About Phil Hayes‑St Clair
Phil Hayes‑St Clair is a leadership coach, writer, and former entrepreneur who has built eight companies across healthcare, biotech, and technology. His work focuses on helping leaders scale without sacrificing health, relationships, or integrity.
Weekly essays: The Wednesday Partnership
Podcast: The Partnership Playbook
Website: https://www.philhsc.com
Most leadership advice focuses on growth.Very little talks about the human bill that shows up later.
In this episode of The Fulfillment Project, Andy Leonard sits down with Phil Hayes‑St Clair—former Australian Army officer, serial entrepreneur (8 companies, 3 successful), and leadership coach—to talk about reinvention, partnerships, burnout, and what it actually costs to lead well over time.
This isn’t a productivity conversation.It’s a formation conversation.
Phil shares how a forced exit from the military reshaped his understanding of leadership, why most partnerships fail, and why growth without health and relationships is a debt—not a win.
In This Conversation, You’ll Learn:
✅ Why “kind but not nice” is the mark of great leadership✅ The hidden cost of growth that most leaders ignore✅ How to scale without sacrificing your health or family✅ The IDEAL framework for building partnerships that actually work✅ Why burnout isn’t a failure of effort—but of perspective✅ The single boundary every high performer should set earlier✅ How small, human moments of leadership compound over time
Key Ideas & Moments Covered
Reinvention & Identity
Phil shares how an unexpected eye condition made him “unserviceable” in the military—and forced a total reinvention.
Why most leaders never learn how to reinvent unless life pushes them into it.
What Great Leadership Actually Looks Like
Why command‑and‑control leadership fails.
How the best leaders assemble people smarter than themselves.
The difference between being nice and being kind.
Why Most Partnerships Fail
97% of global commerce runs on partnerships—yet most fail.
Phil’s IDEAL framework:
Intent
Dual Benefit
Era (long‑term thinking)
Allies
Land the First Win
Growth, Burnout & the “Human Bill”
“A lot of growth advice ignores the human bill it sends later.”
What happens when leaders don’t pay that bill early.
Why sleep, health, and relationships are leadership fundamentals—not luxuries.
The Smallest Acts That Matter Most
Why inviting someone to coffee can literally save a life.
How warmth, humor, and presence create trust and influence.
Why everyone—regardless of title—is already a leader.
A Quote That Defines This Episode
“The only people who will remember how hard you worked are the people who love you most.”
About The Fulfillment Project
Hosted by Andy Leonard, The Fulfillment Project explores purpose, leadership, work, family, and what it means to live a deeply meaningful life in a world obsessed with optimization.
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Tags / Keywords:leadership podcast, burnout and leadership, scaling a business, healthy leadership, partnerships in business, servant leadership, entrepreneur burnout, fulfillment project podcast, phil hayes st clair, leadership without burnout, leadership and health
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:56 The Importance of Self-Compassion
02:59 Military Experience and Reinvention
07:02 Lessons in Leadership
12:11 Transitioning to Business and Science
17:33 Entrepreneurial Journey and Successes
19:18 The Ideal Plus Partnership Framework
26:28 The Art of Saying No
28:42 Growing Without Sacrificing Health and Relationships
33:39 The Consequences of Neglecting Self-Care
39:00 The Importance of Sleep for High Performers
43:45 The Role of Social Connections in Well-Being
47:10 Building New Relationships and Communities
52:36 The Power of Small Acts of Kindness
01:00:35 Substack Advert
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