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ScaleX™ Insider Podcast

Brendan McGurgan

My name is Brendan McGurgan and I am immersed in the world of scaleup businesses. In 2020, myself and business partner Claire Colvin co-founded Simple Scaling with the sole purpose of inspiring and enabling millions of ambitious leaders to scale with purpose. Over the past two years we have researched and examined our success and the success of those who have 'been there and done it' to create the 10 Principles of Scaling which is enshrined in our ScaleX™ Framework. As an extension of this we have created the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast.

Every week I will be having fascinating conversations with authors, change makers and business leaders on one or more of the ScaleX™ Principles to support you on your journey to success. I believe passionately in business scaleup and most importantly the wellbeing of you - the aspirational scaleup leader. New episodes on Wednesdays. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts, and please rate, review and share the podcast if you enjoy it. For more information go to: www.simplescaling.com.

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S21 · E9
Friday · 2 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Building Your Leadership Identity with JL Holdsworth
Becoming a scaling leader starts with how you see yourself and the habits you build. In this clip from ScaleX Insider, Brendan McGurgan and JL Holdsworth explore the connection between identity, consistent action and leading a growing business. Drawing on his experience as a powerlifter, JL shares his perspective on why new leadership practices can feel uncomfortable at first. They discuss how habits and meaningful coaching conversations can help leaders build confidence in their ability to scale. Timestamps 00:00 Do you see yourself as a scaling leader? 00:40 How practices and habits shape leadership identity 01:10 JL's perspective on resistance to change 01:50 How a coaching conversation can shift confidence 03:15 Looking beneath the labels we give ourselves 04:00 Connecting your internal state with your ability to scale Connect with JL Holdsworth 🌐 Website: jlholdsworth.com💼 LinkedIn: JL Holdsworth ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Host: Brendan McGurgan Guest: JL Holdsworth
S21 · E9
Friday · 3 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Staying Calm: The Experience That Changed JL Holdsworth
Staying calm once felt unfamiliar to JL Holdsworth. In this clip from ScaleX Insider, he tells Brendan McGurgan how a four-day workshop in South Africa led to an unexpected change that his wife noticed in just four words. JL had travelled there to improve his performance. Instead, he describes finding himself responding calmly to a conversation that would previously have triggered anger. That experience began an 11-year exploration of the relationship between his nervous system, internal state and behaviour. For business leaders, his story raises a relatable question: how does the state you bring into a conversation affect the people around you? Timestamps 00:00 The four-day workshop in South Africa 00:15 The phone call that revealed something had changed 00:50 Staying calm instead of reacting with anger 01:25 "My wife could feel the difference in four words" 01:55 The beginning of an 11-year exploration 02:40 Reflecting on his past violence and behaviour 03:30 JL's perspective on internal state and behaviour 04:00 "I haven't even thought about being in a fight in 11 years" Connect with JL Holdsworth 🌐 Website: jlholdsworth.com💼 LinkedIn: JL Holdsworth ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: JL Holdsworth
S21 · E9
Wednesday · 1 hr 16 min
Leadership Under Pressure: How to Stay Calm with JL Holdsworth
Leadership under pressure can mean dealing with a key employee leaving, a difficult customer or an unexpected setback. In this episode of ScaleX Insider, JL Holdsworth joins Brendan McGurgan to explore how leaders can stay calm, think clearly and lead through uncertainty. A world champion powerlifter, entrepreneur and performance coach, JL shares how a serious back injury led him to explore human performance beyond physical strength. He describes how a four-day experience in South Africa changed his behaviour, relationships and approach to life. Brendan and JL discuss why lasting habits matter more than willpower, how our internal state affects the decisions we make and why working harder can only take us so far. JL introduces his approach, internal state calibration, and its three pillars: mind state, neuro state and state shift. Through everyday business examples and a live breathing demonstration, they explore leadership under pressure and what it could mean to approach challenging situations with greater calm and clarity. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to JL Holdsworth 01:15 What it means to scale with purpose 04:00 Why habits matter more than discipline 10:00 Why knowing what to do isn't always enough 16:15 A serious back injury and the return to competition 24:00 Seeking better performance and finding unexpected change 29:00 The four-day experience that changed JL's approach to life 34:20 How personal change affects relationships 38:10 Understanding the internal state you lead from 44:20 Rethinking how we experience stress and anxiety 48:00 Staying grounded when difficult news arrives 54:20 How JL assesses a leader's response to pressure 61:00 The three pillars of internal state calibration 62:00 JL's perspective on how the nervous system operates 66:00 Preparing for challenging situations before they happen 71:25 Navigating the pressures of entrepreneurship 75:45 JL's approach to bodywork and breathing 79:00 A live breathing demonstration with Brendan 87:15 Exploring tension mapping 91:35 Connecting with JL and learning more about his work 95:25 Three timeless takeaways About JL Holdsworth JL Holdsworth is a world champion powerlifter, entrepreneur, performance coach and founder of The Spot Athletics. He is also the co-founder of Reflexive Performance Reset. His work explores the relationship between physical performance, internal state and how people handle pressure. In this conversation, he introduces his internal state calibration framework and shares the personal experiences behind it. Connect with JL Holdsworth 🌐 Website: jlholdsworth.com💼 LinkedIn: JL Holdsworth ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Anne Lackey Host: Brendan McGurgan Guest: JL Holdsworth If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with another business leader.
