This Wasn't My Plan

Ashlee Hayes
  • 4.8 (11)
  • Careers
  • Updated Weekly

This Wasn’t My Plan is the career podcast for high-achievers who’ve checked all the boxes (and done all the right things!) but still feel something’s missing. Hosted by Career Strategist and Performance Consultant and Advisor, RX Ashlee, it’s your no-BS roadmap to redefining success on your terms. Whether you’re pivoting, scaling your business, or ready for work that works for you, this show delivers sharp strategy, smart scripts, and real talk. No fluff, no filler, just focused guidance to help you lead, own your voice, and win with intention.

  1. 1d ago

    The Most Expensive Problem in Your Business

    Episode 43: The Most Expensive Problem in Your Business In this episode, Ashlee breaks down the single most costly and least visible problem inside most organizations — communication ambiguity. She explains why it does not show up on a spreadsheet, why even the smartest leaders create it without realizing it, and why fixing it is the highest leverage thing any leader can do for their team right now. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why communication ambiguity is more expensive than payroll, ad spend, or bad strategy — and why most leaders never see itWhat ambiguity actually looks like inside organizations — and how one innocent sentence can create a massive ripple effectWhy really smart people are not automatically gifted communicators — and what actually happens under pressureWhy people do not lose trust because of mistakes — they lose trust when they stop understanding where they are goingWhy clarity is not a soft skill — it is the operational foundation that determines whether your team executes or spins Most CEOs can see their payroll. They can see their ad spend, their operational costs, their bad hires. What they cannot see is the cost of communication ambiguity — the assumptions, the unclear expectations, the undefined ownership, the mixed messages that quietly bleed time, energy, and trust out of every team. In this episode, Ashlee makes the case for why ambiguity is the single most expensive silent problem in business today — and what leaders must do to remove it. KEY MOMENTS (02:00) What communication ambiguity actually is and what it looks like inside organizations(05:30) How one innocent sentence — "let's prioritize this next week" — creates a massive ripple effect(09:15) Why really smart people are not automatically effective communicators under pressure(13:30) Why people lose trust not because of mistakes but because of uncertainty(17:00) What genuinely effective leadership communication actually looks like in practice CALL TO ACTION If you are leading a team and want to improve clarity, decision-making, and execution, learn more about Ashlee's leadership workshops here: 🔗 https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator who helps teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. She works with founders, operators, and leadership teams to build simple, repeatable systems that strengthen alignment, ownership, and execution under pressure. Connect with Ashlee Follow Ashlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/Follow Ashlee on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/Learn more about Ashlee's workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops KEYWORDS  leadership communication, communication ambiguity, organizational clarity, team performance, executive leadership, team trust

  2. Sep 2

    The Longer You Wait, the Harder the Conversation Gets

    Episode 42: The Longer You Wait, the Harder the Conversation Gets In this episode, Ashlee breaks down one of the most common and costly communication mistakes leaders make — waiting too long to say what needs to be said. She explains why most conversations are not actually difficult because of the topic, why avoidance is a form of enablement, and why clear communication early is one of the most powerful acts of respect a leader can offer. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why most conversations are not difficult because of the topic — they become difficult because of the delayWhat leaders are actually avoiding when they push off uncomfortable conversationsWhy avoidance does not eliminate tension — it amplifies it and carries it into the body and the teamHow delaying necessary conversations robs people of the opportunity to grow fasterWhy clear communication early is an act of respect — not conflict, punishment, or aggression What could have been a two minute clarification conversation turns into six months of burnout, resentment, and attrition when leaders wait too long to say what needs to be said. The tension does not go away. It compounds. And the longer it sits, the more emotionally expensive the conversation becomes — for the leader, for the team, and for the relationship. In this episode, Ashlee makes the case for why direct, early communication is not a difficult conversation. It is a leadership responsibility. KEY MOMENTS (02:00) Why leaders wait — and what they are actually trying to avoid(05:30) How the nervous system interprets anticipated conflict as a physical threat(09:15) Why silence is still communicating — and what your team is feeling when you say nothing(13:30) Why consistently avoiding conversations is a form of enablement(17:00) What the best leaders do — and why teams trust them more after clear conversations, not less CALL TO ACTION If you are leading a team and want to improve clarity, decision-making, and execution, learn more about Ashlee's leadership workshops here: 🔗 https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator who helps teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. She works with founders, operators, and leadership teams to build simple, repeatable systems that strengthen alignment, ownership, and execution under pressure. Connect with Ashlee Follow Ashlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/Follow Ashlee on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/Learn more about Ashlee's workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops KEYWORDS  leadership communication, difficult conversations, team trust, emotional regulation, organizational clarity, team performance

