Being [at Work]

Andrea Butcher

Being a leader is hard. It often feels lonely, like no one understands what you're going through. Being [at Work], hosted by Andrea Butcher, offers daily encouragement while exploring what it means to be a leader in today's workplace. Each conversation featured focuses on solving real issues leaders like you face while equipping listeners with tools, strategies, and resources to effectively lead. This isn't another interview show because–spoiler alert–life isn't perfect, and neither are you. These are real stories that will transform the way you conduct business, attract talent, and ultimately enhance the entire employee experience.

  1. 1D AGO

    223: The Work Beneath the Work: How Contemplation Drives Leadership from the Inside Out with Larry Baker

    Do you ever feel like you're hustling nonstop, but deep down, something's missing? Henry David Thoreau wrote that most people live lives of "quiet desperation," and if we're honest, a lot of us in leadership know exactly what he meant. Larry Baker is a leader who's spent a lifetime on an inner journey. His daily practice of contemplation transformed not just his career, but his entire outlook on life and leadership. If you crave deeper meaning and want your work to feel purposeful for both you AND your team, this conversation will spark something inside you. Successful leadership doesn't just come from tactical business moves or working harder. It comes from pouring into yourself, developing your own awareness and resilience, and leading from a place of genuine care. By tending to your own inner work, you create stronger foundations for your family, your team, and your company, especially when life throws curveballs. In this episode, Larry shares how facing his mortality as a child launched a decades-long practice of contemplation, what it looks like to lead from the inside out, and why this "soft work" is actually the hardest and most rewarding thing you can do. We'll dig deep into why putting your people first isn't just nice, it's strategic, and why self-knowledge and heart-driven leadership fuel loyalty and clarity when you and your team need it most. By the end of the episode, you'll have tools and encouragement to take real steps toward your own practice, no matter where you're starting. You'll understand how doing the work beneath the work changes everything above it.   Leadership Takeaways (00:00) Why leaders feel stuck and where the search for meaning begins (02:22) How Larry Baker's near-death experience transformed his approach to leadership (04:07) How Larry developed his meditation practice, even when it felt like he was failing at it (06:03) Why love, care, and "soft skills" are the hard skills in business (09:24) How the inner journey shaped culture and retention at FleetWatcher (14:00) Step-by-step: How to start a daily practice of contemplation (even if you're busy) (17:07) The benefits of starting your day with stillness and gratitude (18:45) Practical differences between meditation and contemplation for leaders (23:55) Why the business community must lead with heart (28:04) Embracing our connectedness   Connect with Larry Baker https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-baker-3883348/   Links and Resources Mentioned The Third Eye by T. Lobsang Rampa https://www.amazon.com/Third-Eye-T-Lobsang-Rampa/dp/0345340388   About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).   Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ Connect with Andrea Butcher on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/   Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

    35 min

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Being a leader is hard. It often feels lonely, like no one understands what you're going through. Being [at Work], hosted by Andrea Butcher, offers daily encouragement while exploring what it means to be a leader in today's workplace. Each conversation featured focuses on solving real issues leaders like you face while equipping listeners with tools, strategies, and resources to effectively lead. This isn't another interview show because–spoiler alert–life isn't perfect, and neither are you. These are real stories that will transform the way you conduct business, attract talent, and ultimately enhance the entire employee experience.

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