Life Done Different.ly

In this episode, we talk to Dave about:the importance of articulating a vision when you're working in a teamthe move from graphic designer to Adventurerthe move from adventurer to community leadernot wanting to wait for the bad thing to happen before making changes to his lifebeing a fortunate kidhaving 18 different addresses by the time he was 18 (because his Dad was in the RAF)not needing to make long-term friends because he was going to move onbeing physically and mentally bullied at schoolwhen football isn't enoughplanning his suicide feeling there was something important inside waiting to get outthe deliberate act of escaping home so he could grow upbeginning to understand the importance of long-term relationshipsunderstanding that nobody else cares what you do, you have to make it happenuniversity life becoming a football entrepreneur becoming a writer, storyteller and maker of small filmsteaching himself graphic design so he didn't have to make the trip across townbeing lost/having no directionfeeling

We talked to Kim aboutStudying the stoner's degree that is music technologyNot feeling he could focus enough to become a professional singer-songwriterSwapping music tours for travellingEnjoying the creative processGoing to the Happy Startup School Summercamp five years previously when first looking to leave employmentOn the travelling bug and finding the places that other people don'tHaving a Mum and Dad who encouraged adventureThe importance of a 'Buddy' (Nicola in Kim's case) when stepping outside a comfort zone Wanting to be a pioneerTravelling to Central America not understanding that no one speaks EnglishAlmost leaving Central America because it was too dauntingOn the words of Warren who becomes Kim's Central American Mentor "don't be soft"The kindness of strangersThe fine line between trusting and being wary of strangers  The adventure of moving from Bognor Regis to BrightonBeing a confident version of himself and getting his first career job in social media Becoming bored and selling everything to go

We recorded this episode at Port Moor Cottage, a shack on stilts sitting on an island in Essex. It would be an understatement to say we've learned from our conversations with guests. They have been kind enough to share their stories of change and do so in some depth. In this wrap-up episode we talk about:The importance of a Support Team, positive people that have a genuine interest in you, your wellbeing and your growthThe benefits of adopting a child-like curiosity to lifeThe doors that can open when we reassess what we value (trading with different currencies)The way the stories we tell ourselves can either slow down or speed up our growthHow redefining something we value e.g. adventure, can open up new doorsHow difficult, exciting and rewarding stepping into the unknown can beThe importance of noticing how you feelThe importance of sharing the story you want to be able to tell about yourself

In this conversation we explored:Why people often apologise for the work they doThe stories we tell ourselves and how they can limit our developmentThe inevitably of the ups and downs in our livesWhy he eventually got expelled from collegeHis first job selling computers at DixonsMeeting Sir Clive SinclairHis expected life trajectory of marry, kids, mortgage His problem with authority His ability to translate the features of technology into the benefits for humansThe moment he realised his employer was trying to trap himWhy it's important to expose your kids to people who live different livesWhy Mike leaves things to the last minuteThe healthy discipline of deadlinesCareers 1, 2 and 3How a career in TV lead to a career developing websites for Channel 4Why people try so hard to see something new as a minor variation of something old when in fact it's so very different How Mike got TV Producers Why Mike and authority are not comfortable bedfellows. Why he's the captain of his own ship and how he takes full respo

This conversation in the Bunny Bus covered many moments in the life of Pablo Woodward. This includes the arrival of his 3 children and the Disco Bunny plus:Realising he didn't have a life he'd asked for or wantedHis quest to understand himselfGoing from not believing in himself to doing what he does with passionGoing into shock when one of his first video's went viralBeing accepted His need to learn, grow and push himselfHis sales pitch of free positive energy, free music, free smiles, free glitter, free chalkPablo noticing the different reactions from different people and understanding he makes people feel uncomfortableWanting to stop dreaming and start doingHis mission to unite people by providing them with opportunities to share positive experiencesWhat it's like to survive on £20 per day A life where material success is living in the Bunny Bus, not the car.His perfect future where he's disco bunnying all over the worldHis search for love  The huge difference between his first and second lives The unexpect

