Advertise on podcast: Going Long Podcast with Billy Keels

Are you a senior enterprise executive, VP, or elite sales director performing at the absolute top of your game, yet feeling an inner friction about what your next logical career step should be ?   In this transparent guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Kate Turner, a veteran sales leader with over a decade of corporate experience, including five years executing strategic goals at Salesforce and scaling tech firms like Glassdoor. Kate maps out the profound, direct correlation between professional poker mechanics and elite enterprise execution, showing how she used a cyclical path between multi-billion-dollar brands, scrappy startups, and live card tables to anchor her own definition of lifestyle harmony. Discover how to disarm the external pressures of mainstream career paths, utilize corporate educational resources to fund your skill development, and analyze any professional rut through a simple three-choice framework so you can navigate your career entirely by intention, not obligation.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   Contact and connect with Kate Turner via these Links: Website: https://www.kateturnercoaching.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateturner9/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/all.in.with.kate/    📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How do corporate professionals use advanced professional poker strategies to build self-awareness and negotiation skills? What does a healthy professional cycle look like when moving between massive brands and fast-growing startups? How can an enterprise sales director transition their focus from strict quota production to people management and coaching? Why is keeping your inner circle exceptionally small critical when planning a major professional shift? What are the 3 foundational choices an executive has when looking to solve any severe mid-career challenge?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Playing the Person, Not the Cards: Merging Corporate DNA with Poker Mechanics 03:29 - The Three-Part Executive Cycle: Large Brands, Startups, and Live Cards 05:55 - Disrupting Mainstream Expectations: Choosing to Stand Out Over Forcing Compatibility 06:56 - The Multicultural Map: Blending Germanic Structure with Latin Flexibility 09:15 - Shifting From Corporate Sales Quotas to High-Impact Leadership Development 12:44 - Guarding Your Inner Circle: Filtering Prescriptive Advice From Outside Your Playing Field 16:15 - Reconnecting with Yourself: Shifting From a Corporate Persona to Authentic Traits 18:44 - Reclaiming Frameworks: Using Big-Brand L&D Structure for Personal Accountability 21:11 - Poker Immunity: Battling Rejection, Overwhelming Uncertainty, and the Corporate Mask 25:06 - Reinvesting Financial Capital: The Trap of Building Everything on Your Own 26:43 - The Shock to the System: Turning Layoffs and Reorgs into Strategic Action 30:25 - The Salesforce Sandbox: Leveraging Enterprise Educational Budgets to Master Transferable Skills 34:59 - Permission Slip Ups: Unpacking Strategic Failures with Impartial Advisors 39:07 - The Three Choices: Leave, Accept, or Change It Now 42:04 - Expanding Your Professional Network and Connecting with Kate Turner   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving director, VP, or enterprise executive who has been told your entire career to climb the ladder, hit age 65, and magically "retire" to a quiet beach?   In this provocative solo episode, host Billy Keels breaks down a recurring, honest realization that surfaces during client onboarding: high achievers are simply wired differently. Traditional retirement—sitting around sipping mai tais—is a myth built for someone else's definition of success. Drawing examples from legendary contributors like Warren Buffett and 80-year-old industry leaders who show up to work every day by choice, Billy explains that true career optionality isn't about stopping work. It's about reaching your "Optionality Number" so you can redirect your high-level skill capital into projects, independent assets, and community causes that give you deep personal energy and financial returns entirely on your own terms.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm 📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: Why is the traditional age-65 retirement myth completely misaligned with high-performing corporate leaders? What is the difference between "stopping work" and redirecting your executive skill capital? Why do multi-millionaires in their 80s and 90s continue to show up and contribute every day? How does reaching your "Optionality Number" give you total agency over where you apply your energy? How can you build independent assets today without waiting for an arbitrary corporate timeline? ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - The Heartbreaking Relief: Why You Are Never Going to Retire at 65   01:30 - The High-Achiever DNA: Useful Service vs. Sitting on a Beach 03:55 - The Warren Buffett Example: 96-Year-Old Drive and Lifelong Contribution   05:00 - The Optionality Number: Redirecting Your Energy into Assets You Own   06:35 - Wired Differently: Embracing Your Need for Impact and Meaningful Work   08:10 - Operationalizing Contribution: Getting Compensated into Your 80s and 90s   09:30 - Moving From Theory to Practice Today   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets.   With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day.   This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today!   Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you a high-performing corporate leader or tech executive sitting on decades of valuable skill capital, wondering how to channel your energy into projects that create a profound, real-world impact?   In this inspiring guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Tim Lockyear—two-time "Zoogler," former Google global founder advocate, and founder of the Supporting Kids Foundation. Tim shares his 30-year journey through enterprise tech giants like IBM, Sprint, Accenture, and Google, detailing how facing a scary health diagnosis for his young son prompted him to confront survivor's guilt and co-found a 501(c)(3) charity. Discover how the Supporting Kids Foundation raised over $5.6 million to assist more than 1,100 families dealing with pediatric cancer. Learn why true growth always lives on the other side of difficult, how to recognize when a corporate promotion isn't aligned with your personal motivations, and how to build independent, option-driven endeavors by leveraging the execution skills you master in corporate life.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How can a corporate executive leverage enterprise skill sets to build a high-impact non-profit organization? What does it look like to turn personal family challenges and survivor's guilt into a $5.6M community foundation? How do you evaluate whether a corporate leadership promotion actually aligns with your personal definition of success? Why is financial independence essential for giving leaders the confidence to take calculated risks? How can modern AI platforms help under-resourced non-profits scale their impact and streamline operations? ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Broadcast Recording Setup: Tuesday, September 15, 2026, with Tim Lockyear 03:37 - 30 Years in Enterprise Tech: IBM, Sprint, Accenture, and Two-Time Zoogler 04:47 - The Catalyst: A Son's Diagnosis and the Origins of Supporting Kids Foundation 07:26 - $5.6 Million and 1,100 Families Impacted: Scaling a Community Mission 09:19 - The Corporate Advantage: How Enterprise Leadership Fosters Confidence and Resilience 12:30 - Embracing the MVP: Why Failing and Stumbling Is Essential to Personal Growth 14:45 - Turning Down Promotions: Recognizing That I Want to Be Where the Action Is 19:46 - "I'm Not Coin-Operated": Defining What Really Drives Your Executive Execution 24:18 - Financial Independence as a Tool for Career Options and Risk-Taking 26:55 - "Growth Is on the Other Side of Difficult": Learning Through Scars and Challenges 30:52 - The $19,000 Investment: From a Small Company to an Accenture Acquisition 35:10 - Leveraging AI for Good: Helping Non-Profits Scale and Do More with Less 42:20 - Sharing the Blueprint: How Tim Helps Other Volunteers Start Foundations 45:16 - The Trough Principle: "It's Never as Bad as You Think, and You're Never as Great as You Think" 50:03 - Connecting with Tim Lockyear and Supporting Kids Foundation 📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets.   With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day.   This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today!   Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving director, VP, or enterprise leader who is constantly presented with new promotions, side deals, and business opportunities, yet feels completely paralyzed and overwhelmed by having too many choices?   In this practical solo episode, host Billy Keels addresses the hidden challenge that high performers rarely talk about: being "drowned in success." When you excel in corporate life and simultaneously build a side business, your challenge isn't finding leads or opportunities; it's learning how to sequence them without exhausting your 168 hours in a week. Billy shares the exact 3-question framework he uses with private coaching clients to help them filter out noise, strategically say "no," and focus strictly on projects that generate high energy, long-term fulfillment, and real financial impact.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: Why do high achievers struggle with having too many opportunities rather than too few? What are the 3 core questions you must ask to evaluate any new business or career opportunity? How do you differentiate between short-term "dopamine" projects and sustainable long-term ventures? Why is it essential to demand a positive financial return alongside personal passion projects? How does learning to say "no" protect your schedule sovereignty and family time capital?