The Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast

In this powerful episode of the Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast, I sit down with high-performance coach and international speaker Anna Mosley, founder of the 80% Growth Academy, to explore what it truly means to be mentally fit as a leader in today’s fast-paced world. Anna shares her raw and inspiring journey from burnout in the corporate world to helping leaders and teams across major brands like LinkedIn, L’Oréal, and Boots unlock extraordinary results through mindset, resilience, and self-leadership. From overcoming perfectionism to ditching “good girl syndrome,” Anna reveals the tools and techniques she uses to build growth-minded cultures in the recruitment industry and beyond. Whether you're a business leader, HR professional, recruiter, coach, or entrepreneur, this conversation delivers unmissable insights into creating high-performance cultures, mastering your inner dialogue, and embracing vulnerability as a leadership superpower. In this episode, you will learn: What “mental fitness” really means - and how to build it How to recover from burnout and perfectionism Ego vs. vulnerability in leadership The six bad boss types - and how to fix them Creating high-performance cultures in recruitment agencies Why self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and growth mindset are the future of leadership The 80% Rule: How to achieve more by doing less How to audit your life and align with your values About today’s guest Anna:  Anna Mosley is a high-performance coach, mental fitness expert, and founder of the 80% Growth Academy, working with global brands to  transform leadership and culture. With a background in corporate leadership and a passion for growth mindset, she is on a mission to help millions unleash their full potential. Connect with me across social media: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/    Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/  TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w  Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/  Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order    About the show: The Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast is the place that helps you communicate, engage and lead with purpose. We lift the lid on what it takes to be a great leader and our guests share tips, principles, wins and failures that will educate and inspire you to lead your own team and business with purpose.

In this powerhouse episode of the Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Roheel Ahmad, co-founder of Forsyth Barnes and the visionary behind Imagine AI - a cutting-edge recruitment technology built to disrupt the traditional CRM/ATS space. From humble beginnings and being sacked from his first job, to scaling a bootstrapped global recruitment business with £100M+ in total turnover, Roheel opens up about the grit, growth, and game-changing mindset that got him there. Now, he’s taking his biggest risk yet: investing over £1.2M into a new AI-driven startup aiming to redefine operational efficiency in recruitment. This episode explores the journey from startup to scale, the realities of leadership, fatherhood, mental fitness, and how to stay grounded while building a legacy. Whether you’re a recruitment founder, tech entrepreneur, or business leader looking to scale smarter, this candid conversation is packed with wisdom, strategy, and actionable insight. In this episode, you will hear about: Roheel’s rise from rejection to recruitment success Building Forsyth Barnes from scratch to £25M+ turnover Why Roheel’s betting on Imagine AI to reshape recruitment The mental fitness and discipline behind high-performance leadership Mistakes, failures, and lessons from the front lines Balancing business and family life as a founder How real leaders navigate culture, growth, and change The future of recruitment: AI, relationships, and impact This episode is ideal for: Recruitment professionals, agency owners, SaaS founders, scale-up entrepreneurs, tech investors, business leaders, AI innovators, and anyone passionate about high-performance culture, startup resilience, and leadership with purpose. Connect with today’s amazing guest Roheel Ahmad via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/roheelahmad/ Connect with me across social media: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/    Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/  TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w  Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/  Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order  About the show: The Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast is the place that helps you communicate, engage and lead with purpose. We lift the lid on what it takes to be a great leader and our guests share tips, principles, wins and failures that will educate and inspire you to lead your own team and business with purpose.

The Power of Control in Recruitment with Jeremy Snell Is recruitment broken—or just in desperate need of a mindset shift? In this episode, we dive into the evolving world of recruitment with Jeremy Snell, creator of the 4D Recruitment Method, who’s redefining how we approach candidates, communication, and culture in the industry. Jeremy shares his unique framework for human-centric hiring, highlighting the urgent need to treat candidates as people, not transactions—and how that shift can unlock better results for recruiters and employers alike. Jeremy also discusses the need for balance and wellbeing in a demanding work environment, and how he has found his own life harmony by starting a farm. Whatever your experience level in the recruitment game this conversation is packed with insightful, practical strategies to future-proof your recruitment game. Tune in and discover how better life harmony could change everything. “You are what you think and what you can create.” – Jeremy Snell   You'll hear about: ✅ Why empathy, follow-up, and psychological insight are now recruitment superpowers ✅ The impact of tech, communication, and business development on agency success ✅ Productivity metrics that matter—and how to keep fun and wellbeing in the process ✅ A fresh take on building balance and life harmony in the high-pressure world of recruitment   Jeremy's resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/recruitmentsalestraining/ 4D Recruitment Method - https://4drecruitmentmethod.com/ Rookie 2 Recruiter - https://rookie2recruiter.com/ Zero Entropy Networks - https://zeroentropynetworks.com/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/   Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order

What if your job isn’t the problem—but your mindset is? In a world where unfulfilling careers are the norm, Andrew MacAskill is on a mission to end career-based misery—and reshape how we think about leadership, recruitment, and purpose at work. In this episode, Andrew joins me to tackle the real challenges facing today’s recruitment professionals and job seekers. From the fear of failure to the flaws in traditional hiring models, this conversation gets to the heart of what’s broken—and how we can fix it. Whether you’re a recruiter, hiring manager, or professional in transition, this episode offers deep insights and actionable strategies to thrive in a changing world of work. Ready to rethink recruitment? Hit play now. 🎧 “People join people, not businesses.” – Andrew MacAskill You'll hear about: ✅ How to build compassionate leadership cultures that actually retain top talent ✅ Why recruitment consultants must evolve—or risk becoming irrelevant ✅ The power of personal branding in the modern job market ✅ Navigating the talent crunch, AI, and automation with strategy and empathy ✅ Finding alignment between personal values and organizational mission   Andrew’s resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobsearchcoach/ Executive Career Jump - https://www.execcareerjump.com/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/AndrewMacAskill Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/executivecareerjump/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/   Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order

