ScaleX™ Insider Podcast

Scaling leadership is the real story behind this episode with Jason T. Smith — not just how to grow a business, but how leadership must evolve every time a business scales. Jason started treating patients from a carport and went on to build Australia's largest physiotherapy network with 140+ locations, 700+ staff, and a $100M+ exit. But the real lesson isn't the scale — it's the leadership required to survive it. This episode explores scaling leadership in its rawest form: from accidental founder… to reluctant businessman… to a leader forced to reinvent himself at every stage of growth. For SME leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs, this conversation reveals what actually happens when your leadership no longer fits the size of your business. From early-stage chaos… To franchising and system building… To a full cultural reset at 50+ locations… To exiting at scale… Jason shares the brutal truth: you don't scale the business — you scale leadership or the business breaks you.   What you'll learn in this episode This conversation on scaling leadership breaks down: Why scaling leadership is harder than scaling revenue The 4-stage cycle of growth every leader must repeat How entrepreneurs unknowingly outgrow their own leadership style Why culture collapses when leadership becomes too corporate The moment Jason had to "blow up" his leadership structure How franchising forced a new level of scaling leadership Why SME leaders must constantly reinvent how they lead The danger of outsourcing vision in growing organisations Why conviction matters more than strategy in scaling leadership How to rebuild entrepreneurial energy inside large teams Why systems alone fail without evolving leadership What happens when leaders stop being close to the customer The leadership shift required from 10 → 50 → 100+ locations Throughout the episode, scaling leadership emerges as the central skill separating businesses that plateau from those that scale sustainably.   The turning points in scaling leadership Jason takes us through the real inflection points where scaling leadership was tested: From 1 → 10 locations: vision-led leadership under pressure From 10 → 45: building scalable franchise systems From 45 → 100+: radical cultural reset and leadership reinvention From growth to exit: leadership maturity and stewardship of wealth Each phase required a completely different version of scaling leadership, not just better systems or more people.   Key themes in scaling leadership Conviction over comfort in leadership decisions Leadership transformation at every growth stage Culture as the first system to break in scaling leadership The shift from operator → builder → visionary leader Why SME leaders must stay close to purpose while scaling The emotional and personal cost of rapid business expansion Jason shows that scaling leadership is not linear — it's cyclical, uncomfortable, and deeply personal.   The deeper leadership lesson One of the most powerful insights in this episode is simple: The business doesn't scale — your leadership does. And if it doesn't, everything else eventually breaks. That is the core of scaling leadership.   Timestamps 00:00 – From carport to national business 05:10 – The accidental entrepreneur story 12:45 – The quarter-life crisis moment 20:30 – Discovering scalable leadership 28:15 – Franchising and system building 36:40 – Scaling leadership across 50+ locations 45:55 – Culture breakdown and leadership reset 55:20 – Rebuilding entrepreneurial energy 01:05:10 – Selling a $100M+ business 01:15:00 – Timeless lessons on scaling leadership   Connect with Jason Smith Website: https://jasontsmith.com.au/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasontsmithaus?originalSubdomain=au Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business  ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalexelevate-scale-up-coaching/  ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator-programme/   Website: https://simplescaling.com  Email: [email protected]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/54151508/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling/