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - The Hidden Executive Problem: Drowning in Success and Opportunity 01:10 - Scrapping the Surface: Why Side Assets Are About Impact, Not Just Paychecks 02:15 - The 168-Hour Equalizer: Balancing Enterprise Growth with Family Milestones 03:20 - Question 1: Does This Opportunity Positively Spike Your Energy? 04:15 - Question 2: Is This Something You Would Prepare to Do Forever? 05:00 - Question 3: Is It Delivering Real Individual and Financial Impact? 06:10 - The Comfort Trap: Shifting From Saying "Yes" to Mastering the Focus of "No" 07:05 - Moving From Theory to Practice Today   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving sales director, VP, or enterprise leader wondering how to channel your day-to-day client execution and operational discipline into high-impact independent assets?   In this transparent guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Kevin Devanney—founder and president of Incentive Travel Solutions and the Devanney Hospitality Group. Kevin shares his 27-year trajectory, detailing how the high-stakes lessons taught by his early corporate mentors laid the foundation for managing luxury group trips to Moscow's Kremlin and the Louvre in Paris. Discover how Kevin navigated the sudden, full-stop impact of COVID-19 by pivoting his team into local real estate and restaurant revitalization, why true entrepreneurs wait for real problems to solve rather than chasing trends, and how managing your "fitness, finances, and family" triangle creates absolute resilience when facing high-stakes business shifts.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   Connect with Kevin Devanney via these links: Website: https://www.incentivetravelsolutions.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-devanney-5916762  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevindevanney/  Email: [email protected]    📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How do you translate meticulous corporate customer service habits into an independent asset? What does it look like to pivot an entire company when an unexpected event completely stops your industry? Why is chasing cash bonuses inferior to creating unforgettable, experience-based incentive rewards? How do you build a local real estate footprint that revitalizes a town and creates family legacy options? What is the "Fitness, Finance, and Family" triangle, and how does it help executives navigate low moments?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Broadcast Recording Setup: Tuesday, September 15, 2026, with Kevin Devanney 02:04 - The Train at 365 MPH: How Incentive Travel Solutions Navigated the COVID-19 Full Stop 04:35 - Old-School Mentorship: Smacks in the Head, Kremlin Dinners, and Meticulous Details 07:15 - Pivoting Forward: Embracing Mistakes as the Most Critical Part of Growth 11:00 - The Path Chose Me: Why True Opportunities Present Themselves When You Master Your Craft 14:50 - Cash is a Satisfier, Travel is Unforgettable: Redefining High-Performer Rewards 18:25 - Staying in Your Lane: Refusing to Dilute Your Core Niche Expertise 21:28 - Local Revitalization: Turning One Dust-Filled Building into Pineville's Main Street Revival 25:40 - Ethical Entrepreneurship: Never Stealing Clients from Your Previous Employer 28:05 - Legacy Engineering: Deciding Between Selling Out or Passing the Torch to Your Kids 33:10 - The Triangle Framework: Balancing Fitness, Finances, and Family in the Trough 36:30 - Connecting with Kevin Devanney and Exploring Incentive Travel Solutions   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL Day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you a high-performing corporate director, VP, or enterprise leader who genuinely enjoys your job, yet feels a quiet, unshakeable urge to see what else you're capable of building on the side?   In this reflective solo episode, host Billy Keels shares a relatable, real-life story about his youngest son's decision to leave a comfortable, winning basketball team to try out for a higher-level squad. Drawing a direct parallel to the corporate world, Billy breaks down why true high performers aren't trying to escape their day-to-day work, they are simply competing against the best version of themselves. Discover how to test your business ideas in the open market without abandoning the safety and steady income of your corporate career, why feeling uncomfortable is a required sign of real growth, and how exploring your natural curiosity gives you total schedule sovereignty and long-term peace of mind.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How can a corporate executive test new business ideas without leaving their current job? Why do high achievers feel the urge to step outside their comfort zone even when they're already winning? How do you overcome the fear of uncertainty and potential failure when starting a side venture? What does it mean to compete against the "best version of yourself" rather than comparing yourself to others? How do you move from passive contemplation into concrete, real-world action?