Leaders, CEOs, directors, and every type of executive all passed through the gym doors.

Some of them just to use the sauna!

But mostly to release some of the stress of the day. Or to pump themselves up before heading into it.

I was a fitness coach for BP (British Petroleum) at their HQ site in London and was fortunate enough to work with some leading professionals.

At first (as a freshly trained 18 or 19 year old) I was overwhelmed.

Their status and experience were on a completely different level to what I had ever been around.

My job was to start conversations, offer support on techniques and help them develop a fitness plan.

I ended up working with many as their personal trainer.

£15 an hour I made, with the gym taking the much bigger portion. But I didn’t care, I loved it.

The exercises were just the tip of the iceberg.

The gym and fitness were my home, and they still are today.

I went into sessions with clients focused on producing the best plan and giving the best advice I could on increasing strength and fitness.

It was the best job.

But what I loved the most was what I could learn from the top professionals and high performers leading such an enormous company.

I also had a curiosity to know about their habits and why they visit the gym.

This is what I learned.

They weren’t there to look better.

They didn’t come to develop and show off a six-pack.

They had little interest in being able to flex their muscles in the office or at the beach. (Sure, these were bonuses some did achieve!)

But the sole reason they showed up consistently in the gym was to perform better.

Not perform the workouts. But to perform in their work and for their teams.

More significantly to perform for their families, their partners or their kids.

This, at the time, fascinated me.

I was only interested in flexing my muscles at the beach!!

What they wanted, what they needed wasn’t showy.

It was energy. Then it was clarity, presence, focus. To perform better day in and day out, under relentless demands.

Not just in the office. But in every part of their lives.

I remember Jake, a COO saying to me: “If I’m not any good for me, how will I ever be any for anyone else? I have to show up, and well”.

Another senior director when I asked her why she works out so consistently, shared “I have no choice. If my energy and focus aren’t on point I don’t stand a chance of leading a 50 person team, and then looking after two kids.

Being on the gym floor was the best schooling I ever had.

My foundation as a coach hasn’t changed much since those early days in the gym.

Nowadays coaching effective communication and public speaking I have seen how these two areas completely align.

I use so many of the tools on the stage as I did in the gym.

You cannot command a room, deliver a powerful keynote, inspire a team or have a meaningful conversation if your battery is completely empty.

If you’re physically not prepared, you won’t be mentally either.

The first thing we always start with in a session is an energy check.

Because if they are communicating without it nothing else matters much.

Presence, calmness, confidence, delivery.

They all exist through energy.

Here is what I’ve learned through all of this.

In any area of life, if we want to show up as our best (or somewhere close) for our work, our community and our loved ones - we have to put ourselves first.

Through investing into our body and into our energy.

It all starts with a quality level of fitness.

Good fitness creates an abundance of energy.

It creates clarity, focus, productivity, output.

It’s the direct path to better outcomes in every part of life.

Moreover, it is a direct path to a far more joyful life.

So the first thing I tell anyone looking to improve as a communicator, a performer, a partner - or who simply wants to get a little better in any domain of their life - make fitness your priority.

Everything else is downstream.

Create energy.

Create impact.

Thanks for reading.

With Love. Nick x

PS: Running Minds is back with its next signature event in June!

The subject is on finding purpose with scientist and profesor of happiness .

If you’re in Madrid you will not want to miss this one! Get your ticket now.

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Here is a simple formula I stumbled upon to make everything a little lighter in life.

The easiest way to oneshot your happiness, career, dating, charisma and health at the same time is moving from resting serious face to resting smile face. Unclench. It costs $0. Life is one big smile-to-frown ratio. -

This feels so simple yet most of us don’t think to “unclench” ourselves.

Never mind to then actually allow ourselves to do so.

Often because we don’t realise we carry so much tension in the first place.

In our face, jaw, neck, shoulders, chest and beyond.

Everything becomes an added weight.

Most of us walk around carrying this added tension.

Mentally and physically.

I have noticed this with many professionals when speaking in public.

They take the stage, or stand up to present their idea or pitch across from a group, and they are overcome with tension.

The body that is causing most of this.

It creates nervousness in the mind.

Mental blocks arrive.

Their face freezes, neck and shoulders become tense, breath gets shallow and hands lock together or hide in pockets.

I see this time and time again.

The secret (if ever there was just one) to help overcome this tension and to reduce nerves, is to send a key signal to the nerve system.

A signal that you are calm, composed and prepared for what is to come.

Even if you’re not.

That begins with the most important step: to smile.

Even if it doesn’t feel natural (it won’t if you feel nervous).

But it starts programming your brain that you are safe and in control.

It sends that all important message.

Then the breath and the body start to follow suit.

Bringing a calmness to our whole state.

The body then starts to release its tension.

This allows the chest to contract and expand more profoundly.

Changing the whole nervous system, our state and ultimately our performance level.

So next time you have to present or have an important conversation, keep this in mind.

Try incorporating more “resting smile face” and less “resting frown face” into your speaking engagements - and moreover into your everyday life.

It soon becomes a habit.

Everything becomes brighter.

Thanks for reading.

With Love, Nick. x

PS. If you would like a coaching session to assess your needs for effective public speaking for you or for your business you can book yours here, or learn more at my website.

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I've been facing a problem.

Things felt uncertain.

I was wishing they were different.

I was frustrated and found myself wanting more.

Then I remembered something critical to shift me out thinking that way.

Everything I have right now I only dreamed about some years ago.

Including the problems of today.

You see, we move the goalposts in our life.

The life and many of the things we could only dream about several years ago, many of us are living or have right now.

But what we do, what the brain likes to do, is move the needle to what is now good enough or acceptable.

What happens is that once we obtain a life or a situation that we could only wish for not so long ago, we move the goalposts.

Suddenly the life we're now living doesn’t feel quite good enough anymore.

We shift our attention to the next thing we need or want.

If or when, we tell ourselves, we have that thing, all will be well again.

Why do we do this?

Because we create the idea that the next thing or certain circumstance will give us the feelings that we want.

We believe they will give us the happiness and the joy we crave.

Or remove all the stress.

