McDonald's Systems Expert Marianne Page Reveals the 4 Systems Every Business Needs to Scale

McDonald's Systems Expert Marianne Page Reveals the 4 Systems Every Business Needs to Scale

What if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but building the right systems in the right order? In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins is joined by Marianne Page — systems expert, former McDonald's executive with 27 years' experience, and author of three books on building scalable, repeatable business operations. Marianne shares how McDonald's opened a new restaurant every seven days in the 1980s using a blueprint that trained teams, ensured consistency, and scaled without chaos. Together, Paul and Marianne unpack the four critical system categories every business needs to scale successfully — and why most founders invest 60% of their energy in the wrong one. From sexy systems (marketing and sales) to security systems (finance and data), service systems (operational delivery), and the often-forgotten sticky systems (hiring, training, and feedback) — this conversation reveals why businesses that scale sustainably don't just systemise their operations, they systemise their people. This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to stop firefighting, build a business that runs without them, and create real enterprise value through disciplined execution. KEY TAKEAWAYS * The four system categories every scalable business needs: Sexy, Security, Service, and Sticky * Why most businesses over-invest in marketing and under-invest in people systems * How McDonald's scaled by creating a blueprint that made following systems non-negotiable * Why sticky systems (hiring, training, feedback) are the foundation of consistency and scale * Why most SOPs fail — and how to make your team actually follow them * How to shift recruitment from reactive hiring to always-on talent marketing * Why investing in developing internal talent beats external hiring for long-term scale * The difference between performance management and coaching — and why feedback is a gift, not a punishment * Why entrepreneurs resist investing in people — and how to overcome short-term thinking ABOUT THE GUEST Marianne Page is a systems and operations expert with 27 years' experience at McDonald's, where she worked across multiple functions and saw first-hand how disciplined systems enable explosive growth. She is the author of three books: Process to Profit, Simple, Logical, Repeatable, and Mission to Manage. Marianne specializes in helping established businesses scale by building sticky systems that ensure consistency, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. She works with businesses from £500k to £30 million in revenue. NEXT STEPS Apply it now Identify which of the four systems (Sexy, Security, Service, Sticky) you're neglecting — and commit to one action this week to strengthen it. Connect with Marianne Page LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram: Marianne Page Books available on Amazon: Process to Profit, Simple, Logical, Repeatable, Mission to Manage Scale with Paul If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence. Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] About Paul Avins Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity. Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

[REVEALED] How Private Equity Turns £15M Businesses Into £50M Exits with Nick Bradley

What if the secret to scaling from £15M to £50M wasn't working harder, but thinking like a private equity firm? In this episode of The Grown UP Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Nick Bradley, private equity strategist, former operating partner, and author of Exit For Millions. Nick has been involved in over 50 acquisitions and 27 business exits worth over £5 billion. He pulls back the curtain on how private equity firms 10X business valuations and reveals the exact strategies entrepreneurs can use to build investor grade companies, whether they plan to sell or not. This conversation goes deep. Nick shares his journey from News International to Getty Images, working inside some of the most elite private equity firms in the world, including Blackstone. He explains what private equity really is, how deals are structured, why most businesses never sell, and the five value creation levers PE firms use to transform undervalued businesses into eight and nine figure exits. Paul and Nick unpack the private equity playbook, including the 100 day plan, the ultimate CEO dashboard with just five metrics that actually matter, the 15 fatal flaws that kill deals, and why most entrepreneurs rush the exit process without understanding the game they're playing. Nick also opens up about why he left private equity, the unresolved trauma entrepreneurs carry, and how his father's death became the catalyst for building a business that helps founders exit on their terms. If you're building a business and want to understand how to create real enterprise value, this episode is essential. What you'll learn: • What private equity really is and how it works behind the scenes • The two key metrics private equity obsesses over: MOIC and IRR • How private equity firms are trained like special forces to make clinical decisions under pressure • The five value creation levers PE firms use: revenue growth, margin expansion, capital structuring, acquisitions, and value expansion • The 100 day plan: how PE firms strengthen foundations and create momentum fast • The 15 fatal flaws that stop businesses from selling to private equity • Why most entrepreneurs don't build a board and how a mini mastermind can accelerate growth and increase valuation • Simplicity at scale: how private equity runs board meetings with a one page business review Apply this: Ask yourself: what is my life changing number? Why does it matter? And is what I'm doing now going to get me there? Start tracking the five CEO dashboard metrics every Monday morning: cash runway, EBITDA margin, revenue growth rate, pipeline coverage, and customer concentration. Audit your business against the 15 reasons why businesses don't sell. Identify the top three gaps and commit to fixing them in the next 12 to 18 months. Build a board or advisory group. Start with one person who will challenge you, support you, and help you see what you can't see on your own. About Nick Bradley Nick Bradley is a private equity strategist, former operating partner, and founder of the Scale Up podcast. He has been involved in over 50 acquisitions and 27 business exits worth over £5 billion. Nick now helps founders build investor grade businesses and exit for millions using the private equity playbook. His new book, Exit For Millions: The Private Equity Blueprint for Scaling and Selling Your Business for Maximum Value, is available now. Connect with Nick https://www.linkedin.com/in/realnickbradley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/realnickbradley] Listen to the Scale Up podcast and grab a copy of Exit For Millions Scale with Paul Avins If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day to day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

How to Build a High-Performing Team Without Costing You Profits with Laura Tutt

What if the biggest risk to your business isn't the market or the competition—it's not understanding the new employment laws coming into force? In this episode of The Grown UP Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Laura Tutt, founder of The Affable Partnership and HR consultant with over 20 years of experience navigating the complex world of employment law and people management. Laura breaks down the most significant legislative changes in decades, including the new Employment Rights Bill, changes to unfair dismissal rights, fire and rehire restrictions, and what these mean for business owners who employ people. This conversation goes far beyond compliance. Paul and Laura explore how to build high performing teams, the power of appreciation and accountability, why most businesses fail at recruitment and onboarding, and how to create psychological safety in the workplace. They also discuss the generational shifts in what employees value, the rise of AI and global talent, and why investing in your team is the highest ROI decision you can make. If you employ people or plan to, this episode is essential listening. What you'll learn: •⁠ Why the Employment Rights Bill is the biggest legislative change in decades and what it means for you •⁠ How unfair dismissal rights are changing from two years to six months and what you need to do now •⁠ The five fair reasons for dismissal and why one of them is called some other substantial reason •⁠ Why fire and rehire practices are now restricted and how to navigate restructures legally •⁠ What protected conversations are and when you can and cannot use them •⁠ Why most businesses get recruitment wrong and how to fix it with better interviewing skills •⁠ The questions you should never ask in an interview and why consistency matters •⁠ How psychometric profiling can help you hire the right people for the right roles •⁠ Why onboarding and induction are critical to retention and performance •⁠ The generational shift in what employees value and why flexibility is now non negotiable •⁠ How to build a high performing team using the TEAMS framework: Trust, Engagement, Appreciation, Metrics, and Safety •⁠ Why appreciation costs nothing but delivers everything •⁠ How to measure HR metrics like retention, engagement, and flow to drive performance •⁠ Why psychological safety is the foundation of great teams •⁠ How AI and global talent are reshaping the workforce and what UK businesses need to do to stay competitive Apply this: Audit your current employment contracts and policies to ensure compliance with the new legislation. Book a call with an HR expert if you're unsure where you stand. Review your recruitment and onboarding process. Are you asking the right questions? Are you setting new hires up for success from day one? Measure your team's engagement and flow. Ask your team one simple question this week: On a scale of 1 to 10, how in flow were you last week? About Laura Tutt Laura Tutt is the founder of The Affable Partnership, an HR consultancy with over 20 years of experience helping businesses navigate employment law, build engaged teams, and create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Laura and her team work across construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and professional services, providing holistic support including HR, health and safety, wellbeing, and employment law advice. Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauratutt/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauratutt/] Visit The Affable Partnership: https://www.theaffablepartnership.co.uk [https://www.theaffablepartnership.co.uk] Scale with Paul Avins If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day to day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

