I coach creators with <2.5k followers how to be LinkedIn pros in <45 days | 264k Impressions & 23k Engagements in L12 mos. | The Real You Podcast Host | Enneagram 6 | Runner, Triathlete, Obstacle Course Racer

I was the quiet kid in the back of the classroom.

I never wanted to be called on.

Never wanted to read out loud.

And I definitely didn’t want to give a presentation.

So when I was 14, in 9th grade, and had to give a speech in front of my entire grade and their parents,

I delivered one of the worst speeches in the history of civilization. No exaggeration. It was, memorable. For the wrong reasons.

That moment stuck with me.

I struggled with being visible, using my voice, and public speaking well into my mid-30s.

I learned how to stay competent. Helpful. Fine. And mostly invisible.

By the time I hit 40, something shifted. I felt called toward something more. Something different.

- I wanted to speak.
- I wanted to start a podcast.
- I wanted to help others who felt the same quiet pull.

But I didn’t know how.


So instead of moving forward, I did what a lot of capable mid-life professionals do, I stayed stuck. And fearful.

For another eight years. Fear didn’t stop me loudly. It stopped me efficiently.

That finally changed in the summer of 2023, when I started posting on LinkedIn.

At first, it was small:

- content
- selfies 
- stories from my past

And something unexpected happened.

People responded. They resonated. They recognized themselves.

That was the beginning of a real transformation.

Since then, I’ve launched three podcasts, a YouTube channel, and developed my keynote, The Fear That Formed Me: a funny, honest talk about fear, visibility, and the self-imposed rules that quietly shape our lives.

I don’t talk about eliminating fear. I talk about what happens when you stop letting it decide.

Today, my work is about helping mid-life professionals do what they’ve been avoiding, not through hype, self-help clichés, or forced journaling, but through clarity, humor, and the relief of realizing they’re not broken.

If you’ve been feeling that quiet nudge toward something you keep putting off, you’re not alone.

And you’re probably closer than you think.


➜ Listen to my podcast here, https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/

➜ Book me to speak at: david@davidjyoung.me

What do I miss the most while working in an office?

My Kobs.

He's been with me at home every day since we got him in mid-January 2021. 

I never really leave him for long stretches unless we/I travel, which isn't very often. 

He's in my office or just outside most of the time.

Sometimes, he'll sleep at the bottom of the stairs on the landing, but I know he's not far, keeping me company.


The thought of leaving him daily hit me on Sunday, and I had tears in the eyes, which is saying something/b c/ on Zoloft, I cannot cry. 


The good part is I'm only 10-12 minutes away, so I've come home for lunch the first two days, and that has worked out well. 

It's a tight turnaround for me, but it's worth it to see him, let him out, and let him run. 

We crate him for the first part of the day, then I leave him out in the family room for the afternoon. 


So far, so good. 🐾

A work-from-home day today, just like old times.

Kobe will probably be confused and be like, yo, I thought you were leaving here.

David Young, MBA

I Help Mid-Life Professionals Do What They’ve Been Avoiding through a keynote on Fear & Visibility without self-help clichés & journaling | 🎤 Keynote Speaker | Host of The Underlayer

The benefits of working from home versus working in an office.

I've been mostly remote for the last 5 years, 3 days at home prior to that, and as of 3 weeks ago, I'm in the office 4x/week:

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀:

• more sleep
• showering optional
• your OWN bathroom
• don't leave your pets
• see your kids off to school (if applicable)
• snacks whenever
• comfy cloths/PJs
• no office chatter
• nobody stops by your desk
• no shared fridge
• no shared microwaves
• no office chatter
• no commute
• get up and stretch/walk more often
• don't have to be plugged in all day
• no small talk


𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀:

• if you're an extrovert, getting energy from co-workers


And for me, I'm more productive at home.

So, why are all these companies mandating return to work?


And yes, no office chatter is on there twice on purpose.

I have a B.S. in Biology and an M.B.A., with 25 years of experience in sales, customer service, accounts receivable, credit risk analysis, cost center accounting, and data analysis. 

I have worked with three career coaches and several therapists to develop my skills and abilities.

Outside work, I have completed several half-marathons, a full marathon, and 14 total triathlons, including two half-Ironman races. I recently completed a Spartan 5k obstacle course race.

My personality traits include being deliberate, analytical, disciplined, and responsible. I have a natural ability to assess risk and problem-solve. 

I am detail-oriented and have read over 75 self-help, personal improvement, coaching, and mindset books.

Let's talk about group chats for a minute.

I'm not a fan of any group communication.

I am part of exactly 1 group chat in my life, and it's with 2 other people.

So, on our beloved MS teams, we have a group chat, which I got thrown into from day 1. 

• My total messages contributed, zero.
• My total reactions, zero (I accidentally hovered once and hearted something and almost panicked, but was able to remove b4 anyone could notice)


There are occasional needs and uses for it, like sharing something quickly that can help the group. 

I find those messages few and quite far between. 


𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆:

• Memes (please stop)
• Happy "insert day of the week" (apparently, any of the 5 can be happy?)
• Something that should be sent individually, but it's like a reply all and sent to all of us (I have an entire post on reply all, but not today)
• Attempts at humor (which are usually the opposite of funny) - if you want a recent real example of this, DM me 

They should just type it out, then erase it. Don't press send. If you think it's funny, it's not. 


I turned off my alerts on day 1, I just couldn't, and still can't. 

This is my life now.

I'm truly in real-life office space.

Michael Bolton was copied on a recent email.

Can't tell you how badly I wanted to ask him if he goes by Mike?

And 

I got back from lunch recently, and there was a form for me to fill out. 

I was not in a hurry to fill out said form.

One of my co-workers tells me around 1:30 p.m. that I need to fill it out.

About 15 minutes later, someone else shows up at my desk, 

"You have your form filled out?"

I was like, I have it. Right here.
I'll fill it out.
I was already reminded.
I don't need another copy of the memo.


Does anyone want to get outta here and go to Chotchkie's?

I've realized that the modern 9-5 office setup is the exact opposite of the casino setup. 

𝗜𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲:

• no clocks
  
• pumped in oxygen to keep you awake
  
• easily lose track of time. sit down to play 20 mins. of blackjack, and the next thing you know, 6 hours have passed


𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲:

• clocks everywhere. I have 3 screens, my phone, and several wall clocks constantly telling me what time it is.
  
• I think they reduce oxygen, constantly making you battle to keep your head from hitting your keyboard.
  
• time CRAWLS by. Last week, I swore I'd been there for 2 hours, and it had been 16 minutes. Then, I was certain it had been 2 more hours, and it was 11 minutes more. What felt like 4h was 27 minutes. 


I do get two 15-minute breaks, and those go by in a nanosecond. I've even tried just staring at my locked phone screen the entire time. Still gone in a flash. 


Last week, it was just my boss and me in the office. 

This week, everyone returns, and it'll be full.  Maybe 20-25 or so people in our room. 

Yeah

We all know the benefits of working from home. Let's talk about one of the biggest drawbacks 

to working in an office:

𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆.

Now, as someone with OCD, I understand it's harder for me than most b/c I don't like to touch anything in public, especially:

• bathroom door handles in or out
• stall doors and locks
• public toilet handles
• everything

You really take for granted using the bathroom in your home, until you're trapped for 8+ hours in an office and suddenly faced with using a 2-stall, 2-urinal men's room on a regular basis. 


It's clean, ish, but could definitely be better.

And, there are 3 sinks, but none of the automatic soap dispensers work. 

There was a standalone soft soap when I started, but it was running low.

A few days later, I brought in a larger soft soap, and it's now acting as the ONLY soap in the bathroom. What if they hadn't hired me? Would nobody there be using soap?

Guess I'll have to buy 2 more.

I didn't get the memo that it was a B.Y.O.S.S. workplace.


Now, using the bathroom like this is one thing, BUT

using it with others at the same time is where the real magic happens. 

I'm constantly trying to scout it, hoping for a solo mission, but inevitably, someone always comes in. I can never be fast enough. It's like I trigger an alarm.  

Young is in the bathroom. Steve, you're up, get in there!!!


I walked in yesterday, and a guy in one of the stalls said, to himself, I have to presume, "I shouldn't have used that Fiber One."

Whoa there, buddy.


Then, you have the classic: someone leaves the stall and washes their hands for 2 seconds?

Bro, you can't even get them wet in 2 seconds, let alone actually wash them.  Where do you work, so I can be sure to never go to that part of the office? 

Oh, that's right, I can't f'n see so I don't KNOW who that is!!!

Wow, what an experience, every day.


There's a new sign, two of them, black ink on white 8.5"x11 paper that says, "Spray the deodorizer after you use the bathroom!!!!!!!"

I guess they figured if it only had 2 exclamation points, ppl wouldn't' take it seriously, but 7 !, ppl would be like, "damn, they are serious, spray that sh!t"

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