The Leader Unmasked Podcast

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The Leader Unmasked is the podcast where leaders strip away the persona and share the turning points that changed everything. Hosted by Angela Cox, Paseda360 Founder and award-winning coach, each conversation goes beneath the surface to uncover what happened when they retired the pretender and chose to lead as their true selves. These are the stories behind the success—the brave decisions, the uncomfortable truths, and the defining moments that shaped who they are today. This is leadership unfiltered. Real people. Real turning points. Unmasked.

Episodes

Monday Feb 21, 2022

#84 - Dr Simon Ratcliffe - Managing Partner, Kelperland Veterinary Centre

Monday Feb 21, 2022

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:

Discover how to balance business and family life
Unravel the power of manifestation
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

Monday Feb 07, 2022

#83 Juliette Maxam -Media & PR Lead for Greater Anglia

Monday Feb 07, 2022

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:

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

Resources

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

Monday Jan 24, 2022

#82 - Professor Dave Cooper - Head of Business School, University of Chichester

Monday Jan 24, 2022

Sustainable Success: Turn Obstacles into Learning Experiences with Dave Cooper

Life’s never going to be a perfectly smooth road. Everyone’s going to face challenges: mental health problems, imposter syndrome, dropping out of school — the list goes on. But it’s not the end. It’s never too late. Every struggle, every obstacle — approach them with curiosity and optimism, and you can transform them from roadblocks into learning experiences.

In this episode, Dave Cooper shares the proudest moments in his career in education. He also teaches us to have a positive attitude towards education and find a way to learn from every experience. Lastly, he shares his secrets to sustainable success.

Listen to this episode if you want to discover how curiosity and optimism create learning experiences.

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

Discover Dave’s proudest moments in his educational career.
Learn Dave’s secret to creating sustainable success through learning experiences.
Develop a positive mindset towards education and imposter syndrome.

Resources

Be original. Be inspired. Be you with the University of Chichester Website.
Capgemini
Cellnet
Connect with Dave: LinkedIn

Episode Highlights

[3:19] Dave’s First Proudest Moment

For both him and his colleagues, seeing their students graduate is a privilege.
Dave believes that everyone has to experience graduation.
COVID impeded graduation ceremonies, so they waited and invited all the graduates to come along.

[5:44] Supporting Students

Students often enter business and management because their parents want them to pursue a degree. However, they are unsure of which direction they want to take.
This phenomenon is common in young people. They often realise midway through that these courses aren't for them and leave.
Dave always supports his students' decisions but tries to ensure that they're making them for the right reasons.
Dave will help a student dissect their choices, almost like a SWOT analysis.
Mental health concerns have been more prevalent in the last year, so they try to provide support.

[8:50] The Importance of Finding Learning Experiences in Life

There’s always an opportunity to return to education when you’re ready.
Mature students bring so much experience into the classroom and even strengthen the relevance of what they teach.
Experience and knowledge outside the university could bring students to the level of a postgraduate program.

[10:06] Dave’s Second Proudest Moment

Dave is proud of giving his inaugural lecture as a newly appointed professor in which his children, colleagues, and people from the university and the region were present.
He still gets nervous before a presentation, but the keys to beating nerves are structure and rehearsal.
When speaking in front of people, there’s a particular style, and it’s crucial to insert some humour to get people on your side.
Dave suffers from impostor syndrome every day. But it keeps him at the top of his game and teaches him not to take things for granted.
In a way, impostor syndrome helps you be humble and honest with yourself.

[15:24] Dave’s Family Life

He’s proud of his kids, all of whom have an entrepreneurial spirit.
His eldest has gotten his PhD in computational microbiology. He started his own business in Canada, where he uses advanced computational techniques to treat cancer.
He talks to his son through social media, but he misses being able to hug him.
He has twins: his son is a digital nomad and works in civil engineering, and his daughter is an immersive theatre actor.
Dave is currently engaged.

[19:04] Dave’s Third Proudest Moment

Dave was Capgemini’s Program Director for their telecommunications sector.
They were in charge of delivering the billing system for Cellnet before the turn of the millennium; otherwise, it would be chaos.
They created vignettes of people that have done remarkable things.
Once they had achieved it, there was a sense of relief and satisfaction followed by a momentary recovery.

[24:17] Dave’s Secret to Success

Dave talks about sustainable success.
In sustainable success, it’s essential to maintain curiosity and remain optimistic. Look for learning experiences wherever you can.
Hold on to strong values, respect others, and encourage innovation.
We judge and are judged not by what we say we do but by what we do.

5 Powerful Quotes

[6:26] ‘... if a student is taking that view [that this path isn’t for them], it’s a very positive decision because they’re taking responsibility for their future in their learning. And so we would support them [...] What I would do is make sure that they’re taking the decision for the right reasons.’

[11:56] ‘... what you’ve got to do is practice, you’ve got to rehearse. If you’re giving a presentation to lots of people that you’ve never really engaged with, you just got to prepare.’

[13:04] 'I think people look at it and think it's a negative thing. It doesn't need to be. I think it's about being honest with yourself. Understand why you’re there. But equally, try not to let it impact on your relationships with other people.’

[25:11] 'We judge people, and I expect myself to be judged not by what I say I do, but what I do.'

[25:36] ‘Every leader needs a big box of well done for our teams, a tin of persistence, a bottle of ambition, and a pack of tissues.’

About the Guest

Dave Cooper is the Professor of Management and Economic Development and the Head of Business School at the University of Chichester. As Head of Department, he is responsible for developing, monitoring, and implementing new courses and programmes.

He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Computer Integrated Manufacturing. He formerly worked in the Aerospace industry and Capgemini. Joining the University of Chichester in 2003, he won several EU-funded research programmes. Dave is also a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

If you want to know more about Dave, you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

Enjoy this Podcast?

