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  • 320: What If the Smartest Career Move Is the One Everyone Tells You Not to Make with Melanie Hallenbeck

    320: What If the Smartest Career Move Is the One Everyone Tells You Not to Make with Melanie Hallenbeck
    2026/10/27
    What happens when the career move everyone thinks you should make is the one your gut is telling you to avoid? Melanie Hallenbeck, Chief Growth Officer at Alegeus, has spent 30 years building a wildly successful career in sales and leadership. But she's also made some pretty unconventional decisions along the way. Like turning down a major promotion everyone thought she was crazy to refuse, cold-calling a cold-calling expert (yes, really), and walking away from a huge sales deal to make it to her daughters' gymnastics show. Melanie joins Erin Hatzikostas to talk about trusting your instincts, navigating career growth without sacrificing what matters most, and why a tangled ball of pastry string might teach you more about building authentic client relationships than any corporate sales training. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why saying no to a promotion doesn't mean saying no to ambition • How investing in yourself can open unexpected doors • Why trusting your gut matters more than following the traditional career ladder • How authenticity builds stronger, more memorable client relationships • Why being different can be your biggest competitive advantage Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or InstagramTake our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ishThrow out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.Work with UsOr just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "I live by my gut. When my gut tells me to do something or fight for something, I listen, even when everybody else is against it." "Sometimes the universe whispers to you and sometimes it screams." "Information is great, but it's how you use it that matters." "I don't regret not winning the deal. I don't want to work with anybody who would put up that kind of a barrier." "Figure out why you're making things harder, and take a small step in the right direction." Editor's note: This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity and readability. Promotional segments and housekeeping have been removed. Erin Hatzikostas talks with Melanie Hollenbeck about authentic leadership, career growth, and making professional decisions that support your family and values. Melanie shares how she built a sales career as a single mother, turned down a major promotion, invested in cold calling training, and developed lasting client relationships through genuine connection. Building a Career at ADP as a Working Mom Erin: I want to start with your first job at ADP. You were a single mother with two kids. What did you envision for your career back then? Take us back to younger Melanie. Melanie: I started before I was a single mom. I wanted to get my master's degree, and I couldn't afford it. I was reading the want ads in the New Haven Register, and there was an ADP call center representative job. It literally said they would pay for a master's degree. I couldn't have manifested that any better. I got the job and was so excited. On my first day, there were two older women they called "the moms." They would send calls to your desk. I went to get up, and one said, "Where are you going?" I said, "I just have to go to the ladies' room." She said, "No, you have to sign out." You had to go at a certain time. I was like, "My body doesn't work that way." After a while, I looked at one of them and said, "I'm not going to be here for long. I'm going to see what the next job is." She said, "Zip your lip. These people are lifers." It took my breath away. I immediately knew I wanted the next step. I didn't know what it was, but this wasn't going to be it for me. I'm so thankful I started that way, because I learned everything I needed to know. I went into implementation, had my first daughter, and did the first job share at ADP Milford. Erin: Wow. How did that work? Melanie: The general manager, Sal, was amazing. We said, "We want to share a job." He said, "Okay." Super progressive. I worked Mondays and Wednesdays; she worked Tuesdays and Fridays. She also watched my daughter on the ...
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    50 分
  • 319: Micro Motivator: 3 Simple Culture Hacks Any Leader Can Do

