Debunking The Recruitment Industry - The Savage Truth with Greg Savage

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.