ScaleX™ Insider Podcast

In this insightful episode of ScaleX™ Insider, Brendan McGurgan sits down with Claire Colvin, business partner, leadership strategist, and expert in scaling people-centred businesses, as they wrap up Season 18. Claire reflects on the most powerful lessons from the season and shares her personal and professional intentions for 2026, offering practical advice for leaders navigating growth, connection, and success in a noisy world.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Be clear on what success looks like—define it personally and professionally before getting distracted by tools, trends, or AI.

Align with your values—living in alignment ensures fulfillment and authentic decision-making.

Prioritise connection intentionally—relationships are a critical source of energy, support, and personal growth.

Rituals and reflection matter—Claire shares how creating personal intentions and connection walks can help reset and refocus after challenging periods.

Self-care fuels performance—prioritising your own well-being ensures you can show up fully for your team and business.

Break vision into practical priorities—align long-term goals with actionable steps that move the business forward.



THE CRITICAL LESSON:
Scaling a business and leading with purpose requires clarity, alignment, and presence. By defining what success means to you, connecting intentionally, and nurturing your own energy, you can navigate challenges with confidence, make decisions in alignment with your values, and continue to grow personally and professionally.
PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR LEADERS:
Take time to articulate what success looks like for you in 2026.

Reflect on your values and ensure they guide decisions and priorities.

Prioritise meaningful connections—schedule rituals and interactions that matter.

Build daily or seasonal reflection routines to reset focus and energy.

Break your vision into concrete actions that move the needle for your business.



ABOUT CLAIRE COLVIN:
Claire Colvin is a business partner, leadership strategist, and advisor to high-growth SMEs. She specialises in helping leaders scale people-centred businesses by combining strategy, values, and practical frameworks that enable teams to thrive. Her experience spans executive leadership, scaling businesses, and mentoring leaders to perform at their best while staying aligned to purpose.
CONNECT WITH CLAIRE COLVIN:
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claire-colvin

In this standout episode of ScaleX™ Insider, Brendan McGurgan is joined by Claire Colvin — business partner, leadership strategist, and expert in scaling people-centred businesses — to unpack one of the most powerful insights from Season 18: how presence, confidence, and intentionality can transform the way leaders show up.
Claire reflects on a key message shared by guest Jim Murphy about confidence — and why all the usual advice around nutrition, sleep, exercise, and relationships, while important, misses one crucial element: being fully present in the moment. She explains how anxiety and self-doubt often arise when we overthink the future or worry about judgment, and how bringing your full attention to the here and now can unlock authentic confidence and enhance connection with others.
Claire and Brendan explore actionable ideas for leaders to build this presence and intentionally show up in their professional and personal lives, offering practical takeaways to help SME founders, executives, and team leaders perform at their best.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Confidence isn't just about rituals — it's about being present in the moment.

Anxiety and self-doubt often come from overthinking the future or worrying about others' perceptions.

Presence allows you to focus on connecting and engaging with others, rather than getting lost in your own thoughts.

Intentionality in actions and priorities is the bridge between confidence and authentic leadership.

Self-care rituals (sleep, nutrition, exercise, relationships) are important, but mindful presence amplifies their impact.



THE CRITICAL LESSON:
True confidence emerges not from external routines alone, but from fully showing up in the moment. By focusing on presence and intentional action, leaders can engage authentically, reduce self-doubt, and inspire others around them.
 
PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR LEADERS:
Pause before meetings or decisions — focus on the here and now.

Bring attention to the people you are connecting with rather than your own worries.

Align daily actions with your intentions to build confidence over time.

Pair presence with your usual wellness rituals to maximize their effect.

Reflect on how your leadership energy impacts others, not just yourself.



ABOUT CLAIRE COLVIN:
Claire Colvin is a business partner and leadership strategist specialising in people-centred business growth. She helps SME leaders and high-growth companies scale successfully by focusing on culture, values, leadership, and authentic connection.
 
CONNECT WITH CLAIRE COLVIN:
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claire-colvin

In this standout Season 18 wrap-up of ScaleX™ Insider, Brendan McGurgan is joined by Claire Colvin — business partner, leadership strategist, and expert in scaling people-centred businesses — to reflect on the most powerful themes, insights, and lessons from the season.
Claire shares the key takeaways from conversations with high-performing leaders, founders, and experts, highlighting what drives success, authenticity, and growth in both business and life. From courage and confidence to presence, intentional connection, and leveraging AI wisely, Claire unpacks the insights that resonated most and how leaders can apply them to scale with purpose.
Brendan and Claire explore actionable strategies for SME founders and business leaders, including frameworks for aligning values, building meaningful relationships, embracing discomfort, and living authentically — all while maintaining focus, energy, and resilience.
Episode Highlights
Why courage isn't the absence of fear — leaning into discomfort is key to growth ("scaling with wet pants")

Authenticity as a performance lever — removing the armour to show up fully and bring your best self

The power of presence — staying in the moment reduces anxiety, boosts confidence, and strengthens connection

How intentional connection fuels energy and business success — exploring the Three Rs: Relationship, Ritual, Rhythm

Using AI to create space for connection — technology as an enabler, not a distraction

Lessons from standout guests: Jim Murphy on courage, ego, and wisdom; Anne Mahlum on recognition and support; Sunny Leonarduzzi on creating value over chasing fame

Reflection on personal challenges — navigating grief, maintaining commitments, and showing up despite setbacks

Practical advice for SME leaders: de-risking your business, scaling intentionally, and prioritising human connections



Meet Claire Colvin
Claire Colvin is a business partner, leadership strategist, and expert in scaling people-centred businesses. With extensive experience supporting high-growth companies and SME leaders, she specialises in:
Leadership frameworks for scaling people and culture

Aligning business growth with personal and organisational values

Designing intentional connection and high-performing teams

Guiding leaders to scale sustainably while maintaining authenticity and resilience



Key Topics Covered
→ Courage, fear, and leaning into discomfort
→ Showing up authentically and removing performance barriers
→ Staying present to boost confidence and engagement
→ Intentionality in relationships and meaningful connection
→ Leveraging AI as a tool, not a distraction
→ Lessons from top leaders and founders on scaling, ego, and human performance
→ Managing personal challenges while leading effectively
 
Who Should Listen
This episode is essential for SME founders, CEOs, executives, and team leaders who want to:
Lead authentically while scaling their business

Prioritise energy, resilience, and human connection

Navigate fear and uncertainty with courage

Apply actionable insights from successful leaders and entrepreneurs

Align personal and professional goals for sustainable growth



About Claire Colvin
Claire Colvin is a leadership strategist and scaling expert focused on people-centred growth. She works with SME leaders and high-growth companies to align strategy, culture, and execution, helping teams thrive while leaders scale with purpose.
CONNECT WITH CLAIRE COLVIN:
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claire-colvin
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

Many leaders believe scaling starts with strategy—but in this ScaleX Bite-Size episode, sleep is revealed as the true foundation of mindset, resilience, and ambition. Drawing from personal experience and years of research, Mollie Eastman shares how chronic insomnia reshaped her life, health, and leadership capacity, and why sleep is not passive rest but a learnable skill that powers performance and growth.
From identifying as a "night owl" and "short sleeper" to navigating debilitating insomnia as a high-performing entrepreneur, Mollie's journey challenges fixed beliefs about sleep and shows what becomes possible when sleep is treated as a strategic priority rather than an afterthought.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Mindset and sleep are deeply connected: poor sleep can disempower ambition and clarity

Chronic insomnia affects health, mental resilience, and emotional regulation

Even short-term sleep disruptions can create serious physiological and cognitive impacts

Sleep is a skill that can be learned, measured, and optimized—no one is "just a night owl" forever

Behavioral changes, circadian rhythm alignment, and accountability are crucial for consistent, high-quality sleep



THE CORE SHIFT:
Stop thinking "Sleep just happens."
Start thinking "Sleep is a skill that powers my health, mindset, and performance."
PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY:
Track your sleep and notice patterns of disruption

Implement behaviors that protect and enhance circadian rhythm

Explore actionable strategies for optimising sleep beyond just quantity—lighting, timing, and routines matter

Treat sleep as a foundational pillar of health, productivity, and scaling your life



ABOUT MOLLIE EASTMAN:
Mollie Eastman is the creator of Sleep Is A Skill. After navigating her own insomnia while traveling internationally, she became passionate about chronobiology and behavioral approaches to sleep. Mollie helps people optimise sleep through technology, accountability, and actionable behavioral change. She has built online courses, a weekly sleep newsletter, partnerships with luxury brands, and has appeared on over 150 podcasts.
CONNECT WITH MOLLIE EASTMAN:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-eastman
🔗 Website: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/
WATCH FULL EPISODE:
🔗 [Link to full episode]

Many people think sleep is just rest—but it secretly controls your health, brain, and every area of life. In this clip, Mollie Eastman explains how poor sleep impacts cognition, emotional regulation, and even long-term neurological health—and why optimizing sleep is the foundation for performing at your best.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Poor sleep affects every area of life: health, relationships, career, and decision-making

Glymphatic drainage during sleep cleans your brain; poor sleep may contribute to Alzheimer's and dementia

Just a few short nights of sleep can spike glucose levels and impair choices

Sleep impacts immune function, longevity, and even beauty and aging

High-performance requires optimizing sleep, not just surviving it



THE CORE SHIFT:
Stop thinking "Sleep is optional."
Start thinking "Sleep is the skill that powers every part of my life."
PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY:
Anchor your day with sunlight exposure to regulate your circadian rhythm

Prioritise consistent sleep duration and quality, not just time in bed

Track sleep patterns and notice how small changes affect energy, focus, and performance

ABOUT MOLLIE EASTMAN:
Mollie Eastman is the creator of Sleep Is A Skill. She helps people optimise sleep using technology, accountability, and behavioral change. After navigating insomnia herself, Mollie became fascinated with chronobiology and the practical applications of sleep science. She has created signature courses, newsletters, and partnerships with luxury brands, and appeared on over 150 podcasts.
CONNECT WITH MOLLIE EASTMAN:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-eastman
🔗 Website: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/
WATCH FULL EPISODE:
🔗 [Link to full episode]