In this episode, Mark Griffin is joined by Adrian Bray, USA CEO of Stellar Consulting, for a deeply honest conversation about growth, resilience, and what founders are rarely prepared for when success accelerates faster than infrastructure. Adrian shares three defining magic moments that shaped his leadership journey. From laying the foundation of his career inside a global organization, to becoming a parent while building a business at the same time, to a profound resilience moment where trust was broken, security was lost, and everything had to be rebuilt from the ground up. It is a story of survival, self-trust, and choosing response over reaction. Drawing from decades of experience as both a founder and advisor, Adrian offers grounded insight into why so many middle-market businesses hit the wall. Rapid growth, misaligned systems, cultural drift, and founders becoming trapped as the chief problem solver. Together, Mark and Adrian unpack why purpose, culture, and preparation must evolve alongside scale if businesses are to grow without breaking the people inside them. The conversation also explores the reality of growth curves, why not all growth needs to be 10X, and how founders can move from being run by the business to leading it with intention, clarity, and courage. In this episode you will learn: —Why founders hit the wall during growth and how to prepare before it happens —How resilience is built by focusing on what is in front of you, step by step —The danger of losing purpose as businesses scale —How culture and infrastructure must evolve together to support sustainable growth If you are a founder, business owner, or leader navigating growth, complexity, or uncertainty, this episode offers perspective, language, and lived experience to help you reconnect with what matters most and lead forward with confidence. Season Four continues to share founder stories that place purpose, humanity, and impact at the center of performance. Connect with Adrian here: / adriankbray Adrian's Website: https://www.adrianbray.com/ Learn more about PurposeFused: https://www.purposefused.com/ #Purposefused #ConnectingWithPurpose #FounderJourney #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #Resilience #MiddleMarket #PurposeDrivenLeadership #EntrepreneurLife #CompanyCulture #SustainableGrowth