#97 What I Learned From 25 Years of Scaling Businesses with Brendan McGurgan

11/19/24 • 50 min

1 Listener

Did you know that only a small fraction of SMEs actually achieve scalable success? In this episode, Finola sits down with Brendan McGurgan—chartered accountant, director, and CEO mentor—to dive into how adopting a purposeful mindset can propel your business to new heights. Question for you - have you ever analysed your inner voice? Is it your biggest supporter, or is it holding you back? In this discussion, Brendan delves into the power of mindset and the often-overlooked psychological barriers, like imposter syndrome and self-doubt, that even the most successful entrepreneurs face.

Brendan also explores the transformative role of self-awareness in leadership, discussing how it can unlock both personal and organisational potential. Brendan introduces his powerful scaling framework and encourages leaders to engage in introspection, seek feedback, and align personal growth with their company’s goals. This episode promises to inspire leaders from all walks of life to embrace their unique strengths, conquer their mental barriers, and scale their businesses successfully. So, buckle up to shift your mindset, embrace discomfort, and make intentional, growth-focused decisions that your future self will thank you for.

Key points throughout include:
- What does scaling with purpose look like?
- The power of psyche: How your inner dialogue can shape your scaling ambition
- The challenges of scaling and letting go in business
- Developing the 10 principles of scaling framework
- The Ripple Effect of Leadership: How a negative culture can affect your life beyond work
- Scaling support: Why finding the right community matters
- Why you can't scale a business without scaling yourself first
- The Power of Self-Awareness: Leaders Must Address Blind Spots to Inspire Teams
- Helping leaders find their own voice

“I found out that less than 1% of small and medium-sized enterprises ever achieve scale. The tone and content of your inner voice ultimately determines the quality of your life. We define 10 principles of scaling. Your psyche, your mindset, either empowers or disempowers your scaling trajectory.” – Brendan McGurgan.

Get connected with Brendan McGurgan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-mcgurgan-11854a13/
https://simplescaling.com/
https://simplescaling.com/insights/the-book/

Get connected with host Finola Howard:
https://www.finolahoward.com/
https://www.finolahoward.com/book

https://www.linkedin.com/in/finolahoward/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisfinolahoward
https://www.facebook.com/thisisfinolahoward
https://www.youtube.com/c/howgreatmarketingworks
https://www.twitter.com/FinolaHoward

Get connected with Brendan McGurgan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-mcgurgan-11854a13/
https://simplescaling.com/
https://simplescaling.com/insights/the-book/

Get connected with host Finola Howard:
https://www.finolahoward.com/
https://www.finolahoward.com/book

Previous Episode

#96 Uniting Technology, Brands and Consumers Like Never Before with Wendy Slattery

Hands up if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of products in the beauty industry! Do you have a little bag stashed away in the back of your drawer with half-used products? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This week, Wendy Slattery, CEO of Beauty Buddy, is here to take us on her and her sister’s journey to transform personal challenges within the beauty industry into a flourishing, tech-based, community-driven solution. Wendy, alongside her sister and co-founder, aimed to change how consumers navigate the overwhelming sea of beauty products by creating a platform inspired by TripAdvisor. Their vision was clear: to empower consumers with unbiased reviews through a simple barcode-scanning app.

Hear firsthand about the pivotal role that accelerator programs like New Frontiers and the NDRC played in shaping Beauty Buddy’s trajectory. Wendy also unpacks the a-ha moments of her career, behind the scenes of planning an adventurous expansion into the U.S. market and how their platform now offers valuable consumer insights directly into the hands of beauty brands. Wendy also reminds us that, no matter the hurdles, we should keep pursuing our dreams because we don’t want to live with the true cost of not trying. Key points throughout include:

From frustrated consumers to beauty innovators: Tackling overwhelm and waste in the industry
Sisters on a mission: Building a global business from Ireland
The knowledge gap: How the beauty industry overlooked consumer needs
Leveraging support and programs to accelerate business growth
Overcoming investment challenges and the importance of a clear business plan
How Beauty Buddy connects brands with their unseen consumers
Win-Win-Win: A Model Where the Beauty Squad, Brands, and Consumers All Benefit
Navigating B2B2C challenges and simplifying a dual business model
Looking ahead and essential advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

“The more we got into the beauty industry, the more we’ve spoken to makeup artists, beauticians, brands, and retailers. They were all like, how does that not exist already? It’s because they knew the answers, but the consumer didn’t.” – Wendy Slattery.

Get connected with Wendy Slattery:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyslattery/

https://www.poweredxbeautybuddy.com/

Get connected with host Finola Howard:

https://www.finolahoward.com/

https://www.finolahoward.com/book

https://www.linkedin.com/in/finolahoward/

https://www.instagram.com/thisisfinolahoward

https://www.facebook.com/thisisfinolahoward

https://www.youtube.com/c/howgreatmarketingworks

https://www.twitter.com/FinolaHoward

Next Episode

#98 - Your 3 Phased Map to Exponential Business Growth with Finola Howard

Finola shares the essential Marketing Milestones that can propel entrepreneurial ventures to new heights. The episode is structured around three critical milestones:

Positioning, Engine, and Visibility (P-E-V)

These together create a comprehensive map for business growth.

The episode serves as both a guide and a call to action for entrepreneurs, encouraging them to reflect on their growth journey and utilize the resources provided to drive exponential growth. By focusing on strategic positioning, constructing a robust digital engine, and amplifying visibility, listeners are equipped with actionable steps to elevate their business endeavours.

Take this valuable roadmap to transform your businesses into a success story, with practical advice on how to overcome obstacles and achieve sustainable growth.

"Maps are Key to the Speed of Your Growth. They’re specific enough to be useful and yet not so rigid as to be restrictive" – Finola Howard.

Resources:
Love to get your hands on a copy of this Growth Map?

DOWNLOAD Finola’s 3 Phased Map to Exponential Business Growth Here

Further Listening:

Episode 49 Unlock Your Business Growth With Positioning Strategy:
https://www.finolahoward.com/podcasts/your-truth-shared/episodes/2147912139

Episode 88 The Step-by-Step Guide to the Ultimate Sales and Marketing Funnel:
https://www.finolahoward.com/podcasts/your-truth-shared/episodes/2148659313

Get connected with host Finola Howard:
https://www.finolahoward.com/
https://www.finolahoward.com/book

If you like this episode you’ll love

Entrepreneurs on Fire

The Affiliate Guy with Matt McWilliams: Marketing Tips, Affiliate Management, & More

Content Inc. - The Podcast

The How of Business - How to start, run & grow a small business.

The Excellence Project with Eric Worre

Episode Comments

Generate a badge

Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode

Select type & size

Copy