What if the way you argue with your partner or push yourself at work isn’t actually yours - but something you absorbed decades ago? 

In this Quick Win, I’m joined by educator and author Lael Stone, who explains how the stories we inherit in childhood silently shape our beliefs about relationships, money, and success. Lael calls these “imprints” - and once you start recognising them, you can finally begin to choose your own patterns instead of replaying old ones. 

Lael and I discuss: 
What “imprints” are and how they form through family dynamics. 
The surprising ways childhood beliefs can dictate our career choices and relationships. 
Why understanding our imprints helps us break unconscious habits. 
How to recognise when fear or loyalty to family stories is keeping us stuck. 
The freeing realisation that changing your story isn’t disloyal—it’s growth. 

 

KEY QUOTE 

“A lot of the imprints we have are deeply unconscious. We don’t even know they’re there.”  

 

Connect with Lael Stone on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website, and check out her latest book Own Your Story. 

Listen to the full conversation with Lael here. 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  

Connect with me on the socials:  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanthai  

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au  

Credits:  

Host: Amantha Imber  

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

What if the way you argue with your partner or push yourself at work isn&rsquo;t actually yours - but something you absorbed decades ago?&nbsp;
In this Quick Win, I&rsquo;m joined by educator and author Lael Stone, who explains how the stories we inherit in childhood silently shape our beliefs about relationships, money, and success. Lael calls these &ldquo;imprints&rdquo; - and once you start recognising them, you can finally begin to choose your own patterns instead of replaying old ones.&nbsp;
Lael and I discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">What &ldquo;imprints&rdquo; are and how they form through family dynamics.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">The surprising ways childhood beliefs can dictate our career choices and relationships.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Why understanding our imprints helps us break unconscious habits.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">How to recognise when fear or loyalty to family stories is keeping us stuck.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">The freeing realisation that changing your story isn&rsquo;t disloyal&mdash;it&rsquo;s growth.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
KEY QUOTE&nbsp;
&ldquo;A lot of the imprints we have are deeply unconscious. We don&rsquo;t even know they&rsquo;re there.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Connect with Lael Stone on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/laelstone/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/laelstone">LinkedIn</a> and her <a href="https://laelstone.com.au/">website</a>, and check out her latest book <a href="https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761269424/">Own Your Story</a>.&nbsp;
Listen to the full conversation with Lael <a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/the-two-questions-that-can-stop-overthinking-in-its-tracks">here</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: <a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp;&nbsp;
LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at <a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Visit <a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a> for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Get in touch at <a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;&nbsp;
Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp;&nbsp;
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&nbsp;

You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets - the daily strategies behind their success through to life hacks and productivity hacks they’d rather keep to themselves. We’re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that’ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who’ve cracked the code.

You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets&nbsp;- the daily strategies behind their success through to&nbsp;life hacks and productivity hacks they&rsquo;d rather keep to themselves. We&rsquo;re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that&rsquo;ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who&rsquo;ve cracked the code.

Have you ever wondered if the worlds leading entrepreneurs, writers, musicians and business people construct their day differently to you?

How I Work

Quick Win:  Why your “default behaviour” isn’t actually yours — and how to change it

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/5a7b82dc-a42a-4e2a-a5a2-b3920093c0f4/transcript

Looking ahead to a new year can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time, especially when you’re not quite sure what you want the next chapter to feel like. 

In part 2 of my end-of-year reflection episode with my good friend and ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong - we explore the questions, habits, and small structural tweaks that can help shape a more intentional 2026 - the things that genuinely influence how your days unfold. 

If you’re planning out your 2026 and want a more thoughtful way to do it, this episode will give you plenty to play with. 

Lisa and I discuss: 
The simple reframing that helps you imagine your next year as if it has already happened 
How Lisa approaches designing an “ideal week” and why I’m thinking about a “perfect average day” 
The role of the reticular activating system and why vision boards work for some people 
How values shape the projects and choices you prioritise for the coming year 
The habits we’re keeping, the ones we’re changing, and how identity influences behaviour 
Why I’m stepping back from Instagram (again) and rethinking my relationship with email 
How a “dumb phone” or burner phone can help create healthier digital boundaries 
Our favourite prompts from the Year Compass, including the surprising question that reveals your “secret wish” for the year ahead 

 

KEY QUOTES  

“Instead of asking what would have been, I love writing it like it’s already happened — it changes how you think about the future.” 
“I want to design a perfect average day, because it’s something I can actually live up to and repeat.” 

