Happy Monday everyone!
We’re properly into that time of year when you can feel the season shifting, and this week I’ve been reminded just how fast time moves. I’ve spent part of the last few weeks doing university open days with my daughter, walking around campuses and watching her picture a future that feels both very far away and very close all at once. It’s the kind of thing that makes you reflective in the best possible way.
Running my own business brings a similar mix of excitement and uncertainty, and I’ve been doing a lot of questioning lately about what the right path looks like. So this musing feels like a natural moment to share some of what’s been coming up for me.
As ever, take what’s useful and leave what isn’t.
What I‘ve LOVED
When I first started my business, I made a decision that felt smart at the time. I thought building around an AI platform was the obvious move, the future-proof play. Every conversation seemed to be pointing that way, and I didn’t want to be left behind. So I leaned into it.
What I quickly discovered, through real conversations with real people, was that it wasn’t what anyone was actually asking for. What people wanted was me. The human connection, the trust that comes from working with someone directly, that’s what was resonating. No AI platform, however clever, can replicate that. Not yet, anyway.
So I made the call to change direction and go back to building the business around my time, my access and the kind of human relationships that make coaching so powerful. And honestly? It’s felt right in a way the other path never quite did.
It’s easy to convince yourself you know what you should be doing, but sometimes it takes a conversation or two to realise that perception was a little off.
Is there something in your own work or life right now where the story you’ve told yourself might not quite match what the people around you are actually saying?
What I’ve LEARNED
One of the things I quietly promised myself when I left the corporate world was that I’d question some of the habits I’d picked up along the way. One of them was the PowerPoint deck.
In most organisations, you barely move without one. There’s always a new template, a freshly updated set of slides, a branded deck that marketing are very keen for you to take into every room. And before you know it, the deck becomes a crutch, something you lean on rather than something you consciously choose.
When I set up my own business, I did create a credentials deck. Felt like the right thing to do. But I made a point of trying something different in practice, and I’m pleased to say I’ve not needed to present it. Instead, I’ve relied on conversation, listening, asking the right questions, and letting the dialogue do the work. And if I’m being honest, it’s opened more doors than many of the polished presentations I’ve delivered over the years.
I’m not saying PowerPoint is the enemy. There’s absolutely a time and a place for a well-prepared presentation. What I’m questioning is the habit of reaching for it automatically, regardless of whether it’s the right tool for that moment.
So the next time you’ve got a meeting coming up, it might be worth asking yourself whether you actually need a deck, or are you just reaching for one because that’s what you always do?
What I’ve LIKED
I’ve recently got back to learning to play golf. Properly this time, not the occasional half-hearted attempt I’ve made over the years and then quietly abandoned. The catalyst for this move was due to my son starting to play, and it struck me as a brilliant way to spend proper time together, outdoors, no screens, getting some fresh air and exercise, without it feeling forced or structured. That felt like reason enough.
I’ve just got back from my first proper golf weekend, and I completely get it now. I understand why so many friends and former colleagues used to wax lyrical about it. There’s something genuinely compelling about a game where you’re essentially competing against yourself, always with the possibility of getting a little better.
For any golfers reading this, let me answer the first question I seemed to get asked when I mention taking up golf. I went round in 145 on the Saturday, and 125 on the Sunday, and by Sunday afternoon I was starting to find a rhythm that felt like mine. My goal for the weekend, after not playing 18 holes for 17 years was simple: get round the course consistently and keep up with my son and friends. By the end of the weekend, I felt like I’d done that and was feeling pretty good about myself, and am now looking forward to further rounds without embarassing myself.
Is there something you’ve put off picking up for years that might be worth giving a proper go?
Whether you’re thinking about the habits you’ve outgrown, the conversations you’ve been avoiding, or just looking for a reason to get outside this week, I hope there’s something in here that lands.
Final thought:
Here is a song to kick start your week:
If you would like to read the latest Monday Morning Musings then subscribe here:
- Perception, Corporate Crutches and the Perfect Round- Monday 29th June 2026.
- Backing Yourself, Finding Your People & Giving It a Go – Monday 23rd March 2026.
- From Disney to drinking and the moments that matter – Monday 26th Jan 2026.
- Stories, Suppers, and the Small Joys of Learning – From 8th Dec 2025.
- Small Experiments, Big Reminders- From 8th Sept 2025.
Monday Morning Musings 
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