If you are tired of not getting what you want from your boss, don't worry, you're not alone. So many people think hard work will get them what they want, but that's rarely the case. Today, I'm gonna show you the simple secret that will help you get exactly what you want from your boss.

Timestamps

0:55 – Don't Confuse Hard Work With The Right Work: Strategy beats brute force. Figure out how to focus your efforts on what matters.

3:00 – Every Boss Has A Currency: Figure out what motivates your boss so you can give it to them.

5:48 – Ask For What You Want: Come up with a plan and make the ask using three clear steps.

10:04 – What I'm Into Right Now: What I'm currently watching and why you should check it out.

10:44 – Challenge for Listeners: Define exactly what you want. Look for a pattern of what your boss values.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Hard work alone won’t get you noticed by the people who run the company. Promotions and big opportunities usually go to the people executives know, trust, and remember. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to get on the radar of the C-suite and what you need to do to stand out when the big opportunities appear.

Timestamps

0:54 – Storytime: The time I met the COO and made an impression.

3:04 – Every Moment Counts: Treat any interaction with the C-Suite like the Olympics.

6:57 – Get In Their Mind: When you understand how you think, you can tailor your approach.

8:42 – Get Visible: When they don't know you, they can help you.

10:25 – What Im Learning Right Now: A new segment where I share something I'm learning recently. Let me know what you think in the comments.

11:08 – Challenge for Listeners: Get visible in the next two weeks.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

I was three weeks into a new leadership role when one of my top performers told me my idea would never work. In that moment, I felt defensive, unsure, and tempted to keep the peace. Instead of addressing it, I told myself a story that made avoiding the discomfort feel smart.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the five lies I told myself as a leader, how they quietly damaged my team, and what to do instead.

Timestamps

1:41 – Lie #1: My Team’s Performance Will Speak For Itself.

3:00 – Lie #2: They’re Not Complaining, So They Must Be Happy.

4:19 – Lie #3: I’m Being Nice By Not Holding Them Accountable.

5:38 – Lie #4: I’ll Just Give The Best Projects/Work to My A Players.

6:55 – Lie #5: They Aren't That Bad. I Can Manage Around Them.

8:10 – Challenge for Listeners: Label the lie, Take action in 7 days.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Your performance review did not go the way you thought it would. No promotion, small raise, no bonus, or the numbers just did not match the year you know you had. In this episode, I break down how to respond without damaging your reputation, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to build a real plan so this does not happen again.

Timestamps

0:53 – StoryTime: the 3% raise and the 4K bonus

02:22 – The Reality Check: You did not fail; you did not know the game.

3:40 – What Not To Do After Bad News: 3 mistakes to avoid.

5:22 – The Reflection: Tough questions you need to ask yourself before you make a move.

6:47 – Build a Plan for Next Year: Goal, alignment, checkpoints.

8:00 – Challenge for Listeners: No major career moves for 14 days

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

You think you’re ready for senior leadership until you're in the seat.
This episode breaks down the unspoken realities no one tells you about the top job.

From optics beating substance to the human cost of climbing the ladder, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing 10 brutal truths I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

If you want to lead at a higher level without losing yourself in the process, this one’s for you.

Timestamps

**Act 1: How The Game Actually Works**

1:20 - Optics Beat Substance:
Why perception often matters more than performance.

2:32 - Power Dynamics Drive Decisions:
It’s not about ideas, it’s about who holds the power.

3:25 - Value is Wasted Without Context:
Even good work gets ignored if it’s not aligned with the top priorities.

**Act 2: How The System Protects Itself**

4:40 - Wins Are Required for Survival:
Leadership is a “what have you done for me lately” game.

5:32 - Losses Are Hidden or Deflected:
Accountability often disappears at the highest levels.

6:32 - Swim Lanes Are Protected:
Territory becomes sacred, and people get weird about it.

**Act 3: The Human Cost & What's At Stake**

7:44 - Sponsors Sometimes Matter More Than Performance:
Visibility and advocacy often outweigh skill.

8:45 - Egos and Insecurity Are Everywhere:
Bigger titles come with more fear, comparison, and fragile confidence.

9:53 - The Frontline Gets Forgotten:
The farther you get from the work, the easier it is to lose perspective.

10:49 - Some Leaders Lose Themselves Trying to Win:
How people change when status becomes their identity.

12:16 - Challenge For Listeners:
Define your non-negotiables before stepping into the top seat.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

The people who grow the fastest in their careers know how to make decisions, even when both options are terrible. In this episode, I share a five-question framework I’ve used for over a decade to make fast, clear decisions, plus how to recover when you get it wrong.

Timestamps

01:18 – StoryTime: Where I developed the decision-making framework.

03:30 – The 5 Lens Decision Making Framework: The five key questions I run every decision through to reduce fear and make high-quality decisions fast.

5:37 – What to Do When All the Options Suck: My two survival questions for navigating no-win situations where none of the choices feel right.

7:25 – How to Bounce Back After a Bad Decision: Three keys to recovering fast when you make the wrong call.

9:16 – Challenge for Listeners: Take one uncomfortable decision you’ve been avoiding and run it through this framework.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

For the final episode of 2025, Im reflecting on the moments that defined the year, the wins, the setbacks, and the mindset Im carrying into 2026. The podcast saw incredible growth this year, and it's all thanks to you.

I'll be back January 14th with a new episode. Have a great Christmas and New Year!

Timestamps:

00:52 – 3 Wins from 2025
Leaning into video, staying consistent, and experimenting with new formats.

02:38 – What Didn’t Go Well
Why living in the future and poor time management almost derailed progress.

3:55 – The Biggest Realization of the Year
It's time to stop playing safe and bring full-strength Austin into the content.

4:52 – My Theme for 2026
Why identifying and staying in your strength zone matters more than ever.

5:42 – Challenge For Listeners
One question to ask yourself as you head into the new year.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here
• Take the free Career Fulfillment quiz: Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Too many people chase success at the cost of who they are. But what if you didn’t have to choose between doing well and doing what’s right? In this episode, I share a story from my early leadership career, and the moment I realized that how you win matters more than just winning. We’ll talk about the hidden costs of unchecked ambition, why integrity matters more than ever, and how to build a career you’re actually proud of.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Free Resources

• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): Here

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com