So when we have that next thing, or when we achieve that goal, or when our circumstances change, we will then feel them or have a reason to do so.

But this is a lie.

And we know it.

Because we have told ourselves this same story many times before.

We seek and find our ‘today’ problems.

Without remembering a little while back we would have traded plenty to be exactly where we are now.

We start to believe a lie that we couldn’t possibly have much to be happy or joyful about right now.

Really? Like we need an excuse to be so.

Spoiler alert: We don’t.

The truth is most of us do have so much right in front of us that is well worth celebrating.

That is well worth being grateful for.

Things that we once only hoped or dreamed for.

Things also that we may not have again and certainly won’t have forever.

Those that are available to us today.

These are the days.

Not “those were the days” or “that will be the day…”

No, “these are the days”.

Not then, not in the future, right now.

Something to keep in mind.

Thank you for reading.

With Love, Nick.

PS: I have five remaining coaching calls going for 50% until This Sunday 26th April. Book yours here

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Going solo can be tough.

I have often confused working for myself with freedom.

Your own schedule and your own decisions, all requiring little or no input from anyone else.

Not being controlled or demanded from elsewhere.

Being your own boss.

Doing things your way.

Getting to live life on your terms.

(Whatever that actually means)

But here is the thing.

It comes at a price.

It has for me.

Deep down I’ve missed and craved community.

I started my own wellbeing group “Running Minds” for this very reason.

To bring people and professionals together to share, to support and inspire one another.

But I learned this was just the tipping point for me.

It made me realise what I have been missing.

Being a freelancer, small business owner, solopreneur, or whatever you want to call it, comes with plenty of challenges and downsides.

Everyone knows it must be challenging but not many know about the loneliness that comes with it.

Unless they have done it themselves.

The feeling of managing every moving part of the business wheel yourself often feels like you’re running into the wind.

The feeling of being accountable only to yourself.

The feeling of the wins and the losses only shared with yourself.

I worked in the corporate world throughout most of my 20’s.

Working 8 until 5, plus a commute.

Much of that time it paid well and offered good benefits.

On finishing university, like everyone else, it felt the most sensible and practical next step for me.

To be earning consistently and with opportunities to keep earning more.

To be on the ladder.

To put on a suit, get a company car and be in the race.

It was fun for a while.

Until it wasn’t.

I changed jobs a few times and did quite well financially but I remember vividly thinking this wasn’t for me in the long term.

But maybe I was just naïve.

I did everything I could to start a side business to escape the boardroom and office desk.

But now almost a decade later I’m seeing things differently.

I’m starting to miss parts of it.

Perhaps I have been too harsh on the 8-5 corporate world.

Not necessarily the work itself but what it can offer you.

A team, colleagues, some community.

A structure and routine.

Knowing when you’ll start and when you’ll finish (most of the time).

Earning a regular salary with some bonuses and the odd pat on the back thrown in.

I had all of the above.

Since stepping out of the corporate world I have built a wall between myself and it.

Trying to do all I can to avoid going back and working for someone else.

But that has been ignorance.

I haven’t considered both sides fairly.

There is no doubt that there is much upside in working for yourself.

But I would be lying all these years in, if I wasn’t honest about the downsides.

And ignoring the upsides of working with a company.

Ignoring the trade-off and price that is paid.

A price, quite frankly, that I hardly hear anyone talk about.

The feeling of loneliness.

Going it alone.

The lack of accountability from elsewhere.

No one to share the wins with, or to lean on during the losses.

Motivating yourself constantly.

No one knowing if you fall completely flat on your face.

Then on top all the uncertainty of income, clients, taxes and the future of the business itself.

I am writing this from a place of being somewhere in the middle right now.

Assessing my own options.

Not pretending I have it all figured out.

Still questioning parts of myself.

Still figuring out where to pour all my energy.

Into my business or into a different direction.

Perhaps towards one I knew well before.

The feeling of giving up is hard.

Stepping out of something I’ve built with love.

But at the same time being ignorant is hard.

Maybe it’s not giving up at all.

Maybe it’s looking ahead with a bigger vision to have a greater impact.

Maybe it’s a shorter term change for a longer term gain.

Or maybe it’s holding on just a little longer.

Maybe it’s burning the boats.

I don’t have the answers.

Here I am after all these years working for myself and all the fears and uncertainty are still there.

But now the loneliness feels like it weighs more.

Who knows what will come next.

But what I do know is to keep an open mind and to stay optimistic.

That has always served me well.

Trust that the right way will present itself.

Maybe you’re in a similar situation.

Trying to figure out your own path either as a business owner or working in a company.

Either way I am super curious to hear from you.

What is your story?

What has worked for you?

What advice would you share?

Share a comment or message me directly. I would love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading.

With Love, Nick x

Photo of a recent Running Minds meet up.

Grateful for this community! :)

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If I offered to give you 10 million pounds right now, would you take it?

Except there is one catch.

You won’t wake up tomorrow.

Now what would you say?

Would you still want to take the money?

I’m pretty sure I know the answer.

Think about this for a second.

It means that today is worth more than 10 million pounds to you.

That’s some value on living.

Yet why are you stuck in your head, stressed, worried, unable to be present?

Or maybe you’re not.

Perhaps you’re just feeling listless, lethargic and lackadaisical.

We are human, we will all feel these feelings from time to time.

Feeling them isn’t the problem.

But staying in them and giving them power, is.

But when we truly capture the significance and value of today it’s very difficult to stay stuck in those states.

Because today is worth so much.

An amount of money most dream of isn’t worth nearly as much as this current day.

Yet often we let life just pass us by.

We sit and wait for a reason to feel alive and to make it count.

But we already have the most profound reason.

We are alive.

Right now. Today.

That is incredibly valuable.

More than any life changing amount of money.

So what are you going to do with it?

Make it count.

With Love. Nick

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In running, there is a phenomenon called the “second wind.”

When you are at the wall. When you feel completely empty and think you are entirely done.

But if you can just hold on, something happens.

A surge of energy arrives from seemingly nowhere.

The second wind.

The challenge is you never know when it will show up.

But, it always does. If we don’t quit.

