What if high performance isn’t just winning, but winning without sacrificing your health, relationships, or sense of purpose? Shaun sits down with James Laughlin to unpack the habits that drive sustainable success on the field and off it. James shares practical frameworks for decision-making, prioritisation, and building routines that protect energy and prevent burnout.

Guest Bio

James Laughlin is a high-performance coach, keynote speaker, and author of Habits of High Performers. A former multi-time world champion, he now works with leaders, athletes, and high-performing teams to build sustainable habits that drive results without burnout.

Episode Summary

James reflects on the reality that external success can hide internal struggle. Despite becoming a world champion, he was running on low sleep, leaning on alcohol, overworking, and watching his marriage deteriorate. That experience sparked a deeper question: Can you perform at a high level professionally while also thriving personally?

Together, Shaun and James challenge the idea that high performance means doing more. Instead, they explore habits that help people succeed with clarity and consistency - learning to say “no,” creating a values and priorities filter for decisions, building momentum through routines, and shaping environments that support growth. They also discuss the role of purpose, how elite performers manage self-doubt, and why “counterbalance” matters more than chasing work-life balance.

Key Discussion Points

· A healthier definition of high performance: success with wellbeing and strong relationships

· Why high performers say “no” more often than most people

· The Values & Priorities filter for clearer decision-making

· Choosing long-term priorities over short-term ego wins

· Consistency beating motivation, and why discipline is temporary

· Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation and how it shapes behaviour

· Capturing wins to manage self-doubt and imposter syndrome

· How gratitude and reflection shift mindset

· Environment design: people, culture, and physical space

· Relationship systems: boundaries, rituals, date nights, and planning time in advance

· “Habits over hustle” and using counterbalance to avoid burnout

· Intention as a defining trait of elite performers

· Purpose as a protective factor against burnout and unhealthy coping

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Shaun's intro and sponsorship mention
• 0:35 – James returns to the show and the story behind the book
• 2:01 – World champion success vs the hidden cost off the field
• 4:09 – Redefining high performance beyond "winning"
• 4:41 – Saying no as a key high-performance habit
• 5:33 – The Values & Priorities filter
• 7:06 – Choosing Finn's school production over a major London event
• 9:01 – Consistency, discipline, and habit formation
• 9:27 – Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation
• 13:07 – Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the Personal Victory Journal
• 15:28 – Gratitude and scanning for what's going right
• 17:45 – Culture and environment: "lifters vs leaners"
• 19:42 – Relationships and boundaries that protect what matters
• 23:56 – Counterbalance vs work-life balance
• 27:24 – Intention and execution as the separator
• 30:27 – Purpose and meaning as burnout prevention
• 33:40 – Three habits for 2026: routine, standards, reading
• 36:32 – How long habits take to stick (66 days on average)
• 37:34 – Where to find James and what's coming next

Resources Mentioned

· Free High-Performance Planner: www.jjlaughlin.com/planner

· Website: www.jjlaughlin.com

· Podcast: Habits of High Performers

· Book: Habits of High Performers (Amazon)

Other Books:

· The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

· Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill

· Four Thousand Weeks - Oliver Burkeman

Zion Armstrong is a former elite athlete and global business leader. This episode explores the transformative power of mentorship, resilience, and intentional leadership. From a troubled youth in New Zealand to the global boardrooms of major corporations, Zion shares how sport, structure, and love helped shape his journey. This conversation is a masterclass in authenticity, parenting, and purpose driven leadership.

Key Themes & Takeaways

1. Turning Points & Mentorship

• Zion shares a pivotal moment from his youth involving a stolen motorbike and a compassionate police officer who chose to mentor him rather than punish him.
• This officer gave Zion time, structure, belief, and love, becoming a father figure and changing the trajectory of his life.

2. Sport as a Catalyst

• Athletics gave Zion hope, discipline, and self-worth. It helped him build confidence, gain respect, and develop a sense of purpose.
• The structure and goals in sport translated into life lessons that shaped his career and leadership style.

3. Intentional Parenting

• Zion reflects on his journey as a father, acknowledging past mistakes and the importance of being present and intentional.
• He emphasises setting goals with his children, creating quality time, and role modelling values like discipline and love.