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - The Energy of Choice: Learning Career Lessons from Family Dynamics 01:10 - Staying in the Safe Zone: Staying on the Winning Team vs. Wanting More 02:25 - Competing Against Your Best Version: Moving Past Surface-Level Metrics 03:45 - The Decision to Try Out: Testing Skills in the Open Market Without Guarantees 05:10 - Navigating the Discomfort: New Systems, New Drills, and Building Confidence 06:30 - Keeping the Foundation: Growing a Side Asset While Enjoying Your Corporate Role 07:45 - Eliminating the "What-Ifs": Moving From Theory to Action Today   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving tech leader, account director, or enterprise strategist sitting on valuable skill capital, wondering how to channel your expertise into independent assets without sacrificing your corporate career?   In this transparent guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Izu Nwachukwu—Senior Client Solutions Manager at LinkedIn (MENA), founder of IN Marketing Consultancy, podcast host, and author of 9 to Thrive: Side Hustle to Success. Izu pulls back the curtain on his 20-year corporate evolution, sharing how early retail failures made him fear entrepreneurship for a decade—until a global economic reset forced him to re-evaluate his timeline. Discover why treating your corporate employer as your "first business partner" changes your entire career dynamic, how to convert job description KPIs into high-margin market services, and why setting a 10-year vision allows you to navigate setbacks with total resilience and schedule sovereignty.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   Izu Nwachukwu welcomes you to connect with him at these links: Website: https://inmcagency.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izu-nwachukwu-%F0%9F%8E%99%EF%B8%8F-47880510/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izu.nwachukwu/  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-people-real-business/id1782493612    📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How can a senior corporate professional view their 9-to-5 employer as a primary business partner? What is the psychological process for recovering from an early entrepreneurial failure to build again? How do you translate internal corporate KPIs into high-value services for the open market? Why is finding an employer with clear side-project policies critical for long-term career optionality? How can high achievers maintain operational momentum while keeping a 10-to-15 year long-term vision?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Broadcast Recording Setup: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with Izu Nwachukwu 02:00 - Digital Strategist & Marketing Expert: Two Decades Across Europe and MENA 03:04 - The 20-Year Itch: Bouncing Back from Early Retail Business Failures 06:30 - The Corporate Hierarchy: Why Big Companies Function Like the Military 08:10 - Real People, Real Business: Unpacking the Raw Reality of Executive Setbacks 09:43 - The First Business Partner: Re-Framing Your Corporate Role as a Capital Engine 12:15 - Open Boundaries: Navigating Corporate Side-Project Policies with Confidence 15:10 - Turning KPIs into Services: Packaging Tech Acumen into Marketable Value 18:00 - Failing Fast: Shutting Down Misaligned Brands After 12 Months 21:00 - 9 to Thrive: Writing a Book in 12-Month Sprints and Cutting 50% of the Draft 25:00 - Trough Principles: "We'll Make It Happen" and Adapting to Daily Friction 29:20 - Reclaiming Your Freedom and Connecting with Izu Nwachukwu   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving corporate director, VP, or enterprise tech leader who constantly says "yes" to every special project, initiative, and request—only to end up completely exhausted and stretched thin?   In this practical solo episode, host Billy Keels breaks down a powerful insight inspired by a conversation between entrepreneur Jesse Itzler and podcaster Joe Rogan. Billy examines the corporate trap of seeking validation through endless "special assignments" and explains why people-pleasing creates a virtuous cycle that ultimately leads to burnout. Discover how learning to "strategically decline" unaligned opportunities—or simply learning how to say "no"—increases your focus on core priorities, improves your Return on Sleep (ROS), and gives you the exact time capital needed to excel in your 9-to-5 while building your own independent side business.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: Why do high-performing corporate executives fall into the trap of taking on too many special projects? How does constant people-pleasing at work lead to chronic exhaustion and diluted focus? What does it mean to "strategically decline" an opportunity without damaging your corporate reputation? How does mastering the word "no" improve your focus and increase your Return on Sleep (ROS)? How can you use your reclaimed personal time to build independent side assets while overperforming at work?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Finding Inspiration: Lessons from Jesse Itzler and Joe Rogan 01:10 - The People-Pleasing Trap: Why Executives Say "Yes" to Every Special Assignment 02:25 - The Exhaustion Cycle: Diluting Your Time Capital When You're Already Overperforming 03:40 - The Jesse Itzler Insight: Learning the Value of the Word "NO" 04:30 - Strategic Decline: How to Decline Opportunities That Don't Move the Needle 05:45 - Maximizing ROS: How Reclaimed Focus Boosts Performance and Eliminates Burnout 06:50 - Building the Day Dream vs. The Evening Dream: Using Reclaimed Time for Side Assets 07:45 - Moving From Theory to Practice Today   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving director, VP, or enterprise leader sitting on specialized market knowledge, wondering how to transition your corporate reps into a lifestyle-focused firm that serves you and your family first?   In this transparent guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Stephen Slater—former city planner, Verizon corporate real estate manager, and founder of Blue Croix. Stephen shares his unique trajectory of walking away from a fast-track corporate career right after receiving an employer-funded MBA, relying on raw intuition, naivety, and a clear understanding of his own risk tolerance. Discover how Stephen built a high-margin, low-volume consulting firm by creating specialized cash-flow solutions for major telecommunications giants, why "it's not what you make, it's what you keep," and how to structure a business designed specifically to support your life choices rather than relentless, unnecessary headcount scale.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How do you evaluate your personal propensity for risk before stepping off the corporate fast track? What does it look like to build a high-margin, niche consulting business that services enterprise telco giants on your own terms? Why is "it's not what you make, it's what you keep" the ultimate financial mantra for independent enterprise consultants? How do you leverage your corporate network while maintaining genuine, long-term professional relationships? What is the "Protean Corporation" structure, and how does it allow you to scale fluid teams up and down per project? ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Broadcast Recording Setup: Thursday, July 30, 2026, with Stephen Slater   00:30 - Public to Private Sector: Managing $7 Billion Real Estate Operations 02:45 - Walking Off the Fast Track: Risk Tolerance, Intuition, and Partner Support 07:15 - Testing the Water: Creating a Cash Flow Model on Vacation Days 11:20 - Unfiltered Networking Truths: What Happens to Corporate Relationships When the Title Changes 14:05 - Designing a Niche Business: Choosing High Margins over Mass Scale 18:10 - Lifestyle Architecture: Building a Business That Serves Your Family and Time 22:15 - Recovering Hidden Assets: How Blue Croix Solves Complex Zoning and Permitting   26:40 - Corporate Skill Transferability: What You Learn vs. What You Keep 30:10 - Fluid Team Building: Leveraging Trusted Vendor Networks Across Decades 33:20 - Working Remotely for 25 Years: Selective Project Execution 37:15 - The Power of Now: Focusing on What You Have in the Trough   40:30 - Connecting with Stephen Slater and Blue Croix 📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets.   With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day.   This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today!   Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving director, VP, or enterprise executive who has accumulated the traditional markers of success—the luxury watches, the high-end gifts, the big compensation packages—yet feels a persistent pull toward owning more of your actual time?   In this deeply personal solo episode, host Billy Keels reflects on his 26-year corporate trajectory, including 17 years in the enterprise software space. Billy breaks down the distinct seasons every high performer navigates: from the early phase of working relentless hours to validate success through luxury material purchases like Cartier timepieces, to the realization that physical items cannot match the value of cash-flowing assets and true schedule sovereignty. Discover why feeling like you're "being sent to the principal's office" when requesting PTO is a major signal that your priorities have evolved, and learn how to intentionally transition from acquiring things to engineering life-changing experiences and lasting memories with the people who matter most.