Leadership Coaching That Starts With You
Win at work without losing your health, family, or yourself.
I work with high‑performing leaders who look successful on paper, but privately feel the cost of misalignment.
Through weekly 1:1 coaching and a daily leadership operating system, I help leaders align what matters most — personally and professionally — and execute consistently under pressure.
The Problem
Most leaders don’t fail because of a lack of capability.
They fail quietly through drift.
• Health erodes slowly
• Family and friendships get leftovers
• Decision fatigue builds
• Execution becomes reactive
• The leader feels constantly “on”, but rarely present
Strategy exists. Goals exists. Intent exists.
But when personal and professional priorities are misaligned, leaders default to reaction.
That’s not a motivation problem. It’s a clarity and execution problem.
My Philosophy
I don’t coach tactics in isolation. I don’t coach mindset without structure. I don’t coach busy work.
I coach the leader first.
Because when a leader is clear:
• Decisions are easier
• Energy is protected
• Habits compound
• Teams execute better
• Life outside work stops breaking down
Clarity isn’t a feeling. It’s a daily standard.
How I Work With Leaders
My work is built around a single, integrated system: Cut Through Clarity.
It focuses on five core areas:
- Core Drivers
Clarifying what truly matters personally and professionally so decisions are made with intent, not reaction. - Goals That Matter Now
Reducing noise and translating priorities into a small number of outcomes that actually move the needle. - Energy Audit
Identifying energy drivers and drainers to reduce friction, overload, and burnout. - Habit Alignment
Building repeatable behaviours that support execution under pressure. - Ideal Week Design
Designing a realistic week that protects focus, health, and presence — not a fantasy calendar.
This is not insight‑based coaching. It is behaviour change, reinforced weekly and daily.
Ways to Work With Me
1:1 Coaching
For leaders who want the highest level of support and accountability.
• Weekly private coaching sessions
• Full installation of the Cut Through Clarity System
• Personal + professional alignment
• Ongoing accountability and execution review
• Access to CTC Active (daily system)
This is best suited to leaders who:
• Want to achieve more without sacrificing their life
• Are ready to be coached with structure and accountability
• Value depth, clarity, and consistency
Cut Through Clarity Active
Not every leader needs private coaching right now.
Cut Through Clarity Active gives leaders access to the same framework, tools, and daily execution discipline I use with my 1:1 clients in a self‑guided format, at a fraction of the cost.
CTC Active includes:
• Pre‑loaded onboarding experience
• Daily focus and reflection prompts
• Goal and habit tracking
• Energy audits
• Weekly reviews
• Community access
This is the daily system I use with my private clients to reinforce clarity and execution between sessions.
My CommitmentMy goal is to help 1,000+ leaders operate with clarity by the end of 2026 because better leaders build better businesses, teams, and families.If this resonates, the next step is simple.
Client Reviews
Tired of burning the candle at both ends?
Let's talk about a better way. Fill out the form below and I'll reach out to schedule a time to discuss how we can remove the noise and implement clarity in your life and business.
Let's Connect
Dan's Blog
How High-Performing Leaders Can Recharge Without Burning Out
Why Your Holidays Are Leaving You Drained — And How I Returned From Mine Stronger Than When I Left Most high-performing leaders take holidays with the intention of recharging. But if you’re anything like I used to be, you probably know this pattern all too well: You get away, you “switch off,” you relax…But you return home feeling sluggish, out of sync, and 10 steps behind on your goals. Sound familiar? I’ve just returned from a two-week trip to Bali with my wife and son — and for the first time in my career, I came home in better shape than when I left. This hasn’t been the case previously. For years, my version of a “holiday” was sitting by the pool with a few beers, eating average food, watching my son swim, and flicking through a book I’d forget about weeks later. I thought that was relaxing. I assumed I was recharging. The truth? I wasn’t recovering. I was retreating. Relaxing vs Recharging — There’s a Difference When I returned from family holidays in the past, I’d feel: Drained, not restored Sloppy and off-rhythm Mentally flat, lacking clarity Frustrated that I’d set myself back And I’d tell myself the story most leaders do: “It’s okay, I just need to get back into routine.” But the truth was, I didn’t have clarity on what actually fuels me. I was confusing comfort with recovery. The Turning Point After a trip in May 2025, I said to my wife: “I’m never going on another holiday unless I can maintain a few simple non-negotiables.” Those non-negotiables were clear: Access to a gym every day Strong Wi-Fi so I can protect time for deep work if required Access to decent, quality food She supported it — and helped plan our next holiday around those three things. That trip? The one we’ve just returned from? It was the best family holiday