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

Musemind - UI/UX Design agency

Musemind is a research-driven UI/UX Design agency. We’re a team of fantastic product designers, visual designers, and Motion designers, creating stunning digital experiences for businesses and organizations. Our clients included Microsoft, Salesforce, Indeed, Panther, Motley Fool, Peel, etc.

What we do:

  – Digital products design used by millions of users
  – World-class user experiences
  – Modern websites that tell your brand's story

Our expertise:: UI/UX Design, Product Design, Saas Design, Mobile App Design, Web Design, Interaction Design, User research, User testing, Prototyping, and Front-end development.

What do I do at musemind?

  – New business and client partnership
  – Architect of high-performing teams
  – Design products for clients
  – Multi-platform and device design
  – Creative direction

Want to work with us?
Email me – nasir@musemind.agency

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Panther

Panther is a Cloud SIEM Platform for modern security team. Panther takes vast amounts of AWS security logs and provides normalization, real-time analysis, and a scalable data warehouse to store and query them.

What I did

- B2B Security Product
- Panther Website
- Brand Guidelines 
- Design system
- infographic Design

Senior Product Designer

On Deck

On Deck is a community platform where top talent comes to accelerate their ideas and build companies, surrounded by a world-class community.

Product Designer

Gluu, Inc.

Sr. UI/UX Designer 

SPYNR INC.

UI/UX Designer

bdtask

UI/UX designer

Co-founder & CEO @Musemind | Leading UX Design Agency for Top Brands | 350+ Happy Clients Worldwide → $4.5B Revenue impacted | Business Consultant

Thanks a lot for being here.

Looking for a design that goes beyond pretty pixels? Welcome aboard!

The Short Story:

I'm Nasir, a design leader with over a decade of turning user journeys into masterpieces. I don't just design interfaces, I craft experiences that capture hearts and drive results. Think of me as your design alchemist, transforming ideas into impactful solutions.

The Long Game:

From startups to global brands, I've seen it all. From mobile apps to enterprise software, I've built it all. With Musemind, we don't just design, we strategize, prototype, test, and optimize. We bring the full spectrum of design expertise to the table, from user research to motion graphics.

What Makes Me Tick:

Impactful Design: I'm not satisfied with just looking good. My designs need to deliver real results, measurable growth, and user love.

Collaborative Spirit: Design thrives in teamwork. I partner closely with clients, understanding their vision and exceeding expectations.

Creative Problem Solver: Challenges excite me. Whether it's a complex user flow or a brand identity refresh, I find innovative solutions.

Passionate and Dedicated: Design is my lifeblood. I feel happy after creating something extraordinary.

Ready to Work Together?

If you're looking for a design partner who goes beyond the ordinary, let's chat! 

We've helped brands win big, and we're excited to see what we can achieve together.

Connect with me at:
Email: hello@musemind.agency
Website: https://musemind.agency  

Let's turn your design dreams into reality!

Nasir Uddin

We’re aiming to open 3 more branches around the world. 

Feels unreal to even say that.

Because not long ago, we were a tiny team.
A team with dreams bigger than our resources.

- No fancy office.
- No big investors.
- No strong roadmap.

Just passion.
And trust in each other.

We started small.
We failed.
We learned.
We improved.
We kept going.

Today, Musemind - Global UX Design Agency is growing fast.

Stronger than ever.
Smarter than ever.
Better than ever.

But it’s not about me.
It’s about our people:

- Designers.
- Developers.
- Thinkers.
- Doers.

Every single one of them:

Took ownership.
Worked hard.
Believed.
Made it happen.

To my team… thank you for:

- Standing by the vision.
- Pushing when things got tough.
- Turning challenges into victories.

2026 will be special.

More branches.
More faces.
More milestones.

And this is just the beginning.

The best is yet to come.

PS: If you’re building something from scratch, keep going.
The sleepless nights will make sense one day.
The hard days will turn into stories.
And you’ll smile knowing it was all worth it.

