Red Dragon Education

Helping teachers get qualified through the partner universities: IPGCE, IQTS, MA, QTS Assessment Only and IQTS. We've worked with over 1000 teachers to realise their dreams of finding a great job.

Co-Founder

Set up the company and worked with a range of local and international schools in providing education solutions including:

- Tutoring
- Academic support 
- Revision courses
- A-level lessons and examinations 
- Professional teacher placement 
- School tours
- Boarding school advice
- Entrance exam preparation

Founder

Tutors in China now Mentor

Director

The British International School Shanghai

My main focus was to help with the students' academic achievements across the secondary school. I was helping grow the school from 200 to 1200 students in 5 years of service. After joining the school I quickly assumed more responsibility and helped lead a tutor group team of 15 staff. 

Worked in both the secondary and primary section of the school in the following disciplines as a classroom teacher:
- Geography
- PE
- Science 
- Economics

Deputy Head of School

Evesham High School

Working across the high school in Geography and PE

Head of Geography

I help international schools fix teacher training, recruitment, and leadership.

With 25+ years in education across Asia, I know what schools, teachers, and unis really need. I connect the dots between policy, strategy, and people — and get things moving.

Let's talk if you want to grow your teacher pipeline, build smarter CPD, or expand in Asia
.
My passion is to drive educational innovation, harnessing technology to enhance online and offline learning experiences. I hold an NPQH, a PGCE, and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Administration.

We also provide academic support to students planning to attend boarding schools in the UK, US, and Australia and help UK schools enter and succeed in the Chinese market.

John Woodberry

Teachers don’t burn out from hard work.
They burn out from giving their all…
to people who don’t value it.

After leading international schools across countries, I’ve seen this pattern everywhere.

It’s rarely the workload.
It’s the invisibility.

What drains international school staff?

• Emotional labor no one acknowledges
• Big expectations, little autonomy
• “Wellbeing talk” with no structural support
• Giving endlessly to a community that rarely gives back

And what energizes them?

Recognition. Trust. Belonging. Psychological safety.

The strongest schools aren’t the ones with the newest facilities.
They’re the ones where people feel seen and supported—especially when pressure rises.

If you’re leading an international school, ask yourself:

👉 Do your teachers feel valued, or just used to capacity?

Culture decides the answer.

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Talks about #qts, #china, #ipgce, #teachertraining, and #internationalschools

Founder @ Red Dragon Education | International Teacher Training

The red flag no one talks about in education hiring. Silence after an application tells you a lot about a school’s culture. Communication, feedback, and basic courtesy shouldn’t vanish the moment the position is filled.

A simple “thank you for applying” or “you weren’t successful this time” goes a long way. It shows respect for teachers’ time, preparation, and professional dignity.

If a school can’t manage that, what does it say about how it handles internal staff communication?

Recruitment reflects leadership. Say something. Always.

International School Toxicity Bingo 
How many boxes does your (or your previous) school tick?

Some of the most damaging practices in international schools
are hidden behind prestige, tradition, and “this is how we do things here.”

But the impact is real:
burned-out teachers, high turnover, and unstable learning for students.

Let’s call it out.

Here are 10 toxic international school practices we need to stop
(+ 1 that leadership rarely admits):

1️⃣ “We’re a Family” Culture
❌ Guilt replaces boundaries
✅ Professional respect beats emotional pressure

2️⃣ Micromanaged Teaching
❌ Over-observation kills innovation
✅ Trust professionals to teach

3️⃣ Hours ≠ Impact
❌ Staying late becomes a status symbol
✅ Measure student outcomes, not visibility

4️⃣ 24/7 Parent Access
❌ Instant replies expected across time zones
✅ Clear communication boundaries protect staff

5️⃣ No Time to Recover
❌ Constant initiatives, no pause
✅ Sustainable pacing improves learning

6️⃣ Favoritism & Inner Circles
❌ Passports, accents, or connections matter more than skill
✅ Equity starts with transparent systems

7️⃣ Shiny Facilities, Struggling Staff
❌ Marketing over morale
✅ Invest in people, not just buildings

8️⃣ Results at Any Cost
❌ Grades and league tables over integrity
✅ Learning > optics

9️⃣ Initiative Overload
❌ New frameworks every year, no follow-through
✅ Depth beats constant change

🔟 Toxic Leadership Turnover
❌ New heads, same problems
✅ Culture outlives contracts

⚠️ The issue no one wants to name:

11️⃣ Silence in the Name of Reputation
❌ Problems hidden to “protect the brand”
✅ Transparency protects students and staff

What leadership ignores
becomes the school culture.

Final thought:

International schools sell excellence.

But excellence isn’t buildings, brochures, or branding.

It’s how teachers are treated
when no parents are watching.

👇 Your turn:
Which one have you seen?
What did I miss?

♻️ Repost if this resonates with your school experience
Follow me for honest conversations about international education leadership.

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The real crisis in schools isn’t leadership.
It’s paperwork.

School leaders don’t have a leadership problem. They have a bookkeeping problem disguised as one. Let me explain

Somewhere along the way, we turned school leadership into an endless checklist:
budgets, timetables, audits, compliance, ratios, forms, reports.

And we quietly forgot the truth:

You lead people.
You manage things.

But schools flipped it.
They lead the books... and try to manage the people.

Teachers treated like line items.
Students treated like data points.
Parents treated like tasks.
Leaders judged by spreadsheets instead of culture.

And then we wonder why morale is down, burnout is up, and “leadership pipelines” are drying out.

Schools don’t need more management training.
They need more leadership permission.

Permission to:
• spend more time in classrooms than in cost centres
• invest in relationships the way they invest in reporting
• prioritise trust over templates
• lead humans, not handle paperwork

Because people are not machines.
And schools are not operations centres.

When leaders shift back to leading people and managing the books—in that order—everything changes:
Engagement. Culture. Retention. Outcomes.

Leadership is human work.
Management is admin work.
And schools desperately need leaders who do the work only humans can do.

Everyone thinks China’s fertility crisis will kill international schools.
I think it will do the opposite.

Because when a market shrinks, buying power concentrates.

And we’re already seeing it.

For years, the assumption was simple:

Fewer kids = fewer enrollments = school closures.

But here’s the part no one wants to say out loud:

International schools don’t rely on population growth.
They rely on parent priorities.

And priorities in China are shifting fast.

Here’s what’s really happening beneath the fertility-crisis headlines:

---

1. Parents with fewer children invest more per child.

When families go from 2–3 kids to 1, spending doesn’t decrease — it intensifies.
Premium K–12, bilingual tracks, overseas pathways… these markets don’t shrink. They upgrade.

---

2. International education becomes a “mobility insurance policy.”

When domestic competition spikes and economic uncertainty grows, parents look for escape valves:
– foreign passports
– overseas university access
– global-language proficiency
International schools become strategic assets, not luxury goods.

---

3. Talent wars between schools will shape the winners.

Enrollment won’t collapse — but the schools that fail to differentiate will.

Because the new competition isn’t over students.

It’s over teachers.

The next decade will belong to international schools that can:
✔ attract foreign talent
✔ develop bilingual faculty
✔ build globally relevant, locally grounded programs

The others?
They’ll wait for a demographic rebound that isn’t coming.

---

4. The “1-child parent” is becoming the most demanding educational consumer in the world.

They want:
– smaller classes
– elite pathways
– data-driven instruction
– wellbeing support
– guaranteed outcomes

This doesn’t reduce the market.
It raises the bar for value — and that’s a net positive for high-quality schools.

---

The contrarian truth:

China’s fertility crisis won’t destroy international schools.
It will expose them.

The average school loses.
The excellent school wins bigger than ever.

Teachers please.
Talk less. Lead more.
7 tactics that actually work.

If you want to sound smarter, sharper, and more senior — say less.
Here’s how:

1️⃣ End with a period. Then stop. The pause makes people listen.
2️⃣ Plan your three key points before you speak. Guardrails prevent rambling.
3️⃣ Wait for questions. Confidence sounds like silence.
4️⃣ Start with “I’ll keep this brief.” It buys you permission to be direct.
5️⃣ Don’t explain yourself twice. You’re not asking for approval.
6️⃣ Swap weak words for strong ones. Precision is persuasion.
7️⃣ Answer what’s asked. Nothing more.
8️⃣ Sit in the silence. Comfort in quiet is power.

You don’t need more words.
You need more weight behind fewer words.

What’s one tip that’s helped you say less and lead more?

How to say less and mean more

Everyone says international schools should “inspire” teachers and students.
I disagree.

Inspiration is unreliable.
It spikes... then it fades.
(Just like the bottom chart in the image.)

And that’s the trap many schools fall into:
They chase inspiration the way some teams chase “motivation days” or posters with pretty quotes.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

International schools don’t need to inspire people.
They need to build environments where inspiration becomes irrelevant.

Why?