It makes us feel unstoppable.

Life is much the same.

Uncertainty is deeply uncomfortable, even for the highest achievers and performers.

But the difference is they see it differently. They learn to dance in it.

They know the suffering and the discomfort of the unknown will pass.

Clarity will appear.

They have been there time and time again.

They realise that the other side can be magnificent.

But most people won’t experience this because they simply don’t wait long enough. The discomfort is too heavy in the moment. The release of quitting too tempting.

The towel is waiting eagerly to be thrown.

No-one would say a thing. It feels the obvious option. An easy way out.

Keeping going when things are uncertain isn’t easy. But it isn’t supposed to be.

But as humans, we evolved to strive and to push ourselves. We were made to handle the unknown.

Quitting early comes with a heavy price: never knowing what we were truly capable of.

Living with that quiet, niggling feeling of “what if I had just held on a little longer?”

The fact that something is hard is so for a reason. That is how it is supposed to be.

No growth ever came from the comfort zone.

The most challenging moments in our lives don’t last.

The second wind always comes.

But we must hold on.

We must keep moving.

We must build and maintain momentum.

Then that second wind will appear. It always happens.

There is no greater feeling than knowing we didn’t give up on ourselves.

I try to remind myself of this during uncertain or uncomfortable seasons of my life.

You are running your own race.

The pace doesn’t matter.

Not giving up does.

Love, Nick

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That’s what I thought I’d think of myself.

Running from Liverpool to London in a week.

The equivalent of 9 marathons in 7 days.

The truth is before taking on the run of around 365 kilometres down to the capital, I had some mejor fear and doubt.

I was overwhelmed by the fear of failing or not being capable.

It was unknown.

Nobody (that I could find) had ever run this route before.

The imposter syndrome that that person could possibly be me was in full force.

When I was younger I used to carry a lot of self doubt, whilst being very ambitious at the same time.

This is an interesting cocktail, which I’m sure some others might relate with.

I was always very driven yet was scared of risk.

Scared of failing and scared of what others thought of me.

I won’t list all the many examples but this challenge to run down the UK was certainly a good one.

I actually had the idea to do this run around 10 years earlier.

But I didn’t take the jump until all these years later, until August of 2024.

This challenge was a dream of mine.

To honour my dad’s life after he died from brain tumours.

To raise as much awareness & money for the Brain Tumour Research charity that supported our family since day one.

In the years after his death in December 2011, I did various other charity events instead.

But this was the biggie that was deep inside me.

I knew I was putting it off.

The quiet excuses that we convince ourselves “make sense”.

My dad was from Liverpool, my mum from London. I wanted to connect the two places after he died.

My dad (begrudgingly) moved down to the capital to be with my mum.

The truth was he was a Liverpool man through and through and had no interest in London.

Being from the Liverpool, in the north, this isn’t uncommon.

“They won’t say hello to you much down here” he jokingly used to tell me.

“They certainly won’t invite you in for a cup of tea!”

If you are from or know the UK well, you will understand!

Anyway I digress…

When I started the run from Liverpool, the logistics, being on my own, the navigation, the impact on my body, and all the uncertainty still existed.

But the fear didn’t.

Once I had committed and taken the action I wasn’t fearful anymore.

I got lost getting out of Liverpool so there was another moment, but then gone!

I couldn’t believe I put it off for so long.

But that’s what fear (and overthinking) can do to you.

It was all in my head and the only thing I needed to do was to commit and take action on it.

As they say, the best time to start was then, the second best time to start is now.

That being said, I believe in fate and that the timing ended up being perfect.

Everything fell into place.

It was an experience I’ll never forget.

The support I got, extraordinary.

The personal journey it took me on, life changing.

So what is the message here and what did the takeaway from this?

It taught me how the things we really want from life are waiting on the other side of fear.

It reminded me that everything really worth doing takes courage.

That not doing is often a far bigger risk in life than doing.

That if we tell ourselves we can or we can’t, we’re most probably right.

And moreover, if we fail, so what? That’s where all the feedback and learning is.

You win or you learn.

That’s the journey.

I understand now that if fear or doubt is standing in the way it’s a signal to move towards it, not back away.

To lean into discomfort, not to avoid it.

That’s where the magic happens.

Thank you for reading.

You can read about the run here

With Love, Nick.

If you’d like to chat about how I can support you or simply share something holding you back, you can book a free 30 minute call with me here

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We often seek out the tricks and tips when it comes to improving any skill.

The same is true for speaking in public.

Many will look for the “hacks” to become better on stage or whilst communicating.

But these are not the right thing to look for.

At least not to start with.

There are of course plenty of so-called hacks, alongside tricks and tips to speak better in public. Many of which are important and certainly have their place.

But I’m far more interested in the preparation and improvement that really makes the difference, over the long term.

The most important performance enhancer that no-one talks about.

How we take care of ourselves.

I spent almost two decades coaching health and fitness.

I worked with executives where consistent high performance in their work was crucial.

None of them quit our training when they saw the staggering impact it had on their performance levels in the office.

Quality health is vital when it comes to our performance.

That might sound obvious, right?

But we don’t think about our health and fitness levels in respect to communication or public speaking.

Something we will all have to do at one stage or another (pun intended)!

They are also absolutely aligned.

I have been fortunate enough to have now worked with several leading CEO’s and founders.

All of them have to speak in public regularly.

All of them want to improve it.

They often ask me “how can I use my body and voice better on stage?”

“How can I improve my stage presence and or my delivery?”

Ultimately how they can impact and influence others better.

All valid questions.

But some often miss the bigger picture.

The most important factors.

The critical performance factors that really matter.

Those that lead to better performance and deeper connection when speaking.

Energy, presence, focus and control.

These are what really count, and they cannot be built through hacks.

They are created through building a foundation of a sound body and mind.

These are built through taking care of ourselves every day.

Prioritising our health.

Over years and decades.

This is the best preparation and performance enhancer.

Quality sleep. Regular exercise. Hydration. Balanced nutrition.

These four key factors move the needle far more than anything else when it comes to our performance levels over the long term.

They have the most direct influence.

Building our confidence and increasing our presence.

