John's Blog

Stradivari: Beauty Born from Discarded Wood

This week has been very exciting! I’ve taken several bookings for my new masterclass, The Productivity Breakthrough – Mastering Work/Life Boundaries. One booking is at double my usual rate, and I already have sessions planned for January, February, March, April,

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Get More Done in Less Time – the Eisenhower Matrix

Returning to Rolls-Royce in Derby this week was a pleasure to deliver my new masterclass, The Productivity Breakthrough. Thank you, Steve Roebuck, Head of Quality Assurance and Certification, for the opportunity to work with your team again. I’m delighted to

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Each Failure Brings You Closer to Success

Embrace failure, and you will find the path to success. I believe that how we respond to failure is crucial to achieving success. Everyone experiences setbacks, but our mindset toward these challenges shapes our response and ultimately determines our growth. By

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Diana Nyad: The 64-Year-Old Record-Breaker

Julie and I started watching a film on Netflix called Nyad, and we’re totally hooked. We’re halfway through, and it’s incredibly inspiring. The movie is based on the true story of swimmer Diana Nyad, who, at 29, attempted a remarkable

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Are You Truly Listening?

I came across this article in Word for Today, which resonated with me and reminded me of the person I used to be. It may be age or wisdom, but I have changed dramatically over recent years. I now spend

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Are You Content, or Are You Constantly Striving?

What a Brilliant Week! I had the pleasure of delivering my brand-new Productivity Breakthrough Masterclass in Manchester to an inspiring Vistage Group, brilliantly led by Chair Claire Farley. This was followed by my Mental Resilience Keynote, delivered to the fantastic Cash

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Cash for Kids Conference: A Blast from the Past!

This coming week promises to be an exciting one. I’ll be in Manchester for three nights, delivering my new Productivity Breakthrough Masterclass to a Vistage Group led by Chair Claire Farley. Then, I’ll speak at the Cash for Kids Conference and

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From Orphan and Rejection to Billionaire

Greetings from the Algarve. We’ve had a wonderful time, and we fly back today. As I always say, it’s crucial to rest and recharge. We should all incorporate short breaks throughout the day, unwind in the evenings, take time off

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How to Avoid Burnout

I came across an article about avoiding burnout, and it hit home because these are the things I focus on for myself and the people I coach to stay healthy in mind and body. Sometimes, we must prove our worth to

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What’s In Your Cup?

What a fantastic week I have just experienced! I delivered my Mental Resilience Masterclasses online to two international companies. On Tuesday, I delivered Masterclass 1 to Orthex, a company based in Finland, and on Thursday, I delivered Masterclasses 1,2 and

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Rolls Royce Submarines

It was a privilege to work with Rolls Royce once more this week. I had the opportunity to present Mental Resilience Masterclass 1 to the Submarines team under the leadership of manager Ryan Wilde and the guidance of Head of

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He died happy

I met Dennis O’Connor in 2018. We immediately connected when he saw me speak at the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) annual conference. He then booked me for his company and several more bookings in Ireland, plus personal coaching. During this

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King Charles Adopts One Millionth Rescue Hen

This week, I came across a truly inspiring story that touched my heart. A young girl recognised a situation that needed change, and from her passion, a charity was born—one that has positively impacted the lives of over a million

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Terry Fox: The Marathon of Hope

I came across this remarkable story about a man who faced a life-changing situation. Rather than getting depressed and wondering what he had done to deserve this, he discovered a profound sense of purpose for something that would make him

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She Never Gave Up and Succeeded Aged 64

I came across this story of amazing persistence. Diana Nyad never gave up on her dream, and at 64, she finally achieved a tremendous feat that no one has replicated.  Diana Nyad: The Power of Perseverance Diana Nyad, born on August 22,

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Ray Kroc – From Milkshakes to McDonald’s

I want to thank Craig Sammells, Country Manager UK & Ireland at ORTHEX, for introducing me to the story of McDonald’s and how a milkshake salesman in his 50s changed the fast-food world forever.   Ray Kroc started life as a

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He Overcame a Stutter and Low Self Esteem.

I want to thank Steven Brackfield, Category Manager of the Salvation Army Buildings and Facilities, for sending me Rowan Atkinson’s fantastic life story and all the challenges he had to overcome to break through to comedy stardom. It is an excellent

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The Immense Power of Motivation

This week, I had a fabulous time working with members of the EO Group, which Ian Micklewright, the Managing Director of Alps Ltd, runs. The EO group comprises high-level executives who join to experience a leadership journey that results in

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The Top 5 Ways to Lower Stress

I was excited to deliver Mind Resilience Masterclass 1 to the staff at the Derby College Annual Conference on Student Experience and Pastoral Support this week. This was a wonderful group that was engaged and full of energy. They participated

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Failure Makes You Stronger

I came across this article from Word for Today, and it clarified my thinking about failure and its potential for huge benefits.  Never give up “Failure doesn’t mean you will never succeed; it just means it may take a bit

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The Last Flight Out of Dubai!

It was March 2020, and I arrived in Dubai, ready to deliver my Mental Resilience Masterclass to several blue-chip companies organised by Robin Wells, who was running a successful employee benefits business spanning the Middle East and Asia, advising some

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Never Stop Dreaming!

It was great to return to the Northeast to deliver my new ‘Increased Productivity’ Masterclass for two teams from Rolls Royce based in Washington. This brought back many memories for me, including playing professional basketball for Sunderland and working for

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Train Your Brain

This brief article in Word for Today highlighted some fantastic facts about positive thinking and its health benefits. “A study conducted in the Netherlands found that optimistic people have healthier hearts than those who are grumpy. Self-described optimists died of cardiovascular

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Do Affirmations Really Work?

I have used positive affirmations for many years, and they have helped me overcome chronic fear and anxiety which held me back from achieving anything worthwhile. I hid this lack of confidence quite well, but as a result, I avoided

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