Work Fame with Leanne Hughes

Today’s episode started with a simple client conversation about recognition.

. I shared a moment I’ll never forget from a workshop I ran in India with 30 construction leaders. One card said, “I’d be happy if my leader just said thank you.”

That card stopped the room.

Everyone stood up.

That memory took me straight back to a book I keep coming back to, The Courage to Be Disliked. It’s easily the most annotated book on my Kindle, and honestly, it feels like one long highlight.

I read out passages that question our obsession with recognition, approval, and being liked. The book makes a brutal point: when your sense of contribution depends on recognition, you are no longer free. You start shaping your life around other people’s expectations. You end up loyal to everyone and owned by all of them.

I also touch on workaholism as a “life lie” – using work to avoid other responsibilities and parts of life that feel harder to face. That one stings for a lot of high performers.

The thread that ties it all together is this:

Real contribution doesn’t need applause.

If you genuinely know you’re useful, you stop chasing validation.

This episode is part reflection, part reading, part uncomfortable mirror. If recognition is driving your decisions more than you’d like to admit, this one will land.

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I woke up to the news out of Bondi. A targeted shooting. Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah. It’s horrifying, heartbreaking, and deeply unsettling. Like many Australians, I’m angry, sad, and shocked that this happened here.

I talk about what it’s been like trying to function creatively in the middle of that. And the very real tension between staying informed and protecting your sanity.

I share why I made the call to switch the news off, physically leave the room, and create some distance. Not out of disrespect.

I also reflect on a moment from Nepal, meeting someone who had completely opted out of the news cycle altogether. At first, I judged it. Then I understood it. And that’s where this episode really sits.

This isn’t about ignorance or avoidance. It’s about asking what constant exposure actually does to us. A 24-hour news cycle. Clickbait headlines. Endless updates that pull you back into grief, outrage, and helplessness.

There’s no solution offered here. No tidy takeaway. Just an honest conversation about compartmentalising, protecting your energy, and doing the best you can on days when the world feels overwhelming.

If you’re feeling flat, distracted, or emotionally flooded right now, you’re not broken. You’re human.

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This episode exists because a completely normal Christmas catch-up in Brisbane somehow turned into a 30-minute in-depth chat about bidets.

It started at our Red Carpet Campout reunion. Darts. Drinks. Way too much food.

So today, I’m talking about bidets. Yes, really.

I explain what they actually are, why they’re everywhere in Japan and much of Asia, and how staying in a hotel in Sriracha, Thailand sent me down a very unexpected rabbit hole that ended with installing one at home.

We get into the practical stuff.

How much they cost.

Attachments versus full toilet replacements.

Why occupational therapists are quietly recommending them for accessibility and ease of use.

Then it gets bigger.

Environmental impact.

Water use versus toilet paper.

The strange panic-buying habits we’ve all seen during floods and lockdowns.

And the uncomfortable truth that wiping with paper might not be as “normal” or clean as we think.

There’s also a nod to South Park’s Japanese Toilet episode and the not-so-subtle message underneath the jokes.

Also, yes, “Bidet Mate” is already a real company.

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I’m joined by Jordan Mendoza, a sales and training pro with 25+ years in sales and marketing, and 14 years in the multifamily housing world (he explains what that actually means, so you’re not left guessing). I first heard him on a group Zoom call through Andy Storch’s Talent Development Summit and within minutes I knew: this guy is a live wire. He trains, he sells, he hosts the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast, he breakdances, he does impressions, and he’s built a LinkedIn audience of 60,000-plus by showing up consistently and making business content genuinely watchable.

We go deep into the stuff most people avoid. Like imposter syndrome. Jordan tells the story of being sent to an “advanced instructor” course when he was anything but advanced, walking into a room full of experienced trainers… and seeing a camera recording everything. Present. Get the DVD. Watch yourself. Critique yourself. Repeat. It’s brutal. It’s also a fast track if you can handle the discomfort instead of hiding behind “I’m not ready yet”.

From there, we unpack what actually keeps people engaged for long sessions (Jordan runs full eight-hour days in a six-month leadership program). He’s big on open-ended questions, mixing the pace, and designing the day like a system: breaks that hit at the right time, music and snacks to lift the energy, and activities that aren’t random, they’re tied to the content.