Managing our anxiety and controlling our stress response.

All critical in any high performing situation.

Health is the bedrock.

The table everything else sits on.

The foundation to perform better as a public speaker, communicator and furthermore, in any part of life.

All the hacks, tricks and tips are built on top.

If you want to improve your ability and performance look first at how you’re looking after your health.

If you want like to discuss your own performance and how I could help you, you can book a call with me here.

Or visit my website for my information on my work.

Thank you for reading.

Nick x

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Energy is our superpower.

It is infinite.

It has no limits.

It’s our greatest asset as human beings.

But there is something we still misunderstand about it.

We think of energy as something we have or we don’t have.

But here is the truth.

Energy is not just something we have, it’s something we do.

Imagine yourself in this situation for a minute.

You’ve had an exceptionally busy day at work.

You faced problem after problem, constant stressful moments and had no time to stop.

Several hours later you finally get home.

You see the comfy sofa, you head straight for it to lie down.

No time to eat, barely time to breathe all day.

You feel completely zapped.

All you want to do is turn off the world, do nothing, and speak with no one.

You tell yourself you have no energy left.

Then your phone rings.

It’s your best friend on the other line.

You think for a second about answering as you’re so exhausted.

You know she would understand.

But you decide to pick up.

Just as you’re about to ask her if you can chat another time, she drops a news bomb.

She cannot contain her excitement as she tells you she just got engaged!

Her emotions are high and she expresses how deeply happy she is.

What happens next?

Do you still feel the same?

Do you still have no energy?

Do you still want to chat another time?

Of course not.

Your energy explodes.

It’s suddenly sky high and you are now more present than you’ve been all day.

(If you are actually happy on hearing this news of course!)

So what happened?

Your energy changed instantly.

There was a stimulus that created immense energy in your body.

Five seconds ago you felt exhausted with zero energy after that tough day.

Now you feel like you could talk for hours.

Think about that example for a moment.

Now think back to a similar moment you’ve experienced where something completely shifted your energy in a flash.

What I’m getting at here is our energy can change instantly.

It can take an external stimuli but also an internal one.

Energy can be accessed at any moment.

When it comes to public speaking or connecting with other people our energy is by far the most important aspect.

Perhaps the only important one.

Without energy we cannot connect, never mind impact or inspire others.

We can have the best and most life changing story to share but if we have no energy it won’t land.

Energy isn’t about jumping or running around like crazy.

It is not shouting loudly or being the centre of attention.

It is not rushing around or moving aimlessly.

It is presence.

Is is being fully in the moment.

Not just how we talk but how we listen.

Not just how we move but how we stand.

It is becoming truly present with yourself and with others.

It is always available even when it feels unavailable.

Because it is an action. We do energy.

How many times have you dreaded doing a workout yet as soon as you start you feel completely different?

You thought you had no energy and now suddenly you are completely energized.

When connecting with our people and our audience we have to show up with intention.

We have to be present with ourselves and with them.

That is how we truly connect.

We must choose how we want to show up.

Our energy is contagious.

Other people and our audience feed off it.

All the other tools and aspects of public speaking, communicating or anything else for that matter, come later.

But they aren’t relevant if we don’t create our energy first.

Focus on the energy you want to show up with.

Because that will make or break any impression or connection.

Do it.

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Thank you for reading,

With Love, Nick x

PS: Thank you to everyone who came to “An Evening With Running Minds” last week in Madrid for Malin Garemo’s talk “The Thinking Athlete”.

It was a fantastic evening jam-packed with practical insights around the gut, brain, body, resilience, performance and much more!

Watch this space for more events coming soon.

If you have a background, experience or personal story related to health, well-being, business or performance and would be interested in sharing with our community at Running Minds, pelase reach out to me.

A photo from the event with Malin and myself. Her energy was infectious all evening!

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Hello my friend,

“The only people without problems are in cemeteries. So if you don't have any, you better go on your knees and pray for some. Because problems are a sign of life.” - Norman Vincent Peale

We often see problems as a problem.

We look to get rid or minimise them.

To get out the way of them.

We assume something isn’t right and we must fix it immediately.

We seek the ways to ignore, overcome or quickly remove them.

Plainly speaking, we don’t like having problems.

But I have learned we shouldn’t wish for a problem free life.

Why?

Because one, that will never happen.

Because two, we would actually miss them.

What if we accepted problems as a completely normal part of life?

What if we told ourselves there is nothing to concern ourselves about?

What if we reminded ourselves that they will come and go like the tide.

I realised not too long ago that as soon as I solved all my current problems, more popped up.

I would get distracted, worried or stressed, yet the problem itself wouldn’t change.

Same problem, just unnecessary strain and stress.

I would often work tirelessly to remove a problem and feel on edge half the day.

Ditto. Problem was the same. My day wasn’t.

Then more problems soon come along either way.

Worrying about having problems is the problem, not the problems themselves.

So, I realised I had to change my mindset around problems.

Wishing for less or no problems wasn’t working.

Stressing over them certainly wasn’t either.

Thinking problems aren’t normal or that something is wrong can cause heavy loads of unnecessary stress that quite frankly doesn’t help a thing.

Because once we have finally solved a problem and feel like we can finally sit down and relax for the day, another one will quickly arise.

Problems are an inevitable part of life.

We can’t control most of them popping up.

How we approach and frame them is something we can.

A problem isn’t the problem. The problem is thinking a problem is a problem.

Of course some are particularly challenging but they are also inevitable at one stage or another.

Some people treat problems like they do their email inbox. The more and quicker they get through all of them, the better.

They finally hit zero and let out a big sigh of relief. They say ‘finally, no more’.

They hit “Inbox zero”.

But guess what happens the very next morning on awakening? A load more email have arrived.

It is a constant cycle and the same is with life and its problems.

For better or for worse.

Without problems there would be no creativity.

There would be no challenges.

There would be little growth.

Barely any intuition required or spontaneity available.

Without problems there would be no life.

So my thinking at the start of a new year is to look at your problems in a completely different way and with fresh perspective.

Wish not for no problems, but to be better at accepting them.

