“Nobody leaves a six-figure job.” Especially at Disney. What are you, happy or something?

Loren, the creator behind Legal Beef, joins Sean and JB to talk about leaving a Hollywood legal career that looked great on paper but never quite felt like his. Sixteen years, two major studios, and one very different career later, he’s got a few thoughts.

And yes, the attorney includes a disclaimer. Please don’t quit your job and blame the podcast.

Brought to you by Smith + Howard.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction and Lauren's Background
• (00:00:46) - The Worst Advice: Nobody Leaves a Six Figure Job
• (00:01:46) - Life as a Motion Picture Studio Attorney
• (00:04:22) - The 'Meter Maid' Feeling and Misalignment
• (00:05:41) - From Disney to Sony and Starting Content Creation
• (00:07:01) - Mom's Passing and Quitting to Pursue Content Full Time
• (00:07:55) - Why It Took So Long: Safe vs Risky Choices
• (00:10:42) - Using Past Experience as a Foundation for New Path
• (00:12:37) - Danny Werfel Parallel and Making the Leap
• (00:14:21) - Life After Quitting: Immediate Effects
• (00:16:04) - What Legal Beef Is Today
• (00:17:29) - Naming Legal Beef and Brand Origin
• (00:18:38) - What Content Works: First Amendment Auditors and Karens
• (00:20:17) - Educational and Entertaining Philosophy
• (00:21:09) - Parenting and Balancing Passion With a Plan
• (00:22:00) - Vision for the Future and Closing Thoughts

Moving is expensive. So is staying put, although nobody sends you that invoice.

Lloyd Avram, president and CEO of the Georgia Association of Manufacturers, joins Sean Taylor and JB to unpack the advice “Don’t relocate for a job.” From giving his kids veto power to talking his way onto a nearly closed candidate list, Lloyd shares what became possible when he kept his options open.

The Worst Advice I Ever Got, brought to you by Smith + Howard.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Lloyd Avram
• (00:00:47) - The Worst Advice: Don't Relocate for a Job
• (00:01:27) - Early Career and the Quest for Experiences
• (00:03:41) - Cost of Relocating and Family Sacrifices
• (00:04:58) - Rejecting the Advice and Moving to Chevron
• (00:07:38) - Experiences and Growth at Chevron
• (00:09:46) - Chevron Culture and Leadership Lessons
• (00:11:30) - Returning to Atlanta and Joining Georgia Manufacturers
• (00:14:59) - Advice to Others: The Decision-Making Framework
• (00:16:42) - Remote Work, Relocation, and Modern Workforce Trends
• (00:19:42) - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude
• (00:20:21) - Host Reflections on Lloyd's Story

“Don’t marry her.”

Todd Musselman’s two best friends had watched his relationship fall apart, and they had good reasons to tell him to walk away. He understood every one of them. He married her anyway.

Thirty-two years later, Todd joins Sean and JB to share the story behind that decision, including the uncomfortable question that changed how he saw his own role in the relationship.

The speaker and executive coach talks candidly about betrayal, forgiveness, losing his family business, and why he’s grateful for experiences he never would have chosen. It’s a conversation about second chances and what being right can cost you.

The Worst Advice I Ever Got is brought to you by Smith + Howard.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Todd Musselman
• (00:00:45) - The Worst Advice: Don't Marry Her
• (00:02:32) - Meeting Beth and Early Relationship
• (00:03:55) - The Breakup and Devastation
• (00:05:37) - Meeting Frances the Healer
• (00:07:10) - The Drive Home: A Life-Changing Realization
• (00:07:57) - Reconciliation and Rebuilding Trust
• (00:08:47) - Friends' Reaction and Deciding to Marry
• (00:11:26) - Reflecting on Never Say Never and Humility
• (00:12:33) - Was It Really Bad Advice?
• (00:13:34) - The Wedding Officiated by the Same Friends
• (00:15:10) - JB's Crocs Story - A Different Kind of Advice
• (00:16:17) - Trusting Your Gut and Family Foundations
• (00:17:27) - The Three Steps: Acceptance, Forgiveness, Gratitude
• (00:19:30) - Applying the Lessons to Business Bankruptcy
• (00:20:21) - Getting Through vs Getting From Life's Hardships
• (00:22:22) - Parenting Through Pain Without Fixing It
• (00:24:09) - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude
• (00:24:45) - Recap and Takeaways from the Episode

Shari Rash was earning six figures, saving for retirement, and buying a home. Then a $1,000 car repair left her wondering why she felt broke.

The worst advice she ever got? “Max our your retirement accounts.”

