Standard Operating Life

A Jason Pepper Consulting Podcast

I built an app so my softball team could take attendance. Nobody asked me to. I'm Jason, founder of Pepper Consulting, with 20 years in operations. I run my whole life on systems: money, home, work, the week. Each episode of Standard Operating Life takes one of those systems apart. How it works, what it gets me, and where it quietly breaks. Because the process is never the whole story. Season 1 is 20/40 Vision, the show I co-hosted with Helena. Standard Operating Life is Rev 2.0.

  1. 06/02/2025

    20/40 Vision ep 9 : Side Hustles & Passion Projects 'Turning Ideas into Income '

    From Rev 1.0, co-hosted with Helena.Welcome back to the 2040 Vision with Helena and Jason! In this episode, we dive into Side Hustles & Passion Projects: Turning Ideas into Income. We follow up on our previous financial discussion, explaining why we're holding off on debt and investing topics for a future guest to ensure we provide a truly Canadian perspective. Before we get into it, find out about the funny story behind the recent viral "current partner" TikTok trend that actually started on our podcast! Then, we explore the world of side hustles, distinguishing between income-generating projects and hobbies or passion projects. We share our experiences and insights on balancing these extra ventures with a full-time job, discuss practical examples like flipping items from yard sales or creating digital products like recipe books and planners, and highlight the importance of starting with low costs.We talk about learning from failures, doing your research, and setting expectations – there's no such thing as a get-rich-quick scheme, and consistency is key. We also touch on important considerations like tax implications and ask a crucial question: are you running to your dream or from your job? We recommend checking out the book 'The $100 Startup' by @ChrisGuillebeau. Described as a great read for anyone exploring low-cost startups, it offers insights and guidance on planning your side hustle properly and gaining perspective, rather than providing a rigid business plan. For your actionable step this week, they issue a challenge: spend 30 minutes brainstorming. Reflect on what truly lights you up – your passions, likes, and even dislikes – and then consider how you can transform that into something that brings value to others. This simple exercise is presented as the essential first step for anyone interested in starting their own side hustle or passion project. Good luck on your adventures! Join us as we share tips, resources, and a challenge to help you brainstorm and begin your own journey of turning ideas into reality.

  2. 05/16/2025

    20/40 Vision ep 8 : Money 'The Elephant In The Room'

    From Rev 1.0, co-hosted with Helena.This episode, described as the "seed'' for the podcast, tackles the topic of money from the perspectives of Helena in her 20s and Jason in his 40s with family responsibilities. They differentiate between simply "being careful" with money and purposeful budgeting, which involves assigning every dollar (a net-zero budget). Jason shares his past experiences with the stress and hardship caused by debt due to mismanaging money and emphasizes the need to address the root causes (habits). Implementing a comprehensive budget with his wife has significantly improved their lives and relationship.Helena is moving towards more purposeful saving by cutting expenses like subscriptions and impulse clothing purchases. Jason highlights the importance of saving for lump-sum expenses (like car registration) and major goals such as a house down payment, illustrating how small unplanned purchases can significantly delay these.A shared goal is to break the generational wealth curse and set a better financial example for future children. The episode concludes with listener challenges: - For those in their 20s: Create a simple budget or review your subscriptions. - For those in a more established situation: Undertake a comprehensive budget immediately. Recommended resources mentioned include "The Total Money Makeover" by  ⁨@DaveRamsey⁩  and "Beat the Bank" by Larry Bates (for a Canadian focus). Follow us on all our socials !

  3. 05/02/2025

    20/40 Vision ep 7 : Mentorship "The Glow Up You Didn’t Know You Needed"

    From Rev 1.0, co-hosted with Helena.Episode 7: Mentorship: The Glow-Up You Didn’t Know You Needed Topic: Diving into the world of mentorship and its potential for growth.Behind the Scenes: The episode was recorded last minute due to recent work stress and unexpected job changes, highlighting the need for support. Mentions cuts happening in healthcare and the challenges of increased workload, as well as changes and potential job cuts in other fields.Types of Mentorship: Discusses both formal and informal mentorship, focusing heavily on the informal kind.Qualities of a Good Mentor:What a Mentor Does: A good mentor doesn't just give answers but shares experiences to help the mentee find their own path. They are there to share experiences and decisions for the mentee to consider and learn from.Approaching a Potential Mentor (Informal):Unintentional Mentorship: Sharing moments where they realized they were unknowingly acting as mentors. Examples include being an older sibling offering life advice, a dance teacher being asked career questions by students, or a colleague offering guidance to younger team members at work. This is called Life Mentoring and doesn't have to be career-focused.Multigenerational Learning: Wisdom flows in both directions regardless of age. It's important not to be arrogant or have a fixed mindset thinking you can't learn from someone younger. Even a "lazy" person might offer the most efficient ways of doing things. Open-mindedness is key. This ties into the networking episode and surrounding yourself with like-minded people or those you aspire to be like.Challenges for Listeners: Remember to listen more than you talk when seeking mentorship and keep an open mind, not expecting 100% factual answers, but learning from shared stories. Looking for more content from us ? Click Here

  4. 04/18/2025

    20/40 Vision ep 6 : Career Check-in "The Work behind the Work"

    From Rev 1.0, co-hosted with Helena.In Episode 6: Career Check-in - The Work Behind the Work we're taking a deep dive into navigating your professional journey. Whether you're feeling stuck, considering a change, or just starting out, this episode is packed with relatable experiences and insightful discussions on: •Defining your Career Goals: Helena and Jason explore the process of figuring out what you truly want in your career and even touch on potential alternate paths, like Elena's newfound interest in becoming a personal chef •Tackling Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt: Hear their personal experiences with feeling "not good enough" and strategies for overcoming these common hurdles in your career path. Helena shares her initial hesitation about posting her fitness journey, and Jason reflects on his experience as an "older" Twitch streamer They emphasize that there's no set age to have everything figured out •The Power of Networking: Discover why building connections is crucial for career growth. Jason shares practical tips and anecdotes about the importance of networking, highlighting that 70% of available jobs are never even posted.... Helena also expresses her desire to learn more about effective networking . •Considering a Career Pivot and Upskilling: Is the path you're on your forever path? Helena and Jason discuss the realities of the changing job market, the importance of continuous learning and upskilling to stay relevant in a world influenced by AI and remote work. Jason shares his personal experiences with taking career risks and the different considerations for making career changes at various life stages •Reframing Your Mindset: Learn how to adopt a growth mindset to overcome challenges and view setbacks as learning opportunities. Join Helena as she discusses recent changes at her job and a surprising new passion for cooking. Jason reflects on his career journey and the value of sales skills in various professions . This week's challenge: Helena and Jason encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and message three people who inspire you with a note of appreciation. Let them know you appreciate their content – you never know the impact it might have! Share in the comments below who you reached out to, and you might even spark new connections . Don't forget to follow us on our social media for clips and updates.

About

I built an app so my softball team could take attendance. Nobody asked me to. I'm Jason, founder of Pepper Consulting, with 20 years in operations. I run my whole life on systems: money, home, work, the week. Each episode of Standard Operating Life takes one of those systems apart. How it works, what it gets me, and where it quietly breaks. Because the process is never the whole story. Season 1 is 20/40 Vision, the show I co-hosted with Helena. Standard Operating Life is Rev 2.0.