Coffee with Colm

Doo-doo, woo-woo, Susan Jeffers, Maslow’s Hierarchy, miscarriage, unexplained infertility, childhood in Ireland, burnout, crossroads, mid-life crises… and motorbikes! What a wonderful, wide-ranging chat was had during the week with Ashleigh Tobin, over coffee, naturally.   If you consider yourself mid-life (or know someone who does) you need to gift yourself time to listen to the life-wisdom permeating this chat with Ashleigh; I promise you’ll be the better for it – I am. You know the score, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with Ashleigh and me in your preferred way. Stay well. Watch the full episode here...

This was a great chat!   Brian Downes is a fascinating character in real life with an equally fascinating backstory which has equipped him, and qualified him, to do the great work he does around performance with individuals and within teams. From spending a week on a frozen lake in Outer Mongolia at minus 40 C (by choice!) to watching his 8-year old daughter perform in the Cork Opera House, to talking openly about his two-year period suffering almost daily panic attacks and what he did to wrestle that under control, this wide-ranging chat explores the troughs and peaks of the life of Brian (couldn't resist, sorry). Lads, (as we say here in Munster) stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with Brian and me in your preferred way. You'll thank me afterwards. Stay well. Watch the full episode here…

Stephen Downey is the reason I have a TEDx Talk to my name!   I’ve known the Stephen for several years now, and a nicer guy, you’d be hard-pressed to find, thorough gentleman, and gentle soul, through and through.   At an Amanda Delaney ‘We Can and We Will Talk” Event in Dublin in 2019, Stephen was introduced to the audience, of which I was a member, as someone about to do a TEDx. I was fascinated! Here was someone I knew, a real person, who was about to do something I thought was only available to ‘others’.   That prompted me to start asking better questions to find out how I could possibly grace the TEDx Red Dot. It happened! So, thank you, Stephen.   And so, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Stephen in this second only episode of Season 9 (I know!) of “Coffee with Colm” as we explore topics including stress, mindfulness (but not the woowoo variety!), family, loss, work, the future, and everything in between. Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me and Stephen in your preferred way. You’ll learn some things you never knew you never knew. (Ps, apologies in advance for MY sound quality – Stephen’s is perfect!)   Stay well.   Watch the full episode here…

Wait till you hear this.   I was making my bed before going swimming one Sunday morning in late August, and I found myself repeating to myself out loud (I know!) Viktor Frankl’s famous quote, “We detect, rather than invent, our missions in life.”   No idea what was going on for me, but that phrase kept popping into my mind, and I kept repeating it out loud. “We detect, rather than invent, our missions in life.” So off I go, and moored on the Shannon, right where I am so blessed to swim regularly, at the Washer Woman Bridge in Ballina, Tipperary, was this amazing 126-year-old-barge, ‘Drie Gebroeders’ crewed by Hilary and the so-called Motleys, together raising funds for mental well-being as they sail from Erne to Inverness!   After my swim, I got invited onboard for a cuppa.   I’m thinking, “We detect, rather than invent, our missions in life.”   I couldn’t ignore the universe, so I asked could we record an episode of ‘Coffee with Colm’, which we did with no script, no agenda, no lighting, no planning, just a phone. Amazingly, it worked!   But then, the Universe wanted us to meet - “We detect, rather than invent, our missions in life.”   What a wonderful way to start Season 9 of “Coffee with Colm” – it’s great to be back! As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me and Hilary, Dave, Conor and Brian, (some of) the wonderful motley crew of ‘Drie Gebroeders’ for in your preferred way.   Stay well.   Enjoy... (I certainly did)

Lads, I’m taking a break; I’m going on me holliers, and putting on me own oxygen mask for a bit. I was trying to figure out how to finish the series, and then a series (I know, right!) of happy accidents, including my usual way of recording CWC (Coffee with Colm) failing to open on my laptop, forced me to throw myself in the River Shannon…   …with my GoPro (a wonderful Christmas gift from Mrs. O’B) instead.   The message is a reinforcement of POYOOMF (Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First) and offers a succinct way to use same to enhance your life in 4 key areas, Health, Wealth, Relationships, and Spirit.   So, from the beautiful healing waters of the majestic River Shannon, at Ballina Killaloe, direct to you, for the last time for a while, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way.   Stay well.   Enjoy...

This week let’s focus on Spirit - essentially YOUR relationship with YOU! You see, self-care is not self-ish.POYOOMF is Self-care in action.POYOOMF: Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First This 'Coffee with Colm' Classic Mini-series is a favorite of mine, and of many others. I love simplicity - I have zero interest (and even less patience) in learning the seventeen things to do to get ahead in life - so I propose 4.  The Four Areas of Focus to enjoy a fully formed life, that deserve a POYOOMF approach are: Health Wealth Relationships Spirit We covered the first 3 over the past few weeks, this week let’s focus on Spirit - essentially YOUR relationship with YOU!As ever, you are invited you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we close out our 4-week journey together to look at all four pillarsThis week, Pillar 4; Spirit.Enjoy...