Dave walks us through his career in education and emphasises the importance of curiosity and optimism in his journey. 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.

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

Monday Jan 10, 2022

#81 - Charlie Wagstaff - Managing Director Criticaleye

Monday Jan 10, 2022

Following Your Life Path with Charlie Wagstaff

Life is full of ups and downs. Sometimes, you might even feel that the whole world is against you. But everything happens for a reason and you have the power to create your destiny.

In this episode, Charlie Wagstaff discusses his life journey and its golden nuggets. If you think being the second choice and not fitting in isn’t good, he’s about to change your mind. He shares his insights and realizations from his family and career. Lastly, he talks about believing in yourself and making an impact on the world.

If you want to find out how you can grab hold of your destiny, this episode is for you!

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

Find out why being the second choice is a good thing.
Learn how to understand other people’s perspectives.
Discover out how to control your destiny.

Resources

Coaching with Angela Cox
Listen to The Mindset Mentor
Connect with Charlie Wagstaff: LinkedIn
Criticaleye

Episode Highlights

[02:22] A Peek into Charlie’s Shed

Everyone needs a space to work due to COVID and his was a potting shed.
Charlie likes being there because there’s a lot of light and he can see clearly in it. The shed serves as an escape.

[04:32] Being the Second Choice

Rather than shaking his pom-poms, Charlie feels more comfortable talking about how he acquired or built up his proudest moments.
One of his pom-poms is he’s been the second choice on numerous occasions.
Being the second choice made him realize not being liked by everyone is okay as long as he does the right thing.
Listen to the full episode to find out the many times Charlie was the second choice — and how amazing those experiences turned out!

[10:49] Believing in Yourself

As long as you believe in what you’re doing, everything will work out fine.

Some things are just meant to happen.
These things happen for a reason. They probably made you tougher and more resilient–making you believe you fought for it whether you have or not.

[13:14] Was Charlie Second Choice With His Wife?

Charlie said he would ask her if he was her second choice.
They waited to marry because they wanted to find the right person.
His parents’ divorce impacted him and his brother differently. Despite their differences, Charlie and his brother love each other greatly.

[14:22] Understanding Others

Get out of your comfort zone; there’s always something out there you can relate to.
Finding something to relate to gives comfort, which makes you feel safe to explore.
Charlie has always loved other people’s perspectives because it replenishes him; on the other hand, parochialism disadvantages people.
While watching Happy Valley, he’s reminded that people’s perspectives are based on their individual experiences.

[16:11] Knowing Your Limits

Understanding other people’s perspectives is a coping tactic.
Observing yourself and other people allows you to learn so much and empowers you.
But it’s also important to buck certain things off and remember that there’s only so much you can do to help others.

[17:19] Controlling Your Destiny

You can control destiny.
Working in the corporate world, Charlie learned a lot but he also worked with lots of bullies. He didn’t know how to deal with them.
To create your own path, determine what path that is and take control.
The corporate world is tough but he learned a lot on transitioning and backing yourself.

[18:53] Fostering Self-Belief and Forging Ahead

Sit back and reflect.
His family has a history of doing their own thing — some things were successful while others didn’t quite work out.
If you hit a wall, there’s always a way around it.
His family is a sanctuary for him, and family can be found in different places.

[24:21] Charlie’s Family

Because of his father’s absence, he didn’t think he wanted children.
While his brother was unable to accept their father, Charlie needed to accept him to move to the next stage of his life.
Children need autonomy to allow them to develop in their own way.

[27:13] Making an Impact

He wants to leave the world a better place than when he came in.
Sustainability, understanding consumerism, and taking ownership are some of the things that concern him.
Everyone is capable of making an impact on the world.

[29:48] Charlie’s Life Journey

It’s been wonderful building something with his colleagues.
There might be frustrations. But they believe in what they’re doing and doing it slowly because the world can’t be changed overnight.
He feels grateful to have the opportunity to work with and learn from amazing people.

[31:27] Defining Success

Being different doesn’t make you a victim, it makes you unique.
People often want to fit in that they don’t realize their uniqueness sets them apart and should be celebrated.

5 Powerful Quotes

[05:39] “... you can’t be liked by everyone. And that’s okay. It’s a real sort of moment of realization that as long as you do the right thing, and it feels sits well with you, that’s important.”

[14:34] “It’s okay because there’s always something there that you’ll find that you can relate to. And if you can find something you can relate to, then it gives you that comfort. If you’ve got that bedrock, that comfort, then you can explore from there. You can navigate from there.”

[18:01] “... if you were going to create your own path, you need to determine what that is and take control.”

[21:29] “If you watch water flow down a stream, it hits a stone then navigates around it. And you just got to do that in life. There’s always a way around it.”

[31:38] “Being different does not make you a victim, it makes you unique.”

About Charlie

Charlie Wagstaff is MD and a co-founder of Criticaleye. With his diverse industry background, he has a unique understanding of the challenges and leadership issues that plague today’s global senior executives.

Before founding Criticaleye in 2002, he was based in Harare, Zimbabwe and oversaw 16 commodity businesses employing more than 30,000 employees. Charlie has also worked in local government in the UK in an industrial relations capacity during periods of major employment legislation upheaval.

If you want to know more about Charlie, you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

Enjoy this Podcast?

It’s tough to navigate and journey through life, and Charlie Wagstaff shares how he did it and what he learned so you can find something valuable in his story, too. 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.

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

Monday Jan 03, 2022

#80 - The Strategy for Staying Strong - Angela Cox

Monday Jan 03, 2022

The Strategy of Staying Strong

Adversities are inevitable, especially when you're facing a mountain of health and financial issues. When you're at the end of your rope, you uncover something important: sometimes, being strong is the only option. Without strength and resilience, you may feel strangled by anxiety and hesitations. It's tempting to dwell on your emotions during difficult situations, but we must not linger there forever. Tough times call for us to dust ourselves off and prepare to face our problems head-on.

