Ever feel stuck in your career but can’t quite figure out why? Or feel like networking makes you fake? Or wonder what to do when you lose your motivation?

In this episode of Career Support, I tackle the real, raw questions people are afraid to ask. These aren’t hypothetical questions; they’re pulled directly from the internet and answered through the lens of 15+ years of career experience and leadership growth. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re on the right path, this episode will help you find clarity and momentum.

Timestamps

00:16 – Welcome to Career Support: Why I started this series and how tough questions drive growth

00:35 – Changing Careers in Your 30s: When money’s not enough; Meaning, fear, timing, and how I made the leap

03:00 – How to Network Without Feeling Fake: 7 steps that changed how I build relationships (as an introvert who hates networking)

7:22 – What to Do When You Lose Motivation: How to rediscover your drive when the spark is gone, plus a personal story that changed everything

11:37 – Challenge For Listeners: Your next bold move starts with one honest question

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Resources

• Simon Sinek Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0HIF3SfI4
• The Brag Sheet (free Career Achievement Tracker): https://sts-coaching.com/resources/

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Managers focus on what they can get. Leaders focus on what they can give.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the clear and sometimes subtle differences between managers and true leaders. You’ll hear real stories, examples from my own career, and a challenge to help you grow into the kind of leader people want to follow.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your boss is helping you grow or just using you to get ahead, this episode will help you see the difference. And if you’re a leader yourself, this is your blueprint to lead with purpose, trust, and impact.

Timestamps

• 00:47 - How They Use Power: Managers rely on fear to get compliance. Leaders use influence to earn trust and move people forward.
• 07:51 - How They Make Decisions: Managers operate in silos and think black-and-white. Leaders seek input and navigate the grey.
• 13:54 - How They Treat People: Managers drain your energy and protect their ego. Leaders build confidence and make people feel seen.
• 18:20 - How They Communicate: Managers avoid hard conversations and only reach out when they need something. Leaders communicate often, clearly, and with care.
• 24:13 - Where Their Loyalty Lies: Managers choose the company over their team. Leaders stand by their people even when it’s inconvenient.
• 28:06 - Challenge for Listeners: If you are working for a manager its time to make a change. If you are boss its times to be the leader you wish you had.

Free Career Fulfillment Quiz

• 60 seconds to learn if your career is fueling or draining you? Take it here

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

I’ve used AI for over 1,000 hours to grow my career, build a brand, and scale this podcast. In this episode, I’m sharing five rules to help you use AI the right way. Whether you're writing a resume, preparing for a big meeting, or trying to get promoted faster, AI can help, but only if you know how to use it well. This is your no-hype playbook for making AI a real advantage in your career.

Not sure if your job is still the right fit? Take my free 3-minute Career Fulfillment Quiz to find out if your current role is fueling you or draining you. You’ll get a custom score, insights, and a plan to move forward.
Try It Here

Timestamps

• 00:56 - Storytime: I built something cool with Artificial Intelligence.
• 04:18 - Rule 1: Mastery Creates Separation: Why using AI everyday is the fastest way to get ahead.
• 05:43 - Rule 2: AI Isn’t Your Crutch: How to avoid letting AI weaken your instincts or critical thinking.
• 07:05 - Rule 3: Blind Trust is Bad: AI makes mistakes. Learn to question the results and double-check everything.
• 08:21 - Rule 4: Bad Inputs = Bad Outputs: I walk through the four things every great prompt should include.
• 10:11 - Rule 5: Stay in Your Strength Zone: Use AI to eliminate the boring stuff and stay focused on what makes you great.
• 12:27 - Career and Leadership Use Cases: Real-world examples of using AI to write resumes, negotiate salary, prep for meetings, and coach better.
• 18:32 - Challenge for Listeners: Pick one task this week and run it through AI. Compare before and after. Was it more efficient? Did it help?

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Managing remote employees is not the same as managing in-person. Treat them the same and you will fail them and yourself.

In this episode I share my first experience managing a fully remote teammate, what it really feels like to work remotely, the biggest mistakes leaders make, and the exact strategies I used to build a high-performing and connected team across states.

Whether you lead a hybrid team or fully remote, this will give you the confidence and tools to do it right.