Because when you only try to inspire teachers and students, you get:

short-lived enthusiasm

inconsistent performance

An Initiative that dies as soon as the hype fades

But when you design a school where people can actually fall in love with the work — with learning, with teaching, with curiosity — everything compounds.

Not because they’re inspired.
But because they’re invested.

Consistency beats inspiration.
Culture beats charisma.
Systems beat speeches.

International schools shouldn’t ask:
“How do we inspire our people?”

They should ask:
“How do we build a place where inspiration isn’t needed for excellence to happen?”

When you get that right, the results take care of themselves.

What do you think — should schools stop trying to inspire and start designing better ecosystems?

Schools don’t have a productivity problem.
They have a leadership paralysis problem.

Teachers aren’t struggling to “get things done.”
They’re struggling to navigate layers of approvals, legacy policies,
and a leadership culture that fears the optics of failure more than the cost of inaction.

Here’s the real crisis:

👉 Innovation requires speed.
👉 Schools require permission.
👉 Those two things rarely coexist.

And the irony?

The loudest calls for “innovation” often come from leaders
who haven’t shipped a new idea in years.

The result:

People with half the experience, outside the education system,
are building better learning tools, faster,
while schools wait to “feel ready.”

Schools don’t need more talent.
They need more leaders willing to move before they’re certain.

Readiness isn’t a prerequisite for progress.
Leadership is.

What’s your take — is fear of failure the real barrier to school transformation?

International schools don’t fail because of the curriculum.
They fail because of culture.

You can have IB scores, glossy facilities, and diversity days —
and still have a community that feels fractured.

Because authentic global culture isn’t what’s printed on the walls.
It’s what people carry home in their quiet moments.
And what they tell their loved ones at home.

Leadership isn’t pressure. It’s protection.
10 leadership habits quietly burning out your teachers.

I’ve worked in education long enough to realise something smells rotten:

Teachers aren’t burning out from teaching.

They’re burning out from the behaviours no one wants to admit are harmful.

Last year, a brilliant teacher told me something I’ll never forget:

“I’m not exhausted by the students.
I’m exhausted by the system around them.”

That conversation opened my eyes.
And once you hear it... you can’t unhear it.

Here are the 10 habits quietly burning out your teachers:

1️⃣ Micromanaging every decision
Nothing drains confidence faster than being trusted with a classroom but not with autonomy.

2️⃣ Treating urgency as a leadership style
Every task is “ASAP.” Every deadline is “yesterday.”
Teachers aren’t sprinting — they’re stuck in a never-ending marathon they didn’t sign up for.

3️⃣ Invisible appreciation
A “thank you” in private is nice.
A “thank you” in public is culture-shaping.
Too many teachers get neither.

4️⃣ Ignoring work–life boundaries
If the expectation is:
“Answer emails at night, plan on weekends, attend extra meetings whenever”...
Burnout isn’t a risk — it’s a guarantee.

5️⃣ Providing goals but not support
Teachers will climb mountains for leaders.
But not without the tools, training, or time to get there.

6️⃣ Communicating reactively, not proactively
Last-minute changes.
Mixed messages.
Constant confusion.
Cognitive load becomes emotional load.

7️⃣ Asking for feedback… then doing nothing with it
Nothing breaks trust faster than pretending to listen.

8️⃣ Withholding information
Teachers shouldn’t find out key decisions through rumours.
Uncertainty is its own form of stress.

9️⃣ Constant pivoting
New initiatives. New frameworks. New “non-negotiables.”
All before the last one was embedded.
It’s not innovation — it’s exhaustion.

🔟 Keeping toxic behaviour alive
One unchecked team member can burn out five good ones.
Silence is leadership’s loudest message.

None of these requires extra budget.
None requires new policies.
They require leadership courage.

Because teachers don’t burn out from teaching children.

They burn out from leading without protection, without clarity, and without trust.

Which of these 10 is the real root cause in your school — and should leaders finally start talking about it openly?

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Everyone’s looking at this chart and drawing the same conclusion:
“India grows. China shrinks.
Game over.”

I disagree.

Because population size isn’t the real story anymore.
Productivity is.

And productivity no longer comes from adding more people.
It comes from adding more capability — automation, robotics, AI, and centralized national investment into innovation.

China has that.
Most of South and Southeast Asia... still don’t.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

👉 A rapidly growing population of undereducated, low-skilled workers is not a competitive advantage in 2025.
It’s a liability.

👉 A shrinking population with accelerating productivity can still gain global economic power.

