Another Excuse | Entrepreneurship, Business, Insights, Fears

Hosted by Byron Grealy

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Jun 2025

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About the show

Join Byron weekly while he chats with founders, creators and self-starters about how they started and where they are now. The aim is to understand the mental frameworks and hurdles around getting started and to find out more about their industries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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June 24, 20251 hr 19 min

#76 Why founders keep hiring the wrong people (and what to do instead)

Logan Merrick is the co-founder of Willbound, a company helping founder-led businesses hire elite talent from the Philippines. In this episode, we talk about why most offshore hiring fails, what founders get wrong about delegation, and how Logan rebuilt after burning out and publicly crashing his first company. He shares the lessons from running a lean 7-figure e-commerce brand, how that led to building Willbound, and why the quality of your hires determines how fast, or how painfully, you scale. Whether you're hiring your first operator or trying to build a remote team that actually works, this episode will help you rethink how you approach talent. Topics We Cover: • Why most founders approach hiring the wrong way • The myth of cheap offshore labor • How Logan accidentally started a recruiting company • His public business failure and how he rebuilt • What “buying back time” actually looks like • How to identify and attract top 1% global talent • Common mistakes founders make when building remote teams • The mindset shift from chasing growth to building leverage Logan: LinkedIn Willbound: Website Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – How Logan built Willbound from solving his own hiring pain 05:00 – Why most offshore hiring fails 08:00 – What top talent in the Philippines actually looks like 12:00 – The recruiting system Logan built from scratch 16:00 – The biggest hiring mistake founders make 20:00 – Why Logan doesn’t chase hypergrowth anymore 24:00 – Lessons from scaling a 7-figure brand with a 10-hour workweek 28:00 – Burnout, ego, and rebuilding after public failure 33:00 – What motivates Logan now 37:00 – Building a personal brand after disappearing from the spotlight 41:00 – Tips for building a lean, high-performance remote team 47:00 – Why systems and great people matter more than hustle 52:00 – Advice for early-stage founders on hiring and delegation 58:00 – Byron and Logan reflect on audience-building and motivation 01:05:00 – Logan’s closing question for Byron Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 17, 20251 hr 4 min

#75 How to build real authority in 2025

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Winsbury, founder of Kurogo, a leading personal branding agency working with founders and CEOs. Sam shares how he built Kurogo from a solo freelancing gig into a 15-person team generating 30–50 inbound leads a month through content. We cover: • Why personal branding is still underrated in B2B • How Sam landed his first clients and scaled his offer • What positioning actually means, and why most founders skip it • The pricing lessons that took Kurogo from £500 retainers to revenue-share deals • Hiring mistakes, growth pains, and why a big team isn’t always better • How he manages a fully remote team across 3 continents • What’s next for personal branding: podcasts, newsletters, and real authority • Behind the scenes of launching his new podcast, Success Clues Whether you’re building an agency, growing your personal brand, or thinking about how to stay relevant as content gets more competitive, this episode is packed with practical insights. Sam: LinkedIn YouTube Kurogo: Website Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:17 – What Kurogo does 02:03 – The story behind the name 03:11 – Why Sam skipped the 9-to-5 06:16 – From ghostwriting to full-service 08:38 – How his pricing strategy evolved 10:04 – When the business started taking off 11:17 – Early lessons from LinkedIn 13:37 – ROI from personal branding 15:13 – Downsizing, AI, and staying lean 16:40 – Building systems while scaling 19:13 – Learning from clients 21:43 – Remote culture & team dynamics 23:30 – Sam’s current role in the business 25:12 – Where personal branding is heading 27:18 – What’s still hard at this stage 29:28 – Sam’s personal content process 31:38 – Launching the Success Clues podcast 34:55 – Why I started my own podcast 38:02 – Owning your audience 39:51 – Hardest moment as a founder 42:25 – Identity shifts and self-belief 48:38 – What he’s building with Kurogo 50:01 – What he’d do differently 51:19 – Why most middle management is useless 52:14 – Final questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 14, 202550 min

#74 This AI Powered Marketplace Is Replacing Cold Outreach with Creator Influence

