What if chasing “having it all” is exactly what’s making you miserable?

In this episode, Bill challenges what “having it all” means and explores what actually creates sustainable happiness for high-performing leaders. He shares moments from when he had money, success, and recognition, but still felt empty, and explains why joy often comes from subtraction of things.

Topics explored in this episode:

(03:40) Success Without Joy Is Emptiness

*Bill reflects on hitting financial and professional milestones; yet still feeling a strange emptiness.

*Challenge the belief that: achievement = happiness.

*External wins don’t always translate to internal satisfaction.

(07:15) Why the Gratitude Advice Doesn’t Always Work

*Break “Thanksgiving” into two core practices: Thanks (appreciation) and Giving (generosity).

*Start with gratitude for team members, family, and yourself.

*Let go of expectations, and express that through generous action.

(10:50) The Secret Might Be: Wanting Less

*True happiness often comes from removing things, not adding more.

*Reconsider the idea of “having it all.”

*Creating fewer goals for yourself actually might be the real key to fulfillment.

Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.

Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop

Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGall

Bill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach

Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth.

Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.

Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJ

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00u

Bill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/

Bill on Twitter/X: https://x.com/billgall

What does it really mean for people to feel like they matter in the workplace?

In this episode, Zach Mercurio unpacks why mattering is the missing piece in most workplace cultures and how leaders can foster it. He also explores how a sense of value and contribution drives engagement, innovation, and retention.

Zach is on a mission to make work and life more meaningful. As an author, researcher, and speaker, he helps leaders create environments where people feel valued.

Topics explored in this episode:

(02:15) The Science of Mattering

* How mattering influences employee performance and well-being.

* Why recognition alone isn’t enough to make people feel valued.

(10:40) Workplace Disconnection

* The hidden costs of employees feeling like they don’t matter.

(18:55) The Role of Leaders in Creating Mattering

* Mattering shouldn’t be just an HR initiative—it’s a leadership responsibility.

(28:30) Purpose vs. Mattering

* Why having a sense of mattering is more foundational than purpose.

* Case studies of companies that have built cultures of mattering.

(47:20) Building a Mattering-Centric Culture

* The three key components of a workplace where people feel they matter.

Thanks to Zach Mercurio for being on the show!

Learn more about Zach: https://www.zachmercurio.com/

Get Zach’s book: The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8XMWCLJ

Connect with Zach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio

Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.

Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop

Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGall

Bill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach

Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth.

Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.

Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJ

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00u

Bill on Facebook:

Are you planning time off or avoiding the truth about your team?

In this solo episode, Bill explores how the holiday season acts as a diagnostic tool for your business. Are you building a company that thrives without you or one that collapses the second you unplug? He shares why most founders avoid taking time off and how strategically stepping away can highlight leadership gaps, capacity issues, and trust breakdowns. If you're feeling pulled in every direction heading into November or December, this episode is for you.

Topics explored in this episode:

(01:15) The Holiday Season Is a Double-Edged Sword

*The holidays are often very joyful, but they also carry a lot of stress.

*Leaders are managing business deadlines, shorter days, and personal expectations collide.

*It's important to acknowledge that stress exists alongside celebration

(02:25) Redefining “Thanksgiving”

*Break “Thanksgiving” into two core practices: Thanks (appreciation) and Giving (generosity).

*Start with gratitude for team members, family, and yourself.

*Let go of expectations, and express that through generous action.

(5:25) Build Systems That Let You Breathe

*Think through the logistics of how you will see and connect with friends and family.

*What’s gone wrong in the past? How can you prevent it from going wrong this year?

*Apply the same reflection to your team; ask how they’re feeling and what support they need

Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.

Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop

Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGall

Bill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach

Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth.

Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.

Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJ

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00u

Bill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/

Bill on Twitter/X: https://x.com/billgall