Leader Fables

In Part 2 of a series about AI, Casey and Jacob delve into the current landscape of Artificial Intelligence and how it is being used both in the workplace and personal life. They discuss specific ways that they have integrated AI into their personal workflows for efficiency and organization, and come to the conclusion that currently AI is best used to decrease time spent gathering and organizing i...

In Part 1 of a series about AI, Jacob and Casey delve into the current landscape of Artificial Intelligence and how it is being used both in the workplace and personal life. They discuss their perspectives on the overall perception of AI in society and ways in which they personally use AI tools and agents within their own workflows. Though they feel AI has much potential, the leading takeaway is t...

Casey and Jacob have a fun look-back at 5 movies/shows that have shaped their work trajectories and styles of leadership. In part 2 of a 2 part series, they reminisce about titles like Moneyball, A Few Good Men, and Up In The Air – and how various characters, storylines, and management strategies within the movies made real impacts on their personal and work development. The two also discuss how c...

Jacob and Casey have a fun look-back at 5 movies/shows that have shaped their work trajectories and styles of leadership. In part 1 of a 2 part series, they reminisce about titles like Office Space, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and The West Wing – and how various characters, plot developments, and styles of show-writing made real impacts on their personal and work development. The two also reac...

Casey and Jacob discuss the usage of levity within the work environment and ways in which it can be a positive and a negative. They work through some of their own experiences with using humor and other strategies to better relate to their work colleagues and often reduce tension. In addition to their own stories, the two also offer examples of notable leaders that they feel have best embodied the...

In this episode, Jacob and Casey discuss their feelings and experiences on how so much of the work and impact that leaders make is unseen or goes without credit. They reflect on specific instances in their careers in which they needed to be patient, defer recognition, and suppress their egos or emotions in order to best serve their teams as leaders. The two also discuss how leadership is commonly...

Casey and Jacob work through all the pros and cons of scheduling true vacations from work throughout the year. The two discuss why leaders need to be open to taking off more time from work, how a vacation can actually improve your ability to maintain present and future work output, and signs that you seriously need to get a vacation (or three) scheduled. Additionally, they lay out smart ways to ma...

In this episode, Jacob and Casey discuss the importance of working on your own work by developing principles and practices that can help you get ahead of potential work obstacles and improve your own output individually and as a team leader. Jacob shares key takeaways and reflections from one of his favorite recent reads – Ray Dalio’s book “Principles”. Jacob discusses how the book has become a gr...

Jacob and Casey discuss crafting an ideal week—-a proactive approach to planning time for what matters most, protecting margin, and sustaining energy both at work and home. They share how regularly reviewing and updating an ideal week template helps leaders hedge against chaos and interruptions, while staying focused on key priorities. Their discussion covers essential steps such as starting with...

Listen as Casey and Jacob explore why consistent one-on-ones are the highest-leverage activity for leaders, addressing the common dread around them and sharing strategies to transform them into relationship-building and coaching sessions. Key Points Discussed: The value of consistenat one-on-ones as a high-leverage leadership activity and why they should not be canceled or rescheduled. The three c...

Jacob and Casey discuss how the isolation inherent in leadership roles can affect decision-making and performance, drawing on research that highlights the prevalence of loneliness among senior leaders. They explore the challenges of maintaining a confident persona while shouldering heavy responsibilities and the importance of having a trusted inner circle to share concerns and gain objective feedb...

In this episode, Casey & Jacob share personal stories and professional experiences from 2024, shedding light on what it takes to lead effectively. They discuss their key accomplishments and the challenges they faced. They also outline their aspirations for the future, Casey and Jacob provide a thoughtful and engaging analysis of their leadership journey. Beyond recounting their own experiences...

In this episode of Leader Fables , Jacob & Casey discuss the art of team development. While lots of conversations regarding leadership often focuses on individual growth through 1:1s, this conversation explores ways leaders can nurture team cohesion and collaboration. Jacob & Casey share practical, actionable tips, including how to: Build camaraderie and learning by reading books together....