We talked to Rik and Hen about the new life they've created and how. They talk to us about:The productivity benefits of slowing downThe importance of taking ownership of how we spend our timeThe importance of understanding when working harder isn't workingFinancial security in the future v being energised and healthy nowThe importance of creating time in order to connect with oneselfRecognising rock bottom'Time' becoming their new currency The vicious circle of the hard working week followed by the getting smashed weekend The crucial difference between knowing what to do and doing it How a focus on his own health lead to Rik developing HAPS The link between nutrition and mental healthThe health benefits associated with learning and purpose How to increase your serotonin levels naturallyHow crucial a 'support team' is to creating personal changeWhat it means to be a 'digital nomad'How a change in our environment makes personal change so much easierEnjoying the journey versus getting to the destinationHow cutti

These show notes are a duplicate of those found in Part 1. Our conversation with Liam covered many topics. He talked openly about:Growing up thinking he was the dumb oneFailing all his GCSE's Thinking he has undiagnosed dyslexiaFinding confidence in his quick-wittedness and his climbing ability Deciding to study climbing trees because he was already good at thatFeeling part stupid, part geniusHis talent for doing dickish things, just to see a person's reactionTelling himself "don't be nervous because your brain will cope when the time comes"His preference for enduring the feeling of being afraid than being someone who couldn't do thingsTelling people he can do things and then works out how to do itNot celebrating early. He waits until the job is done and he's home.Getting  into trouble on the first day of everything and puts it down to being over-excitedBeing a bit of a show-off and his six months working on the stage at the Blaydon Races Bar in TenerifeHis spell working in customer services as a stepping sto

Our conversation with Liam covered many topics. He talked openly about:Growing up thinking he was the dumb oneFailing all his GCSE's Thinking he has undiagnosed dyslexiaFinding confidence in his quick-wittedness and his climbing ability Deciding to study climbing trees because he was already good at thatFeeling part stupid, part geniusHis talent for doing dickish things, just to see a person's reactionTelling himself "don't be nervous because your brain will cope when the time comes"His preference for enduring the feeling of being afraid than being someone who couldn't do thingsTelling people he can do things and then works out how to do itNot celebrating early. He waits until the job is done and he's home.Getting  into trouble on the first day of everything and puts it down to being over-excitedBeing a bit of a show-off and his six months working on the stage at the Blaydon Races Bar in TenerifeHis spell working in customer services as a stepping stone to Big BrotherHis confidence that he would be chosen to

We chatted to Alastair at the British Library. He talked to us about:His natural personality of nervousness, stress and hate of late Coaxing himself to become more curious, more spontaneous, more relaxed and more adventurous  Differentiate between the things where you have control and those you don't i.e. don't get frustrated with the waves because you can't change themConfidence is built from doing things and the trick is to keep the momentum goingThe impact of his adventures on his life - and becoming more of the person he wants to beLearning to focus on what matters in lifeThe power of laughter when things aren't going so wellCycling 46k miles around the world which took him 4 years, through 60 countries and 5 continents - all on a total budget of £7kCycling around the world when you begin to understand how little of the world you've seen Walked across India and IcelandUltramarathons and expeditions across oceans, deserts, the Arctic and GreenlandOn wanting to become a tough guy like Ranulph FiennesSummoni

It would be fair to say Hamish is not a conventional man.  Check out The Bizarre Houseboats of Britain to see what I mean. He thinks and acts differently and the effect is certainly different. In this conversation he tells us: - Why he got rid of the TV at 18 years old- Why he rescued a shapely old Portsmouth Ferry from the riverbed- How his floating home became a reflection of his warped self - What a squircle is- The freedom that comes from a frugal lifestyle- The simple way to get a bus on a boat - Why he and nature prefer curves to rectangles- How a spell at VSO shaped him- His unwillingness to ask for help - His confidence in his own ability to solve practical problems- Why he's done with the car- Why he's done with politics- Why we should listen to Greta Thunberg - He's ready for a change and fancies getting his hands on a woodGreta Thunberg https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3124660/From-rusting-coach-coal-carrier-Del-Boy-s-car-sticking-wall-wackiest-houseboats-Britain-selling-325-