And this is where governance models matter:

One country has a centrally coordinated innovation agenda, 30-year plans, and the ability to deploy capital at scale into strategic industries.

The other inherited a slow, archaic administrative model built for a colonial era — not an innovation era.

I know which horse I’m betting on.

Population charts make great headlines.
But if you want to understand the next decade, look deeper:

• Which countries are automating faster?
• Which are upskilling their workforce?
• Which are building the infrastructure for AI-driven productivity?
• Which has the governance model to execute?

Because the future won’t belong to the countries with the most people.
It will belong to the countries with the most productive people — and the systems that enable them.

LinkedIn isn’t a meritocracy.
It’s a shouting competition.

The loudest voices get the attention.
The boldest claims get the clicks.

But the real world works differently.

The people who quietly win?
They don’t shout. They show up.

N’Golo Kanté is the perfect example.

He didn’t become world-class by:
• Talking the loudest
• Chasing the spotlight
• Taking credit

He became great by doing the work no one was watching.

🛡️ Winning the ball back
💪 Running until the final whistle
🤝 Putting the team before himself
🌍 Lifting the World Cup without changing who he is

No noise.
No ego.
Just impact.

In a world obsessed with visibility, Kanté is a reminder:

You don’t need attention to be powerful.
You need consistency.
You need humility.
You need results.

Not the loudest.
Not the flashiest.
Just unforgettable.

💬 Your turn:
Who quietly inspires you through excellence? 👇

“We just expect resilience.”
"We expect you to have an open mindset to change!"
That’s what unhealthy leaders say before the teachers burn out.

Most international school teachers don’t quit schools.
They quit leaders.

When leadership relies on:

Fear instead of clarity

Power instead of professionalism

Distance instead of dialogue

Even great teachers stop thriving.

Healthy leadership doesn’t lower standards.
It raises people up.

Spotting that difference early can save you years in the wrong school.

What’s one leadership behavior that made you quietly start polishing your CV?

Most school cultures don’t collapse loudly.
They rot quietly.

I call these toxic culture darts — and once they start landing, the damage compounds fast.

Here’s the uncomfortable part:

You don’t need all of them to fail.
A few well-placed hits are enough.

Which ones are landing in your school right now?

• People stop raising problems
• Pushback disappears
• Curiosity fades
• Presence feels optional
• Teams default to safety
• Standards quietly decline

Silence isn’t alignment.
It’s a resignation.

And by the time leaders notice...
The best people are already halfway out the door.

Want to survive your first year as head?
Lead less. Observe more.

Most new headteachers fail because they try too hard to lead.

They rush to prove themselves.
To make their mark.
To fix everything at once.

That’s the trap.

Leadership isn’t about doing more.
It’s about seeing more.

Here’s what experienced school leaders learn the hard way:
❌ Stop trying to be everyone’s friend. Respect beats popularity.
❌ Stop saying yes to every idea. Focus is leadership.
❌ Stop hiding behind data. Walk the corridors instead.
❌ Stop overcommunicating. Clarity > volume.
❌ Stop demanding trust. Earn it, daily.
❌ Stop “leading by example” 24/7. Lead by empowering others.
❌ Stop assuming you’re the smartest in the room. Listen first.
❌ Stop chasing short-term wins. Build long-term culture.

The best new headteachers don’t lead louder.
They lead quieter, sharper, slower — and win faster.

Agree or disagree?

New heads fail because they try too hard to lead.

When Tesla launches a new EV, people call it innovation.
When Xiaomi launches one, people call it copying.

Funny how perception shapes “innovation” more than the innovation itself.

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Most of what we label as “innovation”...
is really just “innovation by the right brand.”

Apple wasn’t the first to build a smartphone.
Tesla wasn’t the first EV maker.
Xiaomi isn’t the first to enter... well, any industry it enters.

But they all follow the same formula:

1. Enter late.
2. Learn fast.
3. Execute better.
4. Price strategically.
5. Market aggressively.

And suddenly the late mover becomes the “visionary.”

Meanwhile, the early mover becomes… a footnote.

Innovation isn’t about being first.
It’s about being better, faster, louder, or cheaper than whoever came first.

And Xiaomi’s EV strategy?
It’s the same strategy every “disruptor” secretly uses:

Borrow what works.

Improve what doesn’t.

Package it for a bigger market.

We don’t celebrate the pioneers.
We celebrate the winners.

Execution is the new innovation.

What do you think —
Is Xiaomi copying, or simply playing the game better?

👇 Curious to hear your take.

This time of year is when culture really matters in international schools. No amount of hoodies, pizza parties, or “fun Fridays” will fix a toxic school culture.