Then becoming better at approaching, overcoming and dealing with them upon their inevitable arrival.

To be stronger and better to take them on once they arise.

Problems will never go away.

This isn’t something to fear.

In fact quite the opposite.

It proves we are alive.

Wishing you a happy new year and that all your problems will be unproblematic.

With love, Nick x

PS: NEW EVENT - NOT TO BE MISSED!

Running Minds is hosting an event on January 21st in Madrid.

We have an amazing guest speaker, Dr. Malin Garemo who will be presenting her talk “The Thinking Athlete: Gut Health, Brain, Movement.”

If you are interesting in learning about the body and mind connection, improving your mental clarity and performance and taking better control and care of your health, you won’t want to miss it! A great way to get 2026 moving in the right direction.

Places are limited. Sign up here !

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Hello my friend,

I want to take this moment to wish you all a very happy christmas and a fruitful new year.

If you are reading this I also want to thank you for being a part of my journey and for your ongoing support.

2025 has been a huge learning curve and one that has taught me plenty.

For the last several years I have chosen a word for the year.

My word this year was ‘Brave’.

I wanted to move, lead, and live with more courage.

What I have learned the most is that being brave isn’t about taking on big challenges or taking huge risks.

It also isn’t about acting or doing when feeling prepared or ready.

Being brave is about learning to be at peace with uncertainty and having the courage to dance with it.

It is to be present and to take action whilst feeling unsure.

When it feels uneasy or uncomfortable.

“Vulnerability is our most accurate measure of courage.” - Brené Brown

It is about embracing the discomfort of the unknown.

Courage is about letting go of control and trusting we have the tools to face any challenge life throws at us.

It is saying I don’t know.

That we don’t have the map.

That we don’t know the answers.

It is admitting we have no idea which direction we are headed.

It is asking for help.

This is vulnerability.

This is courage.

Being brave is also about being authentic.

To be ourselves without trying to fit in, impress or change who we are just to suit others to make them feel comfortable, at our own expense.

To stay true to ourselves when pulled in different opinions or directions.

As many of us now gain the gift of some more time I’ll be taking it to reflect further on this year, whilst pondering over my word and outlook for 2026.

This festive period I’m sending my love and best wishes to you and to your loved ones.

Be present for them.

Be present for you.

Stay courageous.

With Love. Nick. x

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Here are a few lessons I’ve learned from 2025.

Yesterday marked a new year of life for me.

By this stage of my life I really thought I’d have it all figured out.

Yet the reality is very different.

Life has its own way and its own say.

And the truth is I still have no idea which direction it is taking me in.

There is so much outside our control.

And it’s always going to be like that.

When that really stuck for me a few years back it was liberating.

Nothing changed yet everything did.

Because of my mindset and attitude towards it.

They are what changed.

I released my grip a little.

I started letting go instead of holding on.

I learned to be more present and appreciate the moments more.

I became at peace with it.

I became excited for it.

I became content not to have all the answers.

I embraced the uncertainty.

One thing I did become certain of is that life is a gift.

And it’s right in front of our eyes.

It is a journey without a finish line.

An adventure without a clear map.

And it’s one I’m glad to still be figuring out.

I know I never will.

I’m excited to see where the journey continues to take me.

That makes me feel alive.

Grateful for another year.

Cheers!

Nick x

Thank you as always for being here and for reading.

You can learn more about me and my work here

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Hello my friend,

Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbours came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.”

The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”

The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbours then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.”

The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbours came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”

“The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad - because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.” - Alan Watts

The only certain thing in life is uncertainty.

Much of our anxiety, fear and worry arises from external factors.

Circumstances we have little or zero control over.

The instant assumption that something is either good or bad.

Trying to take control of these only makes us suffer.

The message of the story is to grow an acceptance of external events.

Despite how challenging they seem, rarely could we have influenced or changed what happened.

We often have very little or zero control over them.

All the worrying in the world won’t make a difference to the outcome.

Only to the stress and anxiety we cause to ourselves.

They did and will happen anyway.

Not only that but they may indeed work out or be for the best.

The hardest moments may turn out to be a godsend.

We will never know in the moment.

Take a moment to look back over some key moments in your life.

I bet you’ll find that many of the bad events actually turned out for the better, and vice versa.

The story about the farmer is the perfect reminder of releasing our grip on what we cannot control, whilst simultaneously reminding us that we can stay calm, grounded and optimistic despite the uncertainty.

This applies to our self belief and confidence, too.

It must only be built internally and on what we can influence.

What we have control over.

Not the outcomes or external circumstances.

They are not within our control.

If we allow our confidence to be built or broken based on those we will never make real progress.

It certainly won’t be sustainable.

When it comes to finding more peace, fulfilment and joy in our lives the exact same applies.

Focus on what we can control and accept what we cannot.

Life will throw up all sorts of challenges and we won’t be able to control the large majority of them.

The more at ease we are with that, the better life gets.

Not only that but the worst may turn out to be the best.

Maybe.

Thanks for reading.

With Love, Nick x

PS: Looking for public speaking coaching 1 to 1 or in your business? My course is selling for half price until Friday 12th December - link right here

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Hello my friend,

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

This might be the most important question you’ll ever ask yourself.

You can repeat it at any stage of your life.

The actions and decisions we make are based on how we think they will turn out.

What if they are not the right choices?

What if I get them wrong?

What will people say or think of me?

What if all goes tits up?

What if this proves I’m not… (insert your word)

You can add your own questions.

These questions are disguised as fear.

They play out in our minds constantly.

They are often subconscious.

Like a near silent radio in the background that you forget is even on.

They are the very types of questions that steal dreams, hopes and potential.

They start out subtlety and become stronger over time the more we bow to them.

Everything we want is on the other side of fear.

As children this was never a problem for us.

We didn’t even have the language to know what fear was.

We certainly didn’t care about making fools of ourselves or what other people thought.

Just ask your parents, or watch your own children, if you have them.

As we get older we start developing a sense of conformity.

That we must stand in line, stop jumping around, speak up only when told.

This sedates us.

Like a drug we become so used to we don’t even notice the effects any more.

The fear of what others think is what stands in people’s way the most.

