The Moment That Changed My Coaching Forever

Some stories never leave you. This one shaped the way I coach forever.

There’s something powerful about how our senses transport us back to the big moments, good and bad.

A smell can take me to my grandparents’ house in Newcastle.

A song can take me back to a stretch of road on a family holiday.

A sporting moment, like John Aloisi’s 2005 penalty, still gives me goosebumps. That year meant even more because I’d lost my dad months earlier.

But nothing could prepare me for what happened in 2014.

I was just starting out in business. One of my team, someone I coached and cared about, was gaining momentum fast. He was making big shifts and I was right there with him.

Then, suddenly… he passed away.

He was just 27.

I sat frozen just metres from where I’m writing this now. My world started spinning.

What had I done?

Had I pushed too hard?

Was I to blame?

The grief and guilt stuck with me. Quietly, it began holding me back in every part of life, especially business.

I played small. I stopped trusting my instincts.

I held back… and it cost me.

Eventually, I made the call to work with a coach.

Not for therapy, but for clarity.

To drop the weight I’d been carrying for years.

And when I did? Everything changed.

I backed myself again.

I showed up with strength.

And I started helping people in a way that would’ve made my mate proud.

This is what I know now:

We can’t undo the past. But we can decide how we move forward.

You can reset.

You can regain your edge.

You can build a life that’s fulfilling, purposeful, and grounded in what matters most.

This isn’t about fixing you.

It’s about unlocking the best of you... again.

If this resonated with you, let me know.

Have you had a similar experience?

I’d love to hear your story…