    319: Micro Motivator: 3 Simple Culture Hacks Any Leader Can Do
    2026/10/13
    Your team is burnt toast. And honestly, you might be too. So how do you get people to care more without adding another morale initiative, meeting, spreadsheet, or 58-page PowerPoint nobody actually wants? In this Micro Motivator, Erin Hatzikostas shares three simple ways leaders can build more trust, energy, and engagement by being more authentic. No giant culture initiative required. Just a few tangible changes in how you show up, what you take off your team's plate, and how you communicate. In this episode, you'll hear: Why a little humility can build trust faster than polished leadershipWhat happens when leaders start challenging the BS work clogging up everyone's dayWhy an off-the-cuff weekly update can connect more than another corporate memoHow authentic leadership becomes real through what you do, not what you say you are Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or InstagramTake our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ishThrow out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.Work with UsOr just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "Tell a humility moment, a story of a time when you screwed up." "Take away a piece of BS work. Holy cow, what a huge trading chip." "It should just be off the cuff, from the heart, authentic updates." "The way that you do it isn't through being. It's through doing." Intro Note: This transcript has been edited for clarity, readability, and length while preserving the core ideas from the episode. In this Micro Motivator, Erin Hatzikostas shares three practical ways leaders can increase employee engagement through authentic leadership, including using humility, removing unnecessary work, and communicating more openly with their teams. 3 Simple Culture Hacks Any Leader Can Do Erin: Being a leader right now is really tough. If you're like most leaders, your team is burnt toast, and so are you. How do you keep them motivated and caring when everyone is already exhausted? I'm a former corporate CEO, and employee engagement went up 15% in the three years I led the company. One thing I can tell you is that you need to be authentic. But how do you actually wake up tomorrow and do that differently? Use Humility on Purpose Erin: First, purposely use humility with your team. Tell what I call a humility moment, a story about a time when you screwed up. It can be work-related or home-related. When you open up, people start trusting you more and often become more willing to open up with the rest of the team too. Take Away the BS Work Erin: Number two, take away a piece of BS work. Are people spending time making 58-page PowerPoints pretty for an internal meeting nobody will look at? Is there a spreadsheet, presentation, or request that nobody has bothered to challenge? Show your team that you're willing to understand what is clogging up their day and get some of that junk out of their way. Give Your Team the Unpolished Version Erin: Number three, try a weekly email or video to your team. I prefer video. Don't plan the whole thing out. Share what's on your mind, something you're proud of, or something you learned that week. It doesn't have to be fancy or comprehensive. It should be off the cuff and from the heart. People want to know what you're really feeling and what's actually going on behind the scenes. Erin: The way you become an authentic leader isn't through being. It's through doing. Take a step in that direction and watch your employees get fired up.
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    5 分
  • 318: How to Make Life One Big Game Show with Rich Bracken

    318: How to Make Life One Big Game Show with Rich Bracken
    2026/09/29
    What does "killing it" actually look like behind the scenes? Because sometimes it's a huge stage and an incredible opportunity. And sometimes it's a soggy airport sandwich, a missed flight, or admitting that something just isn't working. In this episode, Erin sits down with speaker, author, and emotional intelligence expert Rich Bracken for a chat about the side of success we don't always talk about (or get to hear). They dig into why we're so quick to measure accomplishments but ignore how we actually feel, the power of being honest about failure, and why vulnerability matters more than maintaining the appearance that everything is fine. Rich also shares his "Theory of Why Not," the mindset that has led him to take some pretty wild chances throughout his career, and why meaningful progress usually comes from consistent effort rather than trying to knock it out of the park every single day. Here's what you'll hear: Why your feelings deserve as much attention as your metricsWhat the polished version of "killing it" leaves outHow asking "Why not?" can lead to unexpected opportunitiesWhy small, consistent effort is more powerful than perfectionHow vulnerability, curiosity, and genuine care make us better leaders Connect with Rich on LinkedIn Learn more at richbracken.com. Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or InstagramTake our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ishThrow out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.Work with UsOr just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "The feeling is data, too." "We all want to feel seen and heard and respected, so show that and you'll get it back." "If you put the other person first, everything else unfolds the way it should." "The best leaders I ever worked for or worked with were human beings. They were vulnerable, they were honest, and they cared." Editor's note: This transcript has been edited for clarity and length while preserving the substance and conversational tone of the original discussion. Erin Hatzikostas sits down with speaker, author, coach, and emotional intelligence expert Rich Bracken to talk about what success really looks like behind the scenes. They explore emotional intelligence, vulnerability, failure, leadership, consistent effort, Rich's "Theory of Why Not," and why some of the biggest opportunities in your career can start with simply being willing to take a chance. Success Is More Than a Metric Erin: I want to start by reading something from your book because this took my breath away. You wrote, "The most dangerous blind spot in change management isn't a missed metric. It's individual and group satisfaction. That's the left hook nobody sees coming. We get so obsessed with what we can measure that we stop paying attention to what we can't. The feeling is data, too." You talk about how we want everyone to believe everything is fine. We hit the number. It worked. We never heard no. Admitting that we came up short or something didn't work can feel like weakness, so we skip past it. We're much quicker to share our wins than our failures. And that instinct doesn't just apply to metrics. It applies to how we feel. We hide emotional shortcomings the same way we hide missed targets because vulnerability in either form feels like exposure. Rich: I think we need to chip away at this idea of perfection because, number one, it doesn't exist. Nobody is going to be perfect. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. The more people admit their failures, admit their shortcomings, or admit that something went wrong, the more honest we can be. I lost a contract the other day that was devastating to me. It was going to be huge for me. And the first thing I thought was, "I've got to talk to somebody about the failure." It's one thing to say everything is great and trucking along, but when those left hooks come, sometimes you need somebody to grab you and lift you off the ground. It's tough. Erin: I think this applies to people at every level of their careers. We get asked all ...
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    55 分
  • 317: What to Do With Work "Triggers" That Spiral You Backward

    317: What to Do With Work "Triggers" That Spiral You Backward
    2026/09/15

    Nicole shares an update that she's becoming "boss lady" again, which means rediscovering every leadership trigger she thought she'd already dealt with.