Because perks don’t transform people.
Culture does.

And real culture isn’t built on freebies — it’s built on non-negotiables.

Here are the ones great schools refuse to compromise on:

✅ Respect is the baseline.
Zero tolerance for toxicity — from anyone, in any direction.

✅ Growth isn’t optional.
Students AND staff need opportunities to stretch, learn, and lead.

✅ Psychological safety is sacred.
People speak up when they know they won’t be punished for telling the truth.

✅ Work-life balance is protected.
Burnt-out educators can’t light the way for anyone.

✅ Recognition is consistent — not performative.
People stay where they feel valued, not where they get free pizza.

Perks might create a moment.
Culture creates a movement.

And if the culture is broken?
No hoodie can hide it.

Principals — what’s ONE cultural non-negotiable you’re doubling down on this year?

I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: PHASE Conference Presenter from PHASE!

PHASE

Planning your next post? Think contrarian. Think emotional. Think: “This says something true about the world — and about me.”

I looked back at my top 10 posts of 2025, and they all shared the same DNA:

1. They tackle BIG, universal topics

Leadership.
Toxic work environments.
Culture.
Values.
Human behaviour.
The stuff everyone feels — but rarely says out loud.

2. They open with a provocative hook

The kind that stops the scroll:
“China’s Bankrupt.”
“No amount of hoodies can fix a toxic school.”
“Meetings reward confidence. Decisions should reward clarity.”
Bold. Tense. Slightly uncomfortable.

3. They’re narrative reflections — not tutorials

The winning structure was simple:
👉 A bold statement
👉 A personal or observational story
👉 A bigger lesson about work or society

4. They tap universal human emotions

Belonging.
Respect.
Identity.
Struggle.
Fairness.
Meaning at work.

The posts that travel the farthest are the ones that make people pause and think:

If you'd like to write something that resonates, you can start there.

Thailand’s international schools are hiring across many subjects, offering good salaries, well-resourced classrooms, and supportive teams drawn from many countries.

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.

Success that burns through your mental bandwidth isn’t success.

It’s mismanagement disguised as commitment.

Early in my career, I thought being available meant being valuable.
Every ping got a reply.
Every meeting got a “yes.”
Every spare minute became a catch-up slot.

On paper, it looked like momentum.
In reality, it was erosion.

High performance isn’t about being always on.
It’s about knowing when to switch off so your decisions stay sharp.

These are the boundaries that keep my focus intact:

1. Control inputs.
No phone before strategy, no Slack before thinking.

2. Batch reactions.
Email and messages twice a day, everything else waits.

3. Protect transitions.
Five minutes between calls to reset the brain.

4. Create unreachable hours.
Evenings or weekends when nobody gets access.

5. Guard energy like capital.
Spend it where it compounds, not where it’s wasted.

This isn’t self-care.
It’s self-leadership.

Because success that costs your sanity will eventually cost your results.

Which boundary protects your focus the most?

♻️ Repost to help more leaders build sustainable success.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth insights.

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

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/

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.

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

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!)

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

Most people are preparing for 2026 the wrong way.

They’re working harder… at all the wrong things.
﻿
They’re trying to protect their job titles… instead of upgrading the skills that will actually keep them relevant.

The future isn’t rewarding the busiest people.
It’s rewarding the sharpest.

Here are 10 skills that will matter most in 2026,
﻿and the simple truth behind each:

1. Strategic thinking:
- Because knowing what to do matters more than doing everything.

2. Clear communication:
- If you can’t explain it simply, you can’t lead it confidently.

3. Adaptive learning:
- The fastest learners are becoming the fastest earners.

4. AI fluency:
- Not coding but knowing how to use AI to multiply your output.

5. Problem solving:
- People who remove friction rise faster than people who create noise.

6. Emotional intelligence:
- The workplace is changing, empathy is becoming a leadership superpower.

7. Personal branding:
If people don’t know you, they can’t promote you or buy from you.

8. Decision-making under pressure:
- Hesitation costs opportunities. Clarity creates them.

9. Resilience:
- The next decade will test everyone, those who stay steady will stay ahead.

10. Collaboration:
- The future is built by teams who think differently, not the same.

The world is changing too fast to wait for permission.
Start building these now, so you’re not catching up in 2026,
you’re leading it.

The truth is:
Your degree won’t save you.
Your job title won’t protect you.
Your experience won’t guarantee anything.

But your skills will.

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

10 Skills That Will Matter in 2026

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

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