What does true success look like in your life?
Too often, we chase external rewards: titles, luxury, recognition, only to realise that fulfillment remains elusive.
In this engaging conversation with Michael Esposito, we dive deep into the journey of making sense of life and discovering real purpose. Michael shares his raw, honest story with these powerful lessons:
Success is an inside job. Michael’s path showed that chasing material achievements such as Lamborghinis, awards & status never brought lasting happiness. The real turning point was when he began to seek internal fulfillment, asking, “What makes me truly happy?”
Your community and mentors matter. Overcoming self-doubt and setbacks isn’t a solo journey. Michael credits coaching, therapy, and supportive communities and mentors for helping him overcome depression and comparison, and for showing him that he’s not alone.
Purpose grows with impact. Discovering purpose is a continuous journey. For Michael, it evolved from entrepreneurship to creating positive impact, founding charity initiatives like Pedal for Purpose, and using his voice to lift up those who lack basic needs.
If you’re craving more meaning in your life or career, tune in, embrace the journey, and remember real wealth is in our relationships, personal growth, and the lives we touch.
Connect with Michael on linkedin.com/in/michaelespositoinc, or visit michaelespositoinc.com to learn more.
#SuccessMatters #Purpose #PersonalDevelopment #Podcast
Ready to make sense of your journey and find true purpose?
I had a remarkable conversation with Sara Roccisano, a former Wall Street investment banker turned transformational author and motivational speaker. Her story is a powerful roadmap for anyone feeling stuck in the “rat race.”
Here are Sara’s top 3 lessons on reimagining success and living with intention:
Resilience and Self-Advocacy: After multiple lay-offs and years out of work, Sara discovered that true strength comes from doubling down on who you are, advocating for yourself, and having unwavering hope even when you feel lost.
Redefining Success: Sara’s perspective is clear: Success is not about job title, corner office, or bonus cheques. It’s about agency being the architect of your own life, trusting your intuition, and refusing to let external validation define you.
Raising Your Vibration: From transformative travel and working with shamans to embracing gratitude, singing, and dancing, Sara shows that purpose and high energy come from living authentically and connecting to what truly matters, far beyond the confines of the corporate grind.
If you’re navigating uncertainty, career changes, or just feeling the need for something deeper, Sara’s journey is proof that you can cultivate courage within and become emboldened.
What does “purpose” mean for you?
https://sararoccisano.com
Ever felt like you're searching for more meaning in your work or life journey?
That’s exactly what my guest Colin Crooks MBE, has spent a lifetime exploring while changing thousands of lives along the way.
Here are the top 3 takeaways from our conversation:
Purpose Beyond Profit Colin’s story began with a clapped-out van and a dream to recycle paper but it grew into a mission to create a million jobs for people society had written off. His mantra? Your work must serve a deeper purpose than just making money. If your only goal is profit, you’re missing the real rewards.
Lift as You Climb From employing people straight out of prison to giving the long-term unemployed a second chance, Colin showed that creating opportunities for others is both good business, and life-changing for the employee. He reminds us that sometimes a simple “yes, you can have this job” can rewrite someone’s story.
Redefining Success: It's About People, Not Just Numbers Early on, “success” meant tonnage or profit. But over time, Colin learned that true success is measured by those you help grow, watching people who once lacked hope evolve into confident, thriving members of society. The numbers matter, but human transformation is where the magic happens.
Colin shows that work with purpose beyond the paycheque is very fulfilling. Share your thoughts on what you do to bring purpose to your work and let’s start a real conversation.
#Purpose #MeaningfulWork #SuccessMatters #CareerGrowth #Podcast
In this episode of Success Matters, I have a thought-provoking conversation with Rashi Nayar, a seven-figure entrepreneur turned spiritual coach, about the journey from outer achievement to inner fulfillment.
Here are the top 3 insights from Rashi that resonated most:
If you’re questioning your path and craving deeper meaning, listen in and discover how to shift from chasing “success” to a life that truly fulfills.
There are times when finding your purpose feels challenging.
You notice other people’s achievements, enjoy moments of humour online, and still wonder where your own direction is leading. I have experienced this myself, as have many professionals, whether we speak about it openly or not.
That is why my recent conversation with Ally Machate on Success Matters struck such a chord.
Ally does not sell a quick-fix roadmap. Instead, she offers something much rarer. Three actions to help you make sense of your story and find real meaning where you stand.
Ally says to lean into the places you resist most. Those knots of nerves and discomfort are not your enemy; they are signposts. If you pause and listen to what you’re avoiding, you might find the edge of your next breakthrough. Emotion, raw and sometimes uncomfortable, points to what matters most.