    You'll also hear Erin and Nicole talk about interim leadership, over-functioning, trying to prove yourself, doing two jobs for approximately "stripper money," and the uncomfortable realization that growth doesn't mean your old habits disappear. It means you catch them faster.

    They also get into Ella, Erin's daughter, leaving for college, and why Erin refuses to adopt the whole "my baby is leaving me" Sucky Soundtrack just because everyone else does.

    Book Erin to speak

    Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn?

    Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak

    If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

    If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

    • Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram
    • Take our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz
    • Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ish
    • Throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.
    • Work with Us
    • Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

    To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com

    DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences.

    Tweetable Comments

    "Sucky songs don't stop coming. It's just how quickly you hear them and rewrite them."

    "Communication is the response you get back."

    "Don't play to not lose. Play to win. Play to freaking win."

    "While you're testing me out, I'm testing it out."
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    1 時間 9 分
  • 316: Micro Motivator: The Easiest Way to Tell More Stories at Work

    316: Micro Motivator: The Easiest Way to Tell More Stories at Work
    2026/09/01
    Think you're bad at storytelling at work? You might just be doing it backwards. In this Micro Motivator, Erin shares the simple storytelling mistake that makes job interviews, presentations, and workplace communication way harder than they need to be. In this episode, you'll hear: How to find the right story without forcing itWhy your best stories can do more heavy lifting than you thinkHow to make storytelling at work feel natural, not painfully rehearsed Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or InstagramTake our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ishThrow out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.Work with UsOr just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "People don't care how long it takes as long as they're engaged." "Stories aren't selfish." "I would argue that all stories have branches like a tree, and they have many different points they can make." "Your life is just a collection of stories. Now, go tell them." The Easiest Way to Tell More Stories at Work This transcript has been edited for clarity and length. Storytelling at work doesn't have to feel forced or rehearsed. In this Micro Motivator, Erin shares why stories are so effective in workplace communication, the common mistake people make when trying to find the "right" story, and a simple way to build a story library you can use for job interviews, presentations, meetings, and more. Why We Avoid Telling Stories at Work Erin: Stories are remembered far more effectively than facts and figures. And yes, I realize the irony of starting that statement with a fact. There are a lot of reasons people avoid telling stories at work. Maybe you think you're not a good storyteller. Maybe you don't think you have any good stories. But one of the biggest reasons is that people assume stories take too much time. You think, "People don't have time to listen to a long story. It'll be faster if I just get to the point." But people generally don't care how long something takes if they're engaged. Stories Aren't Selfish Erin: Stories also aren't selfish. When you tell a story, the people listening start riding sidecar next to you. If you talk about your brother, they may start thinking about their sister. If you tell a story from high school, they start remembering their own experiences from high school. A story might technically be about you, but the listener naturally connects it to their own life. Storytelling becomes a shared experience. The Storytelling Mistake Most People Make Erin: Here's the mistake I see people make when they're preparing for something like a job interview or a big presentation: they start with the scenario and then try to think of a story that fits it. That is hard. Our brains aren't really wired to work that way. Instead, start by creating a story library. That's really just a fancy word for a list. It could live in a notebook, on your phone, or even in your head. Start by identifying about 10 stories you know well. Some might be funny stories from your personal life. Others might come from your career. Some might simply be everyday experiences that can become metaphors or analogies. One Story Can Make Many Different Points Erin: Here's where the magic happens: most stories don't have only one point. Think of a story like a tree with multiple branches. Maybe you went shopping and had an interesting customer experience. That one experience could become a story about customer service, packaging, positioning, communication, expectations, or dozens of other things. Even something as simple as pulling weeds in your garden could become a metaphor for persistence, solving recurring problems, getting to the root cause, or dealing with something you thought you had already fixed. When you begin with stories you already know, storytelling becomes much easier. You're not inventing something on the spot. You're taking an experience you're comfortable talking about and deciding which point you want it to illustrate. How to Use a Story Library in Job ...
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    6 分
  • 315: The One Thing That Makes People Say Yes with David Allison

