Transition Master

Portugal & International | Present

I help founders, leaders, and high-performing professionals break free from burnout, self-sabotage, and uncertainty so they can reconnect to clarity, energy, and purpose. Through 1:1 coaching and immersive 4-day retreats, I guide clients to transform old narratives, release emotional blocks, and build bold new visions for their life and business.

Rooted in my background as a creative director and corporate leader, my approach blends strategy, storytelling, emotional intelligence and embodied coaching techniques.

Founder & Coach | Freedom Path Coaching & Retreats

ECCO

Explored how human psychology, decision-making, and emotional drivers shape consumer behavior. Learned how inner narratives drive external choices - a principle I now apply in coaching leaders.

Global Digital Research & Development Lead

Supported leaders and teams with core energy coaching, cultural awareness, and conscious leadership practices. This role was a bridge: bringing my coaching methodology into a corporate setting.

People and Culture Coach

Worked on global UX and customer journey strategies. What stood out wasn’t the data, but the human stories behind the data - reinforcing my passion for helping people unlock clarity and purpose.

Online Consumer Experience Specialist - UX

ESSENZA HOME

Led creative strategy and brand storytelling for global lifestyle collections. Beyond trends and aesthetics, this role was about shaping vision, guiding teams, and inspiring emotional connection with audiences.

Highlights:
	•	Defined seasonal narratives & visual identity that resonated worldwide
	•	Managed external creative talent and multidisciplinary teams
	•	Oversaw storytelling from concept → campaign execution (photo, film, digital)

What I discovered: My greatest strength wasn’t just in producing campaigns - it was in helping people align with clarity, confidence, and purpose under pressure. This realisation became the foundation for my coaching work.

Creative Director – Marc O’Polo Home & Esprit 

Energy Leadership Coach | Leadership Trainer | R&D Expert

I believe success without soul will always leave you restless.

I learned that the hard way - burning out in a top-tier creative role, disconnected from my family, and trapped in a life that looked great on paper but felt hollow. At 3am one night, something cracked.

That rupture became a doorway. I walked away from my role as a Global UX Lead, left behind the cycle of overwork and self-sabotage, and began the real work: building a soul-rooted life in Portugal with my family.

Now, I guide founders, leaders, and professionals through that same threshold - the moment when outward success no longer matches the inner truth.

My clients are often intuitive men and women (35–50) in leadership or entrepreneurship who feel:

• Burnt out, restless, or stuck in cycles of overwork
• Successful on the outside, but disconnected inside
• Ready to step into a deeper way of leading and living

My Work: A Three-Part Journey

1. Foundation (Online Coaching)
We create structure and clarity - breaking patterns of self-sabotage, burnout, and victimhood.

2. Core (Deep 1:1 Containers)
We go beyond surface-level strategy into soul-level recalibration - releasing old identities so you can lead with clarity, courage, and self-trust.

3. Expansion (Immersive Retreats)
For those ready to go further, I co-lead exclusive 4-day retreats in Portugal - an accelerated environment where breakthroughs are embodied and new visions anchored.

Clients often tell me the shift begins with my voice - like something inside them finally unblocks. That’s because this isn’t therapy or quick-fix strategy. It’s deep identity work. Emotional reset. A return to your true power.

If you feel the pull, send me a DM with “UNMUTE” for my free 7-Day Voice Activation Series - designed to help you reclaim your voice, your truth, and the power you’ve been holding back.

Daniel Philip Wilcock

So here goes...I feel it's time to share something pretty vulnerable about my journey so far. 

Over a year ago, I chose to leave my life in Holland behind with 3 young daughters, a wife, and a vision to live simpler in Portugal surrounded by nature.

The first few months, everything was what we had hoped for. My wife and daughters were really enjoying the slow pace, open culture and nature, we even got chickens - ALOT (there's such a thing as chicken math, go check it out).

But the one thing that was the hardest for me was how I felt. I went from being a corporate leader to suddenly an entrepreneur, depending on my next client to survive.

Daily I was waking up with my head racing, mind full, tight chest, and a million things to do - but not seeing the effort reflecting back in my bank balance.

I was chasing that next strategy... squandering the resources I did have on the next smart business coach or smartest GPT strategy to save me.

It did not. (I'll go into 'why nots' in another post).

Instead, I ended up just losing the capital I did have, feeling more disappointed with myself.

so I let go.

Let go of the expectations that were in my 'corporate head' thinking I had to prove something, and instead decided to cut the noise fully and spend a few weeks off to simply FEEL into what my body was telling me... the doubt, the fear, the sadness, the weight I was holding.

And you know what?

When I finally sat with the sadness and let the tears fall, a lightness came.

A sense of relief, followed by a clarity.

In that moment I realised that my life and business can only feel amazing if my feelings and thoughts line up with my actions.

The choice to leave our safe life behind in Holland was a brave one and a move only few do, but I failed to realise in the process that I did not give myself the time or chance to regulate my nervous system. 

I was living in a dysregulated state for so long, I had no clue that it wasn't me.

I'm saying all this because I see SO many founders take the action, start the business, hoping to feel more alive and free - only to find themselves more stressed, working harder than ever, on the verge of burning out.

The game changer for me was when I learned to regulate my nervous system, so I could finally think, feel, and act in a more stable and clear way.

Enabling me to be present for my kids, have time for my wife, and actually feel like I enjoy the place I live in.

Now I'm more passionate than ever to help founders like me who are stuck in dysregulated patterns, not knowing how (or if it's even possible) to change it.

If this resonates with you, I've spent months developing a 5-minute nervous system assessment to help you identify where you are right now in your own life and business and will give you honest feedback directly as to what I recommend as a next step, based on my experience.

(link in the comments)

P.S. I sincerely hope you get your body and life back too, your family needs you.

Daniel Philips

Somatic Business Coach for HSP, ADHD & Neurodiverse Founders | Your sensitivity isn’t the problem - dysregulation is | I help you regulate and build without burning out | Free nervous system assessment

I moved to Portugal to escape burnout. Instead, I found a wake-up call.

A few years ago, my family and I left everything behind.

Sold the house. Packed the van. Drove south with three small kids, chasing mountains, freedom and a slower pace.

Within months, the fantasy crumbled, and the business that worked back home wasn't working anymore. 

The clarity I expected turned into uncertainty and financial pressure, and that familiar tightness in my chest was back.

I came to realise that you can't outrun a dysregulated nervous system.

The same patterns that drove me to burnout as a UX Strategy Lead at a global fashion brand followed me to the Portuguese mountains. 

The hyper-vigilance, the overworking, the inability to rest even when exhausted.

Portugal didn't fix me, instead it exposed what I hadn't yet dealt with, and that exposure became the most valuable education of my life.

I've now come to realise that entrepreneurship is a nervous system sport.

The uncertainty, the financial risk, the constant pivoting, the loneliness of building something from nothing while raising a family - it all demands regulation in a way most of us were never taught.

Most founders are operating in survival mode 80% of the time, making decisions from a reactive state rather than a strategic one. 

I was no different.

So I started treating my nervous system like an athlete treats their body. 