High performance for SME leaders is often claimed—but rarely tested in real behaviour. In this episode, Damian Hughes shares a raw, honest story about receiving unexpected feedback from a podcast guest—and what it reveals about leadership, culture, and radical candour in action. Across leadership, sport, and business, we often say we value honesty, feedback, and openness. But this moment exposes a deeper truth: 👉 Do people actually behave in line with the values they claim?   When Feedback Becomes a Leadership Reality Check Damian describes a habit he built as an interviewer: At the end of every conversation, he asks: "Have you got any feedback for me?" But one response cut through everything: "To be honest mate, I thought you were average." No sugarcoating. No diplomacy. Just direct feedback. For SME leaders, this moment is uncomfortable—but powerful. It highlights a key leadership truth: Feedback is only useful when it is honest Comfort often hides the truth Culture is revealed in what people actually say, not what they intend   High Performance for SME Leaders Starts With Receiving Truth Damian explains that the real skill is not asking for feedback—it's how you receive it. In this moment, he demonstrates something critical for high performance for SME leaders: Staying open instead of defensive Asking for clarity instead of reacting emotionally Probing for evidence, not just opinion When he asks "based on what?", the answer reveals something deeper: The guest doesn't even consume podcasts regularly Which means the feedback is not informed—it's instinctive. This raises an important leadership insight: 👉 Not all feedback is equal—but all feedback reveals something about perception.   When Values Are Tested, Not Stated The guest in the story states a core value: "I don't tell lies." And then immediately demonstrates it by refusing to soften the feedback. This becomes a live leadership test: Do values hold under pressure? Or do they shift depending on context? Damian highlights a key truth: 👉 Culture is not what people say—it is what they consistently do when it matters.   High Performance for SME Leaders = Behaviour Under Pressure This clip connects directly to the reality of scaling organisations: Many SMEs: Say they value honesty Say they want feedback Say they want high performance culture But struggle when: Feedback is uncomfortable Truth challenges ego Performance is questioned directly High performance for SME leaders is therefore not about aspiration—it is about consistency of behaviour under pressure.   Key Takeaways for SME Leaders Asking for feedback is easy—receiving it well is leadership Not all feedback is informed, but all feedback is revealing High performance is defined by behaviour, not intention Culture only exists when values are demonstrated under pressure Borrowed behaviours without ownership do not create performance   About Damian Hughes Damian Hughes is an in-demand speaker, Sunday Times bestselling author, and trusted advisor to leaders in sport, business, and education. He co-hosts the High Performance Podcast, which has surpassed 250 million downloads across 190 countries, and is widely recognised for translating elite performance thinking into practical leadership behaviours. His work focuses on one core idea: 👉 turning abstract leadership concepts into simple, repeatable behaviours that drive performance. SCALEX AND SIMPLE SCALING: Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate (for businesses under £2M revenue) ScaleX Accelerator: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme(for businesses over £2M revenue) Website: https://simplescaling.com  Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling   ScaleX Insider is a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus. Podcast Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling

High performance for SME leaders is often misunderstood, overcomplicated, and inconsistent. In this episode, Damian Hughes unpacks why "high performance" is not a universal definition—but a deeply personal one that every leader must define for themselves. Across 400+ interviews, Damian discovered a striking truth: there is no consistent definition of high performance. That means SME leaders, founders, and teams may all be chasing the same goal… but actually aiming at completely different outcomes. So the real question becomes: 👉 What does high performance for SME leaders actually look like in behaviour, not theory?   Why "High Performance" Is Too Abstract Damian explains that most leadership language—high performance, change, growth—is too abstract to be useful in real business environments. For SME leaders, this creates a problem: Everyone says they want "high performance" But nobody defines what it looks like in action And teams end up misaligned without realising it If high performance is subjective, then clarity must come from behaviours, not buzzwords.   From Ideas to Behaviours That Drive Performance Damian's breakthrough came from a simple but powerful shift: Stop asking "What is high performance?" Start asking "What do high performers actually do?" This reframing is critical for SME leaders who want to scale: High performance is not a label It is a set of repeatable micro-behaviours Clarity comes from action, not language This thinking directly shaped Damian's "microhabits" approach—turning big leadership ideas into simple, repeatable daily actions.   The Power of Small Daily Behaviours One of the clearest examples comes from Olympic diver Tom Daley. Under extreme pressure at the Olympics, he simplified performance to just three daily goals: Control breathing Focus on body position Stay present under pressure Over time, this became automatic. The insight for SME leaders: High performance is not intensity—it is consistency of small behaviours under pressure. Research supports this too: small daily goal-setting creates compounding performance improvements over time.   The Real Challenge for SME Leaders For SME leaders, the danger is not lack of ambition—it is lack of clarity. Without behavioural clarity: Teams interpret "high performance" differently Execution becomes inconsistent Growth slows without obvious cause The solution is simple but powerful: 👉 Define high performance through behaviour, not aspiration   Key Takeaways for SME Leaders High performance is subjective—define it clearly in your organisation Replace abstract leadership language with observable behaviours Focus on small, repeatable actions that compound over time Build clarity through habits, not slogans Simplicity drives execution at scale   About Damian Hughes Damian Hughes is an in-demand speaker, Sunday Times bestselling author, and trusted advisor to leaders in sport, business, and education. His journey began in a small boxing gym in Manchester, where his father quietly shaped young lives through belief, standards, and care. Today, he is also the co-host of the High Performance Podcast, which has over 250 million downloads across 190 countries, and is one of the world's most influential voices on performance, culture, and leadership.   SCALEX AND SIMPLE SCALING: Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate (for businesses under £2M revenue)  ScaleX Accelerator: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme(for businesses over £2M revenue)  Website: https://simplescaling.com  Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling   ScaleX Insider is a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus. Podcast Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling

High Performance Leadership for SME Leaders is the foundation of sustainable growth, culture building, and scaling with purpose. In this episode, we explore high performance leadership through the lens of behavioural science, storytelling, and real-world leadership inside elite sport, business, and education. Damian Hughes breaks down how high performance leadership for SME leaders is not about talent, but tiny repeatable behaviours, also known as microhabits. From boxing gyms in Manchester to advising elite organisations, Damian shares how high performance leadership is built through consistency, discipline, and culture. This conversation is packed with insights for SME leaders looking to scale with purpose, build resilient teams, and create lasting impact through high performance leadership for SME leaders. We dive into how high performance leadership for SME leaders is shaped by storytelling, feedback culture, and micro behaviours that compound over time. Damian explains why high performance leadership is about what people DO every day, not what they say. Damian also shares powerful lessons from interviewing over 400 elite performers, revealing that high performance leadership is accessible to anyone willing to build better habits. For SME leaders, this means shifting from abstract strategy to practical action through high performance leadership for SME leaders. We also explore: The power of microhabits in high performance leadership How culture is built in SME leaders organisations Why storytelling drives high performance leadership for SME leaders How feedback systems strengthen high performance leadership Why rest is essential for high performance leadership This episode is essential listening for any SME leaders looking to scale with clarity, consistency, and purpose through high performance leadership for SME leaders.   Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to High Performance Leadership 03:20 Scaling with Purpose 08:10 Microhabits and Behavioural Change 15:40 Storytelling in Leadership 24:10 Building Culture in SME Leaders 34:00 Feedback & Performance Systems 42:30 Rest, Recovery & Sustainability 50:00 Final Reflections on High Performance Leadership   About Damian Sunday Times bestselling author | Speaker | Co-host of The High Performance Podcast Co-host of the High Performance Podcast (250M+ downloads, 190 countries) Connect with Damian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-hughes-a376121/ Website: https://liquidthinker.com/   ScaleX & Simple Scaling: 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme 🌐 Website: https://simplescaling.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling   If you're an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business:  👍 Like this video  💬 Comment your biggest takeaway  🔁 Share with another SME leader  🔔 Subscribe for more scaling insights    Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Clare Colvin, Co-Founder Simple Scaling

Your inner monster speaks to you daily. Claire Colvin tells her to go back to bed because she's not good enough. One moment everything she touches turns to gold, the next day she questions why they're paying her. Rhett Power reveals in Head of Mentals that it's not about eliminating your monster, it's about learning to cohabitate with it productively. Claire and Brendan discuss the monster and maverick concept, how limiting beliefs impede your scaling potential, and the flavour of not-enoughness we all share. Claire and Brendan discuss Rhett Power's Head of Mentals book about monster and maverick which speaks directly to Psyche first principle of scaling, whether you're secure enough in own mindset to invite others into your practice or monster so loud creating insecurity won't permit vulnerable in front of team, Claire's confession her monster says go back to bed you're not good enough you shouldn't be doing this, the reality it's not about getting rid of monster but learning to cohabitate with monster productively and healthily, how all leaders have some form of limiting beliefs some more sinister some lie deeper, flavour of not enoughness in some variety, and how those beliefs when unhealthy show up as I don't need to practice or not inviting people in or avoiding presentation completely which impedes scaling potential. ABOUT SIMPLE SCALING: 📘 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: [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you're an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: 👍 Like this video 💬 Comment: What does your monster say? 🔁 Share with leader battling their monster 🔔 Subscribe for more scaling insights From: Season 19 Wrap Up Hosts: Brendan McGurgan & Claire Colvin, Co-Founders Simple Scaling Based on: Rhett Power - Head of Mentals