CEO @Musemind - Leading UX Design Agency for Top Brands | 350+ Happy Clients Worldwide → $4.5B Revenue impacted | Business Consultant

Over 90% of designers don’t truly understand UX.

(But learning it only takes 3 steps + consistency)

I’ve worked with hundreds of designers at Musemind - Global UX Design Agency.

And here's what I noticed:

- They know Figma. 
- They follow the latest UI trends. 
- But they skip the actual UX work.

So if you’re a designer who wants to truly understand UX… 
Here’s your roadmap:

Step 1: Master user psychology

UX isn’t just about how it looks. 
↳ It’s about how it feels and works.

 👉Open ChatGPT and ask:

“Explain these UX psychology principles in simple terms:
Hick’s Law, Fitts’ Law, Cognitive Load, and Decision Paralysis.
Include:

- What does it mean
- Why it matters
- A real-world example
- How it applies to web or app design.”

Then ask:

“Now give me design prompts to apply each principle in a mobile UI layout.”

Step 2: Stop relying only on visuals and use UX tools

👉 Open Google and search:

“Top 5 free UX research and usability testing tools.”

Pick any two and ask ChatGPT:

“How do I use [Tool Name] to test a homepage for user flow issues?”

Then actually use them. 
Don’t just design. 

Research. Test. Iterate.

Step 3: Learn how to integrate AI into your UX workflow

You’re not here to just click pixels. 
↳ You’re here to solve human problems faster.

👉 Ask Claude or ChatGPT:

“Act as a UX strategist.
How can I use AI to improve:

- user research
- content strategy
- accessibility
- onboarding flow”

Then use those answers in your next client project.

That’s it.

With just 3 steps:

✓ You’ll stop guessing what users want
✓ You’ll design smarter, not just prettier
✓ And you’ll finally understand what UX is really about

Most designers don’t struggle with tools.
↳ They struggle with understanding users.

Fix that.

Are you focusing on the right things in UX?

(If this helped, repost it ♻️)

AI tools will replace designers in 2026?!

But not in the way everyone is panicking about.

Designers aren’t becoming “less valuable.”
We’re becoming more powerful.

Because AI won’t do our jobs.
It’ll amplify them.

The real shift?
Designers who know how to use AI will outpace everyone who doesn’t.

In 2026, UI UX won’t be about pushing pixels.
It’ll be about directing intelligent systems.
About crafting ideas faster.
About testing instantly.
About shipping better work in half the time.

Here’s what’s changing:

Faster wireframes
Smarter prototypes
Instant UX feedback

Research done in minutes, not weeks

Designers won’t just design interfaces.
We’ll design workflows.
We’ll design automation.
We’ll make decisions.

No more slow iterations.
No more manual testing.
No more hunting for inspiration.

2026 is all about:

AI copilots
Prompt-driven design
Tools that work while you sleep

So if you’re still designing the old way…
You might be competing with designers who use 10x tools.

👇 Check out my latest carousel to see the 10 AI tools every UI UX designer needs in 2026.

10 AI Tools UX UI Designers Need

I haven’t shared an R&D breakdown in a while…

So let’s make this one worth your scroll.

We just redesigned a SaaS service-booking flow..
and the difference feels like switching from chaos to clarity.

Here’s what we focused on:

1. Cut the cognitive load by simplifying the entire service list
2. Made availability + pricing visible at a glance
3. Reduced the booking friction to almost zero
4. Improved hierarchy so users always know what to do next

And honestly…

This might be one of our cleanest, most intuitive UX revamps this year.

I love projects like this because they remind me of one thing:

Good design isn’t about adding more.
It’s about removing everything that slows the user down.

If you're building a SaaS product, study this.
Your users will thank you later.

3 things you can do immediately:

Repost this so others learn from it ♻️
Drop your thoughts or questions below.
Tell me which screen you want me to break down next.

See you in the comments!

PS: This is just ONE part of the full case study.
If you want the complete breakdown, I might drop it soon 👀

Last week I got a message requesting a job!!

(and I realized something.)

