Episode 61 – WorkMomSays: You’re On Your Own. Good.
From Work Mom Says®, Don't Be An Idiot! by Work Mom Says®
March 18, 2026 · Season 7 · Episode 61
About this episode
Lori Jo Vest discusses the importance of taking ownership of one's career in uncertain economic times.
#WorkMomSays no one is coming to save your career — and that’s actually good news. In this episode, Lori Jo Vest explains why uncertain economic times require professionals to take ownership of their careers instead of waiting for recognition, promotions, or opportunities to appear. She shares real workplace examples, including disengaged employees who quickly lost their jobs and a personal story about advocating for authority at work. Lori breaks down how engagement, curiosity, and an ownership mindset make employees harder to replace, and why proactive professionals who continually learn, volunteer, and advocate for themselves are the ones who stay employed and advance when the economy gets tough. Themes discussed in this episode Taking ownership of your career instead of waiting for someone to promote or recognize you Why employee disengagement can quietly damage long-term career prospects How economic uncertainty makes engagement and performance even more important The three things professionals often wait for that rarely come: recognition, opportunity, and permission Developing an entrepreneurial mindset and becoming a continual learner in your field Episode Highlights…
People in this episode
Hosts: Lori Jo Vest, Lori
Topics covered
- career ownership
- employee engagement
- economic uncertainty
- entrepreneurial mindset
- continuous learning
Keywords
- disengagement
- recognition
- opportunity
- permission
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Work Mom Says, Don’t Be an Idiot
More episodes of Work Mom Says®, Don't Be An Idiot!
- Episode 64 – “You Can’t Block Real Life” — Unlearning What Technology Taught Us · May 21, 2026
- Episode 63 – Will AI Take Your Job? Let’s Actually Talk About It · April 24, 2026
- Episode 62 – Bulletproof: How to Take a Hit and Stay in the Game · April 7, 2026
- Episode 60 – Confident, Fluent, and Wrong: AI & The New Workplace Trap · March 3, 2026
- Episode 59 – Dealing with Difficult People: What to Do When You’re the Only Adult in the Room · February 6, 2026
- Episode 58 – Still Standing: What 2025 Took, Taught, and Left Behind · December 29, 2025
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