The Leader Unmasked Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Breaking the Perfection Myth:

Tim Davies on the Power of Innovative Thinking

Ever feel like success means never messing up? Stuck in a dead-end job and dreaming of something more? This episode of the Mindset Mentor Meets Podcast is your wake-up call. Host Angela Cox chats with Tim Davies, the forward-thinking CEO of ivolve Group. Together, they bust the myth of flawlessness and show you the power of embracing your mistakes and innovative thinking.

This episode is your roadmap to redefining success. Whether you're a student, an entrepreneur, or somewhere in between, Angela and Tim will inspire you to ditch the masks and lead with authenticity.  

Get ready to discover how vulnerability can be your superpower, not your weakness. This episode is all about unlocking your true potential and turning your stumbles into stepping stones. Plus, Tim shares his incredible journey – from navigating different careers to leading with a pioneering spirit. Tune in to be inspired to lead with innovative thinking and more.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Discover how embracing failure can be a powerful tool for growth. 
2. Learn how authenticity and vulnerability in leadership can transform your professional relationships and organizational culture.
3. Gain insights into the innovative thinking fostered by embracing DIY projects and other hands-on activities. 

Resources

• Contact Tim Davies on LinkedIn
• Visit ivolve Group
• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets

Episode Highlights

[2:37] Tim's First Proudest Moment: When Failure Became Tim's Greatest Teacher 

• Tim shares that openness about failures and challenges can strengthen personal and professional connections.
• He discusses a specific instance, "Leaders Unplugged," where he openly talked about his failures, leading to an unexpectedly positive response from the audience.
• Tim observed that this openness about failures and vulnerabilities led to an outpouring of gratitude from listeners, who felt more seen and understood.

[12:47] Tim's Second Proudest Moment: Transitioning to CEO and Changing Sectors

• Tim narrates his journey of becoming CEO of ivolve Group and the challenges of entering a new sector with a fresh perspective.
• He emphasizes the importance of being commercially sensible without compromising on quality care.
• Discussing the integration of businesses within Ivolve Group, Tim explains the importance of developing a new team and culture focused on transparency, vulnerability, and error admission to foster psychological safety.
• Tim discusses the impact of organizational trauma and the importance of reassurance, innovative thinking, and calm leadership in times of transition and uncertainty.

[22:15] Tim's Third Proudest Moment: Personal Growth Through a DIY Project

• Tim shares his experience of renovating a static caravan, which served as a metaphor for personal growth and the value of investing effort into a project.
• He describes how hands-on activities, like DIY projects, can be an exercise in innovative thinking and provide a sense of achievement.
• Tim reflects on the importance of such activities for balancing professional responsibilities and personal well-being.

[28:30] Overcoming Perfectionism and the Value of Authentic Leadership

• Tim and Angela delve into the pitfalls of perfectionism, discussing how striving for flawlessness can hinder personal and professional development rather than foster it.
• They touch upon the challenge of public speaking and the realization that perfection in communication is less important than authenticity and connection with the audience.
• Tim advises against overpreparation and stresses the importance of being relatable and human in professional settings.
• We must understand the role of EQ (emotional intelligence) over IQ in leadership success and the continuous journey toward personal and professional growth.

5 Powerful Quotes

[3:03] “I realized that [to] be more open about one's failures, or the challenges that have happened over your career or over your life, rather than being something that you need to hide and push down… if you have the confidence and courage, and it does take some to be a bit more open about is something that actually can connect you to people and takes a lot of anxiety away from you as well.

 

[7:21] “…there was a really fine line between being so overly open, that you actually discredit yourself and being vulnerable enough and human enough or grounded enough to make people feel relatable to you. And that you also are not perfect, and you've [never had been] perfect to get that position.”

 

[9:59] “I do think that you only really learn with it when things are bad. No, of course, you do some learning and some developing when things are all right, and things are going okay. But it's tiny in comparison to when things are tough… or things are going wrong or something's failed, that is where the real development happens.”

 

[28:43] “...perfectionism gets in the way of a lot of things…I think it is to some extent, a strength because you meet people who've got high standards. They put lots of pressure on themselves. They want to deliver things and that's great, but when it tips over, and often it does, I think it really is an inhibitor.”

 

[31:45] “There are some technical roles where actually it's all about IQ…you have to have enough IQ to be competent. Beyond that, more and more and more IQ does not equal more and more and more performance. Yeah. But EQ is what it's about.”

About the Guest

Tim Davies, a healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience, stands at the forefront of modern leadership. He brings a unique blend of emotional intelligence and innovative thinking to complex, regulated environments. 

As CEO of ivolve Group, Tim has redefined leadership within the care sector. He spearheaded transformative changes, including significant rebranding and integrating diverse operations under the ivolve Care and Support banner.  

Tim's passion for digital innovation and human-centric management and his proven track record of success positions him as a thought leader in modern healthcare. Don't miss his insights on embracing failure and leading with authenticity! 

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Enjoy this Podcast?

Failure is not the end of things. What makes leaders great is their ability to embrace them and be more open to admitting them. If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online and tell us your stories of how innovative thinking boosted your business or improved your life. You can also share it to help your family and friends.

Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening! 

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean. 

