How a Friday Afternoon Email Turned Into My Dream Gig
The boring, unmagical truth behind getting opportunities you love.
I’m often asked, “How did you get THAT gig?”
Today, I’ll share the EXACT email sequence that scored me a dream gig at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.
More on that below.
But first, a countdown: We start Session 1 of my masterclass series (Workshop Design) in three hours. If you want the frameworks I’ve used to build this business, grab your spot now.
(…And a quick shout-out to everyone joining from Stevie’s recommendation - welcome! And if you don’t know Stevie Dillon, you’ll absolutely LOVE reading about her latest adventure: I’ve Moved to a Greek Island With My Two Young Kids and I (Finally) Feel Alive Again 🇬🇷)
I Just... Asked
The anticlimactic story behind hosting a panel at Suncorp Stadium
Last weekend, I hosted the Brisbane Roar in Business event at Suncorp Stadium. It’s the second year I’ve hosted this event, this time sharing the stage with Michael Zullo (former Socceroo), Mari Seidl (Roar Midfielder), and Matthew Heath (Swyftx).
We talked about leadership, high performance, and navigating uncertainty. Afterward, my DMs blew up with one question, “How did you get THAT gig?”
People assume there’s a secret handshake or a high-level agent involved. Unfortunately, the truth is so boring it almost doesn’t feel worth sharing.
That’s exactly why I’m sharing it.
The email trail
Let’s rewind to June 21, 2024.
I was browsing the Brisbane Roar website and noticed they had photos from a corporate event I’d missed. So I emailed the generic contact address.
“Happy Friday! I was wondering if you could send me details on the Roar in Business network?”
She replied: “We’re looking at hosting a few more. Would you like me to reach out with information once these have been finalised?”
I responded on June 28: “Yes please! Would love to stay up to date with the events.”
If this were a movie, the story would end there. Leanne signs up for the mailing list. Leanne attends the next event. Leanne eats a sausage roll in the corporate box and goes home happy.
But a couple of days later, I had an idea….
I was probably making a coffee or walking Quincey when I realised - I’d just signed up as an attendee, but I run panels and host events for a living.
Why was I sitting on that?
Now, my first instinct wasn’t to fire off a bold pitch, it was to talk myself out of it.
I sat on it for a couple of days. Then I decided the cost of sending a slightly awkward email was a lot lower than the cost of wondering what would have happened if I had.
So on July 1, 2024, I sent this:
“Sorry, just adding to my previous email. I’m a business speaker/consultant, as well as an OG Roar Supporter (I helped set up The Den way back in 2005!).
If you need someone to help host panel conversations, MC, or speak in any way, I would be delighted to help out at a Roar event.
Happy to chat more! No problem at all if not interested, just thought I’d throw the idea out there.”
That’s was it.
She reached out last year, inviting me to host the panel. Then again this year.
Why it worked (and why it almost didn’t)
Looking back, the email passed a test that I now think about whenever I’m reaching out cold. Two criteria:
1. Find a task or skill that nobody else wants to do.
Hosting a live panel in front of a room full of corporate guests is something that gives a lot of people a physical stress response. For me, it’s super fun. When you offer to host, facilitate, or speak, you’re solving a massive headache for an organiser. You’re removing a problem from their to-do list.
2. Make sure that task is tremendously helpful to the person in charge.
I wasn’t pitching a keynote about my book. I was offering to make their existing event run better. That’s very different. It also helped that I could prove alignment - I’d been a supporter since 2005. I helped set up the original supporters club which made the ask feel natural.
By the way…
I’ve sent versions of this email many times - to organisations I admire, to events I wanted to be part of, to people whose work I follow. A lot of the time, I don’t hear back.
I’m not sharing the Roar story because it always works. I’m sharing it because it worked this time, and the only difference between this one and the ones that didn’t land, is that I kept sending them.
And yes, I know. It’s the Brisbane Roar. They’re not Liverpool FC. But hey, Suncorp Stadium is my Anfield.
You probably have your own version of this. A club, a brand, an association, a company you’ve followed for years. That kind of genuine affinity is rare, and look, we have one life, so why not reach out?
Don’t be scared to dream about working with, or for your a company, person, association or sporting team you admire.
Do your research - have a look at their website, events, strategy, connect with employees at the organisation on LinkedIn and see what they’re up to…
Then ask yourself: is there a gap I could fill? Is there a problem I could solve?
Tell me - have you reached out to someone you admire and offered to help out? Who, or what companies would be on your dream list? Let me know in the comments.
Catch what you can with Leanne (upcoming development opportunities)
1. How to design high-end client experiences (free live-stream)
Alan Weiss, the rockstar of consulting, and and I are BACK for martini + coffee time, coming to you LIVE on LinkedIn, where you can jump in, comment, ask your questions + enjoy the banter!
If you want to command premium fees, you need to deliver a premium experience.
We’re going to talk about the psychology of premium buyers, how to position your value from the very first interaction, and why your fees should reflect the transformation you provide, not the hours you work.
🍸 Martini Time (US): Thursday, 23 April @ 5:00 PM ET
☕ Coffee Time (AUS): Friday, 24 April @ 7:00 AM AEST
Join our LinkedIn Live (or catch the replay here).
2. Last Call: The "Best Of" Series starts at 9am
I’m kicking off Session 1 of 3 in Leanne Hughes - The Best Of (7 Years Distilled) series in three hours.
If you want the shortcuts, the templates, and the hard-won lessons from 7 years in the trenches, you need to be on the Zoom (okay, it’s being recorded, too).
Session 1: 90 Minutes to Masterful Workshop Design Friday 24 April
Session 2: 1 Idea → Infinite Opportunities Friday 1 May
Session 3: 7 Years of Solo Business Systems Friday 8 May
You can grab individual sessions for US$100 + tax, or the Full Bundle for US$180 + tax (saving you $120).
See you next week,
🌴
Leanne “Put your hand up“ Hughes
P.S. If this "no-luck-involved" breakdown made you think, hit the heart 💙 button. It helps more people find the strategy behind the "luck."
Thanks for the shout out @Leanne Hughes!
Great story Leanne!! Inspired me to pitch to the brands I love!