This week, I share a story that made me quite literally stop in my tracks — and pay attention. It started as a beautiful morning: coffee by the river with my friend Bhan, wearing her book as my workout accessory, feeling on top of the world. Then I checked my PO box and found two things: a new book (The Art of the Ignorable Email by David Pullan) and… a $2,500 speeding fine from the Queensland Revenue Service.
Yep, $2,500 for doing 81 in a 70 zone. I don’t speed. I don’t condone speeding. But clearly, the universe thought I needed a reminder. Luckily, a serendipitous run-in with my friend Mel turned the $2,500 into $500 — saving me two grand and teaching me a lesson in the process.
This episode isn’t just about a fine; it’s about the signs we get to slow down. I’ve been rushing through work, life, and preparation for Nepal — where the number one piece of advice is literally “go slow.” At altitude, your body has no choice but to pause, breathe, and adjust. Maybe this is all practice for that.
💭 Reflection prompt: What sign is the universe sending you about how you’re operating right now?
🧭 Takeaways:
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I loved this conversation with my guest, Marcus Crow, a professional speaker, MC, and facilitator who co-founded 10,000 Hours—a company with the perfect tagline: Daring ideas in a safe pair of hands.
We explored what true confidence looks like in facilitation—not the kind that comes from credentials or bravado, but the quiet, grounded kind that shows up through stories, humor, and authenticity. Marcus shared his journey from accidentally landing a presentation skills gig for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, to co-founding and selling one of Australia’s top experiential learning businesses, to building his current practice.
We talked about the difference between keynote speaking and facilitation, what happens when resistance shows up in the room (like the time a participant literally turned their chair away!), and how facilitators can “outsource their sanity” when things get tough.
Marcus also offered brilliant insight on shifting workshops online—from rethinking timing and structure to finding creative ways to engage people virtually. And for those thinking of starting their own facilitation or consulting business, he gave practical, no-fluff advice on what it really takes to move from being an internal trainer to running your own show.
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On this Halloween live stream, Alan Weiss and I had a spirited chat about the “tricks” consultants fall for and the “treats” clients actually value. We riffed on wild promises vs. real outcomes, commodity work vs. initiating new value, carving people up vs. helping them grow, being a ghost vs. showing up with presence, and—my favorite—wearing masks vs. bringing the real you (including your voice, not AI slop 🙃).
Alan shared early-career scars (including a disastrous pre-digital survey project) and the simple posture that got him through: learn the lesson, then move. We also touched on the true origin of Halloween, why low self-esteem—not AI—is the scariest trend haunting consultants, and how improv rules (“yes, and…”) make you unbeatable on your feet with clients. I briefly “ghosted” the stream (perfect timing) and Alan just kept rolling—proof that intellectual firepower + humor is the ultimate treat.
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Happy Halloween! 🎃 In today’s episode, I share a few things I’m up to — including a fun LinkedIn Live with Alan Weiss on Consulting Trick or Treats (we’re swapping horror stories and ways to earn more “treats” like referrals and repeat gigs), plus a virtual session for a membership group on The Two Hour Workshop Blueprint.
But the real story today came from the dog park. It was my first visit back with Quincy since losing Milo 💔, and I had a great chat with Val — an incredible 89-year-old who’s still sharp, funny, and full of energy. Val told me about having lunch with her friends and feeling frustrated that no one asked her a single question.
That conversation hit home. I’ve felt the same thing at networking events — walking away realizing I’ve asked all the questions, and no one’s asked about me. It made me wonder: why does this happen?
In this episode, I reflect on:
Whether you’re at a networking event, coffee catch-up, or just chatting with friends — try to keep the ball in play. The best connections happen when both people stay curious.
Mentioned in this episode:
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This episode came from one of those half-asleep thoughts that wouldn’t leave me alone — “damaged goods.”
I unpack this idea that sometimes, as facilitators or change agents, we hold ourselves back because we assume the people we’re working with aren’t ready. We design for the lowest common denominator, in the name of being “inclusive.” But as Alan Weiss once told me, “Stop assuming people are damaged goods.”
I explore what happens when we design for the top third of the room — the ones ready to stretch — and how that energy naturally pulls others forward. What if being truly inclusive means giving everyone the opportunity to be stretched, not cushioning them with mediocrity?
It takes courage to try something new, to go against the grain, to risk being different. But when we always “meet people where they’re at,” we might actually be limiting their potential — and ours.
Key takeaways:
Quote:
“When you assume people aren’t ready, you’re calling them damaged goods — before you’ve even given them a chance to show up.”
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In today’s episode, I’m reading and riffing on one of my all-time favourite internet articles — The #1 Sign You’re Winning in Life: No One Understands What the Hell You Do for a Living by Tim Denning. It hit me right between the eyes.