It’s the biggest barrier to personal fulfilment and happiness.

But we couldn’t care less about that at one stage.

As kids we were free to dream big and to believe those dreams were in our reach.

But things change as we “grow up”.

We become conditioned to play safe.

We become conditioned to be aware of risk.

We become conditioned to be seen and not heard.

We become conditioned to play the game everyone else is playing.

This is the reason most people never fulfil their hopes or potential.

Never mind the dreams they had.

The dreams they had as a child are seldom carried out.

Nor seldom encouraged.

It’s much easier to stand in line.

It’s much easier to please people.

It’s much easier to avoid risk or challenge.

It’s much easier to stick to what we are told we know.

But the irony is, it will be much harder in the end.

We will be forced to confront ourselves.

The child we were who had hopes we never even tried to fulfil.

Life is short.

No-one is getting out of it alive.

That shouldn’t be depressing, it should be liberating.

No-one will remember if we did or we didn’t in 100 years.

They certainly won’t care.

But we will.

Go live the life you want.

Thank you for reading.

With Love, Nick x

You can learn more about my keynote speaking or coaching on my website here

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A voicemail left on my parents’ house phone.

I was 15 years old.

I never returned the call.

I felt crippled with fear.

Imposter syndrome was dominating me.

Although I couldn’t name what it was at the time.

I had nailed an audition with a large UK youth theatre group the week previously.

With shows lined up across most major cities in some of the biggest venues it was a hell of an opportunity.

Yet the whole time I was hoping I wouldn’t be offered it.

Because I didn’t want to find myself in a position which I was in right now.

To have to make a decision I didn’t want to make.

With the regret and feeling of shame that would likely follow.

Yet the funny thing was I would always audition and give my all when the pressure was off.

I always wanted to show my best and make a great impression. Yet somewhere deep down it I felt I would fuck up somewhere down the road.

Interesting behaviour which I’ve spent much time thinking over since.

I felt I would be found out and seen as a failure.

I was scared to fail yet I was failing to take the chance to fail in the first place.

I was trapped in a mindset that was so worried of not being good enough.

So scared of failure. I stayed still.

The irony was that this made me feel like the very thing I was trying to avoid.

I remember that phone call like yesterday.

In some ways it has haunted me ever since.

It could have been an incredible opportunity that would have lifted off an acting career.

I have struggled to forgive myself sometimes.

It hurts seeing myself in hindsight.

So much ability yet often so little faith in myself.

I have worked hard on that for two decades since and I found a way out.

I don’t feel that way any more.

Am I still scared of being found out?

Do I still have imposter syndrome?

Yes, but far less.

Actually I’ve learned that these are signs of stretching ourselves and signals of growth.

With that in mind, it doesn’t stop me when it’s there.

I don’t let it get in my way like I once did.

As I sit here writing this I am a successful failed actor, with the what could have been narrative once again raising its ugly head.

Of course, it’s not too late.

I could act again.

Maybe I will someday.

I still love acting.

I love what it gave me.

I love what I could give of myself to it.

I don’t still regret not “making it” as an actor but I do regret not believing enough in myself.

I had some weird pressure on me to be the next “thing” in the local area.

It was a small area.

Although still, a town on the edge of south west London, a decent pool.

I was told by many directors I had to pursue becoming a professional actor.

Like I owed it to myself or I owed it to them.

Maybe in some way that pressure is something that held me down rather than raised me up.

I don’t know.

It wasn’t just about that phone call.

It was about years of not taking chances.

Not having enough courage or faith in myself.

I have learned a fair bit since then.

Firstly, people don’t think about us nearly as much as we think.

It’s not like we build up in our heads. Or at least like I did in mine.

When we realise this it is liberating.

Secondly, we cannot learn or grow a jot without being comfortable with failure.

It’s non-negotiable if we want to better ourselves or be successful in anything.

It’s actually where all the magic happens.

Those lessons from my younger days have proven invaluable.

I used them and continue to do so to my advantage.

I am not nearly as scared of failing, taking risks or looking silly like I once was.

But I still see many people living that way now.

People I know. People I love.

Some can’t or won’t escape it.

Some felt just like I did not that many years back.

But I now know something with absolute certainty.

We will be more disappointed by the things we didn’t do than by the ones we did.

At the end of our lives we will only regret those chances we didn’t take.

Thanks for reading.

Nick x

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Hello my friend,

Progress takes courage.

It requires some trial.

It requires some action.

But it doesn’t require what we might think.

It doesn’t require confidence.

It doesn’t require readiness.

It doesn’t require self belief.

And it certainly doesn’t require being the right time.

To improve at anything we too often wait on these latter areas before putting ourselves on the line.

This couldn’t be more true for public speaking and communication.

I was recently working with some new students on speaking skills.

We were working on some foundations of speaking and the idea was to give everyone an opportunity to give a short talk to present themselves.

Quickly the energy shifted.

It went from most of the students feeling relaxed and at ease to quickly seeming nervous and on edge.

Suddenly many in the room didn’t seem so enthusiastic.

They weren’t ready to take the stand and speak in front of the rest of the group.

I asked the room, tell me, what’s stopping you from wanting to speak?

What’s getting in your way here?

One person answered, “Nerves. I’ve never done it before”.

Another added, “I’ve got nothing to say and I feel people won’t take me seriously”.

A further student said “I’m no good at it, it’s just not my thing”.

These comments struck me.

But they didn’t surprise me.

These are common emotions and stories many people of all ages tell themselves.

A story about needing to ‘be ready’ to ‘feel confident’, or to ‘have something to say’ in order for them to be accepted or respected.

The truth is everyone has a unique story and a unique set of perspectives to share.

Even when they think completely the opposite is true.

The truth is that we don’t need to feel ready or confident to communicate with others or speak in public.

We develop all the skills and then the confidence as we go.

That isn’t any of our business until later down the line.

News flash: the nerves won’t go away and you may never feel ready.

That is completely normal.

Many of the greatest and most successful communicators still feel this way after decades.

But they didn’t let it get in their way of starting and they certainly don’t let it now.

The art of speaking in public is to connect with other people.

