From People Pleaser to Practical Leader with Justin Boulos (Ep 20)

This episode is a raw, behind-the-scenes conversation about the reality of growing into leadership—without a playbook. Michael and Justin reflect on the emotional weight of being the go-to person, the cost of "being too nice," and what it means to let go of perfection. They cover everything from hiring mistakes and culture clashes to learning when to stop fixing everything yourself. You'll hear honest stories about crying in car parks, over-apologising, and finding your spine when the team needs more than just empathy.

If you’ve ever struggled with handing over control, building a team that actually solves problems, or shifting from being a doer to a leader—this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. It’s not a leadership seminar. It’s real talk for the managers in the middle, trying to do the next right thing.