Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

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.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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.TakeawaysDon’t sell hope; sell outcomes. If you can’t deliver it, don’t promise it.Stop accepting commodity requests; initiate higher-value conversations.Grow people; don’t carve them. Change beliefs, not just behaviors.Show up with presence—no ghosting, no masks. Let clients meet the real you.Use AI as a tutor and pattern-maker, not a voice replacer. Keep your language yours.Confidence > credentials: you can learn fast, but be honest about limits.Self-esteem is the real monster under the bed. Build it; ship work; laugh often.“Yes, and…” beats “No, but…”—in workshops, sales calls, and life.Quotable“Do you want to be tricked, or do you want a treat?” —Alan Weiss“AI should teach you how to fish, not hand you someone else’s fish.” —Alan WeissResources & mentionsAlan Weiss – Monday Morning Memo newsletter (QR mentioned on stream)“The Whale Sale” Substack (Alan Weiss & Lisa Miller)Improv principles (“yes, and…”) for facilitation & salesMy “Damaged Goods” idea on treating groups as ready to growSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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:Why some people don’t ask questions in conversationsHow curiosity builds better connectionsThe difference between “hosting” and “being” in a chatWhy great conversations are like rallies — not one-way serves 🎾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:Alan Weiss — Consulting Trick or Treats LinkedIn LiveMichael Bungay StanierSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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:Stop assuming people aren’t ready for change — let them surprise you.True inclusivity is about opportunity, not homogeny.Design for growth, not safety.Stretching people is a form of respect.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.”Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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:Why being “unexplainable” is often a sign you’re doing something exceptionalHow to reframe variety and ambiguity in your work as irreplaceable valueThe fine line between being unexplainable and unreferableWhy jobs that are easy to label might also be the easiest to automate💬 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:Tim Denning’s article: The #1 Sign You’re Winning in Life: No One Understands What the Hell You Do for a Living (find it on /Substack)My Instagram post on being “unexplainable but referable”Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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.”Your TurnWhat kind of environments help you think bigger — bright and open, or calm and contained?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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:Why noticing is my number-one creative skill.The difference between creating on the spot (podcasts) vs creating with space (writing).Why spacing out your writing during the week makes it better.How ideas “simmer” when you let them breathe.The little systems (and non-systems) I use to find great references, quotes, and stories.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!Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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.What we coverWhy “your energy is a luxury item” (hat-tip, Taylor Swift) and how to protect it.Luxury = experiences, not things—what that means for facilitators, leaders, and hosts.Champagne moments: simple ways to turn the ordinary into extraordinary (no budget required).Packaging yourself on purpose: presence, colour, and first impressions that “set the room.”Designing with the five senses: sound, sight, scent, taste, touch—practical facilitation ideas.Luxury language: swapping “got” for “received,” using words like bespoke, curated, timeless.Personalisation vs customisation at scale: simple systems to remember people and details.The mindset shift from “toxic positivity” to grounded optimism that solves real problems.Try this (today)Create one champagne moment for a client, colleague, or room you’re hosting.Edit an email using luxury language: replace one “cheap” word with an “expensive” one.Add one sense to your next meeting (e.g., curated entry music, a signature scent, textured handouts, glassware instead of paper cups).Memorable lines“The energy of the room rises to meet you.” – Neen“Luxury is everyone feeling seen, heard, and valued.” – Neen“Personalisation needs information. Customisation needs connection. Fascination needs anticipation.” – NeenResources & linksNeen’s world: ninjames.comLuxury research + downloads (Luxury Language Dictionary, comms methods, self-assessment): luxuryisamindset.comBooks: Folding Time, Attention Pays, Exceptional Experiences (out now)ConnectDiscover Your Luxury Mindset Self-AssessmentLuxury Is A MindsetNeen James Luxury Mindset Research Executive SummarySource and copyright  Neen James Inc. Neen Book websiteSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould 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 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.In this episodeWhy you don’t need to be the SME—you need to stand up (to stand out)The 3 R’s for growth: References vs Referrals vs Recommendations (and why only one really moves the needle)How to turn your natural network into paying clients (with just 3 champions)BANT for trainers (Budget, Authority, Need, Timing) — qualifying without feeling “salesy”Using your facilitation superpower in sales: talk about them, not youBuilding your ICP/Avatar so conversations click fasterCreative outreach that actually works: direct mail + short Loom videos (pattern interrupt!)Reframing the game: it’s not sales; it’s a service conversationMy takeI 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. 🙌Timestamp-ish guide00:00 Intro & why we make false assumptions about marketing a training biz04:05 Mark’s Disney → banking → FinTech pivots (and why training kept calling)11:18 “Stand up to stand out” (confidence without being the SME)16:10 References vs Referrals vs Recommendations (how to coach your champions)23:55 BANT for facilitators—qualify like a pro31:40 ICP/Avatar: sounding like you “get them” from the first line38:00 Use facilitation skills in sales (ethos / logos / pathos)45:15 Millennials vs phone calls: direct mail + Loom to cut through52:10 “Serve before you deserve” — Mark’s parting lineSwipe these prompts/scriptsRecommendation ask (DM/email): “Thanks again for being in my corner. I noticed three people in your network who match the outcomes I deliver. Would you be open to a warm recommendation intro? I’ve drafted a 3-line blurb you can paste—easy.”Loom opener (3 mins max):Who I am (ethos). 2) Why I’m reaching out now (logos). 3) Why it matters to you (pathos) + one clear next step.Qualify with BANT (lightweight): “If this were useful, where would the budget sit? Who else should see this? What result would make this a win in Q4? If it helps, I can run a 30-min taster next week.”Tools & names we mentionTrainingBusiness.com (Mark’s platform + podcast)Robert Cialdini — Influence and Pre-SuasionLoom / Bonjoro for quick personalized videosConnect with MarkLinkedIn: Mark Garrett HayesPodcast: Training BusinessEmail: mark@trainingbusiness.comIf you enjoyed thisTap the little ❤️—it helps more facilitators find the show.Reply and tell me one recommendation you’ll ask for this week—I’ll cheer you on.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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:Work from a totally different spot.Call instead of text.Change your walking route.Dance at 3PM like no one’s watching.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:What small key change could snap you out of your current pattern?What would you tackle differently today if you remembered—it’s probably not as serious as it feels?What are you waiting to do until the million and one reasons magically disappear?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.