Timestamps

• 0:55 - Story: Hiring and leading my first remote teammate
• 4:10 - What it feels like to be a remote employee
• 6:52 - Biggest mistakes managers make with remote teams
• 11:15 - Strategies for managing remote teams effectively
• 24:56 - Challenge for listeners

Free Career Tool

• Want to stand out in interviews, raise conversations, or performance reviews. Download my free Brag Sheet — the simplest way to track your wins and showcase your value when it matters most. Grab it here.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In this episode, Im talking about competition. What if you could build a wildly successful career without competing like everyone else? Listen in to learn how to approach competition to avoid burnout and separate yourself from the pack.

Timestamp

1:00 — Story Time: How I competed against my friend for a promotion.

4:46 — Mindset Shifts: Why competition can be a trap, and four shifts you can make to redefine what it means to succeed at work.

12:00 — Strategies: From preparation to playing the right games, these career tactics help you win without burnout.

20:22 — Challenge for Listeners: Identify one area you are competing needlessly.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In Part 1 of The Confidence Blueprint, we talked about how to build confidence: what it looks like, why it matters, and what actually works.

But what happens when your confidence takes a hit? When failure, rejection, or self-doubt throws you off?

Part 2 is about how to rebuild your confidence when it's been shaken. I’ll walk you through the exact strategies that helped me bounce back, plus how to shift your mindset when things get tough.

Timestamp

:36 — Storytime: A personal story of failing two audits, self-doubt creeping in, and the turning point that helped rebuild belief.

5:16 — What It Feels Like To Lose Confidence: Isolation, shame, overthinking, and that “sliding down the hill” feeling — this is what it really feels like to lose your edge, and why it’s more common than we think.

10:10 — Reframing Failure: Failure isn’t the end — it’s feedback. Learn how to reframe losses so they sharpen your skills and fuel your next step.

15:22 — Strategies To Rebuild Your Confidence: 4 practical tools to build yourself back up: highlight reels, small wins, positive self-talk, and more.

22:20 — Signs You Are On The Right Path: Not sure if your confidence is improving? Here are clear signals you’re headed in the right direction.

24:14 — Challenge for Listeners: List 3 to 5 things you’re proud of from this year. Big or small. Then reflect on what they say about you.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Confidence is the foundation of career success—but most people don’t know how to actually build it. In this episode, I break down the strategies I’ve used to build and maintain confidence throughout my career. From getting promoted 11 times to launching this podcast, I’ve relied on confidence to take risks and make bold moves. I also share a story I’ve never told publicly, give you a confidence audit to test where you stand, and close with the exact steps you can take to become more confident—starting today.

Timestamp

:56 — Storytime: How I overcame self-doubt and launched my podcast and business.

5:33 — What Confidence Is and Isn't: Clear signs of real confidence vs. false bravado.

7:57 — Why Confidence Matters: The role confidence plays in promotions, life choices, and career momentum.

9:38 — Nature vs. Nurture: Do you have to be born confident—or can you build it?

11:21 — The Confidence Audit: 7 questions to help you identify your current confidence baseline.

14:55 — What Confidence Sounds and Looks Like: How confident people speak, act, and show up in the real world.

20:26 — Strategies to Build Confidence: Tactical habits and mindset shifts that actually work.

31:47 — Challenge for Listeners: What is one bold risk you should take this week?

Confidence Blueprint Series:

• Part 2 - How to Rebuild It drops July 30th

Resources

• Book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

I used to delegate just to make my life easier. I wasn’t thinking about the team. I was thinking about me and my needs. It turns out I was wasting a golden opportunity to develop my team.

Delegation is one of the most underrated skills in leadership. Done right, it builds trust, grows your team, and frees you up to lead at a higher level. In this episode, I’ll share mistakes to avoid, a framework to know what to delegate, and real strategies to help you get better at it.

Timestamp

1:19 — Storytime: A real example of how delegating a major task helped a team member grow and eventually land a promotion.

4:02 — What is Delegation: Why delegation isn’t just about saving time and how it actually grows your leadership.

4:59 — Why Delegation Matters: The four big reasons delegation is critical for leadership success and team development.

7:30 — Delegation Mistakes: From dumping only boring tasks to forgetting to follow up, avoid these traps if you want to delegate well.

13:50 — How To Delegate Without Losing Trust: Four simple but powerful strategies to delegate without losing trust or dropping the ball.

19:27 — Should I Delegate This?: Ask yourself these questions to instantly know if you should delegate a task.

21:38 — Challenge for Listeners: Delegate one task this week that helps someone grow. Free up your time and give your team a chance to stretch.

Two Part Confidence Series Dropping on July 16th & 30th

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com