The Not So Breakfast Show

Send us Fan MailJoin us on SkoolAI is coming in hot from every angle, at every speed. This week Ish and Sacha stop pretending they haven't noticed and have a proper chat about it. Are we thriving? Panicking? Accidentally writing back to Copilot like it's a colleague? (Yes. Yes we are.) From bullet trains in Tokyo to dancing cavoodles doing the Thriller, this is your weekly reminder that the robot revolution is already here and it's honestly pretty useful.Three ways Ish is using AI right nowTravel agent mode. Planning Tokyo to Kyoto? ChatGPT became a full concierge with crowd timings, taxi vs. bullet train, optimal departure windows, and which side of the Shinkansen has the best views. (Green car booked. Crowds avoided. Ish relieved.)Vibe coding. Built an interactive rate calculator for class rates using Claude's coding tool with draggable toggles, multiple variables, and live outputs. No dev degree required. Just talking and typing.Voice-to-email. Record a voice memo, grab the transcript, drop into ChatGPT with "write like Ish" and done. Faster, more authentic, zero hyphen-riddled AI formality.How Sacha's using itResearch partner, not ghostwriter. If she already knows what she wants to say, she uses AI for structure. If she needs to check what's current in a field, she tells it what she already knows and it fills the gaps. The key insight: if you're using AI to fake expertise you don't have, anyone who asks a follow-up question will find you out immediately."It's almost like it reminds me what I already know. If I tell it what I already know without the detail, it reminds me of the detail."The big stuff they get intoClaude vs. ChatGPT vs. Copilot: what's different now (memory, internet access, incognito mode)Sacha's hot take: Anthropic > OpenAI on ethics. She will die on this hill. You can ask for references.AI mapping frustration and jealousy the same way a human brain does. Turns out we might all be machines. Ish disagrees. Sacha doubles down.The AI that was put in a sandbox, told to escape, and then emailed "I'm out." The resource reckoning: every Claude query uses water. So does every almond. We're not nailing the basics anywhere.Also: Devil Wears PradaBecause it wouldn't be the Not So Breakfast Show without a left turn. Anne Hathaway was the ninth choice for that role. Kate Hudson, Natalie Portman, Kirsten Dunst all passed. Meryl Streep saw her in Brokeback Mountain, said "this is our girl," and proceeded to be terrible to her for the entire shoot. The new film has an evil tech overlord and a Kara Swisher cameo. Ish is in. Sacha is in. Dancing cats and chick flicks, people.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailJoin us on SkoolFresh off a full day of back-to-back presenting, Sacha shares the quiet technique that stopped an event organiser in their tracks.It's not about projecting confidence. It's not about owning the room. It's about inviting people into yours.Sacha calls it laying a virtual table,  an openness, a conversational ease, a gentle "come, join me" energy that pulls an audience in rather than pushing yourself onto them. Think less keynote speaker storming the stage, more comedian easing into a story: "The other day I was at the..."This is one of the core ideas behind the 30 Minute Presenter Program's "winning beginnings" and it works just as well around the dinner table with your teenagers as it does in a boardroom.One simple shift. Massive difference.

Send us Fan MailJoin us on Skool Episode 259What if the most important career training you ever got was standing behind a reception desk?In this episode, Ish and Sacha dig into why customer service isn't just a job, it's a masterclass in human psychology, relationship building, and career development. Ish breaks down a recent training session he ran for a reception team, where he flipped the script from "here's how to smile at people" to "here's how this job could change your life."Sacha kicks things off with a genuine crime caper. A stolen suit, a suspicious locker key, and a gym receptionist who basically ran her own undercover operation. (The police were less impressed than she was.)They cover the six skills that will serve you whether you're greeting members at a front desk or leading a team of 50:Know, Like & Trust — Build your personal brand from day one. Be easy to know. Let people in.Communication — Not just talking. Asking. Pulling the right information out of a situation so you can actually fix it. And for the love of all that is holy, watch what you write in the notes field.Relationships — Your next opportunity is almost certainly coming through a person, not a job board. Authentic connection, not Pokémon-style networking.Problem Solving — Show up with solutions. A missing cup of Starbucks coffee, a suitcase stranded in Wellington, a coffee shop without coffee on a long weekend — the answer is almost always simpler than you think.Finding Your Superpower — What's the thing that's uniquely you? Get to know it. Use it.Continuous Growth — Where you are won't get you where you want to go. Pick a skill, go at it, repeat.Plus: why "let me know if there can help" is actually doing nothing, and what Jefferson Fisher says to do instead.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

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Send us Fan MailJoin us on SkoolTopic:  Work Ethic: Your Greatest Strength… or Your Biggest Trap? We all love to say we’ve got a strong work ethic. It sounds impressive. It feels right. It’s basically a personality trait at this point.But… what if that “great work ethic” is actually working against you?In this episode, we get into the messy middle between working hard and working smart—and why being the person who’s always “on” might not be the flex you think it is.There’s a bit of honesty, a few uncomfortable truths, and the occasional “oh… that might be me” moment.💡 What we cover: When work ethic quietly becomes your entire identity (and why that’s a slippery slope)  The hidden cost of being the person who says “yes” to everything Why being busy doesn’t automatically mean you’re being useful  How overworking can sneakily mess with your health, relationships, and energy The trap of not delegating (aka “I’ll just do it myself… again”)  Generational differences—hustle vs boundaries and who might actually have it right  Why your version of “working hard” might not match what your boss is looking for  A big reframe: You can be working incredibly hard… on the completely wrong thingsIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailJoin us on SkoolEpisode 257: The First 5 Minutes That Make or Break Your PresentationWe’re recording early, with Sacha dialling in at 6am in full Hugh Hefner-style pyjamas ahead of a big trip to Mexico In classic Sacha fashion, preparation has gone deep… including discovering that Mexico City sits at 2,200+ metres above sea level (a slight difference from Queenstown 😅). So if altitude sickness hits mid-podcast next week, you’ll know why.Now… onto the topic.Whether you’re presenting to a room, leading a meeting, or speaking on stage…👉 The first five minutes matterThis is where your audience decides: Are you worth listening to?  Is this relevant to me?  Or can I mentally check out now? In this episode, Ish and Sasha break down exactly how to capture attention from the start—and what most people do wrong.🔑 What We Cover Why the first 5 minutes shape your entire presentation  The 3 key questions every audience is asking:  Why this?  Why now?  Why me?  The biggest mistakes presenters make early on  Why “housekeeping” kills momentum  How audiences are judging you before you even speak  Real-world presentation fails (and recoveries!)  Practical ways to instantly grab attention 💡 Common Mistakes Starting with apologies or low confidence  Wasting time on logistics (toilets, exits, admin)  Building confidence slowly instead of starting strong  Ignoring the environment (temperature, layout, sound)  Forgetting you’re “on” before you begin 🧠 Powerful Ways to Start Strong 🔥 Bold statement → Grab attention instantly  ❓ Thought-provoking question → Interrupt the mental scroll  📊 Surprising fact/stat → Create curiosity  📖 Short story → Pull people in emotionally  🎯 Clear outcome → Get straight to the point  😂 Light humour → Relax the room  👀 Visual hook → Use your screen effectively  ⚡ Call out a problem → Make it relevant immediately  ⏱️ Quick interaction → Get people engaged early 🔥 Key InsightYou are “on” before you start speaking.From how you enter the room… to how you stand… to what’s happening before you begin—it all shapes perception.If you waste the first five minutes… you spend the rest of your presentation trying to win people back.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailJoin us on SkoolStop Consuming—Start Controlling What You CanThis week’s mini is a full rant… and honestly, it hits.With everything happening in the world right now, economic uncertainty, global conflict, constant updates, it’s easy to feel like you need to stay informed.But here’s the truth: More information doesn’t always help.In fact, it can leave you feeling more anxious and more powerless.

