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Around four years ago, I had the pleasure of delivering my Mental Resilience Masterclass to one of Vistage Chair Peter Hills’ groups.
That was where I first met David Little.
David was a member of the group at the time and from the very beginning we connected really well. Sometimes in life, you meet people with whom there is an instant understanding and mutual respect. David was one of those people.
At the time he was CEO of Lake District Estates and after attending my presentation, he invited me to deliver the Mental Resilience Masterclass to his leadership team.
I still remember how welcoming everyone was.
The session went extremely well and what stood out to me most was David’s leadership style. He has a brilliant sense of humour, a calm manner and a very natural way with people. He creates an environment where people feel relaxed, valued and able to be themselves.
Those qualities matter far more than many leaders realise.
At the end of that first year, David put together a contract under which I returned the following year to deliver another masterclass, coach five members of his leadership team and record a series of videos for the business.
That relationship then continued over the next few years.
For me, this was incredibly rewarding because it allowed me to build genuine relationships with both the company and its people. The more time you spend with an organisation, the more you understand its culture, challenges and strengths.
Over time, it stops feeling like work and starts feeling like you are part of the journey.
One of the things I have learned over the years is that long-term relationships are built on trust, consistency and genuinely caring about people.
David has always been incredibly supportive of my work and over the years he has also recommended me to other organisations, which I will always be grateful for.
Recently, David left Lake District Estates and joined Away Resorts, where he now runs the huge Tattershall Lakes site near Skegness.
Away Resorts has grown into one of the UK’s largest and most successful holiday resort groups, with more than 25 locations across the UK and thousands of employees.
I was delighted for him because it was another exciting step in his career and a reflection of the quality leader that he is.
What makes all of this even more special is that over the years, our professional relationship has grown into a genuine friendship.
As I get older, I appreciate more and more that life is really about people.
Yes, work matters.
Yes, success matters.
Yes, growth matters.
But when you look back over your life and career, it is often the people you remember most.
The people who opened doors for you.
The people who believed in you.
The people who encouraged you.
The people who made the journey enjoyable.
There is definitely a theme running through many of my recent blogs, and it is gratitude for the special people who have touched my life in some way.
David is certainly one of those people.
I genuinely want to thank him for his friendship, his belief in me and for all the wonderful experiences I have had working with him and his teams over the years.
People like David remind me why I love doing what I do.
After more than 40 years in business, I still believe that success is rarely built alone.
It is built over time through relationships, trust, loyalty and kindness.
And when you find good people, appreciate them.
Because they make the journey worthwhile.
3 Key Takeaways
• Great leadership is often built on kindness, humour and making people feel valued.
• Long-term relationships are built on trust, consistency and genuine care for others.
• Business success is rarely just about strategy or results. It is often about the quality of
the people around you.
Thoughts For The Week
- The older I get, the more I realise that the quality of your life is often linked to the quality of the people you surround yourself with.
- A single opportunity, introduction or conversation can quietly change the direction of your career and your life.
- Never underestimate the impact of being someone who encourages, supports and believes in others. You may never fully realise the difference you make.
That’s it for this week.
Have a wonderful week ahead and keep believing in yourself.
Warm regards,
John
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