Is your sales approach costing you deals? Are you too soft on prospects when you should be closing? In this episode, I sit down with Benjamin Dennehy—dubbed the UK’s Most Hated Salesperson—to strip away the fluff and expose what truly works in sales and recruitment. Love him or hate him, Benjamin’s approach is bold, direct, and brutally effective. We dive into Benjamin’s past and how he became the character he is today. He shares incredible insights into what to say in sales meetings, how to close, and strip away those prospects that aren’t right for you. His magic trick is getting the room when people don’t even know his name or what he does - and selling. If you’re in sales, recruitment, or business development, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about selling. Ready for a sales reality check? Tune in now!   “I don't think you should be yourself in sales.” – Benjamin Dennehy   You'll hear about:   ✅ The psychology behind closing deals—why most people get it wrong ✅ Cold calling secrets that actually work (if you have the guts to use them) ✅ The art of questioning—how to control the conversation and qualify leads fast ✅ Recruitment sales tactics that separate amateurs from the pros ✅ Why personal branding and LinkedIn are game-changers in today’s market   Benjamin’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamindennehy/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/UKsMostHatedSalesTrainer UK’s most hated sales trainer - https://www.uksmosthatedsalestrainer.com/ Sales Matrix Courses - https://www.salesmatrixcourses.com/free/10-reasons-prospecting-course   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/   Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order

What does it take to build and scale a thriving recruitment business? Emotional intelligence, effective communication and a singular vision all play a key role. In this episode, I am joined by Alex Elliott, founder of Liquid Personnel, to uncover the key principles that drive high-performing recruitment teams. From hiring standards and team dynamics to navigating the emotional challenges of selling a business, Alex shares his journey and hard-earned insights. Whether you're a recruitment professional, business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Tune in now and take your recruitment game to the next level!   “The best culture for me is winning.” – Alex Elliott   You'll hear about:   Effective communication is key in recruitment processes. Alex’s journey to build, scale and sell Liquid Personnel There's so much luck involved in life. Hiring standards should focus on competencies, not just numbers. The future of the recruitment industry   Alex’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexelliott123/ Telent Analytics - https://www.talentanalytics.co.uk/ Phase 6 Advisory - https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-6-advisory/     My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/   Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order  

Do you suffer from imposter syndrome?   That feeling that you are not good enough.   To overcome it requires self-reflection and self-acceptance. But it is possible, especially with the help of my guest in this episode, Sarah Farmer.   Sarah helps those with reduced self-confidence and self-belief stop sabotaging their success and unleashing their potential. But she has also had to overcome her own challenges in life, such as dealing with her anger, living with ADHD, and the effects of being seen as different growing up.   She also shares the difficult times she has faced both as a daughter and as a mother. Revealing a very current and raw situation her family have been faced with.   Sarah vows she will never use her personal circumstances as a reason to give up. And it shows through everything she shares.   “Trust yourself and don’t worry so much” – Sarah Farmer   You'll hear about:   00:58 - An introduction to Sarah 02:03 - Sarah's experience with imposter syndrome 12:05 - The Covid effect 16:20 - What pisses Sarah off? 17:56 - Has Sarah shown anger in her life? 22:20 - Dealing with your shit 26:37 - Sarah on her relationship with her kids 29:52 - Sarah's journey since school 33:47 - How has ADHD affected Sarah's life? 36:48 - Sarah on mental health 39:00 - Sometimes you just have bad days 42:24 - Sarah's work with her clients 45:58 - The impact ADHD has had on Sarah's life 54:13 - What has scared and scarred Sarah the   Sarah’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-farmer-coach/ EMR Consulting - https://www.emr-consulting.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarahfarmerexeccoach/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SarahEMRConsultingLtd YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDNbtDenSbAs-DjwhZNexlw/featured   Have I got imposter syndrome? https://impostersyndromelevel.scoreapp.com/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

How well do you really know yourself?   Taking time to understand who you are, without listening to other people’s bullshit ideas of what you should be is the most powerful thing you can do.   That is exactly what my guest, Amy Polly, has done to live her life by her rules.   Amy is a Chief Mindfulness Rebel, TEDx Speaker and ADHD Advocate. We delve into what led her to embrace the world of mindfulness and now want to reinvent it as funfulness. Amy shares the struggles she faced with post-natal anxiety, abusive relationships and how she was always different to those around her. Something she understands more about since a diagnosis with ADHD.   Amy’s life of funfulness has come from embracing those differences and being true to herself.   “You can’t go wrong being true to who you are” – Amy Polly   You'll hear about:   00:51 - An introduction to Amy 04:03 - The emotional side of Amy 06:32 - Amy's relationships with family and friends 12:36 - Amy on mental health 20:35 - Are our thoughts true? 22:52 - Amy on her difficult relationships 28:04 - The power of accepting who you are 31:56 - What is funfulness? 37:07 - Tackling toxic cultures 40:18 - Amy on neurodiversity 46:12 - Old Amy vs the new Amy 51:12 - What does Amy struggle with? 57:22 - Amy on love   Amy’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amypolly/ Website - https://www.amypolly.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thisisamypolly Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thisisamypolly    Episode resources:   Jaaq.com - https://jaaq.org/home   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

This episode is my guest appearance on the Across The Table Podcast with Target Recruit.   Chris (Base Mindset) is an ex-global top biller at SThree and a £25M Recruitment business owner turned purpose-driven NED and coach.   He believes that almost all business problems are people problems. Because people without a purpose have no centralised reason driving them to perform.   “Lots of companies want to get back to the old school ways of working,” – Chris O’Connell   You'll hear about:   00:00 - Start 03:54 - Adversity, Resilience, and Purpose-Driven Leadership 16:15 - Lessons from Entrepreneurship: Finding Positives in Adversity 31:06 - Purpose, Accountability, and Continuous Growth in Business 32:10 - Coaching CEOs and Building Successful Businesses 53:00 - Evolution of Recruitment Practices and Impact of Culture 55:20 - Future Outlook for the Recruitment Industry   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/   Check out Target Recruit’s podcast Across The Table - https://targetrecruit.co.uk/podcast/

What is your biggest fear in life?   For my guest in this episode, Lewis Ellis, it’s not achieving or even trying.   This ethos has led Lewis to do great things but to also find himself in troubled waters. From creating successful marketing startups, synonymous with guerilla tactics, to washing up in a war zone as a holiday rep.   Lewis shares his fears but also why he wants to live a life by his rules. Whether that’s through the relationships he builds, the way he approaches business or how he views money, he is unapologetically him. And that is a powerful place to be in life.   Lewis also discusses his infamous, viral air pod saga and where his nature for being a disruptor came from.   If you want to live a life unapologetically as you, this one’s going to hit home.   “My biggest fear in life is wasting time” – Lewis Ellis   You'll hear about:   00:43 - An introduction to Lewis 03:56 - Where does Lewis' disruptor nature come from? 08:41 - What's the real Lewis like? 14:04 - Lewis on relationships 20:06 - Lewis and the air pods            25:06 - Lewis on his mental health 29:19 - Did Lewis' parental relationships affect him? 33:49 - What affects Lewis emotionally? 35:18 - What is Lewis' purpose? 44:32 - Using LinkedIn cathartically 47:27 - Will Lewis ever change his approach to life? 51:13 - Is there healing that Lewis needs to go through? 54:46 - What has scarred and scared Lewis the most? 01:00:39 - How important is money to Lewis?   Lewis’ resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-ellis/ Hussel Marketing - https://hussel.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lewis_ellis_/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@LewisEllis Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HusselMarketing   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