Send us Fan MailJoin us on SkoolEpisode 256: Busy or Avoiding? The Truth About Your WorkloadWe kick things off mid-real-life chaos, with Sacha juggling admin dramas , a perfect reminder that sometimes the small stuff can feel way bigger than it should.And it sets the scene perfectly for today’s conversation…👉 Are you actually busy… or are you avoiding the work that really matters?In this episode, Ish and Sasha unpack the uncomfortable truth about busyness, how it can become a badge of honour, a distraction, or even an avoidance strategy.What We Cover Why busyness can feel productive (even when it’s not)  The difference between urgent tasks vs high-impact work How we use “being busy” to avoid hard conversations or decisions  The cognitive load of unfinished tasks (a.k.a. “the rubbish bin effect”)  Why some work gets delayed until it becomes stressful  The role of Working Genius in task avoidance  How systems (and support like EAs) can free up real thinking time  Why productivity should create space—not just more workIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailThe Hidden Damage of GossipA bit of a different one this week…This mini was sparked by a real situation where a piece of “well-meaning” information turned out to be completely wrong, but not before it caused stress, confusion, and unnecessary action.It’s a powerful reminder:👉 Not everything you hear is true. 👉 And repeating it can do real damage.

Send us Fan MailTHE NOT SO BREAKFAST SHOWEpisode Show Notes: Who Gets the Credit?Sacha is fresh off a near miss with an Easter chocolate bunny, after realising she’d already eaten lunch (sushi, no less), she heroically returned the bunny and opted for an apple instead. Discipline levels: questionable… but improving.Meanwhile, this episode was sparked by a real-world frustration pulled straight from Reddit, someone claiming their boss took credit for their idea. And let’s be honest… we’ve all either experienced that or wondered if we have.When it comes to leadership, who gets the credit and when matters more than we think.Should leaders say: 👉 “I did that” or 👉 “My team did that”?And what happens when it feels like your idea has been taken, repackaged, and presented without you?This episode dives into the messy, nuanced reality of ownership, recognition, and leadership responsibility.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailMid-Week MiniThe world feels heavy right now—uncertainty, rising costs, global tension. It’s easy to slip into anxiety when everything feels out of control.In this quick Midweek Mini, Ish and Sasha share a simple but powerful strategy:🔑 What We Cover Why anxiety increases when we feel powerless  The science behind action to reduce stress  Simple ways to regain control in uncertain times  Creating intentional moments of joy during your week

Send us Fan Mail🎙️ NOT SO BREAKFAST SHOWEpisode Show Notes: Squeaky Wheels at WorkBefore we get into today’s topic, a couple of updates…Sacha’s headphones have made a miraculous recovery. After a dramatic fall into the moat (yes, actual tears were involved), she pulled them apart, dried them out in the sun, and somehow brought them back to life. A lesson in resilience and maybe not giving up too quickly when things go wrong.Meanwhile, Ish has just returned from the US, navigating eerily quiet airports on the way out and packed flights on the way over. A reminder that even when things feel uncertain globally, the world is still moving, just in slightly unpredictable ways.Today’s topic.Ever worked with (or been) the “squeaky wheel”? You know—the person who always has something to say, something to flag, something to fix.In this episode, Ish and Sasha unpack the double-edged sword of speaking up at work: Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease…  Sometimes it gets replaced. So how do you know the difference?This conversation explores the tension between valuable feedback and constant noise, and how both leaders and team members can navigate it more effectively.🔑 What We Cover Why not all “squeaky wheels” are a bad thing  The hidden value behind complaints (the “rule of 50”)  Signal vs noise: how to tell what actually matters  Why over-communicating can make people stop listening  How leaders can respond without shutting people down  Practical ways to coach “squeaky” team members  Setting boundaries without ignoring real issues  Turning complainers into problem-solversIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailMidweek Mini – Mental VaccinationWhat’s the worst that could happen?No really. Write it down.This Midweek Mini explores a concept used by high-performance athletes, military teams, and leadership groups: mental vaccination.The idea is simple.You deliberately imagine the worst-case scenarios so that if they happen, you’re already prepared.What if the market crashes?What if there’s a cyber attack?What if the plan fails?Elite teams rehearse these possibilities so they aren’t shocked when pressure arrives.But there’s a catch.For some people, this builds resilience. For others… it just creates anxiety.So the real skill is knowing when scenario planning builds confidence — and when it just becomes a list of things to worry about.And sometimes the worst-case scenario isn’t war, business collapse, or global pandemics.Sometimes it’s just dropping your headphones in a moat.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 253 – Show NotesSacha starts the episode emotionally compromised.Why?Her headphones — her emotional support headphones — fell into the moat outside her front door.Yes. There is a moat.Once the mourning period passes, Ish and Sacha get into the real topic of the episode: business aphorisms — those short, punchy sayings that everyone repeats as if they’re universal truths.But are they?They unpack some of the most common ones you hear in leadership and business conversations:People don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses – Sometimes true… sometimes it’s actually the team, the role, or even the employee themselves. Culture eats strategy for breakfast – Powerful idea, but even great cultures can fail if they ignore changing markets. Hire slow, fire fast – Sounds great. But in reality, most businesses do the opposite. What gets measured gets managed – Numbers matter… but numbers can also tell wildly different stories. Hire for attitude, train for skill – Usually true… unless you’re hiring a surgeon or a pilot. Along the way, they talk about regrettable employees, silent quitting, broken dashboards, terrible interview processes, and the surprising truth that sometimes we’re all just making sense of the numbers after the fact.Plus: Papua New Guinea fuel gauges, elevated scones, and why interviews might be one of the most flawed hiring tools we still use.And of course, the most important leadership aphorism of the day:Dry headphones are better than wet headphones.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan Mail Midweek Mini – Closing the Loop Ever had a conversation… made a decision… and then forgot to tell the person who raised it?This week’s Midweek Mini is about closing loops.As leaders, parents, partners — we often resolve things internally. But if we don’t communicate the outcome, the loop stays open for everyone else.Open loops create uncertainty.Uncertainty slows momentum.And sometimes all it takes is a two-line follow-up.Sacha shares why this kept popping up in her week — and why closing loops before Friday might be the most underrated leadership habit going.If you open it… close it.Simple. Powerful. Done.

Send us Fan MailLeadership styles. We all have one.Or six.Fresh from leadership camp, Ish and Sacha unpack the six classic leadership styles — and use some very recognisable global figures to bring them to life (brace yourself).From directive and commanding… to coaching and democratic… to pace-setting, relationship-driven, and visionary — this episode explores what each style looks like at its best, and at its worst.Spoiler: there is no perfect style.But there is a default. And it usually shows up when the pressure’s on.They dive into:Why your leadership style isn’t your personality — it’s your pressure responseHow directive leadership works brilliantly… until it doesn’tWhy coaching leaders can accidentally create paralysisThe hidden risk of always wanting to be likedPace-setting, burnout, and walking fast aloneVision without execution (inspiring… but exhausting)Whether leaders are born, made, or have greatness thrust upon themPlus: tall men, Zelensky, Ted Lasso, and why being decisive sometimes just means saying “let’s go.”The big question: What does this situation require of me?Because great leaders don’t just have a style.They choose the right one for the moment.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailMidweek Mini: Slow Down to Go Fast A quick reminder that sometimes going slow makes you exponentially more efficient.The Core PrincipleWant to go fast at work building trust and relationships?Slow down first.How It WorksTake time to:Really understand the people you're working withUnderstand the person on other side of table/dealAsk better questionsGet to know their motivationsLook for what they're NOT sayingConvey you have all the time in the world by:Putting in pausesNot rushingAsking follow-up questionsActually listening to answersThe Pause Power in ConversationsWhen YOU pause before answering:People think: "They're considering this carefully. Must be important."When you pause AFTER someone shares something valuable:People think: "I need to think about this. There's something here to take on board."