Tim talks about how the most successful people are unexplainable. They don’t fit into neat elevator pitches, and that’s a good thing. I totally relate — half my neighbours (and even a few friends) still don’t quite know what I do, and that used to bug me. Now, I see it as a badge of honour.
In this episode, I chat through:
💬 Quote of the Day:
“The exact inability for someone to summarize your job at a glance is a strong sign you’re not doing something routine — you’re doing something exceptional.” – Tim Denning
🎧 Listen if you’ve ever thought:
“How do I explain what I actually do?” or “Why doesn’t anyone get it?”
📎 Resources Mentioned:
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Hey, thanks for tuning in today. Wow — what a wild couple of days here in Brisbane. After a massive hailstorm knocked out power for more than 24 hours, I escaped the 40-degree heat and hit the Gold Coast with my friend (and events legend) Sally Porteous to scope out venues for Con Con 2026.
This episode is part post-storm diary, part behind-the-scenes look at how I choose spaces that feel right. We visited five venues, sweating it out in 37-degree heat, and learned that photos and quotes don’t tell you everything — you have to stand in the space. I share what worked, what didn’t (yes, even the flashy casino bar), and why the venue is a main character in creating an unforgettable experience.
“You can’t sense a venue from a website — you have to walk in and feel the energy.”
What kind of environments help you think bigger — bright and open, or calm and contained?
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When I released my Work Fame Substack on Friday, my phone rang—literally a minute after it went out. It was my friend Nicole, calling from a walk on the Gold Coast. She said, “Leanne, how do you create so much content and still seem to have a life?”
It’s a good question.
In this episode, I share my answer: how having a daily podcast has trained me to be an observer of life. When you publish something every day, you start paying closer attention—to the small things most people overlook. Like the way a Bon Jovi key change hits differently when you’re 15km into a run. Or how watching Kevin Rudd get roasted by Donald Trump in the Oval Office can somehow reset your stress levels.
I talk about:
The big takeaway? Creativity isn’t about working harder—it’s about noticing better.
👋 Thanks, Nicole, for sparking this chat.
—
💌 P.S. If you enjoyed this episode, tap the ❤️ in Substack so I know it resonated!
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I’m absolutely delighted to welcome back my friend, leadership strategist and radiant human, Neen James—author of Folding Time, Attention Pays, and her new book Exceptional Experiences. If you’ve ever seen Neen in action, you know she’s pure energy and light. She advises C-suite leaders across luxury and legacy brands (think Viacom, Four Seasons, even the FBI) and was recently appointed to the Board of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce.
In this conversation, we redefine luxury—not as “expensive things,” but as human connection. We explore how to create daily champagne moments (those tiny, thoughtful touches that make people feel seen, heard, and valued), how our energy sets the room, why facilitators should design with all five senses, and how luxury language subtly elevates brand perception and client loyalty.
Discover Your Luxury Mindset Self-Assessment
Neen James Luxury Mindset Research Executive Summary
Source and copyright Neen James Inc.
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Today I’m diving into one of my favourite topics—building a facilitation and training business— with the brilliant Mark Garrett Hayes, founder of TrainingBusiness.com and host of the Training Business podcast. Mark’s career spans Disney, banking in Germany, and FinTech, and through it all he kept gravitating back to training. We unpack how he’s turned that calling into a business—without cheesy sales tactics.
I loved how Mark removes the sting from “selling.” If I treat sales like facilitation—designing an experience, leading with curiosity, and creating clarity—everything gets easier. Also: the “recommendations over referrals” nuance is a keeper. Tiny numbers, big business. 🙌
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Hey, it’s Leanne — and this week, three ideas have been looping in my brain. They’ve all got a theme of growth, but not in the hustle-bro, “reinvent yourself completely” kind of way. More like—snap yourself out of autopilot, change your key, and stop overcomplicating life.
Here’s what I riff on in this episode:
🎵 1. The Soundtrack of Doing Life Differently
Sometimes, joy hides in the small key changes — like swapping a planned hike for an accidental half marathon under Brisbane’s blooming jacarandas. I talk about why Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” made me emotional mid-run, how a key change snaps us out of sameness, and how we can apply that concept to our own lives this week.
Try this:
Because you can’t stay in the same key forever.
🇺🇸 2. When Two Aussies Walk Into the White House
It sounds like the start of a joke, but it’s actually about perspective. Watching our Prime Minister and Kevin Rudd get roasted by POTUS this week reminded me—no matter how bad my workday gets, it’s probably not that bad.
I unpack why we take ourselves too seriously, how to zoom out, and how laughter might just be the secret to better performance.
🏃♀️ 3. The Million and One Reasons Trap
Confession: I’m already planning the 2026 New York Marathon… before I’ve even left for Nepal.
But here’s the trap—we can always find 1,000,001 reasons not to do the thing. Budget. Timing. Weather. “American coffee.”
