scalr sagecast: Lessons in life, business and resilience from the first 50 episodes.

I started scalr sagecast with a simple goal: to have honest conversations with smart people doing interesting things across business, leadership and talent.

At the time, I’d just begun my own journey as a business owner. The podcast became a way to learn from those who’d been there before me—and to share that wisdom along the way.

50 episodes in, I’ve taken more from it than I ever expected—personally and professionally. What’s been fascinating is that, despite the wildly different backgrounds, industries and journeys of the guests, certain themes kept showing up. Again and again.

They boiled down to five key areas:

1. Back Yourself. Stay Resilient.

• Trust your gut and keep showing up
• Stay focused on why you started
• Resilience is key—expect hard days and keep pushing
• If you’re hungry enough, it’ll happen
• Building something meaningful is tough—be kind to yourself

2. Build Your People. Build Your Community.

• Business is a team sport—get good people in your corner early
• Find your people, your cheer squad, your community
• Make time for others on the way up
• Don’t go it alone—support networks matter

3. Lead with Values. Show Up as You.

• Be authentic and true to yourself
• Lead with empathy and kindness
• Define your values early and build from them
• You’re not just your job—connect purpose, spirit and relationships

4. Keep It Simple. Stay Focused.

• Be selective—it’s hard to do everything well
• Don’t overplan—make decisions and move
• Know your problem inside out and stay close to it
• Simplicity beats complexity, every time

5. Give First. Keep Learning.

• Help others. Be generous with your time and insight
• Say yes to opportunities, especially when they lift others
• Stay curious, ask questions, keep growing
• Mistakes are lessons—learn fast, move on

Across all of these conversations, it became clear: the best leaders - and people - lead with empathy, not ego. They’re honest with themselves. They trust their gut. They support others. And they show up, especially when it’s hard.

It’s not just good business - it’s just a better way to live.

Here are a few of the biggest lessons that really stuck:

• Get good people in your corner early. Business might feel lonely, but it was never meant to be done alone.
• Keep coming back to why you started. Purpose > pressure - especially when things get tough. And they will.
• Don’t do it all. The best leaders say “No” more than they say “Yes.” They go deep, not wide.
• Lead with empathy. Be kind. Sounds simple, but nearly every guest echoed it. People matter more than product.
• Stay curious. Give first. Keep listening. The best operators aren’t the loudest in the room - they’re the most generous and the most tuned in.

And the one that’s probably stuck with me most:

“Fall in love with the problem, not the solution.”

That’s a valuable lesson for me and for anyone who, instinctively, reverts to solution mode fairly quickly when being faced with a familiar problem. Reminding myself of this has shaped how I approach hiring, client work, business building and, to a degree, life.

To every guest who’s joined me, thank you for sharing so openly. These episodes have been part therapy, part business coaching, and full of life lessons. I can't wait to do the next 50!

If you’ve tuned in to one (or a few), thanks for the support and I’d love to hear what’s stuck with you.

And if you haven’t yet, here’s where you can jump in:

• Apple – https://open.spotify.com/show/2VsYNjqQwdOf5lF9pLxzzF#scalr
• Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2VsYNjqQwdOf5lF9pLxzzF

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