Feel the fear and retire anyway! How exactly did Mark Curtis retire before 50?
Leadership & Life Chat
Four years, 131 episodes, 38 guests and three presenters later, it’s time to say goodbye to the Leadership & Life Chat ‘band’ as we know it. In this episode, original presenter, James Lay, makes a triumphant return and, alongside Becky, questions Mark on exactly how he’s been able to pre-plan and orchestrate his retirement at only 49, and the lessons he’s learnt on the way. Mark is, as always, open about his views on taking control of one's life, and recognising choices while always having a focus on a roadmap for the future, both in business and personal life. The team...
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Leading through anxiety – Let’s get philosophical with Garath Symonds
Leadership & Life Chat
In this episode, Garath Symonds, the founder of Reconnect Coaching, joins Mark and Becky to discuss his upcoming book, ‘The Anxious Leader’. They explore how anxiety impacts decision-making and leadership, the importance of rational thinking and ego reflection, as well as strategies for tolerating anxiety as opposed to rejecting it. They delve into the role of meditation and self-reflection for leaders, along with managing trauma's impact and the importance of vulnerability and psychological safety in top level roles, and ultimately, embracing life’s lessons. Tune in for fascinating...
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S8 Ep2 The war on talent rages on! The impact of the Great Resignation, with Steve Jacobs from WTW
Leadership & Life Chat
In a world of quiet quitting and the ‘Great Resignation’, what should employers be doing to keep their best people? This week Mark chats to Steve Jacobs, a director at WTW, to discuss the importance of employee benefits and how to navigate the ever-changing trends in the workplace. With the shift in employee expectations post COVID-19, and a focus on flexibility and work-life balance, they look at the differences between employer and employee perspectives on what constitutes a ‘benefit’ now and, in particular, what employees sometimes value above money. They discuss...
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S8 Ep1 - It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top – with campaigner and award-winning leader, Nick Jonsson
Leadership & Life Chat
You might not think this topic applies to you – but it’s a conversation that might be important for someone you love. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains mention of drug addiction, depression and suicide We open the LAST EVER series of the podcast with Mark and Becky chatting to Nick Jonsson in one of our most frank, honest and powerful episodes surrounding the often brutal reality of leadership and its toll. Nick opens up about his personal journey with executive loneliness and his own ‘rock bottom’, what led him to seek help, and his path to creating a safe space for...
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S7 E5. If music be the food of success, rock on?
Leadership & Life Chat
Do you listen to music whilst you work? There are countless studies and arguments on whether music can really make us more productive. We often hear radios playing in forecourts, offices and shops, and since the launch of Spotify and shrinking of headphones, playing music at work has become much less frowned upon. But what is the scientific impact on our brains? Should we be encouraging or discouraging our teams to embrace Beethoven whilst working? (or in Marks case, Metallica…) GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at . We’d also...
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S7 E4. How not to be a bad boss, with coach and TEDx speaker Rob Kalwarowsky
Leadership & Life Chat
This conversation is far from a laugh riot, but is a fascinating insight into the reality of what it’s like for many teams members out there right now working under bad bosses. The stats will blow your mind! Fearless Organisation Practitioner Rob Kalwarowsky, famous for his speech ‘How to Avoid Becoming an As*hole Boss’; outlines the 6 different destructive leader types: • The arrogant or violent boss • Abusive narcissist • Messy boss • Cowardly boss (ghost managers) • Passive aggressive boss •...
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S7 E3. Chaos, in theory?
Leadership & Life Chat
In this episode we talk all things chaos theory. No, not the ‘interdisciplinary area of scientific study and branch of mathematics focused on underlying patterns and deterministic laws of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions’ (thanks Wikipedia). Rather, how our unpredictable behaviour can impact our work and those around us. Mark and Becky discuss how there’s a difference between chaotic and energetic, how the differences impact our productivity, and how the pros and cons of what can be perceived as chaos in the workplace impact our relationships. GET...
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S7 E2. What’s in your stress bucket? With solution-focused psychotherapist, Gin Lalli
Leadership & Life Chat
Psychotherapist, Gin Lalli, supports people in finding practical solutions for mental fitness when feeling out of control, and how to avoid negative thinking with the aim of limiting your stress. Stress is a consequence of negative thinking, and the responses come from the part of your brain that is designed to keep you safe – they were vital for survival in caveman days, but we don’t need them daily in 2024. We can retrain our brains to understand that thoughts and internal chatter are NOT facts. It takes time and commitment, but it is possible. Gin outlines the scientific role sleep...
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S7 E1. Should leaders be ruthless or rigorous? Examining the work of Jim Collins
Leadership & Life Chat
We are back for series 7! Loyal listeners will know that Mark and Becky are huge fans of Jim Collins, so they decided it was time to dive deep into his work, and look at the seven key questions he claims all leaders need to ask themselves. They outline how each question can help with recruitment and retaining our talented people! Jim once said leaders should be “rigorous, not ruthless.” Can this really be applied to success? GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at . We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple...
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S6 E6. Silence your inner critic with coach Kamini Wood
Leadership & Life Chat
Do you think you’ve grown as a person, or as a leader, or have you allowed your challenges or failures to hold you back? Human Potential Coach Kamini Wood is passionate about helping people to understand their worth and grow their personal and professional paths, or as she puts it, “I mess with how people think!” Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? You don’t fit in? What do you allow your inner critic to tell you? Kamini started her journey into personal development after realising, as a mother of five, she needed to start adopting a more conscious parenting tactic, as she was...
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[Book] Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World - Cal Newport
[Book] A Legacy: What the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life - James Kurt
[Book] The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
[Book] The Obstacle is The Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage - Ryan Holiday
[Book] How to Win - Sir Clive Woodward
Top tips timestamps:
1 – Connection, collaboration, and working together: 1:09:38
2 – ABCDE Model; imposter syndrome: 1:10:59
3 - Don't rush; enjoy the journey: 1:12:40
(c) Larking Gowen