In this episode, Angela talks about her husband's accident and how staying strong helped her during tough times. She also shares the ten lessons she learned to maintain her strength during a turbulent era in her life. She hopes that by imparting her wisdom, you can also find the strength to ride out the storm.

If you want to know how to stay strong despite the odds, this episode is for you!

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

Uncover the ten lessons to staying strong
Understand how staying strong can guide you in difficult situations.
Discover ways to survive tough times in your life

Resources

Coaching with Angela Cox
Listen to The Mindset Mentor
Connect with Angela Cox : LinkedIn

Episode Highlights

[02:02] 2021’s Challenge for Angela

Angela’s husband suffered from a head injury last 2021. It was the most stressful five months of her life. Listen to the entire episode to hear the full story.
Many people kept telling her to stay strong until she felt sick hearing it. Angela just wanted things to go back to normal.
Our lowest points push us out of our comfort zone and make us improve.

[06:16] Lesson#1: You Can Do It

Remind yourself that you are capable of getting through adversity.
Recognising your strengths allows you to face the troubles ahead.
The belief that she could deal with anything gave Angela the power to get through all difficulties she experienced during her husband’s accident.

[10:24] Lesson#2: Be In the Present

You may still experience fear no matter how determined you feel.
When you feel afraid, let go and be in the present moment.
Mindfulness releases us from negative thinking. Tune in to the full episode to learn how repeating the ‘satnav’ helped Angela remain grounded in the present.
Practising mindfulness doesn't come naturally. We need to make a conscious effort to apply it to our lives.

[14:44] Lesson#3: Choose What to Prioritise

Many personal and professional changes happened in Angela's life after the accident. To cope, she had to revisit her priorities.
Some situations called for her to give up on self-care temporarily to get things done.
Focus on matters critical in that moment instead of exhausting yourself by trying to accomplish everything.
You can pick up some of the things you previously deprioritised to get back on track.
Choosing the path of least resistance allows you to do what’s necessary.

[20:51] Beauty in Vulnerability

There’s beauty in allowing yourself to be vulnerable.
It makes you appreciate yourself and your strength within.

[21:51] Lesson#4: There’s Always a Way

There were times when Angela felt stuck. But what gave her strength is believing there will always be a solution available.
When you encounter a roadblock in your life, find the courage to take action. Listen to the full episode to hear how Angela fought to keep her husband in the hospital.
You might not make the correct choice, but it will still propel you forward.
Getting no answers doesn't mean there’s no solution. You’re probably just in the wrong place.

[29:37] Lesson#5: Visualise an Outcome

Create a vision where the adversity will end on a positive note.
Sticking to your vision gives hope that everything will be okay.
Angela’s visualisation made her strong for her family.

[34:11] Lesson#6: Accept Help

It's difficult to juggle everything when you're going through a challenging situation.
Asking for other people’s help takes off the weight on your shoulders.
Be specific about what you're offering.
Accepting support makes you stronger.
Recognise that people genuinely want to extend a hand. You don't need to feel indebted to them.

[39:55] Lesson#7: It’s Okay to Shut Down

Angela feels overwhelmed when she opens up with someone. Shutting down was the best strategy for her to stay strong.
Opening up her difficult emotions to people dissipates her strength.
Instead of talking to someone, she would express her thoughts and feelings on Instagram or record them.
Process what you felt after the adversity.

[46:06] Lesson#8: Be True

Finding your voice gives you strength. For Angela, she was outspoken about what she believed was right for her family during her husband’s hospitalisation.
It’s a challenge to be authentic when you’re at your lowest.
Don’t accept anything that will erode your truth—even during your darkest times.

[50:20] Lesson#9: Everything Shall Pass

Over time, all the difficult experiences shall pass.
Knowing that tough times won’t exist forever provides strength.

[53:10] Lesson#10: Rebuild

People’s strength runs out. We need time to rebuild ourselves.
Determine the steps you need to take to recover and commit to it.

5 Powerful Quotes

[02:57] “When we're at our weakest, we're actually at our strongest. We're very much pushing against the comfort zone.”

[20:03] “When you're needing to stay strong, and you don't have a choice, there's only a few things that matter. And that is about getting up in the morning with that determination to be able to get through and go into bed at night, knowing that you've done your best, and everything else can wait.”

[27:41] "I didn't always get it right. The ways that I chose weren't always the right ways. But they moved us forward. They might not have moved us a giant leap, and they might have meant that we took a sidestep, but we were making positive progress."

[38:00] “You can't always do it all yourself. And you can allow yourself, Angela Cox, to trust that people will do stuff.”

[49:14] “You don't want to do anything that is going to erode that true version of you. And every time you attempt to people please, you shut up–when you should be speaking up. You say yes when you should be saying no. Every time you do that you erode a sense of you. And that erodes your strength."

Enjoy this Podcast?

Angela walks us through how we can survive tough times–even if we feel like giving up. 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.

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

Monday Dec 13, 2021

#79 - Eleanor Foley - Solution Delivery Manger, Novartis

Monday Dec 13, 2021

A Human Connection: Beating the Odds through Kindness

As women, we tend to underestimate our capabilities when pursuing a professional career. Our self-esteem further diminishes when people belittle our accomplishments because of our gender. However, the key to success doesn't lie in your origin or gender but your strengths. Everyone can reach the same heights and create the human connections necessary to get to the top. Eleanor Foley is an inspirational figure who proves that success is always within reach, no matter the odds.

In this episode, Eleanor Foley describes her challenging journey as a single mother towards professional success. She also reveals the proudest moments in her life as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how trust and a human connection are the keys to success. Before she concludes, she spills her secret to being a successful leader.

