In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Preston, CEO of Gaelic Business Solutions, a seasoned operator and coach who’s spent 35+ years helping companies navigate messy growth. Bryan’s been in the trenches across tech, manufacturing, and financial services, and he’s even earned a U.S. patent for supply-chain finance work from his time at UPS.

We dig into what actually causes “chaos” inside businesses, and how to turn it into momentum without burning out your team (or yourself). Bryan shares the leadership and people dynamics that quietly break companies, the practical systems that restore clarity fast, and the mindset shifts founders need whether they’re just starting out… or trying to scale without blowing a tire at 90 mph.

1. [2:10] - Bryan’s unexpected path: from aspiring high school math teacher to business leadership and consulting
2. [6:05] - Why values-based businesses create more satisfaction (and waste less energy)
3. [18:20] - The leadership gap behind most company problems: vision, communication, and staying focused
4. [27:40] - A real turnaround story: SOPs, process mapping, and reducing owner “firefighting” by ~50%
5. [34:10] - Diagnosing profitability + sales: the questions Bryan uses to spot risk, waste, and concentration issues
6. [44:30] - Universal people truth: most teams suffer from low self-awareness (over- vs under-estimators)
7. [50:15] - A simple tool to improve team dynamics fast: DISC assessments + shared vocabulary
8. [1:05:20] - Scaling advice: can you actually afford to grow, and why financing can add healthy rigor

1. Bryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankpreston/
2. Bryan’s Website: https://www.gaelicbiz.com/
3. Patent Hacks Website: https://www.patenthacks.com
4. Trevor Skene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-skene/