How to Get Noticed at Work: Leanne Hughes on Work Fame
How do you get noticed at work without waiting for luck? Speaker and author Leanne Hughes shares the mindset behind her new book, Work Fame, and the career that took her from Wicked Campers to running her own consulting business.
Everyone tells you their big break was luck. It wasn't. It was a habit of showing up with your head up instead of your AirPods in.
This week Luella sits down with thought leader, speaker and author Leanne Hughes to unpack the real story behind her new book, Work Fame - out 30 September. Forget the highlight reel of stages and airports. Leanne breaks down what actually got her noticed in a big organisation, and why the same mindset now powers her solo consulting business.
From a childhood dream of playing netball for Australia to a corporate role that inspired an entire book, Leanne's career story is a masterclass in creating your own momentum instead of waiting for a conveyor belt to move you. She and Luella talk through the reality of solopreneurship, the "walk of fame vs walk of tame" concept at the heart of her book, why being hard to explain might be your biggest asset in the age of AI, and the Canada workshop disaster that accidentally launched her first podcast.
"I think the world doesn't reward intent, you know? It rewards action." Leanne Hughes
Episode highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
00:36 - The reality of being a "thought leader" - what Leanne's week actually looks like behind the Instagram highlights
05:01 - Why being "unexplainable" is a strength, not a weakness, in the age of AI
10:38 - The idea behind Work Fame and how one piece of blunt career advice sparked it
13:36 - The "walk of fame vs walk of tame" - the mindset shift behind getting noticed
18:20 - Her formative years at Wicked Campers and the "seek forgiveness, not permission" lesson
24:38 - The workshop that went wrong in Canada - and accidentally launched her first podcast
34:03 - What success actually looks like to Leanne (and why she talks openly about money)
37:59 - Quickfire round - coffee order, WFH vs office, and the best career advice she's ever received
Resources:
Leanne Hughes Linked In - linkedin.com/in/leannehughes
Work Fame by Leanne Hughes: getworkfame.com
Leanne's Work Fame newsletter on Substack: workfa.me
Tim Ferriss's fear-setting exercise
Jim Rohn's advice: work harder on yourself than you do on your job
Episodes mentioned:
Bethan Winn on critical thinking in the age of AI: youtu.be/lEr0Onb4qQw
Dr Mia Carbon: youtu.be/0cEmeCbQpXk
Elizabeth Shaw on sponsorship: youtu.be/cZ34gflZiYY
All Career Advice and guest episodes: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ2uiJbm7wluvT39bLBd7ZKMU1US0Qonf
All opinions are the guest's own.
New episodes on a Wednesday, with interviews with leaders or experts every week and a monthly discussion on what we've heard in the last week of the month.
We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts on recent episodes or questions you'd like Luella and Michelle to answer at [email protected].
Career Stories is hosted by Dr Luella Forbes, who works with organisations on leadership, change and storytelling. To find out how she can support your leaders and teams, visit luellaforbes.com/services
More about the podcast: luellaforbes.com/career-stories
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Creators and Guests
Host
Dr Luella Forbes
Dr Luella Forbes is a consultant specialising in Organisational Change and founder of The Career Library and it's podcast, Career Stories.
