Do Something Different: A Leadership Podcast

Send us Fan Mail There's a big gap between how most managers lead their teams and how the best CEOs drive organizational success. A good CEO builds a team that makes strategic decisions, executes independently, and continuously improves. Many mid-level leaders remain trapped in cycles of micromanagement, approval-seeking, and task-oriented direction. This episode explores why managing like yo...

Send us Fan Mail At a senior level, jobs aren't posted... they're whispered. Join CEO of Whispered Andy Mowat for this conversation on how to run a successful job search.  You'll learn: Why clarity and specificity are critical to an effective executive job search The counterintuitive reason why narrowing your focus actually creates more opportunities How to take control of interview...

Send us Fan Mail Most professionals claim they want to be respected as leaders, but they act like they want to be liked. This disconnect prevents many talented individuals from achieving their full leadership potential and earning the respect they desire. Discover why the behaviors that feel most comfortable may be the very ones limiting your effectiveness as a leader. You'll learn: The five...

Send us Fan Mail Despite best intentions, many high achievers make suboptimal decisions in the workplace. The combination of stress, information overload, social pressure, and authority figures creates an environment where even the smartest professionals fall into predictable decision-making traps. These patterns—often the very same behaviors that brought early career success—become the invisible...

Send us Fan Mail Influence is about changing how others think and act, not simply directing them what to do. Discover why transformational influence—the kind that creates lasting change and builds strong relationships—requires a completely different approach than the transactional tactics many resort to. You'll learn: The difference between authority and influence Why common influence "h...

Send us Fan Mail Many accomplished professionals hit a ceiling not because they lack skills, but because they overuse "pleaser" behaviors that undermine their executive presence.  This episode exposes how an over-reliance on being likeable and getting along - qualities that may have served you well early in your career - can actually diminish your leadership impact. Through real coaching...

Send us Fan Mail What is executive presence, and why do so many talented leaders struggle to develop it? That is the theme of this conversation with Cindy Skalicky. Through practical examples and proven frameworks, this episode reveals why focusing solely on technical expertise and data can actually undermine leadership effectiveness, and how authentic storytelling and human connection create last...

Send us Fan Mail This episode tackles the counterintuitive truth about high achievement: doing more isn't always the path to greater success. Learn why many successful professionals get trapped in patterns of overwork and discover the CALM framework for breaking free from this cycle. Through real-world examples of executives who transformed their approach to work, the episode reveals how stra...

Send us Fan Mail The ingrained belief that "my work speaks for itself" - while admirable - is not true. It may be a major factor keeping you from reaching your full potential and gaining the recognition your contributions deserve. Learn why "the work speaks for itself" doesn't work, and how to authentically speak up about your accomplishments. Key themes: Why letting work...

Send us Fan Mail Many high achievers struggle with deeply empowering their team. Learn why letting go might be the key to unlocking your next level of leadership. Rather than focusing on doing more, explore how doing less - strategically - could transform both your effectiveness and your team's engagement. Key themes: Why control can become a career liability The hidden cost of "adding v...

Send us Fan Mail Do you consistently avoid doing things you know would make you more successful? In this episode, Rusty tackles the hidden truth about why high achievers struggle to implement important changes. Learn why defaulting to "I need more discipline" or "I don't have time" completely misses the point, and discover a new way to understand what's really holding...

Send us Fan Mail Many people struggle maintaining motivation to achieve their goals. It's why so many people don't achieve their New Year's resolutions. In this episode you will discover a powerful perspective shift that can transform how you approach change - whether in your career, health, or relationships. Perfect for: Professionals feeling stuck in unproductive routines Anyone s...

Send us Fan Mail Are your New Year's resolutions setting you up for another unfulfilling year? This episode tackles the common pitfall of traditional goal-setting that keeps ambitious professionals stuck in patterns of busyness and disconnection. Through examining holiday reflections and end-of-year planning, learn why focusing solely on achievements and to-do lists undermines the potential f...

Send us Fan Mail High achievers often get trapped by their own success. Learn why the mindsets and behaviors that fueled early career wins often become barriers to reaching senior leadership roles. Discover why the relentless drive to do more, better, and faster can actually limit growth, and why stepping out of your comfort zone and changing those habits may be exactly what's needed to advan...

Send us Fan Mail Smart, high achieving leaders often make sub-optimal decisions.  In this episode, learn how our brain's built-in bias toward risk and safety can derail confident decision-making, and uncover the biological reason why focusing on potential problems feels so natural. Through an exploration of brain science and behavioral patterns, the episode reveals why traditional "pros...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling to command respect at work? This episode tackles why blaming external factors - like company culture or difficult colleagues - completely misses the point. The discussion explores how habitual behaviors, particularly those of high achievers, can actually undermine authority and influence. Through 3 simple yet powerful new habits, professionals can learn to command the r...

Send us Fan Mail Meetings with senior leaders are a prime opportunity to demonstrate executive presence. But they make many leaders anxious. In this episode, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about why capable professionals often stay silent in high-stakes conversations. From claiming introversion to avoiding vulnerability, discover the five hidden barriers that may be limiting your impact and vis...

Send us Fan Mail On Thanksgiving, most of us practice gratitude. It's easy during the holidays, but finding gratitude in the midst of difficulties requires a fundamental shift in perspective that can transform how we experience and overcome obstacles. Rusty Gaillard is an executive coach, helping mid-level corporate leaders create more career success while working less and enjoying it more. T...

Send us Fan Mail Has your career progression slowed down? In this episode of Do Something Different, we tackle promotion and career advancement - specifically why many high achievers hit a plateau and struggle to reach the next level. Learn why the behaviors that made you successful early in your career may now be holding you back, and how the "A Trap" can limit your growth. Through prac...

Send us Fan Mail Is performance review season making you anxious? In this episode, Rusty Gaillard tackles the elephant in the room: why most leaders either avoid giving feedback or do it poorly. He reveals why treating feedback as a time management problem completely misses the point, and shares a personal commitment that transformed how he approaches difficult conversations. Through the simple bu...

Send us Fan Mail Are you a high achiever who's built your career on being smart and avoiding mistakes? In this episode, Rusty tackles the paralyzing pressure that successful professionals face when it comes to making mistakes, especially in high-stakes situations. Through a revealing client story about "Steve," who struggles with a seemingly unfixable situation, Rusty challenges the...

Send us Fan Mail Are you constantly juggling back-to-back meetings, endless Slack messages, and mounting deliverables? If you're like most senior leaders, you've probably tried various prioritization techniques to manage it all. But what if prioritization isn't actually the answer? In this episode, Rusty shares a personal story from his time at Apple that changed his perspective on...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Do Something Different, a leadership podcast. This podcast is for high achievers: smart, ambitious, successful people who've done a lot in their career, but want even more impact and fulfillment.  The premise of this podcast is that the behaviors and habits that have been key to your success so far may be the things that are holding you back now. You’ll learn new s...