growth

Let go in order to grow

In life, we accumulate lessons, stories, mindsets, and skill sets that once served us. We often believe we need to carry them with us indefinitely, just in case they prove useful again. This baggage - both mental and emotional - becomes a shield, keeping us guarded and blocking out new opportunities or perspectives. We tell ourselves, "It wasn’t true back then, so how can it be true now?" As a result, we hold onto outdated mindsets, strategies, and ideas that no longer serve our present or future selves. We cling to remnants like old worksheets or unnecessary packaging, thinking, "Maybe one day I’ll need this." Growth requires us to let go and by releasing what no longer matters, we make room for new experiences, insights, and opportunities to take root.

““In the end only three things matter. How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” ”
— Buddha

Growing up is a choice

Growth and development are continual processes that require us to evolve beyond where we are today. True growth happens when we pause to reflect on our experiences and transform them into valuable insights. This process allows us to recognise that the tools, habits, and strategies that got us to our current level of success are often not sufficient to take us to the next level. As we embrace this truth, we open ourselves to new possibilities, learning, and opportunities for improvement. Life becomes much easier once we understand that growth requires change, and with every step forward, we must adapt, refine, and level up. By committing to reflection and learning, we ensure that our experiences are not wasted but instead serve as stepping stones toward continuous personal and professional development.

Enjoy the process

Coaching conversations have the power to change lives, one session at a time. I think that transformation occurs after each interaction. As a coach, my role is to guide clients closer to their goals by helping them turn setbacks into comebacks and disappointments into opportunities for growth. The insights and lessons we gather along the way are valuable tools that support clients throughout their journey. If you are ready to explore how coaching can help you, contact me via email to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

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Mindset matters

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What are the triggers that influence where we fall on the fixed versus growth mindset continuum?

Mindset is shaped by a set of beliefs, and those beliefs are influenced by the people around us and the environment we’re in. It's important to understand that mindset isn’t just about effort. Simply telling ourselves to "try harder" doesn’t lead to true growth. A genuine growth mindset involves putting in effective effort - understanding whether the work you're doing is moving you towards your goals. I think it also means being open to seeking help, guidance, or coaching from others and being willing to pivot or adapt to learn, grow, and achieve the goals you’ve set.

Advice to my younger self

I was recently asked what advice I would give to my younger self. I thought it was a great question, I paused and answered like this…

”When evaluating a brand, company or organisation as a potential employer, it’s essential to consider whether they nurture a growth mindset, and one way to gauge this is by observing the diversity within their workforce. A company that values diverse backgrounds and perspectives is often open to new ideas and committed to evolving through inclusion. Additionally, look for evidence of learning and development programs, as these initiatives show that the company is dedicated to continuous improvement and is invested in helping employees grow alongside the organisation. Finally, when speaking with recruiters, ask whether the company seeks only "geniuses" who already know everything or if they value individuals willing to learn and adapt. Companies with a growth mindset prioritise potential and development over perfection, creating an environment where growth is encouraged at every level.”

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Send me an e-mail, and we can arrange to have an informal 30 minute discovery call. No strings attached.

How do you know?

Where does your team fall on the cultural mindset continuum (e.g., fixed vs. growth mindset)?

  • How can you recognise cultural features through your organisation’s cultural artifacts?

  • How do you structure the start and end of your meetings?

  • In what ways do you praise or acknowledge your team members' contributions?

  • How do you approach situations when team members make mistakes?

  • What practices, policies, and norms do you have in place that shape your culture?

  • Are you open to discussing your organisation's culture with me?

Feel free to contact me via email for a cultural review.

The power of silence

A seed grows with no sound, but a tree falls with a resounding crash. The quiet, persistent process of growth contrasts starkly with the loud, sudden act of destruction. This stark difference illustrates a profound truth: destruction has noise, but creation thrives in silence. True growth happens quietly, away from the spotlight. I think those who seek to lead should embody this principle, nurturing progress through steady, silent effort. Leadership is not about loudly pointing out the flaws and weaknesses of others; it is about fostering growth and strength with patience and humility. Real leaders understand that the most impactful changes often happen quietly, beneath the surface, and their actions speak louder than their words.

““The most basic function of leadership is to tell people what needs to be done and help them do it.””
— Lolly Daskal

Translating content

How do you translate content into practice in a scalable way?
Sometimes by making small optimisations you can substantially increase your revenue. I think the following questions are important to ask yourself before you launch your growth strategy:


  1. What do I know?

    - Identify, assess and list all the relevant knowledge and skills you have regarding the content you want to apply.


  2. What are my resources?

    - Identify the resources at your disposal, for example, financial resources, time, mentors, etc.


  3. What’s my experiment?

    - Plan and design your experiment by creating a hypothesis, defining your method, and setting measurable goals.


  4. How do I move forward?

    - Based on your experiment's results, create a detailed action plan which should include timelines, responsibilities, and key milestones.

  5. And how can I do that at scale?

    - Determine how you will expand by looking at things like your resources, challenges, and strategies for maintaining quality and efficiency at a larger scale.

Contact me via email for a deeper dive into your growth strategy.

A thought process

The environment you are in has either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset. A growth mindset is when you are open to challenges, see failures as opportunities for growth, and believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed over time with dedication and effort. A fixed mindset, on the other hand, is when you believe that intelligence and abilities are static traits, leading to a desire to prove oneself and a fear of failure that can hinder learning and personal development. Send me an email in confidence to let me know which mindset characterises your environment?