With daily maintenance, recognising my limits and building in recovery, as well as learning to make decisions from a grounded place.

Now I help other entrepreneurs change the internal patterns that keep our heads and bodies stuck in survival mode, even when we've built the life we dreamed of.

The mountain views are beautiful, but my real breakthrough was learning to look inward.

Sunday evenings in Portugal hit different vs my old life back in Holland.  

This morning we collected wild mushrooms in the mountains. 

now sitting next to the fire, preparing for the week ahead.

Three years ago, I was drowning in back-to-back meetings, 
checking emails at midnight, convincing myself that's what success looked like..

Today, success looks like knowing when my nervous system needs nature.
When it needs silence.
When it needs to move slower to think clearer.

Building a business around how you're actually wired 
instead of how you think you should be..

That shift has been incredibly important for me and my young family. 

They now have their father back, and I’ve saved my marriage. 

Here's to a week of working with your unique nervous system design, and a weekly rhythm that enriches your life - not goes against it 🙏🏻❤️

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11:47pm. Amsterdam. December 16th. 2019.


Laptop glow on the ceiling. My wife and daughter asleep. I'd just bought another "this will change everything" course.


Not because I needed it. Because I was buzzing. Restless. Looking for a hit to save me from sitting with my feelings...


Trying to outrun a life that looked noble and kinda perfect on the outside. But inside I was numb to everything that should have made me happy.

To compensate I was skipping from course to course. Opportunity to opportunity.

Always learning, always busy, always doing what the gurus told me to do.

It looked proactive. Honestly, it was a classic distraction strategy.

I was living a reactive life - led by "shoulds," stuck in my head, disconnected from my body's signals to rest. Stop. Breathe.

Slowly running myself and my marriage into the ground.

The cost showed up at home first. The "I'm too busy" snap every time my wife asked something. Presence replaced by productivity.

At the time I was a leader in a global church. Supposed to have it together.
Inside, I was a hell of a mess.

I often turned to p*rn to soothe a nervous system out of check. 
only compounding the guilt, shame and failure I felt inside.

11:47pm was the moment where I could no longer handle the double life I was living.

So I shouted to myself in the mirror that moment in frustration and tears.

How the hell can I support others if I can't even support myself?

The next morning, I chose to be honest with my wife. Asked her forgiveness and support.

That was the moment I finally took responsibility for my mind, my body, and the stories still keeping me stuck.

You’re surrounded by family this Christmas, and you've never felt more alone.

I know that feeling.

Sitting at the table in my own house (beautiful home, kids being kids, work going ok) watching my wife share goofy moments with her father, mum and brothers.

Everyone I loved was right there.
Yet I felt completely alone inside my own skin.

I remember thinking..

Maybe January will fix this.
New year. Fresh start. Better approach.

But I’d thought that before.
Multiple Januarys. Multiple fresh starts.

And every December, I ended up in the same shitty place.

Same nagging buzz in my head.
Same numbness in my bones.

That quiet 'off' feeling pulsing underneath the Christmas lights.

But back in Christmas 2019, it was different.

I decided to stop long enough to feel what I’d spent a lifetime outrunning.

I went back to the 6-year-old me on the floor.

Who was watching tennis on the TV.
Parents screaming in front of him.
Holding his knees. Bracing for impact.
Trying to disappear without leaving the room.

I sat with him and asked what he needed to say back then...
the thing no one let him say.

STOP YELLING. I FEEL SCARED.

Then I told him the things he needed to hear:

You’re not too much.
This isn’t your fault.
You don’t have to disappear to be safe.

Something loosened in my chest that day.
A tight grip I didn’t even know I’d been living with.

For the first time in years, I could take a full breath.

Because I finally stopped abandoning myself.
the same way I’d learned to do it for everyone else.

I was addicted to being the reliable one.
The man who always showed up.
The one holding it all together.
The father. The founder.

All while numbing the ache in my gut.
and quietly waiting to be exposed as incompetent.

An imposter. A fraud.

If you’re feeling that gap right now... 
between the 'christmas hype' and the loneliness inside.

this might not be a 'season' problem.
Or a planning problem.
Or a motivation problem.

It might be the cost of a childhood where no one came looking for you
when you went quiet.

I can't shut off.

That's what most burned out founders tell me in our first conversation.

"I'm always on edge." "I work all the time but nothing moves forward."

I get it. I lived it.

Some years ago, I was sitting in the Portuguese mountains, overlooking a view I'd dreamed about for years back in Holland.

The kids were running around with our collection of chickens, with the puppy chasing behind, living their best life.

Carefree.

Yet, all I could think about was: how do I stabilise my business this month?
My chest was tight, my mind racing.

Revenue was unstable, and I'd convinced myself that if I didn't spend every waking minute on my laptop, hustling...reaching out....chasing... I'd miss my numbers.

I was working 8am to 10pm most days.

Checking my phone at the dinner table, any moment possible... Snapping at my wife and kids like I was always in a rush to get somewhere.

Even though there was nowhere to go.

My body felt like it had to constantly run to and from something just to stay alive.

To provide. To survive.

What I didn't understand back then was that restlessness, and edginess I felt, that inability to switch off... it wasn't a discipline problem.

It was my nervous system stuck in survival mode.

You see, when you're constantly stressed, your body interprets every business challenge as a life-or-death threat.

A quiet inbox feels like danger. 
A dip in revenue triggers the same response as being chased by a predator.

Your nervous system doesn't know the difference between a missed sales call and a physical threat, so it keeps you in fight-or-flight.

All day. Every day.

The real problem wasn't about me working too much, with the idea that working 4 days instead of 7 would solve it.

It was because I was working from a dysregulated state and justifying it as normal, necessary 'entrepreneurial' behaviour.

No amount of productivity hacks would fix that.

Adding another system or GPT strategy is like focusing on installing a new update on your SatNav, whilst your car is running on fumes and about to break down any moment.

If this is hitting home for you, I built a quick assessment to help you see what's actually going on.

Takes 5 minutes, and shows you where your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, along with what to do about it.

DM me 'SYSTEMS' and I'll send you the link.

I was snapping at my kids while living in paradise....

Working 8am-10pm. Chest tight. Mind spinning.

The problem wasn't my business strategy or work ethic. 

It was my nervous system.

I just published a newsletter about why capable founders stay stuck + 
the 90-minute process that shifts it.

Read here.

I was working 8am-10pm in what people call paradise. Portugal. Mountains. Freedom. The reality: phone at dinner, snapping at my kids, chest constantly

Open article: The Regulation Gap (why smart Entrepreneurs often stay stuck) by Daniel Philips • 3 min read

The Regulation Gap (why smart Entrepreneurs often stay stuck)

Your overwhelm isn’t mental. It’s mechanical.

Founders tell me all the time:
“I know exactly what to do…I just can’t seem to do it.”

That's not discipline problem
Nor lack of willpower.
And won't be solved by finding another smart AI hack.

The problem is that your Nervous system is overloaded and does not know how to decompress. 

This week’s newsletter breaks down the moment a client realised he wasn’t inconsistent - he was dysregulated.