In this episode of Leader Fables , hosts Casey and Jacob discuss the challenges and benefits of delegating work as leaders. Through personal anecdotes of triumphs and failures, they explore why delegation can be so difficult and why it’s essential for effective leadership. Key Discussion Points: Why Leaders Struggle to Delegate Many leaders hesitate to delegate due to perfectionism, control tenden...

In this episode, Jacob and Casey dive deep into the topic of goals, exploring the common perceptions and challenges leaders face when setting and achieving them. They discuss goals in a leadership context, and highlight the often negative connotations associated with goals, such as doom, gloom, and the pressurethat comes from high expectations. The episode is divided into two main sections: what t...

In this episode, Casey and Jacob discuss their favorite productivity apps and tools. They also share their experiences with analog tools like the Full Focus Planner and their preferred pens. They emphasize the importance of having a consistent strategy for organizing notes and emails, and discuss the benefits of having a good work bag. They caution against constantly switching between new apps. Me...

In this episode, Jacob and Casey discuss the importance of hobbies in preventing burnout, maintaining motivation, and promoting a healthy work-life balance. They share their personal hobbies, ranging from stargazing and 3D printing to traveling and building Lego sets. They also discuss the therapeutic benefits of hobbies, such as relaxation, stress relief, and intellectual stimulation. Finally, th...

In this second part of a two part topic on making ideas happen, Casey and Jacob discuss the art of project execution. But before they do they briefly recap the importance of capitalizing on inspiration and strategies for effective persuasion. They then share many tips for effective project execution, including what to do when it all goes to hell. Mentions in this episode: Discipline Is Destiny: Th...

In this next installment of Leader Fables, Jacob & Casey share their process for making ideas happen. They discuss the importance of capitalizing on fleeting inspiration, explore the art of persuasion, highlighting the use of leading questions and inclusive brainstorming to gain support for ideas. They conclude by sharing some tips for effective project execution strategies. Mentions in this e...

In this episode, Casey & Jacob explore helping your family love your job. They discuss the challenges leaders face in achieving work-life harmony and debunk the idea of work-life balance. They emphasize how your family's perception of your work impacts your success and well-being. They also share personal stories and provide practical strategies, such as loving your own work, setting boundarie...

Travel, especially nowadays, is hectic. Join Jacob & Casey as they share their tried and true travel tips and tricks. They also discuss ways to stay focused, present, and maintain their routines while away from the comforts of home and office. Mentions in this episode include: Briggs & Riley ZDX-Expandable Luggage Anker Portable Charger, USB-C Power Bank 20000mAh Multi 5 in 1 Universal USB...

Balancing finding inspiration and developing additional hard skills is essential for effective leadership. Join Casey & Jacob as they discuss the whys, whats, and hows of professional development, and ways to get the most of the many resources available to leaders. Mentions in this episode: Who Moved My Cheese WorkLife with Adam Grant: A debate with Malcolm Gladwell Tropical MBA Masters of Sca...

Coping with and preventing burnout is an invaluable skill for team leaders. Join Jacob & Casey as they discuss identifying burnout, preventing it, and eliminating it when it rears its ugly head. Mentions in this Episode: The Five Altitudes of Planning Overview Life Planning Mastermind Groups Burnout Is Everyone's Problem | WorkLife with Adam Grant

As a follow-up to their last episode on meetings, listen to Casey and Jacob share their thoughts on what makes for a good presentation. They discuss how to make presentations powerful by building impactful content, inviting audience interaction, and delivering a memorable intros and outros. They also share how to incorporate these elements into in-person and virtual presentations. This episode is...

Listen to Jacob & Casey discuss the four elements of an extraordinary meeting: energizing, inviting, informative and celebratory. They deliver tips for making every meeting memorable, impactful, and fun. They also share how to incorporate these elements into in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings. If you're struggling to make your meetings effective or if you could use some advice to spice up...