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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

Lloyd Thompson breaks down why so many founders feel busy, overwhelmed, and unable to scale — despite having a team. In clip, Lloyd explains what a "business drowning in chaos" actually looks like: founders acting as the answering machine for every decision, teams that help but don't own outcomes, and operations that can't run without constant founder involvement.

Lloyd reveals how poor delegation, unclear accountability, and founder dependency create a vicious cycle that traps business owners in the day-to-day — leaving no time for strategy, growth, or new business.

KEY INSIGHTS:

• Founder chaos is a symptom of poor delegation and unclear accountability

• Teams often become helpers instead of owners

• Founder-dependent businesses struggle to scale or run without the founder

• Answering every question trains the team to rely on the founder

• Operational chaos and time-poor founders go hand in hand

THE CRITICAL LESSON:

If your business can't run without you, it's not scalable. Founders stay stuck in chaos not because their team is incapable — but because ownership, clarity, and decision-making haven't been properly delegated.

As Lloyd explains, answering every question feels helpful in the moment but reinforces founder dependency over time.

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR FOUNDERS AND LEADERS:

• Clearly define ownership for each function (marketing, sales, finance, delivery)

• Stop answering every question — coach decision-making instead

• Use the 1-3-1 framework: one problem, three options, one recommendation

• Ask: "What would you do if I wasn't here?"

• Test your business: could it run for six weeks without you?

CONNECT WITH LLOYD THOMPSON

Website: https://virtualdoo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloydt

📘 Get your free copy of "9 Ways to Leave Your Day-to-Day Operations"

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE:

🔗 [Link to full Lloyd Thompson 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

Lloyd Thompson explains why hiring for skill over character creates chaos as your business scales. In this ScaleX™ Bitesize clip, Lloyd dives into one of the most common mistakes founders make as they grow: focusing on technical ability while neglecting values and character. He explains how this leads to misaligned hires, poor role fit, and founders feeling trapped by highly skilled individuals who don't truly belong in the business.

Lloyd also unpacks the concept of right people, right seats — why promoting top performers often backfires, and how clarity around vision and values is essential for building a scalable, healthy team.

KEY INSIGHTS:

• Hiring for skill without checking character leads to long-term problems

• Values alignment should be assessed before role competence

• Founders often feel "held hostage" by highly skilled but misaligned team members

• Promoting top performers doesn't mean they're right for leadership

• Many people are placed in roles they don't want or don't have capacity for

THE CRITICAL LESSON:

Scaling requires more than talent — it requires alignment. If people don't share your values or sit in the right roles, growth creates friction, not freedom.

As Lloyd explains, rewarding performance by promotion can unintentionally damage both the individual and the business.

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR FOUNDERS AND LEADERS:

• Define your core values clearly before hiring or promoting

• Assess your team against values, not just performance

• Separate reward from promotion — not everyone should manage people

• Check whether people want the role, not just whether they're good at their current one

• Regularly review if team members are in the right seats

CONNECT WITH LLOYD THOMPSON

Website: https://virtualdoo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloydt

📘 Get your free copy of "9 Ways to Leave Your Day-to-Day Operations"

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE:

🔗 [Link to full Lloyd Thompson 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

What if the real reason your business feels constantly busy — yet never truly scales — isn't lack of effort, talent, or ambition, but operational chaos and founder dependency? In this episode of ScaleX™ Insider, Brendan McGurgan is joined by Lloyd Thompson, founder of VirtualDOO and author of "9 Ways to Leave Your Day-to-Day Operations", to unpack why so many businesses hit a growth ceiling at €3–15M revenue — and how founders can scale without scaling burnout.

Lloyd shares what "drowning in chaos" actually looks like inside growing businesses, why founders unknowingly train their teams to depend on them, and how poor delegation, unclear accountability, and broken operational rhythms keep leaders trapped in the day-to-day. Drawing on over 20 years of experience running complex global operations — from banking platforms handling billions to nimble SMEs — Lloyd reveals how to build operational smoothness, reclaim your time, and create a business that supports your life, not consumes it.

Brendan and Lloyd explore the mindset shifts, systems, and structures founders must put in place to move from firefighting to strategy — and why stepping back is the hardest but most valuable decision a leader can make.