Listen to this episode to see how forging real human connections on your journey is the path to success.

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

Discover Eleanor’s proudest moments in her leadership pursuit.
Learn how Eleanor's ability to forge a human connection proved to be the secret to her success.
Know what it takes to thrive as a leader in modern industries.

Resources

Map Out the Life that You Deserve with Angela
Connect with Eleanor: LinkedIn
At Novartis, we are reimagining medicine.

Episode Highlights

[3:39] Eleanor’s Proudest Moments

She believes that every day is made up of really proud moments.
Eleanor takes pride in many things — watching her daughter, for example, or simple achievements.
Eleanor acquired an MBA while being a single mother and a full-time employee.
Her MBA opened many doors that were previously closed — including a job at Microsoft.
Although Eleanor landed a job at Microsoft, her sense of achievement came not from the job but from completing her MBA.

[7:59] Conversations on Perseverance

On April 1, Eleanor was burnt out, almost reaching the point of fatigue while still having to submit her thesis.
Like a Phoenix, it's okay to fall as long as you rise again afterwards.
Find the ‘spark’ somewhere within you and ignite it.
Even though you have the best support system, it’s still useless if you don’t believe that you can do it.
Removing an element of perfection is crucial to getting the job done.

[11:19] The ‘Unbossed’ Culture

Eleanor works for Novartis, where they practice unbossed culture.
In an unbossed culture, employees don't have to ask for permission to do anything. Everyone is 100% accountable for their actions and the results thereof.
Employees, therefore, have significantly more freedom and agency in how they operate.
The culture is results-driven while providing you with the autonomy of work-life balance.

[13:52] The Essence of Trust in Work

Novartis has an efficient and effective professional culture because of trust.
Employers and employees both have to earn each other's trust.
Work quality will increase when there's a human connection between employers and employees.
The value of trust is magnified when we focus on the person behind the work rather than the job itself.
Employers need to remember that employees want to do the best for the company as much as they do.

[16:12] Eleanor’s Road to Full-time in Novartis

All of Eleanor's work-from-home experiences revolved around trust.
At Novartis, Eleanor was impressed with the way employees and employers treat and interact with each other.
Over 1 weekend 90,000 people in Novartis had to start working virtually because of the shut downs caused by COVID, yet the company still trusts their employees to fulfil their jobs.

[17:58] The Trusted Advisor Role

Everything starts within yourself.
Being an advisor requires two things: that you are well-versed in your subject matter and that your advice is reliable and beneficial.
Giving trustworthy advice also builds reputation; consequently, being a trusted advisor also translates into leadership skills.
Advisory roles encourage you to support people when they make mistakes.
Create a learning environment.

[20:53] Eleanor as a Proud Mother

Another one of Eleanor’s proudest moments is being a mother.
She taught herself ways to maintain a good relationship with her daughter. A significant portion of that is choosing her battles.
Maintaining a human connection and open communication with her daughter is vital. Parents need the courage to talk about sensitive issues but also know the right time to discuss them.

[25:12] Eleanor’s Guide to Parenting

Children need to process their emotions themselves before expressing them.
No manual in the world will explain how to fix your child's issues instantaneously.
Most importantly, nobody knows your child better than you do. If anything, trust your parental instincts.
Your child is entitled to their emotions and their own space.
Every child is a unique individual; you need to adapt to what your child is and will become.

[29:03] Growth as a Double-Edged Sword

We sometimes berate ourselves whenever we fail to do or be more than what we are.
It’s too easy to think that we need to be improving constantly, preventing us from accepting ourselves.
You grow by accepting yourself and having the willingness to change.
Everyone is seeking pure happiness. Don’t allow external influences to define what that means for you.

[33:17] Eleanor as a Mentor

She shares that women shouldn’t underestimate their cognitive skills because of their gender. Instead, they should focus on building themselves and other women who don’t believe in themselves.
We shouldn’t normalise categorising work based on gender. Men and women can have equal mental and physical abilities.
Eleanor is proud of the opportunity to mentor young women in a male-dominated industry, encouraging them to pursue their goals no matter what.
Your strengths should define you, not your gender or culture.
Lastly, she emphasises the importance of being your authentic self when showing up in front of people.

[39:48] The Human Connection: Eleanor’s Secret

Human connection has been the heart of Eleanor’s success.
Be kind and understanding; look at the individuals around you. They’re human too.
Success comes from communication, openness, honesty, and trust.
Trust that your employees' intentions toward the company are positive.

[42:09] The Art of Smiling

A simple act of smiling and eye contact could brighten up someone's day.
People looking at you strangely when you smile at them indicates that it is not a rare occurrence.
Smiling is contagious as it makes them reciprocate the gesture.
When you smile at a person, it creates a genuine human connection.

5 Powerful Quotes

[8:49] ‘It's okay to fall down, you know, but you just got to get back up like the Phoenix out of them.’

[14:04] ‘If you don't trust your workers, you're not going to get trust back from them. And it's earned both ways.’

[19:54] ‘If you're going to mentor somebody, if you're going to lead a team of people, you have to allow them to make mistakes.’

[22:37] ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can and wisdom to know the difference.’

[29:08] ‘We do challenge ourselves by trying to be more than what we are, and then beating ourselves up for not being that.’

About the Guest

Eleanor Foley is the living proof of a powerful woman. As a Solution Delivery Manager in Novartis, she mentors many women in breaking through a male-dominated software industry.

Her leadership skills and vast experience in digital transformations helped build strong relationships with a remotely located service provider and create a climate of trust in her team. As an excellent manager, she implements a robust change to her management approach in ensuring quality operations. Currently, Eleanor resides in Ireland with her 19-year-old daughter.

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

Enjoy this Podcast?

As Eleanor recalls her experiences, she realises a trusting environment and genuine human connections led her to success. 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.