My team won't take responsibility. You're the problem. You tell your team where to go, then you bake the plan for how to get there. Result: zero accountability. Claire and Brendan reveal the solution - adopt a followership mindset, let your team create the plan, and accountability gets automatically baked in. Stop telling them how. Step behind, not in front. They're craving to be empowered. Claire and Brendan discuss deconstructing vision into goals where leader intentionally does not appear as owner of any goals so team steps up takes lead owns tasks, the challenge when leader tells team where going AND bakes the plan to get there which results in zero accountability, adopting followership mindset by saying here's where we want to go you create the plan which automatically bakes in accountability, inviting leaders to let go and follow team in creation and execution of plan, stepping behind not in front, understanding wonderful people around you craving to be empowered, and being more intentional showing up in business adopting follower mindset instead of telling them how. ABOUT SIMPLE SCALING: 📘 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: [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you're an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: 👍 Like this video 💬 Comment: Do you bake the plan or let your team? 🔁 Share with leader who needs this 🔔 Subscribe for more scaling insights From: Season 19 Wrap Up Hosts: Brendan McGurgan & Claire Colvin, Co-Founders Simple Scaling

Why your team won't take responsibility, how to build accountability in your team, and leadership mistakes killing your business revealed in Season 19 wrap up. Claire Colvin and Brendan McGurgan discuss why ineffective followers become toxic leaders, how calendar becomes performance tool versus to-do list slavery, the shocking 280 hours practice to 11 minutes performance ratio, psychological safety as predictor of high performance, Claire's inner monster confession, wonder wall for curiosity, nervous system regulation, and why transforming people matters more than profitability. Claire and Brendan explore Dr Tony Bridwell's revelation about followership and why ineffective followers become toxic leaders, Clint Rahe's calendar performance tool versus to-do list slavery, Ben Utecht's shocking 280 hours practice to 11 minutes performance ratio that exposes how backwards most leaders have it, Amy Edmondson's psychological safety as predictor of high performance including her mind-bending quote about vulnerability, Rhett Power's monster and maverick concept and Claire's confession about what her monster tells her daily, plus Dale Beaumont's systemize everything framework, Brian Solis's wonder wall for curiosity, nervous system regulation for parasympathetic state, Claire's commitments including ChatGPT mentor search and 3R exercise that revealed huge gaps, and three timeless takeaways about clarity inside creating momentum outside, culture as pebble game not boulder game, and why if you think purpose of life is winning Super Bowl you've completely missed the point. [00:00] Season 19 reflections [05:15] Followership revelation Dr Tony Bridwell [12:30] Calendar performance tool Clint Rahe [18:45] Curiosity wonder wall Brian Solis [24:20] Psychological safety Amy Edmondson [31:10] 280 hours practice Ben Utecht [38:25] Bold grace Tony Dungy [44:50] Monster and maverick Rhett Power [52:15] Systemize everything Dale Beaumont [58:40] Claire's commitments [64:30] Three timeless takeaways SEASON 19 GUESTS REFERENCED: Dr Tony Bridwell, Amy Edmondson, Clint Rahe, Ben Utecht, Rhett Power, Brian Solis, Dale Beaumont ABOUT SIMPLE SCALING: 📘 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: [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you're an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: 👍 Like this video 💬 Comment your biggest takeaway 🔁 Share with another SME leader 🔔 Subscribe for more scaling insights Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Claire Colvin, Co-Founder Simple Scaling