You are more powerful than you think.   With the right attitude and mindset, you can achieve anything in life. This is the belief of my guest in this episode, Ani Filipova.   Ani grew up with humble beginnings in Bulgaria, a socialist country, where she was always told “be quiet” and “don’t speak up”. But she knew she wanted more out of life, and she has never let those voices stop her.   Going on to become COO of Citbank that has 250,00 employees globally, Ani talks about why she left it all behind to focus on her family and then become a coach. She shares the deep challenges she faced in having children, and the mental load this had on her fearing it may never happen.   “Apart from dying you can reverse or correct anything” – Ani Filipova   You'll hear about:   00:44 - An introduction to Ani 04:39 - Humble beginnings to COO of Citibank 09:44 - The dark times Ani has faced 15:08 - How has motherhood changed Ani 21:08 - What's important in a healthy relationship? 27:22 - Living with heart palpitations 33:06 - Why Ani climbed Kilimanjaro 35:11 - Why Ani left the corporate world 40:45 - Ani on her coaching 42:13 - How has Ani evolved throughout her life? 43:26 - What has scarred or scared Ani? 49:31 - Is Ani good at setting boundaries? 54:20 - Ani on the loss of her father   Ani’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anifilipova/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ani.filipova.148 Change Advisory - https://anifilipova.me/ Ani’s podcast Change is Possible - https://changeispossible.site/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

What is life like with ADHD?   It is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders and many will judge those who have it before they get to know them, or even understand what it means to have ADHD.   In this episode I am joined by Thomas Woodhams, who, as well as having ADHD supports others with the condition through his content on LinkedIn.   Thomas is hilarious, honest, and unfiltered about how the condition has impacted his life. From abusive relationships, to getting sacked and hot tub escapades. Expect to hear things from Thomas you wouldn’t hear anywhere else.   He also shares what pisses him off about LinkedIn, how workplaces can support neurodivergence more and find why he went to Bristol just to get a photo for his girlfriend’s mum.   “It’s like a squirrel going in your brain at 300 miles an hour” – Thomas Woodhams   You'll hear about:   01:01 - An introduction to Thomas 03:49 - Did ADHD get Thomas intro trouble as a kid? 08:14 - Why Thomas feels the need to impress         10:36 - What pisses Thomas off on LinkedIn? 12:06 - What is ADHD? 18:01 - Does ADHD make Thomas feel down? 21:58 - How ADHD has affected Thomas' relationships 24:59 - Thomas on suicide 30:13 - Thomas' life and toxic relationships 39:28 - Thomas' experience in recruitment 48:27 – How to improve support for neurodivergence                                              49:23 - Thomas on his relationship with his fiancée 52:31 - LinkedIn according to Thomas            57:13 - Thomas' top 3 traits   Thomas’ resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-woodhams/ Listen to Thomas’ podcast - Be.You - https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-you-podcast/?originalSubdomain=uk My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Imagine your mother leaves a note to say she is going for jam but doesn’t return for 6 months.   This was what happened to my guest Zsike Peter.   Zsike had the hardest of childhoods. Born in Transylvania under the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. After the separation of her parents her stepmother performed cruel acts on her and her sisters that led to her birth mother kidnapping them to flee the country and rescue them.   Later in life the birth of her daughter awoke memories she had long repressed of the child abuse she suffered from her grandfather.   Zsike also gives insights into the world of marketing and how we communicate.   This episode is testament to the strength that Zsike has shown throughout her whole life and to also show the doubters what incredible things she can achieve.   “My mother put all of us on a train and basically kidnapped us” – Zsike Peter   You'll hear about:   00:45 - An introduction to Zsike 02:30 - Zsike's journey since school 06:08 - Life under a dictatorship 15:00 - Being saved by her mother kidnapping her 17:42 - Zsike's childhood trauma 28:06 - How her trauma impacted who she is 31:23 - Zsike's advice to children going through abuse 39:17 - Zsike on life in Hungary with her mother 42:34 - Zsike on how we communicate 49:46 - Confidence vs anxiety 53:26 - Zsike's life as an au pair 01:01:06 - Zsike then vs Zsike now 01:06:50 - What would Zsike say to her younger self?            Zsike’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zsike-peter/ Vampire Digital - https://www.vampiredigital.biz/   Zsike’s artwork - https://www.zsikepeter.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zsikepe/ My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Is being vulnerable a strength?   For many showing vulnerability is not something they are willing to do. They see it as a form of weakness. It isn’t, it’s what the world needs more of.   In this episode I am joined by Seth Prezant, who I first met climbing Kilimanjaro. Seth isn’t afraid of vulnerability and shares in depth about his relationships, including his divorce from his wife, and how this had a huge impact on his mental health.   He also talks about how he has shown up as a father, the good and the bad. Seth is all about reflection and honesty, and that’s what you’ll get in this episode.   “There’s a point when you feel it’s ok to love more and care less” – Seth Prezant   You'll hear about:   01:10 - An introduction to Seth          04:15 - Seth's journey since school 09:01 - Seth on boundaries and kindness 15:14 - Seth's parental relationships 19:14 - How does vulnerability link with strength? 22:45 - Seth on his own mental health 30:16 - Why Seth hates the word judgement 34:09 - Seth's family relationships 44:55 - What makes a strong relationship? 56:13 - How did divorce affect Seth? 01:02:30 - What has scared and scarred Seth the most?                                             Seth’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethprezant/ Hike Your Sales - https://www.hikeyoursales.co/     My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

