Episode breakdown
In this conversation, John Brink and Barbara Turley discuss the common challenges faced by business owners, particularly the need for hiring staff to overcome growth plateaus. They explore the role of support assistants in alleviating operational burdens, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on strategic growth. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of effective leadership and communication in scaling businesses, as well as personal journeys of overcoming challenges and finding purpose in entrepreneurship.
- Operational frameworks and delegation are crucial for growth
- How assistants can provide cost-effective support for businesses
- Effective leadership requires continuous skill development
- Why communication is key to successful leadership and team dynamics
- How feedback mechanisms can improve organizational culture
- The importance of personal experiences in shaping our understanding of business challenges
- Scaling requires a balance between delegation and involvement
- Why effective communication is crucial for personal and professional growth
- Cultural awareness is essential in global business interactions
- How hiring for potential and communication skills is more effective than experience alone
- Listening is a key component of effective speaking and leadership
A lot of companies are trying to hire for experience and I go, you know, what experience is fine. But actually if you hire for ability to communicate, understanding someone's learning style, then you can actually train and mentor that person to be the best version of themselves that you can find
In this episode
00:00 Discovering the value of delegation
Barbara shares how her experience in business coaching revealed a common challenge: entrepreneurs plateau because they avoid hiring and delegating. She discovered the importance of operational frameworks, processes, and support teams to free up founders for strategy.
03:20 Barbara’s background & corporate to startup transition
Barbara recounts her career in equity trading and asset management, and how involvement in a financial startup during the 2009 financial crisis sparked her entrepreneurial journey.
06:08 Explaining managed funds and hedge funds
A simple explanation of managed funds, pensions, and hedge funds — clarifying that hedge funds aren’t always high-risk but are alternative strategies meant to balance portfolios.
08:32 How The Virtual Hub was born
Barbara describes how her coaching clients’ need for cost-effective staffing led her to explore assistants in the Philippines, which quickly evolved into her business.
12:46 Scaling a business: Lessons from experience
John and Barbara discuss scaling pains and leadership challenges, emphasizing the need to operationalize early and the danger of overburdening key staff without delegation.
14:56 The leadership learning curve
They reflect on leadership lessons, including the importance of leveling up, when to delegate vs. stay involved, and the pitfalls of premature delegation of strategy roles.
20:23 Communication as the core of leadership
Barbara highlights communication gaps at scale and her company’s approach to gathering feedback, stressing communication as fundamental in leadership and culture building.
22:37 John’s early life & entrepreneurial grit
John shares his story of surviving WWII, immigrating to Canada, and starting a business from scratch with determination, positivity, and relentless work ethic.
29:33 ADHD as a superpower & educational reform
John discusses his late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, calling it a superpower, and advocates for educational reform through micro-certification and flexible learning styles.
31:59 Alternative learning methods & self-selection
Barbara suggests education systems could offer different teaching styles to match student preferences, allowing children to self-select what resonates with them.
33:56 ADHD prevalence in entrepreneurs
John and Barbara discuss how ADHD might be far more prevalent among entrepreneurs and high achievers than reported — possibly up to 75%.
36:55 Hiring for communication & learning style
Barbara shares how she adjusted her hiring philosophy to prioritize communication skills and learning adaptability over experience for VA roles.
40:45 The art of listening & sales psychology
They discuss the importance of deep listening, especially to unspoken objections in sales, and how psychology trumps tactics in truly successful selling.
42:42 Communication breakdown & leadership pressure
Barbara reflects on leadership pitfalls when assumptions about being understood go unchecked, leading to frustration and loss of patience.
46:14 Inspiration, ideas & emotional control
A humorous exchange about late-night creative ideas, emotional self-perception under stress, and the discipline of staying articulate during difficult moments.
48:07 Why the philippines for assistants
Barbara explains her choice of the Philippines for assistant staffing, citing English fluency, cultural alignment with Western business norms, and hospitality as major factors.
52:16 Culture and communication in business
Barbara emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural perspectives when leading international teams and tailoring communication to different worldviews.
54:03 Final reflections & podcast wrap-up
They reflect on shared values around travel, cross-cultural understanding, leadership, and closing encouragement for listeners to embrace new media platforms.
