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Managing Change and Uncertainty: Insights from Professor Paul McGee
What if the secret to scaling your business isn't fighting change — but learning to navigate it with clarity, resilience, and a better mindset?
In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins is joined by Professor Paul McGee — Sunday Times bestselling author, international speaker, and creator of the SUMO philosophy (Shut Up, Move On).
Paul McGee shares his remarkable journey from losing his job due to chronic fatigue syndrome to becoming one of the UK's leading voices on resilience, mindset, and managing change. Together, Paul and Paul unpack why most people stay stuck in victim mode, how to process disappointment without wallowing in it, and the seven powerful questions that help you shift from reaction to response — even in the toughest moments.
This conversation goes deep into the psychology of change, the difference between your "red cap" emotional brain and your "blue cap" reflective brain, why hippo time (feeling bad) is okay but temporary, and how entrepreneurs can stop complaining and start competing. Whether you're dealing with economic uncertainty, team challenges, personal setbacks, or just the relentless pressure of running a business, this episode will equip you to show up, take responsibility, and move forward with confidence.
This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to build mental resilience, lead through uncertainty, and stop letting external events dictate their outcomes.
Key TakeawaysWhy hippo time (feeling bad) is okay — but it's a detour, not a destination
The difference between digesting disappointment, processing pain, and sitting with sadness
How to stop wearing the victim t-shirt and take back control of your response
Why E + R = O (Event + Response = Outcome) is the formula that changes everything
Understanding your red cap (emotional, reactive brain) vs blue cap (reflective, logical brain)
The bridge between react and respond: reflection
The 7 SUMO questions that help you shift from stuck to solution-focused thinking
Why managing your mental diet is as important as managing your business strategy
How small wins and daily disciplines determine your destiny — not motivation
Why showing up (even when you don't feel like it) is the ultimate leadership move
Professor Paul McGee is a Sunday Times bestselling author, international speaker, and Visiting Professor at the University of Chester. Known as "The SUMO Guy," Paul has written 13 books including the global bestseller SUMO (Shut Up, Move On), which has sold over half a million copies worldwide. He has spoken in over 40 countries and works with organizations to help leaders, teams, and individuals build resilience, manage change, and create better futures. Paul specializes in making psychology practical, memorable, and actionable — with no bull, just brilliant insights.
Next StepsApply it now
Ask yourself: what t-shirt am I wearing right now — victim or victor? And what's one response I need to change to influence a better outcome?
Connect with Paul McGee
Visit www.thesumoguy.com or follow him on social media @thesumoguy
Scale with Paul
If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence.
Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call
Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in
About Paul Avins
Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity.
Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.
View all episodes
By Paul AvinsWhat if the secret to scaling your business isn't fighting change — but learning to navigate it with clarity, resilience, and a better mindset?
In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins is joined by Professor Paul McGee — Sunday Times bestselling author, international speaker, and creator of the SUMO philosophy (Shut Up, Move On).
Paul McGee shares his remarkable journey from losing his job due to chronic fatigue syndrome to becoming one of the UK's leading voices on resilience, mindset, and managing change. Together, Paul and Paul unpack why most people stay stuck in victim mode, how to process disappointment without wallowing in it, and the seven powerful questions that help you shift from reaction to response — even in the toughest moments.
This conversation goes deep into the psychology of change, the difference between your "red cap" emotional brain and your "blue cap" reflective brain, why hippo time (feeling bad) is okay but temporary, and how entrepreneurs can stop complaining and start competing. Whether you're dealing with economic uncertainty, team challenges, personal setbacks, or just the relentless pressure of running a business, this episode will equip you to show up, take responsibility, and move forward with confidence.
This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to build mental resilience, lead through uncertainty, and stop letting external events dictate their outcomes.
Key TakeawaysWhy hippo time (feeling bad) is okay — but it's a detour, not a destination
The difference between digesting disappointment, processing pain, and sitting with sadness
How to stop wearing the victim t-shirt and take back control of your response
Why E + R = O (Event + Response = Outcome) is the formula that changes everything
Understanding your red cap (emotional, reactive brain) vs blue cap (reflective, logical brain)
The bridge between react and respond: reflection
The 7 SUMO questions that help you shift from stuck to solution-focused thinking
Why managing your mental diet is as important as managing your business strategy
How small wins and daily disciplines determine your destiny — not motivation
Why showing up (even when you don't feel like it) is the ultimate leadership move
Professor Paul McGee is a Sunday Times bestselling author, international speaker, and Visiting Professor at the University of Chester. Known as "The SUMO Guy," Paul has written 13 books including the global bestseller SUMO (Shut Up, Move On), which has sold over half a million copies worldwide. He has spoken in over 40 countries and works with organizations to help leaders, teams, and individuals build resilience, manage change, and create better futures. Paul specializes in making psychology practical, memorable, and actionable — with no bull, just brilliant insights.
Next StepsApply it now
Ask yourself: what t-shirt am I wearing right now — victim or victor? And what's one response I need to change to influence a better outcome?
Connect with Paul McGee
Visit www.thesumoguy.com or follow him on social media @thesumoguy
Scale with Paul
If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence.
Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call
Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in
About Paul Avins
Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity.
Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.