You have the power to create your own story.   No matter what anyone else says or believes, you can achieve the life you want.   My guest in this episode, Meena Adnani, grew up in Indonesia and always knew she needed to break from the traditional role women played in her life experience.   Little did she know that this journey would take her to professional and financial success only to lose it all. Despite that loss, which she shares all about, she went on to build back to a 7-figure business.   Meena talks about how she managed to achieve this and why her resilience and mindset were her greatest assets in being able to do so.   “I’ll never allow anyone to tell me what’s not possible” – Meena Adnani   You'll hear about:   00:43 - An introduction to Meena 02:04 - Meena's journey since school 08:42 - Meena on losing her wealth 12:35 - Being able to prove people wrong 20:27 - How her parental relationships built her resilience 29:31 - You have to believe anything is possible 34:05 - How Meena reached 7-figures 39:29 - People buy from people 45:18 - What Meena is doing for her personal growth 53:49 - Healing is ongoing   Meena’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/meena-kumari-adnani/ The Empowered Woman Academy - https://www.strongandshine.com/empowered-woman-academy-2024 Strong And Shine - https://www.strongandshine.com/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/STRONGANDSHINE TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@meena.adnani Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/meenaadnani/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Nothing works unless you do.   Your family, your relationships, your business.   That’s why you need to look after yourself first to be able to best serve those around you.   In this episode I am joined by Nat Berman, who has lived by this rule in all areas of his life. He shares his views on the LinkedIn landscape after having built a successful personal brand from the platform.   He also discusses why finding the right people is important but not an easy process, and how this can impact your online presence as well as real world connections. Nat also shares how anxiety has affected him throughout his life and what has worked for him to manage it.   “Look out for number 1 otherwise you’re way less useful to other people” – Nat Berman   You'll hear about:   01:03 - An introduction to Nat 02:21 - Nat's view of the LinkedIn landscape 05:51 - The importance of personal in personal brand          09:57 - Nat's journey since school 14:17 - Nat's version of coaching 18:20 - Nat on family and relationships 20:01 - Nat on enhancing your mental health 22:44 - Where did Nat's anxiety stem from? 24:52 - What is purpose to Nat? 29:04 - Finding the right people 34:43 - Nat on manifestation 39:14 - The misconception of grinding           42:07 - Nat on the algorithm 45:48 - Nat's advice to build a personal brand           49:03 - Nat's worst anxiety   Nat’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielberman/ Website - https://natberman.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/realnatberman/ X - https://twitter.com/natberman79 Nat’s free brand built guide - https://newsletter.natberman.com/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Construction is a man’s game, right?.....Wrong   There are still industries that have preconceptions about whether men or women are best suited to work in them. And construction is one of them.   But it doesn’t have to be this way.   My guest in this episode is Kelly Cartwright, the company owner of Core Recruiter, showing the world that women can not only work in construction but be award winning leaders.   Kelly shares her experiences as a woman in the industry and the challenges she has faced. She talks about what purpose is to her, and the importance of showing vulnerability. She also tells all about the dress the dress that got her so much recognition but also feeling sof overwhelm as a result.   “Just because I am female doesn’t mean I’m at a disadvantage” – Kelly Cartwright   You'll hear about:   01:01 - An introduction to Kelly 01:39 - Kelly on her awards & that dress 04:19 - Why Kelly does what she does 08:39 - Kelly's journey since school 14:34 - Kelly's thoughts on social media 20:44 - Has Kelly changed as her business has grown? 26:42 - Has Kelly had harsh lessons along the way? 31:23 - What does the future hold for Kelly? 35:46 - Is there a place for showing vulnerability? 44:58 - Kelly on purpose 51:37 - Kelly's advice on understanding what's important                              Kelly’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-cartwright-%F0%9F%A6%BA-8542202b/ Core Recruiter - https://www.corerecruiter.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kellycartwright_/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

One life event can change everything for better or worse.   It took my guest, Rob Sharp, 18 years to begin to face being sexually assaulted. In that time he turned to drugs, which took over his life. The relationships with his family broke down and have never recovered.   This is a story of pain but also of owning your life choices and facing your past.   You’ll hear Rob share the hardest of things from his childhood through to the present day. How climbing Kilimanjaro became more that just getting to the top of a mountain and what positives Rob has taken from everything that has happened to him.   This is an incredible episode and as a warning it does contain references to suicide and sexual assault.   “The longer, the deeper, the darker it got, it was killing my head” – Rob Sharp   You'll hear about:   00:00 - Start 01:49 - Rob's journey since school 02:58 - Violence in Rob's childhood 06:59 - How has Rob's childhood affected his life 10:00 - Rob's life changed after being sexually assaulted      14:16 - What's the point in me being in the world? 21:00 - Why Rob chose to make amends                               25:56 - How Rob felt when family knew about the assault 29:31 - Rob on using drugs as a coping mechanism 35:49 - What was the turning point for Rob 42:05 - The positives that have come out of the horror 45:20 - What can makes things more difficult for a man? 47:21 - What Kilimanjaro meant to Rob 51:34 - What role has Amy played in Rob's life? 56:53 - How does Rob feel about his family? 03:29 - What makes Rob's business different?   Rob’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sharp-a9530142/ Orca Pay Group - https://orcapaygroup.co.uk/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