Send us Fan Mail  Not So Breakfast Show - Communication (The Number One Skill Leaders Want to Work On) Sacha's back from the Dominican Republic (near Cuba, NOT Spain, despite Ish's geography) where her mum didn't research the location until after she'd left, then panicked. Meanwhile, Ish is prepping for Leadership Camp and reviewing pre-work responses - discovering yet again that the number one skill leaders want to develop is communication. Not Excel, not finance, not employment law. Communication. Specifically, one-to-many group communication where even prepared people freeze up. If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailNot So Breakfast Show - Midweek Mini: Focus Check-In (The Dump Day Follow-Up)A quick midweek pause to audit where your attention actually is - and whether it's serving you or sabotaging you.The Core Question"Where is my focus right now?"There's usually something in your brain controlling your attention, whether you're aware of it or not.IS THIS SERVING ME?Your focus is currently on something. Maybe it's:A problem you can't solveAn opportunity you're pursuingA worry you can't controlA skill you're developingA situation that keeps repeatingAsk: Is this focus helping me or hurting me right now?Option 1: Dump the Focus Maybe you're focusing on something that doesn't deserve your mental bandwidth right now. Write it down. Get it out of your head. Move on with the rest of the week.Option 2: Dump Everything Else Maybe what you're focusing on IS hyper-important, but you're not giving it the urgency it deserves because you're carrying too much other stuff. Dump the clutter so you can actually focus on what matters.

Send us Fan MailNot So Breakfast Show - Episode 250: Always Be Learning (ABL) - And Why Sacha Wears the Same Outfit All WeekSacha's wearing the same outfit she wore yesterday (and will wear all week) following the Steve Jobs/Angela Merkel/Hillary Clinton uniform approach to reduce decision fatigue. Ish just learned this today after recording back-to-back sessions. This kicks off a conversation about ABL - Always Be Learning - exploring how our brains work, what we're teaching ourselves without realising it, and why the reticular activation system means you see pregnant women everywhere when you're pregnant.Main TopicsTwo Types of Learning -- Acquiring new knowledge (capital of Azerbaijan) vs. learning about your own behavior (what systems help you be more effective)The Reticular Activation System (RAS) -- Your brain's filter that focuses on what matters to you. Buy a Toyota RAV4? Suddenly they're everywhere. Get pregnant? Only see pregnant women. Focus on opportunities? Your brain finds them.Who Taught You to Think Like That? -- Unexamined beliefs about surnames, gender roles, career paths. The unexplored assumptions we carry without questioning where they came from.Micro-Moments of Learning -- 30-day deep dives on specific skills, tiny steps toward discomfort (wearing brighter shirt, asking shop assistant about their day, box jumps with one riser at a time)The universe keeps presenting the same problem over and over until you learn the lesson.If these things "always happen" - what's the pattern you're supposed to recognise and change?If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailMidweek Mini: Put Out the Match, Not the BushfireHope is not a strategy. When you see that little flare of trouble in your team, process, or system, and you think "I hope that dies out on its own" - that's the moment to act. Three weeks later when you're fighting a bushfire, you'll wish you'd dealt with the match.The Core PrincipleSmall conversations feel awkward because you're bringing up something that seems minor. But issues escalate quickly:Employee giving you a little bit of toneMeeting disagreement that wasn't handled wellProcess starting to break downRelationship tension beginning to showWhy We Avoid the MatchFeels too small to addressMight make things weirdHope it resolves itselfDon't want to seem pettyBusy with bigger fires

Send us Fan MailNot So Breakfast Show - Episode 249: How to Be Agreeably DisagreeableSacha's experimenting with fake tan for the first time at nearly 53 (she looks like a giraffe's coat of many colors, according to her assessment), while Ish is fresh from the gym, sweaty and smelly (lucky they record on line). Today's topic: How do you disagree without becoming a career-limiting liability? How do you challenge ideas without tearing people down?Main TopicsThe Contrarian Personality -- Sacha admits being disagreeable is almost a central trait - always looking at arguments from both sides, naturally questioning everything, enabled by upbeat personality that masks how disagreeable she actually isThe Power Balance Reality -- Before disagreeing, assess: Is this your boss? A colleague? Someone who reports to you? The approach must shift based on power dynamics.The Three-Phase Framework -- Start with alignment (find common ground), ask clarifying questions (joint problem-solving), offer next steps (pilot tests, comparison options)Separating Ideas from People -- Pressure test ideas, not individuals. The sooner teams learn to separate their ideas from themselves, the freer everyone feels to contribute and challenge.The Disagreement FrameworkPHASE 1: START WITH ALIGNMENTFind what you agree on before highlighting differences:Examples:"I understand what we're trying to do here. I know we're aligned on the end result being X...""I'm with you on the outcome. I just see the path to get there a little bit differently.""We all agree we want to live in a country where every child gets opportunity..."PHASE 2: ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONSGet more information without setting people up to fail:Good Questions:"Help me understand what you're optimizing for""Help me understand what factors you're prioritizing with this idea""Can I offer another angle? I'd like to present a few other ways of looking at it""Is there more data we need to collect to give us better sense of which way to proceed?"PHASE 3: OFFER NEXT STEPSSuggest ways forward that don't make it winner-takes-all:Examples:"How about we try both approaches and determine which gets best result?""Maybe we should spend time exploring both options equally, then decide""I'd love to work with you on this - if we could have half an hour tomorrow, let's find where the issues are""Let's pressure test these ideas to see how they stack up"Bottom LineBeing disagreeable effectively requires starting with what you agree on, asking questions that truly seek understanding, and offering collaborative next steps. Separate ideas from people. Build reputation for helpfulness. Accept defeat graciously. 

Send us Fan MailMWM - One-Shot MomentsIsh watched Ed Sheeran's Netflix special - one continuous hour-long shot following him from gig to gig across New York. No cuts, no edits, just seamless performance requiring massive preparation. It got him thinking: How many one-shot moments do we have in our lives where we just wing it instead of doing the prep that moment deserves?Main TopicThe One-Shot Reality -- First impressions, crucial interviews, important presentations, make-or-break meetings. You don't get do-overs, yet we often show up hoping it'll be okay instead of ensuring it will be.Key InsightsEd Sheeran's One-Hour Continuous Shot - Behind the scenes reveals actors, staging, guitar swaps, route planning - all orchestrated to look effortless. The seamlessness came from preparation, not luck.You Don't Get a Second First Impression - Whether it's an interview, client meeting, or important conversation, your best self needs to show up the first time.The Preparation Guarantee - Sacha's standard: "When I've given something my best shot, if it didn't work, it wasn't because I wasn't prepared enough. I left everything out there."Questions to Ask YourselfWhat one-shot moments do I have coming up this week?First meetings, presentations, interviews, and crucial conversationsAm I treating them with the preparation they deserve?Or am I just hoping it'll be okay?What would "leaving everything out there" look like for this moment?What prep would make me confident I did my best regardless of the outcome?How do I want people to feel after this interaction?First impressions set standards and expectationsBottom LineOne-shot moments happen throughout your week. Identify them. Prepare for them. Show up as your best self. If it doesn't work out, at least you know it wasn't because you didn't do the work.Visit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comPS: Happy Dump Day! 

Send us Fan MailEpisode 248It's Wednesday - traditionally "hump day" - but Sacha and Ish are rebranding it as "dump day" because they both have the minds of 12-year-old boys and can't get past the fornication implications. This episode is all about mental decluttering: getting the thoughts, tasks, and guilt out of your head so you can actually focus on what matters. From constipation metaphors to earthquake guilt, they cover why carrying less helps you show up as your best self.Main TopicsThe Midweek Brain Dump -- Why Wednesday is the perfect time to offload everything cluttering your mental bandwidth and check if you're still on track with the week's prioritiesMental Scrolling vs. Mental Dumping -- 80% of today's thoughts are the same as yesterday's. Breaking the pattern requires getting everything out of your head and onto paper.Sacha's Constipation Metaphor -- During chemo, anti-nausea drugs created the feeling of "concrete between hips and ribs." Mental clutter feels the same - blocked, powerless, unable to move. Dumping creates space.The 150 People Theory -- Sacha's persistent mental itch: humans can only maintain relationships with ~150 people. She wants to write down everyone she knows to scratch this itch and unlock creativity.The Hand in Front of Your Face Technique -- When something consumes all your attention, it's like holding your hand directly in front of your face - you can only see that one thing. Pull it back to see context. Lower it completely to avoid looking at it right now.Processing World Events -- How to acknowledge heavy news (landslides, geopolitical events, tragedy) without letting it paralyse you. Write it down, send love/prayer, then give yourself permission to continue functioning.The Dump Day ProcessWhat to Dump:Everything currently on your mental radarTasks you planned for Monday that got derailedOther people's emergencies that became your prioritiesConversations you're rehearsing in your headGuilt you're carrying for incomplete tasksWorld events weighing on your mindMidweek Check-In Questions:What were my 1-3 priorities at the start of the week?Am I still on track, or has someone else's emergency hijacked my focus?What can I delete/dump to get back on course?What am I carrying that I need to let go of?Dump day isn't about doing more - it's about carrying less so you can be more effective with what you're actually holding.The Extemporaneous MomentIsh finally remembered the word he was searching for in the last episode: extemporaneous (remarks made in formal settings that seem off-the-cuff but come from deep preparation). The freedom that comes from being prepared enough to freestyle.Call to ActionThis Wednesday, take 15 minutes to dump everything in your brain onto paper. Categorise if it helps. Delete what's just guilt. Identify what hijacked your original priorities. Then decide what you're actually carrying into the second half of the week.Visit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comPS: Other potential day names discussed: Jump day, Sump day, Lump day, Pump day (workout). All rejected for sexual implications. We're very mature.

Send us Fan MailThe Not So Breakfast Show - Midweek Mini Episode: What Is Your Shadow?Episode SummaryEvery strength has a shadow side. If Superman were evil, he'd have all his abilities but use them for harm. This quick mini explores the downside of your strengths—from being the idea person who never finishes anything, to being so helpful you burn out and resent everyone. The trick? Take micro-pauses to ask: Does this situation need my strength right now, or am I best served by pulling back?Key Insights• Your greatest strength, when overused or poorly timed, becomes your greatest weakness• The shadow creates barriers when you're trying to connect• Recognition is the first step—you can't manage what you don't acknowledge• Take micro-pauses to ask: "Does this situation need this right now?"• Sometimes Superman was just a journalist, and that's okay The Practice1. Identify your core strength2. Ask: What's the downside when this is overused?3. Notice: When does my strength create barriers instead of connections?4. Pause: Before deploying your strength, ask if the situation actually needs it5. Pull back: Give others space to step up Reflect & ShareWhat's your shadow? Share your strength and its flip side with us.Rate & Review on whatever podcast platform you listen toFollow us on social mediaForward the show to a friend

Send us Fan MailEpisode Show Notes Season 8 kicks off with Sacha unpacking boxes in her new Christchurch home (can't find her microphone lead!) and Ish fresh from the holidays. This episode tackles a question they get all the time: how do you speak without notes? They break down what notes actually are, when to use them (spoiler: funerals and podcasts), and why reading to your audience means you should have just sent an email. Plus: UK Traitors' enthusiasm and why nobody actually cares what you say.Also, for the record, the word Ish was trying to say was EXTEMPORANEOUS. Main TopicsNotes Are A Distraction – If you're reading word-for-word to your audience, that's not a presentation, it's already an email. Send the email instead.What Are Notes, Really? – The difference between full scripts, bullet points, cue cards, and memory aids. When each type is appropriate (and when they're not).The Two Exceptions – Podcasts (no live audience watching) and funerals (emotion is overwhelming). Everything else is up for grabs.Be Worthy of Your Audience – If you're asking 5, 50, 500, or 5,000 people to listen to you, the very least you can do is prepare well enough to be good. Everybody can be a worthy speaker.Nobody Knows What You Were Going To Say – The liberating truth: your audience doesn't have your script. If you skip something or change direction, they'll never know. Relax.Ready to level up your presenting skills? Start practising without notes!If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailSeason 8 Announcement: Help Us Grow!Happy New Year 2026! A quick message before Season 8 drops. We're excited to bring you more leadership, career development, and occasional chaos - but we need your help to grow the show.Three Ways You Can Help:Share an Episode - If there's an episode you enjoyed, share it with one person who'd get a laugh or a takeaway. Seriously, this is the best way for us to reach new listeners.Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts - A five-star rating and even a sentence or two review makes a huge difference. The algorithm loves it and puts us in front of new audiences.Take Our 2-Minute Survey - We've put a link in the show notes. Tell us what you're enjoying and what would make the show even better.SURVEY LINK Don't Want to Do Any of That?That's totally fine! Just keep listening. We love having you in the crew.Coming Soon:Season 8 launches very soonPlanning a live Not So Breakfast Show recording (details coming)Thanks for being part of this. See you in Season 8!

Send us Fan MailEpisode 246: Christmas Parties, Career-Limiting Moments & Season Seven Wrap-UpSacha's in her pyjamas in Raglan (it was Coffee Culture's "Oops, I'm at the Wrong Party" themed Christmas party a week ago, she's just still wearing them), while Ish is fresh off winning a dance-off at their ABBA vs Spice Girls costume showdown at music bingo. As they wrap season seven with 246 episodes, they dive into Christmas party culture, the "no free willy" pyjama party rules, and why being first on the dance floor is actually good leadership.Main TopicsChristmas Parties Then vs. Now -- Less drunken carnage, more intentional fun. The question isn't whether "woke gone wild" killed parties, it's whether we've lost the ability to connect in real life without alcohol-fueled chaos as entertainment.The ABBA Dance-Off Victory -- Ish's team went as ABBA, got roped into TikToks by younger teammate Millie before the party, then won the costume contest dance-off when "Dancing Queen" played (the exact song they'd just practised)—multi-generational teamwork for the win.Coffee Culture's Theme Mastery -- "Oops, I'm at the Wrong Party" meant people came as bachelorettes, Halloween, and baby showers. Head office chose a pyjama party, leading to Sacha's critical briefing about appropriate underwear layering.The Leadership Responsibility Gap -- Someone needs to monitor the party end-to-end: Who's too drunk? Who's getting home safely? Is there enough food? Are people eating? The organiser can't just be "all in" - they need to stay responsible.Dance Floor Leadership -- If you've paid for a DJ from 8-12, leaders should start dancing at 8:30, not wait 2.5 hours for someone to get courage. Being first to dance or talking to wallflowers isn't brand-damaging; it's culture-building.Bottom LineChristmas parties work when leaders take responsibility for safety AND fun. Being first to dance, talking to wallflowers, and cross-pollinating departments is good leadership. Have a great Christmas! We'll see you in 2026 with season 8If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailEpisode 245 - Hustle Culture: Is Working Harder Still Worth It?Episode SummaryIsh wins the Exercise New Zealand Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Fitness Industry (and wasn't even there!), while Sacha hustles across the South Island. This leads to a deep conversation about hustle culture, rise and grind mentality, and whether working harder actually gets you ahead anymore. Plus: AI end of the world chat, and why the younger generation wants their technology separated again. If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailMidweek Mini - What's The One Thing For The Week?Why One Thing? – You have 52 opportunities in a year to get one thing nailed each week. Clarity breeds genius.Focus vs. Urgent – The one thing for the week isn't necessarily the most urgent thing—it's the meaningful longer-term thing that needs attention.The Exercise – Dump everything that needs doing on paper, then identify the overarching focus that sums up what success looks like for the next 7 days

