What happens when two high-performance coaches admit they're not walking their own talk? This raw and revealing episode is an honest look into the burnout cycle that even the most disciplined leaders can fall into.

Steve and Lee unpack how their carefully curated schedules have spiraled into overwhelm, despite their best intentions, and what that says about the challenges leaders face in protecting time and energy.

They reflect on personal experiences, cognitive fatigue, perfectionism, and the sneaky belief that high capacity means endless availability. If you've ever felt stretched thin or caught in the trap of productivity guilt, this one will hit home.

Whether you're a founder, coach, or creative, you'll walk away with powerful insights on setting boundaries, embracing rest, and finding the courage to adjust your plans, even when you're the one who made them.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why high-performing leaders are especially vulnerable to burnout
• The cognitive cost of constant context-switching
• “Borrowing from the future”, the hidden danger of postponing rest
• The difference between time management and energy protection
• How emotional awareness can help you break reactive patterns
• Practical ways to reset, audit your energy, and say “no” with integrity
• Vulnerability as a strength: why sharing struggles helps normalize them

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Conscious Leadership Group – The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
• Lee’s famous smoothie recipe (coming soon in a future episode! 😉)
• Upcoming episode teaser: A follow-up conversation on how Steve and Lee implemented change and restructured their time

Feeling like you're stuck in the overwhelm trap? This episode is a must-listen. 🎧

👉 Tune in now to hear two leadership coaches get radically honest about burnout and recovery
👉 Share this episode with a friend or fellow founder who needs to hear it
👉 Rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover The Founders Catalyst

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

In this real and relatable chat, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey get into one of the trickiest, but most important, parts of being a strong leader: giving feedback that actually helps people grow.

They talk about how to share hard truths without breaking trust, and why the relationship behind the message matters just as much as the message itself.

Whether you're leading a team, coaching others, or just trying to communicate better, this episode is packed with down-to-earth advice on how to be more effective, not just more direct.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Feedback is love. Telling someone what they need to hear—when done well—is one of the most powerful gifts you can give.
• Delivery matters as much as the message. Even the most truthful feedback will fall flat without the right tone, timing, and trust.
• Rapport is the foundation. Build the relationship first. Without it, feedback may feel like an attack, not a gift.
• Ask before you advise. A simple “Are you open to feedback?” can unlock a more productive, respectful exchange.
• Be effective, not just right. Choose the right time and the right words to ensure the feedback can actually be received and acted upon.
• Focus on growth, not ego. Feedback should invite someone into their potential—not trap them in their current limits.
• Zone of Genius vs. Zone of Comfort. Great leadership invites others to take the leap into their true potential.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 🧠 Free Feedback Guide by Lee Povey: www.leepovey.com (Scroll to the bottom of the homepage to download)
• 💼 Connect with Lee: www.leepovey.com
• 📣 Learn more about Steve: www.growthready.com

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.

About the Episode

In this raw and insightful conversation, hosts Steve Mellor and Lee Povey unpack the deeply personal and professional journey of understanding the true value of coaching.

Whether you're a seasoned founder, an emerging leader, or someone curious about personal development, this episode dives into the why, when, and how of finding the right coach for your journey.

From breaking down internal resistance to practical strategies for choosing a coach, Steve and Lee challenge the common misconceptions and highlight how transformative coaching can be when approached with curiosity and intention.

Key Takeaways

• The coaching mindset shift: Coaching isn't just for "fixing problems"—it's about optimizing your potential, like athletes do.
• You need to want it: Coaching only works when there's internal recognition that support is needed or desired.
• Start with your network: Before Googling, reflect on who in your life has grown with coaching and why it worked for them.
• Safety and challenge matter: A good coach helps you feel secure, but also pushes you into uncomfortable (yet essential) growth zones.
• Interview multiple coaches: Chemistry is key, but don’t just go with the nicest coach—choose the one who’s best equipped to serve your goals.
• Resistance is normal: Doubts about coaching often stem from fear of the unknown or past bad experiences. The opportunity cost of not exploring coaching can be significant.
• The coach's role: More than advice-givers, coaches are curious partners who help uncover what you don't know you don't know.

Links & Resources

• 🧠 Episode on the Nine Box Exercise
• 📖 Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers – A foundational personal development book mentioned by Lee.
• 🎯 Learn more about Steve Mellor
• 🧭 Learn more about Lee Povey

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions to help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join Our LinkedIn Group!
Become a part of The Founders Catalyst, a free community for founders, start-up executives, and high achievers. Network, ask questions, and participate in our free monthly Zoom meetings. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle. Join here.