Episode Highlights

• Why most founders don't scale — they scale chaos

• What "drowning in chaos" really looks like inside growing businesses

• The danger of founder-dependent operating systems

• Why teams become helpers instead of owners

• The hidden cost of poor delegation and unclear accountability

• How to break the cycle of being the answer to every question

• The 1-3-1 decision-making framework that builds ownership in teams

• Why "dual responsibility" leads to no responsibility

• How to design accountability with visibility and verification

• The three levels of accountability: org, process, and task

• Why documenting processes doesn't have to drain founder time

• The I Do / We Do / You Do method for scalable delegation

• How operational rhythms eliminate bottlenecks and firefighting

• The five core rhythms every scaling business needs

• Why clarity of vision is the foundation of operational smoothness

Meet Lloyd Thompson

Lloyd Thompson is the founder of VirtualDOO, a fractional Director of Operations service that helps busy founders escape the day-to-day and scale with purpose. He is also the author of "9 Ways to Leave Your Day-to-Day Operations", a practical guide for business owners ready to step out of operational chaos and back into strategic leadership.

With over 20 years of corporate and global operations experience, Lloyd has led large-scale banking, trading, and technology platforms across Sydney, Manila, India, New York, and London — including systems responsible for billions of dollars in investment. Today, he applies those same principles to SMEs, marketing agencies, ecommerce brands, coaches, educators, and service-based businesses.

Lloyd specialises in:

• Liberating founders from operational overwhelm

• Building accountable, owner-led teams

• Installing rhythms, dashboards, and feedback loops

• Creating predictable, scalable operations

Key Topics Covered

→ Why your business feels busy but never truly scales → Founder dependency and the €3–15M growth trap → Delegation, ownership, and accountability done right → The psychology behind letting go as a founder → Operational smoothness vs operational chaos → Building systems that free up founder time → Vision, values, and right people in the right seats → Turning chaos into clarity through process and rhythm → How to scale revenue without sacrificing life and health

Who Should Listen

This episode is essential for SME founders, agency owners, ecommerce leaders, coaches, consultants, and service-based business owners who feel overwhelmed, time-poor, and stuck in the weeds. If your business relies too heavily on you, struggles with accountability, or feels busy but fragile, this conversation will help you see exactly what needs to change.

About Lloyd Thompson

Lloyd Thompson is a fractional COO, operations strategist, and founder of VirtualDOO. He helps founders build businesses that run smoothly, scale sustainably, and allow leaders to focus on strategy, growth, and life beyond work.

Website: https://virtualdoo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloydt

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

Sunny Lenarduzzi explains whether YouTube is the right platform for businesses and solopreneurs looking to scale their reach and impact. In this clip, Sunny dives into who can benefit from YouTube, the difference between a mass audience and a targeted one, and how leveraging YouTube strategically can generate leads, revenue, and global impact without spending a dime on advertising.

KEY INSIGHTS:

- YouTube works best for businesses with subject matter experts who provide real value

- Small, highly-targeted audiences are often more profitable than mass audiences

- YouTube is an evergreen, search-based platform, unlike on-demand social media channels

- Organic video content can create leads, sales, and authority over time

- The combination of YouTube and AI tools can amplify your impact and efficiency

THE CRITICAL LESSON:

It's not about going viral; it's about reaching the right people. Sunny's advice: "You don't need a huge audience. You need the people who are ready to invest in what you do and benefit the most from your expertise."

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES:

- Focus on creating content for your ideal audience, not everyone

- Treat YouTube as a search engine and content library, not just a social media channel

- Validate and deliver value through content before scaling programs or offers

- Leverage organic visibility to create sustainable, profitable growth

- Consider global reach—help people beyond your geographic area through video

CONNECT WITH SUNNY LENARDUZZI

🔗 LinkedIn: /sunnylenarduzzi

🔗 Website: https://sunnylenarduzzi.com

WATCH FULL EPISODE:

🔗 [Link to full Sunny Lenarduzzi 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

Sunny Lenarduzzi reveals the step-by-step journey of how she went from a one-woman social media consultancy to a YouTube authority helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this clip, Sunny shares her initial experiment with YouTube, how answering client questions turned into millions of viewers, and how she discovered a sustainable way to leverage her expertise through online programs and organic video marketing.

KEY INSIGHTS:

• Start with solving real client problems; your audience is searching for answers you already know
• Test, fail, learn, grow, and repeat – the iterative approach to building your channel
• How answering repetitive questions via video can scale your impact without burning out
• The power of organic video marketing to grow visibility, leads, and opportunities
• Transitioning from consulting to creating online courses and scaling expertise globally

THE CRITICAL LESSON: You don't need fame or a huge audience to succeed on YouTube. Sunny's advice: "Start with solving the real problems your clients are asking you about. Visibility will follow, and opportunities will come to you."

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR ENTREPRENEURS:

• Identify recurring client questions and turn them into videos
• Commit to a consistent posting schedule (e.g., once a week for 12 months)
• Use YouTube to generate inbound leads and validate your programs
• Experiment with formats, content, and offerings – iterate and improve over time
• Leverage visibility strategically to create sustainable business growth and personal freedom

TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 How Sunny got started on YouTube and why she chose the platform 01:15 The experiment that led to 3M views and 50,000 subscribers in 12 months 02:45 Turning repetitive client questions into scalable video content 04:00 First speaking engagements and growing opportunities globally 05:30 Discovering the power of online courses to scale expertise 07:00 Building a cohesive client journey and organic marketing strategy

CONNECT WITH SUNNY LENARDUZZI: 🔗 LinkedIn: /sunnylenarduzzi 🔗 Website: https://sunnylenarduzzi.com

WATCH FULL EPISODE: 🔗 [Link to full Sunny Lenarduzzi 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/simplescalingAbout 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

What if you could scale your business, grow your income, and expand your impact using YouTube—without spending a dime on ads? In this episode, Sunny Lenarduzzi, a social media consultant, business growth coach, and expert in online education, reveals how entrepreneurs can leverage YouTube and video marketing to build profitable, sustainable businesses that scale. From targeting the right audience to creating content that converts, Sunny shares the step-by-step strategies behind her Authority Accelerator program, which has generated over $15 million in monthly revenue for clients.

Host Brendan McGurgan dives deep with Sunny into the world of online courses, content strategy, and YouTube marketing, exploring how SMEs and entrepreneurs can reach a global audience, monetise their expertise, and create freedom in both business and life.

Episode Highlights:

• Why small, targeted audiences are more profitable than mass views
• How YouTube can serve as an evergreen, lead-generating platform
• The four key principles for YouTube success: purpose alignment, entry-level investment, proposition clarity, and problem-focused content
• Why production quality is secondary to providing real value
• How to use calls-to-action strategically to grow your email list and nurture leads
• Understanding the content scaling funnel: top, middle, and bottom of funnel strategies
• The importance of commitment, consistency, and patience when building your channel
• Leveraging AI to enhance content creation without replacing the human element
• How to overcome fear, perfectionism, and reluctance to put yourself on camera
• Real-life examples of entrepreneurs turning YouTube content into multi-million-dollar businesses

Meet Sunny Lenarduzzi

Sunny Lenarduzzi is a social media consultant, business growth coach, and philanthropist known for helping experts leverage video marketing to build successful online businesses. She has worked with clients across industries including tech startups, authors, and online course creators. Sunny is a recognised public speaker, having presented at NATO Headquarters and on national radio and television, and is the recipient of the Best in Social Media award for Western Canada.

Sunny helps entrepreneurs scale their income, impact, and authority through her proven Authority Accelerator framework, empowering them to show up authentically, deliver incredible value, and achieve personal and professional freedom.

Key Topics Covered:

→ Targeting the right audience for profitable growth → Building an evergreen YouTube strategy that generates leads over time → The Authority Accelerator format and how it drives revenue → Structuring content around real problems your audience faces → Maximizing ROI with minimal production investment → Calls-to-action and email list strategies for lead generation → Commitment and patience as critical factors for long-term success → Leveraging AI tools to optimize content creation → Overcoming mindset blocks and fear of putting yourself on camera

Who Should Listen:

This episode is essential for SME founders, entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and online course creators who want to grow their income, impact, and authority using YouTube. Anyone seeking actionable strategies to leverage video, scale their business, and create personal freedom will benefit from Sunny's expertise.

About Sunny Lenarduzzi:

Sunny Lenarduzzi is a social media strategist, business growth coach, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping experts scale their businesses with video marketing. Through her YouTube channel, consulting, online programs, and speaking engagements, Sunny empowers entrepreneurs to leverage their expertise, create profitable online businesses, and reach audiences worldwide.

Website: https://sunnylenarduzzi.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnylenarduzzi

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

Most people think walking is just exercise. Michael J. Gelb says it's the engine of genius.

For centuries, the world's greatest thinkers used walking as their main source of inspiration — and they even invented tools to measure how much of it they were doing.

In this clip, Michael reveals a surprising truth: the first pedometer wasn't invented by Fitbit — it was invented by Leonardo da Vinci.

Why the Geniuses Walked:

As Michael researched the relationship between history's greatest minds and walking, one pattern became impossible to ignore: A book about geniuses who didn't rely on walking for inspiration would be very, very short.

Da Vinci walked with such elegance that villagers came out just to watch his movement. Thomas Jefferson also invented his own pedometer — "Thomas meters" — because he believed people would walk more if they could measure their steps.

Poets like Emily Dickinson, Mary Oliver, and philosophers like Thomas Hobbes all used walking to spark ideas. Hobbes even built an inkwell into his walking stick so he could write mid-stride.

Why Walking Creates Ideas:

Michael explains that while much of the evidence throughout history is anecdotal, modern scientific research now backs it up: Walking increases creativity, stimulates new connections in the brain, and unlocks solutions that sitting still often suppresses.

The Universal Pattern:

Across music, literature, philosophy, science, and leadership, walking shows up as the ultimate inspiration habit:

• Beethoven composing in the fields

• Mary Oliver stopping mid-walk to write

• Jefferson drafting the foundations of a nation

• Da Vinci inventing a pedometer centuries ahead of his time

The Real Question:

Is walking inspiring these ideas — or are inspired people naturally drawn to walking?

According to Michael, the research points strongly to the first.

Walking doesn't just correlate with inspiration. It causes it.

Key Takeaway: If you want better ideas, don't sit at your desk waiting for them. Move. Walk. Carry a notebook. Let your mind unspool in motion — just like the geniuses did.

About Michael J. Gelb:

Internationally renowned author and leadership expert, known for "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci," with over one million copies sold worldwide. A pioneer in creativity, innovation, and executive development, he helps leaders elevate their presence, unlock their best ideas, and cultivate cultures grounded in awareness, poise, and authentic connection.

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

#ConnectionWalks #MeetingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamBuilding #SMEGrowth

Most leaders try to fix executive presence with confidence hacks, posture tricks, or communication frameworks. But as Michael J. Gelb explains, presence isn't about what you do — it's about what you stop doing.

And nothing reveals this better than the Alexander Technique, the same methodology taught at the world's leading performance schools: the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Academy of Drama, and Juilliard. It's also the foundation behind Michael's first book Body: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique.

Why Most Leaders Repel Their Teams Without Realising It

Walk into a room barking orders and people instinctively want to flee — especially creative, high-performing thinkers. But walk in with natural ease, openness, and curiosity, and everything changes.

As Michael puts it:

"The leaders people trust aren't the ones who tell you what to do. They're the ones who ask what's up for you — and how they can support you."

What the Alexander Technique Really Teaches

Alexander Technique is not about standing tall or fixing your posture. It's about retraining your nervous system so you can return to the natural poise you had as a child — upright, open-faced, free, and unarmoured.

Michael trained three years in London to be able to guide others into this state through subtle, refined touch:

• Ease replaces tension

• Presence replaces intimidation

• Breath replaces bracing

• Openness replaces contraction

It's the hidden foundation of true executive presence.

A High-Pressure Coaching Story That Says It All

Michael coached a CEO in a deeply tense, high-stakes Zoom meeting — board members, investors, and the executive chair all present.

The CEO was intimidated, fidgeting, collapsing in on himself.

Michael typed a single message in the Zoom chat:

"Hands on the desk, palms up. Align through your vertical axis. Add a little smile."

The CEO shifted — subtly, but profoundly. And suddenly, the entire room treated him differently.

Because, as Michael says:

"We teach people how to treat us. The most organised nervous system dominates the proceedings."

Why Walking Is the Secret Accelerator

Michael and co-author Bruce Fertman both realised that walking well is one of the fastest ways to embody the Alexander Technique. With just the first section of their book Walking Well, readers can transform how they move, breathe, and show up — without a single in-person lesson.

Their vision: A global conscious walking community, guided by facilitators, grounded in ease, openness, and natural poise.

Key Takeaways

• Executive presence is mostly about what you stop doing

• Natural poise is your birthright — tension and armor are learned

• A tiny shift in your nervous system changes how people respond to you

• The most regulated nervous system leads the room

• Walking well accelerates all Alexander Technique principles

• You can begin transforming your presence in minutes, not months

About Michael J. Gelb:

Internationally renowned author and leadership expert, known for "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci," with over one million copies sold worldwide. A pioneer in creativity, innovation, and executive development, he helps leaders elevate their presence, unlock their best ideas, and cultivate cultures grounded in awareness, poise, and authentic connection.

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

#ConnectionWalks #MeetingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamBuilding #SMEGrowth