Totally Unacceptable with Ed Clementi

There's a name for what you've been feeling.

You've delivered. You've developed. You've done everything they asked. And yet — year after year — someone else gets the call. You get the praise, you get the appreciation, you get told how valuable you are. But you don't get chosen.

I call it Almost Chosen. And it has a very real cost.

In this episode, I walk you through what Almost Chosen actually looks like — the commute home when you let yourself believe this is the year, the dinner table conversation, the quiet shift in how you show up when it keeps not happening. And then I price it out. Conservatively, being Almost Chosen in financial services can cost you $50,000 a year in foregone compensation. Over multiple years — that's six figures of real money, real lifestyle decisions, real ambition eroded.

But this isn't just about the individual. Almost Chosen is a leadership failure with a price tag. When great talent gets maintained instead of advanced, the organization pays too — in productivity, in engagement, and eventually in the talent that walks out the door.

If you've ever carried Almost home, this episode is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Almost Chosen moment — and why it's more common than anyone admits
• What it does to you psychologically over time
• The real financial cost of being passed over — year after year
• What it costs the organization when they keep doing it
• Three honest questions every Almost Chosen professional needs to ask themselves
• Why Almost Chosen is a choice to stay — but not a permanent verdict

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

📖 Almost Chosen No More — The Playbook Everything I wish someone had handed me, built into a framework you can use starting today. For the professionals done waiting and ready to become undeniable. 👉 https://edclementi.com/almost-chosen-no-more/

📩 The FireStarter Newsletter Every Monday. One idea to start your week. Leadership, careers, and life — the stuff nobody tells you until it's too late. Free. 👉 https://firestarter.edclementi.com

🌐 AxioLead™ — Leadership Risk Advisory 👉 https://edclementi.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Intro

00:11 — Have You Ever Known Someone Like That?

02:15 — It Has a Name: Almost Chosen

02:50 — Who I Am and Why This Matters

05:07 — Walk With Me: The MD Journey

12:39 — The Almost Chosen Moment

16:17 — What It Does to You Over Time

19:36 — Let's Price This Out

22:54 — What It Costs the Organization

23:50 — Who This Is For

25:13 — Almost Chosen No More: The Playbook

28:42 — Three Honest Questions

29:55 — Almost Chosen Is a Choice — Not a Verdict

CONNECT WITH ED: 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi 🌐 edclementi.com 📩 FireStarter Newsletter: firestarter.edclementi.com

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🎙️ We Were Builders Once: When Job Security Was You

Before résumés.
Before layoffs.
Before waiting for someone else to decide your worth—
Job security was you.

In this episode of Totally Unacceptable, Ed Clementi takes us back to the forgotten roots of work itself—when self-reliance, skill, and contribution were the foundation of stability. And he exposes how we traded that independence for an illusion of safety.

You’ll learn:

• How the “college–career–security” formula became one of the biggest lies of modern work.
• Why handing your livelihood to a corporation isn’t stability—it’s surrender.
• The mindset shift every professional needs in the age of AI and automation.
• How to reclaim the value that can never be laid off, outsourced, or deleted.
• Why self-belief is still the original skill set—and the only true job security you’ll ever have.

Because real leadership begins when you stop waiting to be chosen and start creating your own value.
 And forgetting that truth… is totally unacceptable.

👉 Tune in to rediscover what we lost—and what it takes to build again.

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Workplace bullying isn’t just a schoolyard problem—it’s alive and well in offices, boardrooms, and businesses everywhere. And the damage it does is staggering.

In this episode of Totally Unacceptable, Ed Clementi puts the spotlight on the bully boss—the so-called “leader” who hides behind authority, leads through fear, and poisons culture.

You’ll learn:

• How to recognize bullying behaviors disguised as “feedback” or “management.”
• Why standing up for yourself at work doesn’t play out like it did on the playground.
• The ripple effect bullies have on confidence, careers, health, and even home life.
• Why executives who stay silent are just as complicit.
• What you can do if you’re working under one—or leading like one.

Because leadership isn’t about fear. It’s about courage. And every bully tolerated at the top sends shockwaves far beyond the office walls.

👉 Tune in to hear why workplace bullying is the most Totally Unacceptable form of leadership—and what it takes to finally stop it.

Also, join the waitlist for my new book: Leadership At The Dinner Table.

...and subscribe to my newsletter The FireStarter.

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Leadership is the single most powerful force in any organization. It builds belief — or it breaks both people and culture.

Welcome to the first-ever FireStarter Session with Ed Clementi, a powerful new crossover between Totally Unacceptable and my weekly leadership newsletter, The FireStarter.

In this new series, I take one of my most resonant articles — this one titled “Dear CEO: 5 Questions That Might Haunt You” — and bring it to life through voice, emotion, and unfiltered perspective.

In this episode, we explore:
🔥 Why most people have lost faith in leadership at the top
🔥 The unspoken questions that define your legacy
🔥 What it truly means to lead with bravery, care, and conviction
🔥 A challenge for CEOs and future leaders alike

This is not a performance. This is a mirror.
And if you’re in — this will move you.

💥 Listen. Reflect. Act.
If this hit you hard — good. Now do something with it.