And what happened when we reset his system in real time.

If you’ve been feeling scattered, reactive, or stuck in loops…
Comment RESET and I’ll send you the information for the 1:1 90 min deep dive I'm doing with a few founders in January.

Most founders think the hardest part of growth is strategy. OR discipline. OR picking the right business guru who promises “10k months in 30 days.” Bu

Open article: Your overwhelm isn’t mental - it’s mechanical. by Daniel Philips • 3 min read

Your overwhelm isn’t mental - it’s mechanical.

As a Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur, I used to think I just needed better boundaries.

Turned out, I needed better regulation.

And after years of working with other founders, I see the same pattern emerging, they know what they should do....take breaks, set boundaries, work less.

But when they try.. their body won't let them.

When they sit down to rest, their chest tightens. 
When they close the laptop, anxiety floods in.

And that was me in Portugal... I had all the time in the world. Mountains. Freedom. Space.

But I couldn't access any of it, because my nervous system was still running on a scarcity operating system.

But after going through this season of rewiring myself, I now know that when your nervous system is dysregulated, rest used to feel dangerous, and when I slowed down triggered alarm bells.

Because my body used to interpret "not working" as "not surviving."

So I kept grinding, not because I wanted to, but because my nervous system wouldnt let me stop. I was wired.

And I certainly learnt one thing for sure, that you cannot think your way out of a dysregulated nervous system.

You have to train it.

Like an athlete trains their body, you have to teach your nervous system that it's safe to downregulate.

Making that quiet inbox, a welcome thing instead of a panic attack. 
So that you feel like rest is actually productive, not dangerous.

This is the work I do now with founders who are barely holding on.

I tell them to forget about time management hacks and productivity systems you were sold, none of it works until you regulate your nervous system first.

Instead, I help you recognise the difference between actual threats and normal business challenges.

So that you can build the capacity to stay grounded under pressure instead of reactive, and make strategic decisions from a state of calm, not panic.

Because the fastest way to burn out isn't working too hard.
It's working from a dysregulated state and never coming back down.

So you're recognising yourself in this, I built a free 5-minute assessment to show you exactly where your nervous system needs support.

DM me 'REGULATE' and I'll send it over.

Some neurodiverse founders are not held back by strategy…they’re held back by something much more covert.

It’s the real reason so many brilliant, neurodiverse founders keep saying:

“I don’t have time.”
“I should be able to do this myself.”
“What if I can’t follow through?”
“I’m too overwhelmed to think about this.”

Most founders treat these as 'mindset issues.'

They’re not.
They’re nervous system signals....

And unless you know how to read them, they’ll keep you stuck in the exact same January → February → March loop you’re trying to escape.

In today’s newsletter, I break down:

• why these objections show up
• what they actually mean in your body
• and how to finally create capacity instead of pushing harder

Read the full article below.

If you’re hesitating, read this. Most founders don’t hesitate because they’re unsure. They hesitate because their nervous system is unsure. And the ob

Open article: There’s a version of you your current nervous system can’t access yet. by Daniel Philips • 2 min read

There’s a version of you your current nervous system can’t access yet.

“Why do I crave free time… but shut down the moment I get it?”

This was one of the most confronting things I uncovered in a recent founder reset session.

Not procrastination.
Not laziness.
Not a motivation problem.

A nervous system caught in volatility - trained to survive in chaos, and panic when he was at rest.

His brain said: “I want spaciousness.”
His body said: “But… what if it’s not safe?”

Todays newsletter breaks it down:

- Why you can’t switch off even when you want to
- The hidden pattern behind overwhelm cycles
- And the exact somatic shift to bring brings clarity back online

Let me tell you about a neurodiverse client who, on the outside, looked capable and calm… but inside, everything was running too fast. Brilliant mind.

Open article: Why your system can’t follow through (even when you want it to) by Daniel Philips • 4 min read

Why your system can’t follow through (even when you want it to)

Not all excitement is created equal.

I learned this in a session with a client last week.

He was a creative founder describing two different moments in his life:

Moment 1: Going from 2K to 100K in crypto. The rush. The high. "I'm finally escaping."

Moment 2: On a film set in Europe with an amazing team. He was in pure flow. Time was disappearing.

Both gave him goosebumps.

But when I asked him to feel into the difference?

He said something that stopped me:

"The crypto goosebumps were short. like a spike...On the film set, goosebumps were long, deep, more intense. That one felt like a deeper satisfaction. This felt like... myself."

The Crypto journey for him showed volatility ie
Manic highs..crushing lows...adrenaline-fuelled... isolated and short-lived.

The Film set with friends showed radiance ie
Grounded aliveness. Sustainable. Fills you up. Connected. Present.

Most burned-out founders are addicted to the volatility because their nervous system learned that volatility = normal.

So they keep recreating it:
 → Revenue swings that wreck them
 → Overworking then crashing
 → Chasing the next strategy to "save" them
 → Saying yes to everything, then collapsing

It can 'feel alive' for a moment, but it's not sustainable.

Radiance is different.

The founder described moments of real connection for himself:

A dinner with friends where he felt fully himself, a men's gathering where he spoke his truth, coaching sessions where his chest opened and his shoulders dropped.

His body responded differently.

Here he experienced 'no quick rush'

Stating: "Everything just feels safe. I don't need to have all the answers. I am at peace."

For him, it wasn't about choosing 'to hustle' or 'to rest'
It was actually about choosing between volatility and radiance.

With volatility feeling like:
 → Tight chest, racing mind
 → Checking numbers obsessively
 → Trying to control the uncontrollable
 → Shaky legs, panic, 'I need to turn back time'

Radiance feeling like:
 → Chest open, throat relaxed
 → Time disappearing
 → Being fully present
 → 'I can just be myself here'

Because your nervous system will ALWAYS pull you towards what feels familiar.

If volatility is familar, you'll keep recreating boom-bust cycles.
If radiance is familiar, you'll build sustainably.

So which pattern are you feeding?

The i've created a Founder Regulation Assessment shows you in 5 minutes.

You can take it here → https://lnkd.in/ePrZAVNX

Your body already knows the difference, the question is whether you're listening.

- Dan

The day after I told my wife I'd been using p*rn, I went looking for answers.

Cacao ceremonies. 
Church events. 
Men's circles. 
Breathwork. 
Journaling. 
Therapy.

I read the books. Did the courses. Showed up in all the right rooms.
And sure, some of it helped. Temporarily.

But the noise never stopped.

A low, constant weird hum in my body... like something was always 'off' in me, even when my life looked 'right.'

Even when I was leading a global church. 
Even when I was standing on stage, being praised for how wise and spiritual I seemed. 
Even when I had a beautiful wife and a newborn in my arms.

Especially then.

Because I couldn't fully feel the joy of my first child being born. 

Couldn't look my wife in the eyes for too long without wanting to look away.

The shame sat between us like a third presence in the room.

I thought I had a discipline or habit problem.

What I didn't understand yet was that I wasn't trying to solve a man's problem.
I was still functioning like the 6-year-old version of myself.

