Why Delegation is Your Growth Multiplier with John Nieuewenburg | Scaling the Gap Ep 78

If you’re great at your craft but feel like running your business is the hardest part, you’re not alone. 

In this episode, Madeleine MacRae welcomes seasoned business coach John Nieuwenburg, who specializes in helping small business owners make the leap from “technician” to true CEO. John works with tradespeople and professionals who’ve mastered their skill set but now find themselves overwhelmed by the business side of things. Whether it’s time management, team building, or getting control of your finances, John breaks down the hidden roadblocks that hold business owners back, and how to overcome them.

This episode is packed with real talk on what it takes to grow: shifting your mindset, learning to delegate, building a culture you’re proud of, and having the hard conversations that leadership demands. John also shares his powerful personal story, from a suicide attempt in 2011 to living his most successful decade yet, and how that experience reshaped his definition of success.

You’ll walk away with new perspective, tactical tools, and a clearer path forward, no matter where you are on your business journey.

Key Takeaways

• Why your title hasn’t changed, but your job must
• The real reason business coaching is often personal coaching in disguise
• Why time, team, and money challenges all trace back to mindset
• How the “Sh*t List” reveals your biggest delegation gaps
• Why culture is not a cherry on top, but the foundation of your business
• How to scale complexity without losing control
• Why 80% done by someone else is 100% awesome

In This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction to John Nieuwenburg
• [00:04:00] John’s journey into coaching
• [00:09:22] Delegation and the “sh*t” list
• [00:14:13] Valuing the owner’s time
• [00:16:09] Scaling and the captain analogy
• [00:17:47] Mindset and culture as foundations
• [00:21:22] Complexity of scaling and systems
• [00:25:08] Small business advantages and recruiting
• [00:28:13] Compassion in difficult conversations
• [00:33:20] Success and personal journey
• [00:41:22] Closing remarks and John’s resources

Notable Quotes

• [06:45] “Very often, business coaching is personal coaching in disguise.” — John Nieuwenburg
• [19:06] “Your culture isn’t the cherry on the cake—it is the cake.” — John Nieuwenburg
• [20:34] “People want to be part of a good culture. They yearn for being part of a great culture. So you're serving your people when you create a great culture.”— John Nieuwenburg
• [08:52] “If you don’t have a VA, you are the VA. And you’re probably bad at it.” — John Nieuwenburg
• [13:40] “80% done by someone else is 100% awesome.” — John Nieuwenburg
• [22:23] “Systems run the business. People run the systems. You lead the people.” — John Nieuwenburg

Our Guest

John Nieuwenburg is a seasoned business coach and founder of W5 Coaching, where he helps service-based business owners transition from technicians to CEOs. With a background in leadership, coaching, and personal transformation, including his own turning point in 2011, John brings clarity and strategy to those ready to scale. His TEDx Talk and curated blog series continue to inspire entrepreneurs across industries.

Resources and Links

John Nieuwenburg

• Website – https://w5coaching.com/
• Blog – https://w5coaching.com/resources/
• TEDx Talk – Search “John Nieuwenburg TEDx” on...