We also get practical about virtual selling and trust-building. When COVID killed in-person tours, Jordan’s team didn’t sulk, they rebuilt the whole experience online: virtual tours booked via chatbot, Zoom walk-throughs, even live tours streamed from inside the actual apartment. Then they made the close frictionless: “Here’s the link, apply now, take it off the market today.” The result: a 25% increase in new leases year-over-year, during a pandemic. Translation: virtual doesn’t have to mean weaker. It means you need better design.

Then we talk LinkedIn and content. Jordan’s rule is simple: create content that educates, inspires, or entertains. Most people stay stuck in “professional beige”. Jordan leans into personality, fun, tagging others, and relationship-building at scale. And yes… he drops a Simpsons impression and demos Zoom studio effects mid-conversation to prove the point: you can use tiny moments of play to break the ice and lift attention.

If you’re a facilitator, trainer, consultant, or leader trying to build momentum, this episode is a reminder that “more polished” isn’t the goal. More useful and more human is.

• Ask better questions. Open-ended questions create thinking, and thinking creates conversation.
• Design for attention, not ego. Long sessions need rhythm: breaks, activities, sensory shifts, and clear purpose.
• Create “home base”. A physical spot you return to when you need to reset your focus while presenting.
• Virtual trust is built with video + ease. Show the thing, remove friction, make the next step obvious.
• Content works when it’s usable. If people can apply it immediately, you’re building future demand.
• Consistency beats planning. Jordan’s growth came from showing up daily, not over-engineering a content calendar.

• Andy Storch’s Talent Development Summit
• Jordan’s podcast: Blaze Your Own Trail
• LinkedIn content: educate / inspire / entertain
• “Lack of friction” as a selling and engagement principle
• Zoom studio effects and filters as lightweight icebreakers

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I came back from Nepal and Alan Weiss immediately “welcomed me back to flat earth”, then we got into the real topic: climbing the mountain when it’s not cute anymore.

This episode starts with the funny stuff (Lukla airport and the “dungeon” accommodation, plus a toilet situation that honestly deserves its own spin-off). But quickly it turns into something sharper: what happens when you’re deep in it, tired, doubting yourself, and looking for an exit.

Alan shares a story I didn’t expect: even with his reputation, his dream book got rejected. Multiple times. So he did what he always does when he hits a wall. He got angry, built a “guns blazing” proposal, and sent it back into battle. It sold. That book is now his fifth coming next year.

So this isn’t really about altitude. It’s about what you do when you’re told “no”, when the conditions are awful, when your own brain is trying to negotiate your retreat.

• The mountain rule: you’re either going up or down. You don’t “stay” on the mountain.
• Rejection as jet fuel: the difference between “woe is me” and “watch me”.
• Success over perfection: the goal isn’t a flawless climb, it’s forward motion.
• Help counts: oxygen, guides, coaches, systems. Use what you need.
• Brand reality check: if you’re not getting critiqued, you might not be cutting through.
• KPIs vs results: “If you have clients but no KPIs, you’ve got a business. If you have KPIs but no clients, you don’t.”

Morris West on the high place: you don’t always know if the voice you hear is truth, or just the echo of your own “mad shouting”.

• Where are you pretending you’re “on the mountain” but actually stalled because it feels safer?
• What would change if you treated rejection as information, not identity?
• If you’re serious about visibility, what’s the hill you’ve been circling instead of climbing?

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Read the article

This year, I ran my entire consulting business solo. No staff. No office. Just me, my laptop, and 51 paid tools doing the work of bookings, editing, hosting, scheduling, storage, marketing, fitness, and even entertainment.

Total spend

$11,899 AUD

Before you jump to judgement, this episode isn’t about flexing tools or convincing you to buy anything.

It’s about decision-making.

I sat down and did a full tech audit. What I’m keeping. What I’ve cut. And what I’m seriously questioning going into next year.

In this episode, I don’t read the full Substack article because it’s long and detailed. Instead, I share:

• Why I deliberately mix business and personal tech in one audit
• The two rules I use to stop tools creeping out of control
• The platforms that genuinely earn their keep
• The tools I probably should’ve cancelled earlier
• Where I’m torn between “this works” and “this is just habit”

You’ll hear why:

• I still pay a lot for Hello Audio and don’t regret it
• Descript is the reason this podcast even exists
• I don’t use a CRM or project management tool and why that’s intentional
• I’m questioning long-term loyalty to ChatGPT
• YouTube Premium quietly became one of my best subscriptions

If you’re a solopreneur, consultant, creator, or anyone running a one-person show, this episode will either make you feel very validated… or very itchy to open your subscriptions list.

The full breakdown, including every tool, cost, category, and rationale, is linked in the show notes on Substack.