The financial planner and founder of GWA Wealth joins Sean and JB to explain how following seemingly responsible advice left her unprepared for the life happening before retirement. They talk about the limits of generic money advice, the pressure to understand finances nobody taught you, and why a good financial plan starts with your actual goals.

The Worst Advice I Ever Got is brought to you by Smith + Howard.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Sherry Rash
• (00:00:52) - The Worst Advice: Max Out Retirement First
• (00:04:14) - Sherry's 2008 Lightbulb Moment
• (00:06:28) - The Liquidity Trap: Rich on Paper, Cash Poor
• (00:08:45) - Emotional Toll of Money, Especially for Women
• (00:10:24) - Balancing Retirement Savings with Life Happening Now
• (00:12:41) - Building a Flexible Financial Process
• (00:13:53) - Generic Advice vs Personalized Financial Planning
• (00:15:02) - Social Media, Podcasts, and Bad Financial Advice
• (00:16:56) - Employer Match and Retirement Contribution Basics
• (00:18:35) - Getting Started: Advice for Young Professionals
• (00:20:44) - Why Budgets Don't Work for Most People
• (00:22:57) - The Case for Financial Education and Planners
• (00:24:06) - How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor
• (00:25:27) - Defining Your Own Right Financial Path
• (00:26:53) - Closing and How to Reach Sherry

When Tom Rebers was told to "charge the going rate," it sounded safe and reasonable. But playing it safe nearly cost him his business. In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Tom shares how he learned to set his own value, stop following industry norms, and build a business that actually works for him.

If you’ve ever underpriced yourself or felt stuck following “what everyone else does,” this one’s for you.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Tom Reber and the Contractor Fight
• (00:00:59) - The Worst Advice: Charging the Going Rate
• (00:01:52) - Understanding the Going Rate Trap
• (00:02:48) - Origin of the Bad Advice and Early Pricing Mistakes
• (00:04:24) - Years of Being Busy But Broke
• (00:07:37) - Trying to Fix the Wrong Problems
• (00:08:47) - Head Trash and Limiting Beliefs About Worth
• (00:11:27) - Fear, Mindset, and the Reticular Activating System
• (00:13:33) - The Christmas Morning Wake-Up Call
• (00:15:12) - Building Loyalty Through Client Touches
• (00:17:00) - Defining the Ideal Customer
• (00:18:55) - Where to Find the Contractor Fight
• (00:19:30) - Closing Thoughts and Reflection

The NFL is back and here to talk the worst advice he's ever got is former Atlanta Falcons FB, Ovie Mughelli.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Obi Mahali
• (00:00:49) - The Worst Advice: Hard Work Speaks for Itself
• (00:01:40) - High School Stardom and College Transition
• (00:03:59) - Fighting for a D1 Scholarship
• (00:05:38) - Realizing Hard Work Isn't Enough
• (00:07:02) - NFL Politics in Baltimore
• (00:08:56) - Learning to Advocate with Coaches
• (00:09:41) - Earning the Starting Role
• (00:11:20) - Tough Season in Atlanta
• (00:13:54) - Advocacy After Football
• (00:14:55) - Campaigning for the Pro Bowl
• (00:16:27) - Transition to Healthcare and Benefits Work
• (00:17:42) - Overcoming the Jock Stereotype
• (00:19:10) - Reinvention and Business Impact
• (00:19:53) - The Universal Lesson: Hard Work Plus Advocacy
• (00:22:17) - Closing Thoughts and Takeaways

College football national champion and Heisman winning quarter back Danny Wuerffel took advantage of every opportunity and it turned him into a star. Now he thinks that was the worst advice he ever got.

• (00:00:05) - Former Heisman Winning Quarterback Danny Werfel on the Worst Advice
• (00:00:29) - The Worst Advice You Ever Got
• (00:01:40) - Tom Brady on Taking a Break From Work
• (00:08:58) - Danny Glover on Reaching Out to Others
• (00:11:45) - Teaching Parents to Evaluate Their Own Opportunities
• (00:18:35) - Danny Glover on Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity
• (00:19:17) - Danny Glover on Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity

TPG recently invested in Smith + Howard, bringing together two successful organizations that believe the right partnership should make both sides better. In this episode, Sean sits down with TPG Growth partner Max Wein to talk about what that partnership can become and the lesson that shaped the way Max approaches leadership, teamwork and growth.

Max’s worst advice was simple: “Always listen to your coach.” It helped him succeed as a collegiate basketball player and young professional, but it also taught him to follow directions instead of trusting his own judgment. Max explains why respect doesn’t require silence, how healthy disagreement strengthens a team and why doing everything you’re told isn’t the same as making the team better.