Episode #625: Why Authentic Leadership Starts With Looking After Yourself - with Daniel Glyde

What happens when the very traits that helped you succeed become the ones that push you towards burnout?

In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Daniel Glyde, founder of Positive Masculinity, to explore how business owners and leaders can build sustainable success by developing a healthier relationship with themselves first.

Daniel shares his personal journey from BBC producer to coach, following a severe burnout and panic attack in 2018. His experience led him to challenge the traditional expectations many men place on themselves and ultimately build a business focused on helping men create authentic identities, stronger self-belief and healthier lives.

The conversation explores why so many founders fall into people-pleasing, perfectionism and overwork, and how setting boundaries can actually improve performance, leadership and business growth.

In this episode:

Daniel's journey from burnout to business owner

• How years of emotional suppression and people-pleasing led to chronic anxiety and burnout
• The wake-up call that forced him to reassess his priorities
• Why putting yourself first is not selfish but essential

Understanding Positive Masculinity

Daniel's framework is built around three core principles:

• Know yourself
• Be yourself
• Love yourself

Together these help men develop an authentic identity based on values rather than external validation.

The hidden cost of people-pleasing

Daniel explains the difference between:

• Being kind and supportive
• Saying yes when you really mean no

He shares why many founders unintentionally create stress, resentment and poor performance by failing to establish healthy boundaries.

Building a business through community

Daniel has created a three-level business model:

• A free WhatsApp community with weekly accountability and support
• A paid mastermind programme focused on peak performance
• Premium one-to-one coaching helping clients overcome procrastination, perfectionism and self-doubt

What leaders can learn from authenticity

The discussion explores:

• Why vulnerability builds trust
• The power of saying "I don't know"
• How leaders can model healthier behaviours for their teams
• Creating cultures that support wellbeing without sacrificing performance

Daniel's non-negotiables for peak performance

• 8+ hours sleep
• 30+ minutes meditation daily
• 30+ minutes walking daily
• 2+ hours of genuine rest every day

Daniel can be found here

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danglydecoach/?skipRedirect=true

https://danglydecoach.co.uk/

Books that shaped Daniel's thinking

• Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself – Dr Joe Dispenza - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/breaking-the-habit-of-being-yourself-how-to-lose-your-mind-and-create-a-new-one-dr-joe-dispenza/6fd49b57c6281cf2?ean=9781848508569&bkshp-astro=t
• The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-of-now-the-global-phenomenon-a-guide-to-spiritual-enlightenment-eckhart-tolle/45ac3c2e9da05aa3?ean=9780340733509&bkshp-astro=t
• A Return to Love – Marianne Williamson - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-return-to-love-reflections-on-the-principles-of-a-course-in-miracles-marianne-williamson/c3694c5bdc882349?ean=9780722532997&bkshp-astro=t
• Conversations with God – Neale Donald Walsch - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/conversations-with-god-neale-donald-walsch/fd5674b3bef4bbd3?ean=9780340693254&bkshp-astro=t

Technology helping Daniel scale

Daniel uses Claude AI extensively for research, content creation and automating parts of his outreach process. - https://claude.ai/

The one key thing

Many founders believe they need to sacrifice themselves to build a successful business. Daniel argues the opposite. Sustainable growth starts when you stop abandoning your own needs and begin leading from a place of authenticity, energy and self-respect.

Standout Quote

"Your business can only grow sustainably to the extent that you look after yourself."

 

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