Ally challenges us to stop chasing other people’s definitions of success. Scale, growth, follower counts but none of it matters if it does not serve your own sense of fulfilment. Ask what would make you proud, rather than just what might make you more money, and others will find clarity in your message.
She urges us not to waste energy. If you want your message to connect, choose a story, a book, or a mission that’s authentic. Your voice is most powerful when it is most vulnerable. People are not looking for polish. They are looking for connection, someone willing to share what they really believe.
So if you find yourself wishing to disappear or start over somewhere no one knows your name, you are not failing. You are growing. Others will recognise it in you, and they will thank you for sharing what is real.
Have a listen for a deeper conversation, and if Ally’s story moves you, share your own below. Sometimes, that is the first step to purpose.
Ally is offering a free resource for Success Matters listeners: a webinar on “Don’t Write the Wrong Book”
www.thewritersally.com/successmatters
Is your life chaotic, with uncertainty about direction, purpose, and what truly matters?
In this episode of Success Matters, I'm joined by Scott Paradis, author, educator, and former military leader, who brings decades of experience and wisdom on living with intention.
Here are Scott’s top 3 insights for anyone seeking clarity and meaning:
Keep moving in the right direction, even when the path isn’t clear. Scott believes the purpose of life is to explore, experience, learn, and grow. Success isn’t about reaching a destination; it’s about participating fully and moving forward, even through uncertainty or setback.
Your worldview shapes your reality: choose connection and contribution over fear and competition. We’re at a historic inflection point: will we keep competing in fear, or shift to creativity and collaboration? As Scott puts it, “If you decide life is about connection, peace, and joy, that’s exactly what you’ll experience.”
Be the light for others, change starts within. You can’t change those around you directly, but you can inspire and guide by example. “Be the calm in the storm, the joy in the chaos. Become the North Star that others look to while they find their own way.”
If you’re grappling with your direction or purpose, Scott’s wisdom will encourage you to move forward, expand your perspective, and, most importantly, lead through authenticity and light.
Listen to the full episode for more practical insights, and let me know in the comments what you’re moving towards!
Visit Scott's Website at: c-achieve.com
Ever feel stuck, even when you know something needs to shift?
In this episode, I sit down with Kim Heanue a former corporate high-flyer who made bold moves to build a more fulfilling, authentic life.
If you’re a professional in the “messy middle” of life, searching for purpose, here are Kim’s top lessons on making change:
Move first: change happens when YOU take action. “Nothing’s going to move if I don’t.” Kim reveals how real transformation comes when you step forward, even if the path isn’t clear.
Design your life like a portfolio. It’s not about having all fulfillment come from work, sometimes your day job pays the bills and you find joy elsewhere. Kim shares her practical strategy: “If the day job is not filling your cup, but it’s filling your bank account…and that is important, great. Now, where else can you fill your cup?... I always look at it as a portfolio.”
Stay flexible and reevaluate often. Life isn’t linear and your goals will change. Kim’s advice: “Remaining flexible…I think is another key thing when you’re going through these changes.”
We go deeper on:
Courage in transitions
Defining (and redefining) success
Actionable steps to get unstuck
How tech and AI fit into a more human life
Listen in, reflect, and share your own story of change. Let's talk about how Success Matters and what it can mean for you!
https://coachingbykim.com/
Ever felt drawn toward something bigger in your life yet unsure how to tune in?
In this episode of Success Matters, I sit down with Aude Firmin, once a successful corporate leader at giants like Microsoft and Gucci, now an acclaimed spiritual life coach and psychic medium.
Here are 3 game-changing takeaways Aude shares for professionals searching for purpose:
1. We all have intuitive powers.Aude shares how what started as strange, even scary, experiences after a family loss ultimately revealed that intuition and energy are available to everyone. When embraced, these “psychic” abilities can help us tune into our true direction.
2. Redefine success on your terms.Having “made it” in the corporate world, Aude found that true success wasn’t status, titles, or wealth but inner peace, harmony, and being connected to a deeper purpose. Money matters, but meaning matters more.
3. Have the courage to pivot.Aude’s journey from tech director to purpose-driven entrepreneur wasn’t easy. It meant overcoming fears, societal expectations, and scepticism (from others and herself). The result? A life, and business, built on meaning, authenticity, and service.
If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or in transition, this episode is for you. Learn why your answers may already be inside—and how aligning with both logic and intuition can lead to a happier, more impactful life.
What would you do if you were falsely imprisoned for 5 years?
In this transformative episode of Success Matters, I’m joined by Jose Angel Pereira who shares his remarkable journey from leading Venezuela’s largest oil company to surviving five years as a political hostage.
