Episode 24

full
Published on:

29th Aug 2025

Success Is the Greatest Threat to Growth

Episode 24: Success Is the Greatest Threat to Growth

Episode 3 of 4 in the series, "Built to Last or Poised for Collapse?"

What if the very thing fueling your momentum today is the biggest threat to your future growth?

In this episode, James shares a story of a young company riding the high of several big wins — record deals, new clients, unstoppable energy. But in the excitement of success, focus slipped. Ideas multiplied, priorities scattered, and soon cracks began to show: missed releases, unhappy customers, and exhausted teams.

If you’re leading a growing business, this is a vital reminder that growth creates temptation. The same success that feels limitless can scatter your attention and erode the trust you’ve worked so hard to build.

Takeaways

  • Success often tempts leaders to spread thin instead of doubling down.
  • When priorities multiply, accountability blurs, quality slips, and trust erodes.
  • Focus isn’t about efficiency — it’s about clarity and discipline.
  • Guardrails (one promise, one measure, one pause point) keep success from becoming distraction.

Reflection Questions

  • What’s the one thing you stopped doing with excellence because you added too much else?
  • Where do you need to pause and refocus before momentum turns into noise?

Bonus Reflection Questions

  • What’s one “new idea” you’ve recently justified that quietly put your core business at risk?
  • If you asked your team what truly matters most right now, would they all give the same answer?
  • Where is your current success tempting you to lower the standard that built your company in the first place?

Links and Resources

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Leadership in 5

About the Podcast

Leadership in 5
Lead better in 5 minutes. Tactical insights for founders who want clarity, momentum, and a business that doesn’t break them.
Execution without excuses. Five minutes. One insight. No wasted words.

Leadership In 5 is the podcast for founders and executives who are done with vague advice and tired of hearing “just communicate better” like it’s a strategy.

I’m James Mayhew. I’ve served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and made the thousand-plus execution mistakes so you don’t have to. I work with high-growth companies that are scaling fast — but who still want to lead with values, not ego.

Each episode delivers one sharp insight you can act on. You’ll hear practical guidance built on clarity, not charisma. No theory. No fluff. Just real leadership tools that work in real companies with real people.

This show exists to help you stop over-functioning, stop repeating yourself, and stop holding it all together just to keep the wheels turning. You deserve a business that works without breaking you.

The show is grounded in The IDP Way, a leadership system built on Integrity, Dignity, and Prosperity. If those words resonate, you’ll feel at home here. And if they challenge you? Even better. Growth starts with honesty.

Want a free companion to the show?
Download "99+ Questions That Create Clarity" at NextQuestionGuide.com
It’s the simplest tool I know to start shifting your team from confused to confident.

Thanks for listening... and for leading.

About your host

Profile picture for James Mayhew

James Mayhew

James R. Mayhew is a leadership coach and strategic advisor to founders and executives building fast-growth, values-driven companies. He created the IDP Way, a leadership system grounded in integrity, dignity, and prosperity. James helps leaders align people, purpose, and performance so their business can scale with clarity, not chaos.

He’s served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and built execution systems that actually work.