Burn The Rules with Chet Hirani

Fear Is Not Your Enemy. You Are.

It was 2010. I'm standing on a stage in front of 250 people and I'm falling apart.Hands shaking. Voice cracking. Eyes locked on the floor because I knew if I made contact with a single person in that audience, I was done. I was a corporate leader who could run multi-million pound programmes and sit across from a C-suite board without flinching. And I couldn't get through five minutes on a stage without wanting to disappear.But here's what I've realised since: the problem wasn't the stage. It wasn't the audience. It wasn't the lights or the room.It was me.This is the conversation nobody wants to have, because the problem isn't fear. The problem is what you're doing with it.▶ IN THIS EPISODEThe lie that high-performing leaders tell themselves every day and why 'waiting for the right time' is just fear wearing a suitThe client story: a senior leader promoted to a global role who started falling apart and what we uncovered when we stopped talking about strategyFrom 2010 disaster to TEDx red dot and what those 12 years taught me about fear, readiness, and what it means to own your storyThe three disguises fear uses on leaders: perfectionism, over-preparation, and comparison and how to call each one outWhy awareness without action is just entertainment and the three moves you can make today, not this weekend, today▶ THE THREE MOVES DO THESE TODAYNot this weekend. Not when you've had time to think about it. Today.Name the fear you've been disguising call it what it is, out loud if you have to, because fear loses power the second you stop pretending it's something elseFlip your what ifs write down the three what ifs running your decisions, then rewrite them. 'What if I fail' becomes 'what if this works.' That's not positive thinking. That's accurate thinking.Take one imperfect action send the message, book the meeting, start the project, have the conversation. It doesn't have to be good. It has to be real.Chapters00:00 Facing the Fear of Public Speaking03:46 Understanding Fear as a Leadership Challenge06:30 The Role of Fear in Leadership Growth09:44 Transforming Fear into Action12:27 Identifying and Overcoming Disguised Fears15:18 Taking Action Against Fear16:38 Redefining Leadership17:07 The Practice of LeadershipMore on me:Take the Pressure Pattern CheckFor more information about me go to: chethirani.comGet my Award Winning Bestselling book:Burn The Rules HereConnect, Follow & Subscribe:LinkedInYoutubeInstagramFacebookTikTokKeywords:leadership, mindset, self-sabotage, confidence, decision-making, overcoming fear

Fiverr Takes 30%. Upwork Takes 20%. He Takes Zero. The Model They Don't Want You to Know About.

What happens when you look at a billion-dollar industry, realise it's been stealing from the people doing all the work, and decide to burn the whole model down? Abdullah Abbas did exactly that.He's the founder of Helpy a platform disrupting the Gulf services market with zero commission, a Netflix-style subscription model, and a culture that operates more like a family than a corporate machine. He started working at 16 on a market stall. Built his first business in Mayfair while at uni. Failed at a few. Kept going. And never once looked stressed doing it.In this conversation, we got into what it actually looks like to lead without a rulebook. How you handle pressure when the database leaks. Why silence is sometimes the most powerful thing you can say. And the one question every entrepreneur should ask before taking advice from anyone.Abdullah Abbas is the founder and CEO of Helpy a service marketplace platform operating across the Gulf region, built on a zero-commission model designed to put money back in the hands of the people actually doing the work. He's also a multi-sector entrepreneur who's built businesses across concierge services, hospitality, food and beverage, and tech. Originally from the UK, based in the Middle East.Connect with Abdullah:LinkedInLinktr.eeChapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Background01:30 The Concept of Helpy08:53 The Role of a CEO and Entrepreneurial Life13:02 Abdullah's Entrepreneurial Journey17:47 Learning from Mistakes and Overcoming Negativity27:38 Taking Control of Your Decisions30:16 The Value of Advice and Wisdom32:35 Navigating Pressure in Business40:02 The Importance of Self-Reflection46:10 Leadership and Active Listening50:33 The Power of Silence and Change55:00 Taking Action and Making an ImpactMore on me:Take the Pressure Pattern CheckFor more information about me go to: chethirani.comGet my Award Winning Bestselling book, Burn The RulesConnect, Follow & Subscribe:LinkedInYoutubeInstagramFacebookTikTokKeywordsEntrepreneurship, Leadership, Business Growth, Middle East, Startup, Pressure Management, Business Advice, Personal Development

