March 10, 2025

🌴70. Not everything counts… But everything matters

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Show Notes

You know those books where every second page has you reaching for a highlighter? That’s exactly how I felt reading Not Everything Counts, But Everything Matters by Ivan Cleary. In today’s episode, I’m sharing some of the biggest takeaways from his book—insights on leadership, high performance, and why the small things truly matter.

Ivan Cleary, head coach of the Penrith Panthers, isn’t just talking about footy—his lessons apply to business, life, and leadership. From the importance of connection in teams to how tiny habits create big wins, there’s so much gold in this book. Plus, I’ll share a personal reflection on my own writing process and the power of making every word count.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why some books just hit differently—and how I tried to write The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint with that same punch.
How Ivan Cleary’s leadership principles apply beyond sport, especially in high-pressure environments.
The surprising opening of his book and what it reveals about the mental toll of coaching.
The power of ‘small things’—why picking up a loose ball or keeping strong body language under fatigue can change the game.
How the Panthers prioritised connection over technical training, and why it made them unstoppable.
My take on performative authenticity—when showing up with energy (even when you don’t feel it) is actually the right move.

If you love leadership, team culture, and high-performance insights, this episode is for you. And if you’re a Broncos fan, maybe skip the part where I talk about that grand final comeback…

Let me know—what’s a book that had you highlighting every other page? DM me or tag me on social!

I’ll catch you tomorrow.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are three ways I can help: