contact us

Use the form on the right to contact us.

You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.​


Seattle, WA
USA

Tandem Powered offers a full suite of Professional Resume Writing, Career Development, and HR / Business Consulting services.

Blog / Podcast

Our blog and podcast dive into the real stories and everyday strategies behind building a No Vacation Required life. We challenge outdated norms, share fresh perspectives, and explore what it means to find fulfillment right now—in a world that rarely makes it easy.

Why Are We Still Doing That? – Enough Feeling Shame About Building The Life You Want

No Vacation Required

Building and Broadcasting the Life You Want: Breaking the Silence on Unconventional Joy

Why do we feel the need to hide or justify our happiness when it doesn't look like everyone else's? We explore the awkward reality of "social censorship" and the ripples created when you build a life centered on what you actually value. From the pressure to complain about your partner to the collective obsession with "striving," we dismantle the unwritten rules that keep us from being honest about our successes.

Whether you are navigating the "dream of the planet" or already forging your own path, this episode dives into how to handle the inevitable pushback from others and why finding your own "contrarian" circle is essential. Learn why knowing yourself is the ultimate investment and how to become a person who celebrates unconventional courage in others.

Onward and Inward,

CHAPTERS:

  • (00:00) Why are we still doing that?

  • (01:05) Mind Share: The "Disneyfication" of nostalgia and the value of old-school presence

  • (06:13) Why we are ashamed of building the life we want

  • (09:03) The Relationship Lottery: Defending the decision to spend time together

  • (11:47) Why happy decisions aren't always celebrated

  • (13:39) Breaking the Schema: The pool conversation and the "social currency" of struggle

  • (18:44) Finding the Shift: Surrounding yourself with contrarian content and people

  • (23:53) Worth the Time: Hidden messages in the horror movie Weapons

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The Success Referendum: Understand that your positive life changes often act as a mirror for others' insecurities. Don't let their discomfort dictate your broadcast.

  • Be Whiskey, Not Water: Stop trying to appeal to everyone. If your life is "muted" enough to please the masses, it probably isn't authentic to who you are.

  • Know Your Design: The most effective catalyst for change is deep self-knowledge. Once you understand your own makeup, you can no longer tolerate being confined by the world's expectations.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

SUPPORT NO VACATION REQUIRED:

If this episode helped you rethink a tough decision, please leave a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube! It is the best way to help our message reach more people.