The Podcast has recently been voted in the top 10 most inspirational Podcasts!

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

Monday Nov 29, 2021

#78 - Holly Joint - Digital Transformation Exec, UAE

Monday Nov 29, 2021

Victorious in Last Place: The Winning Mindset with Holly Joint

They say life is a race. We must run towards our dreams before our time on earth ends. So, we set deadlines for our goals, and if we don’t meet them, we feel frustrated and hopeless. We are in such a hurry to reach the finish line that we lose ourselves in the process. But here is the truth: life was never about who comes in first. Success is an attitude; the winning mindset is about enjoying one’s journey to success no matter how long it takes.

In this episode, Holly Joint shares all about her experiences that led to her success. She details how coming last in an ultramarathon became one of the proudest moments of her life. She also talks about how framing problems as opportunities can reduce stress. Finally, Holly discusses how being open to unexpected opportunities can lead to success.

Listen to this episode to discover how staying curious and keeping a winning mindset on your journey can bring success.

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

Discover Holly’s three proudest moments and gather wisdom from them.
Learn Holly’s winning mindset and secret to success.
Know what it takes to thrive in the digital industry.

Resources

Map Out the Life that You Deserve with Angela
Connect with Holly: LinkedIn
Grab a bite of healthy homemade meals at Serves Gourmet!

Episode Highlights

[4:27] Proudest Moment # 1: Coming Last in an Ultramarathon

Back in 2019, Holly decided to join an ultramarathon in Kazakhstan five weeks before the event.
She did not have the right gear or training. To make things worse, she was recovering from a running injury.
Holly felt most proud of herself during the second marathon when she was determined to keep going despite the pain and humiliation she felt.
Holly placed last, but she was still proud of herself. The experience of coming last and not being the best was humbling.
Listen to the whole episode to know the surprising ending to Holly’s ultramarathon experience!

[11:06] Finding the Resilience to Keep Going

Seeing someone come last and still feel proud of it sets an example of a winning mindset for children.
Holly kept going because she wanted to share her ultramarathon story with her children.
Your suffering is more mental than physical.
If you dig deep and believe you can accomplish something, you will succeed.
Tune in to the full episode to hear more about Holly’s personal life and her need for adventure!

[13:26] Proudest Moment # 2: Reframing Problems as Opportunities

Holly had to balance long working hours and taking care of her kids during the lockdown.
She was under a huge amount of pressure and found herself lashing out at her kids.
She later realised that the lockdown was not a burden but an opportunity to spend time with her children.
Everyone needs to learn to adapt to the circumstances.
By understanding all this and letting some things go, Holly realised she is also capable of helping her team with the pressure they’re also feeling.

[18:06] About Holly’s Family and Adapting During the Lockdown

Holly’s husband has a food business called Serves Gourmet.
The lockdown gave her children an opportunity to become independent. They needed to manage their own things and time.
It also created a space to explore their creativity.

[21:44] Proudest Moment # 3: Not Being Intentional About Her Career

To cultivate a winning mindset, we must be intentional about our careers. But we must also be open to unexpected opportunities.
We must challenge ourselves and get out of our comfort zones.
Holly started in Accenture, where she could have had a linear progression up the ladder. But since then, she has tried out all sorts of opportunities.
To feel authentic in her career, Holly had to change and be uncomfortable. Looking back at her whole journey, she feels proud.
Listen to the whole podcast and learn why Holly’s career was like a roller coaster ride: from participating in the 2022 World Cup bid to working for a start-up to setting up a whole business from scratch!

[26:16] How to Thrive in the Digital Industry as a Woman

Be open and excited about learning emerging technologies.
Do your research.
Stay open-minded and curious.
Value diversity and the opportunity it gives for innovation. Be fascinated with people and their origins.
Tune in to the full episode to hear more insights from Holly’s journey!

[30:21] What Holly Had to Work on

Holly is sometimes overly driven. Holly had to learn not to be a bulldozer.
The journey to change takes time and can be enormously frustrating.
Patience is an important lesson to learn.

[32:15] The Winning Mindset: Holly’s Secret to Success

Success is a journey rather than a destination.
Put curiosity first before judgment. Curiosity leads to new opportunities.
You can be empathetic about someone if you're curious about them.
The scarcity mindset is counterintuitive to being successful. Think from a place of abundance, not fear.
Self-awareness also opens you up to growth. Stay humble and keep your feet on the ground.

5 Powerful Quotes

[10:36] ‘You can take part in something and know that you can come last and still feel really proud about it.'

[11:59] ‘When you dig deep and believe that you have the mindset to do it, you can actually do it.'

[22:38] ‘It's important not to be too intentional sometimes because I think you have to be open to slightly crazy opportunities.'

[29:05] 'Many of us don't realise that there is a perspective other than ours that is worth listening to and worth noting.'

[32:20] ‘Success [is] a journey rather than a destination.'

About the Guest

Holly Joint is a woman who delivers transformation. She's the head of the Major Programmes Office in Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and leads the group by focusing on ecosystems, disruption, innovation and governance.

Her leadership skills and vast experience in customer-centred digital transformations helped build and grow multiple businesses. She understands the change necessary for adapting to the world and the response and needs of customers. Currently, Holly resides in the United Arab Emirates with her husband and two children.

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

Enjoy this Podcast?

As Holly looks back into her experiences, she realises how staying curious and being open to unexpected opportunities led her to success. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets…, hit subscribe and share it with your friends! Everyone can cultivate a winning mindset 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. 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

Monday Nov 15, 2021

#77- Will Jennings - CEO Rabobank UK

Monday Nov 15, 2021

Finding Success in Life Experiences and Connections with Will Jennings

No matter how far you've come, you don't have to know everything. There is always something new to learn from life experiences and people whose paths you cross in our ever-changing world. It is essential to keep your mind open and find a thirst for learning to hone the successful person you could become. Today, our guest shows how embracing a growth mindset and finding meaning in the fundamentals of life reflect success.