To meeting inspiration,

Angela

The Power of Habits and a Positive Mindset: How Tony Humberstone Built a Thriving Business

Being rejected hurts — and even if it happens again and again, it doesn't get any easier. The pain of getting doors slammed to your face, receiving rejection emails to your job applications, or being ignored scars a person. 

But that doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

In this episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, Angela Cox meets with Vooba Founder and CEO Tony Humberstone to talk about his journey from being a humble door-to-door salesman to building a successful digital marketing agency, all the while maintaining a close relationship with his family.

Having braved multiple rejections and even falling into a health slump, Humberstone shares how he overcame all the obstacles in his life through a positive mindset and building good habits. It might sound cheesy, but this episode details how he applied that in his life and how that changed everything for him.

Change starts from that one positive thought. Passion fuels it, and discipline allows it to go on. Let's dive into Tony Humberstone's story and learn all about his journey toward success.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Learn how a positive mindset can influence your actions and drive you to do better.
2. Understand how combining hard work, discipline, and a positive mindset makes all the difference.
3. Discover how balancing your work with your health and family relationships makes life worth living.

Resources

• Contact Tony Humberstone on LinkedIn
• Visit Vooba 
• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets

Episode Highlights

[03:19] Tony’s First Proudest Moment: His Sales Journey

• Tony started as a service engineer obsessed with sports, but he admits he didn't have a career mindset.
• He landed a job at BT Phonebooks through a friend in his squash club and began his career in sales.
• He didn't get good responses at first, but he kept going until he chanced upon Mortgage Search UK and got his first big sale.
• He eventually moved to London and got a job at a Google Adwords agency called REACH Local, but his passion called him to start his own business.
• He began PPC Stars, which eventually evolved into Vooba over the decades

[13:56] Tony’s Second Proudest Moment: His Journey of Shaping Up

• His busy London lifestyle made it difficult to stay in shape. He wasn't sleeping enough and felt burned out.
• Tony wanted to change, so he challenged himself by entering a half Ironman: a triathlon event involving swimming, biking and a marathon.
• He loved the event and continued doing them, relishing in his proud moment of crossing the finish line each time.
• Being physically active helped him in his business as well.
• Tony is thinking of what he can do to challenge himself even more.

[18:59] Tony’s Third Proudest Moment: His Daughter

• Tony’s proudest achievement is his daughter.
• He and his wife love seeing her develop into a fine young lady.
• He maintains a close relationship with her, and they communicate often.
• Still, Tony hopes to travel more once his daughter leaves the nest.

[22:50] Tony’s Ultimate Secret to Success

• Build up good habits through discipline
• Keep an open and positive mindset regarding rejection. Don’t fear it.
• This mindset helps run a business when many variables are outside your control.

5 Powerful Quotes

[02:13] 'I'm always glass half full and not a glass half empty. I'm a big believer in positive mindset.'

[10:57] ‘We all want to make money, but I still, to this day, get a buzz out of bringing a client on board and then helping them grow. And ultimately: if they grow, we grow, so that drives me to this day.’

[15:54] 'I ended up doing five [triathlons], but the first one I did, I mean, literally, I was crawling over the finish line. It wasn't a particularly amazing time, but it then inspired me to obviously get better at it and work a bit harder.'

[23:37] ‘Just going back to the story about knocking on doors: a lot of people hated it, because you would knock on a lot of doors and get a lot of rejection. But I'd always keep going, thinking this next door might be that golden ticket.’

[25:19] ‘You've just got to be positive all the time.’

About the Guest

Tony Humberstone is the Founder and CEO of Vooba, a digital marketing agency based in rural West Sussex in the UK. Serving for more than 20 years in the advertising industry since the Yellow Pages days, he had extensive experience in sales as a Field Sales Consultant and area Sales Manager, eventually climbing up the ranks to a Business Development Manager. He founded PPC Stars, which specialized in Google Ads. He grew that company into a team of 40 people with over 300 clients and later rebranded as Vooba.

Learn more about Tony and her work on the Vooba website and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Enjoy this Podcast?

Having the right attitude and habits changes everything. It can give you the strength and courage to move forward despite rejection and other obstacles. If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends.

Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening! 

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean. 

To meeting inspiration,

Angela

 

The Winning Mindset: How to Break Free from Your Limiting Beliefs with Rob Birkhead

The first step is always the hardest, but that first stride you take towards your goals will bring you places. The beginning of your journey will feel like a million miles away from success, and you may feel discouraged. But progress, no matter how small, is still progress. You can only accomplish your goals and visions through action. And if you focus on that first step, it becomes easier to take the next steps and move up to success.

In this episode, Rob Birkhead talks about the winning mindset he developed at 16, working towards acing his GCSEs. He shares how he applied the realisations from that time later on in his life and career. Rob also lets us in on how constantly pushing himself to get better led to his proudest moments in his business and fitness journey. He then shares the three secrets to success that guide his every step.

If you want to learn the winning mindset behind freeing yourself from limiting beliefs and achieving any goal you set for yourself, this episode is for you!

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Discover the power of breaking free from your limiting beliefs.
2. Learn why taking a step back can be a big leap forward.
3. Find out the importance of having a plan and vision in reaching goals.

