Episode 8 of Side of the Mic (Commuter Chronicles) is a short mental upload about momentum, micro-wins, and the quiet proof that you’re moving in the right direction. I reflect on a pleasant 10-stream milestone, the relief and learning of cold-emailing and securing a dissertation chair and committee member, and how I balance my life as an instructor with the need for clear course boundaries.

For every role you have (professional, creative, academic), define your Interaction Hours. This is the consistent, scheduled time you are actively engaged in that role (e.g., "Course Instructor Hours: M/W 9-11 AM & emails returned within 36 hrs on weekdays"). Communicate this clearly. It’s not being unavailable; it’s being professionally sustainable and fully present when you are interacting.

#SideOfTheMic #StriveAndDevelop #CommuterChronicles #MicroWins #DailyMomentum #PodcastsForGrowth

https://beacons.ai/sobizze

In this Commuter Chronicles episode of Side of the Mic: Striving & Developing, I share a busy weekend pivot, an urgent rewrite of Chapter 1 after a powerful conversation with my potential dissertation chair, and the lesson that followed: access matters.

Today’s episode centers on two ideas: access: what level of availability you give people in relationships and work and the number one: the idea that most people get one clear opportunity to prove they deserve deeper access to your time and trust. I unpack how urgency isn’t universal (their crisis ≠ your crisis), why voicemail and clear communication are actual signals, and how setting tiers of access protects your mental bandwidth while keeping relationships healthy.

I also test a student-facing icebreaker, asking “What is your definition of success?” and explain how that single question shifts student advising into deeper territory.

I challenge you to look at your boundaries:

• The Voicemail Filter: Why "no message" means "no priority."

• The Tiered Access System: Are you giving "Platinum" access to people who only deserve "Silver"?

• The Success Shift: How I’m replacing the "Tell me about yourself" question with a deeper inquiry: "What is your definition of success?"

This episode is about reclaiming your time, protecting your energy, and standing firm in your professional and personal boundaries. If you feel over-accessible and under-valued, this one is for you.

https://beacons.ai/sobizze

What is success to you? Is it a title on a door? A number in a bank account? Or is it a goalpost that keeps moving every time you get close to it? In today’s Commuter Chronicle, I’m diving into the psychology of achievement. We often say we want to be "successful," but we rarely stop to define what that looks like in 24 hours, 240 hours, or 2,400 hours.

In this Brain Dump, I discuss:

• Internal Progress: How I’m tracking my own evolution behind the mic from cutting out filler words to sharpening my delivery.

  
  

• The Coaching Perspective: Preparing students for the upcoming career fair and helping them realize that Career Confidence comes from using the resources already at their fingertips.

  
  

• The Triple Threat: Balancing academic, professional, and personal strides as a single, cohesive version of success.

If you are a student preparing for your first career fair, a professional looking for your next pivot, or a fellow striver trying to find your voice, this episode is your roadmap. We aren't just talking about the "win", we are talking about the "work" you are willing to do to get there.