His experience sheds light on the real meaning of clarity and demonstrates that success is more than just professional titles or outward achievements.
Jose’s story is a lesson in resilience. He describes how adversity can transform our perspective, showing that even in the darkest moments, clarity emerges through adaptability, hope, and mental strength. He also reminds us that true success involves balancing ambition with gratitude, nurturing genuine connections, and maintaining a healthy work-life equilibrium.
Faith and purpose run through every part of his recovery. Jose found strength by reconnecting to his beliefs, reinforcing the idea that clarity for professionals is rooted in personal values, adaptability, and an openness to redefine one’s path.
If you’re ready to see success, and yourself, in a new light, this episode will inspire and guide your search for meaningful achievement.
Tune in to discover how you can build resilience, find balance, and create your own definition of success.
Feeling stuck or searching for greater meaning in your work and life?
This week, I sat down with Dr. Andre Walton, TEDx speaker, inventor, and bestselling author, to explore creativity, decision making, and finding success beyond the conventional path.
Top 3 Insights from Andre:
Embrace Divergent ThinkingAndre reminds us that we’re all born creative but as adults, we often limit ourselves through “convergent” (narrow) thinking. Real growth and innovation happen when we reawaken our innate curiosity and allow ourselves to explore alternative possibilities, just like we did as children.
Make Decisions ConsciouslyInstead of falling back on safe, automatic choices, Andre challenges us to pause and consider, “What options do I really have?” Whether navigating a career pivot or organizational change, conscious decision-making opens up new paths and prevents us from getting stuck on someone else’s tracks.
Redefine SuccessFor Andre, success isn’t ticking off boxes, it's about accumulating a body of rich experiences and knowledge. He shares how early in life, he resolved never to look back with regret. His advice? Don’t wait to make your change. Live a life you’ll be proud to reflect on.
If you’re reevaluating your direction or ready to break free from the “hamster wheel” of life, this conversation is for you.
Catch the full episode and discover practical ways to unlock your own purpose!
Share in the comments how you break out of convergent thinking in your own journey?
The line between ambition and burnout is a fine one.
In this episode of the Success Matters podcast, I sit down with Angela Hodgson, a corporate high-flyer who experienced a massive burnout that changed her life.
Angela shares her raw and honest story about working at luxury car manufacturer Bentley, the pressures of her professional life, and the deeply personal challenges that all converged at once. She opens up about the moment she hit rock bottom and how she found her way back, removing the “mask" and leaving the corporate world to create a new definition of success on her own terms.
We talk about:
The unexpected role of the pandemic in her recovery.
How she healed from her past through counseling and vulnerability.
Her transition from corporate life to helping businesses find their "brilliance without burnout."
If you've ever felt the weight of professional and personal life pushing you to the edge, this episode is a must-listen. It's a candid conversation about what happens when you take off the mask and embrace your authentic self.
Connect with Angela on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahodgson
And take your free Power Framework test here:https://igniteimprovement.co.uk/quiz
Why do I even think this way?
We've all had that moment: clinging to a belief or a habit we've had forever, only to stop and wonder, "Why do I even think this way?"
In this episode of Success Matters, Ryan Ware shares his story of how he is helping an entire industry, construction, grapple with this very question.
Ryan explains that many of us are like his childhood self, holding onto limiting beliefs.
For Ryan, he believed he hated beets because he only ever saw them from a can. He didn't dislike the vegetable itself; he disliked that version of it. The same is true for the way we approach change.
Ryan shares the messy middle of change: the space where clarity fades and growth happens. It's the space where we challenge assumptions, test new ideas, and sometimes stumble, but always learn.
This episode will challenge you to:
Question your assumptions: Think about a belief you have that you're no longer sure why you hold.
See "failure" as feedback: Instead of viewing setbacks as a dead end, learn to see them as a chance to improve and innovate.
Relish the unknown: Discover how to find growth and opportunity in the parts of life and work that feel messy and unclear.
Tie your laces!We all have shoelace moments, those small, untied knots in our lives that can trip us up. But what if the biggest barrier to your success isn't a lack of knowledge but a refusal to tie the knot and double knot the shoelace? In this episode of Success Matters, I talk with the ever energetic and engaging fitness coach Brian Parana, who works with men aged 40 and up. Brian shares his own journey of shedding old identities, likening it to a chrysalis, to become the leader he is today.Brian reveals how simple, actionable steps and a mindset shift can lead to profound transformations not just in fitness, but in your career, relationships, and overall life. We dive deep into why taking control of your health can empower you to make significant, life-changing decisions.Tune in to learn:Why the "Rocky" mentality of pushing through everything isn't always the best path to success.How to leverage the skills that make you successful at work to transform your health.The power of connection and its link to health and success.How creating good habits in life, akin to tying your shoelaces, help avoid potential faceplants later in life.