David Walsh is back on the pod, and this time, Limelight isn’t just an idea. It’s a fast-growing B2B creator marketplace that’s helping brands like HubSpot, Xero, and Webflow tap into niche creators for measurable growth. In this episode, we dive into: • Why cold outreach is dying — and what’s replacing it • The power of niche creators in B2B marketing • How Limelight is using AI and data to scale partnerships • David’s no-BS approach to startup building • Fundraising lessons from a second-time founder • What most startups get wrong about product design • The underrated skill every founder needs David doesn’t hold back. If you're building a startup, scaling a brand, or rethinking how to do marketing in 2025, this one’s for you. Connect with David: LinkedIn Limelight Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Subscribe for more conversations with founders who’ve been there, built that, and kept going. New episodes every week. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Limelight's Growth 03:14 Building a Core Team 06:08 Strategic Shifts in Scaling 09:01 Hiring and Company Culture 11:47 Raising Capital and Investor Relations 15:00 Raising Capital: The Necessity and Strategy 17:49 Crafting the Perfect Investment Deck 20:52 The Importance of Speed in Product Development 23:55 Prioritizing Features: Aligning with Business Goals 27:06 Leveraging Influencers for Brand Growth 30:07 Measuring Campaign Success: Metrics That Matter 32:46 Navigating Challenges in B2B Marketing 35:56 Lessons Learned: The Entrepreneurial Journey 38:48 The Future of Business: Distribution and Brand Value Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 31, 20251 hr 8 min

#73 How Two Brothers with No Industry Experience Are Shaking Up the Drinks Market

How do you build a drinks brand from scratch with zero experience, no industry connections, and giants like Bud Light as your competitors? In this episode, James Smith shares how he and his brother turned a simple idea (healthier, low-sugar vodka sodas) into Arrowtown, a drinks brand that's making serious waves. From disastrous first batches and legal threats to bootstrapping sales by hand-delivering cases around their hometown, James opens up about the messy reality of entrepreneurship. We cover: • Why their initial lack of industry experience became their greatest strength. • The grassroots marketing strategy that got them into regional stores. • How they've managed to compete successfully against billion dollar global brands. This conversation proves that sometimes, not knowing the "right" way is exactly what you need to find your own path to success. Subscribe for more founder stories, actionable insights, and honest conversations. Connect with James & Arrowtown: Arrowtown Drinks James Smith Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AeroTown 02:55 The RTD Market Landscape 06:08 Consumer Trends and Health Consciousness 08:53 The Journey of Starting AeroTown 12:02 Networking and Learning from Others 15:03 The Importance of Naivety in Entrepreneurship 18:01 Building a Brand with Family 20:57 The Genesis of AeroTown 24:09 Transitioning from Idea to Launch 26:53 The Entrepreneurial Spirit and Family Influence 29:48 Reflections on Running a Business with a Sibling 34:48 Family Dynamics in Business 38:59 Grassroots Beginnings: The First Sale 47:13 Challenges and Setbacks 50:03 Bootstrapping and Funding Strategies 55:07 Future Aspirations and Growth 58:27 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Brought to you by Cue Studios, empowering founders to share their story clearly, consistently, and creatively. Learn more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 24, 20251 hr 3 min

#72 Why 'Following the Herd' Might Be Your Smartest Business Move Yet with Tom Ridges

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Ridges, founder of Herdify, to explore how understanding human behaviour and herd mentality can revolutionize your marketing strategy. Tom shares his incredible journey, from spending £70K on a failed app to discovering a unique way of using behavioural science and herd dynamics to help businesses pinpoint exactly where their customers are. We dive deep into why traditional demographic marketing often fails and how Herdify achieves jaw-dropping results by tapping into the conversations customers are already having. Tom also candidly reveals key lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of transitioning from consulting to SaaS, and why curiosity and action-taking are critical for entrepreneurial success. If you're tired of wasting money on ineffective marketing or want to uncover the hidden force driving consumer decisions, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you won't want to miss. What You'll Learn: • How herd mentality impacts customer behaviour (and how you can use it) • The marketing "secret weapon" behind Herdify's success • Tom's journey from costly failures to building a thriving startup • Practical advice for early-stage founders and marketers looking to stand out Connect with Tom: LinkedIn Herdify Website Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, rate, and share to help more listeners discover the show! Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Herdify 02:01 Understanding Audience Behavior 06:02 Targeting Innovators and Disruptors 08:02 The Journey of Building Herdify 12:12 Defining Success in Business 15:10 The Importance of Curiosity 18:09 Building Relationships with Customers 19:48 The Qualities of a Founder 24:03 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship 29:09 Lessons from Failure 32:06 Challenges in Sales 35:15 Navigating Early Sales Challenges 40:06 The Importance of a Strong Team 42:29 Key Hires and Their Impact 48:47 Long-Term Vision for Herdify 50:49 Overcoming Product Perception Challenges 55:31 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 10, 20251 hr 37 min