How to Build A Team That Runs Itself with Nicola Anderson

What if the biggest barrier to scaling your business isn't your strategy, marketing or hiring, but your inability to trust and delegate? In this powerful episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, host Paul Avins sits down with Nicola Anderson, CEO of Capacity to Grow and Founder Dependency Expert, to break down why founders struggle to delegate, why teams lose trust, and what stops businesses from scaling beyond the founder. This conversation goes deep into why most founders struggle to let go, how poor delegation destroys trust, and what it takes to build a team that scales without you. Nicola introduces her powerful DASH Framework (Delegate, Automate, Stop, Hire) and explains why hiring should always be your last option, not your first. She also shares her vision for the Team of the Future, a hybrid model that blends people, systems, AI, and ownership to create sustainable growth. This episode is essential listening for any founder or CEO who feels overstretched, overwhelmed, stuck in the day to day and wants to build a business that runs, grows, and scales beyond them. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Why most founders have a trust issue — and how it's killing their ability to scale * The problem with drive-by delegation and why it breaks trust before it builds capacity * How to build trust through better communication * Why team structure matters more than headcount — and how to design for the future, not the present * The DASH Framework: Delegate, Automate, Stop, Hire — and why hiring should be your last choice * The 21-day rule: the neuroscience behind breaking old habits and rewiring your brain to delegate successfully * How AI is reshaping changing team structure — and why the most successful teams will be hybrid * Why most hiring processes fail - and how to change that * How freedom comes from not being the only answer in your business ABOUT THE GUEST Nicola Anderson is the founder of Capacity to Grow, a consultancy specialising in helping entrepreneurs and CEOs build high-performing, future-ready teams. With 25 years of senior leadership experience, Nicola has managed teams of up to 130 people and delivered projects worth tens of millions of pounds. She has extensive expertise in recruitment, sales team management, organisational design, and AI integration. Nicola is passionate about helping business leaders buy back their time, build trust, and scale with structure and confidence. NEXT STEPS Apply it now Use the DASH Framework this week. List everything on your plate. What can you delegate? What can you automate? What can you stop doing? Only then consider hiring. Learn more from Nicola Anderson Connect with Nicola on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandersonnotts/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandersonnotts/] to discover how she helps founders build teams that scale. Complete her Free 3-Minute Founder Dependency Diagnostic [https://nicola-gsm3b3fi.scoreapp.com/] to find out how dependent your business is on you and how to start reclaiming your freedom. Scale with Paul Avins If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

Unashamedly Superhuman Pt.2: Flow State Is the Missing Link to Peak Performances with Jim Steele

What if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but mastering the mental and physical strategies that elite performers use to stay at the top of their game? In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins continues his conversation with Jim Steele — CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, author of Unashamedly Superhuman, and performance consultant who has spent over 25 years helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes unlock their potential without burning out. This powerful second part dives deep into Jim's personal journey of completing an Ironman triathlon after three years of setbacks, injuries, and a global pandemic. Jim shares the exact recovery protocols, breathwork strategies, and nervous system hacks he used to finish the race feeling better at the end than at the beginning. Together, Paul and Jim unpack the science of oscillation, why recovery is not a luxury but a necessity, how to use peripheral vision to calm your nervous system under pressure, and why most entrepreneurs are burning out because they never learned how to recharge. This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to perform at their peak, build sustainable energy systems, and understand that adaptation beats endurance every single time. KEY TAKEAWAYS * How Jim completed an Ironman triathlon solo during lockdown — and what he learned about performance under pressure * The two goals every challenge needs: an end goal and a performance goal * Why being in flow is exhausting — and how to build recovery into your day * The oscillation model used by special forces: stress, recovery, stress, recovery * Why a one-hour speech can have the same physical strain as a two-hour run * How to use active recovery breaks to recharge cognitively and physically between high-stakes calls * The peripheral vision hack that drops your heart rate in 60 seconds and switches off your stress response * Why burnout doesn't happen overnight — and how to prevent it with daily protocols * The power of non-sleep deep rest, breathwork, and ice baths for nervous system regulation * Why the more you can adapt, the less you have to endure ABOUT THE GUEST Jim Steele is CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, a leadership and performance consulting organization specializing in helping entrepreneurs, executives, and elite athletes achieve peak performance without burnout. Jim is the author of Unashamedly Superhuman and has over 25 years of experience working with global organizations, sports professionals, and high-performing teams. His work focuses on the science of performance, mindset mastery, and building sustainable strategies for clarity, momentum, and well-being. NEXT STEPS Apply it now Schedule three 10-15 minute active recovery breaks into your day. Walk outside, do breathwork, or engage your peripheral vision. Notice the difference in your energy and focus. Learn more from Jim Steele Get your copy of Unashamedly Superhuman and discover the frameworks elite performers use to stay at the top of their game. Available on Amazon here https://amzn.eu/d/0bskT9l6 [https://amzn.eu/d/0bskT9l6] Join Jim at Scale-Up Summit 2026 Jim will be speaking at Scale-Up Summit on April 29-30, 2026. Secure your ticket now at https://www.scaleupsummit.co.uk [https://www.scaleupsummit.co.uk] Scale with Paul If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] About Paul Avins Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity. Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.