we’ve ever had. Not because we did more.Not because we spent more.But because I stayed aligned with the things that give me energy. My Holiday Routine (That Felt Nothing Like Discipline) Wake up early, while the family was still sleeping Jump on a Grab Bike to a local gym (no fancy setup — just the essentials) Train Coffee + protein smoothie Head back to the resort Meditate Spend the day fully present with my wife and son — exploring, swimming, laughing I also made the decision to stop drinking alcohol. That alone helped me: Eat better Sleep deeper Stay clear-minded Avoid the bloated, sluggish feeling I used to normalise It sounds obvious, but here’s the hard truth for many leaders: In the environments designed to help us unwind, we stop doing the exact things that make us feel our best. Leaders Often Lose Their Edge When They Stop Prioritising Their Energy I work with leaders who struggle to maintain their standards when travelling for business. Late dinners with clients. Skipped workouts. Bad sleep. Airports. Hotel food. It all compounds. But the problem isn’t any of those things. It’s the lack of preparation. If you’re losing 10 steps every time you step outside your normal environment, it’s not a travel problem. It’s a clarity and systems problem. The Challenge Before your next trip — whether it’s for work or with your family — ask yourself: “What are the non-negotiables I need in place to protect my energy and stay aligned?” It might be: A hotel with a gym Scheduled movement Two hours blocked for deep work No alcohol A morning routine you actually honour Those 1% actions are the difference between returning refreshed or returning resentful. Because as a leader, your energy sets the tone — at work and at home. The Takeaway High-performing leaders don’t burn out because they do too much.They burn out because they do too much misaligned. Your energy isn’t something you “get back on track after holidays” — it’s something you protect before, during and after them. So I’ll leave you with this: Do your next holiday on your terms — not your old habits. Your family will get the best of you.Your business will benefit from it.And you won’t need “three days to reset” when you get home. Free Tool for Leaders I’ve built a simple Energy Audit Tool to help leaders identify what gives them energy, what drains it, and how to align their time around the things that matter most. 👉 If you’d like it, just message me “ENERGY”, and I’ll send it to you. Win at work without losing at home. Dan RichardsLeadership Coach | Creator of Cut Through Clarity
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How to Lead a Business Without Losing Yourself
Are You Climbing the Wrong Mountain? We've all heard the saying: be careful of which mountain you decide to climb, because when you get to the top, it might not be what you thought it was. As leaders, we're often encouraged to keep climbing—chasing the next promotion, more money, or more status. But while this path can lead to success, it can also lead you to a destination that doesn't align with what truly matters to you. I’ve lived this myself, and I’ve seen countless friends and colleagues experience the same thing. When I was building my business, D-STILL, I threw everything at it for a decade. In my head, I was building something for the future, believing that short-term pain would lead to long-term gain. I was wrong. While I had a lot of fun, I paid a high price. My health and fitness suffered, my relationships weren't as strong, and I missed out on valuable time with my family. My identity was wrapped up in my business, and when I had no choice but to close the company, it was devastating. This lesson taught me everything. It taught me that clarity on what's truly important to you—as a person—must come first. How to Lead a Business Without Losing Yourself You don't have to choose between professional success and personal fulfilment. It’s a matter of intentionally designing a life that supports both. Get Crystal Clear on Your Priorities. Stop and ask yourself: What truly gives you energy? What drains it? What brings you joy outside of work? Before you can lead a team, you must first lead yourself. Design Your Ideal Week. This is a game-changer. Don't let your calendar control you; you control it. I start by pre-scheduling my most important personal priorities first: my health, my time with family and friends, and my own mental and physical well-being. Only then do I build in my work commitments. Set Boundaries. Once your calendar is set, protect it fiercely. This is the hardest part, but it’s essential for showing up as the best version of yourself. I clearly label my work as "energy driving" or "energy draining" so I can be intentional about where I focus my time and energy. Time is the most valuable asset you have, and you must treat it that way. The amazing thing is, when you have clarity on what's important to you personally, you become a more effective, impactful, and authentic leader professionally. The key is to structure your time around what matters to you. If you’re ready to get clear on your own path and start building a life you’re truly proud of, let’s talk. Book Your FREE 30-Minute Discovery Call
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Are You Trying to Pour From an Empty Cup?