In this episode, Will Jennings shares things he takes pride in that influenced the successful man he is today. He discusses picking up life lessons from everyday life experiences and keeping an eye for learning.

Tune in to this episode to discover valuable insights on what success really means and how life experiences and people play a significant role in your journey.

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

Find out Will’s three proudest moments and draw wisdom from them.
Learn Will’s secret to success.
Understand the value behind being okay with not knowing everything.

Resources

Map Out the Life that You Deserve with Angela
Connect with Will: LinkedIn

Episode Highlights

[02:32] Balancing Life and Work

The key is to leave early in the morning.
The remote work setup helped Will develop a second set of habits.
Now that people are transitioning out of the remote work setup, there’s a need for a third set of habits or redeveloping a new routine.
Working with a standing desk makes Will work better because movement and walking give him a different energy.

[06:58] Proudest Moment #1: Life Lessons and Experiences Growing Up

Will is proud of his experiences growing up — both good and bad — since they shaped him into who he is today.
He acknowledges his experiences growing up as the building blocks of his life today.
Who we are today is a result of where we came from.

[08:19] Will’s Building Blocks

Will grew up in West London, which was a very multicultural area back then.
Growing up in a melting pot exposed him to different people and cultures.
His education in London also influenced his beliefs and values.
His early years allowed him to build his character and try different things.

[10:57] Lessons from Childhood

Will wants to instil the value of commitment and work ethic in his children.
He wants to show the importance of being honest and staying present.
Will finds importance in trusting in yourself and your capabilities, and these are the basics that he wants to pass on to the next generation.

[16:05] Proudest Moment #2: Being Okay with Learning Things

Will takes pride in not knowing everything and being open to learning new things.
He is open-minded and has a thirst for learning.
For Will, the ability to pass on knowledge is part of finding solutions to issues.
Sometimes, we also need to listen and learn from other people’s perspectives.
His readiness to learn new things also allows him to connect with people and broaden his perspective.

[21:31] On His Thirst for Learning

For Will, it’s part of his role now as a leader.
Learning and unlearning are part of building connections with people and helping them reach their potential.
There is no rulebook on how to navigate the pandemic. It pushed Will to take a step back and learn how to manage people after all the physical and psychological changes.
Sometimes, you have to be humble and accept that you don’t know everything.

[25:36] On Leading an Organisation

Will says he does not want to give people a false sense of comfort that things will be okay.
Instead, he focuses on equipping people with tools that allow them to accept and face the volatility of reality.
As a leader, Will believes in being straightforward, enabling support, and allowing people to be open about their fears and aspirations.
It is essential to allow people to be vulnerable and encourage them to reach their full potential.

[34:18] Proudest Moment #3: The Company He Keeps

The people surrounding him are a never-ending source of inspiration, pride and optimism.
For Will, every persona meets plays a role in his life.
The interactions and connections he establishes are opportunities to gain new perspectives and learn.

[37:45] On Staying Present

Will admits that he struggles with being preoccupied with other things rather than staying present during family time.
It is essential to focus on things that you can control.

[42:02] Will’s Secret to Success

Understand what it is you’re trying to achieve.
Stay curious, learn new things, and listen.
Be fair in how you treat people.
Have the courage to take on any challenge.
Have a growth mindset.

5 Powerful Quotes

[11:14] “If you really do want something, and if you really do want to be somewhere, or to achieve something even if it’s for yourself… commit to it and really trust yourself to do it.”

[24:19] “You just have to be humble enough to accept the fact that you don’t have the answer.”

[27:48] “If you make sure you look after yourself, that you’re the best that you can be, that you’re delivering your potential, the result will take care of itself.”

[38:56] “And you should embrace what you can control because to think and worry and to be preoccupied with things that are outside your control is really to deal with it twice.”

[46:20] "You don't really fail — you just learn."

About the Guest

Will Jennings is the Chief Executive Officer of Rabobank in the UK. Before becoming the CEO, he worked as the Chief Risk Officer. Will is not only a loving leader and father but also a people person who has a love for lifelong learning.

If you want to know more about Will, you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

Enjoy this Podcast?

We’re all caught up in finding success and achieving great things. But we sometimes forget to take a step back and look at what is truly fundamental to success.

As Will humbly looks back at his experiences growing up, the more he continues to broaden his perspectives and find purpose in his life. 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.

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

Monday Nov 01, 2021

#76 - Tiffany Wilcox Chief Technology Officer at Marie Curie

Monday Nov 01, 2021

Tiffany Willcox’s Three Proudest Moments and Secret to Success

Straying away from who you are can hold you back. However, it’s normal not to have all things figured out. Today’s guest shows us that to be authentic, you need to undergo a process. It will take conscious effort, but it is worth it. After all, being true to who you are will allow you to shine the best way you can.

In this episode, Tiffany Willcox shares her three proudest moments in life and her secret to success. She talks about her journey to finding confidence and being a mother, mentor, and a woman in tech. She leaves us with valuable insights on living a full life by striving to be authentic and making an impact through her ways.

Tune in to this episode if you want to discover why embracing authenticity is key to elevating your success!

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

Tiffany shares her three proudest moments and what she’s learned from them.
Discover Tiffany’s secret to a successful life.
Learn why you should aim to be authentic and how it can propel you to success.

Resources

Coaching with Angela
Connect with Tiffany: LinkedIn

Episode Highlights

[4:53] Proudest Moment #1: Being on The Podcast

Tiffany is proud of being on The Mindset Mentor Meets...
She’s always doubted whenever people say she’s good at what she does. But she came to the podcast recognising her value and worth.
To get to this point, she embarked on a mentoring journey to help her unlock her confidence and identify her strengths.
Focusing and working on herself helped her find her voice and recognise her worth.
Being able to speak in front of other people is a milestone in her journey of accepting and loving herself more.

