In this episode, I sit down with Simon Jeffries, a former Royal Marine and Special Forces operator turned performance coach for CEOs and founders.

We talk about stress, discipline, and why your thoughts and emotions are something you can train, just like your body. Simon explains how building a strong routine and personal “operating system” is what really creates control and consistency in life.

This is a powerful episode for anyone who wants to perform better under pressure and take real ownership of how they show up every day.

02:15 Royal Marines to Special Forces Journey

05:40 Why Stress Is About Your Response, Not Events

09:30 Thoughts and Emotions Are Just Data

13:10 Training Your Mind Like the Gym

17:45 Performance Under Pressure Explained

21:30 Military Lessons for Everyday Life

25:10 Building a Personal Operating System

28:55 Discipline vs Motivation

32:20 Handling Negative Self Talk

36:05 Being Hard vs Being Kind to Yourself

39:40 Celebrating Wins and Building Confidence

43:15 Why Successful People Still Feel Stressed

46:50 Alignment, Purpose, and Fulfilment

50:40 Leaving the Military and Finding Direction

54:10 Control, Freedom, and Starting Your Own Path

57:30 Morning Routines of High Performers

01:01:10 Phone Addiction, Focus, and Dopamine

01:04:30 Setting Boundaries and Deep Work

01:08:20 Mindset as a System, Not a Hack

01:12:00 Training Consistency and Long-Term Change

01:15:20 What Real High Performance Looks Like

01:18:30 Final Lessons on Control and Discipline

__________

🔗 Connect with me

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@JayLawrenceBusiness

Spotfy:

https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3Qi

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1

📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your Ambition

Weekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:

👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/

Website:

https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Schlipf, someone who’s lived several entrepreneurial lives; building tech startups, investing as a global VC partner, and eventually stepping in as CEO of the well-known beauty brand Cowshed.

Jordan talks honestly about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship: the long hours, the sacrifices, and the moments where you’re forced to question what you actually want from your career.

We get into how he rebuilt his routines, how he learned to lead bigger teams, and the reality of making tough decisions during a company restructure.

This episode is full of practical lessons; whether you’re running a startup, moving into leadership, or trying to figure out your next step. Jordan is refreshingly real about what it takes to grow, evolve, and keep your ambition intact.

00:00 Introduction

01:57 Soul Searching and Career Transition

14:45 The Realities of Entrepreneurship

20:57 The Importance of Health and Routine

26:18 Challenges of Company Restructuring

34:02 The CEO's Evolving Role

34:34 Defining a Good CEO

36:39 The Importance of Recruitment and Culture

38:11 Knowing When to Step Down

41:27 Avoiding Business Pitfalls

45:13 Diverse Business Ventures

49:57 Investment Strategies and Wealth Management

55:22 Reflections on the Finance Industry

01:02:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🔗 Connect with me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcast

Spotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3Qi

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1

📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your Ambition

Weekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:

👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/

Website:

https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So many ambitious people today feel like they’re doing everything right, getting the degree, working hard, climbing the ladder... and yet still struggling to make real financial progress.

It’s not your imagination.

The old playbook that worked for previous generations doesn’t work anymore.

In this solo episode, I break down the truth behind why so many Millennials and Gen Z feel stuck, frustrated, or left behind… and more importantly, what actually works today.

Drawing on over a decade of experience advising clients as an Investment Manager, I explain:

• Why housing, wages, degrees and social mobility have completely shifted

• How wealth moved from income → ownership (and why that matters for you)

• Why your parents’ roadmap no longer applies in today’s economy

• The modern playbook for building wealth sustainably and realistically

• How to increase your earning power, not just your savings

• Why a second income stream is becoming essential, not optional

• How your network can accelerate your career more than any qualification

• Why redefining your timeline can unlock huge opportunities

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357/

Subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@fuelyourambition

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.