There are Four Pillars to a fully formed, balanced life, each of which deserves our attention:   1.     Health (covered, week 1) 2.    Wealth (covered, week 2) 3.    Relationships (today) 4.     Spirit (next week) Remember, to POYOOMF is to engage in Self-care. Self-care is not self-ish. Over the last few weeks, we touched on the first two of the Four Pillars: Health & Wealth.   This week let’s focus on Relationships. You are cordially invited you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we continue our 4-week journey together to look at all four pillars     This week, Pillar 3; Relationships.   Enjoy.

To POYOOMF is to engage in Self-care. Self-care is not self-ish. Last week we touched on the first of the Four Pillars to a fully formed life, Health.   This week let’s focus on Wealth.   You are cordially invited you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we continue our 4-week journey together to look at all four pillars   1.    Health (last week) 2.    Wealth (today) 3.    Relationships (next week) 4.    Spirit (week 4)   This week, Pillar 2; Wealth.   Enjoy...   Yours Truly Colm O'Brien

By now you probably know I'm a proponent of POYOOMF. Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First I like acronyms (even if I have to create my own, although the grammar police will probably correct me!)I like making things simple.For me.If it helps others, great, but truth be told I do all this stuff for me. To remind me. To help me get more out of life without busting my gut 24/5/365 (I hate social media fanatics telling me I must make every waking second count!)No. I like simple. I like effective. I like progress over time, not overnight. So, if you'd be interested in what I do that allows me make progress easily, I invite you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we embark on a 4-week journey together to look at the four pillars of a fully formed life.Week one, Pillar one; Health.Enjoy...

I reconnected very happily with a friend on Saturday. Amanda Delaney visited us at PSA Ireland (Professional Speaking Association Ireland) and it was wonderful to see her and have the chats - Amanda's passion for wanting to help people is palpable.   While we were chatting about life and death (us having lost some mutual friends in recent times) and all things in between, I quoted Viktor Frankl, " We detect, rather than invent, our missions in life." So you can imagine my surprise (you'd think I'd know better by now, duh!) when, upon scrolling my back catalogue of content to put something out today, that very phrase jumped out of the piece!   I ain't temptin' fate; it's goin' out!   Interestingly also, it's building on last week's POYOOMF episode, and it's pointing to a mini-series that will come out over the next four weeks, reminding us all to look after ourselves. But even more than that it will tell us HOW TO.  Right. Amanda Delaney, great to see you. To all my amazing friends and colleagues at PSA Ireland, and to all of you indeed, I invite you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we embark on a journey together.   Enjoy...

Time - The Great Leveller - In This Episode Yours Truly Uses The River Shannon To Explain. Time is infinite. Your time, my time, not so.   This week, I threw myself in the River Shannon (voluntarily and safely) to draw an analogy between the inexorable flowing of the river and that of time itself using a twig to explain my thinking. Many people act like twigs ending up in life where life takes them; more and more of us are beginning to realize we can direct our efforts. I think the point is well made, even if I say so myself. As ever I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think (you're not a twig, like) with me for a few minutes Enjoy

Professionals Never Lose - They either Win or They Learn.   I’m sure you were taught, as I was, the phrase, “Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose” and yet again we were taught wrong. No more than, as we said last time on “Coffee with Colm”, Practice does not necessarily make perfect, but practice ALWAYS makes permanent, this week we are revisiting a CWC Classic, and reminding ourselves that the correct way to finish this week’s sentence is…   “Sometimes I win, and sometimes I LEARN!”   Professionals NEVER lose; they win or the learn. Amateurs lose all the time. Be honest with yourself (there’s nobody watching) which are you? If the former, great, if the latter, decide to change.   As ever I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes; you have nothing to lose 😊 Enjoy Yours Truly Colm O'Brien #coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts #100yearwork #themanonthetrain #coffee #vlog #podcast #sustainablebusiness #makehasteslowly #feedingjohnny #pendulumsummit #elephantintheroom #moneyistime #coaching #coachy #practicemakespermanent Ps. To get a FREE copy of my own book “Feeding Johnny – How To Build A Business Despite The Roadblocks” chronicling the early years of founding and building our school meals business, now 21 years old, employing hundreds, with eight figures annual revenue (audio version with Yours Truly narrating) simply connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/colmobrienmotivation/  Yours Truly Colm O'Brien

