Be Future Ready

Sarah Price
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If you're out there working hard, wondering what's next, and feeling frustrated and unclear because you’re not getting the right answers, this podcast exists for you. Stop guessing and start building a future you actually want to be a part of. And it all starts now….Welcome to the “Be Future Ready Podcast” — brought to you by Live In Your Strengths, Hosted by Sarah Price.

Episodes

  1. Jul 27

    Why a Top AI Leader Hired a Human Career Coach

    Can AI land you your next job or is relying too heavily on it holding you back? In this episode of the Be Future Ready Podcast, host Sarah Price sits down with Raj Merchant, a senior AI and data leader with 25 years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies. Despite being an expert who lives and breathes artificial intelligence, Raj hired a human career coach to navigate his recent job search.Together, Sarah and Raj break down the real power of AI as a tool for research, interview prep, and workflow automation while exposing the pitfalls of automated application strategies, AI-generated resumes, and algorithmic shortcuts. Discover why AI is a mirror (not a source) for your personal story, and learn how to pair cutting-edge AI literacy with high-touch human connection to stand out to recruiters today.

  2. Jul 13

    The Hidden College Admission Trick Nobody Talks About

    Planning for the future can feel like an endless cycle of guesswork and high-stakes pressure for parents and students alike. The landscape of higher education has completely shifted from what it was a generation ago, leaving families overwhelmed by deadlines, shifting GPA expectations, and intense competition. In this episode of Be Future Ready, host Sarah Price sits down with her longtime friend of over 25 years, Debbie Cinquemani, founder of Guide Us Educational Services. Drawing on over two decades of experience as a high school guidance counselor and independent college advisor, Debbie pulls back the curtain on the modern admissions landscape. Together, they discuss how early families should map out a strategy, the changing reality of "reach schools," why "well-roundedness" is out (and organic alignment is in), and a hidden industry truth about January transfer spots that could save an anxious student's college career.

  3. Jul 6

    Using AI For Your Resume: Here's Where It Goes Wrong

    You don't need to avoid AI, but you do need to use it like a professional editor rather than an author.If you think uploading a job description and an old resume into an AI system to create a "perfect match" is a brilliant shortcut, think again. While it seems like an amazing idea on social media, here is what nobody is telling you: you are quietly drowning in a sea of applicants doing the exact same thing. In this episode of Be Future Ready, host Sarah Price addresses the massive surge in "low-effort" or spammy applications clogging corporate inboxes. Drawing from real market research Sarah breaks down why letting machines ghostwrite your professional identity is a recipe for getting ignored. Learn how to scrub your "AI fingerprints," match your documents to your actual voice, and ensure you never fail the human interview test.