Resources 

• TRINITY Transformation
• Fit Over Forty for Women by Rob Birkhead
• Contact Rob: Website
• Enough by Angela Cox
• Angela’s Episodes on The Fit Over 40 Podcast:
  • Ep 5 – How Angela Cox Lost 8.5 Stone (And Overcame 30+ Years Of Yo-Yo Dieting)
  • Ep 19 – Angela Cox (Round 2)
  • Ep 70 – Award-Winning Life Coach Angela Cox on Getting Unstuck, Conquering Self-Doubt & Fulfilling Our Full Potential
• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets

Episode Highlights 

[03:09] Rob’s First Proudest Moment

• Rob had a lot of limiting beliefs academically until he completed his GCSE. 
• He wanted to buy a car back then. His dad promised him a certain amount of money or penalty payments, depending on his exam results.
• Rob revised for the first time to prepare for the exam. His hard work resulted in seven A*s and five As.
• Beyond being able to buy the car, he realised that there’s a lot more he can do than he thought.
• Working towards achieving the incentive made him realise his potential and the power of structure and planning.

[09:49] Applying His Realisation to His Clients’ Success

• Rob helps clients see that believing they can do it is the biggest thing they can do on their journey.
• We need to question our beliefs because many of these stories are not factual.
• There is a narrative that women over 40 are naturally going to gain weight because of menopause.
• Rob’s programme is trying to change this. He wants these women to know that they can achieve results as long as they keep going and adapt.

[13:42] Rob’s Second Proudest Moment

• His second proudest moment is having their first team get-together in April this year.
• In 2019, he and his partner had to let their whole team go due to tax issues caused by inexperience. They didn’t get paid for 9 months while sorting it out.
• Currently, they have 10 people on the team. 
• They went to an escape room, had lunch, wore matching TRINITY clothing, and did a team photoshoot.
• Rob realised they have grown and come a long way from the tough times they went through.

[17:49] Grow with the Challenges

• Whatever path you take is hard.
• There will always be issues working with a team, but you have to grow with it.
• It’s about constantly pushing yourself to get better.
• Hard work is an element of success, but it’s not enough on its own. Otherwise, you will get burnt out.

[20:10] Rob’s Third Proudest Moment

• The most complicated movement for Olympic weightlifting is the ‘snatch’.
• Rob’s goal when he started CrossFit was to do an 80-kilo bodyweight snatch. But he couldn’t increase the weight from 75 kilos for some time.
• Going through lockdowns sent him back even more. Thus, he went back to basics and refined his technique because he knew that was his issue.
• Weightlifting is not about strength; it’s all about technique.
• After five years, Rob was able to do the 80-kilo snatch this year at their gym’s weightlifting competition. Tune in to the full episode for the complete story!

[25:54] Stress and Weight Loss for Women Over 40

• Female hormones change as early as 10 years before menopause. The average age of menopause in the UK is 51.
• Overstressing the body around this age can cause chronically elevated cortisol levels. 
• Constant high-stress hormone levels trigger the weight gain triangle, involving leptin, insulin, and thyroid. Listen to the full episode to learn how it works!
• Rob doesn’t recommend CrossFit and intense training for clients because they’re very stressful on the body.
• They focus on LIST or low-impact strength training, which you can efficiently do at home or the gym.

[30:03] Rob’s Three Secrets to Success

• You need to have a vision for where you’re going. Keep moving forward no matter what happens, and try not to put time pressure on yourself.
• Second, get help from people with a track record of your goals.
• Lastly, just be patient. It may take longer than you thought, but it will be worth it.
• If you don’t know what the next best step is, find someone knowledgeable who can help you.
• Tune in to the episode to hear more about Rob’s three secrets to success!

5 Powerful Quotes

[05:47] “If you work hard in a structured way, and you make it enjoyable, and you have a reason to do it — there’s a strong goal — then it can all come together.”

[10:38] “You should question everything you believe because, as you know, it’s all just stories; there [are] usually no facts to it.”

[18:05] “Whatever path you take is hard. It not going well is hard. It also going well is hard.”

[40:29] “It's having that vision and then going, ‘It's there. I don't know how we're going to do it, but we'll get there, and I'll just keep going no matter what.”

[42:19] “If you don't know what the next step is, find someone who knows what the next step is because they will be able to tell you.”

About Rob

Rob Birkhead is the co-founder of TRINITY Transformation and is UK's #1 women's health coach and weight loss expert for working women over 40. Rob's weight loss expertise expands across the domains of nutrition, exercise, and mindset. In the last 6 years, he has transformed the lives of over 6,500 clients across the globe. Rob is also the Amazon bestselling author of Fit Over 40 For Women.

You can learn more about Rob by visiting his website.  

Enjoy this Podcast?

You are more than your limiting beliefs — Rob Birkhead shows how you can live up to your potential by changing your mindset. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, hit subscribe and share it with your friends! 

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends achieve massive outcomes.

Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening! 

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Podbean. 

To meeting inspiration,

Angela

 

In this special podcast episode, you will be a fly on the wall in Angela’s coaching room.

 

Angela is working with Rob, an entrepreneur and co-founder.

 

Rob explained how he often feels under threat in situations that involve conflict, and this causes him to shut down. He finds it difficult to speak up and this results in a feeling of weakness. 