From PowerPoint to Turning Point
In this week’s Success Matters episode, I’m joined by Andie Henrich whose story weaves together a rich mix of cultures: an Italian father who grew up in Vietnam and a mother from Argentina with Spanish and Indigenous South American roots.
After more than 20 years in global roles at IBM and Infosys, Andie stepped away from the corporate fast lane to build her own coaching practice, Authenticity Ignited. Her journey is marked by bold choices, cultural curiosity, and a redefinition of what success can mean.
We covered:
Why cultural awareness starts with assuming nothing
The impact of burnout and AI on her decision to leave corporate life
Redefining success beyond KPIs and promotions
Her reflections on missing her son’s first steps while chasing career milestones
Challenging the story around ageing with her idea of “unfolding”
Andie’s story is a powerful reminder that stepping into your own definition of success often means rewriting the rules.
In this episode of Success Matters, I speak with Helene Rennervik, whose life took an unexpected turn in 2004 when her youngest son was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma at the tender age of nine. This profound experience challenged everything she knew, eventually leading her to leave a 15-year corporate career in Dubai without a plan.
Helene shares her incredible journey from defining success by "doing" - chasing titles, salaries, and recognition - to embracing a radical new vision of "being".
She reveals how this shift allowed her to live in alignment with who she truly is, rather than identifying by her job title, or even roles like mother or wife.
In this wide ranging discussion we cover:
• Redefining Success: Learn why success for Helene today is about presence, awareness, and gratitude – finding joy in the "here and now," not just tomorrow's goals.
• The Power of Your Mind: Discover how cultivating mental tools was crucial for Helene during her son's recovery and why she now focuses on helping others harness their mind's potential.
• Uncover Your True Self: Helene advocates for understanding your core strengths and values (like the Gallup StrengthsFinder) to align with your true calling, something she wishes she'd known earlier.
• Mastering Boundaries: Helene shares details of her program, "The Power of No, without guilt," and why letting go of perfectionism and people-pleasing is essential for growth and living your life, not someone else's.
Helene's story is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the courage to pivot when life demands it. If you're pondering your next steps and ready to embrace a more authentic, fulfilling life, this episode is a must-listen.
Connect with Helene: You can find Helene Rennervik on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/helenerennervik or visit her website: helenerennervik.com. She even has a "people pleaser quiz" you can take!
#SuccessMatters #Podcast #CareerChange #LifeTransition #RedefineSuccess #PurposeDriven #SelfDiscovery #Wellbeing #Coaching #PersonalGrowth #Mindfulness #Boundaries #EwingsSarcoma #Inspiration
When work defines who you are, what happens if it's suddenly ripped away?
In this episode of Success Matters, Brad Henderson, after nearly twenty years in commercial real estate, found himself at the crossroads: a dismissal left him stripped of professional identity, disconnected from his digital world, and, for a moment, uncertain of who he was.
His story is a wake-up call: jobs often become a stand-in for self, and without them, many feel unmoored or invisible. That moment isn't reserved for employees, founders, too can lose themselves when stepping away from their companies.
Brad shares practical takeaways to help you avoid becoming a “nobody” should you lose your professional identity:
Build Success Through Consistency. Real success isn’t the stuff you read about in attention-grabbing headlines. It’s built slowly and consistently. Steady actions matter more than dramatic wins. Brad shares how discipline and routine break through mental and cultural barriers to create lasting results.
See Beyond the Job Title. Rather than chasing fragile work-life balance, Brad urges a portfolio mindset: treat each part of life: work, family, community, as investments that need attention and reflection.
Leverage Skills, Not Titles. Career pivots become possible when you recognise and promote your strengths across industries. Brad recommends listening to new perspectives and bringing fresh ideas as innovation thrives when outsiders challenge norms.
Rethink AI’s Role in Leadership. Brad, now an executive coach, challenges leaders to question their assumptions about AI. He urges them to see AI as an asset, one that can transform teams and drive change, if leaders set the tone.
Learn more about Brad’s work and his new book at www.consistency-edge.com.
#SuccessMasters #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #Identity #WorkLifeIntegration #AICoaching #TheConsistencyEffect #Podcast #FutureOfWork
My conversation with Tiffany Lauren Potter was a powerful and emotional experience.
