ScaleX™ Insider Podcast

Many leaders carry a powerful vision—but stay silent because of fear. In this clip, Nancy Duarte reframes glossophobia (fear of public speaking) and explains why nervous speakers often deliver the most meaningful messages. KEY INSIGHTS: Fear of public speaking is real—and more common than fear of death Leaders who feel nervous often care more and prepare more thoughtfully The fear isn't about the audience—it's your brain's fight-or-flight response When you focus on empathy, fear starts to dissolve Your vision isn't about you—it's about what your team loses if you stay silent THE CORE SHIFT: Stop asking "How do I perform?" Start asking "What do my people need to hear?" PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY: Create a pre-talk ritual. Some leaders need to calm themselves Others need to make themselves feel brave Do whatever helps you step on stage grounded, present, and empathetic. ABOUT NANCY DUARTE: Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte, Inc. and one of the world's leading communication experts. She has advised global brands and leaders for over 35 years, authored six bestselling books, and decoded the structure behind the most influential speeches of our time. CONNECT WITH NANCY DUARTE: 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nancyduarte 🔗Website: https://www.duarte.com/ WATCH FULL EPISODE: 🔗 [Link to full Nancy Duarte episode]

What if the real barrier to scaling your business — and inspiring your team — isn't strategy, talent, or effort, but your ability to communicate vision and empower people effectively? In this episode of ScaleX™ Insider, Brendan McGurgan is joined by Nancy Duarte, communication expert, author, and CEO of Duarte, Inc., to unpack why so many leaders struggle to turn vision into action — and how overcoming fear, articulating a compelling vision, and investing in people can create sustainable growth. Nancy shares why leaders often get stuck in silence, how fear signals that a message matters, and why empathy and preparation are critical to delivering vision with impact. Drawing on decades of experience guiding leaders and organisations, she reveals how to transform fear into focus, inspire your team, and design the people systems that actually scale your business. Brendan and Nancy explore practical tools, mindset shifts, and frameworks for turning ideas into action — from pre-talk rituals to building talent pipelines — and why empowering your team is as important as the vision itself. Episode Highlights Why fear often signals the importance of your message How leaders can turn glossophobia into thoughtful preparation The role of empathy in effective communication Pre-talk rituals and mindset practices that boost confidence Transforming vision into action for sustainable growth Building a people-first culture that drives business performance Identifying, developing, and empowering emerging leaders Creating psychological safety to encourage learning, experimentation, and ownership The hidden cost of staying silent on important strategic decisions Aligning your vision with what customers and your team actually need Meet Nancy Duarte: Nancy Duarte is a communication expert, CEO of Duarte, Inc., and author of multiple books on leadership, presentation, and organizational transformation. She helps leaders and organisations communicate vision and ideas with clarity, empathy, and impact — turning strategies into action and people into high-performing teams. Nancy specialises in: Transforming leadership fear into actionable vision Building talent pipelines and learning cultures Empowering teams to own initiatives and scale the business Teaching leaders to communicate strategically and empathetically Key Topics Covered → Overcoming fear of public speaking and strategic communication → Articulating vision to inspire commitment and alignment → Developing people systems that support scalable growth → Mentorship, emerging leaders, and talent pipeline development → Building culture, accountability, and ownership in teams → Pre-talk rituals and preparation to boost leadership presence → Aligning vision with customer and team needs   Who Should Listen This episode is essential for SME founders, CEOs, executives, and team leaders who want to: Communicate vision with impact Build high-performing, empowered teams Scale their business without relying on themselves Turn fear into focus and action Create a sustainable, people-first growth culture About Nancy Duarte Nancy Duarte is the CEO of Duarte, Inc., a global communications firm, and author of several influential books on presentations and leadership. She has guided leaders and organisations in articulating vision, communicating effectively, and creating cultures that thrive. CONNECT WITH NANCY DUARTE: 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nancyduarte 🔗Website: https://www.duarte.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 ChannelListen on Apple Podcasts: ScaleX InsiderListen on Spotify: ScaleX Insider  

Dr. BJ Fogg explains how tiny, consistent habits and intentional morning routines can shift your identity, boost your productivity, and create lasting momentum. In this clip, he dives into the "Maui Habit," why starting each day by declaring it a great day sets an upward trajectory, and how small habits—like push-ups after using the bathroom—build consistency and confidence over time. KEY INSIGHTS: Small, repeatable behaviours create identity shifts that influence decisions throughout your day Starting the day with intention ("Today is going to be a great day") builds resilience and positive momentum Tiny Habits work not by size, but by consistency and emotional reinforcement Even minor actions, if tied to existing routines, compound into significant life and performance changes Feeling successful in small wins triggers larger ripple effects across personal and professional life THE CRITICAL LESSON: It's not about doing more—it's about designing easy, consistent behaviours that make you feel successful. Dr. Fogg's advice: "If you let yourself feel successful, yes, the habit wires in quickly because it's the emotion, not repetition, that creates habits of emotion." PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS: Start each day with an intentional statement to set a positive trajectory Attach small behaviours to existing routines to ensure consistency (e.g., push-ups after bathroom breaks) Focus on the emotion of success, not the size of the habit Use incremental actions to shift identity—become the kind of person who follows through Apply Tiny Habits principles to personal and professional routines to drive lasting change CONNECT WITH DR. BJ FOGG 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bjfogg 🔗 Website: https://www.bjfogg.com WATCH FULL EPISODE: 🔗 [Link to full BJ Fogg episode]

