I Forgot What Actually Moves the Needle

I Forgot What Actually Moves the Needle

In today’s episode, I reflect on a business coaching conversation that made me ask a simple but important question: What am I actually best at? With September potentially being a quieter period for Renew Education, I’ve realised that the answer probably isn’t to hide behind spreadsheets, projections or internal meetings. It’s to get back to what helped build the businesses in the first place: relationships, conversations, trust and understanding what schools and young people actually need. I talk about the early days of Inspired Schools, the first year of Renew Education, why relationships have always been central to growth, and why scaling a business should never mean forgetting the human work that created the opportunity. This episode is about founder energy, business development, alternative provision, education, and remembering where you bring the most value. Sometimes the thing that moves the business forward isn’t another system. Sometimes it’s getting back out there and doing what you’re actually best at.

The Conversation That Changed How I Saw My Daughter's Behaviour

Last week, we took the girls to Corfu for what should have been a perfect family holiday. Beautiful surroundings, amazing food, sunshine and a much-needed break. But one of my daughters just didn't seem herself. As a parent, my first instinct was to focus on the behaviour. To wonder why she wasn't enjoying such an incredible experience. What followed was a conversation that completely changed my perspective. In this episode, I share the challenges we faced, the importance of trying to understand what sits beneath behaviour, and why curiosity can sometimes be far more powerful than correction. I also reflect on something many parents probably feel but don't often say out loud: sometimes the holiday isn't just for the children. It's for us too. A personal episode about parenting, understanding, guilt, and the conversations that matter most.

Don’t Build a Business on Money You Don’t Control

The recent Sports Premium announcement has got a lot of people in education talking. But for me, it raised a bigger business lesson. If your business relies too heavily on one funding stream, one type of contract, or one version of the market staying the same, you are exposed. In this episode, I reflect on what Covid taught us at Inspired Schools, how we adapted to support schools when everything changed, and why the latest changes to PE and school sport funding are another reminder that businesses need to stay useful, stay relevant and keep evolving. I also talk about the importance of diversifying revenue, listening to what schools actually need, and why building Renew Education has been timely in hindsight. Funding helps. But funding should never be the whole strategy.

Why Changing My Environment Changed My Mindset

A month ago I joined a new gym in Bath. At the time, I thought I was just changing where I trained. What I didn’t expect was how much it would impact my mindset, ambition and energy outside of fitness too. In this episode I talk about: * Feeling stuck and going through the motions * Why environment matters more than we realise * The people and conversations that can raise your standards * Meeting ambitious people from different walks of life * Wanting more from life and business without losing sight of family and values * Why I don’t want to look back with “what ifs” A reflection on growth, aspiration, business, fitness and the importance of the environments we choose to put ourselves in.

The Dangerous Side of Comparison

Last night I made the mistake of doom scrolling before bed… and within 10 minutes I was questioning whether I’m doing enough. After watching someone I admire still grinding at 10pm after a full day of coaching, business and training, it forced me to reflect on ambition, comparison, productivity and the reality of trying to balance business, fitness and family life. In this episode I talk about: * The comparison trap of social media * The pressure of trying to “do more” * My 3 pillars: health, business and family * Why trade-offs matter more than people admit * Building a life around your own values rather than somebody else’s