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How do an executive's definitions of success naturally evolve across different career seasons? Why do luxury status symbols eventually lose their appeal for mature high performers? What does feeling anxious about asking for PTO reveal about your current schedule autonomy? How can corporate professionals pivot their focus from material accumulation to asset-backed experiences? What are the foundational steps to gaining control over both your time capital and income generation?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - A Conversation in Barcelona: Reflecting on Luxury Timepieces and Corporate Trajectory 01:10 - The Early Phase: Compensating for the Grind with Cartier and Tiffany Purchases 02:25 - The Mindset Shift: Realizing You Can Only Wear One Watch at a Time 03:15 - Shifting Priorities: From Buying Toys to Creating Global Family Experiences 04:30 - You Are Not Crazy: Normalizing the Transition to Time Sovereignty 05:40 - The Chesapeake Bay Story: Capturing Unforgettable Moments with Family 06:50 - The Principal's Office Paradox: Why Asking Permission for Time Away Signals a Need for Change 08:10 - Taking Intention Action: Owning Both Income Production and Time Control 09:15 - Moving From Theory to Practice Today   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you a high-performing corporate executive, VP, or C-suite officer who has achieved massive success, yet feels a quiet, steady pull toward building something you completely own?   In this powerful guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Marcus Phillips, executive advisor, keynote speaker, author, and creator of The Zone Shift. Marcus pulls back the curtain on his 18-year corporate trajectory, culminating as the Chief Marketing Officer of a $1.6B global business unit spanning five continents. He candidly breaks down what happens when you step away from enterprise prestige, revealing why the hardest part of leaving corporate life isn't the financial loss, but overcoming "identity lag" the gap between who you have become and the role you're still performing as. Discover how to leverage core corporate skills like empathy and resilience, navigate AI-driven enterprise changes, and build alternative ventures on a solid foundation without unnecessarily burning the boats.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How does an 18-year corporate executive handle the transition out of a $1.6B global CMO role? Why is the morning-after "title removal" far more challenging than walking away from a corporate paycheck? What is "identity lag" and how does it quietly create a artificial ceiling for high-performing corporate leaders? How can executives navigate the 3 core pillars of enterprise AI: Adoption, Efficiency, and Governance? Why is treating side-business missteps as "tuition" essential for building sustainable long-term options?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Recording Track Setup: Wednesday, July 22, 2026, with Marcus Phillips   01:50 - The Before and After Moment: Stepping Down as CMO of a $1.6B Enterprise 03:10 - The Quiet Pull: How a Long-Standing Vision Resurfaced After 18 Years 04:55 - Gratitude First: Why Enterprise Leadership Is the Ultimate Foundation 05:55 - Transferable Assets: Empathy, Resilience, and Leading Teams Through NICU Realities 10:02 - The Money Fallacy: Why Identity, Not Cash Flow, Is the True Transition Friction 13:23 - Who Reaches Out When the Title Is Gone? Auditing Your Real Executive Network 15:30 - Elated vs. Deflated: The Physical Relief of Leaving the Enterprise Email Triage 19:15 - Demystifying Corporate AI: Adoption, Efficiency, and Low-Hanging Fruit 23:39 - The $40K Logistics Tuition: Learning How to Build Options Without Burning Boats   28:02 - The Genesis of Zone Shift Enterprises: Waking Up at 4 AM to Write the Book 31:26 - Unlocking the Network: Landing Keynote Stages Through Past Corporate Relationships 36:01 - Trough Principles: Overcoming the Identity Lag and Choosing to "Keep Going" 41:26 - Connecting with Marcus Phillips and Exploring The Zone Shift     Connect with Marcus:   The Identity-Lag Diagnostic - a short diagnostic based on the Identity-Lag concept.. Five questions, free, no signup required to see results. — https://thezoneshift.com/diagnostic     Website: https://thezoneshift.com/  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusgphillips/  Email: [email protected]    📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets.   With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day.   This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving director, VP, or senior corporate leader experiencing a shift in your personal or professional life, feeling the persistent itch to build an asset you completely own?   