    315: The One Thing That Makes People Say Yes with David Allison
    2026/08/18
    What if the reason people aren't buying, engaging, staying, or following your lead isn't because they need another motivational poster about "teamwork"? It might be because you have no idea what actually matters to them. In this episode, Erin sits down with David Allison, founder of the Valuegraphics Research Company and author of The Values Map, to talk about why demographics, generic corporate values, and a bunch of buzzwords slapped on an office wall don't tell us nearly as much as we think they do. David shares how understanding what matters most to people can make you a better leader, marketer, salesperson, and overall human trying to get other humans to do things. They also dig into how to uncover someone's real values without creepily asking, "So...what are your deepest values?" and why values alignment might explain why certain jobs, people, opportunities, and even parties just click while others make you want to fake a babysitter emergency and leave. In this episode, you'll hear: Why corporate values often become expensive wallpaper and what actually motivates employeesThree questions that reveal what matters most to someone without turning the conversation into a therapy sessionHow to use curiosity and the "Third Why" to get past surface-level small talkWhy understanding someone's values can make selling, leading, and influencing a whole lot easierHow David realized the traditional definition of success was basically a lie for him and why building your work around what matters most can make it suck significantly less Resources Mentioned in the Episode: Check out David's Website: www.davidallisoninc.comLearn more about Value Graphics: www.valuegraphics.com Pre-order David's book, "The Values Map: Discover What Drives You and How to Move Others"Follow David on LinkedIn at davidallisoninc/ Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or InstagramTake our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ishThrow out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.Work with UsOr just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "What matters most to us drives everything we do." "Your corporate values are not the human values of the people who are showing up at your corporation." "Authenticity is, I'm gonna say, not a value, it's the end result of values alignment." "It was, 10 years of living a lie that I didn't know was a lie, because I'd only been taught that this was the truth." Podcast Transcript Erin Hatzikostas sits down with David Allison, founder of the Valuegraphics Research Company, to explore what really motivates people at work. They unpack the difference between corporate values and human values, how leaders and salespeople can discover what matters most to someone, why values alignment influences engagement and decision-making, and how understanding your own values can help you build a career that actually fits. Why "Values" Might Be the Wrong Word Erin: What's the biggest misconception you get when people call you the values guy or talk about the research you do around values? David: One of the biggest confusions is just the word values. We're all used to sitting in boardrooms talking about mission, vision, values. The CEO sends out the annual note saying they've finally figured out the corporate values, and usually they're the same as everybody else's corporate values. They go up on the wall behind the receptionist, everybody's happy, and then they're forgotten about 24 hours later. We also run around talking about what we think our values are. Politicians tell us what our values are. So I actually don't love using the word anymore. What works better is asking: What matters most? What matters most to you? What matters most to your customers? What matters most to your employees? That gets much closer to the kind of values I'm researching. Erin: And it feels more distinctive too. Instead of asking somebody for five or ten values, you can start with one or two things that really matter. David: Exactly. Through our research, we've ...
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    54 分
  • 314: Why You Need to Trust Your Creative Process

    314: Why You Need to Trust Your Creative Process
    2026/08/04
    Erin tried to become a "better" speaker. She got the coach. Did the reps. Rehearsed the lines. Followed the advice. And then realized she may have accidentally polished the magic right out of herself. In this solo episode, Erin shares what happened when a huge speaking opportunity pushed her into full preparation mode, why over-rehearsing made her feel less connected on stage, and the old coaching advice that came back swinging: Trust your creative process. This one is for anyone who has ever tried to improve themselves and accidentally started sanding down the exact thing that made them stand out. In this episode you'll hear: -Why "best practices" are only useful if they actually work for you -How over-preparing can make you technically better but less you -Why Erin had to 50% Rule her own speaking proces -The difference between memorizing words and connecting to the message -Why your weird little way of doing things might be the whole damn point Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or InstagramTake our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ishThrow out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.Work with UsOr just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "Trust your creative process.""I spent more time searching for the words than searching for the feeling and the passion.""What's worked for you in the past actually might work in the future.""Constantly look for ways to improve without throwing away what makes you you." Trust Your Creative Process Editor's note: This transcript has been edited for clarity, length, and readability. In this solo episode, Erin Hatzikostas shares what happened when she followed traditional public speaking advice so closely that she lost some of the authenticity that made her effective. She explores over-preparation, creative confidence, the 50% Rule, and how to improve your work without abandoning the process that makes you uniquely good at it. When "Leveling Up" Starts to Change You Erin: Over the last nine months, I've gone through a journey that feels full circle, ironic, and maybe even a little hypocritical. Erin: I preach authenticity. In my second book, I talk about the 50% Rule: whenever you're doing something, keep some of what works, introduce something new, and throw out the pieces that feel inauthentic or simply do not fit you. Erin: I'm also a professional speaker. That's my main occupation, and last summer my speaking career was really starting to pick up steam. Then I was selected to speak at the International Association of Speaking Bureaus conference. These are the people who often help organizations find speakers for major events, so getting the chance to speak in front of them felt like a very big deal. Erin: There were almost 100 applicants, and only six of us were selected. Speaking can be a roller coaster. You are constantly trying to earn the next opportunity, even after you've had success. But this felt like one of those moments where I thought, "Okay, Erin. This is your chance. Get your act together." The Pressure to Rehearse Perfectly Erin: Around that same time, I had started working with a true speech and vocal coach, Darcy Webb. She was wonderful because she did not try to turn me into somebody else. She understood what made me, me, and helped bring more of that out. Erin: She helped me embrace the facial expressions I naturally make. She also told me to stop whispering. I insisted I was not whispering, but then I watched the recordings and realized, "Oh. That is a little weird." Erin: One of the biggest things she taught me was that I needed to rehearse. I needed to put in the hours, record myself, repeat the material, and get the words into my body. Erin: I resisted that advice for a long time. Then this huge speaking opportunity came along, and I only had 20 minutes. In the speaking world, shorter is often harder. You have to be more concise, make stronger choices, and communicate the point in less time. Erin: So I decided it was time to become the polished, ...
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    26 分
  • 313: The Hidden Ways We Survive, Stand Out, and Stay Sane at Work

