299: Micro Motivator: How to Make Your Resume Impossible to Ignore
b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck
Release Date: 11/18/2025
b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck
Your team is burnt toast. And honestly, you might be too. So how do you get people to care more without adding another morale initiative, meeting, spreadsheet, or 58-page PowerPoint nobody actually wants? In this Micro Motivator, Erin Hatzikostas shares three simple ways leaders can build more trust, energy, and engagement by being more authentic. No giant culture initiative required. Just a few tangible changes in how you show up, what you take off your team's plate, and how you communicate. In this episode, you'll hear: Why a little humility can build trust faster than polished leadership...
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What does “killing it” actually look like behind the scenes? Because sometimes it’s a huge stage and an incredible opportunity. And sometimes it’s a soggy airport sandwich, a missed flight, or admitting that something just isn’t working. In this episode, Erin sits down with speaker, author, and emotional intelligence expert Rich Bracken for a chat about the side of success we don’t always talk about (or get to hear). They dig into why we’re so quick to measure accomplishments but ignore how we actually feel, the power of being honest about failure, and why vulnerability matters...
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Nicole shares an update that she’s becoming “boss lady” again, which means rediscovering every leadership trigger she thought she’d already dealt with. You’ll also hear Erin and Nicole talk about interim leadership, over-functioning, trying to prove yourself, doing two jobs for approximately “stripper money,” and the uncomfortable realization that growth doesn’t mean your old habits disappear. It means you catch them faster. They also get into Ella, Erin’s daughter, leaving for college, and why Erin refuses to adopt the whole “my baby is leaving me” Sucky Soundtrack just...
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Think you’re bad at storytelling at work? You might just be doing it backwards. In this Micro Motivator, Erin shares the simple storytelling mistake that makes job interviews, presentations, and workplace communication way harder than they need to be. In this episode, you’ll hear: How to find the right story without forcing it Why your best stories can do more heavy lifting than you think How to make storytelling at work feel natural, not painfully rehearsed Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding...
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What if the reason people aren’t buying, engaging, staying, or following your lead isn’t because they need another motivational poster about “teamwork”? It might be because you have no idea what actually matters to them. In this episode, Erin sits down with David Allison, founder of the Valuegraphics Research Company and author of The Values Map, to talk about why demographics, generic corporate values, and a bunch of buzzwords slapped on an office wall don’t tell us nearly as much as we think they do. David shares how understanding what matters most to people can make you a better...
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Erin tried to become a “better” speaker. She got the coach. Did the reps. Rehearsed the lines. Followed the advice. And then realized she may have accidentally polished the magic right out of herself. In this solo episode, Erin shares what happened when a huge speaking opportunity pushed her into full preparation mode, why over-rehearsing made her feel less connected on stage, and the old coaching advice that came back swinging: Trust your creative process. This one is for anyone who has ever tried to improve themselves and accidentally started sanding down the exact thing that made them...
info_outlineb Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck
Modern work is getting weird. In this episode, Erin and Nicole talk about career envy, AI “bot sitting,” Gen Z’s job search chaos, parents overstepping in the hiring process, airport drama, bathroom hideouts, and the deeply human ways people are trying to stand out, stay sane, and survive work right now. They also unpack one of Erin’s favorite new questions for killing comparison: “Would I actually want their life?” Because chasing someone else’s version of success only works if you’re willing to take the whole life that comes with it. In this episode you’ll hear: Why career...
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Trust at work isn’t built through big promises or polished corporate statements. It’s built in the tiny moments. <p> In this episode, Erin sits down with bestselling author, speaker, professor, and filmmaker Minda Harts to talk about her framework for the 7 Trust Languages and why trust is really a communication issue hiding in plain sight. <p> In this episode, you’ll hear: <p> -Why leaders need to stop pretending employees don’t see what’s happening <p> -How the 7 Trust Languages can help leaders build stronger relationships <p> -How to rebuild...
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After years of advising CEOs and senior leaders, she's learned that the higher you climb, the more the same human stuff shows up: insecurity, miscommunication, fear of failure, and avoiding the conversations nobody wants to have. <p> In this episode, Erin sits down with the self-proclaimed "C-Suite Whisperer" , Paru Radia, to talk about tough conversations, turning adversity into an advantage, and why standing still might be the riskiest thing you can do. Along the way, Paru shares lessons from her own journey and her no-BS coaching style. <p> Some of the things you'll hear are:...
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This episode is part journalism, part therapy, part “girl WHAT?!” <p> Today’s guest, Melanie Marshall, is a former BBC foreign journalist turned filmmaker, speaker, and coach who has reported from some of the most intense places on earth. And somehow… despite seeing humanity at its messiest, she still believes people are mostly good. <p> Some of the things you’ll hear: <p> -The wildly unexpected way radicalized followers of Osama Bin Laden welcomed her into an interview shortly after his death <p> -What actually creates human connection when people...
info_outlineMost resumes read like brag sheets no one asked for. Big words, boring buzzwords and mile-long bullet points that hiring managers will never read. In this episode, Erin breaks down what actually gets attention.
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If you’re tired of blending in and ready to get noticed by real people scanning hundreds of resumes, this episode shows you the exact shift to make.
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If you’re tired of blending in and ready to get noticed by real people scanning hundreds of resumes, this episode shows you the exact shift to make.
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Here’s what you’ll hear:
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1.) Why your resume should act like a marketing flyer, not a brag sheet<p>
2.) The one section that matters most if you want to stand out
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3.) How to write a summary that hooks people fast
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4.) What a real superpower sounds like and how to explain it
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5.) How to use keywords without turning your resume into fluff
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<p>If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at <a href="https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie">https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie </a> <p>
<p>To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] <p>
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<p><b>If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!</b><br></p>
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<ul>
<li><p> <a href="https://twitter.com/bcausepodcast">Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) </a> <p></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/erin-hatzikostas/">Follow Erin on LinkedIn </a>or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/erinhatzikostas/" >Instagram</a> <p></li><li><p> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast">Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group</a> <p></li><li><p> <a href="https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/600ec8544ddf900016d517d1"> Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz</a><p></li><li> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Do-ish-Authentic-Superpowers/dp/1736376535/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=you+do+youish&qid=1634564333&sr=8-1">Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" </a><p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents">Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice</a> <p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.bauthenticinc.com/authentic-programs">Work with Us </a><p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop">Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here </a><p></li>
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<p><em>DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.<p></em>
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<p><b>Tweetable Comments</b><br></p>
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“A resume is simply a way to grab the attention of somebody and say, Hmm, they’re intriguing.”
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“I want you to think about talking about yourself as a unique superpower.”
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“Different is better than better.” ~Sally Hogshead