I'm sure you were taught, as I was, that practice makes perfect and yet it seems we were both taught wrong, not on purpose mind, but wrong nonetheless. Practice does not necessarily make perfect, but practice ALWAYS makes permanent. You see whatever you practice you get better at. As human beings, we learn to operate mainly subconsciously in terms of something we practice regularly, think driving for example.  But, unless you passed your driving test last week, how would you feel about your chances of passing it if you had to retake it in 48 hours time? I am full sure I'd fail! Why? Because my 'practice' over decades has created 'permanent' habits that I don't believe would stand up to scrutiny of a drive test professional! There are four areas around which I suggest you consider your automatic practices: Your Health Your Wealth Your Relationships Your Spirit I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and practice thinking with me for a few minutes. Enjoy

Coaching - THE Quintessential 100 Year Work - Possibly the Most Important Work in the World.  Recorded ON Lough Derg (not in it this time) on my birthday - Yay, Happy Birthday to me! Level 61 and loving life - in this week's "Coffee with Colm" Yours Truly ruminates about one of his most cherished views, that we are ALL involved in 100 Year Work, for better of worse, (actually until death do us part!) whether we like it or not. I believe Coaching could possibly be the most important work ever - passing on learned skills to others, so that those skills and attitudes don't get lost in the mists of time. And so our work, as coaches, is eternal!   And because I believe in Coaching so much, I want to enable more of it, thus my involvement in the start-up, COACHY.ie   I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes from ‘The Spirit of Kilalloe’ on my birthday. Enjoy

Caroline Rigney, a renowned Co. Limerick farmer took time out to attend Pendulum Summit in January – and then to have “Coffee with Colm”.   From pigs breaking through fences, to packaging delicious pork and bacon product for fans nationwide, to Killaloe Farmer’s Market, to forgiving ourselves and our parents, to letting go of the past, and embracing the present with one eye on the future, I had the most enjoyable coffee chat with Caroline Rigney.   I know Caroline and Joe Rigney, primarily because myself and Mrs. O’B are regular imbibers of their delicious (no, seriously!) fresh food at Killaloe Farmer’s Market of a Sunday.   They are a class act and to watch them work in harmony is always a treat. You join the queue (always a queue – which tells you something) and watch Caroline interact with her regulars, as she effortlessly relieves them of a few bob, while Joe cooks away in the background, turning to the front to ask, “Salad, tomato and onion with that?” during which time Caroline has moved on to take another order. Poetry in motion!   So, I was delighted when Caroline decided to join our little group of Vagabonds to attend Pendulum Summit in January.   We finally got a chance to grab a virtual coffee together and have the chats. It was fabulous, very real, totally life-affirming.   Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside Caroline (and Joe popped in for a sec, too) and me for a few minutes; you’ll fall in love with the Rigneys…   Enjoy...

A "Coffee with Colm" Special recorded LIVE while immersed in 7 degree water in the Shannon River as the sun dawned on the last Sunday of February. My lovely Mam passed a year ago - on Feb 20th 2023 - God Rest Her. Being an all year round open-water swimmer since 2020 I was intrigued to stumble across an open-water swimming challenge called Freezebrury - to remain immersed in open water for a cumulative total of 435 minutes during the month of February, when Irish waters are at their coldest, sea, lake and river. So I decided to accept the challenge and in so doing raise funds for the wonderful work done by the beautiful end-of-life carers employed by the Irish Hospice Foundation. I completed Freezebrury at dawn (on Sunday Feb 25th) and recorded this episode of "Coffee with Colm" during the final moments of the final swim of that month-long challenge, immersed up to my chin in 7.8 degree water! I was in the water for 26 minutes BEFORE I hit record! During this episode I share some pertinent lessons I have learned over the years to help me get more out of life. If you'd like to find out more, stick on the kettle, grab a HOT coffee, and think with me for a few minutes. You can make a donation here if you wish: https://hospicefoundation.ie/donate/ Enjoy...

Karen Pappin is a fellow Dub (South Side, but we’ll let her off – although I had to address it over our coffee chat!) living in and working from beautiful Kinvara, Co. Galway.   She’s a storyteller – a Brand Storyteller - and she came along to Pendulum as part of our little group of Vagabonds, not knowing what to expect.   The speaker that ‘spoke’ to her was not even on her radar before she attended, and interestingly he did so through story – no surprise there perhaps?   Before the conference had even ended, Karen had made a decision (and taken action!) to make changes in certain aspects of her life and puts those changes on public record in this week’s episode of “Coffee with Colm”.   Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside Karen and me for a few minutes, you’ll have a laugh, and learn something along the way.   Enjoy

The Biggest Challenge Most Coaches Face is Filling Your Diary. We have the solution for you. As a Professional Coach myself (part-time), like you, I learned that the hardest part of coaching is… prospecting… to find clients. Coaching is not the problem, prospecting is. When I looked around me at all the coaches I know (and know of), I realised the majority had the same problem; you and me, we would coach all day long - oftentimes evenings, and weekends - helping people with their life and business challenges. All you want to do is serve people with your knowledge, your empathy, your listening skills and if only you could get them on a Discovery Call, you know they’d hire you. Am I right? So, I set about creating a team to solve the prospecting problem – and we think we may have just done that. As Uber is to the Transport sector, and Airbnb is to the Accommodation sector, COACHY (launching May 1st 2024) is to the Coaching sector. Currently in beta testing phase – COACHY is built solely to facilitate more Discovery Calls for you. Embrace your inner FOMO to find out how COACHY can help you to stop selling and start serving more people in 2024, register your Pre-Launch interest here: https://adsuite.clickfunnels.com/coachy-pre-launch Or stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside young Ciaran Griffin and me for 10 minutes, and get a feel for what COACHY can do for you, and how you can pre-register your interest so you don’t miss out on Launch Day, May 1st 2024. Ciaran is my fellow COACHY co-Founder along with Tim Kelly and Christopher Heaney.   Enjoy...

Paul Massey was a retailer back in the day. One thing he insisted on was that he trained his staff what to do in the event of a robbery – no eye contact, open the till, step away, no heroes.   When two guys arrived one evening, one with a sawn-off shotgun, the other with a hammer, Paul found himself instinctually NOT following his own advice!   Paul is lucky to be alive. He retired from retail shortly thereafter but has never stopped contributing. We were blessed to enjoy Paul’s company as part of our little group of Vagabonds attending Pendulum Summit in January.   In this “Coffee with Colm” episode we discuss what Paul took from it, and what is happening as a result. Wonderful stuff indeed.   Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside Paul  and me for a few minutes, and get a feel for Pendulum (and maybe consider joining us next year on Jan 8th and 9th 2025 in Dublin, PM either of us if you’d like to find out more) Enjoy

How do some people, get ahead, and many don't?  Those who get ahead in any area of life, take more shots than those who don't - simple! In so doing, they experience more rejection, and the natural outflowing of experiencing more rejection, is... more success! I was a tad under the weather for the past week and as such missed the opportunity to have coffee with one of the Pendulum Vagabond Crew - don't worry, we've some crackers lined up over the coming weeks, this is just a blip - life throwing a curve ball.Instead, this week I'm up-cycling a "Coffee with Colm" Classic from early on in my podcast journey.Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with (younger) me for a few minutes.Enjoy 

Galway Girl, and Film Industry Pro, Emma Owen, had “Coffee with Colm” during the week to share her experience of attending Pendulum Summit.   It was FUN!   Then, on one of my questions, Emma began her response with, “Can I be a bit controversial here?” I knew right there that my answer to that question wasn’t going to matter; the train had left the station…   She also named her Standout Speaker and shared why his talk had such an impact on her.   It was a thoroughly enjoyable conversation and looking back on it, it’s interesting to listen to Emma think out loud to find the words to express what the whole experience meant to her. Great chat.   Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside Emma and me for a few minutes, and get a feel for Pendulum (and maybe plan to join us next year on Jan 8 and 9 2025 in the Shmoke, PM either of us if you’d like to find out more) Enjoy

So, a group of Business Vagabonds got together, and we went along to The Pendulum Summit 2024 to witness the 10th anniversary of its founding by Frankie and Norma Sheehan, to listen and learn from each other as well as from the world-class speakers on stage.   We all came from different walks of life and diverse businesses (thus the Vagabond moniker); some small, others larger, all making a difference in their respective spaces.   We had fun. We laughed, many of us cried, all of us learned something about ourselves, but we all left The Convention Centre with renewed sense of hope for humanity, chomping at the bit to get back to work to play our individual parts.   Over the next number of Coffees with Colm (or as we’d say on the Northside, “Coffee with Colms”) I’m inviting any of the Vagabonds that want to, to join me for coffee and a quick chat about their experience, focussing on who was their Standout Speaker.   Nicola Connolly Byrne – Empowerment Specialist – is first up.   Her Standout Speaker was… (do you really think I’m going to spoil it? – I’d be killed!)   Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside Nicola and me for a few minutes, and get a feel for Pendulum (and maybe decide to join us next year

There is a Global Pandemic affecting 1 in 4 of us – Mental Health IS The Elephant in the Room.   I was blessed to attend Pendulum Summit in Dublin during the week along with another 2,000 souls, twenty of whom had come together as The Vagabonds’ to have fun and learn and make friends over the few days. It was everything I expected, and more.   I was moved to action (or consideration at least) by several of the speakers, but the one that ‘hit me’ unexpectedly was Brent Pope talking about his mission to normalize the conversation about Mental Health, through his organization “The Elephant in the Room”.   Brent is six foot three inches, 17 stone, the last man you would pick out of a lineup as someone who might be vulnerable, yet he was.   When he hit rock bottom, he picked up the phone, in a last-ditch attempt to avoid the seemingly inevitable, and the guy who answered the phone saved his life (and likely thousands of lives through Brent’s work now). Instead of answering “Hello, Samaritans.”, his first words were, “It’ll Be OK, Friend.” Please, please stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside Brent and me for a few minutes; it could make all the difference to someone you know.