Read it. Then audit your own setup.

Because the real cost isn’t the software.

It’s the indecision.

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I’m pulling back the curtain on a concept that sounds ridiculous until you realise it’s the only way a solopreneur actually scales: omnipresence.

This episode starts with a text exchange I had with my mate Andy Storch a while back. He messaged me saying I’d shown up in his dream which, honestly, is the most unhinged KPI I’ve ever accidentally hit. We laughed about it, but the truth is this is what consistency does. Show up long enough in enough places and you start slipping into people’s subconscious without even trying.

Where founders go wrong is assuming omnipresence requires grinding yourself into dust posting 8 times a day like a Gary V intern on Red Bull. It doesn’t. My daily podcast takes me ten minutes. My Substack does the heavy lifting for discoverability. Loom helps me show up as a human being without booking meetings I don’t need. A few intentional channels, used well, let me look “everywhere” while barely leaving my desk.

I share a story from a conversation I had with a director who leads a burned-out team of trainers who believe the only way to deliver value is to be physically present. Their expertise is gold, but they’re treating it like a one-to-one transaction that requires flights, hotels and exhaustion. They’re missing the leverage in tools they already have access to.

If you’re a founder or expert who is still relying on being in the room to make an impact, you’re playing far too small. There are easier, smarter ways to scale your influence without sacrificing your sanity, your time or your health.

And yes, by the end of the episode, I remind you exactly where you’ll be seeing me next. Everywhere. Including your dreams.

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This episode is me calling myself out on one of the least sexy but most critical parts of running a business: money management. I’m great at the fun stuff. Give me a microphone, a client room, a blank page I’m happy. But ask me to open Xero every week and I’ll suddenly find seventeen other priorities.

After coming back from Nepal, I finally logged into Xero expecting the usual admin slog. Instead, I found a new beta tool called JAX quietly sitting there waiting. And honestly, it punched way above its weight. It auto-suggested reconciliations, sorted categories and wiped out about 80 percent of the thinking work. For someone who normally has to Google charges and cross-reference my calendar like a forensic accountant, this was wild.

But the part that really got my attention wasn’t the reconciling. It’s that JAX can answer financial questions, spot trends and give cash-flow insights on demand. Which makes me wonder: what happens to bookkeeping and accounting when your software starts offering real-time advice before a human even emails you?

This episode is a look at the tool, the time it saved me and the bigger question I'm sitting with: Is this just a handy update or the start of a real shift in how small businesses handle finance?

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

There are 22 days left in the year, which means 22 episodes to go. If you want me to dissect anything before we wrap 2025, now is the time to speak up.

I also share a big Con Con update. The venue is finally locked, and I drove down to see it myself because I refuse to run an event on “vibes only”. Expectations are high, and they should be. If I’m asking people to fly in, I need to build something that actually earns their time, not just their trust.

Then I take you inside Sally Prosser’s book launch for Voiceprint. It was polished, warm, beautifully produced and then something happened that none of us could have scripted. Sally joked on stage that she wanted to give her book to Oprah, who’s in Brisbane this week. Fast-forward to today and… she did it. She literally handed Voiceprint to Oprah Winfrey. On video. In the wild. And the clip is one of the best things you’ll see online this year.

More than anything, it’s a reminder that saying your hopes out loud isn’t naïve. It’s strategic. Sally declared it, her network moved, and a ridiculous dream became real within 24 hours. If you keep your ambitions locked inside because you’re scared of looking presumptuous, you’re slowing yourself down.

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This weekend was peak Aussie sport energy and I was all in. Cricket at the Gabba. A sweaty 10k run. And then casually bumping into Mackenzie Arnold at South Bank before 7am. Yes, I fan-girled. No, I don’t regret it.

But the real fever kicking in right now is World Cup fever. The 2026 draw dropped and suddenly my calendar, my budget and my sense of logic are all in a cage match. I’ve already blocked out the Socceroos match days because let’s be real: nothing meaningful gets done in this country when the World Cup is on. I learned that the hard way in 2006 when I backpacked through Germany, scored golden-ticket access to the Aussie supporters, and ended up having one of the best months of my life sleeping in a makeshift campsite run by locals who fed us bratwurst and beer like it was oxygen.

This episode is a mix of stories, nostalgia and a warning: you need to plan your life around this World Cup now, not later. These fixtures are prime time for a reason.

If I can snag a ticket, I’m flying over for at least one match. No excuses. Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines.

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.