What does it take to get a business off the ground when everything is stacked against you? Ryan Hanley has lived it — from launching a company right before COVID to stepping in as a "wartime CEO" to help startups break through chaos and find focus.

In this episode of The Scaling Podcast, Aaron Harper and Ryan unpack the lessons every founder, entrepreneur, and leader needs: why focus matters more than perfection, how ADHD shaped Ryan's leadership, and why content and personal branding are no longer optional in today's world.

💡 If you've ever felt stretched thin, chasing too many ideas, or stuck trying to find clarity — this conversation is for you.

🕒 Timestamps

0:00 – Intro: Aaron introduces Ryan Hanley 2:15 – What it means to be a "wartime CEO" 9:47 – Why technical founders often struggle with leadership 10:23 – Focus vs. perfection: the real startup killer 11:20 – Where most startups die in their journey 19:29 – Ryan's ADHD story and its impact on leadership 20:50 – Launching an insurance business days before COVID 30:00 – Lessons from crisis: clarity, systems, and self-management 51:40 – Leading with resonance: content and personal branding 53:36 – The survivor bias in startup advice 1:00:00 – Authenticity in the age of AI-generated content 1:03:49 – Ryan's PEAK framework for recalibration 1:05:15 – Aaron's $3.2M case study: content as a sales engine 1:11:18 – Why content acts as your silent salesperson 1:14:00 – Closing takeaways: focus, systems, and leadership clarity

Ryan Hanley on Focus, ADHD, and Reaching Startup Escape Velocity | The Scaling Podcast EP 23