  4. Jun 29

    Why Confidence ISN'T What You Think It Is with Dr. Molly Geil

    Have you ever looked at a job description, realized you were completely qualified, and still convinced yourself not to apply? Or maybe you have a stellar resume but find yourself completely freezing up the second an interview begins. When we fall short in these moments, we usually look in the mirror and assume we simply lack confidence. But according to science, everything you've been told about confidence is probably wrong. In this special episode of Be Future Ready, host Sarah Price sits down with her program co-creator and research partner, PhD psychologist Dr. Molly Geil, to dismantle the myths surrounding professional confidence. Confidence isn't an innate personality trait, it's a biological conclusion. Sarah and Dr. Molly pull back the curtain on why high achievers second-guess themselves during career pivots, what happens to your brain when stress forces your prefrontal cortex partially offline, and why trendy advice like "fake it till you make it" might actually be driving your anxiety through the roof. Confidence is a Symptom, Not the Problem – Why a lack of confidence usually isn't a lack of capability, but a lack of clarity, safety, or evidence. Self-Efficacy vs. Raw Talent – Looking at the decades of psychological research proving that your belief in your ability to execute matters far more than skill alone. The Biology of the Interview Freeze – How the nervous system triggers a fight-or-flight response under evaluation, prioritizing safety over professional performance. The Identity Trap for High Achievers – Why senior leaders and successful professionals struggle deeply when transitions strip away external validation. The Danger of "Fake It Till You Make It" – The psychological cost of cognitive dissonance and why "power posing" can consume massive amounts of vital mental energy. Rebuilding Connection with Self – How identifying your core innate strengths can instantly rewire your approach to workplace conflict and visibility. Building Your Evidence Archive – Dr. Molly and Sarah outline the exact practices needed to shift from a mental archive of failures to a catalog of capability. Your brain is hardwired for survival and evolutionary negativity and not built to hand you automatic confidence. To overcome this, you must intentionally collect your own data. Sarah and Dr. Molly challenge you to build your own Book of Evidence using this 90-day framework: Identify 3 Recent Moments: Write down three distinct times from the last 90 days where you successfully handled a difficult, messy, or uncomfortable situation. Examine the Character Data: Next to each moment, write down what it reveals about you. Avoid looking for perfection; look for traits like resilience, consistency, adaptability, courage, or integrity. Review Before a Challenge: Keep this list in a dedicated notebook. Review your data quarterly or right before an interview to remind your brain exactly who you are and what you're capable of handling. Discover Your Strengths: Confidence skyrockets when you stop trying to mimic everyone else and start leading with your natural wiring. Sarah and Dr. Molly are both certified Gallup StrengthsFinder coaches. Learn more about the 9-module Be Future Ready program and book a free strategy consultation at livingyourstrengths.com. Episode Credits: This podcast is filmed at the Make Your Day Richer studio and edited by Richard Wilmore.

  5. Jun 22

    How People Are Actually Getting Hired In 2026

    You just applied online to your 400th job, and you’re met with total radio silence. Or worse, a rejection email generated by a bot 60 seconds later. If you are only applying to jobs online, you are playing the absolute hardest version of the game. In this episode of Be Future Ready, host Sarah Price pulls back the corporate curtain on The Hidden Job Market. Drawing from 25 years of experience running applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring teams, Sarah reveals why a massive percentage of roles are filled before an opening ever goes public. We talk about why corporate recruiters rely heavily on pre-vetted relationships, break down the jaw-dropping statistics on how referrals skip the digital garbage disposal, and explore how to break free from the screen to get noticed. If you've been relying on the "illusion of effort" by hitting submit from your couch, it’s time to change your playbook completely. The 400-Application Stagnation Sarah addresses the overwhelming frustration shared by job seekers stuck in the online application loop. What is the Hidden Job Market? Defining the hiring ether: everything that happens outside the application process and before a job goes live. The Power of Casual Referral Real examples of how everyday conversations at a dinner, party, or PTO meeting turn into real job offers. Sarah’s Soapbox: The Truth About LinkedIn Why 98% of recruiters use LinkedIn and why choosing to remain invisible online is entirely on you. The Brutal Math of Your Resume Visualizing the pipeline: out of 100 cold resumes, why only 25 ever make it to human eyes. The 7% Rule Why referrals make up a tiny fraction of the applicant pool but command a massive 45% of total corporate hires. Pre-Vetted Opportunities Why entrepreneurs and hiring managers would rather talk to a trusted recommendation over scanning an ocean of internet strangers. The Communication Anxiety Epidemic Normalizing the fear: looking at the data on communication anxiety across age brackets, from Gen Z to senior professionals. People don't know what you don't tell them. If you are actively in the market for a job, Sarah challenges you to restructure your week using this blueprint: 30% Behind the Computer: Spend a minority of your time tailoring applications and organizing documents. 70% Out and About: Spend the vast majority of your energy out in the real world—attending networking events, join clubs, setting up coffee chats, or going to a SkillPop. Connect with Your "Power Circle": Text or message three people in your immediate network today with a simple, low-pressure update: "Hi! I'm starting to explore new opportunities in [Field]. If you hear of anything or know someone I should connect with, I'd appreciate it." Engage Thoughtfully 3x a Week: Log onto LinkedIn, find companies you are genuinely excited about, and comment thoughtfully on posts from the people building those teams. Vet Your Professional Presence: A phenomenal resume won’t save an empty or outdated LinkedIn profile. Stop guessing, avoid generic AI-written templates, and build a cohesive personal brand. Schedule a free one-on-one consultation with Sarah at livingyourstrengths.com. Subscribe & Share: New episodes packed with market data drop every Monday. Hit Follow to never miss a career breakthrough, and pass this episode along to a hard worker in your circle who needs to step out from behind the screen! Episode Credits: This podcast is filmed at the Make Your Day Richer studio and edited by Richard Wilmore.

  6. Jun 15

    AI In Your Job Search And Career

    What Helps You vs. What is Quietly Hurting You Everyone is talking about using ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity to generate resumes and cover letters. But after 25 years in HR, running applicant tracking systems, and working directly with recruiting technology, Sarah Price is here to deliver a surprising reality check: AI might actually be the exact reason you aren't getting interviews. In this episode of Be Future Ready, we explore the fine line between leveraging technology and erasing your own human voice. While AI is an incredible tool that is absolutely here to stay, relying on copy-and-paste automation is flooding the job market with polished, generic, and repetitive applications that recruiters spot—and reject—in under 10 seconds. If you want to stop blending into an ocean of templated applications and start standing out, it's time to learn the right way to use AI. The HR Reality on AI – Sarah’s perspective from 25 years in the recruiting space on how automated application spam is saturating the market. The 10-Second Recruiter Test – Why generic, wordy, and over-polished content signals red flags to a human reviewer. The 3 Things AI Is Actually Great For – How to use the technology correctly for brainstorming, structuring resume sections, and practicing behavioral interview prep. Shocking Data on Recruiter Behavior – Inside the numbers: the 6-to-8-second resume glance, why 75% of cold applications disappear, and how AI-assisted tools have spiked application noise by 50%. How AI Language Erodes Trust – The Harvard Business School study proving that over-polished, automated communication reduces your perceived credibility and authenticity. The ATS Trap – Why modern systems lower match quality scores for resumes that simply copy job descriptions or stuff keywords. Don't Lose Your Voice – The critical danger of not being able to back up an over-inflated, AI-written resume when an interviewer asks you a basic question. Sarah breaks down how to use AI to refine your message rather than create a fake identity: Brainstorm, Don't Copy: Use prompts to discover core competencies or typical accomplishments for target positions, then manually insert your real-world achievements. Structure Your Thoughts: Let AI organize chaotic thoughts into neat resume bullet points or sections, but make sure the substance is entirely yours. The "Out Loud" Test: Before sending any message or submitting a document, read it out loud. If it doesn't sound like something you would naturally say, rewrite it. Prepare Real Context: If your resume claims a skill (like Excel or cross-functional team communication), ensure you have specific personal or professional examples ready to explain in the interview. Find Your Human Story: AI can write a document, but your unique story is what gets you hired. If you need help structuring your experience or prepping for an interview, book a free strategy consultation at livingyourstrengths.com. Episode Credits: This podcast is filmed at the Make Your Day Richer studio and edited by Richard Wilmore.

  7. Jun 15

    Your Resume Isn't The Problem

    You’ve rewritten your resume six times, had friends review it, paid for premium templates, and stuffed it with every corporate buzzword imaginable yet your inbox is still quiet. Naturally, you assume your resume is broken. But here’s the reality check: it's usually not the resume. In this episode of Be Future Ready, I blow up one of the biggest myths in the modern job hunt. By relying solely on job boards and cold applications, you are fighting for scraps and competing for a tiny fraction of available roles while missing out on the massive "hidden job market". I'll break down the exact mechanics behind how applicant tracking systems (ATS) filter out millions of qualified "hidden workers," share the success story of "Jasmine" (a 25-year-old marketer who shifted from invisible to in-demand in three weeks), and give you a practical blueprint to stop playing the wrong game. The Ultimate Job Search Myth – Why spending 90% of your energy on your resume is actually getting in your way. The Shocking Numbers – The reality of the modern job hunt, from 300+ application averages to the fact that up to 80% of jobs are never publicly advertised. The 27 Million "Hidden Workers" – How corporate algorithms filter out highly qualified candidates before a human recruiter ever sees a document. Case Study: "Jasmine’s" 3-Week Turnaround – How one applicant went from 60 cold applications and zero traction to 4 interviews lined up using the exact same resume. The 3 Core Stumbling Blocks – Why you're invisible where it counts, the power of a warm referral world, and the true role of AI in resume filtering. Your 4-Step Action Plan – Clear, distinct projects to implement this week to create immediate momentum. Stop mass-applying to create the illusion of effort. Instead, Sarah challenges you to focus on these four high-impact moves: Audit Your LinkedIn Profile: Update your headline to reflect your unique value (not just your job title), humanize your "About" section, and explicitly link your top five skills. Tailor (Don't Mass Apply): Pick your next 5 positions and either align your core keywords authentically or write a deeply human cover letter—5 tailored applications will beat 50 generic ones every time. Send 5 Low-Pressure Connection Messages: Use Sarah's simple, curiosity-driven template to reach out to target hiring managers or alumni without asking for a job. Request One Recommendation: Secure powerful "social proof" from a past supervisor, colleague, or professor right on your LinkedIn profile to serve as an instant reference. Work One-on-One with Sarah: Overwhelmed by the modern market and don't know where to start? Reclaim your career trajectory and book a free strategy consultation at livingyourstrengths.com. Episode Credits: This podcast is filmed at the Make Your Day Richer studio and edited by Richard Wilmore.

