Midlife Enterpriser
Midlife Enterpriser
Shai Vyakarnam
The podcast series is for those who want to rethink what they want as they approach or hit midlife. The series is based on ideas, thoughts and practicalities that I have learnt from 30 years in entrepreneurship development and especially from a whole load of people with wisdom, compassion and insights. Together to unlock the inner enterpriser and make the world a better place. For those who really want to dig deeper and take the early first steps to a new venture visit www.midlifeenterpriser.com
Looking for the Inner Enterpriser
In this episode of the Midlife Enterpriser, Dr. Shai takes us on a philosophical journey, reflecting more deeply on how to filter through the noise and distractions of our daily lives and pressures, to think about our true internal motivations. This helps us to find clarity as to how we can understand what drives us, what experience we bring to the table, and how we can create meaning to both our own lives as well as the world around us - unlocking our inner enterpriser and setting us on our most impactful midlife journeys ahead!   As you seek out the inner enterpriser – you will be on a very personal journey and how deep you decide to go will be your choice. And we cannot forget that we are living in very strange times and probably face all manner of confusion from work and from home, BUT Having said that as a Midlife enterpriser you already have the experience, tools and expertise to accelerate the journey so ask your self – what am I  waiting for?! I would love to engage in discussion on this topic so if you have any thoughts – please get in touch. Stay tuned for more from Midlife enterpriser, to dig deeper, unlock your inner enterpriser and create greater impact by visiting midlifeenterpriser.com or by getting in touch with us at LinkedIn or Facebook at Midlife Enterpriser. https://midlifeenterpriser.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/midlife-enterpriser https://www.facebook.com/MidlifeEnterpriser
Jan 5, 2022
9 min
Career transition is scary - even for brilliant scientists
common strands to how we progress in life. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Jo Mills, Head of Entrepreneurship at the Genome Campus in Cambridge. This world-class centre mapped the human genome some 20 years ago and is currently at the centre of mapping the trajectory of the variants of corona virus across the UK. In this world of top-class scientists, we are fortunate to have Dr. Mills – whose task it is to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit of those around her, helping support some of the scientists make their way into enterprise and to help promote and diffuse their knowledge for the betterment of human kind. To set context – Jo and I worked together for 14 years at the Judge Business School in Cambridge where we had established pioneering ways to provide education for entrepreneurship. I asked Dr. Mills to introduce herself and share her learnings and insights both from the work she has been doing the survey conducted to find out more about the motives and barriers to shifting career trajectories from pure science into enterprise. We explore the idea of people being in their silos  engrossed in their work  and finding it scary to branch out into new endeavours. We chat about how a life plan suddenly changes from an expected pathway into a seismic career change that becomes uncertain. These fears, questions and issues of self-belief and confidence are common threads regardless of the career we transition out of – be it science or banking. Join our conversation as Dr. Mills explores the transitions into enterprise that people go through in her domain of genomics and data science and gain deeper insights as how this applies to us all. And Stay tuned for more from Midlife enterpriser, to dig deeper, unlock your inner enterpriser and create greater impact. If you feel it is time! Do get in touch with us us via LinkedIn or Facebook at Midlife Enterpriser or visit midlifeenterpriser.com. https://midlifeenterpriser.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/midlife-enterpriser https://www.facebook.com/MidlifeEnterpriser
Aug 23, 2021
23 min
Defining your own success