Laurence and Carlos are designers of events and an online community that make entrepreneurs happy. In this conversation, Laurence talked to us about:Growing up in London pubsThe family DNA of bringing people togetherThe benefits of aligning what you think, say and doHow he helps corporate hippiesA life spent working out what he doesn't want to doForgetting his vision which became a reality 20 years later (his wife Tamsin did not forget)Breaking his back in the middle of nowhere The merits of 'temping'  The benefits of not being an artist when in a creative roleRealising that culture is the way people treat each otherWorking with a mateThe uncertainty of self-employment Becoming a digital agency (Spook Studio)Becoming digital business designersBecoming start-up business designers The misadventure of developing a co-working space      Becoming the Happy Start-up SchoolMoving out of LondonHis approach of chipping away at the things that don't workThe benefits of 'space' when deciding on a new directionBalancing

We wished we'd had longer with Bruce.  He's a brilliant demonstration of what you can achieve if you truly understand your strengths. He seems very able in many areas but what sets him apart is his ability to understand and therefore reach his audience. He seems to always find a way to stand out from the crowd and when he doesn't, he persists. Bruce is a people person through and through.  We talked about:His frustration with Greenpeace*Working hard but not compromising on his 8 hours sleep.Why he shies away from telling people he works at Twitter when on holidayThe different hierarchies of Birmingham and LondonHis period working for Capital Radio, the Fawlty Towers of mediaThe cultural power of 'companions at love' The benefits of being a trouble-makerDiscovering he was the third poorest kid at schoolStudying Economics because he wanted to solve injustice*Why Bruce's next job will be an eco-warriorHow his mum encouraged him to work hard at schoolHis prolific letter writingThe influence comics played in his c

Fiona is the antidote to any 'get rich quick' or 'instagram' society. Her philosophy on life is simple; if there's a problem that needs fixing, fix it yourself. Don't talk about the problem, paper over the cracks, ask for help or look for shortcuts. Just get stuck in and learn from your experience. Expect problems and deal with them as they arise, the more you experience problems, the better equipped you'll be to deal with them in the future. In this conversation Fiona sheds light on:the 'doing' motivation versus the 'achieving' motivation how she moved 'pain and suffering' from the 'Avoid' section to the 'Seek' sectionpain in training being like depositing money in the bank and withdrawing it on race dayhow purpose trumps talent every day of the week how this 'talent-less' runner broke 4 endurance world recordsher adventures in 3 Marathon de Sable (often seen as the world's toughest foot race)           what it's like to experience the freedom of pain, discomfort and despairwhat it's like to live a 'no negot

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Oliver was our first ever guest. Neil happened to go into Oliver's store and was so enamoured with both the store and proprietor, he asked if we could meet. LifeDoneDifferent.ly was born. Oliver talked to us about:  Selling plums outside his parents houseHow school really wasn't entertaining enough for himThe benefits of having supportive, positive parents and positive friendsAt 16 why he ditched the idea of college for a job selling phones for O2His experience of going from a terrible manager to a fantastic manager as a Trainee Estate AgentHis need to stand out and be independentHis spells travelling around the world The difference between Portsmouth and Brighton (one of these places is cool with chapless pants)His period living in a cupboardLearning to mix with different sorts of peopleHis period working hard because he wanted to make money so he could do his own thingGetting on the property ladder and becoming a landlordSpotting the opportunities that present themselves versus being luckyHis spell doing tu