As a high-performing leader, you're under immense pressure to deliver. You work your tail off to drive key metrics, keep your team engaged, and ensure the business is successful. But in the relentless pursuit of productivity, you often make a quiet, painful sacrifice: you neglect yourself. You stop doing the things that give you energy. You let your health—both mental and physical—suffer. You feel disconnected from your family and friends. Like the saying goes, you can't pour from an empty cup, but it's amazing how many great leaders are trying to do exactly that. The worst part is that you’re hurting yourself, your family, and even your team because you’ve lost clarity on what’s truly important. So, how do you get the balance right without sacrificing your ambition? It doesn't have to break the bank or put a heap of financial pressure on you. The solution starts with a simple, powerful process: 1. The Time Audit: We begin by looking at your most valuable asset—your time. We’ll audit where you're currently spending it and why. This reveals what’s giving you energy versus what's draining it. We also review how much time you are allocating to your three F's: Family, Friends, and Fun. These are often the first things to drop off our calendars, but they are critical to your well-being. 2. The Ideal Week: From there, we build your Ideal Week. This is a powerful exercise that allows you to structure your calendar around all the things that are important to you, both personally and professionally. This isn’t a rigid schedule; it’s a living blueprint for how you can show up as the best version of yourself, every week. 3. Set Boundaries and Execute: Once the plan is in place, we set clear boundaries to protect your time and ensure you can execute your Ideal Week without compromise. This simple process can have an immediate and impactful outcome on your leadership and your life. It’s the first step I take with all my clients because we have to get super clear on what’s important to you and why you do what you do. Remember, life is short, and we all have our own goals and aspirations. The key is to structure your time around what matters to you. Time is your most valuable asset, and you need to protect it at all costs. If you need help gaining clarity in your personal and professional life, I'd love to see if I can help. Click the link below to get started. Book Your FREE 30 Minute Discovery Call
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Is Your Small Business Flying Blind? The Surprising Truth About Your P&L
I’m often surprised by how many small business owners don't regularly review their finances. Some wait until the end of the quarter, only to get a summarised email from their accountant with a few thoughts. That’s like trying to win a basketball game without ever looking at the scoreboard—it just doesn't make sense. Your business's financial health isn’t a mystery to be solved every three months. It’s a live, dynamic story that you should be reading every single week. Knowing your numbers isn't just for your accountant; it’s the starting point for making smarter, more confident decisions. If you want to move from guesswork to strategic action, you need to create routines that become powerful habits. What gets measured, gets results. Start with the Scoreboard The first step is to treat your Profit & Loss (P&L) statement like your business’s scoreboard. Review it weekly. Don’t wait for your accountant to send a summary. Set a non-negotiable routine to review your P&L at least once a week. This allows you to spot trends, identify issues, and celebrate wins in real time. Find What's Working (and What's Not). As you review your P&L, ask yourself a few key questions: Where are my biggest wins coming from? What expenses are higher than expected? Are my key metrics moving in the right direction? Measure What Matters Once you have a handle on the big picture, you can set up clear lead measures to focus your team on what really matters. Lead measures are the daily or weekly actions that drive your long-term results. For example, if your P&L shows that sales are down, a lead measure could be "make 20 client outreach calls per week." If profitability is slipping, a lead measure could be "reduce average material waste by 5%." These are tangible actions your team can control, which directly impact your P&L. Create Visibility Just like in a basketball game, everyone on the team should be able to see the score. Create clear, visible scoreboards that track your key lead measures. This could be a physical whiteboard in the office or a digital dashboard. When your team can see whether they are winning, it fosters a culture of ownership and accountability. They’ll be motivated to hit the targets, and everyone will feel like a key player in the game. The Game of Business You wouldn’t play a game of basketball or football without a scoreboard, a playbook, and a way to know if you're winning or losing. So why would you run your business—the game of your life—without one? Take control of your numbers. Set up the routines. Build the habits. And start playing the game of business with the clarity you need to win. Book Your Free Discovery Call HERE
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My Bookshelf
On the Bookshelf: Good to Great by Jim Collins
Jim Collins's Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't is one of those rare business books that shifts your perspective on what truly drives long-term, sustained high performance. Based on rigorous research, this book offers a timeless framework for organisational excellence. The central premise is simple but profound: Good is the enemy of great. Many companies fail to make the leap to greatness not because they are failing, but because they are content with being merely good. Collins and his team reverse-engineered the transformation process, revealing a powerful sequence of concepts rooted in disciplined people, thought, and action. First Who... Then What: The Ultimate People Audit The concept of "First Who... Then What"—getting the right people on the bus before figuring out where to drive it—is, in my experience, the most impactful and often the hardest step in the book. When I started leading teams at a large corporation like Coca-Cola, this principle resonated deeply, and it aligns perfectly with my work as a high-performance coach. You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and that goes for both business and personal life. The difficulty lies in the rigor. It requires auditing who you have around you and honestly challenging whether they are the absolute right fit and whether they truly deserve a seat on your bus. While this can involve tough conversations, focusing on getting the right people on board is the single greatest predictor of execution success. If you get the "who" right, the problems of motivation and