John's Blog

Andrew Carnegie is remembered as one of the wealthiest men of the 19th century and one of history’s greatest givers. But his story did not begin with wealth. Born poor in Scotland in 1835, Carnegie’s path to success was full of

I recently read the story of Paul Galvin, the founder of Motorola, and was amazed by his resilience and self-belief, even after facing failure more than once. Most people would have given up, but he didn’t. He kept going, and because

Some stories remind us that no matter where we begin, we have the power to shape where we go. Liz Murray’s journey is one of those rare stories. When I first read it, I was stunned, a powerful reminder that

Recent research indicates that people who consistently experience contentment tend to report higher life satisfaction, stronger relationships, greater self-acceptance, and increased resilience. Psychologists believe that contentment creates a stable emotional foundation, allowing you to think more clearly, recover from setbacks faster,

As a former professional basketball player and England international, this story resonated with me deeply because the man at its heart is one of my heroes. Back in the 1980s, I flew out to Boston to visit the legendary Boston Celtics.

When I discuss mental resilience, I often highlight athletes, business leaders, or performers who have bounced back in dramatic ways. However, not all resilience appears in this way. Sometimes, it’s quiet, messy, and it shows up in the most unexpected

I came across an article about Honda, and it really touched me. It reminded me of the journey I’ve been on to get to where I am today. My story is nothing like Honda’s, but it’s still my own, and I’m

Simone Biles is known today as the greatest gymnast of all time. She’s won more medals than any other gymnast in history and performs skills so difficult that judges have had to invent new rules to score her routines. But what

This week, I had the chance to spend time with Chair Alan Cook and his fantastic Vistage group during their retreat in Dartmouth. We stayed at the Dart Marina Hotel, which was stunning and made the event feel exceptional. The night

It’s been an exciting week, as I had the privilege of delivering my Mental Resilience talk at the Nottingham City Business Club Lunch. Standing there as the speaker was a surreal moment for me. I vividly remember attending my first NCBC

Taking a proper holiday away from work is crucial — not just for your health, but also for your long-term performance and overall well-being. Firstly, a genuine break from work allows your body and mind to recover. It reduces stress levels,

I’m always inspired by how some people face hardship with such strength and courage. Stories of those who go through incredibly tough times and still keep moving forward truly move me. They remind me that even in life’s darkest moments,

Today’s blog shares another powerful example of resilience and self-belief. It’s the story of someone whose dreams were torn away in a single, devastating moment—but her response set her apart.  One moment changed her life. “Bethany Hamilton was just 13 years

I love being inspired by unknown individuals who have endured difficulties yet have not only survived but also thrived. Today’s story is one of courage, resilience, endurance, suffering and ultimately forgiveness.  “Louis Zamperini’s life reads like an epic novel—one filled with

I love to bring you stories of inspiration from across the world. Today’s story is one of incredible commitment and dedication. James Harrison passed away peacefully in March this year at the age of 88 after a life spent serving

Dashrath Manjhi, known as the “Mountain Man” of India, was born in the remote and impoverished village of Gehlaur in Bihar. Growing up in a marginalised caste and extreme poverty, he experienced the daily struggles of rural life — especially

When I found out what had happened, I burst out laughing. A couple of weeks ago, I delivered my Productivity Breakthrough Masterclass to the Emerging Leaders group at My Sherpa, an excellent leadership development organisation run by the brilliant John Cremer—one

I came across this article in Word for Today, and it really spoke to me. It’s not what happens to you in life that counts; how you respond makes all the difference.  Word for Today “When resilient people hit bottom, they don’t

This week, I had the opportunity to deliver my Productivity Masterclass to a new client called My Sherpa, led by accomplished speaker John Cremer. I delivered the 3-hour session on Tuesday in Sussex, but I stayed for two nights to

Working with Rolls-Royce and Springfield Training again this week was an absolute pleasure. On Monday, I delivered Masterclass 3 to the fantastic Springfield team in Leeds. On Thursday, I was privileged to deliver Masterclass 1 in Derby to the Aerospace Procurement

I had the pleasure of delivering Masterclass 3 to the fantastic Rolls-Royce Quality Assurance and Certification team, led by Steve Roebuck, this week. This was the fourth masterclass I’ve delivered to Steve’s outstanding team, and once again, the feedback was