Why? well I grew up with an alcoholic mum and a dad who didn't know how to father.

I still remember sitting on the floor, tennis on the TV, while they threw things and screamed at each other in front of me.

I discovered something magical that day.

If I could pretend I was inside the program (if I could disappear into it) I couldn't be harmed.

That became my superpower.

At school, I was the kid who felt too much. Got bullied. Picked apart with words.
So I learned to hide... Numb... ...Accept what was happening and escape later.

Bedroom. TV. Video games. Eventually p*rn.

Because my nervous system didn't know any other way to feel safe.


Fast forward 30 years.
Same pattern with a different packaging.

Still escaping. Still numbing. Still dissociating - just now with a title, a platform, and spiritual language that made it look holy.

And no amount of clever thinking was going to fix that. No men's circle. No ceremony. No 'performance of authenticity.'

Because you CANNOT smart your way out of a childhood wound.

You have to go back and meet the kid who learned that disappearing was safer than being seen.

So I went back to that place, to finally stay long enough to feel what I'd spent my whole life outrunning.

You don't recognise yourself anymore.

The goals that used to drive you feel hollow. 
The strategies that always worked... don't. 
The version of you everyone knows feels like a costume you can't take off.

Nothing's technically broken.

But something inside you just stopped.

This is an identity death.
And it's the most terrifying (and sacred) threshold you'll ever cross.

The next article I wrote dives deep into this - are you ready?

There's a specific moment in transformation that no one warns you about. It's not the decision to change. It's not the moment you know something needs

Open article: The sacred collapse - when your old identity stops.  by Daniel Philips • 6 min read

The sacred collapse - when your old identity stops.

I watched a founder go from 2K to 100K in crypto.

Then back to 10K. Then 3K.

They were lying awake at night thinking: "I need to turn back time."

But the real problem wasn't the crypto.

It was their nervous system recreating the exact volatility pattern it learned in childhood.

Boom. Everything's great..... Bust.....Everything's collapsing. Repeat.

This is called the boom-bust trap.

And most burned-out founders don't even realise they're stuck in it.

They think it's about:

- Bad timing
- Wrong strategy
- Not disciplined enough

But it's none of them. 

It was about your nervous system being addicted to volatility.

Because your were raised to think that the volatility feels familiar,
and your nervous system always chooses familiar over safe.

I wrote about why this happens - and how to actually break it.

It's based on real client work, it's vulnerable, and it might explain why you keep ending up in the same place.

Read it in the latest article below.

Note: for confidentiality reasons the character in the story will have a fictional name) I had a client recently who couldn't understand why he kept e

Open article: The boom-bust trap: why burned-out Founders keep recreating the same pattern by Daniel Philips • 4 min read

The boom-bust trap: why burned-out Founders keep recreating the same pattern

"I'm not sure if I really want to do this, or if I just love the idea of wanting to do it."

A founder said this to me last week.


It was completely recognisable, because I've experienced the same split myself.

The one where you can't tell the difference between what your body is pulling you toward and what you think you 'should' want.

He said he wanted to dedicate Saturday mornings to walking in nature - just him, his feet on the ground, and no agenda.

But he kept not doing it....

There was always something 'more important.'
So I asked him to go back to a time when he really wanted something.
When he last felt the urge for it.

He remembered back when he was young, when he collected stones with his brother to break them open and find crystals inside.

When he described this moment, his whole energy shifted.

"It was like a pulling force," he said. "I felt it in my belly, almost magnetic."

That's what real desire feels like.

It's not in your head.

You feel it in your body.

Like a pull, a magnetism, an urge you just can't ignore.

But most burned-out founders have lost access to that feeling.

Because their nervous system is so dysregulated, they can't feel what they actually want anymore.

Instead, they find themselves stuck in:
"I should want to rest."
"I should want to meditate."
"I should want to work on my business."

But when the moment finally comes...
They freeze....numb out....scroll..... default to work.

And it makes sense, because they've been overriding their body for so long, they don't know how to feel their own urges anymore.

This founder said something that made my heart break for him:
"I crave free time, but when I have it, I have no idea what I want to do, so I just waste it."

That's a classic sign of dysregulation.

When your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, you lose access to:
- What truly excites you
- What lights your life up
- What your body is actually pulling you toward

All you can feel is...
'What's useful for my business?'
'What's productive today?'
'What should I be doing so I look busy?'

The only way out of this is to regulate your body.

So your nervous system feels safe, giving you permission to access your urges again.

That magnetic pull in your belly to smash open rocks and find crystals.
The thing you'd set an alarm for on a Saturday morning.
The desire that doesn't need to be rationalised - it just is.

If you've lost touch with what you actually want, your nervous system is stuck in survival mode.

The 'Founder Regulation Assessment' I created shows you where - and what to do about it.

It takes 5 minutes, is completely private, and no email is required unless you want the full breakdown.

Link in comments

Be honest - will you be starting January regulated or overwhelmed?

Because from every call I’m having with HSP, ADHD and neurodiverse founders, I’m seeing the same pattern over and over again:

You look like you have everything together on the outside -
 smart, perceptive, high-achieving…

…but inside, your mind is chaotic, reactive and constantly spiralling.

And December has made that even louder - extra activities, tighter budgets, more commitments, more emotional load.

The result?

Exhaustion....
Watching others move ahead with ease...

And the quiet fear:
“Maybe I don’t have what it takes to be successful.”

You definitely don’t want to start another year overwhelmed, masking competence, and privately melting down while trying to outrun your own nervous system.

But you know what happens if you don’t reset now:

January feels hopeful.
February feels familiar.
March… back in the same loops that drained you last year.

And nope - discipline isn’t the issue. (If it was, you’d have solved it by now.)

The issue is that your mind and body aren’t working together.

Your head is overloaded.
Your body is signalling distress.
And your shoulders probably feel it more than anything.

After being there myself, here’s what actually creates the shift:

I’m opening 5 spots for a New Year Founder Regulation Reset - a 90-minute personalised session designed to take you from chaotic + reactive 
→ self-led + focused.

Here’s what we do inside:
1. Uncover the real pattern driving your overwhelm
2. Regulate your system so your mind finally quiets
3. Rebuild inner leadership so you trust yourself again
4. Create a simple weekly plan you can actually follow

A founder from last years deep dive told me:
“I finally did the thing I’d been avoiding for years… because my brain and body finally felt steady enough to handle it.”

That shift happened within a week.

If you want to enter January clear, calm, and able to follow through:

Comment “RESET” and I’ll send the details.
5 spots. €347.

 Once they’re gone, this closes.
- Dan

There’s a moment I’ve never shared publicly.

A small, ordinary moment at the dinner table in Portugal a few years back, that  revealed the real reason I was overwhelmed in my business.

From the outside, everything looked beautiful.
Inside my body....nothing was.

My phone would buzz and my whole system would jolt.
Chest tight. Breath shallow. Shoulders heavy...

A feeling that one message could decide whether I was safe or not.
I thought I had a business problem.

Turns out… I had a nervous system problem.

This week I’m opening up about what actually shifted everything for me, the moment I stopped surviving my business and finally started building it from a regulated place.

I wrote the full story in myt latest newsletter, it’s vulnerable and honest, in the hope that it will help others to reflect before heading into 2026. 

You’ll feel it in your chest if you’ve ever been stuck in that loop of hustling harder while feeling more disconnected from yourself.

There’s a moment from Portugal I still think about more than I want to admit. Dinner table. Candles. Mountains in the distance. My wife talking softly

Open article: The moment I realised I wasn’t actually free
 by Daniel Philips • 2 min read

The moment I realised I wasn’t actually free

Luke Tobin

Entrepreneur, Advisor & Investor. Follow for daily posts on business & personal growth.

Commercial and speaking: sponsorship@luketobin.com

3 exits. 7 businesses. £100 to an eight-figure agency exit in 5 years.I help founders turn self-doubt into leverage, and leverage into exits.

My last business started with £100 and a lot of imposter syndrome. No funding. No safety net. Just a laptop, a tiny runway and lots of grit. Five years later, we sold for eight figures. It was one of the fastest growth-to-exit stories in the UK at that level.

That was exit number three. Before that, I built and sold a hospitality business and an e-commerce brand. Different industries, same scale-to-exit playbook. Build lean. Price for profit. Systemise delivery. Think like a buyer long before you ever meet one.

Now I back other founders and work on fixing what is broken in the agency world.Current work

Unusual Group (Founder)We take minority stakes in agencies and plug them into the capital, infrastructure and operator support they need to grow margins and become exit-ready.

Tobin Capital (Owner)I invest in more than 25 brands, including SpaceX, Atom Bank, and Honest Mobile. When I invest, you do not just get capital. You get an operator in your corner on pricing, operations, hiring and exits.

A-Frame Venture Studio (Partner)We build consumer brands from scratch. Our first brand, Mirth Water, is now live in the United States at drinkmirth.com.

The Success Method NewsletterEvery week, more than 100,000 founders get my breakdown of how to turn self-doubt into an advantage in their business. I share how I structure deals and exits, the pricing moves and margin levers that work in practice.

Book (Q2 2026)My first book, on how founders can turn doubt into an asset rather than a drag on growth, is coming in Q2 2026 from a major publisher.

In total, I have started seven businesses. Two failed. Three exited. Two, I am still building. The failures taught me more than the exits. Self-doubt never went away. I learned how to use it as a filter to make better decisions in hiring, pricing, partners, and exits. That is what I teach and invest around now.

Today, I share what actually works with more than 800,000 founders across my channels. The playbooks, the red flags, the live deals and the parts of the mental game most people never talk about.

If you are an agency owner or founder who wants to raise, exit or fix your margins in the next 12 to 24 months, send me a DM.

Newsletter (100K plus subscribers): www.luketobin.com/newsletter

DM me about: investments, agency exits, speaking

Investor

The next‑generation personalization AI for e‑commerce.

If a paycheck costs you your peace,

it is too expensive.

You deserve a workplace that doesn’t just pay the bills,

Instead:
- Gives you space to grow
- Thrive
- Feel valued and safe

Here’s what to look for when seeking a workplace that nurtures your peace of mind:

1. Prioritise your mental peace
→ Look for a culture that supports your personal and professional growth.

2. Seek alignment with your values
→ Find a company that shares your principles and respects your work-life balance.

3. Ask the right questions during interviews
→ Don’t just ask about the role, ask about the culture, the leadership, and the values.

4. Look for leaders who lead with empathy
→ A good leader will support your well-being as much as they challenge you.

5. Pay attention to team dynamics
→ A healthy team culture will encourage collaboration and support, not competition and stress.

6. Choose companies that offer flexibility
→ Flexibility is key to maintaining a healthy balance between work and life.

7. Assess if work-life balance is respected
→ Make sure the company doesn’t just say they value it, they live it.

8. Pay attention to employee turnover
→ High turnover can signal a toxic culture, while low turnover suggests stability and respect.

9. Trust your gut
→ If something feels off about the culture, it probably is.

10. Observe how they handle conflict
→ A company that values peace will address issues calmly and constructively, without drama or hostility.

Your job is not just a source of income,
it should be a source of growth and peace.

Choose wisely.

♻️Repost to help your network prioritise their well-being.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more career advice.

Founder of Unusualgroup.com | Follow for posts on Business, Marketing, Investing & AI

We’re often told that fearless people are brave.

But the truth?

The bravest people are usually the most afraid.
They just don’t let fear lead the way.

- They speak up. even with a shaking voice.
- They launch the thing, even when imposter syndrome screams.
- They walk into unknown rooms, even when they feel like an outsider.
- They take the risk, even when there’s no guarantee it’ll work.

Here’s what I’ve learnt about fear:

1. Fear is loudest right before growth.
2. Fear convinces you to wait until you’re “ready.”
3. Fear wants comfort, not progress.
4. Fear isn't the enemy, in fact, it often points to the very thing you should be doing.

So when fear shows up, ask yourself:

→ Is this fear protecting me… or keeping me small?
→ What would I do if I trusted myself more than I feared the outcome?

Courage is messy.

It looks like slow steps, shaky hands, and uncertain starts.

But it moves you forward and that’s what matters most.

You don’t need to eliminate fear.
You just need to stop letting it make your decisions.

So whatever it is you’re holding back on…
Do it anyway. 
With fear. 
With doubt. 
With heart.

Because action builds evidence.

And evidence builds belief.

♻️Repost to help others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more success tips and frameworks.

cc Colby Kultgen (shout out for the image and powerful message!)

linkedin.com/in/fu-yen-hy/

JSESSIONID

li_at

Your circle is either pushing you forward or anchoring you to your past.

I was reminded of this once when I caught myself slipping back into old patterns, not because I had changed… but because the people around me hadn’t.

It’s wild how easily we underestimate the influence of our environment.

Sometimes you’re not “stuck.”

You’re just surrounded by people who benefit from the version of you that doesn’t grow.

And that’s why this reminder hits so hard:
Surround yourself with people who fit your future, not your history.

Here’s what that actually looks like in real life:

1. Audit your circle.
- Who challenges you? Who drains you? Your energy has data, listen to it.

2. Have the courage to outgrow people.
- Not everyone is meant to come with you. Growth demands exits.

3. Seek rooms where your goals aren’t “too much.”
- If your ambition makes people uncomfortable, you’re in the wrong room.

4. Choose people who talk about possibilities, not limitations.
- The conversations you’re in, shape the decisions you make.

5. Don’t shrink yourself to match someone else’s comfort zone.
- Your future self is watching, don’t disappoint yourself.

The crazy part?
Your life can change dramatically just by upgrading the people you give access to.

Remember:
Environment is stronger than willpower.
Choose wisely.

♻️ If this resonates with you, share with your network.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more tips on mindset and growth.

Here’s the harsh truth:

You can make the “right” choice and still end up somewhere you didn’t expect.

That doesn’t mean you messed up.

It just means the path is doing what it’s supposed to do: Shape you.

