“I'm striving for excellence, but I'm not pretending to be perfect anymore.”The Covid-19 pandemic was a watershed moment of change for everyone, reshaping both personal and professional lives. For our host Erin, it catalyzed her divorce and sparked a career pivot that led to the birth of “Hotter Than Ever”. But what major trends emerged post-pandemic that are now influencing how we navigate our next chapters—midlife and beyond?To explore this, we’re joined by Lori Hamilton, an award-winning writer, director, performer, and insights expert. In this episode, Lori delves into her research, highlighting how the pandemic prompted a reassessment of our relationship with work, redefined our notions of success, and emphasized the value of authentic connections. Erin and Lori also discuss the joy and fulfillment that come from identifying and pursuing your unique talents and finding work that aligns with your core values, moving beyond the pursuit of perfection.Join us as we embrace authenticity and explore:Recognizing and pursuing your true gifts rather than forcing yourself into roles that don’t fit.Balancing corporate work with artistic endeavors for a more fulfilling career.How sharing vulnerabilities can enhance our well-being and relationships.Post-COVID corporate dynamics and the efforts made to shift from perfectionism to authenticity and genuine care in the workplace.The importance of aligning your relationship with your employer to your personal values.Focusing on relationships and activities that bring true joy and fulfillment, and setting boundaries with those that do not.Prioritizing environments that appreciate and value your contributions.OUR GUEST: Lori Hamilton is an award-winning writer, director, performer, and creator with 69 awards for creative excellence, including 28 for short films. Her work includes Project Spudway, a take off of Project Runway with animated potatoes, to Landalor Industries, a serious corporate satire, to North Star (or what I listened to instead of my intuition), a one-woman show from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to 150+ short films, comedy bits, TV pilots and feature film scripts.Want more Lori? Find her online at https://thelorihamilton.com/ and follow her on:Instagram: @thelorihamilton TikTok: @thelorihamilton X/Twitter: @thelorihamilton Threads: @thelorihamilton LinkedIn: Lori Hamilton Want more Hotter Than Ever? Subscribe to the Hotter Than Ever Substack to dive deeper. Find episode transcripts at www.hotterthaneverpod.com Follow us on:Instagram: @hotterthaneverpod TikTok: @hotterthaneverpod Youtube: @hotterthaneverpod Facebook: @hotterthaneverpod We’d love to hear what you think about the show - tell us what stories are resonating with you by writing us a review on Apple Podcasts! If you’re enjoying the show, consider supporting us! It’s as simple as buying us a coffee!Want advice about some aspect of your life over 40? DM us on IG @hotterthaneverpod or text/leave a voicemail on the Hotter Than Ever Hottie Hotline at (323) 844-2303 and your question could end up on the show!Mentioned in this episode:Broad CollectiveLearn more about Broad Collective and our membership network for midlife women entrepreneurs at broadcollective.com. Apply to join Broad Collective at https://broad-collective-co.mn.co/landing