 

We use a recent event during which Rob felt he couldn’t speak up as our gateway memory. I asked Rob replay the event and observe himself in the memory. He recalled the feelings and was able to pinpoint how these showed up in his body. Using this visceral feeling we tracked back through other memories until we found a much earlier one which formed the basis for the beliefs he formed about speaking up. 

 

It’s a fascinating episode which allows you to hear the impact that events in the past can have on the here and now.

 

If you would like to do a coaching session with Angela, check out the breakthrough session here 

 

https://angela-cox.co.uk/breakthrough/

 

 

In this special podcast episode you will be a fly on the wall in Angela’s coaching room.   Angela is working with Lesley, a client she has worked with in the past. Lesley came with a very transactional wish, to incorporate journalling into her routine.   We explored why she wants to do the journaling and soon uncovered some deeper blocks. Lesley feels she doesn't deserve the things she has in her life. You’ll hear Lesley open up about a memory from her past in which she was left disappointed and like her happiness was taken away.   Angela and Lesley worked on the memory together so Lesley is able to move forwards without feeling her happiness will be taken away. Lesley realised she doesn't actually want to journal as it's not something that feels congruent with her character. We explored other ways she can connect with her feelings instead.   It’s well worth a listen and there will be some tips and tricks you can take away.   If you would like to do a coaching session with Angela, check out the breakthrough session here https://angela-cox.co.uk/breakthrough/                                

In this special podcast episode you will be a fly on the wall in Angela’s coaching room

Angela is working with Suzanne, a client she has never met before. 

Suzanne has some challenges with self doubt, saying what she really feels, and being her authentic self. Suzanne talks about wearing many masks and acting her way through life.

You’ll hear Suzanne open up about past traumas and together, Angela and Suzanne work on these which provides her with instant freedom.

Angela explores Suzanne’s need to be liked, and they dig under the skin of this, identifying how it manifests and where the root cause lies. Working in a therapeutic way, Angela helps Suzanne neutralise an event in her past that causes her to behave in ways she isn’t fond of.

It’s well worth a listen and there will be some tips and tricks you can take away. 

If you would like to do a coaching session with Angela, check out the breakthrough session here 

 

https://angela-cox.co.uk/breakthrough/

 

The Power of Knowing What You Can and Can’t Control with Martin Gibson

It's nice to think that we can achieve anything we set our minds to, but the truth is, there are a number of things we just can't control. Oftentimes, it's a struggle to let go of things we don’t even have power over. We hold on to them relentlessly in hopes that it will all work out in the end. However, it's essential to accept our limitations and focus on what we can change in order to find success. This will help you reach greater heights with ease.

In this episode, Martin Gibson shares the three proudest moments that shaped him into the superhuman he is today. He talks about navigating his military background and the values he learned from it. Martin then paints us a picture of how he brought these principles into consultancy. He also highlights the importance of creating human-level connections. Finally, he spills the secrets to his approach to achieving success.

If you want to adopt the mindset behind achieving massive outcomes, this episode is for you! 

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Find out how you can build resilience when faced with challenging times.
2. Discover the importance of creating human-level connections.
3. Learn an approach to achieving massive outcomes.

Resources 

• Gobeyond Partners
• Webhelp
• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets
• Contact Martin: LinkedIn

Episode Highlights 

[05:32] Martin’s First Proudest Moment

• Martin’s first proudest moment was living through and overcoming some of the most challenging periods in his life.
• He took up a master’s in defence administration (MDA) for two years while working in the Royal Air Force.
• Many changes and challenges with his family and job came about during that period.
• He made it to the other side, finished his MDA and moved on to another job post.
• He's proud of how his family helped him get through that time.

[08:06] Finding Resilience

• Martin’s family worked together as a group. Fitness was also a key factor for him.
• Don’t let everything around you weigh upon you.
• There are things you can and can’t control.
• “Just going with it” is his way of dealing with his career over the years.
• He also built resilience and understanding from his high-pressure military background.

[11:26] Graduating with an MDA

• Martin’s graduation was one of the things that inevitably got photographed into his mind.
• He wore a cap and gown over his military uniform on his graduation day.
• His family was there to celebrate with him.

[12:35] Martin’s Second Proudest Moment

• Martin was deployed in Iraq as a Senior Engineering Officer in a helicopter squadron.
• His second proudest moment was when he overcame an incident with a couple of helicopters.
• That moment was the culmination of all his military training. He was the senior person everyone looked up to at the time for leadership.
• Everything came together as an engineer, officer, leader of men, and a person wanting to achieve an outcome.
• They had to move on quickly after the incident as operations were still underway. In retrospect, Martin feels content with how they handled it.

[18:49] Taking His Military Background into Consultancy

• The key is role modelling in working together to achieve outcomes.
• Consultancy is working alongside clients to bring them to a place where they can do a certain thing themselves.
• Leaving the client not knowing more than they did at the start is a failure.
• Role modelling played a big part for Martin in his role in the military and in the world of consulting.
• We need to be serious in moments that require it, but some moments require light-heartedness.

[23:19] Martin’s Third Proudest Moment

• Martin’s third proudest moment was working together and delivering a massive outcome for a client in the service industry.
• They worked in the catering and restaurant business.
• They worried that the team would not engage in the process, but the opposite happened.
• The whole team was involved, making it easier for ideas and suggestions to come in.
• Tune in to the full episode to hear more about Martin and the team's story!

[26:23] Getting Clients to Understand the Full Journey

• One thing Martin learned in his consulting career is to not assume people know things.
• You have to understand the circumstances of every individual in your team.
• Some people are not doing wrong; they may just not have an understanding of the full situation.
• The full journey is what the customer goes through from the point they think about and receive the service.

[29:04] Creating Human-Level Connections

• Technologies work well when applied correctly.
• It doesn't matter how much you spend on technology if you don’t understand how it works with your process.
• Everything has a human dimension behind it. You will lose out if you don’t understand and build around that.

[31:32] Martin’s Secret to Success

• Martin breaks down what he needs to do to get to the challenge. He goes for opportunities.
• He identifies who he needs to talk to, what he needs to do and learn, and who he can bring in.
• Bringing the right people in is key to moving forward and building outcomes.
• He always finds a path to get to the outcome he wants to achieve.

5 Powerful Quotes

[08:49] “There's things you could control and things you should worry about, and you need to do something about. Other activities, other issues, you don't have control over. And I think, again, people can let those build up on, where you have no — there's nothing you can do about it.”

[19:35] “We aren't in consultancy that is purely about, ‘Well, we’ll come and do it. We know it. We’ll leave you not knowing anything’ — that's a failure for us.”

[21:24] “We absolutely need to be serious, and we can be serious in those moments that require it, but the world had put enough of that.”

[22:35] “We want to have a life and be a person outside of this thing called work.”

[30:09] “Everything has got a human involved in it. And if you don't understand that or bring that to the fore and then build around that, you're going to lose out.”

About Martin

Martin Gibson is the Managing Director of Consulting at Gobeyond Partners, a business management consultant firm part of the Webhelp group. He is a decisive executive with strong management skills and a wealth of wide-ranging experience within the realm of financial services consultancy. Throughout his career, Martin has built a proven track record of impeccable, strong leadership and driving improvements in performance. 

Martin also has experience in operational military service and had worked at the Royal Air Force for 22 years.

You can learn more about Martin by visiting his LinkedIn profile.  

Enjoy this Podcast?

Remember: focus on what you can control — Martin Gibson shows how it can bring improved outcomes. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, hit subscribe and share it with your friends! 

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends achieve massive outcomes.

Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening! 

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Podbean. 

To meeting inspiration,

Angela

 

Embrace Change to Foster Growth with Leanne Culloden

Change is scary. When we were young, trying out new things was exciting. But as we grow older, we develop a fear of placing ourselves in unfamiliar situations. Getting out of our comfort zone is daunting. But do you know what is much scarier? It's when your fear stops your growth and progress. Fear kills our potential and hinders us from striving in our career, life, and relationships — but this should not be the case. Instead, we should embrace change.

In this episode, Leanne Culloden shares the three proudest moments that led her onto her current path today. She talks about deciding to embrace change, be independent at a young age and how it shaped her view of the world. She also lays down the most significant milestones in her career and how they honed her leadership skills. Finally, Leanne discusses how she balances handling a massive job and being a mum and wife.

If you want to know how you can embrace change and enable progress in your work and personal life, then this episode is for you! 

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Discover why you should embrace change and overcome fear to grow.
2. Find out the most efficient way to choose team members.
3. Learn how you can build trust between your team and your clients.

Resources 

• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets
• Contact Leanne: LinkedIn

Episode Highlights 

[03:10] First Taste of Independence

• Leanne considers her first real taste of independence at 19 as her first proudest moment.
• She and her friend booked a two-week holiday to Majorca and decided to live and work there shortly after.
• Everyone should embrace change and experience taking themselves out of the environments they grew up in.
• Leanne already knew that she didn't want to go to university and would instead get a job and work.
• Her pride comes from making the massive decision to put herself into a different situation at a young age.

[05:52] What She Learned from Being Independent at a Young Age

• She met a lot of amazing people from different parts of the world.
• She was able to learn a lot about human behaviour.
• Learning how to manage money without her parents was a big thing.
• Independence is learning how to live as an adult.
• Taking that courageous step to embrace change led her onto the path she’s presently walking.

[07:20] How It Shaped Her Relationships

• She met many people from all over the world with different personalities and characters.
• While growing up, society conditioned us to show up in a certain way.
• Leanne learned about people’s differences and diversity during that time.
• The experience helped her understand and collaborate with other people on a work and personal level.

[08:56] Why Adults Don’t Embrace Change

• We were bolder in trying out new things when we were younger. But fear develops as we grow older.
• Allowing fear to take over stops you from progressing in many areas of life, especially at work.
• Leanne is a big believer in always trying to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
• Recognise what your fears are, and try to show yourself out there. That's what growth is.

[10:27] The Progression of Her Career at Mitie

• Her second proudest moment is her career at Mitie. She has been working at Mitie for 12 years, starting as a temp and working her way up to a management role.
• She took the opportunity to lead a project around mobilising a contract in the nuclear industry. 
• Leanne took the role for two reasons: (1) she’s a people pleaser, and (2) it was a real opportunity.
• They were awarded the contract and set up a team of 30 people. She takes pride in it because it was the first time she had been in complete control of an end-to-end project.
• The contract is still ongoing nine years after. Leanne takes pride in having the ability to support people in their passion and careers.