To be authentic and to share something that could be of value to others.

This goes for one to one conversations or speaking in front of a group.

The focus and the goal stay the same.

When we look at it through this lens it becomes an entirely different view.

When speaking we should not be trying to impress, to look good, or to prove something.

We should not be showing off or doing it to feel good.

We should be doing it to share a message and to connect with other people.

After sharing this with the students they too started seeing it through fresh lenses.

Many stepped up and gave a short talk and were then received with nothing but appreciation and gratitude from their fellow students.

Once the first couple went up others in the room were itching to do the same.

When you’re communicating with people, remember your intention.

That you are there to connect with them.

To be authentically yourself and to share what is unique to you.

Then to give them the permission to do the same.

Once you look at public speaking and communication in this way not only will you increase your impact on others but your relationships will drastically improve.

You already have everything you need.

Thank you for reading.

With love, Nick

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Hello my friend,

To create success or make real progress in anything only one thing matters.

Consistency.

Without being consistent true progress cannot happen.

We can never create lasting change.

Willpower may carry us through for a month or two but it will rarely last.

We go all in.

We chase a quick fix.

We create unrealistic expectations.

We can’t sustain it.

We then crash.

Or worse, completely burnout.

This is the opposite to true consistency.

We have to set our eyes on the long road ahead.

We have to create a framework and the discipline to stay the course.

We have to find a way to embrace the process rather than just chasing the result.

A process over a long period of time.

To make it a part of what we do and who we are.

A part of our identity.

Whether it’s looking after your health and fitness, building a business, developing a skill or being a better partner - there is no shortcut for it.

Being consistent over time is what makes the difference and it produces extraordinary results.

Consistency cuts through all the outside noise.

It cuts through the “get rich quick” or “The hacks to success” we are so often sold.

These do sell. But they do not work.

The only way to get better or to succeed at anything is through a consistent practice.

The action over and over.

It means the doing of it when no-one else is watching.

When no praise is available.

We have to create and most importantly keep the promises we make to ourselves.

Building an identity around constant learning and improvement.

Over time this creates huge strides forwards.

When we make something a part of our lifestyle and who we are we shift our life to a completely different trajectory.

When focusing on consistency over the long term we can be at peace that bad days won’t change a thing.

That on those days where have nothing to give we will quickly bounce back.

Tough days, weeks and chapters are inevitable but they won’t not break our spirit.

Consistency is our foundation.

Everything is a journey and anything outstanding is created over a lifetime.

It’s never about perfection. It’s always about progress.

Even when we have to or are made to take a step or two backwards.

Playing the long game overcomes any setback.

We can become great at anything if we stay in it long enough.

When we are consistent over decades not months.

Staying in it.

Knowing the bad days won’t damage us and the failures will only make us stronger.

Remembering it is only ever one brick at a time.

This is how we change our life.

Thank you for reading.

With Love, Nick

PS. I have a gift for you!

“Nervous to Natural - Unlock Confidence for Public Speaking.”

You can Download your free copy here!

I would love to know what you think - drop me a comment, message or even book a call with me via my website here.

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Hello my friend,

Communication is the most important skill we can learn.

When you become an effective communicator not only do all of your interactions become more enjoyable, you’ll impact and connect with everyone you meet.

Here are 10 lessons I’ve learned about communication that changed everything for me.

1. Listening is twice as powerful as speaking.

2. Only 7% of how you communicate is through the words you speak.

3. The more imperfect you are the more relatable you become.

4. When you have the urge to interrupt, pause. Repeat as many times as needed.

5. You are communicating with someone, not to, for, or at them.

6. If you want to be more interesting, be more interested.

7. The most important word for someone is their name, remember it.

8. If you are trying to impress, you aren’t connecting with them.

9. You cannot learn anything when your mouth is open.

10. Vulnerability is your greatest asset. It builds connection like nothing else.

What comes to mind when you think about a great communicator?

Who in your life strikes you as one?

Maybe it’s the one who always has something to say.

Or maybe it’s that one who always makes you feel you have something to say.

After coaching and speaking for a number of years I have learned some harsh truths around the art of communication.

For years when trying to communicate I mostly focused on how I could impress other people.

I believed that if I wanted to influence them I had to make a good impression on them.

I concentrated on what I could say and the words I could use.

I practiced the perfect “pitch” to sell myself.

This made me feel good and it even opened a few doors…

But I then learned something crucial.

That I was communicating on a one way street.

It was all about me, not them.

That I wasn’t getting closer to people, I was simply passing the time with them.

Thinking about what I could say to impress them and how I could get what I wanted.

How they could help me.

The result?

Most of my conversations lacked any connection and meaning. Most of them were pleasant yet surface.

At best they were transactional.

I missed out on countless opportunities to deeply connect and learn from others as I was more interested in myself and what I could say.

I believed to become a great communicator I needed to speak more, and speak better.

I had it backwards.

We tend to assess people based on how interesting they are, but thereby miss a much more important issue - how interesting they make us feel.

Referred to as “reverse charisma”. ( )

This teaches us that the people we most connect with and remember the most are those who make us feel smart, interesting or heard.

I loved meeting people yet I was treating too many of my interactions as an opportunity to impress them or to get them to do something for me.

Instead of focusing on what I could do for them.

I was young and hungry looking to get ahead, yet I was going about it in completely the wrong way.

Missing the chance to be vulnerable and connect deeply with other human beings.

This is where the magic happens.

Because the most effective form of communication is not about us, it’s about them.

It’s about service. It’s about connection.

We become memorable for how we make other people feel.

If you think of communication this way a few things will start to happen.

Your conversations and interactions will become more memorable.

You’ll learn more than you ever imagined.

You’ll gain opportunities you never thought possible.

By being more interested you’ll become more interesting.

Confident public speaking

I have created a free guide “Nervous to Natural - Unlock your Confidence when Public Speaking” - Get your free copy here!

Things I’m learning

Believe what you want.

“Beliefs create emotions. Emotions create actions. Choose a belief for the action it creates. One thought makes you act selfish. Another makes you act generous. One thought makes you do something stupid. Another makes you do something smart. Which belief is right? Wrong question. Which belief leads to the action you need now?” - Derek Sivers

Doing now for a better tomorrow.

