Episode Overview

Podcast: No Bullsh!t Leadership
Host: Martin G Moore
Episode: Champions Do Extra: 6 Leadership Habits That Separate Top Performers
Date: April 14, 2026

In this episode, Martin G Moore unpacks the concept that sets apart average leaders from exceptional ones: the willingness to "do extra." Drawing lessons from the autobiography of rugby legend Brad Thorne, Moore identifies six habits executive leaders can develop to push past mediocrity and accelerate their careers. The episode is practical, packed with stories and actionable advice, and challenges listeners to shift their mindset towards continuous self-improvement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “Champions Do Extra” – Brad Thorne’s Principles Applied to Leadership

[01:38 – 14:30]

• Discomfort Is a Door, Not a Barrier:
  “Discomfort is a door to unlock rather than a barrier to prevent you from progressing.”
  Moore urges leaders to embrace discomfort, whether it’s having tough conversations or admitting mistakes. The way you handle these moments, even when unseen, shapes your growth and career.

• Reward for Effort – You Earn, Not Entitled:
  “In this world, you don’t get what you’re entitled to, you get what you earn.”
  Moore stresses adopting a mindset that rewards come from earned effort—not entitlement.

• Seize Every Opportunity to Excel:
  “Every single time you’re in a room with more senior people, it’s a job interview.”
  Leaders are always being assessed, and every meeting is a chance to either increase or diminish your standing.

• Don’t Just Follow the Crowd:
  “If your boss is doing dumb shit… you’ve got to call it out.”
  Moore champions integrity, encouraging leaders to speak up rather than playing it safe by following authority unquestioningly.

• Doing Difficult Things Builds Mental Strength:
  "Willingly doing difficult things is your path to victory."
  He references neuroscience—expanding the anterior mid cingulate cortex (AMCC)—to highlight how regular exposure to discomfort actually builds mental resilience.

• Focus on Contribution, Not Self-Interest:
  “If we focus on our contribution to any situation instead of what we can get out of that situation, it completely changes the way we operate.”
  Shifting thought patterns from ‘what’s in it for me?’ to ‘how can I contribute?’ unleashes greater value.

• Minimize Regrets – Avoid “What Ifs”:
  “Many people I talk to have a mountain of regrets… as I look back on my almost 60 years, I have very few, if any regrets.”
  Moore encourages making decisions that prevent future regret by leaning into challenge, risk, and change.

2. A Candid Corporate Story: Doing Extra in Action

[14:31 – 22:00]

• Moore shares an unseen anecdote from his time as CEO at CS Energy:
  • Not about taking on more work, but focusing relentlessly on a critical issue: operational inefficiency in a power station.
  • Discovered “disturbingly low” productive tool time (less than 15%) due to wasted hours and inefficient processes.
  • Led a targeted, transparent initiative: personal oversight, direct line to consultants, weekly progress meetings, and detailed accountability.
  • Faced massive workforce resistance, but didn’t shy away: “I just wanted them to work for a living.”

Notable Quote:
“If I wasn’t the most hated man in the company before I did it, I most certainly was afterwards.” (Moore, 21:24)

3. 6 Leadership Habits to “Do Extra”

[22:01 – 30:34]

Moore distills six practical areas for leaders to outperform and accelerate their results.
He emphasizes that doing “extra” doesn’t mean more hours or more responsibility, but more focus on high-value actions.

Three to Take On:

1. Extra Risk:
   • Step into the spotlight when projects are high-profile and risky.
   • "What’s the worst that can happen? … At least you get credit for stepping up."
2. Extra Accountability:
   • Own critical or orphaned projects; be the rare leader who takes full personal responsibility.
3. Extra Personal Development:
   • Constantly seek knowledge and feedback.
   • “If you have no interest in developing yourself professionally, you might be in the wrong place.”

Three Never to Be Satisfied With:

4. Value Gap:
   • Relentlessly bridge the difference between the results your team delivers and what’s truly possible.
   • "Kill the busy work and find the value, and never be satisfied that you’re there."
5. Your Team’s Capability:
   • Always strive to elevate skills and standards beyond what’s currently accepted.
   • “Make sure you focus every single day on bringing every single individual up to the minimum acceptable standard.”
6. Pace of Improvement:
   • Never be content with slow growth; foster a culture of “productive impatience.”
   • “Champions do extra.”

Memorable Summary Quote:
“You can easily choose to just go along with a crowd to do the things that are safe… But champions do extra.” (Moore, 29:44)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Short-Term vs. Long-Term Thinking:
  “Let’s face it, it’s always going to be safer to stay exactly where you are and not take a risk… But the bottom line is, regrets loom large.” (13:44)

• On Corporate Culture and Resistance:
  “In some industries, the concept of a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay has completely disintegrated. The objective now seems to be to get paid as much as possible for doing as little as you can.” (20:10)

• Encouragement to Take Action:
  “You may be held back by the negative thought, what if I put all this extra effort in and don’t succeed? If you don’t choose to do extra, well, the outcome is entirely predictable because you’ll be exactly where you are right now.” (30:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:38] – Introduction to Brad Thorne’s “Champions Do Extra” principles
• [05:00-14:30] – Application of these principles to leadership and real-life examples
• [14:31-22:00] – Corporate story: fixing productivity at CS Energy
• [22:01-30:34] – The six leadership habits
• [29:44–30:34] – Final reflections, overcoming uncertainty, and call to action

Summary

This episode provides a no-nonsense blueprint for ambitious leaders: challenge comfort, push the boundaries of your contribution, and adopt the mindset that “champions do extra”—not as a one-off, but as a way of life. Moore’s actionable habits and candid storytelling offer both motivation and practical steps for listeners ready to stand out and accelerate their leadership journey.