  3. Aug 31

    Getting It Done: How Ranarda Jones Built a 35-Person Medicare Consulting Firm Without a Clear Plan

    Guest Episode 8: Getting It Done: How Ranarda Jones Built a 35-Person Medicare Consulting Firm Without a Plan In this episode, Ashlee welcomes Ranarda Jones — co-founder and CEO of PSyn, Inc., managed care consultant, Medicare expert, and accidental entrepreneur with 35-plus employees — for one of the most honest, hilarious, and genuinely energizing conversations on This Wasn't My Plan yet. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * How Ranarda went from retail pharmacy to staffing agency founder to Medicare consulting CEO — and why none of it was planned * Why leading with clarity and consistency is the most important leadership lesson she has learned * Why being authentically yourself — without switching versions of who you are — is the most powerful career advantage you will ever have ABOUT RANARDA JONES Ranarda Jones is the co-founder and CEO of PSyn, Inc., a managed care consulting firm that specializes in improving Star ratings — quality scores — for Medicare plan sponsors. With a career spanning retail pharmacy, long-term care, hospital, mail order, pharmaceutical sales, corporate managed care, community pharmacy ownership, staffing, and real estate, Ranarda brings a rare end-to-end view of the healthcare sector that most consultants simply do not have. She is also a mentor to pharmacy interns, a YouTube vlogger, and the kind of person who makes you feel like anything is possible just by being in the same room. Connect with Ranarda: * Website: https://www.psyninc.com * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranardajones/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranardad/ * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themedicareceo KEY MOMENTS * (02:00) How Ranarda discovered she had 19 employees she did not know about * (07:00) From pharmacy school to staffing agency — and why she started her first business in one night * (12:00) Leaving corporate America, losing money on house flips, and working a job she hated 40 minutes away * (24:00) Why confidence is not the absence of failure — it is knowing what you are good at and what you are not * (31:00) The most important leadership lesson: lead with clarity and consistency CALL TO ACTION To learn more about Ranarda's work in Medicare consulting and managed care visit: 🔗 https://www.psyninc.com To learn more about Ashlee's leadership workshops: 🔗 https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator who helps teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. Connect with Ashlee * Follow Ashlee on Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ * Workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops KEYWORDS entrepreneurship, Medicare consulting, managed care, leadership, authenticity, career pivots, women in business

  4. Aug 26

    Communication Under Pressure Is a Trainable Skill

    Episode 41: Communication Under Pressure Is a Trainable Skill In this episode, Ashlee blends her clinical background with her leadership communication expertise for the first time — breaking down the science behind why we struggle to communicate under pressure, what is actually happening inside the body and brain during high stakes moments, and why the solution is never more confidence. It is more reps. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why your brain interprets high stakes communication moments as a physical threat — even when you are completely safeWhat happens to your prefrontal cortex under pressure and why intelligent people suddenly sound disorganizedWhy communication under pressure is a trained skill — not a personality trait or natural giftThe difference between being an ineffective communicator and being undertrained under pressureWhy confidence is built through evidence — and what that actually means in practice Most people think strong communicators were just born that way. They were not. What Ashlee has learned after working with physicians, attorneys, executives, athletes, and thousands of professionals across every industry is that the people who communicate best under pressure are not the most naturally gifted. They are the most trained. In this episode, Ashlee breaks down exactly what the nervous system does during high stakes conversations, why even the most intelligent professionals can fall apart under pressure, and what it takes to build the kind of steady, clear communication that creates trust when it matters most. KEY MOMENTS (02:00) Why your brain interprets high stakes communication as a physical threat(05:30) What happens to the amygdala and prefrontal cortex under pressure(09:15) Why intelligent people suddenly sound disorganized and unclear under stress(13:30) The difference between being incompetent and being undertrained under pressure(17:00) Why confidence is built through evidence — and why reps are the only way there CALL TO ACTION If you are leading a team and want to improve clarity, decision-making, and execution, learn more about Ashlee's leadership workshops here: 🔗 https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator who helps teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. She works with founders, operators, and leadership teams to build simple, repeatable systems that strengthen alignment, ownership, and execution under pressure. Connect with Ashlee Follow Ashlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/Follow Ashlee on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/Learn more about Ashlee's workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops KEYWORDS  leadership communication, communication under pressure, executive presence, nervous system, emotional regulation, team performance