We met Tom at his very nice house in London. It's really nice! He shared his experiences in business and in life. He shared how he's changed and how his motivations have changed. What I like most about Tom is his ability to focus but never lose sight of the bigger picture including a super-skill in bringing his wide circle of friends and colleagues together. We talked about :How Miami Vice provided him with a focus on money Taking two companies public Having a rocket scientist for a DadTom, the 10 year old entrepreneurWhy he chose a job over universityBeing the worst salesman of the month and the shame of fishing in Oxford StreetHow mistakes helped him grow a thicker skinMoving to Hong Kong in May 1989 and how a salary allowed him to focus on rugbyPlaying international rugby for Hong Kong  His belief in luck and why he sees a fortune teller once a yearHaving nothing when he was sued personally for £3.5 million dollars, 3 weeks after getting married Borrowing £3.5 million USD from a friend with no obvious way

We've known Mark and Action for Happiness for many years but this conversation was different. Here we learned about Mark's sometimes painful journey into the world of social entrepreneurship. It was a real pleasure to talk about:  Big questions such as "What really matters in life?"What happens when you climb the ladder of success only to find you're climbing the wrong ladderWhat it takes to help people experience and create a happier worldHow our leaders have forgotten to focus on the greatest happiness for the greatest numberWhy measuring GDP at a national level and personal wealth at an individual level does not measure successHow Coca Cola have cheapened happinessWhy the feeling of happiness is so universal but what makes us happy can be so differentThe benefits of the Stoic philosophy of choosing how we react to situations  Changing ourselves when we are no longer able to change the situationThe importance of 'meta cognition' aka 'noticing how you feel' as the first step to doing something about itThe ro

"Those who tell stories rule society" so said, Plato. Monty Munford collects and tells very good stories. He doesn’t run society yet, but we’ll have more fun when he does.Monty was on the way to the pub when the lure of a few unusual beers persuaded him to join us in Ray’s cellar for a conversation that helped explain:Why he runs fast towards the edge of life’s cliff and then walks back Why he’s fed up with journalismWhy Peter Jones in Sloane Square is unlikely to replace his Mont Blanc penHis period ducking and diving in the Sinai DesertWhy he was cast as a Russian drugs dealer in a Bollywood movieWhy writing is better than athleticsHow the 5’ 2” Monty learned to use his mouthWhat it’s like to grow 11 inches in 18 months Why he declared war on moneyHow he personally lost £50K from bitcoin hackersWhy he’s more interested in the unknown than the knownHow his company turned down Angry BirdsWhy it’s important to laugh at your mistakesWhy he left the London commute for IndiaThe difference between ‘running away’ a

Alan says "creativity is intelligence having fun”. He balances some very rigid and carefully designed routines with architectural anarchy.  He joined us in The Walrus pub where he shared his thoughts on life including:Why everything will be fineOn vision as an ability to visualise and create order when others can only see chaosWhy he’s looking for £100 per week from each of his kidsA rock ‘n’ roll year working with Bono and The Edge Why Architects make very good lovers but very bad husbandsBecoming a committed Mod in 1965What it’s like to have two mothers and two fathersLate diagnosis of Adult Attachment Disorder (AAD) Travel anxiety and why two hours early is preferable to one minute late His knack of destroying his relationshipsHow Architecture has provided security and stability in his lifeHow setting light to his canvasses in a telephone box led to a career in ArchitectureThe importance of third-party endorsement The importance of doing something modest and doing it very very wellThe joy of both teaching

“I want one moment in time. When I'm more than I thought I could be”, so sang Gina Lyons and Whitney Houston every morning for two weeks as Gina’s dreamed of becoming Britain’s first reality TV appointed TV Producer.Gina met us in the Prince Albert pub to tell us what it’s like to be a rude working class girl with no fear and:How a night on the rum resulted in her purchase of a Sri Lankan hotelHow her big break in TV evaporated and then reappeared  How Ross Kemp beat her Why you have to hang out with comedians to be a Comedy ProducerThe period spent living with a nudist and no gas or electricityWhy her mate Simon isn’t allowed near the QueenThe influence of her brother  Why the downside of fearlessness can be fatal How anxiety has crept into her lifeThe fine line between ambition and delusionThe benefits of changing one’s mindsetPractising resilienceThe benefits of putting yourself under pressurehttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm2275219/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_smhttps://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/gina-lyonshttps://www