When Tiffany was on the brink of her 40s, she found herself at a crossroads. She was a professional singer who had spent years performing for governors and in pro sports stadiums, but stress and a lack of alignment in her life eventually caused her to lose her singing voice. She had a vocal cord condition, but she believes the true cause was years of holding tension and living out of alignment with her true self.
For years, Tiffany felt she had to adhere to a certain role, a vision of what her life and marriage were "supposed to be," shaped by deeply religious community and societal expectations. She lived in a way that repressed her own emotions and aspirations, believing she was being selfish to want more. This left her feeling adrift, as if her life was a ship with "sails blowing meaninglessly in the wind".
This experience made her realise she couldn't continue to live a life that wasn’t authentic to her. The process of reclaiming her voice, both literally and figuratively, was incredibly difficult and led to her losing a lot of people in her life. But it also gave her a newfound sense of resilience and purpose. She now embraces her new identity and is building a new life and business on her own terms.
Tiffany’s story is a profound reminder that we all have the agency to reclaim our voices and build a future we are excited about.
Imagine a world where AI is powered not by silicon chips but by Human Neurons.
In this episode of Success Matters, I sit down with Dr. Ewelina Kurtys from Final Spark to explore the frontier of bio-inspired computing.
Ewelina shares how her path from neuroscience and experimental biology led her to working with living neurons, building computers not from silicon, but from human-derived neural cells.
We talk about the science behind turning skin cells into powerful new tools for computation, the differences between digital and biological computers, and the ethical questions that are emerging as technology crosses new boundaries.
Ewelina offers a look into her experiences in both academia and industry, reflects on the challenges and opportunities of global scientific collaboration, and unpacks what success truly means on a personal level.
Whether you're curious about the future of artificial intelligence, fascinated by the merging worlds of biology and technology, or just looking for fresh perspectives on innovation, this conversation has something for you.
Tune in to hear how flexibility, experimentation, and a passion for discovery guide Ewelina’s journey and get inspired to think differently about what's coming next in science and technology.
Are you shuffling chairs on the Titanic?
In this episode of Success Matters podcast, we sit down with author and financial expert, Peter Merrick, who poses this provocative question as a wake-up call to understanding our current financial system.
Peter, a seasoned veteran of the financial industry, shares his incredible journey, from a "spectacular blow up" early in his career to becoming a TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner), a highly vetted, cross-jurisdictional designation, focused on sophisticated asset and legacy planning for wealthy families.
He delves into the insights from his new book, "It Starts With Gold". where he challenges conventional wisdom on money, markets, and stability.
This book is a departure from his previous works, revealing deeply researched (and often unsettling) insights about the financial world.
Peter explains how the overnight markets failed in 2019, leading to trillion-dollar printing by the Federal Reserve, and discusses the implications of "bail-ins" and the quadrillion-dollar derivative market. He draws on history, like China's Yuan Dynasty and the US gold confiscation in 1933, to illustrate the collapse of financial systems.
"It Starts With Gold" is not just about problems; it's a guide to "de-risking your assets and re-materializing your life."
This means focusing on useful skills, community, and tangible assets like physical gold and silver as a bulwark against systemic collapse.
Peter emphasizes that while some might call his views "conspiracy theorist," his book is 580 pages of research backed material.
Beyond financial foresight, Peter defines success in simple yet profound terms: "Peace and love, no drama." He advocates for being a "lighthouse" for those seeking guidance, knowing your unique value, and cultivating genuine connections.
http://itstartswithgold.com/
What if walking away from “success” was the smartest thing you ever did?
This week on Success Matters, my guest flipped the script.
Meet Jenny Qi — executive coach, globe-trotter, former Wall Street lawyer, and living proof that there’s life and happiness beyond prestige and paychecks.
Jenny’s journey? A PhD in neuroscience; JD from Michigan Law; Nearly a decade surviving the high-pressure, “up-or-out” grind at elite law firms in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Beijing and then: she quit!
Not to “job hop,” not to take a break, but to retire from big law for good.
Why? Because the job came with too high a price tag: her time, freedom, and autonomy. Instead, she chose a life aligned with her deepest values: spirituality, authenticity, freedom, and true impact.
Now based in the mountains of Nepal in the capital Kathmandu, Jenny blends Buddhist wisdom and meditation into her coaching, guiding others to ditch fear, which is her self-confessed kryptonite, and design lives that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside.
In this episode, we go deep about: * Letting go of the “safe” route * Redefining wealth and success * Making peace with uncertainty * Finding the courage to live on your own terms
If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more to life than climbing the ladder, this conversation will make you rethink everything.
Tune in and hear how Jenny turned the ultimate career pivot into her most fulfilling chapter yet.
To contact Jenny or to find out more visit jennyqi.com