S21 · E8
October 2 · 5 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] AI and Remote Work: Will AI Replace Remote Teams?
Will AI replace the people currently providing remote support to businesses? In this clip from ScaleX Insider, Brendan McGurgan asks Anne Lackey, Co-Founder and CEO of HireSmart Virtual Employees, how she sees AI and remote work evolving as digital agents become more capable. Anne isn't ignoring the potential disruption. But she also believes businesses need to look beyond the hype and consider the real cost, reliability and risk of replacing people with AI. For many tasks, having a trusted person who can make decisions, respond and take ownership still provides significant value. But that doesn't mean avoiding AI. Anne believes businesses should empower their people to use it responsibly. At HireSmart, she has introduced AI leadership training focused not simply on prompting, but on understanding when AI should be used, where the risks are and how to use it appropriately. And that requires something many businesses still don't have: a clear AI policy. For Anne, the future isn't simply AI versus people. It's about understanding where technology adds value, where people add value and giving teams clear boundaries for using both effectively. Timestamps 00:00 – Will AI Disrupt Remote Staffing? 01:05 – The Cost and Risk of AI Agents 02:00 – Why Human Support Still Matters 02:45 – Teaching Employees to Use AI Responsibly 03:35 – Why Every Business Needs an AI Policy 04:25 – AI vs Human Remote Support 05:15 – Scaling Impact Through People Connect with Anne Lackey Website: HireSmart Virtual Employees LinkedIn: Anne Lackey ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Anne Lackey
S21 · E8
October 2 · 3 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Why Your Team Needs to Know What Great Looks Like
One of the biggest mistakes leaders make when managing people isn't hiring the wrong person. It's failing to tell them what success actually looks like. In this clip from ScaleX Insider, Anne Lackey, Co-Founder and CEO of HireSmart Virtual Employees, explains why leadership clarity matters regardless of where your team is based. People can't perform against expectations they don't understand. Anne believes every employee should know why they were hired, the problem they are there to solve, their priorities and how their performance will be measured. That's why her team defines the roles, responsibilities and scorecards first, and then matches people to those roles. And when someone isn't meeting the standard, avoiding the conversation doesn't help them or the business. Clear expectations give people the opportunity to improve and help leaders understand whether they have the right person in the right role. Timestamps 00:00 – The Biggest Mistake in Managing People 00:38 – Define the Problem Each Role Solves 01:25 – Using Clear Priorities and Scorecards 02:15 – When Someone Isn't the Right Fit 03:05 – Build the Role Before Matching the Person 04:02 – Why Clear Expectations Are Kind 04:38 – Creating a Culture of Accountability Connect with Anne Lackey Website: HireSmart Virtual Employees LinkedIn: Anne Lackey ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Anne LackeyAnne Lackey, remote staffing, virtual staffing, virtual employees, remote teams, business scaling, scaling a business, business delegation, leadership clarity, team management, workforce planning, remote team management, business productivity, employee accountability, organisational design, AI and remote work, business leadership, HireSmart Virtual Employees
S21 · E8
September 30 · 1 hr 3 min
Remote Staffing: Anne Lackey on Building Teams That Scale
What if scaling your business isn't about doing more, but getting the right people doing the right work? In this episode of ScaleX Insider, Brendan McGurgan is joined by Anne Lackey, Co-Founder and CEO of HireSmart Virtual Employees, to explore how remote staffing can help business owners create capacity, delegate effectively and build a business that doesn't depend on them for everything. Anne's entrepreneurial journey began more than 20 years ago after watching a close friend become seriously ill and seeing the financial impact on his family. It changed how Anne and her husband, Mark, thought about work, money and freedom — and eventually led them to build multiple businesses together. But creating a business didn't automatically create freedom. Like many founders, Anne struggled to let go. A cancer diagnosis in 2022 accelerated a transition already underway and reinforced an important lesson: freedom requires trust. Anne and Brendan explore why founders often remain trapped in low-value work and why being busy doesn't necessarily mean being productive. Through HireSmart, Anne regularly sees highly paid employees spending time on tasks that could be handled by remote support. She even has a list of 47 things CEOs and senior leaders should never be doing. But successful delegation isn't simply about hiring someone. It starts with clarity. Leaders need to know why a role exists, what problem that person is solving and what great performance actually looks like. Anne also shares her perspective on AI, why businesses need clear policies around its use and why she believes human support will continue to play an important role as technology evolves. Ultimately, her approach to scaling is simple: solve a real problem, serve others and stay focused on your prime directive. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Anne Lackey 01:00 – What Scaling With Purpose Means 04:00 – The Experience That Sparked Anne's Entrepreneurial Journey 09:00 – Entrepreneurship, Freedom and Learning to Let Go 13:00 – How Cancer Accelerated Anne's Leadership Transition 18:00 – Why You Need to Be Ready for Mentorship 23:00 – How COVID Changed the Business 28:00 – Turning Expensive Mistakes Into Lessons 32:00 – Why Anne Wishes She Had Bet on Herself Sooner 36:00 – What HireSmart Virtual Employees Does 41:00 – The Hidden Cost of Low-Value Work 46:00 – 47 Things CEOs Should Never Be Doing 51:00 – Why Founders Struggle to Delegate 55:00 – Define the Role Before Hiring the Person 59:00 – The Leadership Clarity Most Businesses Are Missing 1:03:00 – What Makes Remote Staffing Work 1:06:00 – AI and the Future of Remote Work 1:09:00 – Anne Lackey's Three Timeless Takeaways 1:10:00 – What's Next for Anne Lackey About Anne Lackey Anne Lackey is the Co-Founder and CEO of HireSmart Virtual Employees and founder of HireSmart Cares. With more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and seven companies under her belt, Anne helps businesses scale through smarter staffing models, workforce planning and remote team development. Through HireSmart Virtual Employees, Anne and her husband, Mark, help US businesses build remote support teams in the Philippines across administration, sales, marketing, accounting and customer service. Anne is also a best-selling author, former Forbes Business Council contributor and frequent speaker on business efficiency, remote teams and scaling through smart staffing. Connect with Anne Lackey Website: HireSmart Virtual Employees LinkedIn: Anne Lackey ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Anne Lackey
S21 · E7
September 25 · 2 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] How to grow a small business with a conservative budget
Growing a small business doesn't always mean spending more, hiring expensive executives or raising outside capital. For Jeremy Middleton, the priority is proving that the business already works. In this clip, Jeremy explains why small businesses need people who can execute, not simply more strategy, and why raising early-stage capital can be an expensive way to fund growth. Before scaling, he looks for a cash-generative model, repeatable unit economics, a clear competitive edge and a founder with realistic ambitions. Because sustainable growth doesn't have to happen overnight. Get the model right, repeat what works and keep compounding over time. Timestamps 00:00 – Why Small Businesses Need People Who Execute 00:49 – The Cost of Raising Capital Too Early 01:18 – When Is a Business Really Ready to Scale? 01:48 – Proving Your Business Model Is Repeatable 02:27 – Finding Your Competitive Edge 02:55 – Why Sustainable Growth Takes Time Connect with Jeremy Middleton Website: Middleton Enterprises LinkedIn: Jeremy Middleton ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Jeremy Middleton
S21 · E7
September 25 · 2 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Why a Business Partnership Has to Evolve as You Scale with Jeremy Middleton
What makes a business partnership work as the company grows? For Jeremy Middleton, it starts with trust, alignment and clarity — but the original agreement shouldn't necessarily be set in stone. In this clip, Jeremy shares how his 50/50 partnership with Sir Richard Harpin evolved as HomeServe grew, and why Jeremy himself suggested changing the deal when Richard became the driving force behind the business. For Jeremy, protecting a business partnership isn't about holding tightly to your original share of the cake. It's about recognising when circumstances have changed and finding an arrangement that continues to work for everyone. As he puts it: "A little of a lot is a lot better than a lot of a little." Timestamps 00:00 – What Makes a Strong Business Partnership? 00:42 – Why Partnerships Need to Evolve 01:31 – Changing the 50/50 HomeServe Deal 02:43 – A Little of a Lot Beats a Lot of a Little Connect with Jeremy Middleton Website: Middleton Enterprises LinkedIn: Jeremy Middleton ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Jeremy Middleton
S21 · E7
September 23 · 52 min
Long-Term Business Growth: Jeremy Middleton on Thinking in Decades
