The Founders Catalyst

What happens when two high-performance coaches admit they're not walking their own talk? This raw and revealing episode is an honest look into the burnout cycle that even the most disciplined leaders can fall into.

Steve and Lee unpack how their carefully curated schedules have spiraled into overwhelm, despite their best intentions, and what that says about the challenges leaders face in protecting time and energy. 

They reflect on personal experiences, cognitive fatigue, perfectionism, and the sneaky belief that high capacity means endless availability. If you've ever felt stretched thin or caught in the trap of productivity guilt, this one will hit home.

Whether you're a founder, coach, or creative, you'll walk away with powerful insights on setting boundaries, embracing rest, and finding the courage to adjust your plans, even when you're the one who made them.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why high-performing leaders are especially vulnerable to burnout
• The cognitive cost of constant context-switching
• “Borrowing from the future”,  the hidden danger of postponing rest
• The difference between time management and energy protection
• How emotional awareness can help you break reactive patterns
• Practical ways to reset, audit your energy, and say “no” with integrity
• Vulnerability as a strength: why sharing struggles helps normalize them

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Conscious Leadership Group – The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
• Lee’s famous smoothie recipe (coming soon in a future episode! 😉)
• Upcoming episode teaser: A follow-up conversation on how Steve and Lee implemented change and restructured their time

Feeling like you're stuck in the overwhelm trap? This episode is a must-listen. 🎧

👉 Tune in now to hear two leadership coaches get radically honest about burnout and recovery
 👉 Share this episode with a friend or fellow founder who needs to hear it
 👉 Rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover The Founders Catalyst

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

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Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

In this real and relatable chat, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey get into one of the trickiest, but most important, parts of being a strong leader: giving feedback that actually helps people grow.

They talk about how to share hard truths without breaking trust, and why the relationship behind the message matters just as much as the message itself. 

Whether you're leading a team, coaching others, or just trying to communicate better, this episode is packed with down-to-earth advice on how to be more effective, not just more direct.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Feedback is love. Telling someone what they need to hear—when done well—is one of the most powerful gifts you can give.
• Delivery matters as much as the message. Even the most truthful feedback will fall flat without the right tone, timing, and trust.
• Rapport is the foundation. Build the relationship first. Without it, feedback may feel like an attack, not a gift.
• Ask before you advise. A simple “Are you open to feedback?” can unlock a more productive, respectful exchange.
• Be effective, not just right. Choose the right time and the right words to ensure the feedback can actually be received and acted upon.
• Focus on growth, not ego. Feedback should invite someone into their potential—not trap them in their current limits.
• Zone of Genius vs. Zone of Comfort. Great leadership invites others to take the leap into their true potential.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 🧠 Free Feedback Guide by Lee Povey: www.leepovey.com (Scroll to the bottom of the homepage to download)
• 💼 Connect with Lee: www.leepovey.com
• 📣 Learn more about Steve: www.growthready.com

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

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Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

About the Episode

In this raw and insightful conversation, hosts Steve Mellor and Lee Povey unpack the deeply personal and professional journey of understanding the true value of coaching. 

Whether you're a seasoned founder, an emerging leader, or someone curious about personal development, this episode dives into the why, when, and how of finding the right coach for your journey. 

From breaking down internal resistance to practical strategies for choosing a coach, Steve and Lee challenge the common misconceptions and highlight how transformative coaching can be when approached with curiosity and intention.

Key Takeaways

• The coaching mindset shift: Coaching isn't just for "fixing problems"—it's about optimizing your potential, like athletes do.
• You need to want it: Coaching only works when there's internal recognition that support is needed or desired.
• Start with your network: Before Googling, reflect on who in your life has grown with coaching and why it worked for them.
• Safety and challenge matter: A good coach helps you feel secure, but also pushes you into uncomfortable (yet essential) growth zones.
• Interview multiple coaches: Chemistry is key, but don’t just go with the nicest coach—choose the one who’s best equipped to serve your goals.
• Resistance is normal: Doubts about coaching often stem from fear of the unknown or past bad experiences. The opportunity cost of not exploring coaching can be significant.
• The coach's role: More than advice-givers, coaches are curious partners who help uncover what you don't know you don't know.

Links & Resources

• 🧠 Episode on the Nine Box Exercise 
• 📖 Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers – A foundational personal development book mentioned by Lee.
• 🎯 Learn more about Steve Mellor
• 🧭 Learn more about Lee Povey

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

In this episode, Steve and Lee dive deep into the key differences between consultants, mentors, and coaches—three very distinct roles that often get confused. 

They explore when and why you might need each, how they can complement one another, and the importance of understanding what kind of support best serves your business, leadership, and personal growth journey.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Consultants: The Problem Solvers

• Hired to identify and fix specific business issues.
• Typically offer a short-term engagement with a clear deliverable (e.g., a report or training).
• Their biggest challenge? Organizations often know the problem but struggle to implement the solution.

✅ Mentors: The Guides & Advisors

• Mentors share their own experiences to help you navigate your journey.
• Often a long-term, relationship-based dynamic that evolves over time.
• Mentorship can be reciprocal, where both people learn from the relationship.
• Not always a formal or paid engagement - many successful professionals mentor to give back.

✅ Coaches: The True Growth Partners

• Coaches don’t tell you what to do - they help you uncover your own answers.
• Focused on personal development, mindset, and leadership.
• Coaching is the most vulnerable and introspective process - it requires honesty and self-reflection.
• A coach doesn’t need to be an industry expert - their expertise is in human behavior and performance.

Most successful people combine all three - they bring in a consultant for expertise, seek out mentors for wisdom, and work with a coach for ongoing personal and professional growth. 

The key is knowing when and where each is needed.

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Next Episode Preview: Steve & Lee will break down how to find the right consultant, mentor, or coach—including what to look for, red flags to avoid, and how to maximize the value of these relationships.

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

In this episode of The Founders Catalyst, hosts Steve Mellor and Lee Povey take on a seemingly massive topic - how to live a complete and fulfilling life by breaking it down into a simple yet powerful exercise: the Nine Box Life Framework.

Lee introduces this life-changing tool, inspired by Susan Jeffers’ Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, and explains how it helps individuals create clarity, intentionality, and structure in their personal and professional lives. 

Steve and Lee discuss the importance of prioritization, protection, and process over results, sharing personal stories and actionable insights for listeners to start applying immediately.

Key Takeaways:

• Life is a process, not a result. Fulfillment isn’t a destination—it’s the byproduct of intentionality.
• The Nine Box Framework: Draw a 3x3 grid and assign each box to a key area of your life (e.g., relationships, career, health, personal growth, community, etc.).
• Prioritize and protect. It’s not enough to set goals—schedule and safeguard time for what truly matters.
• Boxes evolve over time. Life changes, and so should your priorities. Reassess your nine boxes every few months.
• Measure through alignment, not achievement. Success is about living in alignment with your values, not checking off boxes.

Try the Nine Box Life Framework for yourself! Sketch your 3x3 grid and start defining what matters most.

Share your insights and progress with usb- what did you learn from this exercise?

Follow the podcast to stay inspired and gain more actionable strategies for intentional living.

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

In this episode of Founders Catalyst, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey dive deep into the power of coaching as a leadership style. They explore why the best leaders take a coaching approach, how it fosters ownership and growth, and why adaptability and self-awareness are critical leadership traits.

Steve and Lee also discuss the challenges leaders face when shifting from managing to coaching, the importance of curiosity in leadership, and how to empower individuals to take responsibility for their own development.

Key Takeaways:

•  It falls under the broader umbrella of leadership and is a powerful tool for developing people.
• Coaching is about supporting individuals in becoming the best version of themselves, both professionally and personally.
•  Effective coaching starts with intentional curiosity—asking the right questions to understand an individual’s goals, emotions, and roadblocks.
•  Leaders must resist the urge to dictate outcomes and instead create space for individuals to discover their own paths.
•  Investing in building relationships and understanding people deeply at the start leads to long-term benefits and less effort required later.
• The best leaders are chameleons who adjust their style to meet the needs of their team rather than expecting people to conform to them.
•  When employees take responsibility for their own growth, they become more engaged, motivated, and productive.
• The difference between a manager and a leader is that a leader takes responsibility for developing those around them.

Resources Mentioned:

• Recommended reading: 10x is Easier Than 2x (on shifting to high-impact leadership and scaling effectively)

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from these insights!

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

About the Guest:
Michael Brandt is the co-founder & CEO of Ketone IQ, pioneering ketone-based energy products. An endurance athlete and marathon runner, his passion for biohacking led to a supplement used by elite athletes, military units, and high performers. With an engineering and business background, he started at YouTube/Google before launching his brand.

📲 Follow Michael: @michaeldbrandt
🔗 Learn more: ketone.com

About the Episode:
Hosts Steve Mellor & Lee Povey chat with Michael Brandt about building Ketone IQ, resilience in entrepreneurship, and lessons from early failures—including a Shark Tank rejection. He shares insights on personal branding, leadership, and overcoming adversity to build impact.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Resilience Wins – Success isn’t avoiding failure, it’s learning and moving forward.
✅ Branding Matters – Founders must be visible; people connect with stories, not just products.
✅ The Power of Coaching – Growth requires evolving from individual contributor to leader.
✅ Optionality in Business – Never rely on one deal—always create multiple opportunities.
✅ Execution > Ideas – Success comes from systems, discipline, and relentless effort.
✅ Live Your Brand – Founders should embody their mission; Michael integrates fitness into Ketone IQ.

Resources & Mentions:
📘 Atomic Habits – James Clear
📺 Shark Tank Appearance – Michael Brandt
🔗 www.ketone.com

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

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Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

In this conversation, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey explore the evolving role of coaching in modern leadership. 

They discuss how coaching is essential for empowering team members, fostering a growth mindset, and adapting leadership styles to meet individual needs. 

The importance of active listening, creating supportive communities, and the silent gratitude that comes from effective coaching is emphasized. 

The discussion encourages leaders to embrace coaching as a vital tool for both personal and organizational growth.

Takeaways

• Coaching requires intentional time and active listening.
• Modern leadership focuses on empowering others, not exerting authoritarian control.
• Coaching helps individuals identify their goals and the steps needed to reach them.
• Leaders should celebrate the growth of their team members, even if it leads to their departure.
• Effective coaching involves adapting to the needs of each individual.
• The silent gratitude from team members is a reflection of effective coaching.
• Surrounding oneself with a supportive community is crucial for leaders.
• Leaders should prioritize developing their team members' potential.
• Coaching is about unlocking the brilliance within individuals.
• Leaders must believe in their ability to be the best version of themselves for their team.

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

Summary

In this milestone 10th episode, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey delve into the vital concept of culture within organizations. They explore the importance of defining culture, the shift from authoritarian leadership models to more collaborative environments, and the critical role leaders play in creating conditions where teams can thrive. The conversation highlights the value of feedback, ownership, and authenticity in leadership while examining common pitfalls that can erode a healthy culture. The episode concludes with a reminder of culture's fragility and the importance of leaders' ongoing efforts to nurture a positive and resilient environment for their teams.

Takeaways

• Celebrating 10 episodes of impactful leadership discussions.
• Culture serves as the guiding principle for how an organization operates.
• High-performing cultures prioritize direct, actionable feedback.
• Leaders should focus on creating conditions that enable individuals to thrive, rather than merely trying to motivate them.
• Ownership and empowerment are essential for driving high performance.
• Authentic leadership builds trust and strengthens organizational culture.
• Leaders are ultimately responsible for the health of an organization's culture.
• Avoiding pitfalls such as favoritism, gossip, and blurred boundaries is critical to sustaining a strong culture.
• Culture is fragile and can be easily undermined by negative influences.
• Investing time and effort into cultivating culture is as crucial as developing the core ideas of the business.

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

In this episode of Founders Catalyst, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey delve into the critical role of motivation in personal growth and entrepreneurship. They share insights from their own experiences of uncovering what truly drives them, highlighting the importance of purpose over monetary success and the common challenges associated with New Year’s resolutions. 

The discussion centers on self-awareness, sustainable change, and breaking down goals to achieve long-term success. Together, they explore the power of intrinsic motivation, the value of community, and the persistence required to overcome challenges. 

The conversation offers a thoughtful look at how understanding and harnessing one’s motivations can lead to meaningful progress and fulfillment.

Key Takeaways

• Motivation often stems from a desire to prove personal value.
• Autonomy is a cornerstone of personal fulfillment.
• True change begins with understanding the catalyst behind one’s motivation.
• Purpose-driven individuals often achieve greater success and happiness.
• Many New Year’s resolutions fail due to a lack of personal, intrinsic motivation.
• Building sustainable habits is more effective than relying on quick fixes.
• Understanding what brings you happiness is vital to uncovering your purpose.
• Long-term results are often difficult to envision but are essential for sustained effort.
• Fulfillment is complex and cannot be easily measured.
• Personal journeys of motivation can uncover profound insights into one’s path.
• Persistence is a critical trait for entrepreneurs, as demonstrated by the Theragun story.
• Intrinsic motivation is key to maintaining consistent effort over time.
• Consistency in practice leads to significant improvements and growth.
• Failure often stems from unrealistic expectations of quick results.
• Regularly reflecting on progress can help sustain motivation.
• Motivation cannot be imposed externally; it must come from within.
• A clear understanding of the requirements for success is essential for progress.
• Breaking down ambitious goals into smaller, actionable tasks makes them more achievable.
• Community support is invaluable for founders and entrepreneurs.
• Finding joy in helping others can be a powerful source of personal motivation.

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.