Self-Confidence Tools from Recruitment Expert Ken Lazar

The Importance of Courage in the Workplace – Ken Lazar

“And so if you have a good relationship with your company, you have a good relationship with your manager, you should be able to have the courage to say, let’s look at a different solution. Have you looked at the solution in this manner? And that way you feel good about the fact that you have offered your manager everything, and you’re not comfortable with just not saying anything.”

Expert recruiter Ken Lazar joins hosts Brett Johnson and Carol Ventresca to explore the emotional pitfalls facing employees and offers actionable advice for staying resilient and plotting a successful career path.

The Emotional Toll of Job Seeking and Self-Doubt

Losing a job or navigating workplace uncertainty can take a significant emotional toll. As Ken Lazar points out, fear of failure and self-doubt are nearly universal. This affects everyone from entry-level employees to top executives.

The modern workplace, with its rapidly evolving demands, business decisions outside individual control, and even impersonal experiences like digital hiring processes, can amplify these negative feelings.

Older job seekers, particularly those let go during recessions, often experience a profound loss of identity. No longer tethered to a company or defined by a title, many struggle with isolation and question their self-worth.

Yet, as Ken Lazar emphasizes, these emotional roller coasters form part of a “change curve.” Everyone passes through these during career transitions.

Overcoming Age Discrimination and Limiting Beliefs

A prominent theme was age discrimination. And the damaging belief that “I’m too old, nobody wants me.” Ken Lazar acknowledges ageism as a reality but refuses to let it become an insurmountable obstacle.

His advice: “What are you going to do about it? You just have to ignore it and go forward.”

Older professionals can find new purpose in encore careers, often outside their previous corporate tracks. They can draw upon accumulated wisdom and seek meaning over title or compensation.

Conversely, age discrimination affects the young as well. Young applicants can be passed over for a perceived lack of experience.

The underlying lesson?

Every job seeker must focus on factors within their control: their energy, research, enthusiasm, and the ability to make their case—rather than getting trapped in assumptions or limiting beliefs.

The Power of Initiative and Emotional Intelligence

A standout story from Ken Lazar showcases an executive who, after being let go, began blogging about life with his autistic daughter. This act of putting himself “out there” led to a serendipitous job as a content writer for Special Olympics. It is a role deeply aligned with his passions.

The lesson: announce your goals to the universe, start acting, and meaningful opportunities may follow. As Carol Ventresca states “when you put it out there… you’re also convincing yourself.”

And don’t underestimate the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. Handling setbacks, navigating difficult meetings, confronting managers diplomatically, and acknowledging emotions openly (rather than bottling them up) are vital to both professional success and personal growth.

Courage, as Ken Lazar describes, “doesn’t always get you the solutions you want, but it gets you the right direction.” Even when that means respectfully challenging the status quo or advocating for a better path.

Building a Resilient, Nonlinear Career

Linear career paths are a myth. All three speakers—Ken Lazar, Brett Johnson, and Carol Ventresca—admit that their own journeys zigzagged between industries, roles, and surprises.

What matters is amassing transferable skills and keeping your career north star in sight. “Your company owns your job, but you own your career,” he explains.

Prepare for change, treat each setback as a learning opportunity, and focus on your broader ambitions rather than one job or title. The job is simply a vehicle; the career is the journey.

Moving Past Failure and Self-Doubt

Ken Lazar closes with enduring advice:

“We’re not defined only by occupation. Know your goals—physical, spiritual, monetary, occupational. Keep your eyes open, be willing to contribute to others, and throw yourself out into the world.”

By embracing opportunities to help others and staying true to your own goals. You’ll build the confidence to weather emotional storms and thrive on your own terms.

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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants.

Copyright 2026 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson

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The views and opinions expressed by the experts interviewed on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast hosts or any affiliated organizations. The information in these interviews is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for specific advice or information related to their individual circumstances. The podcast host and producers do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided by the experts interviewed. Listener discretion is advised.