You've had a car accident. They rush you to hospital. They tell you they're going to operate to save your legs.They lie!They are in fact operating to save your life; your crushed legs are incidental (to them!)When you wake up, they tell you you'll never walk again.You disagree! So instead, you become twice world champion!That, my friends, is the potted history of my first guest on 'Coffee with Colm' for 2024.Steve Judge joined me for coffee and to say his story is inspirational is an understatement. What better way to kick off the new year...You know the score, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think alongside Steve and me for a few minutes. Happy New Year. Enjoy.

You all know Colin Farrell - Hollywood Actor, and a fellow Dub. Colin was interviewed by Miriam O'Callaghan on the stage at Pendulum Summit back in 2019 and he lived up to all my expectations of the man; being at once a global celebrity and a humble man who hasn't forgotten his roots.  Not ugly either, it has to be said!Anyway, I chose the podcast I created on foot of his interview with which to finish this pre-Pendulum '24 mini-series because of what Colin said. He said, "The day has yet to reveal itself." As 2023 comes to a close, I feel Colin's words are pregnant with promise for 2024 - "The day has yet to reveal itself." To hear the context of this phrase as well as two more life tips, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Colin and me for a few minutes in this final episode of “Coffee with Colm” for the season. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and in the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!" EnjoyYours TrulyColm O'BrienPs, ONE SEAT HAS OPENED UP. I am bringing a group of 20 souls to Pendulum ’24 with a special price and all sorts of add-ons. As I publish this, 19 of 20 seats are committed! One opened up unexpectedly. If you’d like to join us, pm me - first come, first served. And no, I’m not on commission, I simply love business and I love people – why would I attend alone when I can attend with friends and fellow entrepreneurs? No better Christmas present to give yourself or the entrepreneur in your life!#coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts #100yearwork #themanonthetrain #coffee #vlog #podcast #sustainablebusiness #makehasteslowly #feedingjohnny #pendulumsummitPs. To get a FREE copy of my own book “Feeding Johnny – How To Build A Business Despite The Roadblocks” (audio version with Yours Truly narrating) simply connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/colmobrienmotivation/ Yours TrulyColm O'Brien

Jim Warny is a real-life hero!  He is the Belgian-born, Cave Diver, living in Ennis, who led the Coach to safety during that tremendous superhuman effort that saw the coach and all twelve young boys rescued when the caves they entered got flooded. He spoke from stage at Pendulum in 2019 and from his talk I gleaned some life and business lessons, which I am happy to share here as life hacks for you to consider. Regardless of the lessons and tips, it's one cracking story! You know the drill, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Jim and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of “Coffee with Colm”. Enjoy.Yours TrulyColm O'Brien Ps, I am bringing a group of 20 souls to Pendulum ’24 with a special price and all sorts of add-ons. As I publish this, all 20 seats are committed! However if you’d like to join us, pm me, and I'll see what I can do. And no, I’m not on commission, I simply love business and I love people – why would I attend alone when I can attend with friends and fellow entrepreneurs?#coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts #100yearwork #themanonthetrain #coffee #vlog #podcast #sustainablebusiness #makehasteslowly #feedingjohnny #pendulumsummitPs. To get a FREE copy of my own book “Feeding Johnny – How To Build A Business Despite The Roadblocks” (audio version with Yours Truly narrating) simply connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/colmobrienmotivation/ Yours TrulyColm O'Brien

Fighter Jets Don't Have Wing Mirrors! Did you know that? I didn't. Sort of makes sense though. Apart from aerodynamics perhaps, I imagine it true that they are moving too fast in combat to have time to look behind them. Regardless, Fighter Jets Don't Have Wing Mirrors!   Mandy Hickson, former RAF Fighter Jet Pilot, was one of the very few female pilots operating at that level, only the second ever female pilot to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, amassing and surviving 45 live combat sorties.   And Mandy was just one of the amazing people who graced the Pendulum stage in Dublin in 2019.   I was enthralled.   From her story, I gained three tips to help me move forward with speed safely and in this week's 'Coffee with Colm' episode, I'd like to share them with you, they are:           1.         2.         3.   To hear me recount all three tips, and what they may mean for you, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Mandy and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of “Coffee with Colm”. Enjoy

I actually can’t imagine it – and truthfully, wasn’t sure I believed what I was seeing when Nick Vujicic was ‘placed’ on stage at Pendulum Summit in Dublin the year before COVID struck – yet there he was this tiny, incredible human confidently talking with 3,500 mesmerised souls telling us to be more grateful!     Be More Grateful was the first of 5 Tips On How To Get The Most Out Of Life; truly amazing, coming from a man who had a much, much tougher star than most.     To hear me recount the 5 Tips, and what they may mean for you, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Nick and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of “Coffee with Colm”.   Enjoy