[14:05] What to Look for When Handpicking Team Members

• Not everyone is cut out for the roles available in the facilities world.
• They held an open day in the local community and interviewed around 250 people.
• The project required customer-focused security roles. The interview process focused on soft skills.
• Some people may not look like someone fitting for the role at first glance. But asking them probing questions can make you realise they’re perfect for the team.
• Balancing people's strengths is key to creating a great team.

[16:10] Learnings from the Interview Process

• Leanne learned what not to do in an interview situation.
• She also met people with great potential who were in the wrong jobs and gave them an opportunity.
• A good interviewer can uncover the mask the interviewee is wearing.

[18:44] Her Role as a Strategic Account Director

• Her third proudest moment is her role as a Strategic Account Director.
• Leanne works in the security business of Mitie. She provides security services to large customers across the UK.
• Her proudest moment is working through the pandemic while still delivering excellent service.
• They decided to collaborate at every level by setting up different degrees of communication. 
• It means a lot to thank the people involved in a project for their contributions.

[21:55] Building a Great Customer and Team Relationship

• They continue to provide amazing service to their customers.
• Hearing good feedback fills Leanne with pride because it means she’s doing her job well.
• She feels lucky and proud to work with amazing team members.

[23:16] Managing the Transition of On-Site to Work from Home Leadership 

• Leanne got used to being a hands-on leader and getting out there. Their clients were not working on-site and didn’t want them to come there as well. 
• She has an open-door policy and keeps her lines of communication open at all times.
• People can sometimes be in their little bubble, making it hard to see what's outside it.
• Having open trust and visibility is critical in leadership. Leanne's team put video communication in place early on for easy access to one another.
• They also issue a quarterly newsletter that incorporates employee interviews and photographs.

[27:54] Creating Work and Life Balance

• Leanne is a mum and a wife to a husband with an equally massive job. Organising is key to keeping work and life balanced.
• Mum guilt is a real thing.
• She sees it as having different areas of life that are equally important.
• Knowing your priority at the time, having open communication, and not letting guilt consume you is key to creating balance.
• Doing the inner work leads to getting outward results. Leanne has a few non-negotiables in terms of self-care.

[30:51] Leanne’s Secret to Success

• Her secret to success is not having or not believing that you have all the answers.
• You are letting your ego take over when you believe you have all the answers. It leaves no room for growth, learning, and making wrong decisions.
• Always be humble and seek out more in terms of knowledge and learning.
• One big secret of success is understanding the people around you at work.
• Always take help when offered; showing vulnerability is something that resonates with people. 

5 Powerful Quotes

[04:07] “I would absolutely encourage everybody to take themselves out of their environments where they grew up, go to school, hang around with the people that are around them where they grow up, and go and meet new people, go off to a different place.”

[07:33] “I think when we grow up, we're conditioned to believe that we need to behave in a certain way, act in a certain way, speak in a certain way to people, look a certain way to a degree as well."

[09:51] “You have to recognise what your fears are and then really try and show yourself out there. That's what growth is.”

[15:53] “It's about balancing people's strengths to create a great team.”

[30:16] “If you do that inner work — that's the journaling, the personal development, the self-care — you will get the outer results.”

About Leanne

Leanne Culloden is the Strategic Account Director of Mitie, the UK's leading facilities management and professional services company. She handles developing strategic visions and delivering operational excellence. Leanne develops client relationships and strengthens the company's mission as a trusted service partner while serving as a coach and mentor to her team. 

You can know more about Leanne by visiting her LinkedIn profile.  

Enjoy this Podcast?

Change brings fears, but Leanne Culloden shows how it can lead us to growth. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, hit subscribe and share it with your friends! Everyone can find success by looking at their origins and building new connections.

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends, help them embrace change, and show them all that life has to offer.

Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening! 

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Podbean. 

To meeting inspiration,

Angela

 

How to Balance Business and Family Life 

Having a growing business is thrilling. It brings you to great heights that you could never imagine. From moving to a larger facility, hiring new staff members, and increasing production capacity — you are gradually witnessing the fruit of your labour come to life. Indeed, it's tempting to preoccupy yourself with a business once you've poured your heart and soul into it. However, what should you do if your family grows just as fast as your company? 

In this episode, Simon Ratcliffe shares how he and his wife balance their family life while being business partners. He also talks about manifestation and how we, as entrepreneurs, can work towards our business goals. Finally, he discusses the importance of learning the growth mindset.  

If you're a budding entrepreneur looking for ways to balance work and personal life, this episode is for you! 

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Discover how to balance business and family life
2. Unravel the power of manifestation
3. Learn Simon’s secret to success

Resources 

• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor
• Read Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed 
• Visit the Kelperland Vet Centre

Episode Highlights 

[03:14] Who Is Simon? 

• Simon belongs to a family of dairy farmers. 
• He runs a veterinary business with his wife, Camilla. 