#71 We Tried These Life Hacks! Here’s What Actually Works! with Nick Daniels

In today's episode, we try something new. Byron is joined by Nick Daniels, and we reflect on our experiences and insights from the past year, discussing life hacks, technology, productivity, and mindset shifts. We share personal anecdotes and practical tips that have significantly impacted our lives, emphasizing the importance of intentional habits and reframing perspectives to enhance well-being and success. We also discuss the importance of taking action as a key differentiator for success, how to transform everyday frustrations into gratitude, and the lessons learned from past failures. It's so important to focus on effectiveness rather than just being busy, leveraging AI for learning, and utilizing automation tools to improve workflow. Our discussion also covers health and fitness hacks, including meal prepping and optimizing sleep for better health. In other words, it's a lot. We cover a lot of ground, but there's something in there for everyone. In the episode, we discuss: • Finding a balance between consumption and action • Sleep hacks • Boosting productivity • Reframing challenges • Comparison • Impacts mental health • Focusing on effectiveness • Using AI tools • Meal prepping • Building a personal brand • Habit stacking • The ABC method • Anti-goals • Non-negotiables Nick: Newsletter Website Instagram TikTok YouTube Spotify Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters 00:00 2024 Recap: Reflections and Insights 02:29 Life Hacks for Productivity 08:17 Tech That Transforms Daily Life 15:21 Enhancing Focus and Productivity 20:05 Small Habits, Big Impact 22:28 Mindset Shifts and Mental Models 33:00 Taking Action: The Key to Success 33:59 Transforming Frustrations into Gratitude 38:53 Learning from Past Failures 45:06 Focusing on Effectiveness Over Busyness 49:04 Leveraging AI for Learning 55:14 Automation Tools for Efficiency 58:45 Health and Fitness Hacks 01:04:51 Optimizing Sleep for Better Health 01:05:51 The Power of Sleep and Nutrition 01:08:06 Daily Habits for Mental Clarity 01:10:41 Building a Personal Brand 01:18:50 New Year's Resolutions and Personal Growth 01:26:16 Effective Habit Formation and Goal Setting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February 25, 202553 min

#70 Why Attention Is the New Currency (And How to Use It) with Matt Wheeler-Barrett

In this conversation, Byron and Matt Wheeler-Barrett discuss the inception and mission of Unyfy, a B2B personal branding agency. They explore the significance of personal branding in today's digital landscape, the importance of building relationships with clients, and the impact of social media trends. Matt shares insights on leveraging AI for content creation and reflects on his early entrepreneurial experiences, emphasizing the lessons learned and the realities of running a business. The discussion culminates in thoughts on growth, responsibility, and future aspirations for Unyfy. In this conversation, Matt Wheeler-Barrett shares his journey in entrepreneurship, discussing the importance of building momentum, the distinction between dreamers and starters, and the challenges of team building and capacity management. Matt also offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the significance of mentorship and networking in achieving success. Highlights: • Personal branding is essential for standing out in a competitive market • Building relationships • AI optimizing content creation • Early entrepreneurial experiences • Networking crucial for finding opportunities and partnerships • Entrepreneurship requires discipline • Attention is a key currency • Investing in people • Reinvesting in your business • Execution and action are what separate dreamers from starters • Offer value for free to build relationships • Persistence is key in finding clients and opportunities • Mentorship and networking Matt: LinkedIn Unyfy: Website LinkedIn Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Unifi and Its Mission 03:02 The Importance of Personal Branding 05:50 Building Relationships and Client Engagement 08:48 Navigating Trends and Hacks in Social Media 12:04 The Role of AI in Content Creation 15:02 Lessons from Early Entrepreneurship 17:49 The Journey of Building Unifi 20:55 The Reality of Entrepreneurship 23:52 Reflections on Growth and Future Aspirations 27:58 Building Momentum in Entrepreneurship 30:54 The Difference Between Dreamers and Starters 33:22 Navigating Tough Decisions in Business 34:16 Team Building and Capacity Challenges 35:49 Leveraging AI in Business Operations 39:07 Empathetic Leadership and Team Dynamics 43:41 Long-Term Vision for Unify 45:58 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 49:13 Finding Mentors and Building Connections Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February 10, 202557 min

#69 The ONE Leadership Skill You’re Probably Ignoring (But Shouldn’t) with James Fleming