Life isn’t linear. 
Some detours are lessons. 
Some delays are protection. 
And sometimes the “wrong train” is exactly what forces you to grow into the person who’s ready for the right destination.

Read that again.

If you’re feeling lost, behind, or off-track, don’t spiral. 
You’re not stuck, you’re being redirected.

Three things to remember when life doesn’t go to plan:

1. Stop assuming a setback means failure.
- Often it’s just feedback, guiding you toward a better route.

2. Zoom out.
What feels wrong today might make perfect sense in three months. Perspective changes everything.

3. Keep moving.
Clarity comes from action. Momentum beats overthinking every single time.

The wrong train can still take you to the right station..
as long as you stay awake, pay attention, and keep walking when the doors open.

You’re not off your path.
You’re being recalibrated.

♻️Repost to help someone in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth insights.

It costs $0 to be happy for someone else.

And it pays back tenfold every time.

It took me a while to realise this…
Every time I compared myself to someone ahead of me, I felt smaller.
But every time I clapped for them, I felt closer to my own win.

Too many people waste energy comparing, doubting, or silently competing.
But jealousy drains. 
Celebration multiplies.

When you celebrate others:
1. You build real relationships
- People remember who clapped for them.

2. You stay in abundance 
- Proof it’s possible, not proof you’re behind.

3. You train your brain for growth
- Success feels normal, not threatening.

The truth? Your turn is coming.
And the more you celebrate others, the more prepared you’ll be when the spotlight lands on you.

Here are 5 ways to show up for others that make you feel like a winner:

1. Cheer publicly
- Applaud someone in a meeting, on LinkedIn, or in a group chat. 
- Your energy spreads and so does theirs.

2. Give genuine compliments
- Notice something real about someone’s effort or achievement. 
- Gratitude boosts both your confidence and theirs.

3. Share their story
- Highlight someone else’s success. 
- Helping others shine makes you feel powerful too.

4. Offer help or resources
- Small acts of support such as advice, introductions, tools, create impact and strengthen your network.

5. Celebrate in private
- A thoughtful DM or note can be the most meaningful. 
- Showing you care builds connection and self-worth.

Clapping for others doesn’t delay your success. 
It accelerates it.

Who’s someone you want to celebrate today? Tag them below.

♻️Repost to help motivate others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more success mindset strategies.

cc Justin Wright (shout out for the image and inspirational message!)

One of the fastest ways to burn out is trying to control what was never yours to manage.

We convince ourselves that control creates stability.
But control is an illusion, and a costly one.

I’ve fallen into that trap too.

Worrying about perceptions, outcomes, or decisions I couldn’t influence.

All it did was drain focus from what I could actually impact.

High performers learn this distinction early.

You can’t control outcomes..
But you can always control inputs, effort, intention, and response.
The moment you shift from control to influence, everything changes.

You can’t control how others perceive you.
But you can control how consistently you show up.

You can’t control every project’s result.
But you can control the standard you bring to it.

You can’t control the pace of the world.
But you can control your reaction within it.

Energy follows focus.
And focus is wasted where control doesn’t exist.

The leaders who thrive aren’t calmer because life is easier.
They’re calmer because they’ve stopped fighting battles that aren’t theirs.

Focus on what’s in your hands.
Let go of what isn’t.

That’s how you build real control, through discipline, not domination.

What’s one thing outside your control that you’re ready to stop carrying?

♻️ Repost to help others refocus their energy where it matters.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more insights on leadership.

cc Josh S. (shout of for the image and essential reminder!)

Co-Founder @ The Creator Accelerator. Head of Content @ Chris Donnelly LTD. I talk about AI, Marketing & The Creator Economy

Weak leaders hoard power. 

Great ones create it in others.

"Someone remembers the day you believed in them"

That one sentence. 
That one nudge. 
It shifted their trajectory.

That’s what real influence looks like. 
Not followers. 
Not applause.
Impact.

Here's how to lead in a way that compounds:

1. Spot asymmetric upside in people
↳ Bet early. Invest in underpriced talent before the market catches on.

2. Give feedback like an owner, not a critic
↳ High standards + high belief = exponential growth.

3. Document belief, not just data
↳ Celebrate progress publicly. People work harder when they feel seen.

4. Teach leverage, not dependence
↳ Don’t build followers. Build founders, thinkers, leaders.

5. Transfer conviction, not control
↳ Don’t micromanage. Teach people to think independently and take ownership.

Quiet power move:
Make people remember how they felt after meeting you.
Forget legacy. 
Build people. 
That’s real scale.

You’ll be remembered more for who you raised than what you built.

Small bets on people become empires.

This is how wealth, culture, and movements are made.

♻️ Repost to inspire other leaders.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more leadership insights.

cc Eric Partaker (shout out for the image and essential reminder)

Building, buying & backing businesses | 3 exits | Investor in 40+ companies | 800K+ social audience, sharing daily content that helps others succeed

Everyone is staying loyal to relationships that no longer serve them.⁣

Not because those relationships still add value.

But because they’re familiar. 
Comfortable. 
Historic.⁣ ⁣ 

But history isn’t a qualification for your future.

And comfort isn’t a strategy for growth.⁣ ⁣ 

If you can look around at the people in your circle and not feel challenged, stretched, encouraged or inspired… 
You don’t have a circle, you have a cage.⁣ ⁣ 

As leaders, founders, professionals, growth isn’t optional. 

So your environment can’t be either.⁣ ⁣ 

Audit your circle for growth, not just history: 
1. Who pushes you to think bigger? 
2. Who calls you out when you're slipping? 
3. Who celebrates your wins without envy? 
4. Who makes you better just by being around them?⁣ ⁣ 

Your circle should expand your vision, not shrink it. 

It should feed your ambition, not drain it. 

It should make you feel possible, not trapped.⁣ ⁣ 

Because the truth is: 
You don’t rise alone. 
You rise with the people you stand next to. 

Choose wisely.

♻️Repost to help others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth content.

cc Scott Caputo (Shout out for the image and original messaging)

Entrepreneur & Investor Exploring everything growth, AI & leadership | Columbia AI, Top Voice, Speaker | 3 Billion+ Impressions, $300M+ generated, 250+ partners

Fear works, for a while.

It gets compliance, not commitment.

I’ve seen leaders rule through pressure and intimidation.

On paper, things looked fine: deadlines met, boxes ticked, metrics up.

But behind the scenes, creativity died.

- People stopped thinking independently.
- Stopped taking ownership.
- Stopped caring beyond the minimum required.

Because fear narrows focus.
It moves teams from innovation to self-preservation.

The best leaders I’ve worked with never raised their voice.

They raised standards.
They made it safe to speak up, safe to fail, and safe to fix things fast.
That’s where performance comes from, not pressure, but trust.

Leadership built on fear burns bright and fast.
Leadership built on belief compounds quietly over time.

You can’t scale fear.
You can only sustain trust.

💭 Which type of culture do you think produces better long-term results, compliance or confidence?

♻️ Repost to help more leaders rethink how they build trust.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more insights on leadership.

cc Justin Wright (shout out for the image and powerful reminder!)