Most people do not struggle with skills.
They struggle with presentation.

The message said
"I need a job. I can design. Please hire me."

- No intro.
- No context.
- No portfolio.

Just a request.

And it made me think.

Designers often spend months learning tools.

- Figma.
- AI.
- Prototyping.
- Wireframes.

But they forget the real skill.
Communication.

In the real world
Skill alone does not win.

Visibility does.
Clarity does.
Confidence does.

If you want to get hired
Show:

- Who you are.
- What you can do.
- How you think.

Give context.
Give value.
Tell your story.

Hiring is not a charity.
It is a decision to trust someone with a dream.

So the question is not
"Do you need a job?"

The real question is
"Can you make someone believe you are the right one?"

I always say this to my team.

Design gets attention.
Communication gets opportunities.
And mindset builds careers.

Work on all three.
Not just one.

Your skills can open the door.
Your communication keeps you in the room.

Want to grow your design career faster?
Drop a ❤️ and hit follow.

I share real lessons.
I share what actually works.
And I want you to win.

I came to Europe for two reasons. 

Growth and clarity.

I’m Nasir Uddin.
CEO and Co-Founder of Musemind - Global UX Design Agency.

I just arrived in Europe.
And this trip feels huge.

I’m here with Rasel Ahmed,
Our CDO and Co-Founder.
We are expanding Musemind.

We are building our European branch.
And we are hiring European talent.

This feels like the:

- Right move.
- Right time.
- Right direction.

We talked:

- Strategy.
- Team.
- Design quality.

And how to scale globally.
Europe gives a:

- Fresh perspective.
- Bigger ideas.
- Clearer vision.

And yes, I’m also enjoying a vacation here.

This trip matters.

For me.
For Rasel.
For Musemind.
For our next chapter.

We are:

- Moving with intention.
- Thinking long-term.
- Building something global.

More updates soon.
More growth ahead.

PS: What’s the one thing a design agency must master to scale internationally?
Share your thoughts below.

I helped hundreds of UX designers get hired.

Here’s the exact 3-stage system you can follow 👇

Stage 1: Get Noticed
This is where 90% fail.

A beautiful portfolio isn’t enough.
It must scream clarity in 5 seconds.

Recruiters scan for:
↳ Clear positioning
↳ Strong hero projects
↳ Instantly understandable case studies

No confusion. No guessing games.
Just instant “This designer gets it.”

Stage 2: Build Trust
Now they zoom in.

This is where thinking beats aesthetics.

They look for:
↳ Your problem-solving logic
↳ Your design decisions
↳ Proof of real impact

Pretty screens attract.
Clear process convinces.

This is what turns curiosity into confidence.

Stage 3: Seal the Deal
Interview time. No slides will save you here.

What wins?
↳ Communication
↳ Mindset
↳ Collaboration energy

Great designers don’t just answer.
They ask smarter questions.

They sound like partners, not applicants.

Design skill + thinking + personality
That’s the hiring formula.

This carousel breaks it down slide by slide.
No fluff. Just what actually works.

If you’re a UX designer (or know one),
this might change their career.

Save this for later.
Repost ♻️ to help someone get hired.

How UX Designers Get Hired

UX isn’t competitive.

Your approach is just lazy.

I’ve seen this again and again.

Pretty UI. Fancy animations. Zero direction.

So here’s the exact career system every UX designer should follow 👇

Stage 1: Build Foundation
This is where 80% already fail.

They chase tools instead of thinking.

Real growth starts with:
↳ One strong portfolio, not 10 weak ones
↳ Deep UX basics, not trend-hopping
↳ Original thinking, not Dribbble cloning

A designer without fundamentals
is just decorating screens.

Stage 2: Build Credibility
Now you stop looking like a beginner.

This is where serious designers separate.

Focus on:
↳ Daily practice, not occasional bursts
↳ Business understanding, not just visuals
↳ Real feedback, not silent perfection

Great UX doesn’t just look good.
It makes sense.
And it makes money.