What does it really take to build a business that can keep growing for decades? In this episode of ScaleX Insider, Brendan McGurgan is joined by Jeremy Middleton, co-founder of HomeServe and founder of Middleton Enterprises, to explore what long-term business growth looks like from someone who has experienced it first-hand. Jeremy co-founded the business that would become HomeServe alongside Sir Richard Harpin, beginning a journey that would span around 30 years and ultimately create a multi-billion-pound business. But Jeremy's role in that journey was different from Richard's. As HomeServe developed, Jeremy recognised that Richard was the stronger operator. Rather than competing for the CEO position, they adapted their partnership, allowing each of them to focus on where they could create the most value. It's a lesson Jeremy has carried into his work as an investor today: know what you're good at, know what you're not, and build around those strengths. Jeremy and Brendan explore what founders need to prove before a business is genuinely ready to scale. For Jeremy, it starts with the economics. The business needs to generate cash, the model needs to be repeatable, there needs to be a genuine competitive edge, and the founder needs a sensible plan for growth. And believing those things isn't enough. You need evidence. The conversation also challenges the pressure many entrepreneurs feel to grow faster, enter new markets or raise significant external capital. Jeremy explains why he often finds himself encouraging founders to do the opposite: get the existing model right, prove it works repeatedly and then keep building on it. Because many businesses don't realise their true potential in three or five years. They do it after ten, twenty or even thirty. Jeremy also shares his perspective on raising external capital, why giving away equity too early can become incredibly expensive, and why founders should be clear about exactly what they need the money for before bringing an investor into the business. They also explore what happens when the founder's personal needs begin to change. Taking some money off the table doesn't necessarily mean selling the business. And stepping away from day-to-day operations doesn't mean walking away from what you've built. By separating the business, your ownership and your role within it, Jeremy believes founders can create more freedom while still allowing the business to compound over the long term. Ultimately, Jeremy's approach to scaling is remarkably simple: build something that works, stay focused on it and give it enough time to reach its potential. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Jeremy Middleton 00:37 – What Scaling With Purpose Really Means 03:24 – Knowing Your Strengths as a Founder 07:00 – When the Founder Should Step Back 13:54 – Building Successful Business Partnerships 19:14 – Confronting the Brutal Facts 25:10 – Scaling From £100 Million to £1 Billion 30:09 – How to Know When a Business Is Ready to Scale 35:13 – Think in Decades, Not Years 40:00 – Building Long-Term Compounders 45:04 – When Should You Take External Investment? 50:29 – Where Promising Businesses Break During Scale 53:00 – Taking Money Off the Table Without Exiting 56:33 – Think More and Do Less 58:06 – Jeremy Middleton's Three Timeless Takeaways 60:15 – What's Next for Middleton Enterprises About Jeremy Middleton Jeremy Middleton is the Founder and CEO of Middleton Enterprises, a family office he established in 2000 to help entrepreneurs scale SMEs. He works with the team on new investment decisions while supporting businesses across the existing portfolio to develop winning strategies. Jeremy is also the co-founder of HomeServe, where he worked alongside Sir Richard Harpin during its scaling journey. Connect with Jeremy Middleton Website: Middleton Enterprises LinkedIn: Jeremy Middleton ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: Simple Scaling Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Jeremy Middleton
S21 · E6
September 18 · 4 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] After 1,000 Interviews, This Lesson Stood Out with Jordan Harbinger
After interviewing around 1,000 people, Jordan Harbinger has heard thousands of stories. But some conversations have stayed with him long after the recording ended. One was with former Soviet spy Jack Barsky, whose story forced Jordan to think about what happens when work and duty are prioritised over family. Another was with Kobe Bryant. After their interview, Jordan expected Kobe to move quickly on to his next commitment. Instead, Kobe stayed to talk about their children. What struck Jordan was how little Kobe seemed concerned with fame, money or what came next professionally. His priority was getting to his daughter's game — even learning how to use his phone better so he could film her playing. Three or four months later, Kobe died. For Jordan, that memory became a powerful reminder that success is ultimately shaped by what you choose to prioritise — and that the time you assume you have with the people who matter most is never guaranteed. [00:00] – What Jordan learned from nearly 1,000 interviews [00:55] – Jack Barsky and choosing between work and family [01:55] – Jordan's interview with Kobe Bryant [02:40] – Discovering what Kobe valued most [03:35] – Kobe's excitement about getting to his daughter's game [04:15] – A conversation about mortality that took on new meaning [04:40] – The lesson Jordan took away about family and priorities Connect with Jordan Harbinger Website: jordanharbinger.com Podcast: The Jordan Harbinger Show ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com
S21 · E6
September 18 · 3 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] How to Network When You Don't Have Time | Jordan Harbinger
Networking often falls to the bottom of a founder's to-do list. Not because relationships aren't important, but because "networking" can feel vague, time-consuming and difficult to turn into a practical habit. Jordan Harbinger argues it doesn't have to be. His approach is something he calls Connect Four. Find one to four people you haven't spoken to in a while and send them a simple message. Remind them where you met, share a quick update about what's happening in your life and genuinely ask how they're doing. No pitch. No favour. No hidden agenda. Jordan says the key is to "dig the well before you get thirsty" — maintain relationships before you need a client, introduction, opportunity or favour. And it can take just a few minutes. Over time, those small conversations keep relationships alive and create a network built on genuine connection rather than transactions. [00:00] – Why busy founders struggle to prioritise networking [00:45] – Why networking doesn't need to be time-consuming [01:15] – Jordan's Connect Four networking habit [02:00] – How to reconnect with someone you haven't spoken to in years [02:50] – Why you should reconnect without asking for anything [03:35] – Turning a simple message into a genuine conversation [04:00] – How small conversations can strengthen your network Connect with Jordan Harbinger Website: jordanharbinger.com Podcast: The Jordan Harbinger Show ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com
S21 · E6
September 16 · 1 hr 2 min
Business Networking: How to Build Relationships Before You Need Them | Jordan Harbinger
Business networking, relationship building and scaling with purpose are more connected than most leaders realise. In this episode of ScaleX Insider, Brendan McGurgan sits down with Jordan Harbinger to explore how relationships, ambition and clear goals shape the way we scale. Jordan is the host of The Jordan Harbinger Show and has interviewed around 1,000 guests across business, psychology, science, geopolitics and culture. His argument is simple: success becomes dangerous when you never define what "enough" looks like. If every target moves the moment you reach it, you can end up constantly trading more time for the next level of achievement. Jordan calls this the hedonic treadmill. For him, one of the clearest measures of success is what he calls "Lego time" — the time he gets to spend with his children while they are still young enough to want it. That same intentionality runs through his approach to relationships. One of Jordan's core principles is: Dig the well before you get thirsty. Build relationships before you need a client, favour, introduction or opportunity. He also shares his Connect Four system: regularly reconnect with one to four people you haven't spoken to for a while, without pitching or asking for anything. Jordan argues that strong networks are built through depth, consistency and helping others — not collecting as many contacts as possible. And one of his most important rules is: Don't keep score. Instead, create value across your network and allow the benefits to compound over time. Brendan and Jordan also explore the people who have shaped Jordan's thinking after nearly 1,000 interviews, including Jack Barsky and Kobe Bryant, and the lessons those conversations taught him about work, family, purpose and time. Timestamps 00:00 – What does scaling with purpose really mean? 03:30 – Defining what "enough" looks like 07:00 – Why Jordan protects his "Lego time" 13:30 – Relationships as a competitive advantage 19:30 – Dig the well before you get thirsty 22:00 – Jordan's Connect Four networking system 28:00 – Why depth beats breadth in networking 32:30 – Becoming the connector in your network 36:00 – The real ROI of building relationships 41:00 – Why you should never keep score 46:00 – How one relationship led to this conversation 51:00 – Lessons from almost 1,000 interviews 54:00 – What Kobe Bryant taught Jordan about family and time 58:30 – What the most impressive people have in common 01:01:30 – Jordan's advice for growing a podcast 01:05:00 – Three timeless takeaways 01:06:30 – The hedonic treadmill and moving your goals About Jordan Harbinger Jordan Harbinger is the host of The Jordan Harbinger Show, where he interviews leading thinkers and experts across business, psychology, science, geopolitics and culture. Connect with Jordan Harbinger Website: https://www.jordanharbinger.com Podcast: The Jordan Harbinger Show ScaleX / Simple Scaling Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business Website: https://simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Jordan Harbinger
S21 · E5
September 11 · 5 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Using ChatGPT Isn't AI Transformation with Paul Cheek
Paul Cheek explains why simply giving everyone access to ChatGPT isn't AI transformation. The real opportunity isn't a 10% productivity boost. It's moving towards 10x efficiency by deeply embedding AI across the business. But before SME leaders start building AI agents and automating workflows, Paul says there's one place they need to start: AI literacy. His advice? Set aside some "Tinker Time" to experiment, learn what's possible and understand both the opportunities and the risks. [00:00] – How AI could help SMEs think 10x bigger [01:05] – Why using ChatGPT isn't the end game [01:45] – Moving from 10% productivity to 10x efficiency [02:20] – Why AI transformation starts with literacy [03:05] – Understanding the opportunities and risks of AI agents [04:05] – Why leaders should make time to tinker with AI [05:00] – How Brendan is already using Tinker Time in his own workflow Connect with Paul Cheek Website: paulcheek.com Book: No One Works Here: How AI-Driven Enterprises Are Raising the Bar for Business Leadership and Competition ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com
S21 · E5
September 11 · 3 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] The Business Model Built for the AI Era with Paul Cheek
Paul Cheek explains why AI is creating an entirely new model for how businesses scale. Traditional SMEs can start with limited upfront investment, but their growth often remains linear. Innovation-driven enterprises can achieve exponential growth, but typically require significant risk capital. Paul's AI-Driven Enterprise model brings those two worlds together — combining lower upfront resource requirements with the potential for exponential scale. And it isn't just for tech companies. It means embedding AI across the entire business to remove the limits of "human time" and increase the speed at which an organisation can operate. [00:00] – What is an AI-Driven Enterprise? [00:45] – Why traditional SME growth eventually becomes capped [01:30] – How innovation-driven enterprises achieve exponential growth [02:20] – The limitations of relying on risk capital [03:00] – The third model: the AI-Driven Enterprise [03:45] – Combining limited investment with exponential scale [04:30] – Why AI-driven enterprises aren't just tech companies [05:10] – Embedding AI across every function of the business [05:50] – Human time versus system time and removing the speed limit on growth Connect with Paul Cheek Website: paulcheek.com Book: No One Works Here: How AI-Driven Enterprises Are Raising the Bar for Business Leadership and Competition ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com
S21 · E5
September 9 · 52 min
AI-Driven Enterprise: How SMEs Can Unlock 10x Efficiency with Paul Cheek
Stop using AI just to save a few minutes. Paul Cheek, MIT Senior Lecturer, entrepreneur and author of No One Works Here, joins Brendan McGurgan on the ScaleX Insider podcast to explain why the real opportunity with AI isn't a 10% productivity boost — it's building an AI-driven enterprise capable of unlocking 10x efficiency. They explore where SME leaders should actually start with AI, why every team needs "Tinker Time," how leadership changes when humans and AI agents work together, and why AI literacy may determine whether your business can compete in the years ahead. 00:00 What scaling with purpose means to Paul Cheek 03:00 Why AI is about 10x efficiency, not 10% productivity 06:00 What No One Works Here really means for the future of work 10:00 Why AI should free people to do their most impactful work 12:30 Tinker Time and creating space for teams to experiment with AI 16:00 What makes an AI-driven enterprise different from a traditional SME 20:00 How AI can remove the traditional speed limits on business growth 23:00 Where SME leaders should start with AI 26:00 Why AI literacy comes before AI transformation 29:00 How to structure a Tinker Time day that actually produces learning 34:00 Why you shouldn't simply automate the way work is done today 37:00 The risk of AI projects becoming disconnected from business strategy 40:00 Moving from personal AI tools to shared agency across the organisation 44:00 How the role of the leader changes in an AI-driven business 47:00 AI agents, security risks and the importance of guardrails 50:00 Paul's vision for the AI-powered organisation of the future 52:30 The AI ROI trap and why leaders need to think long term 54:00 Why AI tools plus AI training do not equal AI transformation 55:00 Three timeless takeaways for leaders navigating AI Key ideas discussed: AI-driven enterprise, AI literacy, AI transformation, Tinker Time, AI agents, shared agency, system time versus human time, AI guardrails, business efficiency and the future of leadership. Resources mentioned: No One Works Here: How AI-Driven Enterprises Are Raising the Bar for Business Leadership and Competition by Paul Cheek Paul Cheek's AI transformation resources and Tinker Time guidance Connect with Paul Cheek: 🌐 Website: paulcheek.com 💼 LinkedIn: Paul Cheek 📘 Book: No One Works Here 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10X Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): simplescaling.com/solutions ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): simplescaling.com/solutions 🌐 Website: simplescaling.com ✉️ Email: hello@simplescaling.com 💼 LinkedIn: Simple Scaling 📸 Instagram: @simple_scaling If you're an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: 👍 Like this video 💬 Comment: Where could AI create the biggest impact in your business right now? 🔁 Share with a business leader who needs to move beyond simply using ChatGPT 🔔 Subscribe for more scaling insights 21Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder, Simple Scaling Guest: Paul Cheek, MIT Senior Lecturer, entrepreneur and author of No One Works Here
S21 · E4
September 4 · 5 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Why the Best Leaders Don't Need to Dominate with Dr Benjamin Granger
Eighty percent of employees are disengaged. Benjamin Granger, organisational psychologist and author, tells Brendan McGurgan on the ScaleX Insider podcast that dominance and prestige are the only two strategies humans use to achieve social status, and only one of them builds a business worth scaling. Dominance works in the short term. Every social animal uses it, from crickets to chimps to boardrooms. But the alpha never stays the alpha. Prestige is different. It is a uniquely human strategy built on knowledge, skill and talent applied for the betterment of the group, and it is the only leadership strategy that compounds over time. Full episode link in the description. Connect with Benjamin Granger: 🌐 Website: benjamingranger.com 💼 LinkedIn: Benjamin Granger 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalex-elevate ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator 🌐 Website: https://simplescaling.com ✉️ Email: hello@simplescaling.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Benjamin Granger, Author A Leader Worth Following
S21 · E4
September 4 · 4 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Hiring for EQ: What Great Leaders Look For with Dr Benjamin Granger
Dr Benjamin Granger explains why he would hire for EQ over IQ when choosing leaders — but why gut instinct alone is never enough. The best hiring decisions combine validated assessments, structured interviews, human-to-human conversations and a clear definition of what success looks like. And once you've done the due diligence? That's when Dr Benjamin believes you should listen to your gut. 00:00 – Why Ben would hire for EQ over IQ 01:05 – Don't replace human interviews with AI 01:50 – Look at how candidates achieved results 02:30 – When to trust your gut 03:35 – Why gut instinct alone is dangerous 04:35 – Define what great looks like before you hire Connect with Dr Benjamin Granger Website: benjamingranger.com Book A Leader Worth Following: How to Master Yourself, Influence Others, and Create Exceptional Experiences ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com
S21 · E4
September 2 · 1 hr 12 min
Leadership Skills Every Great Leader Needs with Dr Benjamin Granger
On ScaleX Insider, Dr Benjamin Granger explores the leadership skills that make someone worth following — from self-mastery and emotional intelligence to communication, body language and the ability to influence others. Benjamin is Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics Experience Management Institute and two-time best-selling author of A Leader Worth Following. His work explores the psychology behind leadership, employee experience and human behaviour. Benjamin explains the difference between dominance and prestige leadership. Dominance uses authority and pressure to get results and can work in the short term. Prestige is earned through knowledge, skill and contribution to the group — creating leadership people willingly follow. They also explore why being exceptional at your job does not automatically make you a great manager, why Ben would prioritise EQ over IQ when hiring leaders, and why organisations need better ways to reward brilliant individual contributors. Ben argues that communication, listening, vulnerability and self-awareness are not really "soft skills" at all. They are human skills — and as AI makes technical knowledge increasingly accessible, they could become even more important. He also shares practical ways leaders can improve how they show up, from intentional self-reflection and communicating more clearly to using body language more effectively and actively seeking perspectives they disagree with. The bigger message is simple: if you want to lead and scale others effectively, start by mastering yourself. In this episode: 00:00 – What scaling with purpose really means 04:00 – The three fundamental human motivators 09:00 – Dominance vs prestige leadership 16:00 – Why soft skills are really the hard skills 21:00 – Why great performers don't always make great managers 29:00 – Hiring for EQ, IQ and trusting your gut 36:00 – Self-mastery and conversations with your future self 43:00 – Why leaders need to