[11:52] Doing Charity Work

Tiffany decided to leave her company, Specsavers, in the middle of COVID to work for a charity.
During her interview, she made sure to be authentic and was clear on what she can contribute to the organisation.
Most people have a misconception that charities cannot afford innovation. However, their organisation has cutting-edge technology.
Tiffany feels lucky to be in her role now, as she values the feeling of contributing and helping other people around her.
She has gained more appreciation for life by being in the field of palliative care. Listen to the full episode to find out how Tiffany helps patients and their loved ones!

[17:17] Proudest Moment #2: Being A Mum

Tiffany’s mother passed away when her little one was still in her tummy. So, her early parenting years were a struggle.
She says juggling work and parenting nearly broke her, but she’s now got it more under control.
Seeing her children go out into the world and be the best they can be, she can’t help but feel proud.

[18:45] Parenting and Leadership

Arguably, parenting is the ultimate leadership role.
For Tiffany, it means giving young people a push without being pushy.
As a parent, she sometimes has to put aside her wants and desires to do what her sons want and listen to their side.

[22:31] Proudest Moment #3: Being A Mentor

Tiffany doesn’t have it all figured out, but she feels honoured that people seek advice or support from her.
She loves to help other people see the best versions of themselves.
She is not only proud to be a woman in the tech space, but also a leader.

[28:14] Tiffany’s Secrets to Success

The key is to be authentic, present in the moment, and curious.
Tiffany reminds us not to forget to have a little bit of fun.
Overcoming her shyness and fears helped her become successful.
Having curiosity can unlock your authenticity, as it helps tamper down your fear of the unknown.
The support system she receives from her husband is also instrumental to her success.

5 Powerful Quotes from this Episode

[7:12] “The only person responsible for my own journey is my own journey. And I focused myself on myself entirely.”

[20:02] “The converse to [parenting] being a good leadership role is actually really hard because you have to put your own wants and desires to one side and you have to do what they want.”

[28:40] “Combining that authenticity with that curiosity and being truly present it genuinely is a gift to yourself because you can then focus on what you're doing.”

[30:20] “I see curiosity as a real stepping stone, to unleash the authenticity. Because often what is in the way of authenticity is fear.”

[30:38] “Curiosity is the way that you can unlock the authenticity because you don’t have to know everything when you’re curious.”

About the Guest

Tiffany Wilcox is the Chief Technology Officer for the charity company Marie Curie. She is also a mentor, leader, and a loving mother of two who seeks to help other people find the best versions of themselves. Her passion for technology allows her to find solutions to better lives.

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

Enjoy this Podcast?

You may not have everything figured out, and that’s okay. What’s important is you strive to be authentic in all the things you do.

When Tiffany started to embrace her authenticity more, the more she was able to let her wings fly as a career woman, mother, and mentor. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets…, then hit subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, then you can share your thoughts through a review. You can also share it to help your family and friends improve on how they lead in their simple ways.

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

Sunday Oct 17, 2021

#75- Why ‘That’ll Do’ Won’t Do but Perfectionism Won’t Work Either with brain injury survivor Martin Cox

Sunday Oct 17, 2021

Someone with a goal is a force to be reckoned with. There’s no stopping them from planning for the future and making it a reality. They will make sure they’ll get to where they want to be and that everything will work out accordingly. But when something happens that drastically derails all your carefully laid out plans, you might be left staring at the wreckage and asking yourself, ‘So where do I go from here?’ And maybe thinking ‘I might as well give up’

In this episode, Angela’s husband Martin Cox shares his struggles with a brain injury during the past four months. With their family’s life plans thwarted and his health at a low point, he and Angela discuss how they got back on their feet. They did so by sticking to their goals and being open to changing the route to get there, being prepared to learn new things along the way.

Are you feeling discouraged because things aren’t working out the way you planned? Do you feel that perfectionism or ‘that’ll do’ mentality is holding you back? Then, this episode is for you!

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

Hear about the challenging time Martin and Angela went through and how they are fighting back.
Find out how to get back on track when things don’t go according to how you’re planning for the future.
Discover the key to turning away from perfectionism while also not tolerating mediocrity.

Resources

Connect with Martin: LinkedIn
Coaching with Angela

Episode Highlights

[1:01] Adapting to Drastic Life Changes

Early this summer, Angela and Martin were looking forward to a new lifestyle, a new job for Martin, a location move from the countryside to the middle of town.
They wanted to do so for better opportunities for their entire family.
As they were preparing to move, tragedy struck. On 19th June, whilst on an overnight trip to Swansea, Martin had a serious brain injury and was in and out of consciousness.
Through a recording, Angela shares how Martin’s memories, speech and walking ability were impaired.

[09:43] Planning for the Future and Sticking to the Plan vs Sticking to a Goal

Though he feels strange listening to the recording of himself and being aware of how tough it was for his family, Martin is glad to be feeling well again.
Despite what he went through, the goal of building a new life remained the same. However, how they would get there became different from their original plan.
While having a specific goal drives you forward, your plan on getting there has to remain adaptable, so it won’t be troublesome to manage.
In the hospital, Martin was able to think and work things out.
The experience also served as a massive lesson to Angela on sticking to a goal while remaining adaptable to change.

[13:47] Fighting Mediocrity and Standards

Martin and Angela are not a fan of mediocrity.
Martin’s experience in the hospital was more of an outlier’s case. This meant he was on a pathway that wasn’t fit for him.
But when you’re an outlier, you need a different way of working than what’s set out for most people.
Fighting against the benchmarks of mediocre successes, they realized that Martin's needs were not accessible in the hospital.