There will always be obstacles. The question is whether the thing you want is worth navigating them for.
💭 Reflection questions:
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This week, I’m on the road—somewhere between Brisbane and the Sunny Coast—so I’m bringing you a short, reflective episode inspired by my friend (and fellow podcaster) Andy Storch.
Andy sent me a couple of brilliant voice notes responding to last week’s episode on Exposure—and they were too good not to share. In true “Work Fame” fashion, we riff on how exposure and proximity shape our growth, creativity, and courage to try new things.
Andy talks about:
Then I jump in to reflect on:
🎧 Tune in and reflect:
What’s something you’ve seen someone else do that feels equal parts scary and exciting?
And what would it look like if you tried it too?
✨ Mentioned:
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Today’s episode comes from a great question I received from my friend Jonas Rajanto over in Finland.
Jonas asked:
“Hey Leanne, I know you’ve used and lauded Descript over the years. Can you say why Descript would be better than Loom with its AI features? The overlap is that both transcribe and you can edit the video by editing the transcription. I’m thinking about starting to do more video.”
So in this episode, I share:
💻 What Descript actually is (my editing studio and content lab)
🎥 What Loom is best for (communication and collaboration)
⚡ Why I pay for both — but which one I’d keep if I had to choose
🎧 How these tools have completely changed the game for creators
🧠 And some practical use cases — like proposal walkthroughs, client feedback, and podcast editing
Here’s the short version:
If you’re creating video content — start with Descript.
If you’re sharing quick feedback or explaining a proposal — Loom is your friend.
Both are brilliant. But if I could only keep one? Descript wins.
🎧 Tune in for the full chat to hear how I use them side-by-side, plus a few workflow hacks you might want to steal.
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Hey, thanks for tuning in today! I’m just a couple of weeks out from heading to Nepal, and while most people would be focused purely on that, my brain’s already leaping ahead to what’s next.
Here’s the thing — I love setting the next goal before I finish the current one. It’s like booking your next holiday before your current one ends. It gives you something to look forward to, something that keeps you energized when you come back.
So today’s episode is all about why you need to commit before you’re ready — and how there will always be a million and one reasons not to do the thing.
I share:
This one’s not just about fitness or travel — it’s about trusting yourself to mobilize, adapt, and make it happen once you say yes.
Because there will always be a million and one excuses not to do something…
but you only need one good reason to say yes.
🎧 Listen if you’re:
💬 Your Turn:
What’s one thing you’ve been thinking about doing… but haven’t yet said yes to?
🎽 Mentioned in this episode:
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Hey friends — I’m still buzzing from this morning’s runner’s high! I set out for a three-hour walk around Brisbane to soak in the jacarandas — those gorgeous purple blooms that light up the city — and somehow ended up walk-running a half marathon. Pure joy, no pressure, just great music and sunshine.
Somewhere along the river, Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer came on, and it hit me: that key change near the end is everything. You know the one — it lifts, it unites the crowd, it makes you feel like you can do anything.
So today’s episode is all about key changes — in music and in life.
A key change (or modulation) is when a song shifts from one key to another.
It’s not a brand-new melody — just a lift, a subtle step up that changes how it feels.
That’s why it gives you goosebumps — it breaks the pattern and re-energizes the song.
(Shoutout to “Danny and the Duplicates” on YouTube for the breakdown I played — absolute gold.)
There’s even a Spotify playlist called “Key Changes That Key Changed My Life.” Iconic title, right?
They wake you up. Just when you think you know the tune, it shifts.
They lift the emotional stakes.
They demand flexibility — you can’t keep singing the same note.
And they build momentum — that little twist keeps things from going flat.
In life, we can do the same.
We don’t need a total reinvention — just a modulation.
Here are some simple ways to add a key change to your week:
It’s not about quitting your job or moving countries. It’s just about shaking up your energy — finding that half-step lift that makes everything feel alive again.
What song gets you with its key change every single time?
Send me your pick — I might even add it to my own playlist.
Until next time, remember:
You can’t stay in the same key forever.
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I first met Ben Crothers at an asset-management conference in Sydney earlier this year. While I was running a session, he was at the back of the room doing his thing — graphically recording everything we covered. Afterward, we started chatting, and the conversation was so good that I knew I had to bring him onto the podcast.
Ben’s been a facilitator for over 15 years and a designer for even longer. Through his consultancy, Bright Pilots, he’s helped teams from organisations like Atlassian, Westpac, the Parliament of Australia, and the Leukaemia Foundation solve problems, formulate strategy, and work better together. He’s also the author of several books, including Presto Sketching: Simple Drawing for Brilliant Product Thinking and Design and Draw in Four.
In this episode, Ben and I riff on:
Ben’s work reminds me that facilitation isn’t about filling time — it’s about designing experiences that help people think, feel, and connect differently.