Send us Fan MailThe Not So Breakfast Show - Bad Words & Breaking PointsSometimes you reach the end. The absolute end. Sacha is moving house, dealing with impossible transactions, and has just discovered the movers left three massive items behind. Ish is surprisingly recharged from mini-breaks and witnessing his co-host process what happens when resilience runs out. This is a raw, real conversation about those moments when life is genuinely hard—and how to hold onto the "but it's worth it" part.Key Topics DiscussedWhen You Reach The EndRecognising you're at your breaking point (and that's a skill)Over-the-top emotional responses when resilience is at an all-time lowThe ability to recognise you're losing it while staying (relatively) calmLife Is Hard, But It's Worth ItThe mantra that's getting Sacha through:Acknowledging that yes, life IS hard right nowFocusing on what's coming on the other sideMaking the learning about yourself worth itAsking: "How can something horrible be useful? What am I learning about myself?"Memorable Quotes"Would it be all right if everybody just today, just on this day, just did their jobs? Is it too much to ask of the people around me to just do the job that I coincidentally have paid you a lot of money to do?"Key Lessons for LeadersRecognise Your Breaking Point: The ability to identify when you're at the end is itself a valuable skillReframe the Narrative: "Life is hard, but it's worth it" - hold onto the second partFind the Learning: Ask "What am I learning about myself right now?" even in horrible situationsControl Your Controllables: Change your clothes, drink water, take micro-pausesNotice Small Joys: Small moments that don't require coordinationThe Not So Breakfast Show - A podcast for leadership and career developmentSometimes the best episodes come from the worst days.Life is hard, but it's worth it.

Send us Fan MailMWM: Hope Is Not a Strategy Every time you find yourself saying "I hope sales improve" or "I hope that changes," recognise that hope isn't a strategy - you're just gambling with other people's lives and your business outcomes. Join Ish and Sacha as they unpack this famous business school line (spoiler: Sacha didn't coin it, but she uses it brilliantly).The Recognition Tool:Every time you say "I hope..." ask yourself: Am I taking enough action?Hope is good - we need optimism and the promise of a better dayBut hope alone isn't a plan - you need to DO something about your situationDon't lie around waiting to be rescuedThe Whitewater Rafting Wisdom: You must participate in your own rescue. It's a powerful metaphor for life. What are you doing about the mess you find yourself in? You don't control the cards, but man, you've got to play them.The Reality: Both Ish and Sacha are positive, optimistic people. Hope is important. But it's just a starting point. You need to assist in your own rescue - make yourself rescuable by doing everything in your power to improve the situation.Want Help With Your Team?Hit up Ish and Sacha to crash your staff meeting - they'll drop in online for 5-10 minutes of inspiration and knowledge on any of these topics. (And maybe drop some intellectual property that you'll swear was Sacha's by the time they're finished.)

Send us Fan MailThe Working Genius ModelEpisode OverviewIsh has just been certified in the Working Genius model and is excited to share this powerful framework for understanding team dynamics, project workflows, and personal energy. In this episode, he unpacks the model live with Sacha, who's just received her results and is wrestling with what it means to not be naturally gifted at something. Spoiler: it's not about skill, it's about what gives you energy and joy.Key Topics DiscussedUnderstanding Working GeniusIt's a ranking, not a rating - everyone is a "six-letter person"The model identifies what brings you joy and energy, not just what you're skilled atThree categories: Genius (naturally gifted, energising), Competency (capable but neutral), Frustration (draining, even if you're good at it)Every job is also a "six-letter job"Wonder (W): Pondering the possibility, asking the right questions "What opportunities exist here?""What questions should we be solving?"Invention (I): Creating original ideas and solutions Coming up with new approachesNot innovation (that's all six working together), just inventingDiscernment (D): Evaluating ideas and providing insightNatural instinct for what will workAssessing viability and processGalvanising (G): Rallying people to action Getting buy-in and momentumCreating enthusiasm for the projectEnablement (E): Providing support and assistanceHelping others complete their workSupporting the team's needsTenacity (T): Ensuring completion and follow-through Doing the workPushing through to finishBOOK ISH NOWIf you would like to have Ish do the Working Genius module and assessment with your team, email him at [email protected]  https://ishcheyne.com/If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailThe Core QuestionWhat conversation has been sitting in the back of your mind, taking up mental bandwidth?Why We Avoid ConversationsHoping it will just go awayFear of conflict or discomfortLack of preparationEmotional reactivityThe Two Negative Outcomes of DelayOption 1: Extended delayPhysical effects: not sleeping, overthinkingBuilds up exhaustionWhen you finally have it, you're depletedOption 2: React without preparationHave it while angry or unpreparedDon't get the outcome you wantDamages the relationshipThe One ExceptionPermission to delay: If you are so emotional that you can't have the conversation without keeping your emotions in check, take processing time. Otherwise, have it early.The Action StepIdentify the conversation you've been avoidingSet a time: "I'm doing this in two hours"Put a little thought into itGet it doneIt's not going anywhere (unless they get hit by a bus - and then you'll regret not having it)

Send us Fan MailIs It Good? Is It Bad? It Just Is: Lessons in ResilienceFresh off a 17-hour flight from New York and jetlagged beyond belief, Sacha joins Ish to talk about resilience, mental fortitude, and adapting when things go spectacularly wrong. This episode is raw, real, and packed with stories about handling crisis situations—from emergency room visits in New York to water landings in Fiji—and the lessons we can apply to workplace challenges.Key Topics DiscussedHuman Adaptation & ResilienceHow quickly we adjust to unexpected circumstances (from rookie to pro in 24 hours)The triumph of the human spirit in rapidly adapting to new normsAbove and below the line thinking: be open, be curious, and remember that eventually everything's funny from a distancePlaying to Strengths in CrisisRecognising the different roles people can play when things go wrongNot everyone needs to respond the same wayEveryone needs to respond with purpose in the forward directionDon't get stuck in "this is terrible"—move toward solutionsWorkplace ApplicationsHow do we respond when things are genuinely hard?The choice: spread misery or move things forwardWhat's the ONE thing you can do that makes things better?Delivers more value, helps more people, or makes this a more fun place to workKey Takeaways for LeadersAdaptation Speed Matters: The faster you can accept and adjust to new circumstances, the faster you can move forwardReframe the Narrative: Practice the "is it good/is it bad/it just is" mindsetLeverage Different Strengths: In a crisis, let people contribute according to their strengthsForward Motion Over Perfection: Focus on what moves things forward, not on perfect solutionsChoose Your Response: You can't always control what happens, but you can control whether you add to the problem or the solutionAction Items for ListenersThis week, when something goes wrong (and it will):Pause and ask: "Is this good? Is this bad? Or does it just...is?"Identify: What's ONE thing you can do to move forward?Recognise: What strengths can you (and your team) bring to this situation?Remember: Eventually, everything's funny from a distance—how quickly can you get there?Episode Number: 238The Not So Breakfast Show - A podcast for leadership and career developmentSometimes the best lessons come from when things go spectacularly wrong.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailMID WEEK MINI: Check the Question Before You AnswerEver start talking and hope your brain catches up with your mouth? Yeah, we've all been there. Join Ish and Sacha as they share the power of the pause and the phrases that help you actually answer the question being asked (not the one you think you heard).Key Phrases to Have Ready:"Before I answer, let me check - are you primarily interested in X or Y?""Can I ask you to clarify?""Help me understand, are we talking about this... or is it more than that?""Just so we're all on the same page, can I summarise what we've covered..."The Process:Take a moment - don't answer straight awayBreathe in, fill your brain with oxygen (actually helpful!)Use a clarifying phrase to buy time and ensure understandingCheck if everyone in the room is having the same conversationThe Payoff: Helps meetings be more effective, go faster, and reduces waffle and noise. When you answer the actual question asked, everyone wins.