The Rules Lied To You

Most leaders are following a rulebook they never agreed to. One that says control is leadership, vulnerability is weakness, and success is a title on a business card. In this raw solo episode, Chet tears up that rulebook and shares the personal moments that forced him to see it for what it really was a trap.From a health scare that stopped everything, to a redundancy he celebrated, to a 180-mile bike ride that broke him down and rebuilt him from the inside out Chet gets real about why the old rules of leadership are broken, the three specific rules that need burning, and what it actually looks like to lead from within.If you’ve ever felt stuck, drained, or like you’re performing a version of leadership that doesn’t feel like you this is the episode to listen to.[00:00] The rulebook nobody questioned — Chet lays out the unwritten rules most leaders follow without realising it[02:21] The moment everything cracked — a health scare, a misdiagnosis, and the reckoning that followed[03:30] The redundancy that changed everything — why Chet celebrated losing his job[04:15] Old Rule #1: Control equals leadership — the micromanaging boss story and why trust is the real strategy[05:30] Old Rule #2: Don’t show weakness — leading a restructuring while doubting himself behind closed doors[07:00] Old Rule #3: Success is the title — the trap that catches the most ambitious people[08:00] The 180-mile bike ride — where the 5 States of Optimisation were born[09:45] Your move — three things to do today to start burning the rules[11:30] Close — Chet’s challenge to you and how to go deeperKey Takeaways:The rulebook is invisible but powerful. Most leaders are operating from a set of inherited beliefs about what leadership should look like work harder, don’t show weakness, protect your position. These rules were never agreed to, but they run everything.The old rules collapse under pressure. They hold up when things are going well. But when life hits a health scare, a redundancy, a moment of real crisis they offer nothing. That’s when leaders realise they’ve been performing, not leading.Control isn’t leadership trust is. Micromanagement doesn’t build capable teams. It builds dependency. Real leadership means letting go of the reins and trusting people to deliver.Vulnerability isn’t weakness it’s the foundation of trust. The strongest leaders are the ones who can say “I don’t have all the answers, but I’m working through this with you.”Success isn’t the title it’s alignment. When what you do matches who you are, that’s sustainable performance. Everything else is a mask with a salary attached.More on me:Take the Pressure Pattern CheckFor more information about me go to: chethirani.comGet my Award Winning Bestselling book, Burn The RulesConnect, Follow & Subscribe:LinkedInYoutubeInstagramFacebookTikTok

The People We Overlook in Leadership

In this engaging conversation, Ron Thurston shares his extensive journey in the retail industry, discussing his experiences with various brands and the evolution of his leadership style. He emphasizes the importance of frontline workers and the impact of technology, particularly AI, on customer experience. Ron also highlights the significance of networking and building relationships, as well as the lessons learned throughout his career. He reflects on his books, which aim to empower individuals in the retail sector and beyond, and encourages listeners to embrace their own potential and the value of their experiences.Connect with Ron:LinkedInRonThurston.comChapters00:00 Introduction and Background04:04 Ron Thurston's Retail Journey06:48 The Impact of AI on Retail09:24 Celebrating Frontline Workers11:49 Navigating the Changing Job Market14:20 The Role of Technology in Retail17:05 Books and Their Impact19:35 Optimizing Human Potential22:18 Building Relationships in Retail24:51 The Importance of Networking27:26 Finding Identity and Confidence30:39 Optimizing Human Potential Through In-Person Connections33:41 The Evolution of Leadership Styles36:49 Unlearning Self-Imposed Rules39:22 Navigating Pressure Moments in Leadership43:57 The Importance of Sharing Experiences49:40 Making Decisions with Integrity51:07 Engaging with Your CommunityMore on me:Take the Pressure Pattern CheckFor more information about me go to: chethirani.comGet my Award Winning Bestselling book, Burn The RulesConnect, Follow & Subscribe:LinkedInYoutubeInstagramFacebookTikTokKeywordsRetail, Leadership, Technology, AI, Frontline Workers, Networking, Personal Growth, Books, Human Potential, Customer Experience

The Decision You’re Avoiding Is Costing You (Fix It Today)

Chet unpacks the real cost of avoidance in leadership and why the decision you delay becomes background noise that affects everything your energy, tone, speed, and trust.You’ll understand:The four hidden costs of avoidanceWhy leaders delay decisionsThe difference between discomfort and dangerHow to remove noise instead of chasing perfect outcomesA clean structure for handling difficult conversationsWhy clarity doesn’t require guiltIf there’s something sitting in your head right now that you haven’t dealt with this episode will help you move.Leadership doesn’t give you certainty.It gives you responsibility.More on me:Take the Pressure Pattern CheckFor more information about me go to: chethirani.comGet my Award Winning Bestselling book, Burn The RulesConnect, Follow & Subscribe:LinkedInYoutubeInstagramFacebookTikTokKeywordsLead From Within, Leadership decisions ,Avoiding hard conversations, Leadership under pressure, Decision avoidance, Emotional intelligence in leadership, Setting boundaries at work, Handling difficult conversations, Leadership mindset, Remove decision fatigue, Pressure Pattern Check