3 generations of recruiters come together and delve into what it takes to be successful in the recruitment industry.   In this episode I am joined by Harry Portch, one of the UK’s youngest recruitment agency owners and Dominic Joyce with over 10 years experience working in recruitment, talent acquisition across agency, RPO and in-house.   We get into the nitty gritty of what recruitment consultants get wrong, right and everything in between. From building the right culture in the modern recruitment industry to our views on LinkedIn and personal branding.   This is a must listen for recruiters at any stage of their careers.   “What if it’s a lot bigger than you could ever imagine? Go for it” – Harry Portch   You'll hear about:   00:00 – Start 01:06 - An introduction to Harry's life since school   06:01 - How Harry secures well known clients 09:34 - What makes a successful recruitment consultant? 16:11 - How Harry will cope with leadership 19:56 - What's annoying about recruitment consultants? 26:17 - What should recruitment consultants be doing? 34:57 - Funny recruitment stories 38:08 - How to create the right culture? 42:27 - Thoughts on the LinkedIn Landscape 50:06 - Using personal branding agencies 56:21 - Men's health and wellbeing   Dominic’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-joyce/   Harry’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryportch/ HM Staffing - https://hmstaffing.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hmstaffing/ HM Staffing LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/hmstaffing/ Listen to Harry’s Podcast The Spike - https://podcasts.apple.com/bh/podcast/the-spike-podcast/id1555127158   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Eating disorders take over your whole life.   It affects everything from relationships, to who you are and how you show up in the world.   This was life as a young adult for my guest, Melissa Matson. She was always counting calories and believed that waking up in pain was a good thing. Now she’s through the other side and in a place where she uses this experience to ensure she lives a life full of self-kindness.   In this episode she shares all about life with anorexia, how she lost who she was after having kids and how she has now reclaimed that. She delves into her purpose of working as a brand strategist and why focusing on metrics is never the right approach.   “There comes a point that you’ve got to stop pretending to be the thing you think you should be” – Melissa Matson   You'll hear about:   00:00 – Start 00:46 - An introduction to Melissa 04:12 - Who is the real Melissa? 10:24 - Was Melissa a self-made resilient person? 15:37 - Melissa's life with an eating disorder 20:11 - What therapy taught Melissa 23:52 - Melissa's life outside of social media 27:57 – Melissa’s thoughts on social media metrics 30:30 - Losing who she was after having kids 40:53 - What would Melissa change about her life? 46:35 - What does Melissa want to be remembered for? 51:54 - What does the future look like?   Meilssa’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamatson-brandstrategist/ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themelissamatson Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/embrbrandagency/ Embr Brand Agency - https://www.embrbrandagency.com/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Trauma is a part of many people’s lives, but not many are able to use it to then help others overcome theirs.   My guest in this episode is a very special friend, Nick Raeburn. He only started to work on his own childhood traumas late on in life and it has changed who he is and how he shows up in the world.   He gets raw and talks about his experience being abused by a family member as a child, and the impact this has had on the relationships in his life. He also delves into the ways this has shaped how he works with clients to support them to show up as their real selves.   This one is not to be missed.   “I think about how what I’ve been through helps other people” – Nick Raeburn   You'll hear about:   00:56 - An introduction to Nick 02:37 - How has sexual abuse affected Nick? 06:14 - Why having children changed Nick 08:49 - The reasons Nick shares his story 14:34 - Trapping a monster in a cage 19:40 - What impact has Nick's wife had on his life? 22:54 - What Nick thinks it takes to be a man 27:04 - Nick's advice to men that are struggling        30:13 - The good, bad and ugly of LinkedIn 36:11 - Nick on accessing his 'little boy' energy 39:24 - What scares Nick now? 43:21 - How important is purpose to Nick 48:06 - The impact Nick's parents had on him   Nick’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatsocialnerd/ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thatsocialnerd YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thatsocialnerd That Social Nerd Website - https://zaap.bio/thatsocialnerd   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

What does great recruitment look like?   Well, this episode with Charlotte Smith is a no holds barred break down of all things recruitment.   Charlotte is a Recruitment Director who champions the industry and comes from a family full of recruiters. We talk about why emotional intelligence is a recruiter’s superpower and how to get the culture piece in organisations right.   We also go deep into 180 recruitment and why data is king in order become great in this industry.   If you want to know what it takes to be a great in this industry this episode is not to be missed.   “We find people jobs, we don’t do a terrible thing ” – Charlotte Smith   You'll hear about:   00:56 - Charlotte's recruitment background 03:45 - Why recruiters should be proud of what they do      08:10 - Why you need to understand emotional intelligence            11:22 - How to get the culture piece right? 16:54 - Why specialist is Charlotte's least favourite word 24:56 - The importance of the follow up        27:33 - How Charlotte measures performance          31:27 - Is 2024 going to be better than 2023?           35:03 - What data does Charlotte look at? 43:28 - What does lazy management look like? 45:56 - Charlotte's view on 180 recruitment 49:21 - Why are recruitment companies poor recruiters?     Charlotte’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deakinsmith/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/all_things_recruitment/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

There are many preconceptions about what it is to be a man in the modern world.   A provider, strong, in control of their emotions.   But are these traits healthy and what does it mean if you don’t conform to these things?   In this episode I am joined by my good friends Tom Paine and Steve Ware. We explore these questions and more about what life is like for a man. We share our own fears and experiences with anxiety, loss of purpose and how we can be more than what the world expects a man to be.   This episode is raw and open from all 3 of us, something we need more of from the men in this world.   “It’s acknowledging that emotions are ok to feel, but it’s doing something about it. That’s the key.” – Tom Paine   You'll hear about:   03:18 - Tom's journey since school 06:13 - Do men have it easier? 12:01 - What are the reasons for losing your purpose? 13:29 - What are my values in life? 20:16 - The luxury of feeling your emotions 26:41 - Are younger generations more open? 30:26 - The role partners have in your lives 37:18 - Techniques to deal with anxious thoughts 43:28 - Astral projection 45:29 - What really scares Tom, Steve and Chris 51:23 - The stigma of life coaching 56:43 - Do you feel like you've wasted time in life?   Tom’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tompainelifecoaching/ Tom’s website - http://tompainelifecoaching.com/   Steve’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ware-mindfulness/ Steve Ware Mindfulness Website - https://www.stevewaremindfulness.com/ Steve’s mindfulness blog - https://www.stevewaremindfulness.com/blog   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Imagine living a secret life you were too embarrassed to share with your friends and family.   That shame is what my guest, Maya Raichoora, lived with throughout her teenage years. After being diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis she opened up to the world about what she was going through.   In her own words it has made her who she is today. But it doesn't define her.   In this episode she shares what life is like living with a chronic illness, as well as her self-love journey that enabled her to start her own business supporting global brands improve their mental fitness.   “I was living a secret life, because I just felt so ashamed of what was happening” – Maya Raichoora   You'll hear about:   00:54 – An introduction to Maya 03:14 – Maya on living with a chronic illness 09:37 – Losing her sense of femininity 16:13 – The importance of embracing negative emotions 22:08 – Maya’s self-love journey 26:39 – Being at peace with letting go 30:04 – The importance of being yourself 35:24 – The power of visualization for mental fitness 41:00 – Maya on purpose and passion 46:03 – Maya’s struggles with anxiety 49:21 - Embracing your feminine and masculine   Maya’ resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-raichoora/ Website - https://mayaraichoora.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maya.mental.fitness/?hl=en-gb   Watch Maya’s TED Talk - https://youtu.be/ZY8ucO8pe58?si=xr7wj-1t6f9yckiM   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ X - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

To live life free of shame is a powerful existence. Not many do, and those that achieve it will say it takes work on yourself. Constant work.   My guest in this episode, Dionne Slater, lived a life full of shame. From being abandoned by her father, to her mother setting some bad examples, which eventually led her down a path of sex work herself. In her darkest moments she tried to end her life only to be saved by her dog.   After all of this she did the work that allowed her to live an unapologetic life without shame, something she now works with others to achieve through her coaching.   “You’ve got to do the work, you’ll come out the other side so much stronger” – Dionne Slater   You'll hear about:   00:00 - Start 00:32 - How Dionne became so unapologetic 01:30 - Dionne's journey since school 05:13 - Has her mum's actions impacted relationships?       11:17 - Things you have done don't define you 15:20 - Doing the work is ongoing 20:06 - Dionne's experience getting herpes 23:53 - What was Dionne's darkest moment? 28:42 - Doing work on attachment styles 31:30 - What have been Dionne's happiest moments? 37:11 - Dionne's relationship with her father 41:37 - Dionne's experiences with depression & suicide 46:25 - What improvements does Dionne need to make? 51:49 - Dionne on LinkedIn 53:54 - What is Dionne's purpose?   Dionne’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionneslater/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ X - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