“There is always something you can do in the moment today to better your position tomorrow. You might not be able to solve the problem, but your next action will make the situation better or worse. There is always an action you can control, however tiny, that helps you achieve progress.” - Shane Parrish

Discomfort first.

“Stability doesn’t create discipline, discipline creates stability.” - Amy Dresner.

Question

Picture yourself 25 years from now.

Where can you see yourself? What regrets will you likely have if you keep on your current trajectory?

Thank you for reading.

With love, Nick x

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It was quite possibly the hardest physical and mental challenge I have taken on to date.

The hours of solitude and no sleep on top of an aching body and a mind constantly telling me to quit.

Well, fortunately I didn’t listen.

I kept moving and I finally hit the 24 hour mark.

It was gruelling but I expected no less.

I realised there was only one way to get through and complete it.

I had focus on the process over the result.

I knew there was no chance I could continue across the full 24 hours if I focused on that figure.

If my mind was only on the finish line.

The only way was to break it down into small chunks.

An hour at a time, to a kilometre at a time, to a lap at a time.

Until things got really tough when it became literally one step at a time.

Over the time all those steps started to stack up.

141 kilometres worth.

The result took care of itself.

It was better than I could have imagined.

But all I concentrated on was just managing each part of the process the best I could.

I didn’t look too far ahead.

That was essential to give myself the best chance of completing the time.

Life is just like this.

Growing a business.

Building a relationship.

Getting in better shape.

Investing or saving money.

You name it.

Anything worthwhile and sustainable is built in small chunks over time.

It’s not sexy and it doesn’t sell but it’s the only way.

Unless you get lucky.

But that’s exactly what it is - luck. And luck is not a skill we can develop.

A problem seems too challenging if we are only looking at the whole thing.

A challenge seems too hard if we are only looking at the finish line.

A dream seems too big if we are only looking at the destination.

Whatever you’re working towards, break it down.

Whatever problem you’re facing take the first step towards a solution.

Then take another.

Face one at a time.

Focus on only what you have control over.

We cannot control an outcome but we can control our next step.

Whatever goal you’re working towards, this same rule applies.

Create smaller more manageable steps.

The real issues arise when we try to solve or complete the whole thing at once or we look too far down the road.

When we skip the steps and jump straight into wanting the result.

Or when we sprint instead of managing our pace.

This will nearly always fail. Or if it doesn’t now, it will later.

It only causes stress, anxiety and ultimately, burnout.

It’s incredible what we can learn, what we can build, what we can succeed at if we break it down and play a longer term game.

If we control the controllable.

In life there is no finish line, so what’s the rush?

However audacious the goal is and whatever area it’s in it can only ever built by focusing on one task, one move, one step at a time.

As Will Smith said, “I’m going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid. You do that every single day and soon you have a wall.”

One at a time.

Manage your pace.

Manage this next moment.

Where can you lay the next brick?

Thank you for reading.

With love, Nick

For speaking, hosting or coaching enquires please go here: visit my website

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I have been a hypocrite.

I posted a couple of days ago on LinkedIn about doing therapy.

The truth is that I put off sharing it for some time.

Worried about exactly how it would be perceived or how the reaction may be.

It was something personal, for me, and it wasn’t my "normal” type of post.

I then realised I was being a hypocrite to the very thing I’m trying to encourage.

A stigma I’m trying to break.

Since the start of this year I’ve had regular therapy sessions.

Quite frankly they have been one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

But, wait, what’s wrong Nick?

This is a common question many have and it ties in to why I didn’t write or post about it before.

The honest answer to this question is…

Absolutely nothing was wrong.

Quite the contrary actually.

I was feeling strong and well.

That I had all my shit together.

Or so it seemed to me…

Why I started was down to pure curiosity to learn more about myself.

I started it from a place of strength, not weakness.

This is where many people still have it backwards.

I started out of wanting to understand and learn about me more.

I wanted to look at my mind and get a better understanding of how it works.

Then as the sessions went on I started digging into things from my past.

Areas of my life that I’d actually been ignoring or refusing to knowledge.

Many that I had no idea 100% affect who I am, and how I am today.

That get in my way and continue to hurt me.

What I’ve learned is this.

We all know we should exercise so we won’t have health problems in the future.

We all know we should see a physio to overcome or prevent injuries down the line.

We all know we should eat well so we are not forced to later.

Yet when it comes to strengthening our mind we see it differently.

Therapy does just that.

But I also kind of get the stigma and resistance.

My mum recently contacted the NHS in the UK to enquire about therapy.

The first question she was asked?

Ok, and what’s the problem exactly?

This isn’t right.

There shouldn’t need to be “a problem” to start.

This is why we have the stigma and a lack of vulnerability in the very first place.

What even is a problem anyway? How do we define one exactly?

Is there a list of acceptable ones?

Come on, lets do better.

Personally my only regret is that I didn’t start therapy sooner.

It’s my other gym. One for my mind.

Therapy has taught me and given me plenty.

I’ve uncovered and discovered things I would never have known, and without the guidance of a therapist would never have had the courage to admit and to work on.

So if you are struggling with something or are having a hard time I would highly recommend it.

However, and which is the case for many, if things seem fine and like you’ve got everything under control I would also absolutely recommend it.

Like I myself thought before, if you don’t think you need it then you may need it a lot more than you think.

It’s time we finally put an end to demonising or avoiding doing some therapy.

To put to bed that it means something is wrong or that something is wrong with us.

This is completely false.

It is a tool to strengthen us, not to fix something that is broken.

I stand for openly having the conversation around therapy like we talk about anything else.

As a man, I see this is especially rare.

Showing vulnerability is a true sign of strength and character.

I once didn't fully believe this.

I now believe it with every part of me.

Therapy at worst will present you with a ton of information and insights you weren’t aware of.

Therapy at best will unlock a completely different version of yourself.

Either way you’ll only gain.

And so will all those around you.

The more you think you don’t need it the more you likely do.

Thanks for reading.

With love, Nick x

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