    313: The Hidden Ways We Survive, Stand Out, and Stay Sane at Work
    2026/06/30
    Modern work is getting weird. In this episode, Erin and Nicole talk about career envy, AI "bot sitting," Gen Z's job search chaos, parents overstepping in the hiring process, airport drama, bathroom hideouts, and the deeply human ways people are trying to stand out, stay sane, and survive work right now. They also unpack one of Erin's favorite new questions for killing comparison: "Would I actually want their life?" Because chasing someone else's version of success only works if you're willing to take the whole life that comes with it. In this episode you'll hear: Why career envy gets a lot less powerful when you zoom outHow AI slop is changing resumes, hiring, and the way we try to stand outWhat "bot sitting" says about the strange new reality of workWhy parents need to step away from the hiring managerThe hilarious and slightly unhinged ways people cope at work This one is part workplace commentary, part group therapy, part "what the hell is happening out there?" And honestly? We need all three. Anya Roodnitsky Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU6VPHhEgGn/ Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or InstagramTake our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ishThrow out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.Work with UsOr just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "You cannot compare yourself to somebody else without first asking: would I actually want their life?""We do make shit up all the time. It's just usually bad shit about us and good shit about other people. You have the right to flip that.""You're creating an entire life you don't have to escape from.""If you want to be heard, stand out, picked, chosen, or done business with, AI slop is going to kill you." Editor's note: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity, readability, and flow while preserving the core conversation and strongest takeaways. In this episode, Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata unpack the weird, wild, and deeply human ways people are surviving modern work. From career envy and AI "bot sitting" to Gen Z's job search chaos, parents overstepping in hiring, airport drama, bathroom hideouts, and the pressure to stand out in a world full of sameness, this conversation is part workplace commentary, part group therapy, and part "what the hell is happening out there?" Women, Work, and the Underground Network Erin: I have some updates. The first one is related to something you just said. I have to laugh at how freaking amazing working women are at multitasking. This morning, I drove 45 minutes to Southington for an 8:30 coffee meeting with a former client who is now a current client because they're bringing me back again. But before that, I had placed a BJ's Warehouse order at the Southington location because we have a graduation party coming up. So I had the coffee meeting, got gas under $4, picked up a ridiculous amount of party supplies, came home, sweated my ass off putting it all away, and thought, this is how women work. People underestimate not only how efficient we are, but also how connected we are. That reminded me of something else. A few weeks ago, our financial advisors decided to move to another bank for the second time in six years. The first time, we followed them. The second time, we paused. I happen to use the same financial advisor as my woman work crush, Jean LaTour, who is a former chief investment officer for CBS and Aetna. She is a big deal, authentic as hell, and I'm proud to call her a friend. When we both got the news, we immediately started texting. I told her the deal Morgan Stanley offered us to incentivize us to stay, which was different from hers. We were sent to different people. We've had lunch. We've compared notes on how the transition has gone. So story number one is this: do not underestimate women and our ability to get all the things done, whether it's picking up BJ's after a business meeting or quietly sharing information behind the scenes to make sure we get the best deal possible. Nicole: That ...
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