  8. Jun 15

    Why You Feel Stuck In Your Career

    If you wake up, head to work, do the thing, and yet can’t shake the nagging feeling that you should be further along by now, you aren’t crazy, lazy, or ungrateful. You are simply stuck, and you are definitely not alone. In the premiere episode of Be Future Ready, host Sarah Price breaks down the modern workplace phenomena driving today's career stagnation. We dive deep into the sobering data behind "The Great Detachment," explore why record numbers of employees are "job hugging" (clinging to roles they’ve outgrown out of market fear), and share the real story of "Marcus", a 27-year-old professional who found himself completely bored by his own ambition. If you are running a race someone else set up, it's time to hit pause and redefine what winning actually looks like for you. Welcome to Be Future Ready – Introduction to the episode and defining what it means to feel stuck. The Data Behind "The Great Detachment" – Why only 18% of Americans are satisfied with their jobs, and the hidden mental cost of "job hugging". Case Study: Bored By Your Own Ambition – Marcus’s story and why we mistakenly cling to identities that no longer fit us. The 3 Real Reasons You Feel Stuck – Outgrowing your current chapter, comparing your behind-the-scenes to a social media highlight reel, and waiting for permission that only you can give. 4 Actionable Steps To Move Forward This Week – Your concrete blueprint to build career momentum right now. Feeling stuck is simply a sign that something in you is ready to grow. Sarah challenges every listener to complete these four simple, powerful exercises: Conduct a Role Audit: Grab a notebook and map out what actually fills your energy vs. what drains you at work. Start a Curiosity List: Stop scrolling LinkedIn and start tracking the topics, skills, and industries that genuinely spark your interest. Have One Real Conversation: Skip the formal networking. Ask an interesting colleague, entrepreneur, or friend: "What does your day actually look like?" Write Your Future Resume: Fast-forward three years and write down your accomplishments and skills as if they are happening in the present tense. Support the Show: If this episode helped you feel a little less alone in your career journey, consider supporting our independent production by Buying Me a Coffee Work With Sarah: Ready to uncover your unique path? Book your free personalized one-on-one strategy consultation at livingyourstrengths.com. Episode Credits: This podcast is filmed at the Make Your Day Richer studio and edited by Richard Wilmore.

  9. Trailer

    BE FUTURE READY Trailer

    LAUNCHING JUNE 15TH! If you're out there working hard, wondering what's next, and feeling frustrated and unclear because you’re not getting the right answers, this podcast exists for you. Stop guessing and start building a future you actually want to be a part of.

  • 1 Trailer
    8 Episodes

Trailer

About

If you're out there working hard, wondering what's next, and feeling frustrated and unclear because you’re not getting the right answers, this podcast exists for you. Stop guessing and start building a future you actually want to be a part of. And it all starts now….Welcome to the “Be Future Ready Podcast” — brought to you by Live In Your Strengths, Hosted by Sarah Price.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Price
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Price
  • Show Website
    Be Future Ready