  5. Aug 24

    From Red Carpets to Healing Rooms: How Ilona Varo Found Her Calling

    Guest Episode 7: From Red Carpets to Healing Rooms: How Ilona Varo Found Her Calling Ashlee welcomes Ilona Varo — licensed marriage and family therapist, psychotherapist, and founder of her private practice and coaching company — for a conversation about identity, resistance, and leading yourself first. Ilona shares her path from entertainment publicist to massage therapist to psychotherapist, and why "fine" might be the most dangerous word in the English language. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why Ilona left a high-powered Hollywood careerThe real difference between therapy and coachingWhy awareness, acceptance, and aligned action are the three steps to real change — and the one most people skip ABOUT ILONA VARO Licensed marriage and family therapist and psychotherapist with 15+ years of clinical experience, specializing in anxiety, perfectionism, body image, eating disorders, and women's mental health. She helps women reconnect with themselves and create lasting change through a mind-body approach blending psychotherapy and coaching. 🔗 Website: https://ilonavaro.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilonavaro/ 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilonavaro/ KEY MOMENTS (02:00) From fashion dreams to Hollywood PR (07:00) The red carpet moment that made everything clear (12:00) Massage therapist to psychotherapist (24:00) How Ilona defines leadership (36:00) Awareness, acceptance, aligned action CALL TO ACTION 🔗 Ilona's work: https://ilonavaro.com 🔗 Ashlee's leadership workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator helping teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ 🔗 Workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops KEYWORDS: women's mental health, psychotherapy, identity, leadership, self-awareness, burnout

  6. Aug 19

    The Fastest Way to Lose Credibility as a Leader

    Episode 40: The Fastest Way to Lose Credibility as a Leader In this episode, Ashlee celebrates hitting episode 40 and dives straight into one of her core values as a communication expert: the fastest way a leader loses credibility isn't a big scandal, it's the quiet, repeated habit of saying things they don't follow through on. She breaks down why trust is built through behavioral predictability, not charisma, and gives leaders a simple standard to live by, undercommit and over deliver. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why saying things you don't follow through on is the fastest way to erode trust as a leaderThe real reason low morale and disengagement show up on teams, and it's rarely what leaders thinkWhy credibility is built through behavioral predictability, not charisma or titleHow over-promising and over-committing quietly damages your leadership standardThe pause strong leaders take before committing to anythingWhy the most trusted leaders aren't the ones who never make mistakes, but the ones who communicate clearly when they do Most leaders don't lose the trust of their team in one dramatic moment. It happens slowly, in the small gap between what they say and what they actually do. Ashlee unpacks why that gap, whether it's an open door policy that doesn't feel safe to use, or an accountability standard that only applies to some, is usually the real source of the disengagement and misalignment leaders think is a culture problem. She gives a practical standard for closing that gap: under commit, over deliver, and be specific the moment something changes. KEY MOMENTS (00:00) Celebrating episode 40, and why most podcasts don't make it this far(02:15) The fastest way to lose credibility as a leader(04:00) How saying things you don't follow through on breaks down trust(07:00) Why credibility is built through behavioral predictability, not charisma(09:30) What's really behind low morale and disengagement on teams(12:00) Why over-promising and over-committing kills trust(14:00) Undercommit, over deliver, and the pause that builds trust(16:30) What separates the most trusted leaders from the rest CALL TO ACTION If you're leading a team and want to improve clarity, decision-making, and execution, learn more about Ashlee's leadership workshops here: 🔗 https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator who helps teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. She works with founders, operators, and leadership teams to build simple, repeatable systems that strengthen alignment, ownership, and execution under pressure. Connect with Ashlee Follow Ashlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/Follow Ashlee on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/Learn more about Ashlee's workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops KEYWORDS  leadership credibility, trust in leadership, leadership communication, undercommit over deliver

  7. Aug 17

    Burnout to Blueprint: How Dr. Jen Bourgeois Built a Business by Healing Herself First

    Guest Episode 6: Burnout to Blueprint: How Dr. Jen Bourgeois Built a Business by Healing Herself First In this episode, Ashlee welcomes Dr. Jen Bourgeois — pharmacist, nervous system expert, and founder of Peacefully Rich Coaching and Consulting — for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, identity, and what it actually takes to build a life by design. Jen shares how a decade of high-achieving corporate healthcare leadership led her to a breaking point, what she learned on the other side of it, and how she now helps high-performing founders and leaders scale their income and impact without sacrificing their health, relationships, or presence. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Why high-achieving women are specifically wired for burnout — and what the physiology actually looks like inside the body * How Jen went from burned out community pharmacist to nervous system expert and founder of Peacefully Rich Coaching and Consulting * Why the belief system that took you into burnout is not the same one that will bring you out of it * Why success does not require sacrificing what matters most — and what it looks like to build a life that actually fits ABOUT DR. JEN BOURGEOIS Dr. Jen Bourgeois is a nervous system expert, pharmacist, and founder of Peacefully Rich Coaching and Consulting. After 17 years in corporate healthcare leadership and her own experience with burnout in 2019, she spent years studying the science of the nervous system and its impact on leadership and success. Today she helps high-performing founders and leaders build the internal capacity to scale income and impact sustainably — without sacrificing their health, relationships, or presence. Connect with Dr. Jen: * Website: https://www.drjenbourgeois.com * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenbourgeois * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenbourgeois KEY MOMENTS * (02:00) Jen's original plan — and the decade that led to burnout * (06:00) What burnout actually looks like physiologically — and why the labs all come back normal * (14:00) Why high-achieving women are statistically more susceptible to burnout — and the physiology behind it * (37:00) What Jen would tell her 2019 self — and the permission she wishes someone had given her sooner CALL TO ACTION To learn more about Dr. Jen's work helping high-performing founders and leaders scale sustainably visit: 🔗 https://www.drjenbourgeois.com To learn more about Ashlee's leadership workshops: 🔗 https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator who helps teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. * Follow Ashlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ * Follow Ashlee on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ * Learn more about Ashlee's workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops

  8. Aug 12

    How I Make Big Life Altering Decisions

    Episode 39: How I Make Big Life Altering Decisions In this episode, Ashlee shares the behavioral based system she has built — not from theory or inspiration, but from real experience — for making big, high stakes decisions with confidence. Inspired by two clients navigating major career crossroads, she walks through the exact five steps she uses herself and with the leaders and founders she coaches every day. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Why high performers stall big decisions — and why it has nothing to do with intelligence or capability * Why clarity does not come first — and how taking action is actually what creates it * The one question almost nobody asks themselves when facing a big decision * How to separate fear from gut intuition — and why that distinction changes everything * Why being half in on a decision burns more energy than hard work ever will Most high performers do not stall big decisions because they are incapable. They stall because they want to get everything perfect, rehearse every outcome, and collect enough information to feel certain before they move. But certainty is not how clarity works. In this episode, Ashlee shares the five step system she has used to leave a stable career, build RX Ashlee, hire her first team members, walk away from six and seven figure opportunities that were not aligned, and keep moving forward through grief, growth, and everything in between. KEY MOMENTS * (02:00) The two clients who inspired this episode and what their decisions had in common * (06:00) Step 1: Stop waiting for stability, security, or certainty — action creates clarity * (10:30) Step 2: What is the cost of not doing anything — the question almost nobody asks * (15:00) Step 3: Separating fear from gut intuition and learning to trust what you already know * (20:00) Step 4: Look for energy alignment and values alignment — not just what sounds good on paper * (24:00) Step 5: Make the decision and go all in — indecision burns more energy than hard work CALL TO ACTION If you are leading a team and want to improve clarity, decision-making, and execution, learn more about Ashlee's leadership workshops here: 🔗 https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee is a leadership strategist and executive workshop facilitator who helps teams communicate with clarity so decisions move forward and performance improves. She works with founders, operators, and leadership teams to build simple, repeatable systems that strengthen alignment, ownership, and execution under pressure. Connect with Ashlee * Follow Ashlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ * Follow Ashlee on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ * Learn more about Ashlee's workshops: https://www.rxashlee.com/executive-team-workshops KEYWORDS decision-making, leadership communication, clarity under pressure, executive leadership, self-trust, organizational clarity

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4.8
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

This Wasn’t My Plan is the career podcast for high-achievers who’ve checked all the boxes (and done all the right things!) but still feel something’s missing. Hosted by Career Strategist and Performance Consultant and Advisor, RX Ashlee, it’s your no-BS roadmap to redefining success on your terms. Whether you’re pivoting, scaling your business, or ready for work that works for you, this show delivers sharp strategy, smart scripts, and real talk. No fluff, no filler, just focused guidance to help you lead, own your voice, and win with intention.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashlee Hayes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ashlee Hayes
  • Show Website
    This Wasn't My Plan