ScaleX™ Insider Podcast

• [ScaleX Bite-Size] Michelle Johnston on Building Connection - "Stop Meeting in Windowless Rooms"

  Windowless conference rooms kill connection. PowerPoint presentations kill culture. Yet most SME leaders still meet this way, wondering why their teams feel disconnected and disengaged. Dr Michelle Johnston reveals a better way: motion creates emotion, and the best meetings happen outside, walking shoulder to shoulder. The Connection Walk Method: Michelle took physicians on a one-hour leisurely walk along the Mississippi River. Every 10-15 minutes, they paired up shoulder to shoulder with different colleagues and asked: "What does success look like to you by the end of the year?" "What's most challenging to you right now?" "How can I help?" The physicians admitted afterwards: "That was really powerful." Why Windowless Conference Rooms Kill Culture: One CEO was exhausted by Friday meetings where his team showed up in suits with PowerPoint slides, defending their jobs in a windowless conference room. Michelle's advice? "Invite them to your office for coffee. Sit around for 45 minutes and ask: 'What can I do to help you?'" The Meeting Hierarchy: Best: In-person, outdoors, walking shoulder to shoulder Better: Phone call whilst walking Good: Video call (last resort) The medium shapes the depth of connection. Why Motion Creates Emotion: Bart Foster of Business Outside built his company on this principle: walking shoulder to shoulder creates different chemistry than sitting across a table. His mantra: "Get us out of windowless conference rooms." The Questions Nobody Asks: What does success look like to you? What's most challenging right now? How can I help you? Simple. Easy. Powerful. Underutilized. Key Takeaways: Get people out of their comfort zone to build connective tissue. Rethink how you're meeting—format matters as much as content. No one wants to be talked at anymore. Walking shoulder to shoulder for one hour can create connections that last years. About Dr Michelle Johnston: Management professor at Loyola University New Orleans and co-author with Marshall Goldsmith of "The Seismic Shift in You." She helps leaders create connection-driven cultures that boost engagement and results. SCALEX™ AND SIMPLE SCALING: 📖 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🔗 ScaleX Elevate Community: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate 🔗 ScaleX Accelerator Programme: 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 ScaleX™ Insider is brought to you by Simple Scaling—creators of the ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme, a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus. 🔗 Learn more: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme Connect with Dr Michelle Johnston: Website: MichelleKJohnston.com | Email: [email protected] | Book: "The Seismic Shift in You" #ConnectionWalks #MeetingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamBuilding #SMEGrowth

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• [ScaleX Bite-size] Disconnection Is Killing Your Business Dr. Michelle K. Johnston

  Dr. Michelle K. Johnston reveals the hidden cost that disconnection is already imposing on SMEs: businesses are losing performance, wellbeing, and even lives because leaders aren't prioritising human connection. This clip explains why building intentional connection into your leadership is no longer optional—it's essential. KEY INSIGHTS: - Premature deaths are up 60% due to isolation, disconnection, and loneliness - 30 million adults report depression and isolation - Heart attacks and strokes are increasing, driven by social disconnection - Leaders must lean in with heart and humanity to counteract the cost of disconnection - Building meaningful connection is the "seismic shift" that drives both performance and wellbeing THE CRITICAL LESSON: Technology won't slow down. If leaders don't intentionally build deeper connection, their teams—and their businesses—pay the price. Michelle's advice: "We have to shift toward more meaningful, deeper connection. It's not optional. It's the only way to scale sustainably." FOR SME LEADERS: This isn't about remote work fatigue or Zoom burnout—it's about embedding human connection into every meeting, every conversation, and every interaction, so teams stay engaged, resilient, and thriving. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The alarming cost of disconnection in SMEs 00:30 Premature deaths, heart attacks, strokes—all rising due to isolation 01:15 The Thinkers50 insight that inspired The Seismic Shift in Leadership 02:00 Why AI and technology make connection more urgent 02:45 How leaders can lean in with heart and humanity CONNECT WITH DR. MICHELLE K. JOHNSTON: 🔗 LinkedIn: /drmichellejohnston 🔗 Website: https://www.michellejohnston.com 🔗 Podcast: The Seismic Shift WATCH FULL EPISODE: 🔗 [Link to full Michelle Johnston episode] SCALEX™ AND SIMPLE SCALING: 📖 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🔗 ScaleX Elevate Community: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate 🔗 ScaleX Accelerator Programme: 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 About ScaleX™ and Simple Scaling: ScaleX™ Insider is brought to you by Simple Scaling—creators of the ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme, a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus. 🔗 Learn more: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme

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• Dr. Michelle K. Johnston - Stop Losing Your Team to Digital Burnout

  Dr. Michelle K. Johnston, bestselling author of The Seismic Shift in Leadership, shares how authentic human connection can help leaders stop losing their team to digital burnout and transform organisational performance. From advising top executives to speaking on global stages, Michelle reveals the strategies that make connection a driver for trust, engagement, and sustainable growth. In this episode, host Brendan McGurgan dives into Michelle's insights, unpacking the mindset, practices, and rituals that allow leaders—especially SME founders and executives—to build meaningful relationships while scaling their businesses. Episode Highlights: The alarming price of disconnection: loneliness, depression, and even premature death are rising—what leaders can do to reverse the trend How focusing on relationships, rituals, and rhythms strengthens teams and drives results Practical strategies to build meaningful connection in meetings, including asking purposeful "connection questions" Why slowing down to connect actually helps leaders move faster and achieve better outcomes How SMEs can integrate connection into their culture, even amid virtual fatigue and high-pressure growth The role of gratitude and personal check-ins in cultivating trust and engagement Meet Dr. Michelle K. Johnston Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is an award-winning leadership expert, keynote speaker, and executive coach recognised globally for her work in connection-driven leadership. She teaches as a Distinguished Professor of Business at Loyola University New Orleans and coaches executives from Ochsner Health, JP Morgan Chase, MongoDB, and more. Her podcast, The Seismic Shift, ranks in the top 10% globally and features candid conversations with leaders transforming culture through connection. Key Topics Covered: → The price of disconnection in modern organisations → Building stronger teams through rituals, rhythms, and deliberate relationships → Practical ways to create connection in meetings and daily workflows → The science and practice of gratitude as a leadership tool → Balancing technology and human presence in high-growth SMEs → How authentic connection drives trust, performance, and sustainable scaling Who Should Listen This episode is essential for SME leaders, founders, executives, HR professionals, and anyone looking to lead with humanity while scaling their business. Michelle's insights provide actionable guidance to create high-performing, connected teams without losing the human touch. About Dr. Michelle K. Johnston Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is a global leadership expert blending academic insight with real-world impact. She is the author of The Seismic Shift in Leadership, a top-ten executive coach, keynote speaker, and professor, empowering leaders to scale with purpose and authenticity. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drmichellejohnston Podcast: The Seismic Shift Website: https://www.michellejohnston.com About ScaleX™ and Simple Scaling ScaleX™ Insider is brought to you by Simple Scaling — creators of the ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme. A 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through growth plateaus. Host: Brendan McGurgan Website: simplescaling.com Subscribe & Listen Watch on YouTube: Simple Scaling Channel Listen on Apple Podcasts: ScaleX Insider Listen on Spotify: ScaleX Insider

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• [ScaleX Bite-size] Anne Mahlum: How to Exit for $100M+ Without Being in the Room

