Episode 288: Trust Your Gut & Outwork the Rest: Building Legacy Through Leadership with Nathan Pearce

Episode 290: How to Break Free from Perfectionism Without Losing Your Edge with Mitch Matthews

Ever feel like no matter how much you achieve, it’s still not enough? Like the goalposts keep moving and the pressure to look successful is crushing the joy of actually being successful? Mitch Matthews is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and success coach who helps people dream bigger, think better, and do more of what they’re built to do. Through his coaching programs and top-ranked Dream Think Do podcast, Mitch empowers leaders and entrepreneurs to overcome limiting beliefs, build intentional habits, and lead with courage and authenticity. In this conversation, Steve sits down with Mitch Matthews to explore one of the biggest challenges high-achievers face: perfectionism. They unpack how the constant drive to get it right often robs us of peace, creativity, and real growth. Mitch shares his personal journey from corporate success to coaching freedom, revealing how embracing imperfection not only changed his work, but his life. Together, they dive into actionable tools for shifting your mindset from performance to purpose, building confidence that isn’t tied to results, and learning how to lead yourself (and others) through seasons of uncertainty and self-doubt. If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own standards, this episode is your permission slip to redefine success on your terms. Key Topics * The hidden cost of perfectionism in leadership and entrepreneurship * How to turn pressure into purpose * The power of curiosity in breaking the perfection cycle * Redefining success beyond achievement * Building emotional awareness and resilience * How to coach yourself out of performance-driven burnout * The difference between excellence and perfection * Real tools to reconnect with creativity and authenticity Links & Resources Mentioned * Mitch Matthews’ Website [https://www.mitchmatthews.com] * Dream Think Do Podcast: Listen Here * Steve Mellor’s Website [https://www.GrowthReady.com] * Book Mentioned: Dream Job: Redefined by Mitch Matthews #GrowthReadyPodcast #LeadershipMindset #HighPerformanceCoach #PerfectionismRecovery #MindsetShift #SelfLeadership #EntrepreneurGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #PurposeDriven #AuthenticLeadership Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1986480/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1986480/support] This podcast was produced on Riverside [https://riverside.sjv.io/QjdaMo] and released via Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1968998] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/k02BGWvIIlrjsGYsLZAx] Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 289: Be One of a Kind: Redefining Success and Time with Mike Milligan, CFP

Ever feel like you’re just treading water, trying to grow, lead, and live with purpose, but never quite feeling in control? Today’s guest, Mike Milligan, grew up in extreme poverty, endured personal tragedy, and still built a thriving multi–seven-figure business while living life on his own terms. His story of resilience and intentional living is a masterclass in turning adversity into fuel. About the Guest: Mike Milligan, CFP® is a financial educator, author, and founder of One Oak Financial (“One of a Kind Financial”). A North Carolina native who overcame poverty and personal loss, Mike has dedicated his career to helping others live unique, purposeful lives through personalized financial planning. He also teaches financial literacy at Old Dominion University and is the author of The One of a Kind Financial Plan. About the Episode: In this episode, Steve Mellor sits down with Mike Milligan to discuss what it really means to live an exceptional life. From growing up in poverty to leading a multi–seven-figure business, Mike shares how defining his mission,“Be one of a kind and never miss a moment”, has transformed the way he leads, works, and lives. They explore why you must put value on your time, how to say no with purpose, and why being “selfish” might be the key to serving others better. * What it means to be “growth-ready” * How tragedy can inspire transformation * Why saying “no” more often can lead to freedom * The illusion of work-life balance vs. being exceptional at both * Protecting your time as if it were money * Creating personal mission statements that drive focus and clarity * Daily micro-wins and how to structure your mornings for success * Redefining risk and legacy through intentional living Links & Resources * Guest Website: https://1oakfinancial.com/ [https://1oakfinancial.com/] * Book: The One of a Kind Financial Plan (available on Amazon) * Course: Personal Financial Planning – Old Dominion University #GrowthReadyPodcast #LeadershipMindset #BeOneOfAKind #HighPerformanceHabits #MindsetMatters #TimeManagement #PersonalGrowthJourney #EntrepreneurLife #SuccessMindset #PurposeDrivenLife Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1986480/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1986480/support] This podcast was produced on Riverside [https://riverside.sjv.io/QjdaMo] and released via Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1968998] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/k02BGWvIIlrjsGYsLZAx] Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 288: Trust Your Gut & Outwork the Rest: Building Legacy Through Leadership with Nathan Pearce

About the Guest: Nathan Pearce is the founder and CEO of Pearce Bespoke, a rapidly growing men’s custom tailoring brand redefining what it means to “look good, feel good.” From running a t-shirt business in his early 20s to building a national franchise in custom suiting, Nathan’s journey is a masterclass in grit, vision, and learning from losses rather than fearing failure. Through his company and charity initiative For Good Measure, Nathan is proving that confidence can be custom-tailored. About the Episode: In this episode, Steve sits down in person with Baton Rouge-based entrepreneur Nathan Pearce to uncover the lessons behind his explosive business growth — and the mindset that keeps him grounded. From selling his first company to creating a nationwide tailoring brand, Nathan opens up about trusting his gut, building teams who believe in your vision, and learning that leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about showing up. Steve and Nathan also dive into what it means to be growth ready — how to balance ambition with reflection, handle losses without losing faith, and lead with authenticity at home and at work. This conversation is packed with raw honesty, practical wisdom, and a contagious drive to keep building, learning, and leading. Key Topics: * What it truly means to be growth ready * Learning from losses vs. failures * The importance of trusting your gut as a leader * Building and scaling Pearce Bespoke * The balance between vision and pivoting in business * Leadership lessons and leading through empathy * The “don’t be a victim” mindset * Legacy, purpose, and family balance * For Good Measure — giving confidence through custom clothing Links & Resources Mentioned * Pearce Bespoke: www.pearcebespoke.com * For Good Measure Charity Campaign: Nominate someone deserving through the Pearce Bespoke website * Follow Pearce Bespoke on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok * GrowthReady Podcast: www.growthready.com Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1986480/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1986480/support] This podcast was produced on Riverside [https://riverside.sjv.io/QjdaMo] and released via Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1968998] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/k02BGWvIIlrjsGYsLZAx] Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 287 - Exercising Agency: Choosing Change and Growth with Meg Trucano

