What does it take to scale a startup without losing sight of your vision?

In this episode of the Peer Effect podcast, Jonathan Cornelias, shares the lessons learned from building four companies, including Elevent Inc, a marketplace connecting experience providers and companies to deliver unique, memorable virtual and physical experiences.

Jon opens up about the mindset and strategies that have helped him navigate the challenges of scaling a business while staying true to his vision.

Together we’ll dive into:

• Why belief in your idea and finding joy in the journey are essential for long-term success.
• The power of disciplined experimentation, prioritising ideas by impact, confidence, and effort, and iterating step by step.
• Why an effective go-to-market strategy often matters more than product perfection early on.
• How learning from others’ successes and mistakes can shortcut your path to growth.

Jon’s insights will inspire you to embrace challenges, bet on yourself, and stay focused on what truly works for your business!

Connect with Jonathan Cornelias on LinkedIn to follow his journey and learn more about Elevent Inc.

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What if work-life balance isn’t the answer?

As founders, the pressure to keep moving forward can feel relentless. But what if the secret to success isn’t sprinting harder, but intentionally slowing down?

In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Ryan Bailey, a serial entrepreneur who’s launched 15 startups, one of which sold for $300m, to explore the power of pausing. Kelly has mastered the art of aligning personal and professional success, turning moments of reflection into a framework for sustainable growth.

Together, we dive into:

• Why aligning personal and business goals is critical for long-term success.
• The role of intentional pauses in preventing burnout and fueling creativity.
• Kelly’s “growing forward” method for reflecting and resetting goals.
• How redefining success can lead to a more authentic, fulfilling life—without sacrificing financial growth.

More from James:

Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

Has your identity become wrapped up in your business?

Setting boundaries and separating your identity from your business could be the first step to building a successful business sustainably.

Sean Campbell, Co-Founder & CEO at Cascade Insights, has navigated this very issue for the past 25 years and has learned through the ups and downs of running two businesses.

Together we unpack:

• How to separate your identity from your work.
• The importance of delegating and creating space for your team.
• Why it's important to expose yourself to information you disagree with.

For more, follow Sean Campbell on LinkedIn to learn more about his current business, Cascade Insights.

More from James:

Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com