Your success, my mission | CEO @ Polished Carbon | Former CIO $4B company | DEIB ally | Sharing 25 years of hard-won wisdom on people-first leadership + emotional intelligence + self-mastery

Knowing when to leave is a superpower. 

Staying for the sake of "loyalty" is a slow drain on your sense of self.

I remember sitting at my desk, looking at a screen that represented everything I thought I wanted. On paper, it was a "win", but my body was telling a different story.

My brain was constantly scanning for exits instead of solutions. 
I was trying to force alignment where there was only friction.
I stayed because I didn't want to be a "quitter."

But then I realised: 

You cannot rewire your brain for a bigger future while you are still clinging to a past that has outgrown you.

Choosing to walk away isn't an act of defeat. 
It is the purest form of self-love.

Here is what I learnt about the "Science of Leaving":

1. Your nervous system doesn't lie:
- If you are constantly in "fight or flight" because of your environment, you aren't working, you're just surviving. 
- Listen to the physical cues.

2. The "sunk cost" trap is a liar:
- We stay because of the years we’ve already put in. But those years are gone regardless. 
- The only thing you can control is whether you waste the next five years.

3. Alignment creates autopilot success:
- When you are aligned, work feels like "flow." When you aren't, every task feels like pushing a boulder uphill. 
- Walking away is simply choosing a different hill.

4. The brain needs the "void" to reset:
- We fear the empty space between jobs or projects but neuroscience shows that creativity spikes in the "liminal space." 
- You have to clear the old cache to download the new software.

5. Trust the future you:
- I had to start acting like the person I wanted to become and that person didn't settle for "fine." 
- They demanded "exceptional."

Your reminder for today:
Self-love isn’t just bubble baths and boundaries. 
It’s the brutal, honest decision to leave a table where growth is no longer being served. 

If it’s costing you your peace, it’s too expensive.

These are the action tips worked for me:

The "3 AM" Test: 
What is the one thing keeping you awake? 
If it’s a lack of alignment, acknowledge it today.

The Pivot Plan: 
You don’t have to jump without a parachute. 
Start building your "Alignment Fund" or your "Exit Network" now.

The Language Shift: 
Stop saying "I'm stuck." 
Start saying "I am currently in transition."

Have you ever walked away from something "good" to find something "great"? Let’s talk it.

♻️﻿Repost to help others in your network.
🔔﻿Follow Luke Tobin for more mindset hacks.

Real freedom isn’t found in time off,

it’s found in what you build every day.

True freedom is building a life you don’t need a break from.

Not one you escape on weekends.

Not one that needs constant holidays just to survive.

Here are 10 principles for building a life you don’t need to escape from:

1. Get radically clear on what matters.
- If you don’t know what your ideal life looks like, you’ll build someone else’s by default.

2. Build work around your energy, not just your calendar.
- Design your day for focus and flow, not back-to-back burnout.

3. Say no without guilt.
- Every “yes” to the wrong thing steals energy from what truly matters.

4. Choose clients, projects, and people who energise you.
- Freedom is also about who you don’t work with.

5. Prioritise health like your business depends on it.
- Because it does. Mental, physical, emotional.

6. Earn your time freedom through discipline.
- You can’t automate or outsource what you haven’t mastered yourself.

7. Stop glorifying hustle.
- Sustainable pace > burnout disguised as ambition.

8. Protect your boundaries like they’re business assets.
- Because they are.

9. Design systems that run without you.
- Freedom means not being the bottleneck in everything you’ve built.

10. Define success in your terms and no one else’s.
- The most dangerous trap? Living someone else’s version of freedom.

You don’t need to escape when your life is aligned.

Build that life,
one choice, 
one boundary, 
one bold decision at a time.

Freedom isn’t something you wait for.

It’s something you build.

One aligned decision at a time.

♻️Repost to help inspire everyone in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more success frameworks.

cc Justin Welsh (shout out for the image and powerful reminder)

Careers don’t grow by accident. 

Most people wait… and get left behind. 

Most of us don’t fail in our careers because we’re not talented. 

We fail because we avoid the uncomfortable truths that actually move us forward. 

The further you go in your career, the clearer it becomes: 
No one will manage your growth for you. 

Not your boss. 
Not your company. 
Not the system. 

Over the years, I’ve learnt (sometimes the hard way) that the people who grow fastest aren’t the smartest, they’re the ones who learn these truths early and act on them consistently. 

The truth is: Hard work isn’t enough. 
Being “good” isn’t enough. 
Staying comfortable is definitely not enough. 

The real differentiators? 
Visibility. 
Networks. 
Boundaries. 
Skills. 
And most importantly, ownership. 

That’s why I put together 7 harsh career truths every professional learns sooner or later, along with action steps you can take immediately. 

1. No one cares about your career as much as you do 
→ Set one career goal for the next 90 days and block weekly time to work on it. 

2. Hard work alone won’t get you promoted 
→ Once a week, share a quick update with your manager on achievements and next steps. 

3. Being “good” at your job isn’t enough 
→ Pick one soft skill (communication, influence, leadership) and work on it intentionally for 30 days. 

4. Your replaceability is higher than you think 
→ Build two new skills this year that increase your earning power or mobility.

5. Your network will open more doors than your CV
→ Reach out to one new person every week, no ask, just connection. 

6. If you don’t set boundaries, people will take advantage 
→ Protect one non-negotiable hour per day for deep work or rest. 

7. Comfort is the biggest career killer 
→ Do one thing each month that scares you slightly, present, apply, pitch, or initiate.

Your career won’t transform overnight… 
but it will transform when you start acting with intention. 

Small habits. 
Small risks. 
Small moves forward, compounded over time. 

♻️ Repost to help more leaders build high-performance cultures.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more on performance psychology.

7 Harsh career truths every professional learns

Not every reaction deserves a response.

In leadership, composure is currency.

The moment you let emotion take control, you spend credibility you can’t easily earn back.

Early in my career, I thought speaking up immediately showed strength.
It didn’t.
It showed reactivity.

The best leaders I’ve met have one habit in common..

They pause.

They don’t meet emotion with emotion.
They meet it with awareness.

Because silence isn’t avoidance.
It’s assessment.

It gives you space to separate signal from noise, truth from impulse.
And that gap, the few seconds between reaction and response,
Is where your influence is built.

Staying silent in a heated moment doesn’t make you passive.
It makes you precise.

You can always add words later.
You can’t take the wrong ones back.

What’s one situation where holding back gave you a better outcome?

♻️Repost to help others lead with composure.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more leadership wisdom.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

And as the year winds down and the festive season kicks in, that matters more than we realise.

Energy is low. 
Pressure is high. 
Not everyone is feeling “festive.”

Kindness doesn’t make you soft.
It makes you self-aware.

It means understanding that success doesn’t make you bulletproof and failure doesn’t make someone worthless.

A few simple end-of-year reminders:

1. Pause before reacting:
• Fatigue shows up as frustration

2. Be clear, not sharp:
• Tone matters more right now

3. Say thank you:
• People need to feel seen

4. Give grace where you can: 
• Everyone is carrying something

You don’t have to lower standards to be human.
You just have to remember there’s a human on the other side too.