[04:27] Simon’s First Proudest Moment 

• Simon considers his wedding day as his first proudest moment. 
• It’s a constant challenge to juggle the roles of being a husband, a father, and an entrepreneur. 
• His wife advises him to look after his health and family relationships because he gets engrossed with his business.

[07:12] Running the Business with His Wife 

• Camilla was a successful Biology teacher before joining Simon’s veterinary practice. 
• Running a business means experiencing many frustrating moments. But the couple learned to grow along the way. 
• Currently, they are thinking of changing their business’ managing structure. 

[08:25] Simon, The Veterinarian 

• Since he was young, Simon wanted to be a veterinarian. 
• His love for animals stemmed from growing up on a dairy farm surrounded by animals. 
• It took a while for Simon to realise that he wanted to set up his own business. 

[09:35] Simon, The Entrepreneur 

• Practising a profession and running a business requires different sets of skills. 
• In 2021, his business grew by 20% despite the pandemic. 
• There were winners and losers in the veterinary profession when COVID-19 struck. 
• Hiring staff members and facility renovations were positive challenges for Simon and Camilla during the pandemic.

[10:43] Separating Business and Family

• Simon's family often had their spouses as business partners. 
• His family is still trying to compartmentalise both business and family matters. 
• There’s no magic formula to balancing your role as a spouse and business partner. Couples can learn along the way. 

[12:42] Simon’s Second Proudest Moment

• His second proudest moment is buying his own Land Rover Defender.  
• In retrospect, Simon believes asking his sister to include the Defender in his business’ logo manifested his dream of buying the car. 
• Ever since he became environmentally conscious, Simon felt bad about buying the car. However, he couldn’t let it go. 

[17:20] On Growing the Business

• There are limiting factors in expanding a business.
• Simon wants to maintain a profitable practice while keeping his staff happy. 
• There should be an endpoint to how many clients a company can take.  
• Assessing your core values and business goals is essential to understanding your limits as a growing entrepreneur.

   [21:44] Simon’s Third Proudest Moment

• Simon’s third proudest moment is finding the growth mindset. 
• Listen to the whole episode to hear Simon’s stories of working as an untrained farmer! 
• Having a growth mindset shows that you can learn and improve from your mistakes.
• Doctors must balance maintaining a growth mindset and refraining from committing mistakes when dealing with patients. 

[26:01] The Growth Mindset 

• It’s normal to fail when starting. Things get better through practice. 
• Everyone is capable of learning. 
• The consequences of our mistakes are usually trivial. They appear more severe than they really are because of the stories we make ourselves believe. 
• No one is born with a growth mindset. Everyone must find their own way.

[31:10] The Secret to Success 

• Hard work is necessary to build a successful business. 
• There will always be a few bumps and challenges along the road.  
• It’s a challenge to balance maintaining a happy family life and a flourishing business. 
• Working efficiently gives you more time to focus on things that matter. 

[33:02] Benefits of Efficient Work

• Less time for work.
• More time to spend with family.
• Provides other avenues to explore.

5 Powerful Quotes

[16:00] 'It's interesting to have goals and ambitions and quite tangible things that are doable. And then it's interesting that you can achieve them if they're there, and you want them enough.' 

 

[19:00] ‘There are so many businesses who grow and grow and grow. But then, actually, its directors aren't in any better of a position. It's just they've got a bigger empire. That's adding value to more and more people, but not necessarily to them and their lifestyle.’

[22:17] ‘The whole point about the growth mindset is you learn from your mistakes and mistakes are okay. And that's how life goes.’

[26:15] ‘It's that sticky middle part where we're rubbish at it, where we feel people are looking at us, we're being humiliated, we look stupid, or whatever the story is, that prevents us from being open to learning anything and knowing that we can.’ 

[27:54] ‘But what I see with most people around fixed and growth mindset is, the mistakes that they view as being threatening to their well-being are often so tiny. But they appear to be so huge, and so damaging based on those stories that we tell ourselves.’

About Simon

Simon Ratcliffe is a veterinarian and business owner of Kelperland Vet Centre. His company has provided exceptional care to animals for more than 50 years. 

His main clinical interest is surgery, especially orthopaedics. Simon is also recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) as an “Advanced Practitioner in General Small Animal Surgery”. Because of his great work for the community, he has been nominated multiple times for the Petplan Vet of the Year awards from 2015 to 2020. 

Outside of work, he is a loving husband to Camilla and a doting father to Elena and Theo. He is also a sportsman who enjoys swimming, surfing, cricket, and golf.

You can know more about Kelperland by visiting their website.     

Enjoy this Podcast?

It’s tough to balance a growing business and a family life, but Simon Ratcliffe shares with us how he did it. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, hit subscribe and share it with your friends! Everyone can find success by looking at their origins and building new connections.

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends discover all the learning experiences that life has to offer.

Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening! 

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Podbean. 

To meeting inspiration,

Angela

 

Effective Communication for Business with Juliette Maxam

Communication is something we do every day. It might seem to come to us effortlessly, but what we don’t recognize is that communication is far more complex than we think. Communicating isn’t just simply speaking to someone; it’s being able to deliver your message in a way other people will understand. Effective communication is integral to the success of every person, business, and organization. 

