Meet Omar. He’s sitting in his car during lunch, engine off, sandwich in one hand, doom-scrolling through reels of everyone else winning. Once passionate about recruiting, Omar now feels disconnected, discouraged, and uncertain about what’s next. He’s the Director of Talent Acquisition at a mid-sized tech firm and recently found himself placed on a performance improvement plan. But the expectations are unclear, the support is missing, and the silence between meetings is deafening. His confidence is fading, and the bigger fear isn’t just losing his job, it’s losing himself.
In this episode, Jay sits down with Julian Placino, a recruiting leader, keynote speaker, and founder of a media production company, to explore what ambitious professionals often get wrong about success. Drawing from his own career setbacks and personal reinvention, Julian shares a powerful three-part framework for getting unstuck: find meaning in the struggle, follow curiosity before clarity, and take action, even if it’s just one step.
Together, they unpack how failure can become fuel, why many professionals overthink rather than act, and how reconnecting with purpose starts with play, not pressure.
Notable Quotes
“Only through the fire of rejection, failure, and setback did I begin to have confidence in my ability.” – Julian Placino
“Go play. Follow your curiosity. The clarity will come later.” – Julian Placino“
You don’t need to see the full path. You just need to see the next step.” – Jay Abbasi
About Our Guest
Julian Placino is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and former head of recruiting at a top tech consulting firm. With two decades of experience in talent strategy, Julian now helps professionals and organizations develop leadership through storytelling, content creation, and intentional career design. He’s the host of the Pathways to Success podcast and the founder of a media agency that supports mission-driven brands.
Resources and Links
Julian Placino
Website – https://julianplacino.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianplacino/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/julianplacino/?hl=en
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/julian.placino
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@julianplacino
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@julianplacino/featured
The Pathways To Success Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pathways-to-success-with-julian-placino/id1090694563
Jay Abbasi
Website – https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Join Us Next Time
On Friday, Jay shares a four-step resilience framework inspired by his keynote at Columbia University. Through the story of Arya, you’ll learn how to process challenges, reframe setbacks, and rebuild momentum with clarity and confidence.
Stay curious, stay resilient, and stay connected to what truly matters.