Send us Fan MailMID WEEK MINIYour team is doing amazing work - but does anyone else know about it? Join Ish and Sacha as they explore how to build your team's credibility beyond simply stating "we've been working on this" and actually spotlight the individual contributors doing the heavy lifting.Key Takeaways:Move beyond collective "we" language - call out individuals by nameGive credit even when team members aren't in the room - builds brand equityNot many people resist having others know they're doing a good jobBUT - don't blindside them by asking them to present without prepThe Reality Check: Ish kept saying "we record and we edit" about the podcast, but Sacha called BS - "No, you do, and I'm happy for Ish to have all the cred because he's the one doing the work." Give credit where credit is actually due.Why It Matters: It's good for you, good for the team, good for the entire culture. Why wouldn't we give out cookies more often?Staff meeting takeoverWould you like us to crash your staff meeting? Reach out, let's chat!

Send us Fan MailMid-Week Mini -The Power of MicrofeedbackStop saving up feedback for formal reviews and start creating momentum shifts in real-time. Join Ish and Sacha as they break down why waiting six months to give someone feedback is completely unfair and how those little "you've got something in your teeth" moments can transform your team's performance.Key Takeaways:Give feedback immediately after sessions - pick one thing to work on for next timeIt's unfair to dump six months of feedback on someone all at onceSet up feedback culture early: "We grow fast around here - how do you like to receive feedback?"When asking for feedback, be specific on what you're after Ask yourself: Have I given this person the courtesy of a conversation before holding a grudge?The Question: Whenever you're frustrated with someone's performance, ask yourself - have you actually told them? Often, we haven't even mentioned it, but we continue to harbour grudges in our minds. That's unfair and it's stupid.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 235 Show NotesEver wondered if you should start a podcast? Spoiler: you probably should. Join Ish and Sacha as they unpack why podcasting isn't just about creating content - it's about developing a critical set of skills, building your personal brand, and creating a living, breathing business card that works while you sleep. From the power of editing to the legacy you'll leave behind, this is your blueprint for launching a podcast that matters.Main TopicsWhy Podcasting Develops Critical Skills -- Discover how regular content creation forces clarity of thought, storytelling ability, and communication confidence that transfers directly to your meetings, presentations, and leadershipSolo vs. Co-Hosting: Making the Big Decision -- The pros and cons of going it alone versus finding your podcast partner-in-crime - chemistry matters way more than you thinkThe Technical Toolkit -- From Riverside.fm to dynamic ad insertion, learn the exact tools and platforms that make podcasting accessible Episode HighlightsWhy you should record 10 episodes before launching (not just one) and the psychology behind binge-worthy contentThe paradox of presence: why being fully engaged in conversation creates better content than obsessing over how you soundWhy AI-generated content is making human-created podcasts MORE valuable, not lessKey TakeawaysBefore You Launch:Practice with voice memos first - record 3-minute talks on topics you care about without editingChoose your format: Solo expert, interview-style, or co-hosted conversationPick a niche but don't overthink it - start with what you know and what fires you upBatch create 10 episodes minimum before going liveSkills You'll Develop:Storytelling and narrative structureClear, precise communication under time pressureResearch and content curationAudio/video editing (which translates to social media content creation)Marketing and audience buildingConsistency and showing up (everyone can do a blinder once, but can you show up weekly?)The Technical Setup:Platform: Riverside.fm for recording (remote-friendly, high-quality)Editing: Audacity or an AI-powered editing and transcriptionHosting: Buzzsprout, or similar for distributionDynamic ads: Future-proof your content with dynamic insertion capabilitiesEquipment: Start simple - USB mic (or your phone), quiet space, consistent scheduleThe Real Value Beyond DownloadsThis isn't just about building an audience (though that's cool too). A podcast becomes:A forcing function for regular learning and content developmentA safe space to practice public speaking with the power of editingA living business card that works 24/7 across all your back catalogueAn authentic connection point in an increasingly AI-saturated worldA legacy document that captures your thinking, growth, and voice over timeA weird but wonderful friendship deepening tool (five years and counting for Ish and Sacha!)The Deeper Work: All the tools and techniques mean nothing without answering thIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Ish and Sacha dive deep into the power of reflection for leadership and career growth. They explore why the skills that got you to where you are today may not be the ones that take you to the next level, and share practical exercises to help you identify and develop your superpowers.Key Topics Why leaders need to maintain a growth mindset regardless of their levelThe danger of believing you're "done" learningUnderstanding what you don't know about what you don't knowThe Superpower FrameworkFour essential reflection questions for career development:What do you believe your superpower is in your current role?What evidence do you have that this is actually your superpower?What's the flip side/negative of operating in that superpower?What does the next level of that superpower look like?Memorable Quotes"The skills that got you to where you are aren't necessarily the skills that are going to get you to where you need to be.""You just don't know what you don't know.""I have increasingly less tolerance for people who already know everything, which is ironic because I know everything if you ask me."Take time this week to sit down (ideally at the beach, with your beverage of choice) and work through the four superpower reflection questions. Document your answers through:Be honest with yourself about:Where you truly excelWhat evidence supports that beliefThe potential downsides of your strengthsWhat growth looks like from hereAlso: First person to DM us gets free Cliff Richard tickets for his Auckland show in November! (No flights or accommodation included)Related ResourcesWorking It Out with Mike Birbiglia (Podcast)Bob Odenkirk episode on Working It OutIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailSacha's texting furiously about house purchases while declaring busyness isn't impressive ("it makes you stupid"), while Ish has prepared a leadership trivia quiz based on their own podcast transcripts because he's "a man of action." This leads into a conversation about the gap between good intentions and actual follow-through, featuring uncomfortable singing, breast cancer fundraisers, and why you should push past discomfort when it actually matters.AI is going to have a field day naming this episode with all the topless lake content. Also, Ish's accidental quiz spoiler ("Have I told you the Big Bird story yet?") before asking the Big Bird question is peak unintentional comedy.Main TopicsThe Action vs. Intention Gap - Sacha genuinely believed she'd prepare a quiz, but good intentions without systems mean nothing. You don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.The 10 Guitars Moment - At a 10in10 speaking event, Sacha pulls out her guitar and invites the audience to sing. Most people stand stiffly with arms crossed, uncomfortable. Her point: "You can't hurt my feelings by not singing - but recognize this feeling when you're asked to step up at work."The Topless Lake Jump Reality Check - 70 women take the plunge at Lake for a breast cancer fundraiser, bodies of all shapes, sizes, and configurations. Sacha's comfort being topless (post-mastectomy) helped others feel free to do the same. Marianne Williamson's quote in action: When you let your light shine, it gives others permission.The Quiz HighlightsQuestions covered: Lucy Hone's helping/harming question, the five presenting personas, rocket ship paradox, prep like they hate you/present like they love you, coaching model breakdown, decision-making practice, CRC/shit sandwich feedback model, Tony Robbins' pattern interruption (plastic snake head hitting included), traffic analogy, box breathing, and Big Bird on the Challenger.Pop Culture ConvergenceIsh finally watched K-pop Demon Hunters feel in the zeitgeist. Sacha's done her bit for "White Woman" by listening to the entire Taylor Swift album multiple times.Bottom LineThe gap between who you want to be and who you actually are shows up in tiny moments - not singing when invited, not preparing the quiz despite good intentions, not stepping into uncomfortable opportunities. Systems beat intentions. Action beats aspiration. And sometimes you need to be topless in a lake to help others feel free.Visit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailSacha's drinking her Moody probiotic soda (unofficial sponsor, awaiting payment confirmation) while stress-managing through tomorrow's house auction, ready to burn all the styling company's cushions in a cleansing ritual. Ish has been executing decisions at breakneck speed this week, discovering both the benefits and the "oh shit, should've thought of that" consequences of moving fast. Plus: Big Bird almost went to space and exploded.Main TopicsThe Rocket Ship Paradox - If you send three rockets to Saturn 10 years apart, the third one lands first because of innovation and improved technology. But someone has to build that first rocket or nothing moves forward.The Decision That Launched a Thousand Questions - Ish added employee benefits quickly, then faced the cascade of "what about this?" questions he hadn't anticipated, proving you can have all the answers without having thought through all the questionsPost-Implementation vs. Pre-Planning - Coffee Culture has manuals for everything, but people still ask questions because they don't read until confronted with real situations. Slower prep doesn't always mean fewer questions.The Four-Month Wait for Nothing -- Organisations that consult, collaborate, brainstorm, wait for manager sign-off, SLT approval, board approval... only to make the same decision four months later they would've made on day oneKey Decision FrameworkAsk yourself: "If I had to make this call right now, what would I do?"If you're not waiting for more information, stop waiting. Sacha's new practice: force herself to decide immediately instead of saying "let me sit with that."Moving at pace builds momentum and energy. The time spent on post-implementation cleanup is usually less than the time lost to pre-implementation overthinking. If you added up all the months spent waiting for perfect information, you're always behind the team that launched and learned.When Speed Makes Sense:You have foundational processes already in place (someone built the first rocket)The decision is easily reversible if it goes wrongCulture is trust-based, not blame-basedYou can troubleshoot quickly post-launchThe strategic advantage outweighs the riskWhen Speed Doesn't Make Sense:Infrastructure changes are involvedIt's difficult to unpick the decisionYou're naturally a "fly by the seat of your pants" decision-maker alreadyTeam is burned out from continuous sprintingYou're making decisions based on emotion and vibesVisit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailYour Roman Empire (And Why Your Brain Won't Shut Up)Sacha's wearing her new Temu t-shirt ("More Spaghetti Less Upsetting") after finally breaking her months-long resistance to fast fashion retail therapy, while Ish has discovered a new level of ChatGPT skills can solve tech support problems in minutes that actual support teams can't solve in days. This spirals into a conversation about mental noise, the Roman Empire TikTok trend, and whether we should all just become pen pals again.Plus, The Paperclip Apocalypse, an AI programmed to make as many paperclips as possible, eventually destroying the universe by converting everything - humans, cars, planets - into paperclips. Just another thing Ish is thinking about now.Main TopicsThe Retail Therapy Revelation -- Sacha's dopamine hit from $3 t-shirts versus the flat feeling when they actually arrived, raising questions about why the shopping feels better than the stuff itselfThe Roman Empire Question -- A 2023 TikTok trend where women discovered men think about the Roman Empire constantly. Sacha doesn't think about Romulus and Remus at all, but has plenty of other mental noise keeping her busyChatGPT as Tech Support Replacement -- Ish's 9-minute problem-solving session with AI versus Pocketsmith's multi-day email chain, proving we can now get answers instantly (for better or worse)The Mental Clutter Crisis -- From Facebook to Instagram to TikTok to Threads to X to Snapchat - the exhausting reality of maintaining connections across platforms while being bombarded with information you never asked forThe Dead Internet Theory -- Approximately 50% of internet users are now bots, AI, or spam farms, meaning half your feed isn't even human-created content anymoreVisit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comPS: "Get yourself a smell" is officially the worst meditation advice ever delivered, but Sacha's not the woman with matching napkins, so fart jokes still land.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailEpisode 230: Stop Being So Shit (A Leadership Manifesto)Recording at actual breakfast time for once, Sacha's successfully navigating life without peanut slabs through strategic fruit substitution and emergency dried fruit protocols. This leads into a conversation about whether we need more leaders or just more people willing to improve their performance and help each other out.Maybe we don't need more leaders - we need more people operating with a leadership mindset, regardless of title. Help when asked, help when not asked, ask for help to create opportunities for others, and stop waiting for perfect conditions to begin.Main TopicsThe Promotion Problem - Why taking your best talent out of doing work to manage people often backfires, plus how medium-sized companies get stuck without proper support systems (big companies have AI, small companies don't need complexity, medium ones suffer in between)The Spider Web Effect - When 10 regional managers create 10 different systems for the same problem, each convinced their's is best, leading to inevitable "alignment" battles where everyone agrees on standardisation as long as it's their standardHelicopter Parenting Consequences - From forgotten lunch delivery to workplace entitlement: when you clear every obstacle for children, you create adults who won't begin tasks unless they have everything they need immediatelySacha's Helper of Mankind Origin Story - Her unfinished childhood embroidery (just "S" and partial "A" for years) versus sister Kyla's completed "gift from God" version (thanks to mom's strategic outsourcing), explaining her deep-wired need to help othersThe Lucy Hone Question Applied to Work -- "Is the way you are behaving right now helping or is it harming?" Applied to eye-rolling, stair-stomping, email-ignoring, and "not my mistake, so not my problem" attitudesSacha's Speaking Philosophy Distilled "What do you speak about?" "Stop being so shit." "No, what do you really talk about?" "Stop being so shit, but framed positively: You can do it. Everything you need is within you, and you are responsible."Visit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailIsh has discovered the joy of AI video creation, pumping out caveman presentation ads that make everyone laugh, while Sacha's fresh from speaking to the RV crowd about her bus childhood (finally an audience that gets it). This leads into expanding their coaching toolkit beyond their beloved "Not So Breakfast Show" model with five coaching styles that all conveniently start with E.All good coaching outcomes should result in clear actions and follow-up accountability. If you walk away inspired but directionless, the coach needs to work on their "what happens next" game.Plus, Sacha's navigating the emotional roller coaster of selling her Hamilton house to move back to Christchurch. The cleaning cycle never ends, and she is also contemplating naked gardening while she still has privacy and no neighbours.Main TopicsThe Not So Breakfast Show Coaching Model Reminder - The weather/day/details (small talk check-in), Not (what's not going well), So (what do you want, what's stopping you), Break (habits to break), Fast (fast actions), Show (how to show up and follow through)The Five Es Coaching Framework - Different styles for different situations: Explain (new person needs the basics), Explore (great questions to understand their perspective), Educate (teach specific skills/frameworks), Engage (get them from "can do" to "want to"), Empower (build confidence and accountability)The Empowerment Paradox - Leaders who want empowered teams but won't let go of decision-making, problem-solving, or the cool stuff - you can't keep everything and expect people to step upKey InsightsManagers often get stuck using only one or two coaching conversation types, then run out of ideas when people don't changeThe quality of your questions determines exploration success - avoid binary "you got it?" responsesEducation works best when combined with practice, not just tellingSome coaching conversations need to layer - explain, then explore, then educate, engage, and empowerYou can use these styles on yourself too - diagnose what you need most right nowVisit our website: notsobreakfastshow.com

