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:

1. Best: In-person, outdoors, walking shoulder to shoulder
2. Better: Phone call whilst walking
3. 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

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

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

Watch on YouTube: Simple Scaling Channel Listen on Apple Podcasts: ScaleX Insider Listen on Spotify: ScaleX Insider

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

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.

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.

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.

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

How Purpose and Grit Built a $100M Fitness Empire- Anne Mahlum, founder of Solidcore and Back on My Feet, shares the journey of turning purpose and grit into a scalable business while impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. From running nonprofit programs for the homeless to creating a $90 million fitness brand, Anne reveals how deliberate action, environment design, and strong community can drive both social and financial success.

In this episode, host Brendan McGurgan dives deep into Anne's story, unpacking the mindset, habits, and systems that allowed her to scale with purpose—first in the nonprofit sector, then in the boutique fitness industry.

Episode Highlights:

• How running and community-building at Back on My Feet humanised homelessness and created a ripple effect of societal impact

• The importance of environment and deliberate habit design in achieving personal and professional goals

• Transitioning from nonprofit success to launching a high-growth fitness brand without investors

• The unit economics and scalability strategy behind Solidcore's first studio and rapid expansion

• Lessons on leadership, process design, and building repeatable ecosystems for growth

• How focusing on purpose and quality first, rather than money, leads to long-term success

• Stories of resilience, strategic risk-taking, and creating culture in a fast-scaling company

Meet Anne Mahlum

Anne Mahlum is a founder, entrepreneur, CEO, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and athlete. She is the founder and former Executive Chairwoman of Solidcore, a boutique fitness company with over 100 locations in the U.S., which she scaled from her last $175,000 to a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Anne also founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that empowers individuals experiencing homelessness through running and community.

Anne has been recognised as an ABC World News Person, CNN Hero, top 40 under 40 in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., New Yorker of the Week, and Penjerdel's Citizen of the Year. Her entrepreneurial ventures have created a personal net worth of over $100M while positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives.

Key Topics Covered:

→ Scaling purpose-driven initiatives: from nonprofit to profitable business → Designing environments that remove friction and enable success → The "rinse, repeat" approach to building systems, processes, and repeatable ecosystems → Unit economics and early indicators of scalable business models → Lessons in leadership: building businesses that work without depending on the founder → Creating culture and community in high-growth fitness enterprises → The interplay of grit, intuition, and calculated risk in entrepreneurship

Who Should Listen

This episode is essential for entrepreneurs, SME leaders, social impact founders, and anyone looking to scale with purpose. If you're seeking inspiration on combining social impact with profitable business growth, Anne's journey provides a blueprint for leadership, resilience, and scaling effectively.

About Anne Mahlum

Anne Mahlum is a visionary entrepreneur who has successfully blended purpose, passion, and profit. She is the founder of Solidcore, a boutique fitness brand, and Back on My Feet, a nonprofit transforming lives through running and community. Anne's approach emphasizes deliberate action, scalable systems, and fostering community to create lasting impact.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum/

Website: https://www.annemahlum.com/

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

Watch on YouTube: Simple Scaling Channel Listen on Apple Podcasts: ScaleX Insider Listen on Spotify: ScaleX Insider

How SEAT Automobiles increased leads by 2000% with one simple page change—Bas Wouters reveals the "Competing Prompts" mistake killing your conversions and why asking for multiple actions is like having 90 people shout at you simultaneously.

Key Takeaways:

The "Birthday Party Analogy" - Why having multiple calls-to-action on one page is like 90 people screaming at you when you walk through a door The 2000% SEAT Case Study - How simplifying a landing page to ONE action (download price list) exploded lead generation for SEAT Automobiles The Competing Prompts Problem - Why asking visitors to do multiple things on one page creates decision fatigue and kills conversions The Common Sense Paradox - Why this principle sounds obvious but almost every business gets it wrong (including yours) The SME Advantage - Why you don't need Disney or Booking.com budgets to implement behavioral psychology that works One Page = One Goal - The ruthlessly simple audit process to fix your landing pages today

Guest Bio: Bas Wouters is co-founder of the Cialdini Institute, creator of the Online Influence Institute, and one of only 12 certified trainers worldwide under Dr. Robert Cialdini (the "Godfather of Influence"). He scaled a kitchen business from €10,000 to €25 million using behavioral psychology, worked with Disney and Booking.com, and now helps SMEs compete with corporate giants through science-backed influence strategies.