High performers like us can get stuck chasing outcomes, living by ‘shoulds,’ and searching for the perfect choice. That black-and-white thinking keeps us on autopilot and robs us of momentum. Today’s guest, coach and Changeology host Meg Trucano, has lived this work. After burning out in a prestigious research career, a single question, ‘How will you feel a year from now if nothing changes?’, sparked a complete pivot. Now she helps high-achieving women create identity-level change with what she calls small acts of rebellion, like dropping old rules that don’t serve you and reclaiming your time.      If you’re ready to trade perfectionism for progress, you’ll learn how intention, agency, and aligned action create real movement, and how to give yourself permission to change your mind. ------------------------------- About the Guest: Meg Trucano is a coach, podcaster, and change advocate who helps high-achieving women navigate major life transitions with clarity and intention. Through her coaching practice and her podcast Changeology, she empowers clients to rediscover their agency, break free from limiting “shoulds,” and create meaningful, identity-level transformation. Episode Summary: In this powerful conversation, Steve sits down with Meg Trucano to explore what it really means to be growth ready. Meg shares her perspective on the trifecta of growth—intention, agency, and aligned action—and how choosing to “exercise agency” is the key to creating lasting change. Together, they dive into why we’re so prone to black-and-white thinking, the cultural obsession with productivity and outcomes, and how self-awareness often defaults to self-criticism rather than possibility. Meg introduces her concept of “small acts of rebellion” and reveals how choice and ownership transform how we show up in life. From her personal burnout story to her mission of guiding others through life’s biggest shifts, Meg’s wisdom is equal parts practical and inspiring. If you’ve ever wondered how to stop coasting and start choosing the life you want, this episode is for you. Key Topics & Themes: * What it means to be growth ready * The trifecta: intention, agency, aligned action * The difference between coasting and exercising agency * Why black-and-white thinking dominates our minds * Shifting self-awareness from criticism to compassion * Small acts of rebellion as tools for change * Choice as the foundation of growth * Meg’s journey from burnout to coaching * The courage to embrace change without fear Links & Resources Mentioned: * Meg’s Website: https://megtrucano.com [https://megtrucano.com] * Meg’s Podcast: Changeology (search on all major platforms) https://changeology.buzzsprout.com [https://changeology.buzzsprout.com] * The Real Change Kickstart: Meg’s 45-day 1:1 coaching intensive This podcast was produced on Riverside [https://riverside.sjv.io/QjdaMo] and released via Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1968998] #GrowthReadyPodcast #PersonalGrowth #SelfDevelopment #Mind Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1986480/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1986480/support] This podcast was produced on Riverside [https://riverside.sjv.io/QjdaMo] and released via Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1968998] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/k02BGWvIIlrjsGYsLZAx] Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Episode 286: Say Yes Until Say No: Action, Leadership & Growth with John Donnelly

Too many high-performers get stuck in overthinking. They let opportunities pass, waiting for the “perfect time.” John Donnelly knows this firsthand. From leading through the 2008 mortgage crash to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 50, John built his career and life on one principle: say yes until you have to say no. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how saying yes more often can unlock opportunities, deepen your self-awareness, and help you prepare for your own “mountain.” We’ll cover how John leads with curiosity in a structured industry, why self-awareness is the ultimate ROI, how to gamify big goals like Kilimanjaro, and the practical ways you can start saying yes to growth, even when fear says no. --------------------- About the Guest: John Donnelly is the Senior VP of Sales at Service First Mortgage, where he has led through industry highs, the 2008 financial crash, and ongoing disruption from technology and AI. Beyond his decades in leadership, John is a lifelong learner and adventurer, most recently proving it by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 50. His motto: say yes until you have to say no. About the Episode: Growth isn’t about waiting for the perfect time, it’s about saying yes, taking action, and learning as you go. In this episode of the GrowthReady Podcast, Steve Mellor sits down with John Donnelly to explore how saying yes can unlock opportunities, build self-awareness, and lead to transformational growth. From stories of leading teams through chaos to personal lessons gained on Kilimanjaro, John shares how curiosity, consistency, and conscious action create unstoppable momentum. Key Topics & Themes * What it means to say yes until you must say no * Leading through crisis: lessons from the 2008 mortgage collapse * Why curiosity beats certainty in leadership * How a 12-hour walk sparked self-awareness and life-changing goals * The preparation and lessons from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro * Why consistency matters more than perfection * Turning ceilings into floors: leading with legacy for your family and team Links & Resources Mentioned * Connect with John Donnelly on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohndonnelly/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadjohndonnelly] * Learn more about Service First Mortgage → https://playbig.mortgage/ * Follow Steve Mellor → LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor/] --------------------- This podcast was produced on Riverside [https://riverside.sjv.io/QjdaMo] and released via Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1968998] #GrowthReadyPodcast #Leadership #SayYes #HighPerformance #PersonalGrowth #SelfAwareness #TakeAction #MindsetMatters #Kilimanjaro #Adaptability Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1986480/open_sms] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1986480/support] This podcast was produced on Riverside [https://riverside.sjv.io/QjdaMo] and released via Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1968998] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/k02BGWvIIlrjsGYsLZAx] Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor