To kick off the new year, Brad interviews mindset coach Paul, who shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to becoming the youngest cruise director in the world. Paul reflects on how his early experiences in acting and a desire to escape his past shaped his mindset and fuelled his ambition. He discusses the transformative power of positive thinking and the importance of evolving one's mindset to achieve personal goals. KEY TAKEAWAYS The journey to becoming a mindset coach began with a desire to escape a challenging childhood. Engaging in acting provided an early outlet for self-expression and exploration, which later translated into a passion for helping others change their thinking. Exposure to books like "The Power of Positive Thinking" and "The Power of the Subconscious Mind" ignited a belief in the potential to control one's thoughts and emotions, leading to significant personal and professional achievements, including becoming the youngest cruise director in the world. The importance of experiences over material possessions is emphasised. True fulfillment comes from meaningful experiences and relationships rather than simply accumulating wealth or status. A structured approach called "Engage" was developed, consisting of six steps: Evolve, Nirvana, Grace, Action, Grit, and Education. This framework guides individuals in transforming their mindset and achieving their goals. Emphasising the need for resilience, the discussion highlights that challenges are a natural part of life. Viewing setbacks as feedback rather than failures is crucial for personal growth and maintaining a positive mindset. BEST MOMENTS "I came to the understanding that you can become anything you want if you can control your thinking and your emotions." "I decided to believe in myself, and it was the most apparent thing ever, because I made up in my head that I was going to prove him wrong." "If you're a miserable person, it doesn't matter where you go in the world; you can go to Mexico on holiday, and you'll still be miserable." "It's really funny that something when you're a child can shape the rest of your life." "The key to success is to live in what I call a state of grace and grace is the system to do this." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.