Right. Episode 2 of 6 in a Pre-Pendulum '24 Mini-series, curated by Yours Truly to allow you experience some of the world class magic, and diversity of thought that can only be found at The Pendulum Summit.This week, Marshall Goldsmith tells us why Admirals Don't Make Suggestions; in other words, Leaders - like you and me - can actually damage our organizations by opening our big fat mouths! (I know! shocked me, too!)I'm sayin' nothin'.Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with my friend Marshall and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of “Coffee with Colm

Be A Dream Doer in 2024 – Episode 1 of 6 in a Pre-Pendulum ’24 'Coffee with Colm' Mini-series

I had the most amazing experience during the week! I had a virtual coffee with Frankie Sheahan, former Munster and Ireland Rugby Legend, laterally known around the world for, along with his wife and business partner, Norma, co-founding The Pendulum Summit – The World's No.1 Leadership & Self-Empowerment Summit, held annually in Dublin, since 2014. What a pleasure.   The reason I wanted to have the chat was because of how instrumental The Pendulum Summit has been in my journey, both personally and professionally, having attended in-person from 2015 through to when COVID derailed our world. I am so excited to be heading back to Dublin on January 10th and 11th 2024 for its 10th Anniversary… and it promises to be a cracker!   In this extended (33 mins) ‘Coffee with Colm’ episode, we cover: (with approximate timings should you wish or need to skip. However, I recommend you don’t skip because then you will never know what you missed – embrace your FOMO) ·       Setting the scene (0 mins) ·       Frankie on where the idea came from (1 min) ·       Frankie on why so early in the year? (6 mins) ·       Frankie’s Pendulum highlights? (10 mins) ·       Frankie about COVID personally? (15 mins) ·       Frankie about COVID for Pendulum? (19 mins) ·       Frankie’s Top Three Reasons why people should go (22 mins) ·       Frankie on the Networking opportunities (27 mins) ·       Frankie’s thoughts on attending alone, or as part of a group. (28 mins) ·       Frankie says, “If You’re 50:50 GO! – and makes a very generous offer (31 mins) ·       How to get tickets. (32 mins)   Do yourself a favour; stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Frankie and me for a half an hour (just 2% of your day) in the extra special episode of “Coffee with Colm” Enjoy.

Another €750k Tax Free ONLY IF Financial Planning Is Played As A Team Sport Facing Forward Ep 4 of 4

How You Can Pay Your Family To Reduce Your Tax - Ep 3/4, Paul Overy QFA FLIA has 'Coffee with Colm'

How You Can Access €2m Tax Free To Retire - Part 2 of 4, Paul Overy QFA FLIA has 'Coffee with Colm'

How To Reduce Your Taxes Forever - Paul Overy QFA, FLIA Part 1 / 4 a 'Coffee with Colm' Mini-series

What if the next person you meet led to €100 million in sales? Would you be excited? Or nervous?This week's "Coffee with Colm" retells my famous "Man on the Train" story recorded live at an Amanda Delaney 'We Can and We Will Talk' Event in Dublin in 2019.The actual Man on the Train meeting took place twenty years ago, in 2003 and I didn't know it at the time, nor even in 2019, but that one single meeting has led to an eight-figure business, employing hundreds, with sales to date exceeding one hundred million euro - and we're only getting started!Great news, not-so-great news...The great news is, there is a Man on the Train moment with your name on it out there in the Universe.The not-so-great news is around what you must do to meet it.To find out what my €100m meeting was, and what you can do to give yourself the best opportunity to bump into yours, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way…Enjoy...

I Am Delighted To Have Just Turned 60! Here’s Why… – A Special Roundy Birthday Celebration Episode Over “Coffee with Colm”     Level 60! Woohoo. SO excited.   In this week’s once in a lifetime episode of “Coffee with Colm” I share why I am so excited about ageing.   In only 8 minutes I ruminate on some of the lessons I have learned and share my excitement as to what I believe is to come. Stuff like:   ·       Levelling Up Vs Ageing ·       The Speed of Life ·       POYOOMF ·       HWRS ·       Winning The Week ·       One Percent Living ·       Four Over Seven ·       81 Patchwork Quilts ·       Setting One Hundred Year Goals   Seriously… Soooo excited! To find out why I am so excited about turning 60, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 8 minutes in your preferred way…   Enjoy...