4. Managing Competing Priorities

• He discusses the challenge of balancing ambition with family life, especially post-divorce.
• Zion uses structured planning and support systems to ensure he’s present for his kids while maintaining professional commitments.

5. Technology & Parenting

• Zion and Shaun explore the struggle of managing kids’ screen time and promoting healthy habits.
• They stress the importance of co-creating boundaries, being consistent across households, and role modelling tech discipline.

6. Leadership Philosophy

• Zion’s leadership is grounded in authenticity, values, and understanding individual definitions of success.
• He uses tools like new leader integration workshops and 90-day plans to foster trust, alignment, and growth.

7. Career Advice & Growth

• Zion encourages young people to get a foot in the door, focus on learning, and network authentically.
• He highlights the importance of reading, surrounding yourself with good people, and capturing meaningful quotes for reflection.

Memorable Quotes

• “Kids need role models, not critics.”
• “You only need two things in life: meaning and purpose, and love and connection.”
• “If you find a quote that resonates, write it down. It’ll help you on the tough days.”

With over 25 years of executive leadership in the energy and resources sector, Janette Hewson is a seasoned director and strategic leader who knows how to navigate both boom times and tough downturns. An expert in building strong internal and external relationships, Janette thrives on collaboration to deliver business objectives and drive results.

In the boardroom, Janette brings a respectful diversity of thought, sharp strategic insight, and the ability to build consensus even on complex issues. Her broad expertise spans external affairs, stakeholder engagement, ESG, major project delivery, procurement, legal advisory, governance, risk management, internal audit, policy development, and corporate strategy.

Having led through crises, restructures, acquisitions, expansions, and closures, Janette has honed her leadership skills and a deep understanding of business transformation. She is passionate about building effective teams and transforming business units to achieve sustainable success.

Episode Summary

Janette is a dynamic leader and advocate for the Mining and Resources sector. In this episode, she shares her journey from a legal background to becoming the CEO of QRC, and how mining has not only shaped her career but also allowed her to make a meaningful impact on communities across Australia and the Pacific.

This episode explores the evolving narrative of mining, the sector’s social and economic contributions, and the exciting future ahead, particularly for young people and those passionate about sustainability, innovation, and regional development.

Key Discussion Points:

Janette’s Unconventional Path into Mining

• From Mount Isa to the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
• Transitioning from law to general counsel, and eventually into executive leadership.
• The role of serendipity and saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities.

Mining as a Platform for Social Good

• Opening a literacy library in PNG and the emotional impact of that experience.
• Supporting Indigenous communities in Australia through employment and business partnerships.
• The shared social challenges across remote communities globally, and how mining can help address them.

The Power of Belonging and Purpose

• Why Janette feels at home in the mining industry.
• The camaraderie and mission-driven culture of mining teams.
• How the sector fosters a sense of collective achievement and community.

Public Perception vs. Reality

• The challenge of misinformation and activism in shaping public opinion.
• The importance of transparency and storytelling in changing the narrative.
• How QRC and its members are engaging with schools and communities through the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

The Future of Mining

• Strong long-term demand across commodities: coal, gold, copper, and critical minerals.
• The rise of automation, AI, and remote operations, and to the new skills required.
• The need for policy reform, faster approvals, and global competitiveness.

Opportunities for the Next Generation

• Why now is a great time to enter the mining industry.
• The sector’s role in decarbonisation and environmental innovation.
• The global mobility and career growth potential for mining professionals.

Key Quotes

• “Every day is a school day. That’s the beauty of the industry, you’re always learning.”
• “Mining only exists because society needs it. We’re not mining for the sake of it.”
• “If you want to do good for the environment, come and join the industry and help us decarbonise the world.”

Industry Insights

• Queensland’s resources sector contributes $120 billion to the state economy.
• Supports 1 in 6 jobs across the state.

Social & Environmental Impact

• Literacy and education programs in PNG and regional Australia.
• Indigenous employment and business development.
• Rehabilitation and sustainability initiatives across mine sites.
• Repurposing historic mining assets for renewable energy projects like pumped hydro.

Resources & Links

• Queensland Resources Council (QRC): qrc.org.au
• Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA): qmea.org.au