In this episode I'm joined by, James Fleming, Managing Director of Power Within Training. We discuss the unique approach of his leadership development company, focusing on motivational intelligence. He shares his journey from a successful corporate career to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of understanding human motivation and adapting leadership styles for the modern workforce. James reflects on the challenges and growth his business experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the significance of resilience and support in overcoming doubts and achieving success. In this conversation, James shares his journey in leadership training, emphasizing the importance of overcoming excuses, transforming challenges into opportunities, and the significance of storytelling in gaining buy-in from participants. He discusses his vision for global expansion, lessons learned from business failures, and the ongoing battle with imposter syndrome. James encourages listeners to take action against their fears and highlights the rewarding nature of the hard path in entrepreneurship. In the episode, we discuss: • Motivational intelligence • Effective leadership requirements • How leadership has to adapt to a changing world • Early entrepreneurial days and challenges • Asking the right questions. • People need to feel involved to truly engage in their work. • Leadership development • Believing in your vision is essential for long-term success • The biggest excuses • Lessons from business failures • Managing fear • Nothing good happens in the comfort zone • The rewarding hard path • What if you could? James: LinkedIn The Power Within Training: Website LinkedIn Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Power Within Training 03:04 Understanding Motivational Intelligence 05:56 The Journey to Entrepreneurship 12:00 Adapting Leadership for the 21st Century 17:11 Growth Through Adversity 24:54 Overcoming Doubts in Early Entrepreneurship 30:54 Vision for Global Expansion 32:20 Overcoming Common Excuses 33:40 Transforming Challenges into Opportunities 34:50 Lessons from Business Failures 37:45 Navigating Imposter Syndrome 42:08 Building Buy-In Through Storytelling 46:56 Taking Action Against Excuses 49:51 The Hard Path to Success 51:43 The Journey of Starting a Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February 3, 202537 min

#68 How to Scale a Business & Lead with Vulnerability – Libby Swan’s Entrepreneurial Playbook

In this episode, Libby Swan discusses her journey with Axioned, a technology services firm, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. She shares insights on scaling a business, managing diverse teams, and the impact of AI on operations. Libby emphasizes the importance of vulnerability in leadership and the privilege of starting a business. The discussion also touches on the significance of help and mentorship, the process of manifestation, and the essential human skills needed in today's business landscape. In the episode, we discuss: • Axioned • Entrepreneurship requirements • Managing stress • Working with a spouse • Company culture • AI tools • The privilege of starting a business • Vulnerability in leadership • Seeking help • Manifestation Axioned: LinkedIn Website Libby: LinkedIn Follow Me: YouTube Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters 01:00 Introduction to Action and Its Mission 04:03 The Journey of Entrepreneurship 06:58 Scaling Challenges and Team Dynamics 10:01 Navigating Company Culture Across Borders 13:08 The Impact of AI on Business Operations 15:58 The Privilege of Entrepreneurship 19:01 Leadership Evolution and Vulnerability 21:56 The Role of Help and Mentorship 24:50 Manifestation and Intentional Living 28:01 The Importance of Being Human in Business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 28, 202552 min

#67 How You Can Transform Fear into Confidence and Build Your Dream Career

Join us for another episode of Another Excuse! In this conversation, Kevin Tewis discusses his marketing consultancy, Starbridge, and its unique approach to audience engagement, emphasizing the importance of understanding demographics and utilizing data effectively. We explore the role of events in marketing, the impact of generational differences, and the significance of trends. Kevin also shares insights on the evolving landscape of platforms like TikTok and the necessity of creative testing in marketing strategies. He shares his journey from a nervous teenager seeking creative opportunities to a successful entrepreneur in the music and marketing industries. Discussing the importance of community engagement, networking, and education in building confidence and achieving entrepreneurial dreams. The need for specificity in networking requests is so important and so is continuous learning to enhance one's professional skills. In this episode, we discuss: • Starbridge and how it works • Creating entertainment legacies • Understanding your audience • Technology's role in how we consume content • The importance of data • Testing marketing strategies • Entrepreneurship begins with passion • Overcoming fear • Networking Kevin: LinkedIn Website Follow Me: Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Chapters 01:00 Introduction to Starbridge and Its Unique Approach 03:53 Understanding Audience Engagement and Marketing Strategies 07:00 The Role of Events in Marketing 09:58 Navigating Generational Marketing Challenges 12:52 The Importance of Data in Marketing 16:00 The Impact of Trends on Marketing Strategies 18:45 The Future of TikTok and Its Marketing Potential 28:59 Exploring Community Engagement and Business Opportunities 30:24 The Journey into Entrepreneurship Begins 33:08 Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence 38:16 The Power of Networking in Business 45:29 Building Confidence Through Education and Knowledge 48:30 The Podcasting Journey and Its Impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.