You can connect with Ben here:
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On the Weekend Rewind I’m joined by Martin Probst from Profound Leadership—author, career coach, professional mentor, and (brilliantly cheeky) Chief Education Officer. We first connected at the Institute for Learning Professionals Awards Night in Brisbane, where he was a finalist for Learning Professional of the Year. If not for those awards, our paths might not have crossed—and I’m so glad they did.
In this conversation, we explore Martin’s fascinating journey from chef → trainer → facilitator → business owner, and what he calls the shift from consumption to creation. We get into practical facilitation mindsets, how to reduce fear in the room, why curiosity beats ego, and yes—how he helps clients bust phobias and even experience unexpected health side-effects (one client ditched their inhaler after clearing an emotional “millstone”—wild).
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Hey, thanks for tuning in today. I’m talking about exposure — and not the kind you get warned about when it comes to sunburn or dodgy business deals.
You can read the article here.
Exposure is a word that gets a bit of a bad rap. It can mean risk, vulnerability, or danger — “limit your exposure to the sun,” “you’ve been exposed to a virus,” etc. But there’s also this beautiful, positive flip side to it — when exposure means access, visibility, learning, and growth.
I’ve been working with a client lately on redefining how we build capability, and it reminded me of the 70:20:10 model of learning — 10% formal training, 20% social learning, 70% on-the-job. Most people make the mistake of obsessing over the 10%, but today, I’m focusing on the 20% — that social learning, the exposure to how other people think, lead, and live.
When I think about the biggest turning points in my own life, they’ve all come from exposure:
When I worked at Wicked Campers, my boss John Webb shattered all my rules about how business “should” be done. After coming from Accenture, where process was everything, it was like walking into the Wild West. No rules. No forms. Just creation and action. Being exposed to that mindset completely changed me.
Same thing when I joined the mining industry — suddenly, colleagues were casually mentioning trips to Mongolia. MONGOLIA! That kind of global exposure normalises things you used to think were out of reach.
Or when I joined Alan Weiss’s mastermind — it wasn’t the formal learning that moved me most, it was hearing what my peers were doing: what they were charging, how they ran proposals, what they believed was possible. Exposure makes you raise your own standards.
So if you’re feeling stuck, flat, or uninspired… maybe it’s not that you need another course. Maybe you just need more exposure.
Expose yourself to people who live differently.
Play tennis with people who are better than you.
Join circles that challenge your worldview.
Watch how others operate, not to copy, but to expand what you think is possible.
Because yes — exposure can feel risky. But it’s also where the best growth happens.
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Earlier this week, I ran a workshop and had one of those “note to self” moments. The host started reading out my bio—the one I’d sent ages ago—and as she was midway through, I was silently cringing. You know that feeling when something sounds a little too polished, a little too “LinkedIn Leanne”? That was me.
Thankfully, I’d thrown in a random line at the end: “Leanne is severely scared of undercooked chicken and is a proud left-hander.” That one sentence saved me. Everyone laughed. We bonded over the fear of salmonella, and I even got a few creative-lefty questions during the day.
It reminded me that bios aren’t just for bragging rights—they’re for building relatability. Sure, list your wins, but don’t forget to let people see you.
When I used to host the First Time Facilitator podcast, I kicked off each episode with a fun fact (shoutout to Pat Flynn for the idea). It was such a simple way to create instant connection—and sometimes it’s those random, human details that people remember most.
One of my favourite icebreaker questions is: “What’s the most boring thing about you?” It removes the pressure to be interesting—and ironically, the answers are never boring.
And speaking of connection… earlier this week, I received a beautiful email from a woman who read The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. She told me she’d gone to my website to download the SPARK sheet and noticed the photo of my dogs, Quincy and Milo. Turns out, she has a dog named Quincy too! That one little breadcrumb—sharing a personal detail—sparked a lovely exchange across the world.
So today’s reflection is simple: sprinkle more you into your work. The quirks, the small obsessions, the everyday stuff you think no one cares about—that’s what builds real connection.
Now, I’m off to rewrite my bio (and maybe check my chicken).
— Leanne
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I was in Victoria yesterday with a group of education leaders talking about leadership capability — and a side conversation popped up that I had to bring here.
One of the leaders mentioned how hard it’s been to attract mentors to their new program, even though people are informally mentoring all the time. And honestly, I get it — the word “mentoring” comes with a lot of baggage.
Just like Michael Bungay Stanier says about “coaching,” people have preconceived ideas about what a mentor should be: someone wise, polished, and ready to pour hours of time into shaping another person’s career. No wonder people hesitate to sign up.
Here’s what I shared with them (and what I believe):
At the end of the day, people want to help and give back — they just don’t want another recurring meeting in their diary. Rebrand mentoring as something more fluid, flexible, and fun, and you’ll see engagement rise.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll speak to you tomorrow.
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