𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
It’s not just about scaling your business.
It’s also about scaling you.
From Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups, I’ve coached leaders at every stage. Today, my mission is focused: helping first-time founders scale themselves as fast as they scale their companies.
 
𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀
Your startup can only grow as fast as you do. As a first-time founder, you’re under pressure from investors, your team, and your family—all while learning on the fly skills that others spend decades mastering. Whether you’re raising capital, hiring your first team, or pushing toward product-market fit, I help you close the gap between where you are and where your company needs you to be.
 
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
I bring 20+ years of coaching 10,000+ leaders, founder experience, and cutting-edge insights from neuroscience and behavioral psychology. The result: a proven path to accelerate both personal and company growth. My frameworks help you:
• Transform self-doubt into clarity and influence
• Build and inspire high-performing, durable teams
• Raise capital while staying true to your vision
• Create sustainable success without burnout
• Leverage your existing strengths while closing critical skill gaps
• Grow yourself as fast as your company 
 
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲
My one-on-one clients are founders who:
• Want tailored, responsive coaching that meets them where they are
• Care deeply about building strong teams and cultures
• Aim to create both impact and enterprise value
• Refuse to accept that success means sacrificing their families, health, or lives outside the company
• Are willing to grow personally and professionally to become the leader their company needs 
 
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁
From doubling revenue to unlocking fundraising rounds to transforming team dynamics, my clients consistently achieve breakthrough results—while building lives they actually want to live.
 
𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁?
Visit www.andrewpoles.com/contact or DM me here.

Andrew Poles

We use the word “complete” all the time.
But most people confuse it with “finished.”

They’re not the same.

You can end a relationship and still be carrying it.
You can be in an ongoing partnership and feel fully clear.

Completion is a function of how you relate to reality - not a status update.
In this clip (from my conversation on the Sleep Is A Skill podcast with Mollie), I break down what I mean by being complete - and why it has real implications for how you live, lead, and even sleep.

Coaching first-time founders to grow themselves and their companies | 3x Founder | 22+ years coaching partners like NASA, Dell, Schwab + 10,000 people worldwide

What does insomnia have to do with integrity?
More than most leaders realize.

I once worked with a man who had slept 1–2 hours a night for years. His health was at risk. After doing deep completion work in his relationships and life, he slept 8–10 hours for the first time in decades.

There’s a connection between how complete you are and how well you sleep.
And more than that - your sleep may be a lagging indicator of how powerfully you’re living and leading.

If this resonates, I unpack it further on the Sleep Is A Skill podcast with the amazing Mollie Eastman, episode linked below.  

Sometimes it’s not a sleep issue.
It’s a leadership issue.

#Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #SleepIsASkill #FounderHealth #Integrity

This is the part of leadership most spreadsheets can’t capture. When behavior stops making sense, there’s almost always unseen pressure in the room.
What stands out here is the refusal to confuse kindness with lowering standards. Real leadership is keeping the bar high AND removing shame from the climb.
Culture isn’t what you say you value - it’s how safe it feels for people to be human while doing hard work.

3 Exits | Founder @ Humble | Strategic Partner @ Loud | Follow for Self Improvement, Growth Strategy & Being A Better Human | Entrepreneurship Coach & Mentor

You have no idea what people are dealing with.
Not even close.
And that’s ok.

Because you just have to be kind.

The person who snapped in your meeting might have a kid who’s struggling.

The one who “doesn’t care anymore” might be keeping a marriage together with duct tape.

The quiet one who missed a deadline might be dealing with a parent who’s fading, fast.

Work makes it easy to pretend everyone is a machine.

Metrics. Output. Deadlines. Slack green dots.

👉 But leadership is what you do when the spreadsheet stops explaining the behaviour.

Bad leaders get this part wrong: 

They think kindness is a personality trait.

It isn’t.
It’s a professional skill. 
And it’s different to being NICE.

Kind isn’t soft.
Kind is controlled.

Nice avoids the hard chat.
Kind has it, without making the person feel small.

Nice lowers standards so nobody feels uncomfortable.
Kind keeps standards high and removes the shame from getting there.

I learned this the hard way building companies from nothing.

⚠️ When you’re under pressure yourself, your instincts get ugly, and you start to:
Push harder. Watch closer. Assume the worst.

It feels “productive”.

It’s usually expensive.

Because people don’t leave jobs first.
They leave the feeling of being misunderstood.

So if you want a practical way to lead like a grown up, try this:

Before you judge the performance, check the pressure they are under.

BUT, a simple “You alright?” is not leadership.
Anyone can say that.

📌This is leadership:

1.	Ask a better question
“What’s taking up headspace right now?”
It gives them a door that isn’t dramatic.

2.	Offer a real option
“Do you want time, help, or privacy?”
Most people just need one of the three.

3.	Separate the person from the work
“You’re not your output. Let’s fix the work.”
That one sentence changes everything.

4.	Adjust the load, not the standards
“What do we de-scope for 7 days?”
Pressure without control creates mistakes.

5.	Protect them in public, coach them in private.
If you correct someone publicly, you teach the whole team to hide.

None of this is “being nice”.

It’s how you keep good people good.

Your culture isn’t your values on a Notion page.
It’s how safe it feels to have a bad week around you.

So yes, you seriously have NO idea what people are dealing with.

Lead like you know that.

-
♻️: Repost to inspire.
➕: Follow Charlie Lass.

Most founders don’t get stuck because things are hard.
They get stuck because of the story they tell themselves about why things shouldn’t be this way.

Loss. Missed signals. Bad hires. Broken trust.
The pain is real — but the suffering is optional.

This week I'm sharing about how leaders unknowingly trap themselves after setbacks, and how dropping one word can unlock clarity, resilience, and forward momentum.

If you’ve been carrying something heavy lately, I hope this offers you some needed clarity.

Sadness: Yes. Suffering: No. Over the last few weeks, several founders I coach have been moving through loss. Not just personal loss — though that’s b

Open article: The “Should” Trap in Leadership by Andrew Poles • 4 min read

When Ken Cox and I were talking recently on the Clicks and Bricks podcast, we kept circling back to something that doesn’t get talked about enough in business:

Your company grows at the speed of your own growth.

Not just revenue.

You can still be making money and feel something in the business has stalled.

Energy drops. Culture gets stale. Decisions feel heavier.

I’ve lived that.

In my first business, I thought learning business meant learning tactics. Strategy. Sales. Operations.

And yes — you do have to learn the “game.”

But what I didn’t understand then was that every ceiling I hit in the business was connected to a ceiling in me.

Fear I hadn’t dealt with.
Conversations I didn’t want to have.
Identity I hadn’t owned yet, or hadn't generated the courage to let go. 

Ken asked me about authenticity and about “next right actions.”

For me, performance really comes down to that:

What is the next right action of integrity here?
Not the most comfortable action.
Not the one that protects your ego.
The one that’s actually right.

That’s where growth happens.
And when that shifts, the business shifts.

If you’re a founder, especially early-stage, I think you’ll appreciate how deep this conversation goes. 

I'll put the link to the full episode in the comments.

Most founder tension isn’t about strategy.

It’s about what no one is saying.

When something is clearly impacting performance–but everyone is pretending it’s not–trust erodes, capacity drops, and the team feels it.

This is about how to name the “boulder in the room” without creating drama, shame, or overcorrection.

If you’ve ever:
-Avoided a hard conversation at the top
-Worried about overstepping vs. under-supporting
-Felt silent tension on your leadership team
-Tried to protect the business without adding pressure

This is for you.

A founder asked me this week how to support a co-founder going through a deeply disruptive personal situation. You know the kind. Sleep off. Nervous s

Open article: The Boulder in the Middle of the Room by Andrew Poles • 5 min read

Your calendar is lying to you.
Not because you’re incapable - but because it’s built on optimism, not reality.
If your day assumes you’ll get everything done, with no interruptions, no fatigue, no tradeoffs… that’s a fantasy, not a system.
You don’t need better memory.
You need a structure that maps real work to real time - and forces honest choices.
High performance starts with a calendar that tells the truth.
Where is yours overpromising right now?

The Cross-Border Expert | Helping Marketplaces & Tech Platforms Scale Globally | Follow For Sales, Branding & CX That Convert

Hi, I’m Charlie Fiander
Your go-to partner for scaling e-commerce platforms and marketplaces globally 🌍

I help brands simplify international expansion, tax compliance, and customer experience  so they can grow without getting bogged down in complexity.

Here’s what I know about you:

● You’re ready to expand into new markets, but the logistics feel overwhelming
● You’re hitting roadblocks with duties, taxes, or compliance
● You know customer experience is key, but cross-border selling complicates it
My approach blends the creativity of a brand builder with the precision of a compliance expert.

Here’s how I think about it:

🔹 Strategy – Cut through the chaos and design smart expansion plans
🔹 Compliance – Navigate global tax, duties, and regulations with confidence
🔹 Experience – Build seamless customer journeys that convert, anywhere in the world

I’ve built my career across fashion, e-commerce, logistics (DHL Express), and digital marketplaces.

Now at Avalara, I help platforms scale confidently specialising in global tax and compliance strategy.

A few things to know about me:
✔️ Launched my first company at university after winning Entrepreneur of the Year
✔️ 10+ years in e-commerce, fashion, logistics, and growth strategy
✔️ Helped brands expand into 20+ international markets
✔️ Specialist in cross-border commerce, VAT, duties, and compliance
✔️ I’m dyslexic, which gives me an edge in finding creative, unconventional solutions

Mantra: Feel the fear and do it anyway

Let’s connect if you’re:
✅ Building a marketplace
✅ Expanding cross-border
✅ Or just want to chat about growth, creativity, and smart scaling

DMs are open, always happy to connect and swap ideas.

Book here : https://avalara.chilipiper.com/shared/charlie-fiander

Charlie Fiander

Pipeline vs forecast.
One looks good on paper.
The other looks like Justin Bieber in Crocs.

If you’ve worked in sales, you’ve felt this pain, whether you’re an SDR, AE, or VP.
The pipeline never matches the forecast.

But here’s the truth → forecasting will never be perfect.
The only thing you can control? How much clarity you create along the way.

Here’s what’s helped me close the gap:

1️⃣ Ask better questions early
– “What are your approval timelines?”
– “Who else needs to sign off?”
– “Is there an ideal timeframe to get this live?”

2️⃣ Always lock the next step
Don’t end a call without a date in the diary.
If they don’t book, ask: “How long do you need to review?” then set the follow-up.

3️⃣ Set boundaries with stalled deals
If I’ve chased 3x with no reply, I’ll say:
“Just so you know, I won’t follow up again until [end of month / quarter].”
You’d be surprised how often that reopens the conversation.

Forecasting will always feel messy.
But the more clarity you create, the cleaner your pipeline and the more trust you’ll build with your manager.

👉 What’s YOUR go-to move when the forecast and pipeline don’t match?

No alternative text description for this image

If you don’t know what to pursue in life right now … pursue yourself.

So many people are chasing clarity, purpose, direction…
when what they actually need is stability, energy, and self-trust.

You don’t find your path.
You build the version of you that can walk it.

This is the real order of operations:
1. Regulate your nervous system
2. Build energy (sleep, food, movement)
3. Strengthen self-belief
4. Create consistency
5. Then choose direction

Most people try to start at step 5.

The path reveals itself when you’re ready to walk it.

Which part of yourself are you working on right now?

You know that moment…

You upload your CV.

You feel productive.
You feel qualified.
You feel seen.

Then the portal hits you with:

“Please fill in your employment history.”

And it’s 17 separate boxes.
For the exact same information.
You just uploaded.

At that point, it’s giving:

👉 “Oh… you thought this was quick?”

This is genuinely one of the most universal corporate experiences.

And it says something interesting about how we design processes.

We say we want:
• Efficiency
• Great candidate experience
• Top talent

But then we build systems that:
• Create friction
• Waste time
• Test patience before the interview even starts

If you’ve ever wondered why strong candidates drop off halfway through an application…

This is why.

The best companies remove friction.
The average ones add admin.

Small UX decisions signal big cultural truths.

Be honest … have you ever abandoned an application because of this? 👀

You don’t decide your future.
You decide your habits.

And your habits decide everything.

Most people think success comes from big moments:
The promotion
The big deal
The viral post
The “one day when things change”

But it’s rarely the big moments that shape your life.
It’s the small things you do on ordinary days.

Showing up when you don’t feel like it.
Going to the gym or for a run when no one’s watching.
Posting when it would be easier to scroll.
Learning when you could switch off.

None of those things feel dramatic in the moment.
But compound them over months… and they quietly change who you become.

Habits are identity builders.

Confidence isn’t built in one speech.
Fitness isn’t built in one workout.
A personal brand isn’t built in one post.
Relationships aren’t built in one conversation.

They’re built in the repetition.

And the truth is:
Your future is already being written by what you do today — not what you plan to do someday.

So here’s a question:

What habit, if you repeated it every day for the next year, would completely change your life?

Curious to hear what people are working on right now 👇

Most people think influence in meetings comes from what you say.

But it often starts with where you sit.

I noticed this early in sales meetings.
The same people always had more airtime… more influence… more visibility.

It wasn’t just confidence.
It was positioning.

Here’s what different seats at a meeting table often signal:

Head of the table
Authority. Decision-maker. The person driving outcomes.

Next to the leader
Trusted advisor. Inner circle. Quiet influence.

Opposite the leader
Confidence. Challenger. Presenter energy.

Middle seats
Collaborators. Facilitators. Often overlooked but essential.

Far edges or corners
Observers. Lower visibility unless you actively step in.

None of this is written in a rulebook.
But humans read signals constantly.

Body language. Positioning. Presence.

Before your next meeting, don’t just prepare what you’ll say.

Think about where you sit.

Have you ever noticed this in meetings?
Do you think seating really changes the dynamic?

None of my work is done.
But I sure am.

Emotional + relatable
Ever hit that point where your to-do list is still full…
…but your brain has officially clocked out?

You’re staring at your screen, “working,”
but actually just surviving on caffeine, willpower, and denial.

Dense value
Here’s what that moment is really telling you:

1. You’re not lazy — you’re cognitively overloaded
2. Your brain is asking for closure, not more tasks
3. You’re running on output without recovery
4. Burnout doesn’t look dramatic — it looks like quiet numbness

Rest isn’t a reward for finishing.
It’s a requirement for continuing.

Be honest — what’s still on your list right now?

Save this for the days you forget you’re human.

Most people don’t need more hours.
They need fewer distractions.

For a long time I thought productivity meant working longer.

Earlier mornings. 
Later nights. 
More tabs open. 
More pressure.

But the biggest jump in my output came when I started working differently, not harder.

Here are 4 simple frameworks that genuinely changed how I work:

1. The Eisenhower Matrix

Not everything urgent is important.
Prioritise:
• Do first – important + urgent
• Schedule – important but not urgent
• Delegate – urgent but low value
• Eliminate – neither

2. Time Blocking

If it isn’t scheduled, it rarely gets done.
Block time for deep work the same way you block meetings. Protect it.

3. Eliminate Distractions

Notifications off.
Tabs closed.
Phone away.
Multitasking feels productive, but it usually just slows everything down.

4. The 45/15 Method

45 minutes of full focus.
15 minutes to recharge.
It’s simple, but it prevents burnout and keeps your brain sharp.

The real shift?
Productivity isn’t about squeezing more into your day.
It’s about protecting your attention.

Out of these, which one do you struggle with most: prioritising, focus, or distractions?

Everything is a win when the goal is experience.

Read that again.

We’re taught to measure wins by outcomes:
• Closed deal
• Promotion
• Viral post
• Perfect relationship
• 10/10 result

But what if the metric is different?

What if the goal is:

→ Learning
→ Testing
→ Showing up
→ Building reps
→ Getting uncomfortable
→ Trying anyway

Missed deal?
Data.

Awkward first draft?
Practice.

First date that doesn’t work out?
Clarity.

Post that flops?
Iteration.

When your goal is experience, you can’t really lose.

Because you’re collecting information.

And information compounds.

This mindset changed how I:
• Approach sales conversations
• Show up on LinkedIn daily
• Try new things
• Take risks without spiralling

Outcome-driven = pressure.
Experience-driven = growth.

You either win.
Or you learn.

And learning always pays forward.

What’s something you tried recently that didn’t “work” — but taught you something valuable?

If you think inbound is king…think again.
Outbound leads convert 34% higher. 
Yet most reps still avoid it.

But here’s what the top performers know:
💡 64% of their pipeline? Built through outbound.
💡 47% of total revenue? Outbound deals.

They don’t wait for leads to drop in their inbox.
They make it happen.

Outbound is the low-key superpower of sales.
- It’s not loud.
- It’s not flashy.
- But it separates the wishers from the closers.

Most people:
❌ Avoid it
❌ Assume it’s someone else’s job
❌ Wait for marketing to do the heavy lifting

And here’s the kicker…
82% of buyers take meetings from sellers who reach out first.
Outbound isn’t a gift.

It’s a muscle.
You build it.

The numbers don’t lie:
📈 Companies blending inbound + outbound close 35% more deals & cut sales cycles by 27%
📈 Top reps create 45% more opportunities through outbound
📈 70% of decision-makers are open to a cold approach, if it’s relevant and timely

If you want to future-proof your sales team in 2025:
→ Train outbound like a core skill
→ Celebrate the reps doing the reps

Outbounding isn’t just for sales.
It’s for anyone who wants to open doors.

The question is… are you ready to walk the walk with me? 👠 

Aka 'Smile and Dial' 😁😂 

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