👉 Subscribe to The FireStarter newsletter (new issue every Monday, 7AM):
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👉 Explore coaching, speaking, and leadership development:
https://www.edclementi.com

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Your Boss Isn’t a Leader — and It’s Hurting Your Career

Waiting for a weak leader to suddenly become strong is a career death sentence.
And handing over your future to someone threatened by your potential? That’s not loyalty. That’s self-sabotage.

In this episode of Totally Unacceptable, Ed Clementi calls out the silent epidemic of non-leaders in leadership roles — and the damage they cause to careers, teams, and company culture.

This one’s not just a vent session. It’s a blueprint.

You’ll learn:

How to recognize when your boss isn’t actually leading

Why staying silent and “waiting it out” is the real risk

What to do when your growth is being stifled

How to build trust and visibility anyway

And the parable of the elephant and the rope — and how it applies to you

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or underestimated by someone who was supposed to have your back — this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

🎧 Don’t give your power to the wrong person. Reclaim your voice. Multiply your value.

🔥 Stay connected & fuel your leadership fire:

🔗 Follow Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/

📬 Subscribe to The FireStarter Newsletter: https://thefirestarter.beehiiv.com/

🌐 Explore more at edclementi.com: https://edclementi.com/

Learn more at edclementi.com

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Most people don’t get stuck because they aren’t talented.
 They get stuck because they’ve been taught to play small.

In this episode, Ed Clementi unpacks the silent career killer no one talks about—self-imposed limitations. From the myth of readiness to the two career paths most people unconsciously choose between, this is a wake-up call for anyone who’s waiting for the “right time.”

You’ll hear hard truths, bold challenges, and a reminder that success doesn’t go to the most qualified—it goes to the most prepared.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s more in you—but you’ve been holding back—this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

🎧 Let’s end the epidemic of playing small. Starting now.

🔥 Stay connected & fuel your leadership fire:
🔗 Follow Ed on LinkedIn
📬 Subscribe to The FireStarter Newsletter
🌐 Explore more at edclementi.com

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🎙️ Totally Unacceptable: Season 2 Premiere – Breaking Barriers: The Leadership Multiplier Effect

Are you ready to unlock your full potential in 2025? This season, we’re turning the spotlight inward—on the habits, fears, and mindsets holding us back from stepping into true leadership.

In this episode, we dive into:
⭐ The Multiplier Effect: Why leadership amplifies your impact, opportunities, and income.
⭐ The Missed Opportunity: Why avoiding leadership might be holding you back more than you realize.
⭐ Real Talk on Growth: How embracing leadership challenges you to grow and leave a lasting legacy.

Whether you’re seeking to advance your career, make a bigger impact, or finally take that bold leap into leadership, this episode lays the foundation for where it all begins: with you.

🔥 Resources to Get Started:

• Take the FREE Leadership Scorecard and discover where you stand: The Leadership Scorecard
• Explore more tools and insights on my website: edclementi.com
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for leaders: The FireStarter Newsletter

🎧 Tune in now and take the first step toward becoming the leader you’re meant to be.

#Leadership #Podcast #GrowthMindset #TotallyUnacceptablePodcast

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Gaslighting isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a workplace epidemic that can erode trust, confidence, and your sense of self-worth. In this episode, we uncover the insidious reality of Workplace Gaslighting: what it looks like, who it typically comes from, and when it often rears its ugly head.

You’ll learn to recognize the signs of external manipulation and internal doubt, understand the motivations behind gaslighting, and, most importantly, discover how to protect yourself.

Whether it’s setting boundaries, standing firm in your truth, or deciding to remove yourself from a toxic environment, this episode is a powerful reminder of the critical importance of knowing your worth.

Tune in to arm yourself with the knowledge and tools to reclaim your confidence and peace in any work environment.

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In this episode of 'Totally Unacceptable,' we delve into the pervasive issue of micromanagement, exploring its roots in insecurity and fear.

We uncover the psychological drivers that compel leaders to micromanage and ask employees to self-reflect on their potential roles in these dynamics.

By understanding the fears and patterns on both sides, we pave the way for effective solutions rooted in accountability, reflection, and courageous leadership.

This episode challenges everyone affected by MicroManagement to confront their inner struggles and embrace bravery to cultivate trust and autonomy within their teams.

Follow me on Linkedin:
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Join the Waitlist for Leadership at the Dinner Table

This episode is packed with powerful leadership advice you might not be getting from your current manager or leader—but today, I’m stepping in as your coach!

🎯 We’re diving into 10 actionable steps you can start using TODAY to make 2025 your best year yet.

From reflecting on 2024’s wins and setbacks to finding your leadership voice and building your personal brand, I’ve got you covered. 

Plus, don’t miss the inspiring “Man in the Pit” parable—a reminder of what it really means to show up for others as a true leader.

If you're ready to take control and level up in 2025, this episode is for you. Let’s get after it—because your best year starts now!

If you are enjoying this journey with us then try my weekly FireStarter Newsletter.  It's packed with 3-5 minute reads on leadership, growth, and inspiration. To sign up, click the link below:

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Learn more at edclementi.com

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