Scaling up the delegation game with Nigel Bennett, co-founder of Aqua-Guard Spill Response
Virtual Success Show
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Episode breakdown
In this episode, Barbara Turley speaks to Nigel Bennett of Aqua-Guard Spill Response about how to delegate effectively, how to grow your team, and avoid Business Owner Burnout.
- The importance of having a business coach
- How to manage business owner burnout
- Why you need to invest time and energy in training your people
- The importance of systems and processes in your business
It’s so worth spending the time getting delegation right...There are so many businesses that come to us and that’s where they start their journey. And the ones that put the time in, it pays the largest dividends in the end.
In this episode
00:00 Intro
Barbara Turley interviews Nigel Bennett, co-founder of Aqua-Guard Spill Response and author of Take That Leap, about his entrepreneurial journey. Connecting from Whistler and Chamonix during COVID-19, they discuss Nigel’s success in delegating business operations. Barbara highlights how his globally impactful marine oil spill response business offers a refreshing, valuable perspective for entrepreneurs navigating growth and crisis, distinct from typical digital ventures.
02:18 Aqua-Guard spill response
Nigel Bennett shares his early career documenting global oil spills, facing danger in Venezuela and Egypt, and breaking away from his father’s company after a harrowing incident. He co-founded Aqua-Guard Spill Response, now operating in 104 countries and involved in major disasters like Exxon Valdez and BP Horizon. Barbara Turley highlights the company’s scale and Nigel’s struggle with burnout — a common entrepreneurial challenge.
05:52 Business owner burnout
Nigel Bennett recalls Aqua-Guard’s chaotic early years, buried in debt and daily crises. A turning point came through the Entrepreneurs Organization, offering peer support that transformed his business and life. With coach Kevin Lawrence, Nigel clarified priorities, creating a one-page plan and adopting a sustainable “life rhythm.” Barbara Turley relates, emphasizing the importance of systems, delegation, and strategic focus — especially during crisis periods like COVID-19.
11:38 How to delegate more effectively
Nigel Bennett reflects on how peer groups and coaching reshaped his leadership. Overcoming imposter syndrome at an MIT program, he worked with coach Kevin Lawrence to clarify priorities through a one-page plan. This ended a pattern of hiring external leaders, recognizing internal talent instead. Promoting Cameron Janz to CEO enabled Nigel to step back, trust his team, and travel the world with his family for a year.
18:38 Organic growth in your business
Barbara Turley stresses the value of recognizing and developing internal talent, a strategy she’s used at The Virtual Hub by promoting virtual assistants into leadership roles. She notes many business owners mistakenly favor external hires. To help listeners grasp the operational side of scaling, Barbara pivots to discuss the practical systems, processes, and meeting rhythms Nigel introduced with his coach’s help, asking how those structures first took shape.
19:58 Processes and systems
Nigel Bennett shares how The E-Myth Revisited shaped his approach to building systems so his business could run independently. Though not organic, creating structure was essential to scaling. Barbara Turley agrees, noting many founders know they need systems but feel overwhelmed when everything’s in their heads. She asks Nigel for advice for those stuck at that daunting starting point of operationalizing their business.
21:12 The importance of life rhythm in your business
Nigel Bennett and Barbara Turley discuss the value of a consistent business rhythm, like daily huddles and quarterly meetings, to improve leadership and communication. Nigel shares how letting go and trusting his team allowed his company to thrive without him. They emphasize clear planning, delegation, and leadership development, noting that many small business owners stay stuck without investing upfront in systems, structure, and growing internal leadership roles over time.
27:35 Who should manage the people and the teams in your Business
Nigel Bennett shares how CEO Cam, with the company since youth, organically built a strong, low-turnover team. Now in his 40s, Cam developed a cohesive group that runs smoothly without Nigel’s involvement. Reflecting on past failed external hires, Nigel emphasizes the lasting value of nurturing internal talent. Barbara Turley agrees, noting the family-like bond that naturally forms within teams grown from within.
28:38 Keeping in touch with your team during this pandemic
Nigel Bennett explains how his company manages remote operations seamlessly using Zoom, WhatsApp, and Facebook groups, with leaders like Francisco Jimenez overseeing Latin America from Panama. Post-COVID, virtual management and digital tools have improved team connection. Nigel also joins a global virtual CEO group, showing how entrepreneurs increasingly rely on online support to address burnout and isolation.
32:19 Nigel’s experience with burnout business owners
Nigel Bennett recalls overcoming near-bankruptcy in 2008 due to fraud and a collapsing oil market by shifting from low-margin, high-volume work to a niche, high-margin offshore market. This crisis sparked innovation and growth. He and Barbara Turley agree that pressure and challenges often lead to breakthroughs, comparing intense moments to life-or-death climbing where clarity and new ideas emerge.
37:19 Fight, flight, or freeze
Barbara Turley and Nigel Bennett discuss different stress responses—fight, flight, or freeze—highlighting Barbara as a fighter and Nigel’s ADD-driven hyperfocus under pressure. They agree crises often spark growth and breakthroughs. Barbara shares turning crises into opportunities, while Nigel reflects on personal struggles shaping him. Together, they encourage embracing adversity as transformative coaching, blending action with intuition to fuel business and personal growth.
40:34 Final thoughts
Nigel Bennett and Barbara Turley discuss the challenges entrepreneurs face, with Nigel emphasizing family as the top priority despite ongoing business crises. Barbara stresses delegation, starting with virtual assistants, to build systems and enable stepping back from daily tasks. Nigel credits peer groups and coaching for focus and accountability, helping him realign his business and life goals toward a healthier balance.
42:23 Wrapping things up
Barbara Turley and Nigel Bennett wrap up the show by thanking the audience for tuning in, encouraging listeners to share the episode with friends and colleagues. Barbara mentions the show will soon be available on iTunes and is currently streaming live on Facebook. The outro invites listeners to share the Virtual Success Show to help the community grow together.