In this reflective solo episode, host Billy Keels shares a powerful story from a family celebration along the Hudson Bay looking over the New York City skyline—a true "balcony moment" that crystallized why career designs must continuously adapt to life's changing seasons. Whether you're navigating new promotions, international moves, college-bound children, aging parents, or shifting compensation plans, your priorities naturally evolve. Drawing on the ancient wisdom of Heraclitus—the only constant in life is change—Billy breaks down why you do not need 100% of the answers or complete readiness to start building a side venture. Discover how to turn passive contemplation into intentional action, leverage your executive experience, and create a lifestyle where you show up to your career entirely by choice.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: What is an executive "balcony moment" and how does it help you audit your current career season? How do shifting family milestones—from newborns to college-bound kids—redefine professional goals? Why is waiting to feel 100% ready the number one trap holding leaders back from starting an independent business? How does the principle "the only constant in life is change" apply to modern enterprise sales and strategy? What does it take to move from theoretical side-business ideas into concrete execution?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Reflection on a Family Milestone: A Summer on the Hudson Bay 01:10 - The Evolving Phases of Life: Kids, College, Aging Parents, and Promotions 02:05 - The Balcony Moment: Looking Over NYC and Auditing the New Chapter 02:45 - Heraclitus and Constant Change: Aligning Your Career with Life Shifts 03:30 - Why You Don't Need to Be 100% Ready to Start Building Independent Assets 04:15 - Leaning In with Intention: Taking Action in Your Current Season 05:00 - Moving From Theory to Practice: Taking the Next Move Today   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you a senior corporate leader, director, or enterprise tech VP who has climbed to a high-paying salary, yet you find yourself completely exhausted from putting 60 to 70 hours a week into the machine?   In this transparent guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Derek Schutz—a senior director leading a massive services team and a multimillion-dollar account portfolio at a market-leading enterprise software brand. Derek pulls back the curtain on his own profound personal wake-up call, sharing how the compounding physical and psychological stress of corporate "busyness" led him to completely audit his calendar capital. Discover how to utilize corporate execution principles—like tracking lead measures instead of lag measures—to compress your working schedule down to a high-impact 40 hours. Learn how to have direct, proactive conversations with your management team to establish unbreakable professional boundaries, and see how to parlay your enterprise leadership capital into an independent, highly rewarding side project completely by choice, not obligation.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How can a senior tech director utilize corporate execution strategies to compress an exhausting 70-hour work week down to 40 hours? What are the most effective ways to manage up and set strict availability boundaries with your corporate management? How do you shift your day-to-day focus from historical "lag measures" to predictive "lead measures" to guarantee professional and personal success? Why is an environmental and digital reset critical for corporate leaders looking to eliminate unproductive distraction and screen time? How does a high-performing professional overcome the internal friction and fear of publishing content publicly on LinkedIn?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Corporate Execution: Maximizing Multimillion-Dollar Portfolios While Building Options 02:21 - The Big Tech Tipping Point: Navigating Constant Layoffs and Artificial Intelligence 03:51 - The Legacy Routine Trap: Shifting From Safe Corporate Paths into Family Legacies 04:30 - Salesforce Advantages: Appreciating Enterprise Perks While Spotting Quota Limits 05:58 - The Steel Reserve Wake-Up Call: Battling the Accumulated Dad-Bod Effect 08:23 - Quality vs. Quantity: Making a Powerful Visual and Behavioral Shift for Your Kids 08:45 - Shaving It Down: Reclaiming the 5-to-8 PM Window for Radical Family Presence 09:58 - Managing Up: Having the Platinum Dialogue with Your Boss About Priorities 11:25 - The 20-Goal Fallacy: Stripping Your Corporate Calendar Down to What Management Truly Cares About 12:20 - 4DX Frameworks: Tracking Predictive Lead Measures Instead of Reactionary Lag Measures 13:50 - Friction Reduction: Designing Environment Resets for Your Gym Wardrobe and Kitchen Pantry 14:51 - Digital Cleaning: Auditing Who You Follow to Eliminate Mindless Screen Scrolling 16:32 - Hitting Fears Head-On: Overcoming the Discomfort of Your First LinkedIn Post 18:00 - Output Over Hours: Why Enterprise Software Cares About Results, Not Grinding 18:50 - The Trough Mantra: "This Will Be the Story You Will One Day Tell" 21:45 - Reclaiming Your Freedom and Connecting with Derek Schutz   Connect with Derek Schutz: Website: https://levelupfordads.com/    📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving sales leader, director, or enterprise tech executive feeling trapped by the assumption that your only choices are grinding up the rigid corporate ladder or risking everything by walking away?   In this thought-provoking solo episode, host Billy Keels explores the profound lessons hidden inside Rick Rubin's book The Creative Act: A Way of Being, drawing a direct parallel between modern career design and the legendary board game Go, a game played for over 3,000 years. Billy breaks down the famous "Move 37" executed by DeepMind's AlphaGo artificial intelligence, a move so unprecedented that it shocked the world's greatest master because it completely ignored 30 centuries of human limiting beliefs. Discover how adopting a true beginner's mind (innocent ignorance) allows you to strip away standard corporate conditioning, break free from conventional linear promotion steps, and execute your own "Move C," allowing you to continuously overperform in your corporate role while simultaneously building a high-impact, independent side venture that puts you in complete control of your time and income.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: What is the story of "Move 37" in the game of Go, and why does it matter to corporate leaders? How do subtle, unexamined limiting beliefs quietly cap an executive's professional potential? What does it mean to adopt a "beginner's mind" to solve complex corporate and business challenges? Why is assuming you must choose between corporate performance or business ownership a false binary? How can you combine past enterprise experience with current curiosity to engineer your own "Move C"?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Human Beings vs. Human Doings: Insights from Rick Rubin's The Creative Act 00:45 - The 3,000-Year-Old Game: Introduction to Go and AlphaGo 01:30 - The Inner Game: Why the Real Battle Is Always You vs. You 02:10 - The Legend of Move 37: How AI Broke 30 Centuries of Human Logic 03:20 - The Dejected Master: Why Unprecedented Moves Cause Disruption 04:10 - The Beginner's Mind: Removing Knowledge Blockers and Conditioning 05:05 - The Corporate Ladder Trap: SDR to AE to Director vs. Your Own Path 05:50 - Overcoming the Binary Myth: Overperforming in Corporate AND Building Assets 06:40 - Executing Your Move C: Combining Past Experience with Modern Curiosity 07:25 - Taking Action: Moving from Theory to Practice Today   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI   Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels

Are you an overachieving director, VP, or enterprise leader who wants to take the high-level communication habits you mastered in the corporate world and turn them into a sovereign, global career?   In this transparent guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Derek Smith—a public speaking coach and veteran MC of over 5,000 events who used his corporate foundation to engineer an international lifestyle spanning 54 houses across three continents. Derek reveals how winning Samsung's content creator competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics served as a turning point, why over 70% of communication is non-verbal when navigating global boundaries, and how asking one life-changing question shifted his entire trajectory. Discover how to leverage corporate team dynamics, overcome the fear of starting late, focus on "Who, Not How," and build a business in your personal zone of genius entirely on your own terms.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm   📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: How do you transition from an enterprise corporate foundation to a sovereign, global MC career? Why is non-verbal communication critical when expanding your footprint across international markets? How do you handle holding a room's energy as a professional Master of Ceremonies (MC)? What single, life-changing question shifts your career trajectory and overcomes the fear of starting late? How do you apply the "Who, Not How" framework to stop doing everything alone and scale your impact?   ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Derek Smith and the Transition from Corporate to Global MC 03:53 - The 2010 Winter Olympics Turning Point: Samsung Content Creator Competition 05:39 - The Critical Corporate Lesson: Leveraging Team Dynamics in Business 09:35 - Embracing the Nomadic Lifestyle: 54 Houses and Three Continents 16:05 - Unlocking Global Opportunities Through Non-Verbal Communication 22:41 - What It Actually Means to Be an MC and Hold a Room's Energy 28:39 - The Life-Changing Question That Shifted Derek's Career Overnight 33:27 - Overcoming the Fear of Starting Late & Finding Your Zone of Genius 37:22 - Schedule Sovereignty: Applying "Who Not How" to Own Your Time   📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets. With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day. This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today! Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels