Why Being a CEO is Like Being a Gardener – The Three Tools for Great Leadership

In this episode, I break down the three essential things that great CEOs and leaders do – and it’s surprisingly similar to what any good gardener does. It all comes down to seeding, feeding, and weeding.

• Seeding Ideas: Planting the vision and the strategy.
• Feeding Initiatives: Supporting and nurturing projects to ensure they thrive.
• Weeding Inefficiencies: Removing what doesn’t work, whether it’s projects or team fit.

Are you doing all three in your leadership role? This simple framework could be the key to transforming your leadership approach.

Let me know in the comments if this resonates with you!

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If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

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Feeling like you’re just “surviving” in your role as a CEO? Discover how to break free from the constant pressure of “spinning plates” and transition into thriving leadership. This video breaks down four critical mindsets—Reactive, Proactive, Strategic, and Opportunistic—that can transform how you approach challenges. If you’re ready to move from managing daily fires to seizing bigger opportunities, this thought-provoking shift may be the key to unlocking a more empowered leadership style.

Listen to this episode to explore:

• The shift from a survival mindset to thriving as a leader
• Practical analogies (air traffic controller, city planner) to reframe your role
• Four leadership mindsets that elevate CEOs from Reactive to Opportunistic
• Why a thriving mindset uncovers opportunities even in challenging markets

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.

Ever feel like you’re stuck within boundaries you didn’t choose? In this video, I share a powerful thought experiment involving a goose, a bottle, and two constraints that can’t be broken...or can they? This ancient Buddhist story challenges the rules and constraints we impose on ourselves, showing that sometimes the only way to free ourselves is to break the very rules that keep us trapped.

📌 Main Points:

• The "Goose in a Bottle" thought experiment
• Why we need to question the rules and constraints in our lives
• How self-imposed limits hold us back
• Breaking your own mental "bottles" to achieve personal growth

This is part of a series inspired by my upcoming book, The Modern CEO. Join me as we explore unconventional ways of thinking for today’s leaders.

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.

Imposter syndrome. Hustle culture. Burnout. We hear these words often, but what do they really mean for high-performing leaders who constantly push themselves to the limit? In this episode, I sit down with Eva Valovska, CEO of Trust Women, to explore the hidden challenges behind success and the complex emotions that accompany it.

We start with imposter syndrome—something many leaders experience, but few openly discuss. Eva and I talk through the different ways men and women feel it, with men often seeing it as a sign of humility, while for women, it can be a much deeper issue tied to societal pressures and biases. We dig into how these feelings of inadequacy can be driven not just by our own internal thoughts, but by the very structures and environments we work in.

How does hustle culture tie into all this? We explore how the push to always achieve more, to work harder, and to be perfect often leads us down a dangerous path. It's a journey many of us have been on, including myself. We often confuse constant output and perfection with success, but as Eva so insightfully points out, this mindset only leads to exhaustion and feelings of unworthiness. The more we chase, the further we feel from true happiness.

Whether you’re a CEO, a leader in transition, or someone feeling the weight of imposter syndrome, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success. Are you chasing someone else’s definition of achievement? Are you listening to the "shoulds" that society places on you, or are you carving out your own path?

Show Links:

• Read more about how imposter syndrome might actually be a feature, not a bug: Imposter Syndrome Is A Feature, Not A Bug
• BBC article: Are You an Insecure Overachiever?
• Harvard Business Review: Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome
• The Confidence Gap: How to Overcome the Confidence Gap in Men and Women
• Book Recommendation: How to Do Less by Kate Northrup

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

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Or you can drop me an email.

In this episode, I sit down with Alison Coward, founder of Bracket, to talk about how to transform offsites and workshops from mere team-building events into crucial strategic tools that drive real results. Many leaders may see offsites as an expensive exercise with little return, but Alison shares how a well-structured workshop can turn that perception upside down.

We explore the common mistakes leaders make with workshops, like trying to achieve too much in too little time, and how to avoid the trap of unproductive sessions. Alison talks through her process for designing workshops that deliver – from setting the right objectives to ensuring follow-up leads to actual business change.

Curious to learn more about how you can turn your next offsite into a growth-driving, culture-shaping moment? Tune in to find out.

Show Links:

https://bracketcreative.co.uk/

My article about team offsites: https://bracketcreative.co.uk/team-time-together-designing-impactful-offsites-for-a-new-era-of-work/

Humble Inquiry: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humble-Inquiry-Instead-Telling-Leadership/dp/1609949811

Ideational Facilitation Leadership: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-09486-004

Offsites that work: https://hbr.org/2006/06/off-sites-that-work

Off to plan or off to lunch: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/off-to-plan-or-out-to-lunch-relationships-between-design-characte

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

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Or you can drop me an email.

Mastering the Inner Game: The Key to Transformational Leadership

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of the 'inner game' versus the 'outer game.' The outer game encompasses all the external factors such as resources, strategies, and results that shape a business environment. However, it is the 'inner game,' which includes your capabilities, values, beliefs, and identity, that truly drives your behaviors and, in turn, influences the outer game.

For CEOs and leaders, understanding and mastering this inner game can provide a significant edge in improving business outcomes. We explore the elements that make up the inner game, from deeply ingrained values and beliefs to the identity you craft for yourself. We'll discuss how questioning and understanding these elements can lead to transformational leadership.

As a coach, my role involves helping leaders lift the lid on their inner game to ensure their beliefs and values are in service of their success and happiness. Stay tuned to learn actionable insights and homework exercises designed to help you master your inner game and elevate your leadership performance.

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.

Mastering Leadership: The Inner Game Explained

In this video, I delve deep into a concept that often goes unnoticed in many leadership discussions: the 'inner game.' While most leadership books and strategies focus extensively on the 'outer game' – managing resources, leading teams, and creating strategies – true mastery comes from understanding and mastering the inner game. Drawing inspiration from Robert Ellison's groundbreaking book, 'Coaching from Essence,'

I explore the critical components that shape our inner game: capabilities, values, beliefs, and identity. These elements form the bedrock of our behavior and profoundly influence how we interact with the world around us, particularly in leadership roles.

If you are a leader looking to elevate your effectiveness and truly transform your organization's culture, this video is a must-watch. Stay tuned as I also preview what’s in store for next week, where we'll dive even further into techniques for mastering your inner game.

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.

Ever wondered when the best time is to sell your SaaS business? In this episode, Jon Hainstock shares hard-won insights from his experience building and selling ZoomShift. We don’t just talk about financials – this conversation dives into the emotional aspects of selling something you’ve poured your heart into.

Jon unpacks how to read market signals, the nuances of buyer motivations, and why timing is everything. For founders and CEOs, this episode explores more than just valuation – it’s about understanding how to position your business for success and why some deals fall through while others skyrocket.

Senior leaders, this one's for you if you’re thinking of an exit but want to make sure you get it right.

www.JonHainstock.com
www.QuietLight.com
or Email Jon at Jon@quietlight.com

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Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.