Across The Table With David Melse

For episode 219, we sat down with James Wallace for an extraordinary and raw account of the business crisis that rocked his company over the last nine months. James offers a crash course in the true cost of scaling, revealing how his management philosophy—a desire to "see the best in people" and an inability to control structural mistakes—led to a catastrophic breakdown. He details how the company’s culture deteriorated to a point where he "didn't want to go to work," client losses mounted, and expensive legal challenges emerged, leaving him feeling like a "shell of a human" while balancing the crisis with being a new father. The conversation shifts to the critical "line in the sand" moment in April when James realized the business was facing death if he didn't take immediate, radical control. He shares the strategic decisions that stabilized the ship, including personally stepping back into the sales trenches with his brother to generate significant recurring revenue, which bought the company the time necessary to execute a brutal but necessary restructure. James breaks down how he slashed the workforce but created a new structure that was "delivery heavy," prioritizing a high quality product over bloated management. Today, the company is not only out of the woods but is experiencing its best margins ever, with monthly revenue expected to cross the $300,000 mark. James offers his hardest-won lessons on the necessity of protecting a healthy culture "at all costs," the mistake of trying to "farm out" director responsibilities he disliked, and the vital importance of making tough decisions early rather than hoping problems will correct themselves. This episode is a must-listen for any leader who has faced adversity, proving that genuine intention and forward momentum are the ultimate keys to transforming failure into explosive growth.   Check out Digital Simple here: https://www.digitalsimple.co.nz/ ___________________ We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here: https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/ ___________________ Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct.  Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here: https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For episode 218, we sat down with Hayley Sharp, a certified breathwork facilitator, coach, and former corporate HR professional. Hayley shares her compelling journey from a 15-year corporate career—where she experienced multiple rounds of burnout—to taking a huge leap into self-employment to help others find a new way of living and being. In this episode, we talk about: The Science of Burnout: Hayley defines burnout not just as emotional exhaustion, but as the body hitting a tipping point where it enters an underlying survival mode, contrasting this with the literal threats faced by our ancestors. Identifying Your Stress Mode: We go beyond the common Fight and Flight responses to explore the often overlooked Freeze (procrastination, feeling weighed down) and the super common Fawn (people-pleasing and sacrificing personal needs). Breathwork as a Superpower: Hayley explains how her specific, guided breathwork technique allows you to access a non-ordinary state of consciousness by slowing down the default mode network (the "monkey mind"). This allows you to dispel stuck energy, emotions, and stress stored within the body. Blending the Spectrum: Hayley shares her unique methodology of blending logic, science, and spirituality, explaining that spirituality often shows up in business as following your intuition and instinct—that "gut feel" that drives bold, aligned action. The Power of Retreats: The conversation also touches on her luxurious, immersive retreats, which combine c.   Check out Hayley Sharp: https://www.hayleysharp.co.nz/ ___________________ We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here: https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/ ___________________ Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct.  Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here: https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For episode 217, we sat down with Tim Bateman. From a highly respected professional rugby player who commanded the midfield to the founder of a rapidly-scaling wellness brand, Tim’s journey is a powerful study in discipline, peak performance, and translating the hard-won lessons of elite sport into groundbreaking business success. In this episode we talk about the mental fortitude required to transition from the pressure of the playing field to the relentless startup environment, how the intense focus on physical recovery during his professional rugby career became the blueprint for his successful seven-site studio, the key entrepreneurial lessons he learned while competing at the highest level, and his mission to democratize the elite recovery practices once reserved only for athletes. Plus a few laughs about his most brutal on-field encounters, the strange diets of professional rugby teams, and how he manages the natural "dissatisfaction" that drives all high performers.   Check out Tim: @timbateman.nz Check out Ostudio Global: @ostudio_global ___________________ We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here: https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/ ___________________ Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct.  Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here: https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For Episode 216, we sat down with Ellie Compton, a successful artist who merged her architectural background with her creative passion to build a highly structured, profitable enterprise.     Ellie's professional journey demonstrates the power of converting a side project into a full-time career through calculated strategy and business acumen. In this episode, we talk about the development of her unique architectural, medieval, and steampunk-inspired line illustrations and the strategic financial metrics that allowed her to transition away from a traditional career.     We conduct a deep dive into her business ecosystem—from leveraging premium-priced commissions and commercial murals to launching a popular mentorship program for other artists. We discuss the critical role of presentation and high-quality packaging in elevating brand value, the strategic approach to cultivating long-term client relationships, and the necessary financial and marketing discipline required to thrive as an artist in the modern market.       Check out her art at: https://www.elliecompton.com/     ___________________     We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:   https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/     ___________________   Across The Table With David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct. Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here:     https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For episode 215 we sat down with Troy and Nic from Lead Head. What started as a few mates with an idea has grown into one of New Zealand’s most recognisable lifestyle brands, built on creativity, community and a good dose of chaos. In this episode we talk about the story behind LeadHead’s rise — from custom golf hats to international orders — and how a casual podcast appearance turned into a full business partnership. We also dive into their approach to building culture through authenticity, how they’ve stayed true to their roots as the brand grows, and why every decision, no matter how big, still comes down to a game of paper, scissors, rock.   Check out Lead Head: https://leadhead.nz/ ___________________ We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here: https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/ ___________________ Across The Table With David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct.  Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here: https://www.distinctagency.co.nz