Life Passion and Business

After eight years of life, Passion and business, the time has come to end this podcast and move on.  This is my final conversation and a reflection on the journey. In this show, I pull together the big things I’ve learned over the last eight years.  What is the secret to living a good life with passion and purpose, the importance of defining success on your own terms, the quiet power of daily rout...

Hey — have you ever wondered if it’s actually possible to do nothing anymore? Lately I’ve been thinking about how my time is filled up with constant doing, and how the second boredom appears we reach for our phones to fill it. What if there’s a different answer: simply being present, without an agenda? I want to tell you about a time when I did nothing and it mattered. I remember being sick years...

Hey — thanks for listening to this penultimate episode of Life, Passion, and Business. I wanted to share why I began this whole project and what kept pulling me back to the mic: a very personal nudge after my dad died in 2017, and the uneasy realisation that I could end up living a small, unexamined life like his if I didn’t do something about it. I started this podcast because I was asking the bi...

This episode is like a quiet chat over coffee about how friendships change as we get older, why we lose people along the way, and what it really takes to keep making meaningful connections. I walk through my own story: moving around, losing touch with school friends, finding a local community in Scotland, and the awkward, emotional stuff that comes with staying connected — especially when life and...

How do we deal with expectations? As a coach, I see expectation play out both in my life and the lives of my clients and in truth, until we can learn to deal with our expectations, life and the universe will tend to rub them in our faces.   Of course, we are taught to plot life on a timeline — degrees, jobs, houses, relationships — and when our path doesn’t match the map, we feel behind, angry, or...

Our show today is looking at how happiness is best shared with those who love us, and how striving for success can lead to a life alone.   Catching up on LinkedIn this morning, I discovered a couple of posts that jumped out at me. One was particularly poignant; a tale of a man pouring his life into his business for over 30 years, only to find that his most cherished relationship had dissolved in t...

Do you ever feel like there’s just too much to do and not enough time? Let's chat about the 80-20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle, and how it can actually become your secret weapon in conquering life's endless to-do lists. You may have heard about the 80-20 rule in a business setting—like how 80% of your revenue might come from 20% of your customers. However, did you know that it can also...

 This week was pretty special for me; I had the absolute joy and delight of attending my son's graduation ceremony. Watching him receive his BA honours in computer games development was not just a proud parent moment, but a celebration of dedication and achievement. You could feel the excitement and emotions in the air, alongside the bittersweet farewells, as all these budding talents prepare to e...

Today, I want to dive into something that's been close to my heart—community and connection. We live in a time where social media connects us globally, yet many of us feel more alone than ever. I know you get what I mean. But here’s the kicker, genuine face-to-face interactions have never been more crucial, don't you agree? Recently, I got to spend a fabulous weekend with my running club in Ballat...

Have you ever wondered why making changes in life can be so darn tough?  Talking with friends over the last week got me thinking about the hurdles we face when trying to change our lives for the better. Reality check: change only happens when we take action, but sometimes, even the thought of making a change feels daunting, right? In this episode, we examine the reality of change, exploring why we...

There can be no success without some failure, so why are we so resistant to or even shamed by failure. On this podcast, we are exploring our failiure feelings.  For example, when exactly does something become a failure, and when is it time to give up? It's such a tricky question, isn't it? Society often paints failure as a badge of shame, something to be hidden away. But honestly, isn't life witho...

No, it was not mine, but this did happen to another Paul. In a whirlwind twist of fate back in 2006, this renowned songwriter stumbled upon an unexpected moment of perplexity: his own obituary echoing through the airwaves. It turns out, a man named Paul Van Valkenburg had spun a crafty tale decades prior, claiming the catchy tune "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" as his youthful t...

Have you ever paused to think about the areas of your life that might be slipping through the cracks? It's a common journey we all go through as we navigate this world, reprioritising and adjusting as things evolve.   In the sphere of life coaching, it's often emphasised that we need to pay attention to various parts of our lives to truly thrive. From finances and relationships to health, joy, and...