Recently I had cause to revisit my 'Parachute Story', reflecting on what I learned when my parachute failed as I plummeted to earth at terminal velocity (no kidding!) which is c200kmh, having exited a perfectly good aircraft two miles above the earth by choice! Apart from the tongue in cheek insight that skydiving as a sport is a missed sponsorship opportunity for one of the nappy brands, I gained some valuable life lessons which I will take with me to the grave (and nearly did!)To find out what I learned, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, take a seat, feet firmly panted on the ground, and think with me for 8 or 9 minutes in your preferred way… Enjoy...

What Are Your 100 Year Goals? - a Coffee with Colm Classic Revisited "But I won't be here in 100 years, Colm." I hear you complain. Exactly. You won't be here. Are you going to leave the world a little bit better off for your having taken up space here, or are you going to be 100% selfish and not give a damn? Good news and bad news. The good news is you get to decide whether you are goin to contribute or not to a better 22nd century. The bad news is if you don't proactively choose the first option, by default you will have chosen the latter. As always, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 10 minutes in your preferred way… (10 minutes out of 100 years, now that's not too much to ask, is it?) Your move... #coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts #100yearworkWatch The Captioned VideoPrefer Podcast? Here’s the link…

81 Patchwork Quilts in Honour of my Mother who passed Peacefully on Feb 20th 2023 at Age 84. RIP Mam - a "Coffee with Colm" Classic (like my Mam) Doreen O'Brien (nee Stenson) was a beautiful woman in every sense. Being named Irish Press Bride of the Month in June1961 (her work colleagues in Brown Thomas on Grafton St nominated her - fist she heard about it was when the Press called her to say she'd won!) was only the beginning. She married my dad, Tommy, and together they raised 5 of us. One of my sisters said she grew up believing that Mams' never got cold, hungry or tired, because if any of us was cold, we'd get Mam's coat wrapped around us, if we were hungry, she'd share what was on her plate, and if we were tired, she's sit with us so we could sleep. She was completely happy in herself; Mam said to Aideen, my wife, that she never met anyone on life that she would want to be. There aren't many of us who can make that claim in today's InstaWorld, I fear. In her honour, I'm reposting my 81 Patchwork Quilts vlog this week and so I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 6 or 7 minutes in your preferred way… #coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts

The Three Important Business Lessons We Can Learn from The Humble Hedgehog – a “Coffee with Colm" Classic What do Hedgehogs do best in the world? They do Hedgehog; they don't try to be anything else. If you want better results with less stress in your business or career, then this "Coffee with Colm" Classic episode is for you. To find out the Three Important Business Lessons We Can Learn from The Humble Hedgehog, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 4 minutes in your preferred way… #coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts

What is your USP? Your Unique Selling Point? No, really, what is it? Do you have one? Or are you just like the business down the road, or that other one online? If so, you’re banging your head against the wall and will most likely fail over time – probably by throwing in the towel rather than because of some catastrophic circumstance - you most likely will simply decide that all the hard work is not worth the mediocre results. You will give up! You can however set yourself apart, re-energize your business, can become one of the market leaders if you follow one very simple rule. To find out what that rule is, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 6 minutes in your preferred way…

POYOOMF - Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First in 2023 - a Coffee with Colm Favourite Revisited That went fast! January. I'm just back from a trip to Helsinki with Mrs. O'B and some really cool people and as we took off, we were reminded to POYOOMF - Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First in the case of emergency. So I thought I'd revisit a 'Coffee with Colm Classic' from 2028 - POYOOMF. Do you realize you have only 48 weeks left to achieve your goals for 2023? One way to stay on top, is to practice POYOOMF - Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First each week. Want to be healthier this time next year? POYOOMF around your diet and exercise habits. Want to be wealthier this time next year? POYOOMF around your earning and spending habits. Want to be happier this time next year? POYOOMF around your relationships. Want to be more peaceful this time next year? POYOOMF around your personal habits. Self-Care is Not Self-ish. To get some ideas as to how you can practice POYOOMF, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 5 minutes by watching the captioned video below...

I don’t like Karaoke; there, I’ve said it. To me it’s a bunch of wannabes trying to live somebody else’s best life – what a waste! Be original! A trend I’m sensing in Coaching today (whether professionally, or as a manager coaching a team) is an exponential rise in the number of Karaoke Coaches – defined (by me) as those who have nothing original to contribute – those simply rehashing others’ work, others’ ideas. Great Coaches are like Great Chefs – there are no new food ingredients out there, just creative ways of combining them to produce something magical! In the same way there is no (or very little) ground-breaking new coaching information out there, just creative ways of combining them to produce something magical! Are you a Karaoke Coach or not? You decide. Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for five minutes by watching the short, captioned video...

