self-awareness often defaults to self-criticism rather than possibility. Meg introduces her concept of “small acts of rebellion” and reveals how choice and ownership transform how we show up in life.

From her personal burnout story to her mission of guiding others through life’s biggest shifts, Meg’s wisdom is equal parts practical and inspiring. If you’ve ever wondered how to stop coasting and start choosing the life you want, this episode is for you.

Key Topics & Themes:

  • What it means to be growth ready
  • The trifecta: intention, agency, aligned action
  • The difference between coasting and exercising agency
  • Why black-and-white thinking dominates our minds
  • Shifting self-awareness from criticism to compassion
  • Small acts of rebellion as tools for change
  • Choice as the foundation of growth
  • Meg’s journey from burnout to coaching
  • The courage to embrace change without fear

Links & Resources Mentioned:

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

#GrowthReadyPodcast #PersonalGrowth #SelfDevelopment #Mind

Send us a text

Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 286: Say Yes Until Say No: Action, Leadership & Growth with John Donnelly

Episode 286: Say Yes Until Say No: Action, Leadership & Growth with John Donnelly

Too many high-performers get stuck in overthinking. They let opportunities pass, waiting for the “perfect time.”

John Donnelly knows this firsthand. From leading through the 2008 mortgage crash to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 50, John built his career and life on one principle: say yes until you have to say no.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn how saying yes more often can unlock opportunities, deepen your self-awareness, and help you prepare for your own “mountain.”

We’ll cover how John leads with curiosity in a structured industry, why self-awareness is the ultimate ROI, how to gamify big goals like Kilimanjaro, and the practical ways you can start saying yes to growth, even when fear says no.

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About the Guest: John Donnelly is the Senior VP of Sales at Service First Mortgage, where he has led through industry highs, the 2008 financial crash, and ongoing disruption from technology and AI. Beyond his decades in leadership, John is a lifelong learner and adventurer, most recently proving it by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 50. His motto: say yes until you have to say no.

About the Episode: Growth isn’t about waiting for the perfect time, it’s about saying yes, taking action, and learning as you go.

In this episode of the GrowthReady Podcast, Steve Mellor sits down with John Donnelly to explore how saying yes can unlock opportunities, build self-awareness, and lead to transformational growth. From stories of leading teams through chaos to personal lessons gained on Kilimanjaro, John shares how curiosity, consistency, and conscious action create unstoppable momentum.

Key Topics & Themes

  • What it means to say yes until you must say no
  • Leading through crisis: lessons from the 2008 mortgage collapse
  • Why curiosity beats certainty in leadership
  • How a 12-hour walk sparked self-awareness and life-changing goals
  • The preparation and lessons from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Why consistency matters more than perfection
  • Turning ceilings into floors: leading with legacy for your family and team

Links & Resources Mentioned

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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

#GrowthReadyPodcast #Leadership #SayYes #HighPerformance #PersonalGrowth #SelfAwareness #TakeAction #MindsetMatters #Kilimanjaro #Adaptability

Send us a text

Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 285: From Blindness to Big Business: How to Scale Beyond Yourself with Aaron Golub

Episode 285: From Blindness to Big Business: How to Scale Beyond Yourself with Aaron Golub

Too many leaders hit a wall trading time for money, playing it safe, or letting fear hold them back. Aaron Golub, legally blind, former D1 athlete, NFL free agent, and now speaker-turned-SaaS founder, didn’t let obstacles stop him. In this episode, you’ll learn how adaptability, trust, and self-awareness helped him move from keynote stages to co-founding Precision Search, a SaaS business with his sister.

About the Guest: Aaron is the first legally blind Division I athlete to play football, a former NFL free agent, and a sought-after motivational speaker. He’s also the co-founder of Precision Search, a programmatic SEO company helping businesses scale.

About the Episode: What does it really mean to be GrowthReady? For Aaron Golub, it’s about leaning into discomfort, adapting to change, and building something bigger than yourself.

In this episode, host Steve Mellor dives deep with Aaron on how he transitioned from keynote stages to building a scalable software company alongside his sister. Aaron shares the lessons he’s learned about adaptability, gamifying growth, and why asking for help is one of the most underrated leadership skills.

This is a conversation for entrepreneurs, leaders, and high-performers who want to stop trading time for money and start building ventures that can scale far beyond themselves.

Key Takeaways:

  • What it really means to be growth ready
  • Adaptability as a competitive advantage
  • Transitioning from a speaking career to a SaaS company
  • The limitations of personal branding and why Aaron wanted more
  • How to gamify growth so business stays fun
  • The importance of asking for help and building trust
  • Navigating partnerships and teamwork (including working with family)
  • Aaron’s wildest dreams: IPO or a $100M+ exit

Links & Resources Mentioned

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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

#GrowthReadyPodcast #Entrepreneurship #Adaptability #Leadership #SaaSFounders #BusinessGrowth #HighPerformance #OvercomingObstacles #MindsetMatters #ScalingBusiness

Send us a text

Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 284: Why Failing Forward is the Secret to Growth with Heather Hodges

Episode 284: Why Failing Forward is the Secret to Growth with Heather Hodges

About the Guest: Dr. Heather Hodges is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, speed painter, and author of Heart Work: How to Lead People, Build Culture, and Unleash Creativity in Home Care. After leaving a corporate VP role, she followed her calling to help leaders unlock creativity and lead with courage. Heather’s unique approach blends research, storytelling, and art to inspire audiences to embrace failure, find their potential, and lead with heart.

About the Episode: In this episode of The Growth Ready Podcast, Steve sits down with Heather Hodges to explore what it really means to be “growth ready.” From her courageous leap out of corporate leadership to launching her own company, Heather shares her story of embracing failure, unleashing creativity, and leaning into the unknown. Together, they dig into the Jonah Complex, why so many adults lose their creativity, and how simple tools (like crayons!) can reignite innovation. Heather also reveals the heart behind her new book and the message she’s sharing with leaders everywhere.

Key Topics & Themes

  • Why willingness (not just openness) is essential for growth
  • The role of courage and failure in unlocking creativity
  • Heather’s leap from VP to solopreneur and keynote speaker
  • The Jonah Complex: fearing our own greatness
  • How school systems diminish creativity—and how to reclaim it
  • Using simple tools (like crayons) to spark divergent thinking
  • Lessons from Heather’s new book Heart Work
  • Daily practices for self-awareness and intentional leadership
  • Competing with yourself: growth as an ongoing journey

 Links & Resources Mentioned

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Connect with Coach Steve Mellor:

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

#GrowthReadyPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #CreativeLeadership #PersonalGrowthJourney #CourageOverComfort #FailForward #UnlockCreativity #LeadershipPodcast #MotivationForLeaders #InspireToLead

Send us a text

Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 283: How Feedback and Possibility helps you Thrive with Maritza McClendon

Episode 283: How Feedback and Possibility helps you Thrive with Maritza McClendon

About the Guest: Maritza McClendon is an Olympic silver medalist, speaker, and corporate leader currently serving in Communications and Community Affairs at Carter’s. Beyond her remarkable swimming career, Maritza has dedicated herself to inspiring others through speaking, leadership, and her advocacy for diversity and inclusion. Today, she continues to build her orbit, learning from mentors, influencing others, and preparing to step into her next chapter as both a professional speaker and aspiring author.

Episode Summary: In this powerful conversation, Steve Mellor reconnects with returning guest Maritza McClendon to explore what it truly means to be growth ready. From navigating life’s unexpected turns (like broken goggles behind the starting block) to leading with calm in corporate spaces, Maritza shares how possibility, curiosity, and feedback have fueled her growth both as an Olympic athlete and as a leader.

Together, Steve and Maritza dive into how to embrace uncertainty, create orbits of support and influence, and use feedback not as criticism but as a gift for growth. This is a must-listen for anyone wanting to thrive in their career, sport, or life by leaning into discomfort, curiosity, and community.

Takeaways:

  • What it means to be growth ready in sport, career, and life
  • How to embrace possibility and the unknown with confidence
  • The power of pivoting when plans break down (literally)
  • Building “orbits” of mentors, peers, and those you influence
  • Using calmness and preparation to lead through uncertainty
  • Turning nervous energy into focused performance
  • Reframing feedback as a collaborative, empowering tool
  • Why curiosity is the muscle that drives long-term growth
  • Maritza’s next chapter: stepping into speaking and authorship

Links & Resources Mentioned

Connect with Coach Steve Mellor:

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

#GrowthReadyPodcast #MaritzaMcClendon #LeadershipDevelopment #OlympianMindset #PersonalGrowth #EmbracePossibility #FeedbackCulture #CuriosityDriven #HighPerformance #ThrivingInUncertainty

Send us a text

Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 282: How to Thrive in a World That Won’t Stop Changing with Scott Stirrett

Episode 282: How to Thrive in a World That Won’t Stop Changing with Scott Stirrett

About the Guest: Scott Stirrett is the founder of Venture for Canada (VFC), an organization that has supported over 10,000 young professionals in launching their careers. He is also the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a book that equips people of all ages to embrace change and uncertainty as a superpower instead of fearing it. Scott’s work has raised more than $80 million to empower Canada’s future leaders, and he’s passionate about helping people strengthen their "risk-taking muscles" to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Growth Ready, Steve Mellor sits down with Scott Stirrett to explore how uncertainty, often seen as a roadblock, can become our greatest advantage. From the six core pillars of thriving in uncertain times (including self-compassion, adaptability, and entrepreneurial mindset) to building risk-taking muscles and investing in community, Scott shares actionable wisdom from his book The Uncertainty Advantage.

Whether you’re an early-career professional or decades into your journey, this conversation will help you shift your mindset, embrace risk as growth, and strengthen your ability to thrive in times of change.

Takeaways:

  • Why uncertainty is baked into our DNA
  • The six pillars of The Uncertainty Advantage
  • Building risk-taking muscles through small daily actions
  • How adaptability and generalist skills future-proof your career
  • The power of community in navigating uncertainty
  • Success stories from Venture for Canada alumni
  • The myth of “one big risk” vs. thousands of small bets
  • How reflection and feedback accelerate growth


Links & Resources Mentioned

Send us a text

Support the show

This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community


Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Bio of Career Competitor

The "Career Competitor" podcast is hosted by Steve Mellor, a Performance Coach with a background in coaching athletes to Olympic gold and executives to new career heights. The podcast is designed to ignite the competitive fire within individuals and help them jump-start or optimize their careers.

Through interviews and insights, Steve Mellor shares valuable advice and inspiration to motivate listeners on their career journeys. The guests featured on the show come from diverse backgrounds, including Olympic and Super Bowl champions, Fortune 500 executives, and entrepreneurs. However, the common theme throughout each episode is the pursuit of one's optimal self and striving towards personal and professional growth.

By listening to "Career Competitor," individuals are encouraged to tap into their competitive spirit and unlock their full potential. The podcast aims to provide specific insights that can spark motivation and drive individuals to elevate their performance in ways they may not have thought possible before.

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