In this episode I have a conversation with a friend and former colleague Vicky Steenkamp – who runs a business called Mindset and Soul, helping you to connect your body, mind and soul to live your best life. More information is on www.mindsetandsoul.co.uk/ This conversation with Vicky is about how we define success. In our sometimes meandering conversation we talk about when success is made up of small wins, meeting our deep values, that sometimes the journey itself is what it is and how we need to set aside our judgements of what constitutes success or for that matter what is good. The conversation did not take us to the world of Key Performance Indicators, or making tonnes of revenues or complying with metrics imposed on us by the outside world, but it did take us into the world of meeting our deeper internal values. We talk about labels and the Bhagavad Gita – and I shall return to the lessons from the Gita – well some of them – that we can use as Midlife Enterprisers to help understand the conflicting goals, duties and labels we sometimes have to deal with. I really enjoy my conversations with Vicky – but I enjoy them even more when I listen again to the podcast – because she is so thoughtful and engaging, where even her silence speaks a 1,000 words. I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did. Stay tuned for more from Midlife enterpriser, to dig deeper, unlock your inner enterpriser and create greater impact by visiting midlifeenterpriser.com or by getting in touch with us at LinkedIn or Facebook at Midlife Enterpriser. https://midlifeenterpriser.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/midlife-enterpriser https://www.facebook.com/MidlifeEnterpriser
Jul 16, 2021
13 min
Do you provide shade or cast a shadow
This episode is based on a challenge my father put to me when I was a young parent and also making my way in management. He asked if I thought I would be someone that provided shade, where my children or people reporting to me would feel nurtured and could grow their creativity and sense of purpose or might I be someone who would, through a subtle change of angle become a shadow over them? The shadow that might stifle the sense of creativity and freedom to grow and develop. Where it might turn from nurture to suffocation.  Well, I though it time to explore this topic with two people; Dr Chiraz Ennaceur a recent entrepreneur and CEO who co-founded Corrosion Radar and Dash Dhakshinamoorthy a serial entrepreneur. I am delighted to have learnt some new insights on this topic. If you would like to know more about unlocking your inner enterpriser please take a look at www.midlifeenterpriser.com
Apr 18, 2021
13 min
Enterprisers tolerate risk they do not take risks
This episode is based on research that compared senior managers with serial entrepreneurs for their risk taking and decision making. Published in Nature in 2008 I was delighted to be part of the research and gained an important insight from it and the numerous entrepreneurs I have met over the 30 years. That entrepreneurs do not take risks - gamblers do. What entrepreneurs do is to set boundaries for themselves within which they put up with ambiguity and uncertainty that they are able to tolerate.  They know how far to push their comfort zones. To find out more about your own comfort zones and how to take those early first steps take a look at https://midlifeenterpriser.com/ and through that sign up for our newsletters, more podcasts and webinars. We are also going to run a five week Basecamp for people who want to start their journey. 
Apr 7, 2021
5 min
Where the Mind is without fear
The short poem I have recited here from Tagore, an Indian Poet from the early 20th Century is a wonderful metaphor for what a typical enterpriser grapples with. The poem was written at the time of India gaining independence from British rule. Tagore talks about being able to speak without fear, of not being blocked in by narrow domestic walls, where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way!  And he says so much more in a few short and powerful stanzas. I hope you find the poem inspirational. I like it because it captures the sentiment behind www.midlifeenterpriser.com If you are searching for ways to unlock the inner enterpriser or you are debating with yourself about whether or not you should start a new venture do follow these podcasts. And tell your friends!
Mar 23, 2021
6 min
Dealing with the inner imposter to find happiness
This episode is based on a chat with Vicky Steenkamp who began a journey of seeking balance in her life, to manage administrative duties at a University, loving her family and friends and taking care of herself. Vicky discovered yoga and step by step has become ever more immersed in what yoga can do to find a balance between mind, body and soul. She has qualified as an instructor. We gain a fascinating set of insights from anecdotes in her personal journey. You can find out more at www.mindsetandsoul.co.uk
Mar 11, 2021
21 min
Meaning and Purpose with Dash
I explore what meaning and purpose is for entrepreneurs with a serial entrepreneur in Malaysia. Dash has been on a journey in his own career and life to find that "thing" that brings his head, heart and hands into alignment. We explore in a short chat how this plays out for him and for those who might be exploring their next steps. You can find out more about us on www.midlifeenterprisers.com
Mar 4, 2021
9 min
When the mind is full of little thoughts
This episode urges us to declutter our minds to focus on the big ideas. This podcast has Midlifers in mind.
Feb 26, 2021
5 min