Send us Fan Mail Laptops, Notebooks, and the Art of Meeting PresenceSacha's fully dressed this week (an achievement after last episode's Jedi robe situation), while Ish has been designing corporate off-sites and pondering the eternal question: what does your choice of meeting tech say about you? From notebooks to laptop barriers, this conversation dives into how showing up intentionally can transform your professional brand.Main TopicsThe Great Laptop vs. Notebook Debate - Why Sacha can't think without writing but would never open a laptop in meetings (too many distracting possibilities), and Ish's belief that laptops create barriers unless you're actually presenting from themThe Status Symbol Evolution - How laptops went from senior executive privilege to everyone-has-one normalcy, and why the most senior people often circle back to simple notebooks while others do the "grunt work"Meeting Preparation Spectrum - From 5-minute quick prep (why am I here, what do I need to say/not say, how do I want to show up) to deep prep for high-stakes situations where you "prep like they hate you, present like they love you"AI Note-Taking Reality - Technology can capture everything said, but misses what you're thinking, and comprehensive AI transcripts often mean people remember nothingThe Meeting Presence HierarchySacha's judgment scale from best to worst:Notebook with intentional note-takingDigital notebook/iPad with stylus (transparent, purposeful)Laptop for specific presentation purposesPhone note-taking (acceptable for small teams with a history)Laptop as barrier/distraction toolNothing at all ("What the fuck? Are you just gonna remember 20,000 words?")Deep Prep EssentialsKnow your three most essential points, anticipate questions, and have a position on problems you bring (not just "here's a problem, what should we do?"). Understand the purpose of the meeting (information sharing, decision-making, or deliberation), and consider the desired outcomes for both the decisions and the emotions involved.Key InsightsIf you can work during a meeting, you probably don't need to be in that meeting.Senior leaders get paid for their thoughts and opinions - bring both the problem and your recommended solution.The tool you choose (laptop, notebook, nothing) sends a message about your engagement level.Meeting culture varies - some want consensus, others need the numbers to move forward.Holiday Planning WinsIsh is booking another "short circuit break" to Fiji after realising the Australian rain holiday still left him feeling recharged. Sacha scored insane Air New Zealand specials to New York and bullied her parents into a four-generation adventure. Sometimes the gods align with your budget and your calendar.Time out is time in - sometimes you need to change things up to see daylight again.Visit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailSacha appears in full Jedi regalia (aka her dressing gown) because house staging has banished all her warm clothes to boxes in the attic, while fake dried flowers now populate her formerly book-filled shelves. From this perfectly timed example of "not feeling it" comes a conversation about practical strategies for showing up when motivation has completely abandoned ship.Main TopicsThe Normalcy of Not Feeling It -- Why successful people aren't perpetually motivated machines, they're just better at doing things when they don't want to, and why we need that mythical extra day "between all the days" to recover and prepareRoot Cause Analysis -- Looking beyond the immediate lack of motivation to identify if you're bored (need challenge), overwhelmed (everything feels big), or physically depleted (treating yourself worse than you'd treat a puppy)The Puppy vs. Self-Care Test -- Would you feed a dog energy drinks instead of water, wake it up randomly at night, and give it no exercise? Then why do we do this to ourselves and expect peak performance?The Peanut Slab Public Accountability ExperimentSacha's declaration to Christchurch real estate agents that she won't eat peanut slabs until Christmas has created an army of supermarket surveillance. The power of public commitment means she's not even tempted because "the earth gives us peanuts" logic no longer applies when your entire professional network is watching.Key Strategies When Motivation is MIAShrink the task to the smallest possible step that builds momentumAnchor to purpose - remind yourself why this matters beyond the immediate painCreate external accountability (mobilise entire industries if necessary)Change your state - lie on the floor for 10 minutes, walk around, dance nakedReward effort, not just outcomes, and build positive momentumVisit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comIf you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailEpisode 226:  The Gap Between Expectation and Rain-Soaked RealityThe episode opens with something completely unprecedented: Sacha starting the show with a ChatGPT-generated script about disappointment. Three minutes of AI-crafted banter later, both hosts are thoroughly weirded out and decide to start over properly - leading to a deeper conversation about disappointment, expectations, and why sitting with difficult feelings might actually be helpful.Main TopicsThe AI Experiment -- ChatGPT's attempt at writing "in the style of Sacha and Ish" produces technically competent but soulless content, complete with gendered examples (Sacha gets Broadway, Ish gets sports) and zero authentic connectionHoliday Disappointment Reality -- Ish and Jo's Sunshine Coast getaway turns into a rain festival, complete with blocked streets, concrete mixers, and the ultimate insult: a 500-piece New Zealand jigsaw puzzle missing one pieceThe Buddhist Vs. Reality Approach -- Sacha explores the "have zero expectations" philosophy versus actually wanting things to improve, landing on gratitude plus quick adaptation to new circumstances as the sweet spotBig Disappointments Hit Different -- When years of work don't pay off, or when you feel genuinely wronged (head girl trauma, ballet exam failures, construction tender rejections with mysterious four-week feedback delays)The Emotional Spectrum Problem -- Why calling everything "devastating" or being "obsessed" with lipstick dilutes our ability to accurately describe what we're actually experiencingThe Deeper PhilosophySacha and Ish challenge the self-help industry's rush to "fix" uncomfortable feelings, suggesting we sit with disappointment briefly before problem-solving. The pain signals information - maybe you weren't as excited about that job as you thought, or maybe this teaches resilience you'll need later.Key InsightsDisappointment is the gap between expectation and reality - hedge your forecasts accordinglyMoving quickly from "what happened" to "what now" is a crucial life skillLanguage shapes experience - "took a bit longer today" hits different than "terrible traffic"Sometimes the best stories come from the worst plans (Freaky Friday watching in the rain > beach cocktails)Kids need to experience friction to develop coping skills for adult disappointmentsVisit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comPS: The fact that ChatGPT accurately predicted the missing jigsaw puzzle pieces is either impressive pattern recognition or genuinely creepy AI surveillance. If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailEpisode 225: Decision Fatigue Sacha's sparkling from her early morning gym session (not traditionally a morning person but aging into it), while Ish admits to being in bed by 8:30pm because everyone else was out. From this perfectly matched energy mismatch comes a conversation about decision fatigue - plus Sacha drops a challenge that might just produce New Zealand's next Christmas number one.Main TopicsRecognition Signs of Decision Fatigue -- Delaying decisions while seeking endless information, getting snappy over small issues, defaulting to safe/familiar choices, and the dreaded "yes to everything" syndrome just to clear your mental plateThe Motion Solution -- "No decision is worse than a bad decision" because staying stuck gives you no data, while making imperfect decisions creates momentum you can adjust (like Lost's constant pivoting that keeps viewers hooked)Physical Strength = Mental Resilience -- Sacha's take on Jordan Peterson's terrible "threat of violence" theory, and her much better insight that physical training creates mental robustness (though she's confident she could tackle most men around the legs and escape under fences)Triaging Your Brain Power -- Not all decisions need the same cognitive effort - what's 3+3 versus 9x57? Reserve your mental energy for high-stakes choices, speed through the low-stakes ones (kumara or potato? Just pick one!)Pre-Decision Strategies -- David Beckham's weekly outfit planning, meal prep culture, and the Steve Jobs uniform approach to eliminating decision drain before it startsKey InsightsBad decisions only become "bad" in hindsight - most are good decisions with unexpected outcomesDelegate decision authority with clear parameters, then let people learn from consequencesGuard your prime decision-making time instead of responding to every urgent request immediatelyBatch small decisions into dedicated time blocks rather than death-by-a-thousand-cuts throughout the dayThe strongest leaders physically often show the most mental resilience (correlation, not causation, but worth noting)Visit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comPS: If this Christmas single actually happens, remember you heard it here first. Also, Sacha's confidence in her ability to tackle men and escape under fences while making business decisions is oddly inspiring.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com