[16:21] Measures of Success

During his recovery in the hospital, there was a gap between goals.
What the hospital deemed as a success or improvement was different from Martin’s aspirations.
Martin and Angela struggled with their desire to stick to their plan and method. The hospital also had its own goals and methods, creating different measures of success.
They weren’t complacent and didn’t allow the hospital’s method to define their goals. So, they turned to experimentation and moved away from the idea of perfectionism.
Tune in to the full episode to hear more of Martin and Angela’s insights and experiences as they overcame this challenge.

[20:00] Martin’s Initial Diagnosis

Martin was in the orthopaedic ward because of his fractured skull. But his predominant injury was in his brain, so the people around him were not set to take care of it.
Frustrated with the situation, Angela reached out to the hospital's executive team to get an expert for Martin.
A consultant disclosed that they felt Martin had cancer. They picked up tumours that were likely to be Stage 4 cancer.
Martin and Angela went from planning for the future to build a successful life to possibly not having it at all.
Angela expounds more on what they went through as they received the news in the full episode.

[27:29] Martin’s Real Diagnosis

The Thursday evening after receiving the first diagnosis, Angela received good news from Martin’s consultant.
The brain tumours turned out to be brain bleeds—what he had was not cancer.
But Angela doubted this diagnosis and wanted more information on the situation.
After getting clarification, they went back to planning for the future and their original goal.

[30:06] More Setbacks and Challenges

During the move, Martin’s transfer to the ABI unit was delayed as there were no specialists who could attend to him
Martin was at a low point at that time because the transfer was supposed to get him closer to his family.
At the time, he couldn’t see how he was going to move forward.
With Martin being the fixer of their family, Angela now felt responsible for the position.
Tune in to the full episode to hear how Angela navigated this ‘that’ll do won’t do’ situation by setting up a GoFundMe campaign for Martin!

[37:16] Allowing Yourself to be Helped

In a few days, they raised £20,000, giving them the control to employ the right people for Martin’s recovery.
With the help of specialists, Martin is slowly making incremental steps towards his recovery.
Currently, he is relearning to use home appliances and doing other chores. Listen to the full episode to hear more about his journey!
The GoFundMe campaign made Martin realize how connected they are to people.
It’s also helped him understand that asking for and receiving help has to be part and parcel of how you operate. You need to seek help and learn from the power it brings.

[45:56] What to Do When You Go Off Track

While you might not always know how to fix a certain problem, the principle of having to know where you are and where you’re trying to be remains the same.
When things go off track, reflect on what you expected would happen, what actually happened, and what you learned from it.
Rather than aiming to go back to what your situation once was, you need to learn how to transition and move forward.
Every step you take is progress. They’re not failures just because you aren’t able to do them as well as before.

[49:50] Questioning Success Rather Than Failure

You learn more from what you’re good at and understanding that, rather than the things you aren’t good at.
However, we often question why we fail but not why we are successful.
Sometimes, we get to where we are without understanding how we got there or what the positives about it are.
Reassessing and resetting goals are essential to planning for the future. Fixing something for the first time despite needing to do it long before is still moving forward.
Coming from a place of gratitude also enables you to want to be the best you can be because you realize the value of your life.

[53:23] Planning for the Future

We’ve only got one life to live, so make the most out of it by being grateful and striving to achieve better things.
Though Angela and Martin could’ve settled for ‘that’ll do,’ it didn’t link into their goals.
Self-doubt or criticism from others might hold you back from doing things.
When these set in, just remember to set your sights on your goal. However, don’t be a perfectionist about how to get there.
In planning for the future, you need to have concrete steps for moving forward. But don’t make it so prescriptive that there’s no room for learning and improvement.

[59:20] Mistakes vs Lessons

Just because something didn’t happen as you expected doesn’t mean it’s a mistake.
Viewing something as a mistake drags you into a negative spiral. So put yourself in a space where you can see these things healthily—from a learning perspective.
Ask yourself what you can do differently and build upon to make it work?

[1:01:50] Casting Away ‘That’ll Do’ and Perfectionism

Martin is grateful to Angela for everything, especially when he was unable to do things on his own.
Don’t accept ‘that’ll do,’ but know that in planning for the future, your ideas won’t always pan out perfectly.
Be prepared to experiment and learn.
As things unfold and pivot, determine the lessons from the experience and decide on the next best step to get closer to your goal.

5 Powerful Quotes from This Episode

[44:21] ‘Willingness to ask and explore where you need help, whether that’s physical, whether it’s financial, whether that’s expertise, has to be part and parcel of the way we operate.’

[49:17] ‘Everything is progress, rather than everything is failure because you’re not like you were before.’

[50:01] ‘You learn more from what you’re good at and understanding what that is than you do from necessarily what you’re not so good at.’

[53:07] ‘When you come from a place of gratitude, there is a greater propensity within you to want to be the best that you can be because you realize the value of the life that you've got.’

[56:14] ‘The only thing I guarantee you about a plan is that’s exactly how it won’t happen.’

About Martin

Martin Cox has worked in business transformation for 20 years and is due to start a new role as Association Director of Improvement in the NHS. His experience as a patient has given him even more desire to make a difference.

He is also a leadership coach and Kata coach and has worked in the B2B, B2C banking, financial, legal, law firm, consulting and corporate sectors for more than 20 years.

As a business leader, he leverages an open management style of coaching, mentoring, and leadership. He translates business requirements into tangible, realistic programme deliverables and outcomes. He also works confidently and effectively with front-line teams and executives, using strong engagement and influencing skills to deliver successful transformations.

If you want to know more about Martin, you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

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Just when everything seems to be falling into place, something happens that sets you back from your goals. And that can be discouraging.

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To meeting inspiration,

Angela