What makes a leader unforgettable? In this episode, Adam and Clay reflect on a quiet moment in an airport lounge with former Home Depot CEO Frank Blake—and what it revealed about the kind of leadership that truly lasts. Instead of holding court, Blake was asking questions, listening intently, and showing up with presence.

They break down three simple (but rare) behaviors: staying curious when it’s easier to assume, showing up with presence instead of position, and building a legacy through small, consistent actions that make people feel seen. You’ll walk away challenged to lead like Frank Blake—not by being loud, but by being curious.

Your personal brand is always speaking, whether you’re shaping it intentionally or not. In this episode, we explore six subtle (but telling) clues that your reputation at work might be stuck in the past.

From being known for who you used to be, to struggling to articulate what makes you different today, we break down how to recognize when your brand needs a refresh—and what to do about it. Whether you’re stepping into a new level of leadership or just tired of being overlooked, this episode will help you clarify your brand and communicate it with confidence.

“this is not a fulfilling life”

"why do I want to win this tournament so bad?"

This is the paradox of Scottie Scheffler and there is something for all of us to learn.

“Just ask more questions.”

It’s classic leadership advice — but what if it doesn’t land the way you think?

In this episode, we unpack a tension that’s come up again and again, especially with younger Millennials and Gen Z:

Questions can build trust, open doors, and deepen connection — but when they feel forced, transactional, or performative, they do the opposite.

We’ll explore:

• Why the best leaders still ask great questions — but never to manipulate.

• What younger employees are really pushing back on when they say, “Don’t interrogate me.”

• Four practical ways to make your questions feel authentic, not artificial.

• How to match your curiosity to the moment — whether you’re building rapport, coaching, or holding someone accountable.

• A simple gut-check to make sure you’re asking to connect, not control.

Closing challenge:

Before you ask your next big question, ask yourself: Do I really want to know the answer?

Then pick one relationship this week and ask a better, braver question — and actually listen to what comes next.

“What Gen Z and Millennials Really Want From Their Leaders”

(And why it’s probably not a ping-pong table)

Today’s younger workforce isn’t just looking for a paycheck or a trendy office perk. Gen Z and millennials want something deeper: meaningful work, balanced lives, and leaders they can actually trust.

In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack the latest findings from the Deloitte Global 2025 survey — revealing what these generations really expect from leadership and why many companies are missing the mark.

Four surprising insights we dig into:

1️⃣ Well-being Isn’t a Perk — It’s the Point

More than half of Gen Zs and nearly half of millennials say they’re anxious or stressed most of the time. They expect leaders to talk about mental health and model healthier work rhythms.

2️⃣ Purpose Matters

Over 60% have turned down work that clashes with their values. They want leaders who act like stewards, not just managers chasing numbers.

3️⃣ Flexibility and Belonging Beat Prestige

Career growth isn’t just about climbing ladders — it’s about feeling seen, included, and trusted with real flexibility.

4️⃣ Growth is the New Loyalty

They’ll stick with leaders who invest in them. Over half have left roles due to a lack of development or career progression.

Throughout the episode, Clay and Adam share honest stories about the leaders who made them feel safe, seen, and stretched — and how today’s managers can do the same without burning themselves out.

Closing challenge:

If you lead anyone under 40, ask yourself: Am I creating a culture that supports well-being, lives out real values, and gives people a reason to stay?

More importantly: Would you want to work for you?

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—and it’s not the end of the road. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack four surprising reasons high-capacity leaders hit a wall—and how to bounce back without guilt or heroic grit. From emotional fatigue to financial pressure, they explore what’s really behind burnout and what to do when work won’t let up.

You’ll learn why burnout isn’t always about working too much—sometimes it’s about doing the wrong kind of work. Plus, they share personal stories, practical rhythms, and one small step you can take this week to protect your energy and lead from a healthier place.

Key Topics:

• The difference between burnout and exhaustion

• Why boredom might be draining your energy

• How to lead yourself through stress when no one else will

• What to do when financial pressure keeps you stuck

Middle management gets a bad rap: too much pressure, not enough power, and none of the credit. But what if we’ve misunderstood its purpose all along?

In this episode, we reframe the middle—not as a corporate purgatory, but as a vital proving ground. You’ll discover why this role is more than a rung on the ladder—it’s a shaping season that builds vision, resilience, and sound judgment.

We’ll explore:

• Why the role is misunderstood (and unfairly maligned)

• How the valley of middle management forms you—not just frustrates you

• Where the role is headed in the future—from manager to wayfinder

Key takeaway: Stop trying to escape the middle. Start learning from it.

Challenge: Ask yourself: How is this season shaping me into the leader I’m becoming?

About Clay Scroggins:  Clay Scroggins is a sought-after ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠speaker and leadership coach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠known for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Lead When You're Not In Charge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com

About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PeopleWorks International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com

When you hear “control freak,” what comes to mind? Probably someone who micromanages, hoards tasks, and drives everyone nuts. But what if the real issue isn’t being controlling—it’s trying to control everything?

In this episode, we reclaim the term and explore what it means to become an Enlightened Control Freak—someone who’s focused, self-aware, and ruthlessly clear about what’s theirs to own.

You’ll learn a simple 1-2-3 framework to help you:

1. Name what you want

2. Separate goals from desires

3. Control the controllable

If you’re tired of being overwhelmed by things outside your control, this episode will show you a better path—one that leads to clarity, peace, and progress.

Challenge: This week, make two lists—your goals and your desires—and ask: What can I control?

About Clay Scroggins:  Clay Scroggins is a sought-after ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠speaker and leadership coach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠known for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Lead When You're Not In Charge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com

About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PeopleWorks International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com

Peter Drucker once wrote, “For development is always self-development.” In this episode, we unpack why that simple idea might be the most overlooked (and freeing) truth in the professional world.

Clay and Adam explore:

• Why so many people wait to be “developed” by their company or manager

• The real reasons we resist taking initiative

• What self-development actually looks like in everyday life

• The role organizations should play (but often overplay) in your growth

If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for someone to invest in you, this episode is your reminder: development doesn’t require permission—it requires a posture.

About Clay Scroggins:  Clay Scroggins is a sought-after ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠speaker and leadership coach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠known for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Lead When You're Not In Charge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com

About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PeopleWorks International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com

“I was promoted once… and quickly realized I’m not management material.”

If you’ve ever thought or said those words, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken.

In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack why so many talented professionals opt out of management and why that decision often has more to do with broken systems than broken people.

We explore the cultural shift that’s made leadership feel more like a trap than a reward, and we ask a better question: What if you’re not management material… yet?

You’ll learn:

• Why Gen Z and Millennials are skeptical of traditional management

• What “I’m not management material” usually means underneath

• How to reframe the role of a manager from a pressure-filled title to a purposeful growth path

• Why good managers aren’t born—they’re built

If you’ve ever doubted your place in leadership, this one’s for you.

About Clay Scroggins:  Clay Scroggins is a sought-after ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠speaker and leadership coach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠known for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Lead When You're Not In Charge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com

About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PeopleWorks International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com