Episode Timestamps: 0:00 - The Birthday Party Analogy: 90 People Shouting At You 1:15 - What Are Competing Prompts? 2:30 - The SEAT Automobiles 2000% Lead Generation Case Study 4:45 - Why SME Leaders Get This Wrong (The Fire-Hose Effect) 6:20 - "Common Sense Isn't That Common" - Why We Overcomplicate 7:40 - You Don't Need Big Budgets or Big Teams 8:50 - The Simple 5-Step Audit to Fix Your Pages Today

Connect with Bas Wouters: Website: https://www.onlineinfluence.com LinkedIn: / bazwouters-cmct-cpt-cec Free AI Tools & Monthly Workshops: https://www.onlineinfluence.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

How one word changed to "purchased" increased conversions 300%—Baz Wouters reveals the exact three-part formula combining Cialdini's principles of social proof, scarcity, and authority that SME leaders can apply immediately.

In this powerful segment of the ScaleX Insider Podcast, host Brendan McGurgan and Baz Wouters break down Dr. Robert Cialdini's seven core principles of influence and the surgical precision required to convert browsers into buyers online.

The 300% Conversion Breakthrough: NYX Makeup Studio ran a simple A/B test on their product page. They started with just a "Buy" button. Then they added one sentence: "71 beauties have viewed this product today." Five words. Result: 33% increase in transactions.

But then they tested changing ONE WORD: "71 beauties have purchased this product today." That single word change—"viewed" to "purchased"—led to a 300% increase in transactions. Same layout. Same product. One word. Massive difference.

Why It Worked: This sentence combined THREE of Cialdini's core influence principles simultaneously:

Social Proof: Other people are taking action Scarcity: This is happening right now (today) Authority: These are people like you (beauties = target audience identity)

The 3-Part Formula for SME Leaders: Bas reveals the three criteria to create high-converting copy yourself:

1. Mention Your Audience—"People Like Me"

2. Name the Desired Behaviour Literally

3. Use Exact Numbers to Boost Trust

The AI Solution for SMEs Without Marketing Teams: Many SME leaders worry: "I don't have a marketing department. I don't have copywriting specialists. How can I implement this?" Bas's answer: This is exactly why he built AI-powered tools for SMEs. As an entrepreneur himself (not a corporate consultant), he understands the resource constraints small businesses face.

What's Available Now: Free monthly workshops at onlineinfluence.com AI-trained bots that analyze your website instantly Put in your URL → Get told: "Here are your biggest wins. Here's where you can increase conversions." Actionable recommendations you can implement yourself

The Delete Button Strategy: Most improvements aren't about adding things—they're about removing friction. Deleting clutter. Simplifying steps. You don't need designers. You don't need developers. You just need the delete button.

As Brendan says: "Everyone knows where the delete button is. This is about taking stuff out, not adding more in."

Why This Matters for Your Business: If a makeup company can increase conversions 300% with one word change, imagine what's possible when you apply all seven of Cialdini's principles systematically across your entire customer journey. The principles work because they speak directly to System 1 thinking—the fast, automatic, subconscious brain that makes 95-98% of all purchasing decisions.

Key Takeaway: You don't need a massive budget or a huge team. You need surgical precision with language. You need to understand how the human brain actually makes decisions. And you need the courage to simplify ruthlessly.

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

Connect with Baz Wouters: Website: https://www.onlineinfluence.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bazwouters-cmct-cpt-cec Free AI Tools & Workshops: https://www.onlineinfluence.com

Host: Brendan McGurgan Website: https://www.simplescaling.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanmcgurgan

How one word change increased conversions 300%—Bas Wouters, co-founder of the Cialdini Institute, reveals the behavioral psychology secrets that help SMEs compete with corporate giants without massive budgets.

In this episode, host Brendan McGurgan sits down with Bas Wouters to unpack the neuroscience behind buying decisions—and why 95-98% of customer decisions happen in the subconscious mind (System 1), not through rational thought (System 2).

Episode Highlights:

Bas scaled a €10,000 kitchen startup to €25 million using behavioral psychology, became one of Dr. Robert Cialdini's 12 certified trainers worldwide, and partnered with the "Godfather of Influence" before founding the Online Influence Institute.

Meet Bas Wouters

Bas Wouters is a world-renowned expert in online influence, behavioral science, and persuasion. Handpicked by Dr. Robert Cialdini, the godfather of influence, Bas became one of only 12 certified trainers worldwide. He has trained over 10,000 professionals globally, helping businesses bridge the "persuasion gap" using AI-powered tools and evidence-based strategies. Bas is also an international bestselling author of Online Influence: Boost Your Results with Proven Behavioral Science, blending decades of practical experience with research-backed frameworks to help leaders scale effectively.

Key Topics Covered

→ Why focusing on behavior, not leads or sales, is critical for business growth → The System One vs. System Two model: why 95% of decisions are subconscious → Using behavioral psychology to trigger automatic decision-making in customers → BJ Fogg's Behavior Model: Motivation, Ability, Prompt — designing actions people actually take → The Jenga Principle: simplifying messaging to make it clear and persuasive → Lessons from scaling a €25 million kitchen business against bigger competitors → How AI can enhance online influence without compromising ethics or authenticity → Practical frameworks for applying persuasion in marketing, sales, and customer experience

Episode Highlights

Bas dives deep into the psychology of decision-making, explaining why most marketing campaigns fail: people aren't rational; they act emotionally and subconsciously. By applying System One thinking—fast, intuitive shortcuts—you can craft campaigns that convert even in crowded markets. Bas also explores BJ Fogg's behavior model and the Jenga Principle, showing listeners how simpler messaging and easier actions dramatically increase engagement. Whether designing emails, landing pages, or sales conversations, Bas gives actionable insights that help SME leaders scale with purpose by influencing behavior, not just pushing content.

Who Should Listen

This episode is essential for SME leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives looking to grow online influence and increase conversions. If you're struggling to stand out in a crowded market, feeling overwhelmed by tools and tactics, or frustrated that your efforts aren't yielding results, Bas' research-backed insights provide a roadmap for smarter, behavior-driven marketing and sales strategies.

Ready to Scale with Influence?

The ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme helps leaders combine strategy, mindset, and behavioral insights to break through growth plateaus and scale with purpose.

About Bas Wouters

Bas Wouters is the founder of the Online Influence Institute and creator of the Online Influence Lab. After generating millions in sales and building a €25 million franchise business, he turned his focus to helping others influence effectively online. Handpicked by Dr. Robert Cialdini as a certified trainer, Bas has trained over 10,000 professionals worldwide. His book Online Influence blends behavioral science with practical tools to help leaders and teams achieve measurable results.

Website: onlineinfluenceinstitute.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/baswouters

Book: Online Influence

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

Watch on YouTube: Simple Scaling Channel Listen on Apple Podcasts: ScaleX Insider Listen on Spotify: ScaleX Insider

Most people never reach their potential because they come to the edge of their limiting beliefs—and back down.

Jim Murphy, creator of Inner Excellence, reveals the exact moment leaders stop themselves from scaling. It's not about strategy—it's about the uncomfortable feelings at the edge of what you believe is possible.

Jim explains why negative feelings stick like Velcro while positive ones slide off like Teflon. Your subconscious protects you from scary feelings, which keeps you small. But beliefs aren't thoughts—they're feelings. Learn to embrace uncomfortable feelings, and you expand what's possible.

Jim Murphy coaches PGA Tour players, Olympians, and top executives. After playing professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs, he spent five years in the Sonoran Desert researching peak performance. His book Inner Excellence has been translated into 30 languages and went viral when NFL star A.J. Brown was photographed reading it.

• Why people never reach potential: they hit the edge of beliefs and back down when uncomfortable

• Velcro vs. Teflon: why negative feelings stick while positive ones slide off

• Three Pillars of Inner Excellence: Belief, Freedom, and Focus

• The four critical questions: Am I willing to face my fears? To fail? To look foolish? To sit with any feeling even if it never goes away?

• Why outcomes matter less than embracing the feeling

• Your subconscious only cares how you feel—beliefs are feelings

Essential for leaders stuck at a certain level despite working hard. If you hit the same ceiling, avoid difficult conversations, or feel capable of more but can't break through—this reveals why.

What feeling are you currently avoiding? Share in the comments.

The ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme addresses both strategy and mindset—helping you break through revenue plateaus by addressing the beliefs holding you back.

Apply now: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme

Jim Murphy is the creator of Inner Excellence and a performance coach to world-class athletes and executives. After competing in the Chicago Cubs organisation, he spent five years in the Sonoran Desert researching peak performance psychology. He's coached PGA Tour players, Olympians and CEOs, and is founder of the Inner Excellence Freedom Project.

Website: https://innerexcellence.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerexcellence.jimmurphy Books: Inner Excellence and The Best Possible Life

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 Host: Brendan McGurgan

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimpleScaling Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/scalex-insider/id1494889789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0d7ZzJFe6uL3I6wzW3BlFx

00:00 Why most people never reach their potential 02:30 Coming to the edge of your beliefs 05:15 The subconscious protection mechanism 07:40 Three Pillars: Belief, Freedom, Focus 10:20 Why freedom is lacking (social media comparison) 12:45 How to expand what you believe is possible 15:10 Visualization practice for embracing discomfort 17:30 Four critical questions to ask yourself 20:15 Why outcomes matter less than embracing feeling 23:00 Velcro vs. Teflon: why negative feelings stick 25:40 Beliefs are feelings—how to change them

#limitingbeliefs #quitting #mindset #leadershipdevelopment #scaling