How to Be Awesome at Your Job
How to be Awesome at Your Job
Get more fun, wins, meaning, and money from your job! With 25,000,000 downloads and mentions in The New York Times, Forbes, and Linkedin Learning. This show helps grow your skills and impact at any job that requires thinking and collaborating. Each week, Pete interviews thought-leaders and results-getters to discover specific, actionable insights that boost work performance. Their stories and advice sharpen the universal skills to flourish at work. Boost your time/energy management, leadership, confidence, career opportunities, and fulfillment—while still getting home earlier.Try starting with episode 0: START HERE and listener favorite episodes we put at the beginning numbered: A, B, C, D, E, and F. (Subscribe and/or sort Old to New to find these starter episodes.) Welcome!
Episodes
Mentioned books
17 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 35min
1123: How to Move Past Setbacks through the Next Play Mindset with Alan Stein, Jr.
Alan Stein, Jr., a performance coach who has trained elite basketball stars and leaders, explains the Next Play mindset. He talks about using a physical pause to reset emotions. He outlines simple reframing questions to turn reactions into responses. He discusses building compassionate self-talk without lowering standards and planning for obstacles without becoming paranoid.
13 snips
Jan 22, 2026 • 34min
1122: How to Find the Work You’re Wired to Do with William Vanderbloemen
In this discussion, William Vanderbloemen, founder of the Vanderbloemen Search Group, shares insights on achieving career satisfaction. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in discovering what energizes you and fitting jobs to your strengths. Vanderbloemen highlights how many people overestimate their self-awareness and encourages seeking honest feedback from friends. He also introduces the concept of matching your work style to four lanes—speed, purpose, authenticity, and curiosity—to ensure a fulfilling career. Plus, he advocates for habits that distinguish successful leaders.
10 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 43min
1121: How Managers Can Lead Better TODAY (Not Someday!) with Ali Merchant
Ali Merchant, a leadership development consultant and founder of All-In Manager, shares insights from his two decades of experience in training managers. He highlights the importance of embracing difficult conversations to build trust and improve relationships. Ali offers a powerful three-step feedback framework and emphasizes the need for preparing feedback with intention. He also introduces practical one-on-one strategies like focusing on what's top of mind. Throughout, he champions the idea of recognizing effort to enhance difficult discussions and foster better leadership.
40 snips
Jan 15, 2026 • 36min
1120: How to Stop Living on Autopilot and Choose What Matters Most with Erin Coupe
Erin Coupe, the founder of I Can Fit That In and author, helps high-achievers escape burnout through intentional living. She reveals how negative self-talk holds us back and shares strategies to conquer limiting beliefs. Erin introduces energizing rituals to replace draining habits, encourages self-awareness over self-analysis, and highlights the importance of mindful leisure. Learn techniques like the 4-7-8 breathing method to create intentional pauses. Turn your daily actions into fulfilling choices that align with your true self!
10 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 36min
1119: Wikipedia’s Jimmy Wales Shares the Seven Rules of Trust
Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia and celebrated for his impactful contributions to global knowledge sharing, discusses vital principles for building trust. He shares how embracing community input skyrocketed productivity by 52 times. Wales emphasizes the importance of empathy over metrics and the value of assuming good faith in interactions. He also highlights the need for transparency and independence to uphold credibility in media. With actionable insights, he encourages listeners to prioritize trust in their personal and professional lives.
36 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 44min
1118: Finding Consistent Motivation to Turn Intention into Action with Chris Bailey
In this insightful discussion, Chris Bailey, an author focused on productivity and intentional living, unpacks the science of motivation through the lens of values. He reveals 12 core values that drive our actions and explains how aligning goals with these values can boost motivation. Chris introduces the concept of an 'intention stack,' discussing how to manage resistance to action and transform tasks into manageable steps. With practical tips like weekly reviews and his preferred productivity tools, he makes the path to achieving intentions clear and actionable.
7 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 42min
1117: How to Hack Your Odds to Succeed More and Fail Less with Kyle Austin Young
Kyle Austin Young, an award-winning strategy consultant and author, dives into the art of de-risking goals to increase success rates. He reveals the thinking trap that leads to failures and advocates for simplifying pathways to achieve ambitions. By embracing negative thoughts and anticipating challenges, Kyle demonstrates how to enhance odds and optimize decision-making. He also emphasizes the importance of narrow prioritization and provides a practical success diagram. Tune in for insights that can transform your approach to goal-setting and risk management!
12 snips
Dec 29, 2025 • 49min
2025 GREATS: 1010: Getting the Most Out of Generative AI at Work with Jeremy Utley
Jeremy Utley, an adjunct professor at Stanford's d.school and author of "Ideaflow," shares insights on maximizing AI's potential at work. He identifies the common mistake of prompt hoarding and advocates for daily practice with AI. Jeremy discusses customizing voice settings for smoother interactions and emphasizes treating AI as a collaborative coworker rather than an oracle. He also provides techniques for role-playing tough conversations and generating creative workflows, encouraging listeners to actively engage with AI in innovative ways.
9 snips
Dec 22, 2025 • 53min
2025 GREATS: 1066: How to Thrive When Your Resilience Runs Out with Dr. Tasha Eurich
Dr. Tasha Eurich, an organizational psychologist and bestselling author, dives into the intriguing concept of resilience in today’s chaotic world. She discusses the limits of traditional grit, highlighting the dangers of ‘grit gaslighting’ and how high achievers can hit a 'resilience ceiling.' Tasha emphasizes the importance of confidence, choice, and connection as essential psychological needs for thriving. Using the analogy of kintsugi, she explains how adversity can either weaken or strengthen us, inspiring listeners to craft high-impact goals for genuine personal growth.
12 snips
Dec 18, 2025 • 38min
2025 GREATS: 1038: Getting What You Need from Your Boss through Managing Up with Melody Wilding
Melody Wilding, a professor of human behavior and executive coach, shares actionable strategies for managing up. She discusses how reframing this concept can enhance your work life rather than serve merely as flattery. Melody highlights ten critical conversations to have with your boss, including alignment, boundaries, and visibility. She emphasizes starting with straightforward wins during one-on-ones and underscores the importance of tackling advancement discussions before performance reviews. Her insights are rooted in evidence-based practices and personal experiences.