Stage 3: Build Authority
This is where careers take off.

Not overnight.
But intentionally.

You grow by:
↳ Communicating ideas clearly
↳ Learning from real products
↳ Choosing your niche over time
↳ Staying patient when others quit

Skill > hype.
Always.

This infographic breaks down
10 practical ways to build a serious UX career in 2025.

No motivational fluff.
Just the real direction designers need.

If you’re in UX (or plan to be),
This might save you years of confusion.

Save this.
Share this.
Repost ♻️ if you want better designers around you.

Here’s how we make complex financial dashboards feel effortless.

(And how this dashboard proves it visually)

Most fintech dashboards overwhelm users.

Too many numbers.
Too many charts.
Too many decisions.

That means…

If you design it wrong,
People get lost.

Confused users = abandoned apps.
Confused apps = lost trust.

Here’s the smarter approach 👇

1. Reduce cognitive load
(make data readable in seconds)

2. Prioritize real user actions
(not just pretty UI blocks)

3. Visualize money clearly
(clutter-free always wins)

This isn’t theory.
It’s exactly what our R&D team explored in this concept.

Real users want clarity.
Real businesses grow with clarity.

If you’re building a financial product,
This is the direction the future is moving.

PS: What’s the one thing you think every financial dashboard should fix first?

12 steps to design AI-friendly UX that actually works:

(Follow this if you want to build smarter products)

Because the truth is:

AI UX isn’t about adding a chatbot or a magic button.
It’s about designing flows that feel helpful, safe, and human.

But here’s what usually happens:

Teams skip user expectations.

Designers ignore risk or bias points.

AI takes actions without guidance or clarity.

This isn’t “AI-powered.”
This is how users lose trust.

So let’s flip it.
Here’s what actually makes AI UX work ⬇️

Task-first thinking:
↳ Start with what users want to automate.
↳ Not what the AI wants to do.

Safe and simple flows:
↳ Break AI actions into easy steps.
↳ Reduce risk and bias early.

Transparent guidance:
↳ Show users when AI acts.
↳ Revisit outputs to check accuracy.

Because let’s be honest:

Smart models ≠ smart UX
AI features ≠ user trust

If your product doesn’t show:

Clarity

Safety

Transparency

It won’t win.

AI UX isn’t guesswork.
↳ It’s trust.
↳ It’s responsibility.
↳ It’s iteration.

Before:
Confusing
Unpredictable
Untrusted

After:
Clear
Helpful
Future-ready

This isn’t luck.
It’s intentional design.

Agree?

3 reasons you are not getting appraisal as a designer:

(Fix this if you want to grow faster)

Because the truth is:

Appraisals don’t come from just “doing your job.”
Growth depends on how you show up beyond the designs.

But here’s what usually happens:

1. You fear taking responsibility.
2. You don’t think out of the box.
3. You struggle with communication and negotiation.

This isn’t growth.
This is why you stay stuck.

So let’s flip it.
Here’s what actually gets you appraisal ⬇️

1. Ownership mindset:
↳ Don’t just complete tasks.
↳ Lead the outcome.

2. Creative courage:
↳ Safe ideas won’t get you noticed.
↳ Bold thinking will.

3. Influence skills:
↳ Sell your ideas with clarity.
↳ Negotiate with confidence.

Because let’s be honest:

Pretty designs ≠ recognition
Technical mastery ≠ leadership

If your manager doesn’t see:

- Ownership
- Innovation
- And influence…
You won’t grow.

Design isn’t decoration.
↳ It’s direction.
↳ It’s impact.

Before: 
Overlooked
Replaceable
Frustrated.

After: 
Respected
Rewarded
Unstoppable.

This isn’t luck.
It’s leadership.

Agree?

taplio

The Battle

Daniel Philip Wilcock

Nasir Uddin

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Performance ScoreDaniel Philip Wilcock's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNasir Uddin's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Daniel Philip Wilcock

Nasir Uddin

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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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Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDaniel Philip Wilcock's LinkedIn Performance