Have you ever stopped to really celebrate your achievements and reflect on what recognition truly means? In this podcast, we're diving into the crucial role of acknowledgement and celebration in our lives. You know, all too often, we hit a goal or reach a milestone but then just move on without soaking in the joy of what we've accomplished. Last weekend, I got to experience a truly inspiring event...

Is there a place for ancient traditions like pilgrimage in our fast-paced modern world? This episode dives right into that fascinating question! We'll explore how these sacred journeys can still profoundly impact us today despite their roots in a long-gone era. This weekend, I had the chance to witness something truly special as my wife and her interfaith minister friends embarked on the final str...

Have you ever paused to think about what you truly believe in? Is it the wonders of science, the beauty of nature, or perhaps a higher power guiding you along life's path? Whatever it is, belief and faith are intricately woven into the fabric of our lives. They are the building blocks of society.  Join us on this journey as we delve deep into the realms of belief and faith, those invisible forces...

Habits or Ritual? Have you ever wondered how much of your life is built on habits versus rituals, or vice versa? Well, you're in the right place! In this episode, I'm diving deep into the fascinating world of rituals and habits and how they play a role in our everyday lives. Do you remember Easter egg hunts as a kid? Even if Easter isn't your holiday, indulging in chocolate eggs is a shared ritual...

How does love fit into your life? Are you aware of your love or being loved? Love is fundamental to human existence; expressing love and feeling loved are key to a healthy and productive life. In reality, love is essential but is often forgotten. This episode explores how one small word—love—encompasses a vast spectrum of human experiences. While English limits us to a single term, ancient Greeks...

Where does trust sit in your life? Who do you trust, friends, family or your spouse? Do you trust yourself?   Do you know that trust is the foundation of everything? It's the secret sauce to success, the kind of thing that holds your world together even when things get tough. Have you ever stopped to think about where trust sits in your life? Remember that gutting feeling when your trust was broke...

Today, we're diving into something I've been observing with growing concern—what I can only describe as a compassion crisis in our world. Have you noticed it, too? Is that increasing harshness in our media, our politics, and our everyday interactions? That subtle shift where showing toughness is valued over showing kindness? Where vulnerability is seen not as courage but as a weakness to be exploi...

Hey there, it's your midlife coach, Paul Harvey. In today's shortcast, we're taking a closer look at how the stories we tell ourselves shape our lives.  How do you stay in touch with the world events? In these turbulent times, the news and social channels are often more doom and gloom than sunshine and rainbows. And while staying informed is crucial, drowning in negativity doesn't do us any favour...

We all have this natural curiosity to search beyond ourselves, hoping to find some secret sauce or an external solution to the things we yearn for in life. But what if I told you everything you need is already within your reach? That's what we're diving into today on this bite-sized shortcast episode of 'Life, Passion, and Business.'  A recent chat with friends about a pricey retreat sparked somet...

There is something that we all face at one time or another – anxiety, loss of equilibrium, how do we find the resilience to ride through life's rollercoasters?  It has been a tough week. How are you holding up in these wildly unpredictable times? Well, you're not alone, and that's exactly what we’re chatting about right here. We've been living in what's often called "unprecedented times", and it’s...

My guest on the show is an international career coach, but her journey was from a place of no option. Her father's words were the inspiration, “you can be the victim or be victorious.”  She did and launched herself into a job search that led to a $50k salary increase. The show you are about to hear was recorded today; I thought the content is so reliant as we touched on the subjects from the weeke...

Have you ever felt weighed down by the blame game, whether from the news headlines or those everyday personal interactions? In this episode of Life, Passion, and Business, I'm diving into this very topic, challenging us to rethink how we perceive blame, responsibility, and, ultimately, our own potential for growth. You know how the world feels pretty chaotic these days, with politics seeming like...