Connect with Lisa Leong on Instagram and LinkedIn. Listen to her show This Working Life, and check out her book with Monique Ross, This Working Life  

 

If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here: https://yearcompass.com/ 

Listen to part 1 of my chat with Lisa here 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: 

Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

Looking ahead to a new year can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time, especially when&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;not quite sure&nbsp;what you want the next chapter to feel like.&nbsp;
In part 2 of my end-of-year reflection&nbsp;episode&nbsp;with&nbsp;my good friend and ABC broadcaster&nbsp;Lisa Leong&nbsp;-&nbsp;we&nbsp;explore&nbsp;the questions, habits, and small structural tweaks that can help shape a more intentional 2026&nbsp;-&nbsp;the things that genuinely influence how your days unfold.&nbsp;
If&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;planning out&nbsp;your 2026 and want a more thoughtful way to do it, this episode will give you plenty to play with.&nbsp;
Lisa and I&nbsp;discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">The simple reframing that helps you imagine your next year as if it has already happened&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">How Lisa approaches designing an &ldquo;ideal week&rdquo; and why&nbsp;I&rsquo;m&nbsp;thinking about a &ldquo;perfect average day&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">The role of the reticular activating system and why vision boards work for some people&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">How values shape the projects and choices you&nbsp;prioritise&nbsp;for the coming year&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">The habits&nbsp;we&rsquo;re&nbsp;keeping, the ones&nbsp;we&rsquo;re&nbsp;changing, and how identity influences&nbsp;behaviour&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Why&nbsp;I&rsquo;m&nbsp;stepping back from Instagram (again) and rethinking my relationship with email&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">How a &ldquo;dumb phone&rdquo; or burner phone can help create healthier digital boundaries&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Our&nbsp;favourite&nbsp;prompts from the Year Compass, including the surprising question that reveals your &ldquo;secret wish&rdquo; for the year ahead&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
KEY QUOTES&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Instead of asking what would have been, I love writing it like it&rsquo;s already happened &mdash; it changes how you think about the future.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I want to design a perfect average day, because it&rsquo;s something I can actually live up to and repeat.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Connect with&nbsp;Lisa Leong&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lisasleong/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasleong/?originalSubdomain=au">LinkedIn</a>. Listen to her show&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/this-working-life">This Working Life</a>, and check out her book with Monique Ross,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thisworkinglifebook.com/">This Working Life</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here:&nbsp;<a href="https://yearcompass.com/">https://yearcompass.com/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/how-to-make-sense-of-2025-and-design-your-best-2026%2C-with-lisa-leong-(part-1)">Listen to part 1 of my chat with Lisa here</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My latest&nbsp;book&nbsp;The Health&nbsp;Habit&nbsp;is out now. You can order a copy here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp;
Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp;
Linkedin&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>)&nbsp;
Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>)&nbsp;
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and&nbsp;simple to apply&nbsp;tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at&nbsp;<a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a>&nbsp;for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp;
Get in touch at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp; Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp; Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&nbsp;

How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 2)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/70a5d0a9-42ca-45ad-bc58-b3aa00070a3b/transcript

Ever caught yourself rehearsing what to say at work - terrified one wrong phrase could spark backlash? 

In this Quick Win, I speak with Clare Stephens, former Editor-in-Chief at Mamamia, about the fear of getting it wrong, how to handle mistakes, and why the most powerful apology is often the simplest one. 

Clare learnt the hard way that over-explaining a mistake can make things worse. After facing public criticism early in her career, she reframed her approach to errors – both online and in leadership. Her advice? Keep apologies short, unreserved, and genuine. Then move on. 

Clare and I discuss: 
Why leaders fear saying the wrong thing in today’s workplace 
How to create a culture where mistakes are met with grace, not blame 
The fine line between accountability and people-pleasing 
Why long, detailed apologies rarely work 
The simple framework for owning mistakes and moving forward 

 

KEY QUOTES 

“The best apology is short and unreserved. There’s no excuses. Just, ‘I’m apologising,’ and then you move on.” 

“You’re actually a worse leader if you can’t be direct.” 

Connect with Clare Stephens on Instagram,LinkedIn and check out her latest book The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Donehere. 

Listen to the full conversation with Clare here. 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: 

Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

Ever caught yourself rehearsing what to say at work - terrified one wrong phrase could spark backlash?&nbsp;
In this Quick Win, I speak with Clare Stephens, former Editor-in-Chief at Mamamia, about the fear of getting it wrong, how to handle mistakes, and why the most powerful apology is often the simplest one.&nbsp;
Clare learnt the hard way that over-explaining a mistake can make things worse. After facing public criticism early in her career, she reframed her approach to errors &ndash; both online and in leadership. Her advice? Keep apologies short, unreserved, and genuine. Then move on.&nbsp;
Clare and I discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Why leaders fear saying the wrong thing in today&rsquo;s workplace&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">How to create a culture where mistakes are met with grace, not blame&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">The fine line between accountability and people-pleasing&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Why long, detailed apologies rarely work&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">The simple framework for owning mistakes and moving forward&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
KEY QUOTES&nbsp;
&ldquo;The best apology is short and unreserved. There&rsquo;s no excuses. Just, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m apologising,&rsquo; and then you move on.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;You&rsquo;re actually a worse leader if you can&rsquo;t be direct.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Connect with Clare Stephens on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clare.stephenss/?hl=en">Instagram,</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-stephens/">LinkedIn</a> and check out her latest book The Worst Thing I&rsquo;ve Ever Done <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-worst-thing-i-ve-ever-done-clare-stephens/book/9781922928030.html?srsltid=AfmBOop1F2IztiTE7rARJrLajWN9Q9yXdpUXDmDDzMWzOczxDBsgW2rR&amp;irclickid=04zTej1lLxycRECXXxRWp2P6UksXsr2bTxUV0U0&amp;utm_campaign=Clare%20Stephens%20Writer&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=Impact&amp;bk_source=6280588&amp;bk_source_id=6280588&amp;irgwc=1">here</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/how-to-lead-when-youre-scared-of-saying-the-wrong-thing">Listen to the full conversation with Clare here.</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: <a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp;
Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp;
Linkedin (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>)&nbsp; Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>)&nbsp;
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at <a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp;
Visit <a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a> for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp;
Get in touch at <a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp; Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp; Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&nbsp;

