Creators are the heart and soul of Tealfeed. As they continuously work towards feeding us more information every day, it's only fitting to bring out their journey for the world to know.

In this series “Creators Spotlight”, we are asking our creators about their journey. Watch out for them sharing their journey and getting candid with us. Today we have with us Jeff Altman.

Jeff Altman, a career and leadership coach, talks about spending his childhood in New York City and shares what drives him to create content even at the age of 71!

Continue reading to find out more!

Who has been the biggest influence in your life? What lessons did that person or those people teach you?

There is not one single person that I can point to. Of course, my parents and my brother were the initial influencers, teaching right from wrong, the importance of persistence and hard work, and how to use a knife and fork (we do need to learn how to eat).

Then, there were friends I grew up with, women I dated (including the one I eventually married), as well as books, music, and people who I met in the course of my work, all of whom became important teachers.

Tell us about your childhood; what was the best part? Is there any specific incident that has largely influenced the kind of person you are today?

I don't think there was one specific thing or episode that influenced who I am today. I have fond memories of tossing a (US) football with my brother, spending Saturday mornings with my father as he would do the errands for the house that day, playing sports in the park with friends, walking to school with my mom when I was particularly young.

These are the kind of random memories that seem to mean nothing and everything, yet helped to shape me. 

Where is your hometown, and what was it like when you were young?

I work in New York City, specifically in the section called The Bronx. Almost all the buildings were five-story walk-up apartment buildings. Initially, we lived on the fourth floor before moving to the first. People were friendly. It was safe to walk to school and easy to meet others to play with and study with as we got older.

There was a recreation center across the street from where we lived. My father went to work before dawn and came home after sunset. He is who I learned my work ethic from. My mother ran the house and did not tolerate any excuses for my not doing my homework.

In those days, telephones were black and had a rotary dial. Televisions were black and white, and the first family regarding color TV set made their son very popular.

How important a role does content play in your life? Are you a full-time content creator? Why did you start creating content?

I started to create content in August 2001, three weeks before what is referred to in the United States as 9/11. I was in New York City at the time in a long-held career in executive search. I realized that most people hated recruiters. And rightly so.

Although I wasn’t one of those recruiters, I was being tarnished with the same brushstroke as though I was. I started to write and publish what was called an e-zine to share my thoughts about how to find work and what the job market was like. I was able to chronicle the recession that took place following 9/11 and others that have occurred since then.

Today, my blog at TheBigGameHunter.us has almost 12,000 posts, my YouTube channel at JobSearchTV.com has over 7000 videos, my podcast, No BS Job Search Advice Radio, is #1 in Apple Podcast for job search with more than 2200 episodes over almost 11 years (the anniversary is November 20th), I have channels on Amazon and Roku, and have written a number of books.

Yet, being a content creator is not my full-time job. I’m a career and leadership coach working with people globally, helping him with job search, hiring more effectively, management, leadership, and resolving workplace issues that crop up. 

Being a content creator has taught me to differentiate myself as a recruiter and now as a coach. It allows people to get to know, like, trust, and respect me, as well as feel confident that I can help them.

What’s that one aspect of being a content creator no one talks about?

It takes courage to be a content creator, especially today when everyone has an opinion and a place to voice it. All the content creators I know in my area of expertise try their best to help. Yet, from time to time, we all experience nasty remarks from those who disagree with this office for our opinions, appearance, and anything else that comes to someone’s mind that they believe can hurt us.

What’s the most satisfying part of being a content creator?

To date, I have influenced and helped millions of people. I love to hear how I have helped them find work and, generally, the more effective professionally and personally. Views, likes and such are very nice, too. The messages I receive from any opportunities to coach people as a result of my content creation are extremely gratifying.

What are you up to currently and what are your long-term career goals?

As an older man (I am 71), I don’t think in terms of long-term goals. I think in terms of legacy. In addition to trying to get everything out of myself that I’ve accumulated in the course of my career, I’m starting to do work on fostering intergenerational connection.

I’ve come to realize how many younger people struggle professionally and personally because I have been siloed into one cohort that rarely reaches out to those older for advice.

Conversely, for those who are older, many are put out to pasture like old horses who did good work and now graze in the fields without purpose to their days. I believe we can create ways to connect that serve both.

What drives you to create content regularly?

Although creating content started as a way of separating myself from my competition, now it is about knowledge transfer and creating a legacy. Whether it is my books and guides, or all the videos, podcasts and articles, although I am healthy now, I don’t know how long I will be.

While I still am, it is important to share everything I know and have experienced so others will have to go through the struggles I did. There is no reason for others to make the mistakes others have before them if it can be avoided.

What’s the most challenging part of being a content creator?

Ideas are cheap and easy. The ability to communicate solutions in a way where the reader, viewer or listener can understand it and be able to act on it is the challenge for me. The Internet gives people many choices for collecting information. But touching them sufficiently to act on it is the challenge.

How do you make sure that you aren’t affected by nasty comments and negative things said about you?

I don’t get many nasty comments but when I do they hurt. I don’t want to be dismissive of people. They may be right and this is the only way they can know of to get her point across. I don’t like it but accept it as a price for being visible.

Malcolm X said, “If you have no critics you'll likely have no success.”  I try to focus on the core message, not the method.

Anything else you would like our audience to know about you!

I help people play big in the world. Too many people living in the United States end their conversations by saying, “Take it easy.” I end my videos and podcasts by saying, “Be great!” Aspiring to greatness has been lost by most people. There is no reason to settle for conformity, homogeneity and mediocrity. I help people aspire to be world-class at whatever they do. I can help you, too.

Why did you start creating content on Tealfeed?

Originally, I started writing for cofounderstown.com before it became Tealfeed. I wanted to write more for a not exclusively US audience and it fit perfectly with what I wanted to do. It is an easy venue to write for.

How would you want people to remember you?

I want to be remembered as I am now—a knowledgeable loving man who has inspired people to change their lives.

What's success for you and when you would consider yourself to be successful?

I am successful now. I have helped people and changed lives.

Who’s your favorite creator? Why?

There are many great creators in the world. I have had the pleasure of taking classes from Lance Secretan, an international coach and former President of Manpower. His book, “The Spark, The Flame and The Torch” is a wonderful book. His YouTube videos of him speaking to groups are terrific.

The metaphor embedded in the title speaks to what leadership and coaching is about. You help find a voice within someone that combusts into a flame of action so they carry a torch into the world. It is the difference between motivation (lighting a fire underneath someone) vs inspiration (lighting a fire within someone).

To every individual who’s planning to start out as a content creator, what would you like to advise them?

• Everything starts with courage. It takes someone courageous to be willing to put themselves out there. 
• Be authentic. Don’t be an imitation of someone else. Be you.
• Serve others
• Be Honest
• Love your audience
• Find a way to be effective with your efforts by connecting with people and speaking to them so they understand and feel what you have to say.