Dr. BJ Fogg explains how behaviour design can help CEOs, entrepreneurs, and SME leaders systematically achieve massive results. In this clip, he breaks down exactly how small, intentional behaviours—when prioritised and embedded consistently—can drive outcomes like doubling revenue in six months. KEY INSIGHTS: Doubling revenue isn't magic—it's a result of specific, measurable behaviours consistently applied CEOs and leaders can design weekly and one-time behaviours to drive business outcomes Behaviour design provides a system for clarity, confidence, and predictable results Even small actions, when strategically implemented, ripple through teams and organisations Training and structured practice accelerate mastery and maximise impact THE CRITICAL LESSON: Stop guessing—identify, prioritise, and embed the behaviours that truly matter. Dr. Fogg's advice: "You can get confident and you can have a system. The behaviours you design today directly shape your results tomorrow." PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS: Schedule recurring, high-impact behaviours (e.g., weekly revenue meetings or customer feedback reviews) Embed one-time strategic actions that create outsized impact (e.g., connecting with industry influencers) Use prompts, structure, and small, repeatable actions to ensure consistency Leverage hands-on training, online courses, or self-practice to master behaviour design Focus on systemised action, not guesswork or motivation CONNECT WITH DR. BJ FOGG 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bjfogg 🔗 Website: https://www.bjfogg.com WATCH FULL EPISODE: 🔗 [Link to full BJ Fogg 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 entrepreneurs combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus.  🔗 Learn more: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme

As we wrap up the year on ScaleX™ Insider, we're revisiting one of the most impactful conversations we've ever had—because the lessons matter just as much now as they did when it first aired. From tiny habits to massive life transformations, this episode with Dr. BJ Fogg cuts through the noise of motivation hacks and productivity hype. No gimmicks. No hype. Just science-backed behaviour design that actually sticks. In this episode, Dr. BJ Fogg—world-renowned behaviour scientist and bestselling author of Tiny Habits—reveals why small, intentional actions, paired with the right emotional triggers, are far more powerful than willpower or repetition. The Three Core Principles: Emotion Trumps Repetition: Habits stick when you feel successful doing them, not just because you repeat them. Your emotional experience wires the habit faster than any number of days. Start Tiny, Think Big: Small, easy-to-do behaviours create momentum. Over time, they shift your identity, influence decisions, and ripple out to impact every area of life. Focus on Ability, Not Motivation: Make desired behaviours simple and accessible. Motivation is unreliable; controlling ability is where change truly happens. The Maui Habit—A Morning Game-Changer: Dr. Fogg shares his famous "Maui Habit"—starting every day by saying, "It's going to be a great day." This simple ritual primes your mind, builds upward momentum, and improves how you handle challenges throughout the day. Why Helping Others Matters: Whether it's colleagues, clients, or loved ones, helping people feel successful strengthens relationships, reduces anxiety, and encourages engagement. Small actions that boost others create exponential positive impact. Practical Tips for CEOs and Entrepreneurs: Narrow your focus: Start with one clear goal or habit—expand later. Leverage tiny wins: Even small achievements reinforce identity and boost confidence. Build habits around emotion: Positive emotional triggers accelerate adoption. Make good habits easy, bad habits harder: Control what you can—the ability, not motivation. Key Insights: Habits are not formed by repetition alone—they form when behaviours trigger positive emotions. Identity shifts faster when small successes are recognised and celebrated. Tiny actions can create massive ripple effects, influencing others around you. Motivation is overrated; ability and simplicity are the keys to behaviour change. About Dr. BJ Fogg: Founder and Director of the Behaviour Design Lab at Stanford University, Dr. BJ Fogg is a pioneer in behaviour design. His research, cited over 20,000 times, has shaped fields from persuasive technology to mobile health. As an Adjunct Professor in Health and Human Performance, he trains leaders and students to apply behaviour science for positive change. His book Tiny Habits has inspired millions worldwide, and his former students include co-founders of Instagram. Connect with Dr. BJ Fogg: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bjfogg Website: https://www.bjfogg.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 ChannelListen on Apple Podcasts: ScaleX InsiderListen on Spotify: ScaleX Insider