Now That’s What I Call Leadership: The Series
As I hit the three-month mark of being unemployed, I’ve been thinking a lot about how draining the job search process can be. Anyone who’s been through it knows the deal. You can spend hours each day filling out applications, updating resumes, and writing cover letters, and it still leaves you feeling wiped out. It’s exhausting. It’s frustrating. And honestly, it can feel pretty lonely.
To take the edge off, I usually throw something on in the background while I apply. Recently, my partner and I started watching Undercover Boss on CBS. A few episodes turned into two full seasons, and somewhere along the way, I realized I say the same three things almost every single time:
Wow, I miss working so much.
Wow, I don’t miss working enough to go do that job.
Wow, now that is a leader.
That last one is what really sparked something for me.
I’ve always loved leading people. It’s my favorite part of any job I’ve had. I love coaching. I love giving feedback that actually helps someone grow. I love watching people thrive and hit their stride. I’m not going to pretend to be humble about it either. I know I’m good at it. But what I’ve learned watching this show is that no matter how strong you are as a leader, there is always more to learn. There's always more room to grow.
That’s where Now That’s What I Call Leadership came from.
I’ve started posting my thoughts about the episodes on LinkedIn. I talk about the leaders who inspire me and why, whether it's the CEO trying their best or the employee who’s been quietly holding the place together for years. I break down what I think they’re doing right, what could be better, and I rate them using a Leadership Scorecard I created just for fun.
Sometimes I even do a little digging to see if their actions on the show matched how they’ve led since. And as I get more confident posting, I’ll probably start talking about the folks who didn’t leave such a great impression. I might even throw in a few stories from my own work life, the kind that stuck with me — both the uplifting ones and the ones that taught me what not to do.
If leadership, people management, or just thoughtful takes on workplace culture are your thing, I’d love for you to follow along. All of these posts live on LinkedIn right now. Feel free to connect with me or follow my updates there. I’d love to hear your thoughts, whether you agree with me, disagree completely, know someone from an episode, or just want to share your own story.
And if this series isn’t for you, that’s totally fine too. I’m doing it because I love it. Because I miss leading. Because this is the part of work that lights me up.
Come hang out with me on LinkedIn. Let’s talk about what leadership really looks like.