In today's episode, Sean sits down for a conversation with Paulo Narciso, a seasoned entrepreneur and author of "The Founder's Journey." Paulo shares his insights on the importance of focusing on sustainability over scalability for early-stage entrepreneurs, emphasising the need for a mindset shift from founder to CEO as businesses grow. He discusses his role as a Build Fellow at Stand Together Ventures Lab, where he tackles some of society's most pressing issues, particularly in healthcare.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Founders should prioritise the sustainability of their business rather than merely aiming for rapid scalability. This involves ensuring that the organisation can endure over time while maintaining its culture and achieving its original vision.

• Transitioning from a founder to a CEO requires a significant shift in mindset. Founders must acknowledge their new responsibilities and develop the necessary skills, both hard and soft, to lead an organisation effectively.

• Founders should engage in self-reflection to understand their motivations for growth and the changes they need to make. This internal change is crucial for external success and helps in building a sustainable organisation.

• It is essential to continuously monitor the effectiveness of strategies and be willing to adapt them based on real-time feedback. Regular evaluation helps ensure that the organisation is on the right path to achieving its objectives.

• As organisations grow, founders must learn to delegate responsibilities and trust their team members. This involves hiring individuals with diverse skills and allowing them to contribute in ways that enhance the overall success of the business.

BEST MOMENTS

"The moment you recognise that need for growth is the moment of self-reflection."

"Sustainability is about how do I create that future, not scaling."

"If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step just gets you to the wrong place faster."

"The most successful founders are the ones that scratch their own back."

"Change doesn't happen if somebody doesn't internalise it."

HOST BIO

Meet Your Host: Sean O’Hara, MBA – Entrepreneur, Sales Strategist, and Relentless Business Optimist.

With over 20 years in the entrepreneurial trenches—guiding scrappy startups and Fortune 1000 giants alike—Sean brings a rare mix of strategic insight and real-world experience to every conversation. Known for his sharp sales acumen and down-to-earth style, he doesn’t just talk business—he lives it.

Sean’s superpower? Asking the right questions, then stepping back to let the wisdom flow. His curiosity-driven interview style unlocks actionable insights, powerful stories, and the kind of truth today’s entrepreneurs actually need.

If you’re serious about building a business that lasts, Sean’s the guide you’ll want in your corner.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Sean interviews Lee Benson, an accomplished entrepreneur and author of the best-selling book "Your Most Important Number." With a remarkable track record as an eight-time founder and seven successful exits, Lee shares his journey from being a high school cook to building a thriving aerospace business that saved customers over $200 million. Their conversation delves into the concept of value creation, emphasising the importance of positive emotional energy and connectedness in driving business success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Emphasising a value creation mindset is crucial for entrepreneurs. It's not just about making money; it's about creating net positive value for customers and the community, which leads to long-term success.

• Positive emotional energy is considered the scarcest commodity. Leaders should focus on creating an energising environment that fosters collaboration and engagement among team members, which ultimately drives better business outcomes.

• To build a strong foundation for a business, it's essential to operationalise value creation by connecting culture to measurable outcomes. Each team should have a "most important number" that reflects the value they create, guiding their actions and decisions.

• Viewing challenges as healthy struggles is vital for personal and professional growth. Entrepreneurs should embrace the difficulties of building a business as opportunities to develop character and capabilities.

• Balancing work and personal life is about blending them into one cohesive experience. Entrepreneurs should prioritise their passions and maintain a holistic view, ensuring that they create value across material, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.

BEST MOMENTS

"I always felt more secure running my own thing. I can influence a lot of stuff and I have to keep creating more and more value for our customers."

"Positive emotional energy to me is the scarcest commodity on the planet. I would rather live only half as long on a scale from one to ten on a nine or ten."

"It sounds like you developed some fundamental business disciplines with the band. This may have been the beginning of your understanding of the value of positive emotional energy."

"If you are really trying to create value and solving for a real problem in the world, you're just going to win."

"You have to operationalise value creation. My goal is always to connect culture to creating value."

HOST BIO

Meet Your Host: Sean O’Hara, MBA – Entrepreneur, Sales Strategist, and Relentless Business Optimist.

With over 20 years in the entrepreneurial trenches—guiding scrappy startups and Fortune 1000 giants alike—Sean brings a rare mix of strategic insight and real-world experience to every conversation. Known for his sharp sales acumen and down-to-earth style, he doesn’t just talk business—he lives it.

Sean’s superpower? Asking the right questions, then stepping back to let the wisdom flow. His curiosity-driven interview style unlocks actionable insights, powerful stories, and the kind of truth today’s entrepreneurs actually need.

If you’re serious about building a business that lasts, Sean’s the guide you’ll want in your corner.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Sean sits down with Bruce Smith, a seasoned C-suite executive with over 30 years of experience in leadership roles across start-ups and large corporations. Bruce shares invaluable insights on leveraging data and business analytics to create actionable plans, emphasising the importance of transforming raw data into meaningful information. He discusses strategies for entrepreneurs in the prelaunch phase to validate their business ideas and tailor their pitches for different types of investors.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Entrepreneurs should not be intimidated by data; instead, they should focus on transforming raw data into actionable information that can guide decision-making and action plans.

• Before launching a business, entrepreneurs should conduct thorough research using articles and case studies to validate their business ideas and understand market expectations, avoiding confirmation bias.

• When seeking investment, it's crucial to tailor your business plan and pitch to the specific audience, whether it's venture capitalists, private equity, or state development corporations, as each has different risk tolerances and expectations.

• For start-ups, cash flow is vital. Entrepreneurs should prioritise understanding their cash flow statements to ensure they are generating cash from operations and using it effectively to sustain and grow the business.

• When assembling a leadership team, it's important to find individuals who share your values but can also challenge your ideas. This diversity in thought can lead to better decision-making and innovation.

BEST MOMENTS

"Don't be daunted by data, but really seek information because that's what you need in order to develop action plans and make decisions."

"If the fundamentals of the business plan are not compelling, then the financial forecast data may not even matter."

"You have to be obsessed with all results, not just financial results. Know about all your competition, all your stakeholders, employees, potential customers, vendors."

"Manage your expectations of yourself before even thinking about managing the expectations of others."

"There's always going to be something challenging you. And if you never walk away from it, it's always going to be there."

HOST BIO

Meet Your Host: Sean O’Hara, MBA – Entrepreneur, Sales Strategist, and Relentless Business Optimist.

With over 20 years in the entrepreneurial trenches—guiding scrappy startups and Fortune 1000 giants alike—Sean brings a rare mix of strategic insight and real-world experience to every conversation. Known for his sharp sales acumen and down-to-earth style, he doesn’t just talk business—he lives it.

Sean’s superpower? Asking the right questions, then stepping back to let the wisdom flow. His curiosity-driven interview style unlocks actionable insights, powerful stories, and the kind of truth today’s entrepreneurs actually need.

If you’re serious about building a business that lasts, Sean’s the guide you’ll want in your corner.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/