  Anne Mahlum: Why I Wasn't in ANY Exit Meetings During My $100M Solidcore Sale | Founder Independence Anne Mahlum reveals the counterintuitive strategy that gave her complete leverage in her $100M Solidcore exit: she wasn't in a single meeting with the acquiring private equity firm. This clip explains why building a founder-independent business is the key to commanding premium valuations. KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS CLIP: Anne wasn't in ANY meetings during the final acquisition process She negotiated an extra $10M above her share value because she had all the leverage Had already taken $15M off the table in earlier rounds (2017 & 2021) Promoted her COO to CEO in May 2021 - 2 years before exit The business ran without her, proving it wasn't founder-dependent Anne's negotiation leverage: "You can either pay an extra $10 million now, or we'll wait six months. We'll run another competitive process. We're opening another 15 studios during that time frame, and you can end up paying more for the business, or you could get outbid by someone else." THE CRITICAL LESSON: Private equity firms were buying the NEW leadership team, not Anne. If she had been in those meetings speaking and presenting, they would have assumed she was still running the business and demanded she stay post-acquisition. Anne's advice to founders: "Don't be a starving founder running toward your exit because you'll sell for way less than the business is worth. You will feel like X amount of money feels like a lot because you've never had a taste of it before, and you'll make a bad deal." COVID PIVOT STRATEGY: 2020: Planned to sell, COVID hit, revenue went to zero 2021: Raised $50M, opened 11 studios in red states while competitors stayed closed 2022: Back to pre-COVID numbers by Q1/Q2 2023: $100M+ exit on her terms TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Taking money off the table in 2017 & 2021 00:45 Planning to sell in 2020, then COVID hit 01:30 Raising $50M and playing offense during COVID 02:15 Opening 11 studios when competitors were closed 03:00 Promoting COO to CEO in 2021 03:30 The $100M exit in 2023 04:00 Why she wasn't in ANY acquisition meetings 04:45 Negotiating $10M ABOVE share value 05:30 "Don't be a starving founder" advice 06:15 The leverage of founder independence CONNECT WITH ANNE MAHLUM: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemahlum 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemahlum 🔗 Website: https://www.annemahlum.com 🔗 Solidcore: https://www.solidcore.co 🔗 Back on My Feet: https://www.backonmyfeet.org WATCH FULL EPISODE: 🔗 [Link to full Anne Mahlum episode] SCALEX™ AND SIMPLE SCALING: 📖 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🔗 ScaleX Elevate Community: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate 🔗 ScaleX Accelerator Programme: 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 About ScaleX™ and Simple Scaling: ScaleX™ Insider is brought to you by Simple Scaling—creators of the ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme, a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus. 🔗 Learn more: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme

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• [ScaleX Bite-Size] The Exact Numbers Behind Anne Mahlum's $100M Exit Goals

  Every founder dreams of a big exit — but few know the exact numbers they need to feel safe, stay motivated, and negotiate from power. In this clip, Anne Mahlum breaks down the precise financial milestones that gave her psychological safety during her journey from founder to eight-figure earner. She reveals why her first "safe number" was $6 million, how she later pulled $9 million more off the table, and the disciplined math behind her unwavering $100M personal exit target. Anne explains how she evaluated dilution, equity projections, and future valuation before touching any deal — and why she refused to move forward without fully understanding the waterfall and her eventual payout. This is a masterclass in founder discipline, emotional clarity, and exit strategy. Key Takeways: The $6M Safety Number – Anne's first partial exit wasn't random. It was the figure that gave her personal safety, mental clarity, and the freedom to take bigger risks. Why She Took Another $9M – Not for lifestyle. For long-term psychological security while still building aggressively. The $100M Personal Target – A number she defined early, committed to fully, and never wavered from — regardless of market noise. The Dilution Equation – Every time she sold shares, she recalculated: • future valuation • equity dilution • remaining share value • the waterfall • what she'd realistically walk away with Zero Guesswork – Anne didn't negotiate on vibes. She negotiated on math. No Deal Without the Waterfall – She refused to sign anything unless she clearly understood what each scenario meant for her eventual payout. MEET ANNE MAHLUM Anne Mahlum is the founder and former CEO of Solidcore, a boutique fitness brand with 100+ locations, and the founder of Back on My Feet, a nonprofit helping people experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives through running. She turned her last $175,000 into a $90M payday and has built a personal net worth exceeding $100M. Recognized by CNN and ABC World News, Anne is a serial entrepreneur and advisor to founders navigating high-stakes growth and exits. Episode Timestamps 0:00 — Anne's First "Safety Number" Revealed 0:14 — Why She Took $6M, Then $9M 0:24 — The Real Math Behind Her Exit 0:33 — How Dilution Affected Each Decision 0:51 — The $100M Personal Goal 1:02 — Why She Never Wavered From That Number 1:05 — The Waterfall: Her Non-Negotiable Requirement Connect with Anne Mahlum: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum/ Website: https://www.annemahlum.com/   About ScaleX™ and Simple Scaling: ScaleX™ Insider is brought to you by Simple Scaling—creators of the ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme, a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus. 🔗 Learn more: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode: 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplescaling 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/scalex-insider/id1494889789 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0d7ZzJFe6uL3I6wzW3BlFx Host: Brendan McGurgan Website: https://www.simplescaling.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanmcgurgan

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