Do you remember the movie, “The Karate Kid?” The original one was released in 1984 -just in case you weren’t feeling old! And do you remember Mr. Miyagi? And do you remember Mr. Miyagi teaching the kid karate, by having him polish his car? Wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off? Do you? Remember? Whether you remember or not, you can find out how you can benefit in 2023, from Mr. Miyagi’s sage advice, ‘wax on, wax off’, and to do so, simply stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for five minutes in your preferred way... #coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts

NEW EPISODE - Why I'm Only Setting Four Goals in 2023 – An all-new Coffee with Colm Episode “Not another Goal Setting Video, Colm – give me a break!” I can hear some of you moan; ‘Hould yer whisht awhile… you see, I’m turning 60!’ Sixty! how did that happen? I’m absolutely fine about it too. I’ve come to believe that rather than ageing we are in fact levelling up in the Game of Life and therefore I am becoming more bad-ass with each level achieved! (also, I am embracing the universally accepted premise around the inverse relationship between levelling up and amount of f**ks given!) Anyhow… Goal Setting still features even at 60. But they are fewer (like f**ks given) and more holistic. To find out how you can set fewer - but bad-ass - goals in 2023 (and expend fewer f**ks to boot), stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for five minutes in your preferred way... #hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts

Who remembers Kevin (Macaulay Kulkin) in Home Alone? (btw it was released in 1990 - that is 32 years ago, just sayin'!) Many of us do. Remember the scene where he's jumping up and down on his parents' bed shouting "I'm not afraid any more, I'm not afraid any more."? Well there are profound business and life lessons to be gleaned from that memorable cinematic moment; would you like to know what they are? What if you weren't afraid any more as 2022 draws to a close and we creep towards the promising dawn of 2023, wouldn't that be nice? To find out how you can be braver in 2023, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me (and Kevin) for four minutes in your preferred way... #hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts

I'm a Star Wars Fan, having seen the first movie in the cinema when it first came out, way back in 1977 as a fourteen year old, and then, along with the rest of the world, fell in love with the little green Jedi Master, Yoda, when he first graced cinema screens in 1980 in Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. There's a great scene where Luke Skywalker and Yoda, along with the adorable R2D2, are standing by the side of a swamp, and Skywalker is trying to use 'The Force' to retrieve their crashed spaceship out of the murky water. Skywalker is overwhelmed by the 'size' of the challenge, given that he had already proven that he can move stuff using 'The Force'. He basically says, 'it's all very well moving a few stones around, but this (a spaceship) is different, it's a much bigger deal' and so he'll try. Yoda gently slaps him down with the immortal phrase, 'Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try,' and reminds Luke that a few stones, a spaceship, there is no difference, it's only different in his mind. What are you facing as 2022 comes to a close? What have you been trying to accomplish? Have you been trying instead of doing? What will you do in 2023? In this week's 'Coffee with Colm' from the archives, I use Yoda's words to encourage you to reflect on where you are making excuses in your life, allowing yourself off the hook with, "At least, I tried." Can't you just hear Yoda with his condescending 'Hmmmm'. So, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me and Yoda for four minutes in your preferred way...

“Here he comes - the man with the big kidneys.” said my mother. At first I thought she was talking about some poor unfortunate (or Telpis as they are often referred to in Limerick) and I was tempted to look behind to see who was following, and from what sort of disfiguration the poor soul was suffering? But she was talking to me about me! Her own son. Her eldest son at that! Confused, I asked her what she meant and she explained that when she was growing up in Dublin, first in Rialto and then Coolock, the term big kidneys was used to describe someone who thought above his station, someone with big dreams. So instead of being offended, I chose to accept the compliment. I am proud to be the man with the big kidneys. I always ask why can’t life be bigger, better, brighter today than it was yesterday? And bigger, better, brighter again tomorrow? No reason. In this week's 'Coffee with Colm' from the archives, I encourage you to bigger thinking - not to be confused with working more, but working smarter, not harder, employing leverage, not just pure grunt. So, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for five minutes in your preferred way... who knows, we might form the Big Kidney Clun someday. #hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts

Ever get fed up when successive idea after idea fails to materialize into the business or career of your dreams? And at the same time you see other 'eejits' (we don't say it out loud, but that's what we're thinkin, right?) seemingly killing it? Well, do you? Be honest, no one's watching. What if I said the problem could be you? Ouch! "Hurtful." I hear some of you whimper. The reason the 'eejits' appear to be killing it is... wait for it... 'perseverance!' And the reason for every idea you've tried, and there have been many is because,... you've tried and when the going got tough, you simply switched to the next great idea. and tried that. I'm reminded of, "Do or Do Not, There is No Try - Yoda" If you are going to succeed at anything, you must stick to something! In this week's 'Coffee with Colm' from the archives, I encourage being open to new ideas, whilst simultaneously warning of the fatal (in business terms) disease known as Magpie Syndrome, flitting from one bright and shiny idea to the next, and never committing fully to any. You know the score, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for four minutes in your preferred way... (no distractions mind - you can focus for four minutes, surely!) #hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts