Peer Effect

James Johnson
  • 5.0 (13)
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Best way to scale? Your peers have the answers.This is the podcast for scaleup founders looking for insightful, actionable wisdom from some of the best operators around. Each week we’ll explore one secret that other founders and experts are using right now and how to implement it. It’s practical wisdom to build the company AND life you want. Hosted by renowned founder coach and advisor James Johnson. You’ve survived to £1m, now let’s scale to £10m+.

  1. Post-Exit: What No One Tells You After You Sell Your Company

    HACE 9 H

    Post-Exit: What No One Tells You After You Sell Your Company

    “I’ve exited… what now?” It sounds simple. It’s not. In this Post Bag episode, James Johnson and Freddie Birley unpack what really happens after the deal is done - and why many founders feel something they didn’t expect. This isn’t about tactics.  It’s about what comes after the thing you thought you wanted. Inside: 👉 Why the post-exit phase can feel strangely unclear 👉 The trap founders fall into next 👉 A different way to approach what’s coming There’s one idea in this episode that changes how you think about the entire journey. Submit your questions: hello@peer-effect.com More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    16 min
  2. When to Be Hands-On and When to Build Systems as You Scale

    HACE 5 DÍAS

    When to Be Hands-On and When to Build Systems as You Scale

    Agata Krawiec‑Rokita, co-founder and CEO of sun.store, scaled from a €12M GMV forecast to €100M in just 12 months. Now she’s facing the next challenge: shifting from doing everything herself to building systems that scale. In this episode, James Johnson and Agata chat about how she decides when to stay hands-on, when to step back, and why scaling is often harder than starting. We cover:  • The framework she uses to choose where to stay involved  • Why startup planning breaks down during rapid growth  • The mindset shift from year one to scale-up  • The line between being hands-on and micromanaging  • The one question she asks before major initiatives The hardest part of scaling isn’t hiring great people. It’s letting go while the stakes keep rising. Listen now to hear how she’s navigating the transition. More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    36 min
  3. What Should You Actually Use a Coach For?

    13 ABR

    What Should You Actually Use a Coach For?

    Most founders misunderstand what coaching is for. And it costs them. In this Post Bag episode, James Johnson and Freddie Birley unpack what coaching actually does - and why the best founders use it differently. This isn’t about frameworks.  It’s about decision-making, pressure, and telling the truth when it matters. Listen to the end if you’ve ever asked:  “Is coaching actually worth it?” More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    18 min
  4. Are You the Bottleneck in Your Startup? | Max Teichert

    8 ABR

    Are You the Bottleneck in Your Startup? | Max Teichert

    At some point, every founder becomes the bottleneck. In this episode of Peer Effect, James Johnson speaks with Max Teichert, founder of Track Titan, about the transition from doing everything yourself to building systems that scale. Max shares his journey from sim racing to launching Track Titan and explains how founders can stay close to product while avoiding burnout and decision overload. This conversation is packed with practical advice for founders navigating growth and stepping into the CEO role. You will learn:  • The signs you're becoming the founder bottleneck  • When to delegate and when to stay involved  • Building a defensible startup advantage  • Scaling decision-making as your team grows  • Avoiding product complexity traps  • Making time for strategy as a founder  • Moving from founder mindset to CEO leadership If you're moving from early-stage hustle to structured growth, this episode is for you. More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    41 min
  5. How to Not Become an A*****e as You Get More Senior

    6 ABR

    How to Not Become an A*****e as You Get More Senior

    "How do I not become an a*****e?" Emma sent this to James Johnson and Freddie Birley for Peer Effect Post Bag. The fact she's asking is already a good sign. What you'll hear: Why self-reflection matters but isn't enough. Freddie breaks down the three groups you need around you. Your team is one. But they have limits most founders don't acknowledge. The power dynamic nobody talks about. You can fire your team. They know it. James explains how far they'll actually push - and why expecting more isn't realistic. What one team member said that changed everything. "Just tell me if it's non-negotiable. I'd rather not waste both our times trying to convince you when you've already decided." James shares why this matters. The 360 feedback structure that works. But only if you have a facilitator. James explains why doing this yourself doesn't create safety for honest feedback. The question that forces honesty. "Bring to mind my most problematic behavior." Freddie shares the full framework and why it works when normal feedback requests don't. Why power distance kills feedback. As you get more senior, people stop speaking up. You read silence as approval. It's not. They're just calibrated to the hierarchy. What happens in remote teams. Trust takes a lot to build, not much to break. Remote makes it harder. James and Freddie explain why this compounds the problem. The reality: It's hard for founders to get honest feedback on how they're actually experienced. Your team will only push once, maybe twice. Then they stop. That's not them being not brave. That's just the dynamic. If you're asking the question "how do I not become an a*****e," you're probably not the one at risk. One action: Listen to the end for what to do today if you want honest feedback. Submit your questions: hello@peer-effect.com More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    16 min
  6. Core Values in Startups: Hiring, Scaling and Culture That Works

    1 ABR

    Core Values in Startups: Hiring, Scaling and Culture That Works

    Founders talk about values all the time. But do they actually drive growth? In this episode of Peer Effect, James Johnson speaks with Allison Kopf, CEO of TRACT, about how to turn company values into real operating principles that improve hiring, retention and performance. Allison shares practical frameworks for building mission-driven teams, running values workshops, hiring for cultural alignment and scaling culture from startup to Series A and beyond. This conversation is packed with actionable advice for founders who want to build high-performing teams and scale faster. You will learn:  • Why values should shape strategy and execution  • How to hire using a values-based interview process  • Mission-driven vs mercenary founders  • When to refresh company values as you scale  • How to embed values into performance reviews and OKRs  • Practical steps to run a values workshop with your team If you are scaling a startup and want your team rowing in the same direction, this episode is for you. More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    41 min
  7. Best Performer Worst Behaved: What to Do When Your Top Team Member Is Toxic

    30 MAR

    Best Performer Worst Behaved: What to Do When Your Top Team Member Is Toxic

    "My best performing team member is also my worst behaved. What should I do?" Jack sent this to James Johnson and Freddie Birley for Peer Effect Post Bag. The answer is clear: one is worse than the other. What you'll hear: Why under-behaving vs underperforming are fundamentally different problems. James explains which one is more detrimental to your business and why most founders get this wrong. The myth of "this person is irreplaceable." James and Freddie have seen this story play out dozens of times. It always ends the same way. The pattern they reveal will surprise you. How to have the conversation without making it worse. There's a specific way to frame it so they actually hear you. Most founders skip the critical first step. Why you shouldn't take ownership of their change. Where the line is between supporting someone and trying to rescue them. James explains what's in your control and what isn't. The hidden cost nobody talks about. It's not about team performance. It's about what it does to you as a founder. James shares how long he spent on one person and why he wishes he'd acted sooner. When to accelerate clarity vs when to wait. If you know it's a priority, the conversation does one of two things. Both are good. James and Freddie explain why procrastinating costs more than acting. The reality: This conversation requires preparation. But avoiding it costs more than having it. The headspace these situations take is enormous. It affects your enjoyment, motivation, and excitement about the business. One action: Listen to the end for how to know if you should have this conversation now. More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    16 min
  8. Niche Business Strategy: Why Narrow Focus Beats Going Broad

    25 MAR

    Niche Business Strategy: Why Narrow Focus Beats Going Broad

    Clementine Schouteden built a multimillion-pound e-commerce business selling premium products for Guinea pigs. Not small pets. Not rodents. Just Guinea pigs. As founder and CEO of Kavee (bootstrapped across UK, Europe, and US), Clementine spent 10 years being asked "why not expand?" Her answer changed how to think about focus. What you'll hear: Why 100% relevance to a small community beats 1% relevance to millions. Clementine explains the math behind this that most founders miss. It's not what you'd expect. The choice she made at the growth inflection point. Expand to more species or expand geography? One would've been a vanity move that probably killed the business. The other built the foundation for everything. How to create a market that didn't exist. Before Kavee, there was no premium Guinea pig market. Clementine built an eight-figure market from scratch. She explains what that actually requires. The shift that unlocked growth after two flat years. Clementine changed one question she asks about everything. That question changed how her team works, how they ship, and what they're willing to do. Why she gives her team permission to miss deadlines. This sounds risky. What actually happened will surprise you. What "ambitious actions" means vs ambitious words. Clementine was always ambitious. But there was wishful thinking in the middle. She breaks down what changed. The question every founder should ask. "What does my business need that I can give it?" How Clementine answers this determines everything. The reality: Focus is underrated. Most founders spread too thin too early. Clementine was nowhere near tapping her market when people said expand. Going narrow built muscles she can use anywhere. One action: Listen to the end for the question that changed everything. More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

    41 min
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Best way to scale? Your peers have the answers.This is the podcast for scaleup founders looking for insightful, actionable wisdom from some of the best operators around. Each week we’ll explore one secret that other founders and experts are using right now and how to implement it. It’s practical wisdom to build the company AND life you want. Hosted by renowned founder coach and advisor James Johnson. You’ve survived to £1m, now let’s scale to £10m+.

Información

  • Creador
    James Johnson
  • Años de actividad
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodios
    184
  • Clasificación
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Peer Effect
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    Peer Effect