Quick Win: What leaders get wrong about saying sorry with Clare Stephens

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/60e2f7f3-c810-4b91-a201-b3760053b325/transcript

Some years slip by in a blur, and others demand you stop and ask yourself why certain moments changed you more than you expected. This was one of those years for me. So in the first episode of this two-parter, I sit down with my good friend and ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong to compare the tools, questions and rituals we each used to make sense of 2025 - including the surprises neither of us saw coming. 

If you're craving a clearer, kinder way to understand what actually shaped your year, this conversation will give you plenty to explore.  

Lisa and I discuss: 
Lisa’s favourite reflection tool: the Agile Retrospective 
The energy audit I’m doing with my husband, including what energised us, what drained us, and the surprising things that lit us up. 
How I use an interviewing GPT to challenge my thinking, dig deeper and unpack problems. 
The Life Flow exercise: how mapping highs and lows reveals patterns.  
How the people around us shaped our year - who influenced us most, and who we influenced. 
The importance of letting go and deciding what emotional or practical baggage you don’t want to carry into the next year.  

 

KEY QUOTES 

“I still think with these reflection pieces, you should just go with what comes to you naturally, because it’s when we overthink things that we get away from a true reflection.”  

“Looking back on a year is never really about the events themselves, it’s about what they reveal.”  

Connect with Lisa Leong on Instagram and LinkedIn. Listen to her show This Working Life, and check out her book with Monique Ross, This Working Life  

If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here: https://yearcompass.com/ 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: 

Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

Some years slip by in a blur, and others demand you stop and ask yourself why certain moments changed you more than you expected. This was one of those years for me.&nbsp;So&nbsp;in the first episode of this two-parter, I sit down with my&nbsp;good&nbsp;friend and ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong to compare the tools,&nbsp;questions&nbsp;and rituals we each used to make sense of 2025 - including the surprises neither of us saw coming.&nbsp;
If you're craving a clearer, kinder way to understand what actually shaped your year, this conversation will give you plenty to explore.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Lisa and I discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Lisa&rsquo;s&nbsp;favourite&nbsp;reflection tool: the Agile Retrospective&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">The energy audit&nbsp;I&rsquo;m&nbsp;doing with my husband,&nbsp;including&nbsp;what&nbsp;energised&nbsp;us, what drained us, and the surprising things that lit us up.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">How&nbsp;I use&nbsp;an interviewing GPT to challenge my thinking, dig deeper and unpack&nbsp;problems.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">The Life Flow exercise: how mapping highs and lows reveals patterns.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">How the people around us shaped our year - who influenced us most, and who we influenced.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">The importance of letting go and deciding what emotional or practical baggage you&nbsp;don&rsquo;t&nbsp;want to carry into the next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
KEY QUOTES&nbsp;
&ldquo;I still think with these reflection pieces, you should just go with what comes to you naturally, because it&rsquo;s when we overthink things that we get away from a true reflection.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Looking back on a year is never really about the events themselves, it&rsquo;s about what they reveal.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Connect with&nbsp;Lisa Leong&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lisasleong/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasleong/?originalSubdomain=au">LinkedIn</a>. Listen to&nbsp;her show&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/this-working-life">This Working Life</a>, and check out her book&nbsp;with Monique Ross,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thisworkinglifebook.com/">This Working Life</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here:&nbsp;<a href="https://yearcompass.com/">https://yearcompass.com/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My latest&nbsp;book&nbsp;The Health&nbsp;Habit&nbsp;is out now. You can order a copy here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp;
Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp;
Linkedin&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>)&nbsp;
Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>)&nbsp;
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and&nbsp;simple to apply&nbsp;tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at&nbsp;<a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a>&nbsp;for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp;
Get in touch at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp; Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp; Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&nbsp;

How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 1) 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/91b58a94-bd9f-47e2-8cc0-b3a700ac9f2c/transcript

Quick Win: Why your “default behaviour” isn’t actually yours — and how to change it

How I Work

In 1 playlist(s)

How I Work

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips