In this episode, Im talking about competition. What if you could build a wildly successful career without competing like everyone else? Listen in to learn how to approach competition to avoid burnout and separate yourself from the pack. 

Timestamp

1:00 — Story Time: How I competed against my friend for a promotion. 

4:46 — Mindset Shifts: Why competition can be a trap, and four shifts you can make to redefine what it means to succeed at work.

12:00 — Strategies: From preparation to playing the right games, these career tactics help you win without burnout.

20:22 — Challenge for Listeners: Identify one area you are competing needlessly. 

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In Part 1 of The Confidence Blueprint, we talked about how to build confidence: what it looks like, why it matters, and what actually works.

But what happens when your confidence takes a hit? When failure, rejection, or self-doubt throws you off?

Part 2 is about how to rebuild your confidence when it's been shaken. I’ll walk you through the exact strategies that helped me bounce back, plus how to shift your mindset when things get tough.

Timestamp

:36 — Storytime: A personal story of failing two audits, self-doubt creeping in, and the turning point that helped rebuild belief.

5:16 — What It Feels Like To Lose Confidence: Isolation, shame, overthinking, and that “sliding down the hill” feeling — this is what it really feels like to lose your edge, and why it’s more common than we think.

10:10  — Reframing Failure: Failure isn’t the end — it’s feedback. Learn how to reframe losses so they sharpen your skills and fuel your next step.

15:22 — Strategies To Rebuild Your Confidence: 4 practical tools to build yourself back up: highlight reels, small wins, positive self-talk, and more.

22:20 — Signs You Are On The Right Path: Not sure if your confidence is improving? Here are clear signals you’re headed in the right direction.

24:14 — Challenge for Listeners: List 3 to 5 things you’re proud of from this year. Big or small. Then reflect on what they say about you.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Confidence is the foundation of career success—but most people don’t know how to actually build it. In this episode, I break down the strategies I’ve used to build and maintain confidence throughout my career. From getting promoted 11 times to launching this podcast, I’ve relied on confidence to take risks and make bold moves. I also share a story I’ve never told publicly, give you a confidence audit to test where you stand, and close with the exact steps you can take to become more confident—starting today.

Timestamp

:56 — Storytime: How I overcame self-doubt and launched my podcast and business.

5:33 — What Confidence Is and Isn't: Clear signs of real confidence vs. false bravado.

7:57  — Why Confidence Matters: The role confidence plays in promotions, life choices, and career momentum.

9:38 — Nature vs. Nurture: Do you have to be born confident—or can you build it?

11:21 — The Confidence Audit: 7 questions to help you identify your current confidence baseline. 

14:55  — What Confidence Sounds and Looks Like: How confident people speak, act, and show up in the real world. 

20:26  — Strategies to Build Confidence: Tactical habits and mindset shifts that actually work.

31:47 — Challenge for Listeners: What is one bold risk you should take this week?

Confidence Blueprint Series: 

• Part 2 - How to Rebuild It drops July 30th 

Resources

• Book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

I used to delegate just to make my life easier. I wasn’t thinking about the team. I was thinking about me and my needs. It turns out I was wasting a golden opportunity to develop my team.

Delegation is one of the most underrated skills in leadership. Done right, it builds trust, grows your team, and frees you up to lead at a higher level. In this episode, I’ll share mistakes to avoid, a framework to know what to delegate, and real strategies to help you get better at it.

Timestamp

1:19 — Storytime: A real example of how delegating a major task helped a team member grow and eventually land a promotion.

4:02 — What is Delegation: Why delegation isn’t just about saving time and how it actually grows your leadership.

4:59  — Why Delegation Matters: The four big reasons delegation is critical for leadership success and team development.

7:30 — Delegation Mistakes: From dumping only boring tasks to forgetting to follow up, avoid these traps if you want to delegate well.

13:50 — How To Delegate Without Losing Trust: Four simple but powerful strategies to delegate without losing trust or dropping the ball.

19:27  — Should I Delegate This?: Ask yourself these questions to instantly know if you should delegate a task.

21:38 — Challenge for Listeners: Delegate one task this week that helps someone grow. Free up your time and give your team a chance to stretch.

Two Part Confidence Series Dropping on July 16th & 30th

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

It's one of the most frustrating things that can happen at work. You put in the effort, you share the idea, and someone else gets the praise. Whether it's your manager, a peer, or someone from another team, seeing someone else take credit for your work can hit hard. In this episode, I share why your reaction matters more than you think, the long-term mindset that will serve you best, and what to do when this happens to you.

Timestamp

2:01 — Examples of Stealing Credit: What it actually looks like when a coworker or leader steals credit, from small moments to major recognition.

3:26 — How It Feels When Someone Else Gets the Praise: The negative impact of someone else getting credit for your hard work.

4:20 — Common Mistakes to Avoid When Responding: What not to do when someone takes credit for your work, and why certain reactions can hurt more than help.

7:03 — How to Respond When Someone Takes Credit for Your Work: Simple and effective strategies to protect your reputation and take back control.

15:01 — What to Do When Your Boss Takes Credit for Your Work: Why it hits harder when your manager does it, and how to respond while protecting your career.

18:08 — Story Time: A real example from my career where credit was taken, and what I learned from how I handled it.

21:38 — Challenge for Listeners: Reflect on a time someone took credit for your work and how you can be ready to respond differently next time.

Resources

• Download the free Brag Sheet: https://sts-coaching.com/resources/

• Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: [email protected]
•  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
•  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Introvert-Leader
•  STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Ever faced a situation at work that left you stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next?

In this episode, I tackle four real career and leadership questions pulled from Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn, and more. These are practical, messy, honest scenarios professionals are living through every day. I give my take on how I’d handle them, including a few personal stories along the way.

Whether you’re trying to move up, lead better, or earn what you’re worth, there’s something here for you.

Timestamps:

0:58 – I’m a sales rep and want to move up. What do I need to do? Advice on breaking through to the next level, who to talk to, what to focus on, and how to demonstrate leadership without the title.

5:54 – Is climbing the corporate ladder even worth it? The truth about promotions, leadership, and what makes it meaningful. Spoiler: it's not about the money.

8:47 – My team asks me everything. How do I get them to be more independent? How to build trust, reinforce confidence, and empower your team to make decisions without always coming to you.

12:35 – How do I know if I’m underpaid and what should I do about it? Step-by-step advice on figuring out your market value and what to do if you’re earning less than you should.

Career/Leadership Coaching

Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how to turn around a low morale team. I’ve led teams where people were quitting, the vibe was heavy, and performance was tanking—and I’ve helped those same teams become top performers. Whether you’re leading a struggling team or just want to be ready for the challenge, this episode gives you the mindset, strategies, and real-world examples to turn things around fast.

Timestamps:
0:56 - What Does Low Morale Look Like: How to spot the early signs of low morale, from disengagement to survival mode.

3:10 - Identify the Root Causes: Three ways to dig deeper and uncover what’s really driving your team’s morale issues.

8:01 - Set The Vision/Create the Culture: What to do once you’ve diagnosed the problem—and how to rally your team around a new direction.

14:10 - Rebuild Their Confidence: Actionable ways to help your team believe in themselves again and re-engage with the work.

17:44 - Get Team Wins: Why small wins matter—and how to start building momentum when your team feels stuck.

21:53 - Story Time: A story about leading a struggling team and watching them transform into rock stars.

25:22 - Challenge For Listeners: One thing you can do this week to build confidence and boost your team’s morale.

Career Coaching

Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I dive into imposter syndrome, those moments when self-doubt creeps in and you feel like you're not good enough. With no script, outline, or agenda, I share how I push through those thoughts and keep moving forward. If you've ever questioned your abilities, this episode will give you real insights on overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence.

Tune in for a raw conversation on dealing with self-doubt and taking action, even when you don’t feel ready.

Career Coaching

Want to take your career to the next level?
Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IntrovertLeaderCo
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 observations from 10 years of marriage. These aren’t vague ideas—they’re real lessons that have shaped how I show up in life, in my career, and in my relationships. If you’re in a relationship or thinking about long-term commitment, I hope these stories and insights help you build something strong, lasting, and honest. Whether you're married, dating, or figuring it all out—there’s something in here for you.

Timestamps:
00:38 - Austin Update

02:15 - Why Discuss Marriage: Marriage has impacted my career and life more than anything else. Here’s why this topic matters.

3:04 - 10 Observations from 10 Years in Marriage: From shared hobbies to personal identity, respect, and faith—these are the lessons I’ve learned and lived.

16:33 - Challenge For Listeners: Call out something small your partner did this week and tell them you appreciate it.

Career Coaching

Want to take your career to the next level?
 Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• Don't miss our new episodes, released every other Wednesday; be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, and self-development questions, and I'll answer them on air!
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IntrovertLeaderCo
• STS Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, I’m talking about how to learn and apply new skills and why it’s one of the fastest ways to grow your career. Whether you’re stuck in your role or want to become more valuable at work, acquiring the right skills can make a huge difference. I’ll break down how to choose the right skill, where to learn it, and how to push through the messy parts of the process.

Timestamps

:40 – Austin Update

1:28 – Why Acquiring New Skills Is Important: Why skill-building is one of the most underrated ways to stand out in your career.

2:52 – What Learning New Skills Can Do For Your Career: The impact of adding new tools to your toolbox and how it compounds over time.

5:37 – Identifying The Right Skills to Learn: How to figure out which skills are worth your time and aligned with your goals.

10:38 – The Best Vehicles To Learn New Skills: My favorite ways to learn quickly, from books to hands-on practice.

14:20 – Overcoming Challenges in The Learning Process: What makes skill-building hard and how to push through it.

20:49 – Actionable First Steps / Applying The New Skill: What to do once you’ve picked a skill and how to apply it right away.

23:22 – Story Time: A behind-the-scenes story about how I taught myself to edit audio and video for this podcast and my YouTube channel.

26:28 – Challenge For Listeners: Pick a skill, take 15 minutes to start learning it today, and commit to action.

Career Coaching

Want to level up at work?
Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average.

Book your free career clarity call here. 

https://calendly.com/stscareercoaching/30min

Engage

Don’t miss our new episodes—released every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
 Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions, and I’ll answer them on air.

• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: Austin Hopkins
• YouTube: TheIntrovertLeader
• Website: www.sts-coaching.com