Being the FNG (F’ing New Guy): Earning Trust From the Start (feat. Matt Quinn)

Being the "new guy" is hard. Being the new leader is harder.In this episode, Ryan Calkins and Erny Epley sit down with special guest, Matt Quinn, to talk about what it really takes to earn trust when you walk into a new job with zero social capital; especially when the people around you have been doing the work longer than you’ve been alive.They cover what to do (and more importantly, what NOT to do) in your first stretch, how to listen without getting played, why “past practice” can be a trap, and the surprisingly powerful leadership habit Matt tells every new manager: clean the bathroom.In this episode:Why leaders should listen first before changing anythingHow to avoid walking into a job and “moving pieces” you don’t understandThe difference between proving yourself and performing for approvalWhy the best trust-builder is often: “I don’t know, can you teach me?”“Past practice” vs best practice (and why that distinction matters)The leadership lesson that sticks: clean the bathroom (AKA: do the job nobody wants)"Leading ain’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone."This episode does contain some explicit languageLeading Ain't Easy was created by Ryan Calkins and Erny Epley, and is hosted by Ryan and John Moore.Ryan is the founder of Reframe & Rise, where he works with veterans who transitioned successfully but still feel something's off; helping them find alignment, not just a better job title.John is a certified life and career coach with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate transitions, find purpose, and lead with intention — drawing on backgrounds in corporate leadership, counseling, and entrepreneurship.Erny runs Bus Pro Network, supporting school transportation leaders across California with training and development, and joins the show as an occasional guest.Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for clips, prompts, and behind-the-scenes updates. If this episode resonated, please leave a review as it helps more leaders find us.