rethink communication 49:00 – Shared mental models and team performance 53:00 – The hidden power of body language 1:00:00 – Practical body language tips for leaders 1:06:00 – Why you should seek out people who disagree with you 1:12:00 – Reciprocity, employee experience and customer experience 1:16:00 – How environment shapes behaviour 1:19:00 – Ben's three timeless leadership takeaways If you are scaling a business and want to become a leader people genuinely trust and want to follow, this episode offers a practical look at the psychology and behaviours that make that possible. About Dr Benjamin Granger Dr Benjamin Granger is Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics Experience Management Institute and two-time best-selling author of A Leader Worth Following. He has more than 15 years of experience building Experience Management programmes globally and leads employee experience thought leadership and research across Qualtrics and the XM Institute. His research has been featured in Bloomberg, CNBC, Fast Company, Fortune, The Financial Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications. Connect with Benjamin Granger Website: benjamingranger.com Book A Leader Worth Following: How to Master Yourself, Influence Others, and Create Exceptional Experiences ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com
S21 · E3
August 28 · 3 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Want Better Meetings? Ask Better Questions with Steven G. Rogelberg
Most leaders assume that having an agenda automatically leads to effective meetings. Steven G. Rogelberg's research shows that it doesn't. In this clip from the ScaleX Insider podcast, Brendan and Steven explore why traditional meeting agendas can become a "hollow crutch" and reveal a simple shift that can completely change the quality of a meeting: stop listing topics to discuss and start framing your agenda as questions to answer. Steven explains how this approach creates greater strategic focus, makes it clearer who actually needs to be in the room and gives every meeting a measurable outcome. And if you can't think of a question the meeting needs to answer? You might not need the meeting at all. 00:00 Why having an agenda isn't enough 00:45 Why traditional agendas become a "hollow crutch" 01:25 Turn agenda topics into questions 02:10 How questions create strategic focus 02:55 How questions determine who needs to be in the room 03:30 If you can't find the question, you may not need the meeting 04:00 Closing Book: The Surprising Science of Meetings by Steven G. Rogelberg Website: stevenrogelberg.com Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalex-elevate ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator Website: https://simplescaling.comEmail: hello@simplescaling.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you are an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: Like this video Comment: Does your meeting agenda list topics or questions? Share with a leader who spends too much time in meetings Subscribe for more scaling insights Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Steven G. Rogelberg
S21 · E3
August 28 · 4 min
[ScaleX Bite-Size] Effective Meetings: Why Most Managers Get Them Wrong with Steven G. Rogelberg
Most leaders think they know how to run effective meetings. But according to Steven G. Rogelberg, only around 25% of managers are actually trained to do it. In this clip from the ScaleX Insider podcast, Brendan and Steven explore why meeting effectiveness remains a major leadership blind spot, despite the enormous investment organisations make in meetings through time, salaries and lost opportunity. Steven explains why scaling businesses need to measure what is and isn't working, listen to their people and treat collaboration as a critical business process. Because effective meetings aren't just about saving time. Done well, they can unlock better ideas, strengthen talent retention and help create a more innovative organisation. 00:00 Why leaders overestimate their meeting effectiveness 00:45 Why most managers aren't trained to run meetings 01:30 The organisational blind spots around meetings 02:15 The hidden investment businesses make in meetings 03:00 Why someone needs to own collaboration 04:00 Building the people infrastructure to scale 05:00 How effective meetings support innovation and retention 05:48 Closing Book: The Surprising Science of Meetings by Steven G. Rogelberg Website: stevenrogelberg.com Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalex-elevate ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator Website: https://simplescaling.comEmail: hello@simplescaling.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you are an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: Like this video Comment: Who owns meeting effectiveness in your organisation? Share with a leader who spends too much time in meetings Subscribe for more scaling insights Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Steven G. Rogelberg

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