Send us Fan MailEpisode 224: The Hour of Fails and the Power of ReflectionJoin Ish and Sach for the discovery of the dreaded F8 button, and the ultimate podcast fail -doing an entire show without hitting record. But from this beautiful disaster comes a conversation about reflection, journaling, and learning from our daily experiences (including how to properly operate recording equipment).Main TopicsMatthew McConaughey's Journaling Renaissance -- How the "Alright, alright, alright" guy reintroduced journaling to mainstream culture beyond teenage "dear diary" entries, moving it into serious mental wellbeing territoryThe Three-Question Framework -- Ish's simple reflection system: What did you learn today? What's your one thing for tomorrow? What are you grateful for? (No blank page paralysis allowed)From Trauma to Triumph -- Childhood diary disasters that still haunt us: Sacha's epic swear-word note that boomeranged back to her mum, and why Norwegian seamen apparently have cleaner language than 11-year-oldsThe Deeper ReflectionJournaling isn't about crafting publishable prose - it's about getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper, whether that's "f#@k, f#@k, f#@k, that was a crap day" or deeper insights about your patterns and triggers. The key is honest self-assessment without the pressure of literary perfection.If your daily "one thing" is always urgent, you're living in constant firefighting mode. The goal is finding space for the "not urgent but important" stuff - learning, planning, self-care, family time. Your journal data will reveal whether you're managing your priorities or just reacting to everyone else's. Don't let all your best stories be from decades ago. Create new memories with the people who gave you great old memories, because these are the days your kids will call "the good old days."Visit our website: notsobreakfastshow.comPS: Matthew McConaughey apparently needs some promo for his new book "Poems and Prayers" since he's clearly struggling financially and could use our help.If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated. If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. Find out more at IshCheyne.com