10 Career Lessons You Need to Thrive in 2025

Episode Summary

How do you set yourself apart in an ever-evolving professional landscape? In this episode of The Intuitive Customer, Colin Shaw and Ryan Hamilton dive deep into the career lessons they’ve learned over decades of navigating the twists and turns of professional life. This isn’t just another list of career tips—it's a roadmap for thriving in 2025 and beyond.

From mastering long-term planning to embracing the disruptive power of technology, Colin and Ryan unpack the strategies that make all the difference in building a fulfilling, forward-looking career. Plus, they share personal anecdotes (and a few laughs) about lessons learned the hard way.

Whether you’re just starting out, mid-career, or considering your next big move, this episode is packed with advice you won’t want to miss.

The Best Quote from the Episode

"If it’s going to be, it’s up to me. Don’t wait for someone else to drive your career—successful people create their own opportunities." – Colin Shaw

Key Takeaways

We’re only scratching the surface here—you’ll need to listen to the full episode for the stories and deeper insights behind these points!

1. Think Long-Term: The best careers are built with vision and intentionality. Treat every role as a stepping stone to something greater.

2. Leverage Technology: Generative AI and other innovations are reshaping the workforce. Learn to harness these changes instead of fearing them.

3. Understand Your Strengths: Self-awareness is key—focus on what you’re naturally great at, and let that guide your career decisions.

4. Build a Reputation That Lasts: Your reputation is your greatest currency. What do you want to be known for?

5. Deliver, Deliver, Deliver: At the end of the day, results speak louder than words. Always follow through and exceed expectations.

Why You Need to Tune In

Sure, you could take the lessons at face value, but what makes this episode unmissable are the stories behind the advice. From Colin’s father’s game-changing advice about “learning your boss’s job” to Ryan’s humorous but insightful realization about his dislike for managing people, these are the kinds of lessons you’ll want to hear straight from the source.

Plus, Colin and Ryan’s banter, humor, and candid reflections make this episode not just valuable, but downright enjoyable. You might even come away with a new mantra for your career—and a laugh or two!

🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward making 2025 your most successful year yet!

About the Hosts:

Colin Shaw is a LinkedIn 'Top Voice' with a massive 284,000 followers and 86,000 subscribers to his 'Why Customers Buy' newsletter. Shaw is named one of the world's 'Top 150 Business Influencers' by LinkedIn. His company, Beyond Philosophy LLC, has been selected four times by the Financial Times as a top management consultancy. Shaw is co-host of the top 1.5% podcast 'The Intuitive Customer'—with over 600,000 downloads—and author of eight best-sellers on customer experience, Shaw is a sought-after keynote speaker. Follow Colin on LinkedIn.

Ryan Hamilton is a Professor of Marketing at Emory University's Goizueta Business School and