Resilience Over Perfection

🎙️ Resilience Over Perfection with Gary ParsonsWhat happens when success on paper doesn’t match how you feel inside?In this powerful episode of Scaling Up, Not Giving Up, Richard Lee sits down with Gary Parsons — founder, board advisor, and host of Leaders in Disguise — to talk about the emotional reality of growing a business and what it takes to walk away when the cost becomes too high.Gary built a multi-million-pound people consultancy, expanded internationally, led a team through rapid growth — and quietly burned out. He opens up about the pressures of leadership, the shame of being on antidepressants while collecting awards, and the guilt that came with stepping back.But this isn’t just about burnout — it’s about recovery. And why, if Gary were investing in a founder today, he wouldn’t pick the polished one. He’d pick the one who’s struggled and survived.💬 In this episode:Starting a business in a recession — and survivingWhen growth becomes a grindThe moment Gary knew he was burning outMental health, leadership guilt, and antidepressantsLetting go of identity as “the founder”Why resilience is more investable than perfectionRedefining success after stepping back🌐 More episodes, newsletter & resources → richard-lee.co.uk