Lead on Purpose with James Laughlin

Join Elise Balsillie, an executive at Thryv, as she shares her insights on scaling small and medium businesses in a digital world. Discover how Thryv maintains a thriving remote team of 400 across Australia and New Zealand, enhancing flexibility and productivity. Elise emphasizes the power of automation to free up owners' time, allowing them to focus on their passions. She also covers the importance of customer data, AI-driven search visibility, and how to nurture client relationships through effective CRM strategies.

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Jack Groppel, co-founder of the Human Performance Institute and author of 'Mountains Within', opens up about the hidden costs of high achievement. He shares his journey from seeking approval to finding meaning and balancing ambition with personal growth. Jack discusses how adoption reshaped his priorities and the importance of setting boundaries in leadership. With candid stories of career and personal crises, he advocates for the power of therapy and living one's truth. Tune in for insights on leading a purpose-driven life!

Chris Naugle, a money mentor and financial educator, shares his insights on transforming financial mindsets. He tackles why many feel money is scarce and how creating value can lead to wealth. Chris emphasizes the importance of becoming your own bank to recapture interest and introduces intriguing money habits like donation letters to foster an abundance mindset. He advises investing wisely, treating big purchases like vehicles as systems rather than expenses, and highlights daily rituals to boost positivity in achieving financial goals.

Join me at the 2026 Goal-setting Workshop here - jjlaughlin.com/2026goalsIn this episode of Lead On Purpose, I sit down with Cecilia Robinson, serial entrepreneur and Co chair of B416 (Before 16), to unpack what’s driving the youth mental health crisis and what parents can do about it. - Why is anxiety rising so fast in young people? - What happens when we over protect kids in the real world and under protect them online?- How do you raise independent, resilient kids in a smartphone first world?Cecilia shares the mission behind B416, the push to introduce a minimum age of 16 for social media, and the practical parenting principles she uses at home. We also get into her entrepreneurial journey across Au Pair Link, My Food Bag, and Tend, plus how she handles public criticism and stays grounded in the middle of high pressure seasons. What we cover:Why B416 exists, what the movement is trying to change, and why social norming matters for parents and kidsThe biggest compliance issue schools face with phone free rules, and the parental habits that accidentally undermine themCecilia’s approach to parenting for independence, including the TRICK framework and stretching kids with real responsibilityHow she thinks about building businesses, why execution beats ideas, and how problem spotting drives her ventures The emotional realities behind leadership, including navigating loss, staying steady under scrutiny, and choosing daily happinessIf you care about parenting, leadership, and protecting childhood in a digital world, this conversation will challenge how you think about screens, responsibility, and what kids actually need to thrive.Check out B416 here - https://b416.co.nzConnect with Cecilia on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-robinson-46722311/?originalSubdomain=nzHave a look at Cecilia's speaker profile here - https://www.celebrityspeakers.co.nz/speakers/cecilia-robinsonIf you’re interested in having me deliver a keynote or workshop for your team contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.comWebsite: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.liSend me a personal text messageJoin me at the 2026 Goal-setting Workshop here - jjlaughlin.com/2026goals - If you're interested in booking me for a keynote or workshop, contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.comSupport the show

Explore the secrets behind successful goal-setting and why most resolutions falter early in the year. Learn how to reflect on your past without judgment, identifying what truly energizes or drains you. Discover the WMI framework to prioritize your life, and how belief systems can sabotage behavior. James emphasizes focusing on one key goal and outlines practical steps for the next 30 days to maintain momentum. Uncover the connection between hormonal health and high performance for consistent results.

Reflecting on the challenges and wins of running a business together, the duo shares personal milestones like their engagement and a memorable family trip. They candidly discuss the pressures of merging work and life, highlighting lessons in communication and boundaries. The couple also unpacks the struggle with digital products and emphasizes the importance of clarity amidst distractions. Finally, they advocate for reclaiming thinking time and share transformative book recommendations for a successful 2026.

Antony Bush, a former Olympic Team physiotherapist and author of The Back Fix, dives into the rising epidemic of back pain, revealing modern lifestyles as key culprits. He highlights how sedentary habits and stress exacerbate chronic pain and discusses simple, effective methods like movement and micro-exercises to combat it. Antony also critiques the back pain industry, advocating for a mindset shift towards movement as medicine. With intriguing insights on the brain's role in pain and practical strength exercises, he empowers listeners to take charge of their health.

Simon Jeffries, a former UK Special Forces operator turned performance coach, shares insights on mental resilience and high performance. He reveals why under 10% pass the SBS selection, stressing mindset over raw fitness. Simon offers a practical three-part model for improving state regulation and building supportive habits. He emphasizes the importance of emotional control, journaling for reflection, and breathwork for stress management. Listeners learn to shape their environment, prioritize recovery, and align actions with intentions for a purposeful life.

In a riveting discussion, Jim Harshaw, a former All-American wrestler and high-performance coach, shares his journey from blue-collar roots to Olympic hopeful. He outlines a four-part framework for achieving excellence, emphasizing the importance of a powerful environment and aligned goals. Jim reveals transformative exercises to clarify personal visions and discusses how viewing failure as a stepping stone can pave the way to greatness. He also highlights the necessity of accountability, productive pauses, and surrounding oneself with the right influences for sustained success.

Sharon Collon, an ADHD coach and founder of The Functional Family, shares insights from her 20 years of experience supporting neurodiverse families. She redefines ADHD as a neurotype, emphasizing the importance of interest-driven motivation over traditional attention deficit labels. The conversation covers practical strategies for leaders to support ADHD individuals, including body doubling and effective accommodations. Sharon's unique brain model aids in understanding regulation, while she offers tools like Goblin Tools and AI to tackle time blindness effectively.