The pathway to growth

c/o McKinsey & Company

Imagine growing up with the understanding that simply being yourself would be perceived as a problem. Subconsciously, you're constantly met with the message that what you have to offer holds no value. You're left with two options: conform to the existing norms and expectations, or take on the daunting task of building an entirely new framework from scratch. I think this persistent challenge shapes not only your perception of yourself but also your approach to navigating the world around you.

““To make difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care.” ”
— Burrellism

Questioning the question

Our identities are shaped by these mental models, defining how we see ourselves in the world. I've found that my most significant growth happens when I let go of these fixed ideas, acknowledging their limitations, and embracing the different perspectives. My strength lies in stepping outside my usual way of thinking to gain a broader understanding and discover new approaches. I think by questioning the question will challenge my own thinking patterns for deeper insights and should be applied to my intellectual mind.

Professional growth through coaching

I think coaching is such a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. By offering insights, experiences, and constructive feedback, coaches can guide coachees toward their goals and help them unlock their full potential. Here’s an example of constructive feedback…
Every leader should ask themselves these questions on a daily basis:

  1. What did I do badly?

  2. What did I do well?

  3. What can I do differently tomorrow?

Looking inwards

How can I achieve personal growth and success in leadership roles?

I think aligning your actions, decisions, and behaviours with your self-awareness, your vision of the future, and your desire to make a positive contribution are essential for personal and professional development. These three questions will certainly help you succeed in leadership roles:

1. Who am I?
2. Who do I aspire to become?
3. How can I bring my best contribution?

And acting on your answers to these questions is a key part of leadership development. And leaders who continually reflect on these questions and act accordingly are more likely to lead with authenticity, inspire others, and achieve their goals while also helping others achieve theirs.

A new belief

When seeking to bring about personal growth and accomplishment, it's essential to shift our perspective from fixating solely on desired outcomes to embracing the transformative power of identity. Rather than asking ourselves what we wish to achieve, we should redirect our focus to consider who embodies the qualities and attributes required to attain those goals. This shift in mindset allows us to delve into the core essence of success: becoming the very type of individual who naturally thrives in the desired arena.

Was it worth it?

Have you considered the long-term consequences and benefits of your actions?

Yes, I engage in deliberate decision-making practices and make conscious choices about how I spend my time. If I was to offer you some advice, then it would be to prioritise activities that contribute to your personal growth, focus on meaningful relationships and the pursuit of your goals. Instead of chasing material wealth and possessions, I think it more beneficial to broaden your horizons and seek out experiences as they will provide a sense of fulfilment and contribute to more meaningful life.


Words have consequences

When you are a young company, your story will define your valuation and as a founder the words you use to describe your business can be the difference between finding an investment partner or not. With mature companies, it’s your numbers that will drive your valuation as the older a company the more the numbers drive the valuation. Start-up companies need “Steve the visionary” as CEO. As they become a young growth company they will need, “Bob the builder” because they have to start building a business. When they become a mature company, they will need “Don the defender” as CEO and when they are in decline, they will need “Larry the liquidator”.

The Chocolate War

We live in a society where we spend so much time doing, we fail to take time to celebrate and acknowledge the things that we have done. As you may know, I have spent a great deal of my career in the lifestyle industry, and I think fashion can be a brilliant mirror of the moment.

Last night I attended the world premiere of “The Chocolate Wars” in Copenhagen. The film director, Miki Mistrati is an old friend of mine who currently lives in London and the film highlights the modern-day slave trade issues in the manufacturing of chocolate. The fact of the matter is we live in a society where profit and growth are the key performance indicators, and I have posed this question many times before: Can we have both sustainability (ethical sourcing of materials, paying a fair wage throughout the supply chain, etc.) and economic growth?

Think like your customers

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Sales and marketing are different functions, marketing is to attract people who are interested in the benefits of your products or services. And selling is the conversion to buy from you rather than from your competitors. You can’t sell if you can’t attract interesting prospects. In my experience the very best companies think like their customers, they are obsessed with their customers. They think and talk about customers all the time, they call and visit their customers, and they personally responded to customer complaints. They are just obsessed with their customers. 

 

I think the key to success is to make your customers happy, then make them happier than your competitors. You must wake up every single day and think - How can I make my customers happier? The foundation is having a great product or service and just as importantly is the need to provide a great customer experience. Making your customers happy from the beginning to the end is so important and it’s the key to repeat business, customer retention and rapid growth. Every successful company, without exception is obsessed with taking good care of their customer experience once they get them. What do your customers want? What do your customers need? Contact me via e-mail for a deeper dive into your customer experience strategy.

We all have the same basic needs

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The six basic human needs provide a practical key for discovering one’s needs, behaviours, values and beliefs. They are the vehicles we use to meet our needs and these needs underlie and inspire every choice we make.

The first four are the needs of the personality and the final two needs are those of the Spirit:

  1. Certainty - Everybody wants avoid pain and have assurance that our basic needs are met.

  2. Uncertainty - We also crave variety, excitement and new stimuli.

  3. Significance - We all need to feel unique, special and important.

  4. Connection - We want to be loved and cared for and want a feeling of closeness with like-minded people.

  5. Growth - We all have a need to grow and expand in our personal and professional lives.

  6. Contribution - We have a desire to serve and support someone or something bigger than ourselves in a meaningful way.