In this episode, Juliette Maxam reflects on her career in the field of communications. She discusses the skills you’ll need to have to be able to communicate effectively. Lastly, she imparts her insights on the secrets to success that will help you strike the perfect work-life balance, allowing you to live a satisfying life.

Listen to this episode to discover how effective communication can bring success and change.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Learn the essential skills for effective communication. 
2. Discover Juliette’s secrets to success.
3. Find out how you can balance your personal life and career.

Resources 

• Greater Anglia
• LADbible
• Essex Climate Action Commission
• Connect with Juliette: LinkedIn

Episode Highlights 

[2:25] Working from Home

• Juliette has been in back to back Zoom meetings since she started working from home.
• With a beautiful view of nature from her study, she misses walking to the office.
• As a journalist, she’s used to asking questions, so being the interviewee makes her nervous.

[4:27] Juliette’s Proudest Moment

• When asked about the three things she was proudest of, she mentioned that her three sons had a bit of a sibling rivalry.
• She’s extremely proud of her three sons. 
• One of the things she’s proudest of is her work at Greater Anglia and the changes she’s brought that benefits the company and customers.

[6:10] How She Brought Change to Greater Anglia

• When she started at Greater Anglia, their PR needed updating.
• Juliette realized the company’s need for effective communication, what they needed to do to achieve it.
• She put together a PR strategy, campaign plans, and new PR channels.
• Companies need their own news channels, so she worked with the marketing team to set up social media channels.
• She introduced new tactics, such as videos — which are useful because they can be repurposed in many ways — and podcasts, increasing their reputation.

[9:58] The Necessities in Effective Communication

• Aim to understand the needs of your customers.
• Use the language of the people you’re communicating with.
• You need to have good instincts and observe the world around you.
• Always be mindful of the person you’re communicating with to understand how you can communicate effectively.
• Anticipate people’s questions.

[14:34] Juliette’s Career

• Juliette is proud of her career.
• She started as a journalist, probably because of her curiosity, and had many exciting experiences before moving to communications.
• To achieve effective communication, you must get access to the people at the top to understand things better.
• She has always loved each job she’s done.

[17:53] Balancing Personal Life and Passion

• She’s not used to not being busy, and having free time feels alien to her despite her husband being supportive and taking care of the children.
• Two of her sons followed her footsteps into journalism and PR.
• She used to take her sons along with her on journalism jobs, and her eldest already did work experience at around 8 years old.
• She’s always wanted children and she’s enjoyed every minute of having them.
• Listen to the full episode to find out why they are a “crumpled household”!

[21:02] Being a Mother

• Being a mother means doing your best and being present for them.
• Juliette thinks she couldn’t be a full-time Mum because she’s been working since she was 13 years old.
• She feels defined by her job to a certain extent.

[23:41] Working as School Governor

• It's been 18 years that she’s been a school governor at her children’s primary school, which gave them an excellent foundation in life.
• Juliette also learned a lot from that school and wanted to give back to them.
• Media training is about shaping the message and preparing answers for questions.
• Using her skills from being a media spokesperson for the benefit of the children and parents at the school was special.
• Journalists feel equal to everyone and are prepared to ask questions while also empowering the people they’re communicating with.

[31:18] The Secrets to Success

• Be passionate, enthusiastic, and open to learning.
• Don’t think it’s too late to pursue something.
• Be happy and satisfied with what you’re doing.
• Make realistic to-do lists and regulate your workload.
• Prioritization involves knowing what’s important to persevere in and what to be flexible about.

5 Powerful Quotes

[10:18] ‘... it’s about never being sucked in to all of that corporate jargon, you know, never setting yourself off as a little bit different because you work for the railway. And therefore, the people that you’re communicating to need to start using your language, always remembering that you need to use the language of the people you’re communicating to.’

[27:01] ‘It’s about helping them to shape the messaging they're going to use, which is obviously that’s a huge part of my job. And just getting them to think about what answers they can give what the questions might be.’

[29:07] ‘Because when you’re a journalist, you feel on equal level with anybody, you know, you’re prepared to ask questions of anybody, whether it be, you know, the person at the top of an organization or, you know, so-called at the bottom of the organization...’

[35:38] ‘... it’s better to do a few things well than loads and loads and loads of things not particularly very well at all.’

[36:06] ‘... [prioritization] about knowing what's important to persevere with and what you need to be flexible about.’

 

About the Guest 

Juliette Maxam is a professional in the communications field. As Media and Public Relations Manager in Greater Anglia, she has devised PR strategies and successfully runs a busy press office.

She formerly worked as a journalist and media spokesperson. With her vast experience and refined skills in communication, she contributed to Greater Anglia by devising and implementing new communication and PR strategies. Since she started, Greater Anglia has been shortlisted for 4 CIPR awards and a Rail Business Award for Marketing and Communications Excellence. 

If you want to know more about Juliette, you can connect with her via LinkedIn.

Enjoy this Podcast?

As Juliette looks back on her career, she shares her joys and proudest moments, and the skills that brought her to where she is today. If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, hit subscribe and share it with your friends! Everyone can find success by looking at their origins and building new connections.

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts through a review. You can also share it to help your family and friends discover how to learn more from their life experiences.

Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening! 

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Podbean. 

To meeting inspiration,

Angela