Discover why the best leaders deliberately surround themselves with smarter people, and how this counterintuitive approach unlocks sustainable business growth and freedom.
Read time: 5.35 minutes.
Read this on: jeanmoncrieff.com
What's in store for today:
- The hidden ceiling in your business
- The value in shutting up and listening
- Building freedom into your business
Hey There,
What if I told you that sometimes the bravest move a leader can make is admitting they need help?
This week on The Freedom Experience, Richard Bryan shares a story that challenges everything we think we know about business turnarounds and leadership.
At just 28, he inherited a failing $120M family business with 360 employees counting on him. The bank was circling, losses were mounting, and time was running out.
His response?
He went looking for someone smarter than himself to help save the company.
In this frank conversation, Richard reveals how this decision transformed not just the business, but his entire approach to leadership.
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In this episode, we talk about...
- Why the fastest turnarounds start with radical transparency
- How firing your top performer can actually improve performance
- The power of being the "dumbest person in the room"
- Why succession planning isn't just about the CEO
- Creating a business that runs without you
- Finding purpose after a successful exit
- What true freedom in business really means
If you're facing tough decisions in your business, feeling the weight of leadership, or thinking about your own exit strategy, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom from someone who's been there.
Catch my full conversation with Richard on The Freedom Experience podcast.
1. The hidden ceiling in your business
During annual planning sessions with clients, I keep coming back to one crucial truth: your business can only grow as fast as you do.
And by 'you,' I mean you and your leadership team.
You know that feeling when you're stretched to your limit? When every decision feels harder than the last, and you're not quite sure if you have the right answers anymore? That's usually not a sign that you're failing - it's a sign that you need to level up.
I was reminded of this during my conversation with Richard. When he stepped into the family business, he inherited a business that was hemorrhaging money.
His first realization?
"I'm the smartest person in the room - and that terrifies me because I'm not that smart."
That self-awareness probably saved his business.
Think about it like a video game (credit to Patrick Thean for this analogy - The Journey to CEO Success). Each level gets harder. The enemies come faster. The challenges get more complex. You can't beat Level 10 with Level 1 skills.
Business is exactly the same.
The leadership approaches that worked at $1M in revenue won't cut it at $10M, and what worked at $10M might actually hurt you at $100M.
Too often, I see leaders trying to tackle new challenges with the same tools and mindset that brought them to their current growth plateau.
They work harder instead of differently. They try to be the hero instead of building a team of heroes.
Richard took a different approach. He deliberately sought out people smarter than himself and created an environment where they could thrive.
Ten years later, he proudly declared, "I'm pretty sure I'm the dumbest person in the room."
That wasn't false modesty - it was a winning strategy.
So here's my question to you: Are you leveling up as fast as your business needs you to?
Whether it's through coaching, peer groups, mentorship, or building a stronger team, you need to stay ahead of your business's growth curve. Because when you stop growing, your business will too.
Think about that as you plan for 2025. Your business's ceiling isn't set by the market - it's set by your leadership capacity.
The good news?
Unlike the market, that's something you can control.
Are you struggling to escape a growth plateau?
Join our Foundation for Growth Masterclass and overcome your barriers to success in 2025.
Join our upcoming Foundations for Growth Masterclasses 👇
2. The value in shutting up and listening
It's funny how often the best ideas come wrapped in moments that challenge our ego.
I had this experience just this week in Bucharest.
I was filming new content with a fantastic creative team, armed with my tried-and-tested scripting system.
When Irina suggested a different approach to our video hook, my first instinct was to dismiss it.
After all, I had my system, right?
But there's a beautiful moment that happens when you push past that initial resistance. When you let go of "my way" and open yourself to "maybe there's a better way."
We tried Irina's idea, and you know what?
The results were better than I could have imagined.
It's a small story, but it reminds me of something bigger: sometimes, the best thing we can do as leaders is to shut up and listen.
Whether it's video production or business strategy, breakthrough moments often come when we're willing to set aside our expertise and embrace someone else's perspective.
I can't wait to share the results with you soon. Big thanks to the creative team at Camera de Podcast for pushing me out of my comfort zone.
3. Building freedom into your business
What does real business freedom look like?
It’s not just about making good money. It’s about building a business that thrives without needing you every minute of the day.
I get it—letting go can feel uncomfortable. You built this business. No one knows it better than you, and no one cares about it the way you do.
But here’s something I’ve learned from leaders like Richard. Letting go isn’t about stepping away; it’s about stepping up. It’s about intentionally developing people who are smarter than you in their areas of expertise.
Whenever one of your leaders takes a vacation or attends a training session, it’s more than just time off. It’s a chance for someone else to step into leadership and grow into a role they may have never thought possible.
You might think, “That sounds risky.”
And you’re not wrong—it can feel unsettling at first. But consider this: what’s riskier? Running a business that depends entirely on you, or building one filled with capable leaders who grow and develop others?
Richard puts it perfectly:
"Freedom means being able to stay in bed longer because my business runs fine without me."
That's not just about having good people - it's about having great people who are coaching and developing other great people. It's about creating a culture where leadership isn't just something that happens at the top but something that's nurtured at every level.
When you get this right, something magical happens.
Your business becomes more than just successful - it becomes truly valuable. And you? You get the freedom to choose how and when you want to be involved.
One quote to start the week strong
"The best thing about it is I'm pretty sure I'm the dumbest person in the room."​- Richard J. Bryan
There's a beautiful irony in this statement.
It takes real intelligence to recognize the value of being the "dumbest" in the room.
It's not about diminishing yourself - it's about having the confidence to surround yourself with people who can see further, think deeper, and bring perspectives you might never have considered.
Have a great week!
- Jean
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