Be kind.
Not because it’s festive.
But because you don’t know who’s barely holding it together today.

♻️Repost to help others spread kindness.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more.

The most underrated leadership quality;

Kindness, and here’s why 👇

It’s easy to overlook,
but kindness fuels:
- trust
- connection
- loyalty.

Signs you’re leading with kindness:

1. You listen without interrupting.
2. You empower others to grow.
3. You give constructive feedback with empathy.
4. You lead by example, showing respect for all.
5. You celebrate others’ successes.

Kind leaders don’t just manage,
they inspire.

They create environments where people feel:
- valued
- supported
- motivated.

Tip:
Lead with empathy,
and watch your team’s performance and morale soar.

It’s not just about being nice,
it’s about nurturing a culture of trust and respect.

♻️Repost with your network to inspire other leaders.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more leadership wisdom.

Growth doesn’t tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, you’re improving!”

Most of the time, it shows up quietly, in small, forgettable moments you only recognise in hindsight.

But if you look closely, the signs are there.

Here are 5 subtle signals you’re growing more than you think:

1. You handle challenges differently:
Think back to the problems that used to derail your entire day.
Now? You breathe, assess, and deal with them.

﻿That shift isn’t accidental, it’s the kind of growth you only notice when you compare versions of yourself.

2. You’re more aware of your habits:
You’ve started catching yourself in real time:
• “Why am I doing this?”
• “Is this helping me?”
• “What pattern is repeating here?”

﻿That level of self-honesty is uncomfortable but it’s the foundation of every meaningful transformation.

3. You choose long-term gain over short-term comfort
There was a time when convenience won.
Now, you’re choosing what strengthens you instead of what soothes you.
Fewer shortcuts. More intention.

This is the slow, unglamorous discipline that builds a future you’ll be grateful for.

4. You recover from setbacks faster
You still fall, everyone does.
But you don’t stay down as long.
You don’t spiral the way you used to.
You get back up with clearer eyes and steadier emotions.

That’s resilience.
And resilience is one of the loudest forms of silent growth.

5. You think before reacting
You’ve learned to pause.
To feel the emotion without becoming it.
To respond instead of explode.

That single pause has changed your relationships, your leadership, and your self-respect more than you realise.

Here’s the part most people miss:
Growth isn’t always a new milestone.
Sometimes it’s simply a new way of showing up to the same life.

If any of these signs feel familiar…
you’re doing better than you give yourself credit for.

♻️Share this to revisit on the days you doubt your progress.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth tips.

5 signs you're growing more than you think

I’ve interviewed hundreds of people for high-level roles. 

The most experienced candidates don’t always get the job.

The most prepared candidates do.

That's where the STAR method comes in. 

It's a proven framework for showcasing your experience and abilities.

Here's how to ace your next interview:

1. Identify key skills for the role
- Review the job description and identify the critical skills required.
- These will be the focus of your STAR stories.

2. Structure stories using STAR
- STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. 
- Craft 10-15 concise stories (2-3 minutes max) that demonstrate those key skills.

3. Practice delivery 
- Run through your stories out loud. 
- Refine your phrasing 
- Work on maintaining confident body language.

4. Recall relevant experiences
- When the interview begins, share your relevant STAR stories according to the questions. 
- Show the impact of your results when possible.

Use this method and you'll be ahead of 95% of other candidates. 

Be confident, be genuine, and go crush that interview!

♻️Found this helpful? Share to help others 
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more career tips.

Remote work doesn’t reward the hardest worker… 

it rewards the most visible one.

And the good news? 
Visibility is a skill, not a personality trait.

Here are 7 ways to stay visible in a remote job 
(without being loud, political, or “trying too hard”):

1. Communicate proactively:
- Send a quick morning priority update.
- Flag blockers early instead of going silent.

2. Own your wins:
- Share results using numbers, not adjectives.
- Post weekly highlights in your team channel.

3. Show up fully:
- Turn your camera on for important calls.
- Make one thoughtful contribution per meeting.

4. Build direct relationships:
- Schedule short virtual coffees with teammates.
- DM colleagues to acknowledge or celebrate their work.

5. Ask for clarity (then deliver):
- Ask your manager: “What does success look like this week?”
- Summarise next steps at the end of meetings.

6. Share ideas, not just tasks:
- Bring one improvement idea to each team meeting.
- Share helpful frameworks, insights, or tools.

7. Send a weekly summary:
- Friday recap: Done → In Progress → Next Week.
- Tag the people who need visibility of your work.

The truth:
You don’t need to “be the loudest.”
You just need to be seen for the value you already create.

💬 What’s one visibility habit you want to implement this week?

♻️Repost to help others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more leadership and career content

7 Ways to Remain Visible in a Remote Job

Most people don’t leave companies.

They leave environments.

And here’s the truth most leaders miss:

Performance ≠ pressure.
Performance = people who feel supported.

Helping others thrive at work isn’t “being nice.”
It’s strategic leadership.

Here’s how great teams are actually built:

1. Offer assistance:
See someone stuck? Step in.
Support > silence.

2. Share knowledge:
Knowledge hoarded = growth capped.
Knowledge shared = teams that scale.

3. Be a good listener:
Sometimes the best solution is presence.
Feeling heard > feeling advised.

4. Provide feedback:
Feedback isn’t criticism. Say what’s working. Say what’s not. 
Clear feedback > false harmony.

5. Respect time:
Time is trust in calendar form.
Focus > filler meetings.

6. Recognise efforts:
A genuine “well done” compounds fast.
Recognition > motivation hacks.

7. Mentor others:
Guidance creates confidence. 
Confidence creates capability.
Leadership = lifting.

8. Be reliable:
Say what you’ll do. Do what you said.
Consistency > charisma.

9. Encourage positivity:
Energy spreads, choose wisely.
Optimism > toxicity.

10. Collaborate effectively:
Share credit. Invite ideas. Build together.
Ego – teamwork = stalled growth
Collaboration + trust = momentum

Let me leave you with this..

Great culture > fancy perks
People first > process obsession
Support × consistency = high performance

If you want teams that win, help people thrive.

♻️If this resonated, share with your network
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more insights on leadership.

Happiness isn’t what you think it is.

It’s not the title, the car, or the lifestyle.

It’s the quiet confidence that what you already have is enough.

It’s about perspective.

True happiness looks more like this:
- Time freedom
- Good health
- People you can trust
- Work that gives you meaning
- Enough presence to enjoy the small moments

Some of the most fulfilled founders and leaders I’ve met aren’t the ones with the biggest exits or the flashiest lives.

They’re the ones who notice and appreciate what they already have.

Gratitude doesn’t mean settling.
It means building from a place of abundance instead of lack.

Being thankful today doesn’t stop you from chasing more tomorrow.

It just ensures you enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

What’s one simple thing you’re grateful for this week?

♻️Repost to help someone on your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more motivational content.

cc Scott Caputo (shout out for the image and essential reminder!)

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The Battle

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Luke Tobin

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Daniel Philip Wilcock's LinkedIn Performance

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