Ep243: [CASE STUDY] Beyond NCIS: Abandoning Job Security (Without Burning a Bridge), Optimizing Unemployment, & Embracing Fear of the Unknown | with Luke Brown

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My guest today is Luke Brown who is a television editor and also a valued member of the Optimizer community. Luke was a long-time editor for the hit TV series NCIS for 8 years until he decided, with the help of the Optimize Yourself community, to leave the show and pursue passion projects. With all the reasons to stay - a great team, a hit TV series that could be anyone's dream job, job stability - Luke shares with us his reasons why he needed to leave.

In this student case study, Luke and I talk about the exercises we did in his Hot Seats to figure out if he really needed to leave or if he should stay. It wasn't easy for Luke after he left his job, but as Luke reveals, it was a decision he wouldn’t change. Today Luke still finds fulfillment in his decision and on top of that, he still maintains a great relationship with the people he left.

My conversation with Luke will show you the mindset you need in making a career transition or deciding if you should leave a job that no longer fits your needs. More importantly, our conversation will show you how you can prepare so you'll have the power to make tough decisions and say no to the wrong opportunities.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• Luke's origin story and the kind of projects he'd like to work on
• The danger of having job stability
• What made Luke decide to join the Optimizer community after being skeptical about it for years
• Why Luke wanted to leave a job that could be anyone's dream job
• The outreach email Luke workshopped with me that got him a response at the most unlikely time
• The exercise Luke and I did to debate about the job at NCIS
• The podcast episode and the lesson that gave Luke the little push he needed to finally decide
• How Luke left his job at NCIS without burning bridges and more importantly, still maintain a great relationship with them
• The preparation you need to do that will empower you to make tough decisions
• How Luke spent his time during the Hollywood strikes
• How Luke coped with the difficult and messy middle
• Why Luke would not make a different decision on quitting, knowing what he knows now

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Ep218: How to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie Duke

Ep231: How to Become Resilient In the Face of Change (and Manage an Identity Crisis) | with Brad Stulberg

Ep237: A New Approach to Relieving Stress & Anxiety (and Improving “Emotional” Health) | with Nick Wignall

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep234: [CASE STUDY] How to Make the Most of Slow Work Periods and Make a Career Pivot | with Malinda Zehner Guerra

Ep119: [Case Study] Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Better Managing Your Time, And Making the Most of This Pandemic | with Ariel Fujita, Kristi Shimek, and Maxton Waller

Ep145: [CASE STUDY] Navigating a Difficult Career Transition | with Sam Lavin

Ep216: Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’

Ep194: How ‘The Great Resignation’ Caused Us to Question Everything About the Way We Work (and How to Quit if It’s Time to Move On) | with Anthony Klotz

Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian

Is it time to quit, or should you stick it out?

Ep240: Stop Delaying Your Dreams and Live a Life Rich in Experiences | with Bridget Hilton & Joe Huff

Ep219: How to Know What You Actually Want (and Find Support to Make It Happen) | with Philippe Danielides

Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Guest Bio:

Luke Brown

Luke Brown is a film & television director, producer and editor with a background in music, acting, theatre, psychology, writing and media production. With a combined love for the resilience of the human condition and fast-paced, kinetic storytelling, Luke’s approach is character first. He strives to create intimacy within chaos by “mining the moment” - identifying core character flaws, challenging them with ferocity, nurturing them with compassion, and ultimately transforming them into their character’s greatest strength. In doing so, he hopes to inspire others to enjoy their struggles and be their own personal hero. His body of work includes television shows such as NCIS: Hawai’i, NCIS: New Orleans, Once Upon a Time and The Big C.When he’s not telling stories, Luke lives his own as a father, globetrotter, scuba diver, long-distance runner, amateur DJ, coffee roaster and personal finance enthusiast. He lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).