To be diagnosed with Tourette's after brain damage in his early 20s is a twist Luke Manton never expected. Luke has had to experience this condition and live in a world that discriminated against him for who he’s now become. This led Luke to attempting to end his own life, but in doing so he later found that he was loved so much, my so many. 💙 Since then he has 💙harnessed his adversity 💙created his own path and purpose 💙become the leader of an 8 person business 💙a Linkedln celebrity and has given a TED talk! But as you will hear there is more joy and happiness to come.... This episode had us both crying on the show itself. To me Luke is a hero and someone I am massively inspired by, look up to, and take enormous strength from. My tears were just of pure admiration - I’m honoured to have him in the show. 😭   “Tourette’s was my parting gift from brain damage” – Luke Manton   You'll hear about:   00:00 – Start 00:37 - An introduction to Luke 01:53 - How Tourette’s affected Luke's life 04:48 - Disadvantage and disrespect cause by Tourette’s 08:04 - How Luke has coped with the dark times 13:36 - Luke on his upbringing 16:46 - Luke on his sexuality 21:25 - Did Tourette’s influence Luke's purpose? 27:30 - How has Luke's mental health been impacted? 32:26 - Luke's growth out of the darkness 39:47 - How Luke has handled social media fame 44:30 - Treating people like people 48:12 - Luke on therapy 50:14 - Luke's partnership with George 54:39 - Luke's experience giving a TED talk   Luke’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukemantonme/ Manton Executives - https://www.mantonexecutives.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mantonexecutives/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mantonexecutives/?hl=en   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ X - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

A public rejection on Dragon’s Den would be the end of many entrepreneurs’ dreams, not so Laura Bartlett. After being told to “have a reality check” she took the rejection and created something bigger and better.   As the Founder of House of Coco Magazine, now 10 years strong, she has lived through debilitating grief, separation, and bankruptcy. All these things have shaped who she is now and how she views the world.   In this episode she talks about the experience on Dragon’s Den, her relationship with money, how she coped with grief having lost her father and what it was like to go bankrupt.   “Never fall out of love with life” – Laura Bartlett   You'll hear about:   00:00 – Start 00:46 - An introduction to Laura 05:18 - Has Laura always been entrepreneurial? 10:39 - Does Laura stop and feel her emotions? 14:28 - How Laura copes with grief 19:16 - Laura's experience on Dragon's Den 23:01 - Laura's relationship with money 26:03 - Laura's thoughts on relationships 28:18 - Laura's mental health journey 35:06 - Laura on going bankrupt 40:12 - Has Laura experienced any discrimination? 45:37 - Does Laura have any regrets?   Laura’s resources:   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurabartlett0/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartlettlaura/?originalSubdomain=uk House of Coco - https://houseofcoco.net/ X - https://twitter.com/laurabartlett0   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ X - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Being able to life your life on your own terms is something many aspire to but never manage. It can sometimes take losing people close to you to show you that now is the time to take action. Better that than live life in regret.   In this episode I am joined by Chris James, who experienced loss that made him realise he needed to take control of his own life by going all in on his own work. Since then he has built a hugely successful business supporting others to do the same through the power of social sales.   He talks about his darkest moments, including the people he has lost in recent years, his attitude towards money, vanity metrics on socials and engagement pods. He also shares how meeting his wife changed his life and how that impacted the person and business owner he has become.   “It’s the people that stand out that make the difference” – Chris James   You'll hear about:   00:00 - Start 00:40 - An introduction to Chris 03:47 - Chris on his darkest times 05:56 - The sales process for people just starting 10:37 - Chris' attitude towards money 12:18 - Your worth is not linked to follower numbers 15:56 - Chris' view on engagement pods 26:38 - What areas of his life does Chris need to look at? 30:00 - Chris journey to meeting his wife 36:55 - Where would Chris be if he hadn't met his wife 39:16 - Chris' family story 50:13 - How Chris processes trauma 52:35 - What is happiness to Chris   Chris’ resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjamesonline/ Chris’ website - https://www.chris-james.co/ Content To Clients - https://www.chris-james.co/c2clp YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCru_YUpPmYCfuj7lb67y7zw/videos Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/salesguychris/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

When Mitch started out in recruitment 30 years ago, he did the normal contingency consultant thing. He quickly realised there was a better way of doing things - After a move to Geneva, Mitch set up a different kind of search agency. One that used innovative recruitment communications as it's primary source of recruiting - something that proved very popular with the people they were trying to recruit! The agency combined hard-nosed commercial consultancy with creative recruitment marketing and led Mitch to where he is today.   If you've not come across Mitch on LinkedIn, I highly recommend you give him a follow. He'll teach you a thing or two about your copy to candidates and clients, but his sarcastic and satirical take on the industry will make you howl!   01:03 - An introduction to Mitch 03:49 - The difference between a job ad and job description 07:46 - Do attitudes trump skills? 11:27 - Mitch's advice to recruitment businesses 19:38 - What annoys Mitch about Recruitment? 27:04 - Why recruiters don't last in the job 33:18 - The importance of personal branding 38:13 - What adversity has Mitch faced? 46:06 - Mitch's proudest moment 49:08 - What is Mitch's purpose? 58:56 - Advice to recruitment rookies   Find Mitch here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchsullivan/ Find Vincere here: https://www.vincere.io/chrisoconnell

On this week's episode, I am joined by Trauma expert, Rebecca Fox. After growing up with an abusive, narcissistic mother Rebecca found herself falling in and out of relationships with narcissists as an adult. After suffering unbelievable trauma at the hands of the people she was in those relationships with, Rebecca has now dedicated her life to helping people heal and move on from toxic relationships.   00:49 - An introduction to Rebecca 01:57 - Rebecca's journey with narcissism 07:12 - Did being strangled change Rebecca? 10:53 - Did her upbringing have a bigger impact on her? 14:41 - Is narcissism deliberate or a disease? 17:34 - Rebecca's journey from school to now 23:36 - Can adversity become a gift? 28:32 - Is there a cure for narcissism? 31:06 - The effect of losing 2 loved ones 37:44 - Rebecca's life's effect on her relationships 45:42 - Respect in relationships 48:35 - Rebecca's challenges with her mental health 57:01 - Life after narcissistic relationships 59:13 - What is gaslighting?   Rebecca's Resources   Find Rebecca here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-fox252/    My resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/     

Your purpose doesn’t need to be about building a legacy, it can come from the knowledge   00:54 - An introduction to Alexandra 05:21 - The human side of recruitment 10:31 – Alexandra’s Romanian childhood 12:33 - The effects of being abandoned twice in her life 18:14 - Alexandra's worthiness journey 20:33 - Alexandra explains all about Recfindr 26:37 - How her parents leaving impacted her 32:15 - What is Alexandra's purpose? 38:18 - Improving the perception of recruiters 44:35 - Personal branding is not just one thing 54:24 - Alexandra's thoughts on inclusivity 01:11:06 - A time when Alexandra was hurt                                        Alexandra’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrachirica/ Recfindr website - https://recfindr.co.uk/ Recfindr LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/recfindr/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thisisyourtale_alex/?hl=en TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisyourtale_alex?lang=en   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

A company must consider its values in everything it does, including the first point of contact when hiring new staff. Knowing when you need to add to the cultural dynamic of a team or blend with what you already have is crucial to meet those values. In this episode I talk to Dominic Joyce, Head of Talent Acquisition and Travelex, to find out how to achieve this in your company.   He also discusses the good and bad sides of LinkedIn and shares his thoughts on why hiring starts from a company’s values. He goes deep into his own background by sharing his experiences growing up without a father figure and an alcoholic mother, and how this has informed his relationship with his daughter.   “I mask my emotions with humour” – Dominic Joyce   You'll hear about:   00:54 - An introduction to Dominic 01:58 - LinkedIn's good, bad and ugly 07:43 - The best and worst of recruitment 11:56 - Hiring starts from values 16:19 - Dominic's views on the CV 22:17 - Talent acquisition vs recruitment 24:23 - Dominic's journey since school 26:55 - The effect of no father figure on Dominic 31:10 - Dominic's process of dealing with trauma 36:41 - Dominic's relationship with himself                                       45:17 - What makes a good client?   Dominic’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-joyce/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/Dom_Talks_Sport CVUpgrade website - https://cvupgrade.com/   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Having a purpose in life is more than knowing what your destination is. It’s about being present and enjoying the journey as you evolve throughout your life. Achieving this mindset is what can break you free of the clichéd idea of purpose.   That is exactly what my guest in this episode, Izzy Prior, has achieved. She is the founder of Spark, an agency that builds purpose-led reputations for social impact founders through engaging, authentic content.   Izzy talks about her belief of what purpose is and how she focuses on purpose over profit. She also goes into her own personal journey of regrets in relation to posting about her burnout on LinkedIn, how fear has helped her in her life and how difficult relationships from her past have influenced her future.   “Your purpose is always evolving” – Izzy Prior   You'll hear about:   00:00 – Start 00:45 - An Introduction to Izzy 01:36 - Izzy view of what purpose is 06:21 - Keeping the enjoyment on LinkedIn 11:00 - Purpose over profit 12:17 - Social media vs reality 16:13 - Izzy's regret on posting about burnout                                              19:18 - The stigma around personal branding 25:09 - Izzy's journey including the dark times 28:37 - How a lack of a father figure affected Izzy 34:18 - Has fear ever helped Izzy in her life? 36:07 - Have previous traumas effected her relationships? 43:16 - When did Izzy's purpose become important? 47:14 - What does Izzy's future look like?                                          55:37 - Izzy's tips to aspiring entrepreneurs   Izzy’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzyprior/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/izprior/?hl=en-gb   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

The mind is a powerful thing. Your experience of life is determined by your thoughts, whether it’s experiencing burnout, gratitude, or your relationship with money, it all stems from your thoughts. So how are your thoughts making you experience life?   In this episode I talk to Steve Ware, a mindfulness trainer who supports businesses to optimise their employee wellbeing and reduce burnout. Steve has been through burnout himself after an upbringing that saw him win at everything in life. So it came as a shock.   Steve reveals how he got out of burnout and why it is important to sit with our feelings and how we can learn to observe our thoughts. He also shares his thoughts on gratitude and how he now sees his experiences with burnout and losing his job with IBM as a gift.   “How much courage does it take to sit and be with your thoughts” – Steve Ware   You'll hear about:   00:34 - An introduction to Steve 04:13 - What is burnout? 07:34 - The importance of sitting and feeling 08:13 - How Steve got out of burnout 11:44 - Learning to observe your thoughts 18:15 - Does Steve have to wear masks within his work? 29:13 - What is Steve's grand plan? 31:04 - Was burnout and losing his job at IBM a gift? 34:42 - Steve's thoughts on money 38:59 - Gratitude isn’t the solution to everything 48:26 - What fulfils Steve?   Steve’s resources:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ware-mindfulness/ Steve Ware Mindfulness Website - https://www.stevewaremindfulness.com/ Steve’s mindfulness blog - https://www.stevewaremindfulness.com/blog   My resources: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Baiju Solanki is a performance psychologist, mentor, author and TEDx speaker for high-performing individuals and teams.  In this episode, Baiju discusses how a single book on body language changed his entire life, focussing on himself after his divorce, mental health struggles and more! This was such an insightful episode to record, so I hope you enjoy listening to it.. You can find Baiju here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baijusolanki-performance-psychologist/  Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/ Find My People here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mypeople-group/  

Sally Wynter went from graduating with a Film and English Literature degree, to a 7-figure-exit from her CBD infused gin business. In this episode, Sally shares how she developed the idea of combining CBD with Gin, the struggles she faced as a young entrepreneur, being on a shoe-string budget and how she's dealt with becoming a millionaire in her mid-20s.  I really enjoyed recording this episode with Sally, so I hope you enjoy listening to it. You can find Sally here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-wynter/.  Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/ Find My People here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mypeople-group/   

It's easy to say you have a 'good culture' when everyone comes from the same background. Or when everyone agrees all the time. The TRUE test of a 'good culture' is when you can have multiple viewpoints, backgrounds, and personalities, and everyone STILL feels welcome. I really enjoyed this conversation with Lee Chambers - a British psychologist, coach, and entrepreneur on everything culture. He shares some invaluable wisdom that I know every business owner will benefit from listening to and applying to create a workplace people *actually* enjoy without having to all be the same person. Hope you enjoy it! Find Lee here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leechambers-1/ Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/ Find My People here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mypeople-group/

You can choose to be a victim. Or you can choose to remind yourself that something good can always come out of something sh*t, even if it takes a little while to reveal itself. I have learned far more from my dark times than from my successes. I really enjoyed this candid and empowering chat with @Geraldine Spurway - A High-Level Business Mentor, HypnoBreathwork® Facilitator and a Reiki Master. She's a Success Catalyst for Soulful Leaders and High–Performers ready to have it all. I'm so excited for you to listen to this episode - let me know your favourite moment from this week's episode on my socials! Find Geraldine here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gespurway/ Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

In recruitment, you deal with people every.single.day. And yet, for such a people-focused process, it rarely takes into account what 'being a person' means and all of the nuances that come with it. Which is why there is still so much work to do on DE&I in the recruitment space.  Because a person writes up the job description. And it's a person that "shortlists" the lucky 10 people.  And it's another person who is the person between the interviewee person and the person who's actually hiring.  And then that person has to work (and hopefully enjoy) that job they've just fought other people for - in an office full of other people. Basically, there's a lot of people involved.  And so it only makes sense that we're as openminded and accepting as humanly possible. Thanks Jo for an amazing episode.  Find Jo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jomajordiversityinrecruitment/ Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

Losing someone is never easy; losing someone to suicide brings an entirely different set of challenges. I feel incredibly honoured to have had Paul Mcgregor on the podcast this week, a mental health advocate, and the founder of EveryMindAtWork. We talk about how he turned his grief from losing his Dad to suicide into an impactful mental health organisation helping companies educate and support their employees' mental health. In 2020, Everymind at Work was born. His mission is to help businesses tackle the stigma of mental health at work and provide proactive support to employees. The support his Dad never had. What then started as an idea driven by personal loss, is now a mental wellbeing partner supporting 100s of organisations in their fight against mental health stigma. Suicide is currently the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. I've personally been there. I know many other men who have been there.  And I know that something has to change. I applaud Paul for his vulnerability on this podcast and for sharing so openly about his bereavement journey and the associated challenges of losing someone to suicide. This is an episode you do NOT want to miss. Find Paul here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmcgregorcom/ Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

On this week of Purpose-Led Leadership Jane Kisnica talks to me about pretty much...everything! This episode is full of tips on how to help you help yourself.   So rather than trying to condense it down to a short description, if any of the following sounds like a bit of you, take a listen:  Clinical depression Relationships Anxiety Anger Issues Medication Personal Brand Social Anxiety Mental Health Therapy Trust Issues Childhood Trauma Bullying Not having children Love Soloprenuership Super excited for this one - I strongly believe in listening to your mind and your body, and letting that guide you. Find Jane here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-kisnica-graphic-designer/ Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

This episode is really close to my heart. Isaac reached out to me after hearing my story on reaching the lowest point of my life.  The conversation that followed blew me away.  No text can do Isaac's story justice, so listen instead! Find Isaac here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacharvey-videoeditor/ Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

Lisa Haggar is a highly influential HR leader, named Linkedin’s Queen of HR and top HR Voice. And in this episode, she takes no prisoners when talking about the current state of HR in 2023. Not to mention the impact a lack of HR (or good HR!) has on your bottom line.  Find Lisa here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-haggar-540a68117/ Find Vincere: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

Chris Lomas is an advocate for the weak, a defender of the poor, and a guardian of the oppressed. His work is equally as hopeful as it is heartbreaking. Because he really is out there making a different to those who need it.  Chris is doing all of this through Hope4.  Hope4 is one of the fastest growing not-for-profit organisations in the world, with offices both in the UK and Moldova. When you support Hope4, you are immediately impacting lives tragically effected by hunger, trafficking and war, with every penny raised making a radical difference to men, women and children across Moldova and Ukraine.  Listen more about what Chris and Hope4 do - and how you can help.  Find Chris here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lomas/  Find Vincere: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

In this podcast, I talk to Zee Petula about the importance of a successful mindset.  I’m sure we can agree in the post-pandemic world, people grossly undervalue the importance of the human connection and how those humans may manage stress, anxiety, and confidence from the other side of a computer screen.   And coming from a person who’s coached so many people into understanding how to manage their stress and THRIVE in their environment, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.  Find Zee here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zee-p-78453b126/ Find Vincere: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

I exited by £25 million recruitment business in 2014 and since then I have been helping other recruitment agency owners scale and sell their businesses. In this episode, I go through some of the strategies I use to help my clients increase their new business by an average of 137%, and increase their fees by an average of 14% and increase their repeat business by repeat business by 73%.   What else would you like to hear from me? Let me know by sending me a DM on LinkedIn! DM me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/ Find Vincere here: https://www.vincere.io/chrisoconnell

Celestia Barby is an entrepreneur, confidence coach, inspirational speaker, host, and author of best-selling books How to find your real soul and become a boss, 365 role model quotes and the life coaching gateway - but her life wasn't always a "success".  From drugs and alcohol, drunk driving bans and stealing from friends and family - Celestia sat down with me to talk me through her tough journey to finding her purpose and shared some incredible lessons that we can all take something from. Find Celestia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celestia-barby-4a0930127/  Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/

Mark Enlow has over 40 years of business and executive recruitment experience. Having placed over 5,000 people and worked with the likes of Fortune 100's GE, and Honeywell, Mark's business accolades speak before he does.  But that isn't why I've invited Mark on as a guest. His approach to business is one that I am so aligned with - he describes his core values as Faith, Family, Fitness and Finance. Principals that I too can relate to. A true purpose-led leader, Mark's mission in life is to make a positive impact in the world to help those who can’t help themselves.  Find Mark here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markenlow/ Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/ 

Natalie Costa has worked with over 10,000 children worldwide and has helped families develop a deeper understanding of their children, discovering the habits to feel happier, calmer and more confident in themselves. But this conversation wasn't just about how we can help our children - it was about how we can find confidence and purpose in ourselves too.  This was an incredibly enlightening conversation, and I hope you enjoyed listening to it as much as I enjoyed having it.  Find Natalie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/powerthoughts Find Vincere here: https://www.vincere.io/chrisoconnell 

Elliott Rae is an author, speaker and founder of MusicFootballFatherhood.com (MFF) - the UK's most exciting parenting & lifestyle platform for men.  Elliot founded MFF in 2016 after suffering from PTSD after the traumatic birth of his daughter and the platform, called the 'Dad's version of Mumsnet' by the BBC, is the online community for fathers.  This conversation is honest, and vulnerable and really takes a look at what the challenges of being a modern father - and man really are.  Find Elliot here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-rae-a3a469144/  Find Vincere here: https://vincere.io/chrisoconnell/