S5:E1- Vickie Austin- "Work, Faith, Life, Calling, and Job Transitions in the Pandemic"- Friday, October 1st, 2021

Welcome to Season 5! Today we speak with Vickie Austin, president of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce. Vickie is also a business coach who specializes in helping workers discern as well as transition into a vocation that they love. Join us as we have a conversation about faith, vocation, work, transition, the pandemic, and discerning God’s call during all that is happening around us. 

We begin with a prayer (00:40), an introduction to the new season and format (01:20), our lunch menu (04:13), Vickie's own story of faith in Christ (05:33), what drew her to business and career services (07:04), CHOICES Worldwide and why she founded it (12:53), how business and faith inform one another (22:22),   questioning a career transition and tools for discerning during the "Great Resignation" or the "Great Discernment"  (26:07), biggest missteps when making a career change (38:16), and a final prayer and blessing(47:07).


For more information about Vickie and her work:

• President of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce
• Wheaton Chamber of Commerce
• Story on CHOICES Worldwide: Business and Career Coaching
• "Circles of Gold: Honoring Your Network for Business and Career Success" by Vickie Austin

Other books Vickie suggests and are mentioned in this episode:

• “Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want” by Barbara Sher
• “Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic” by Gregg Michael LeVoy

Menu for Today's Lunch with Vickie:

• Pan-fried and Roasted Chicken by Gordon Ramsay
• Roasted Carrots and Paper Steamed Asparagus by Nancy Silverton

Chapters

• 0:00 Gathering
• 0:40 Opening Prayer
• 1:20 Intro to New Season and New Format
• 4:13 Today's Lunch Menu
• 5:33 Story of Faith in Christ
• 7:04 Why Business and Career Services?
• 12:53 Purpose and Founding of CHOICES Worldwide
• 22:22 Faith and Business
• 26:07 Tools for Discerning Career Change
• 38:16 Biggest Missteps in Career Transition
• 47:07 Blessing