Show Notes
This eisode features Sophie McCambridge – Shaun’s 9-year-old daughter. Sophie speaks with her Dad about growth mindsets and the following topics: · What is growth vs fixed mindset? · How parents and schools can help children adopt a growth mindset · Examples where Sophie has used a growth mindset, including her NAPLAN test · Shaun’s personal journey with his growth mindset Maybe we can start by telling the listeners what a growth and fixed mindset is based on what you understand? So, a growth mindset is something that can keep you positive and happy through the day, a fixed mindset is something that no one ever wants to use and no one should use it. It’s something where you say, ‘I can’t’ or ‘I’ll never be able to do this’. And why do you think a growth mindset would be better than a fixed mindset? Because a growth mindset is you being positive, and you can go way further than with a fixed mindset. When have you had to use a growth mindset yourself? An example of when I had to use it was last year I was in the middle of a NAPLAN test and I came to a difficult question in the maths part, and I thought ‘oh no I’m not going to have enough time I can’t do this’ so I thought I might have a growth mindset and just think ‘oh yes I should use a growth mindset’ and I kept on going, I skipped that answer and then at the end I had extra time, I filled in that answer and I figured out that I got an A+ for that question. Sophie to Shaun: In what situations would you like to use a growth mindset? In my point of view using a growth mindset, you use it daily. There is so many situations where you use it, whether it’s being confronted by challenges or opportunities. I try and use it when I’m going to do things like public speaking or physical challenges like an Iron Man or a boxing event sometimes when my mind is trying to tell me that I can’t do these things. In business and in all aspects of life there’s always opportunities to use it and I think that’s great. Dad, why would you not want to use a fixed mindset? I think it’s really quite stressful to use a fixed mindset. Because when you’re confronted with those challenges and everything else, there’s often language like you said before ‘I can’t, this is too much this is intimidating what am I going to do?’ All those sorts of things point to not really helping you in that situation and you feel a little bit out of control. And if you can I think a growth mindset helps you to focus on the solution, or a way forward rather than getting stuck and stressed out by things that come at you.
More from The Shaun McCambridge Podcast
What happens when the business you built, your reputation and your sense of identity unravel almost overnight? Shaun sits down with Mark Sowerby to discuss the rise of Blue Sky Alternative Investments, the personal impact of its collapse and the extraordinary challenge that helped him rebuild. Mark shares what completing the Oceans Seven taught him about resilience, purpose, preparation and finding wisdom “out on the edge”. Guest Bio Mark Sowerby is an experienced business leader, investor and adventurer whose career has spanned global commodity trading, agribusiness, private equity and venture capital. He founded Blue Sky Alternative Investments in 2006 and now heads up Caithness Ventures. Beyond business, Mark is an accomplished endurance swimmer. In 2024, he completed the Oceans Seven global swimming challenge, an achievement featured in the documentary Don’t Be Prey.
What if high performance isn’t just winning, but winning without sacrificing your health, relationships, or sense of purpose? Shaun sits down with James Laughlin to unpack the habits that drive sustainable success on the field and off it. James shares practical frameworks for decision-making, prioritisation, and building routines that protect energy and prevent burnout. Guest Bio James Laughlin is a high-performance coach, keynote speaker, and author of Habits of High Performers. A former multi-time world champion, he now works with leaders, athletes, and high-performing teams to build sustainable habits that drive results without burnout. Episode Summary James reflects on the reality that external success can hide internal struggle. Despite becoming a world champion, he was running on low sleep, leaning on alcohol, overworking, and watching his marriage deteriorate. That experience sparked a deeper question: Can you perform at a high level professionally while also thriving personally? Together, Shaun and James challenge the idea that high performance means doing more. Instead, they explore habits that help people succeed with clarity and consistency - learning to say “no,” creating a values and priorities filter for decisions, building momentum through routines, and shaping environments that support growth. They also discuss the role of purpose, how elite performers manage self-doubt, and why “counterbalance” matters more than chasing work-life balance. Key Discussion Points · A healthier definition of high performance: success with wellbeing and strong relationships · Why high performers say “no” more often than most people · The Values & Priorities filter for clearer decision-making · Choosing long-term priorities over short-term ego wins · Consistency beating motivation, and why discipline is temporary · Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation and how it shapes behaviour · Capturing wins to manage self-doubt and imposter syndrome · How gratitude and reflection shift mindset · Environment design: people, culture, and physical space · Relationship systems: boundaries, rituals, date nights, and planning time in advance · “Habits over hustle” and using counterbalance to avoid burnout · Intention as a defining trait of elite performers · Purpose as a protective factor against burnout and unhealthy coping Timestamps 0:00 – Shaun's intro and sponsorship mention 0:35 – James returns to the show and the story behind the book 2:01 – World champion success vs the hidden cost off the field 4:09 – Redefining high performance beyond "winning" 4:41 – Saying no as a key high-performance habit 5:33 – The Values & Priorities filter 7:06 – Choosing Finn's school production over a major London event 9:01 – Consistency, discipline, and habit formation 9:27 – Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation 13:07 – Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the Personal Victory Journal 15:28 – Gratitude and scanning for what's going right 17:45 – Culture and environment: "lifters vs leaners" 19:42 – Relationships and boundaries that protect what matters 23:56 – Counterbalance vs work-life balance 27:24 – Intention and execution as the separator 30:27 – Purpose and meaning as burnout prevention 33:40 – Three habits for 2026: routine, standards, reading 36:32 – How long habits take to stick (66 days on average) 37:34 – Where to find James and what's coming next
Zion Armstrong is a former elite athlete and global business leader. This episode explores the transformative power of mentorship, resilience, and intentional leadership. From a troubled youth in New Zealand to the global boardrooms of major corporations, Zion shares how sport, structure, and love helped shape his journey. This conversation is a masterclass in authenticity, parenting, and purpose driven leadership.
With over 25 years of executive leadership in the energy and resources sector, Janette Hewson is a seasoned director and strategic leader who knows how to navigate both boom times and tough downturns. An expert in building strong internal and external relationships, Janette thrives on collaboration to deliver business objectives and drive results. In the boardroom, Janette brings a respectful diversity of thought, sharp strategic insight, and the ability to build consensus even on complex issues. Her broad expertise spans external affairs, stakeholder engagement, ESG, major project delivery, procurement, legal advisory, governance, risk management, internal audit, policy development, and corporate strategy. Having led through crises, restructures, acquisitions, expansions, and closures, Janette has honed her leadership skills and a deep understanding of business transformation. She is passionate about building effective teams and transforming business units to achieve sustainable success. Episode Summary
In this episode Shaun interviews Paul Miller, highlighting his rugby career with the All Blacks, Chiefs, Highlanders, Otago, and Southland. They Paul's journey, including highs and lows, battling cancer, and his transition into life after rugby. Paul is also a team member at Stellar Recruitment. Rugby Career & Influences Early Days in Gore: Raised in a tough environment, played for King’s High School, Otago, and Southland. Intimidation on the Field: Paul was an intimidating player but recalls being wary of players like Jerry Collins and Philo Teatea. Jonah Lomu was also a force to reckon with but played in a different position.