management largely disappear. Confronting the Brutal Facts: No Head in the Sand It continually blows my mind how many business leaders operate with their head in the sand, refusing to confront the brutal facts and hoping problems will just go away. As I learned when building my own brand, D-STILL, everything within your business provides feedback—whether positive or negative. These are data points and facts that you must take action on. Jim Collins's Stockdale Paradox is a survival mindset: maintain unwavering faith that you will prevail, but have the discipline to face your current reality head-on. Addressing the brutal facts can be challenging, but trust me: life doesn't get easier by avoiding them. Jim does a great job explaining the incredible upside—clarity, faster decision-making, and self-evident solutions—if you take a proactive, truth-seeking approach. The Hedgehog Concept: Cut-Through Clarity The Hedgehog Concept was a massive help in my own journey. I now refer to this as achieving cut-through clarity on what's important. As leaders, we are bombarded with conflicting priorities, and we desperately need to provide focus on what’s genuinely going to move the needle. The Hedgehog Concept forces this focus at the intersection of three circles: What you can be the absolute best in the world at. (Be honest about your capability, not just your desire.) What drives your economic engine. What you are deeply passionate about. Getting crystal clear on these three areas is the strategic bedrock for disciplined action. The Flywheel Effect: The Power of 1% Stacking The Flywheel is a concept lots of businesses refer to, but few truly execute. I like to think of this as 1% stacked day after day. There is no single "big bang" moment; greatness is the result of persistent, consistent application of effort. Focusing on what actually matters (guided by the Hedgehog Concept) creates this powerful Flywheel Effect. The key to building momentum is staying consistent, stacking habits, and tracking key metrics (much like the lead measures we discussed in 4DX). Discipline and consistency are the fuel for the flywheel. Level 5 Leadership: The Ultimate Goal Ultimately, the goal of this entire framework is to breed Level 5 Leadership. I've had the pleasure of working for a number of Level 5 leaders and alongside amazing Level 5 colleagues who have inspired me. Their unique blend of personal humility and ferocious professional will is the foundation upon which enduring organisational success is built. Overall, Good to Great was a game-changer for me and the way I lead people and companies. The value that Jim Collins has provided in this book is amazing, and I’d like to thank him for impacting my life and so many other leaders around the world. It’s a mandatory read for anyone committed to high-performance leadership. Interested in my coaching? Book your FREE 30 minute discovery call.
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The Book That Changed My Life (And My Mates' Lives): Atomic Habits
Some books offer a good read. A rare few offer a blueprint for a better life. James Clear's "Atomic Habits" is one of those rare books. I've read a lot of business books, but this one resonated so deeply with me that I didn't just highlight a few passages—I bought copies for my five closest mates so they could experience its power firsthand. As a leader, you know that big results don't come from massive leaps, but from small, consistent actions. This book is a masterclass in that principle. It's a reminder that the key to unlocking your full potential—in your business, your health, and your personal life—is to focus on the tiny, everyday habits that compound into extraordinary outcomes. Why Your Habits Matter More Than You Think Most of us feel like we're burning the candle at both ends, working harder but not seeing the progress we want. We blame our lack of willpower, but James Clear reveals the truth: your system is the problem, not your discipline. Your daily habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. Just as your business metrics grow with small, consistent actions, your personal and professional growth is a direct result of the small habits you repeat every day. My Favourite Takeaway: The Power of Habit Stacking If you're looking for one actionable idea to implement today, it's Habit Stacking. This simple yet powerful concept is a game-changer for a busy leader. Instead of trying to force a new habit into your day, you connect it to a habit you already have. The formula is: "After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT]." For example, a busy founder could use this to: Improve clarity: "After I turn on my computer in the morning, I will write down the three most important tasks for the day." Build a fitness routine: "After I finish my last meeting of the day, I will immediately change into my gym clothes." Improve mental health: "After I brush my teeth at night, I will spend two minutes writing in a gratitude journal." This simple practice removes the need for willpower and makes it almost effortless to build new, positive routines that serve you. A massive shout out to James Clear for writing one of the most insightful and actionable books on habits I've ever read. If you’re a leader looking for a path to better performance and a more fulfilling life, stop working harder and start building a better system. This book is your blueprint.
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My Take on The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX): A Small Business Owner's Guide to Scaling
I've just finished reading The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling, and I believe this book is a game-changer for small business owners. Scaling a business isn't just about growth; it's about building a system that can handle growth. The 4DX framework provides a practical, powerful blueprint for any small business owner ready to transition from a reactive "hustle culture" to a proactive, goal-driven organisation. Discipline 1: Focus on Your Wildly Important Goal (WIG) As a small business owner, you're constantly pulled in a thousand directions. The authors call this the "whirlwind," and it's the biggest threat to your growth. The first discipline of 4DX forces you to identify your one or two Wildly Important Goals (WIGs). This is not about having a long list of priorities; it's about having a singular, critical focus for a specific period. For a small business, this might be a goal like "increase our average customer order by 25% by Q4." By focusing on a WIG, you ensure that everyone's effort is aligned on what truly matters for scaling. Discipline 2: Act on the Lead Measures This is where 4DX provides an incredibly valuable tool for a small business. We often get caught up in lag measures—the final results like sales revenue or profit—which are historical and can’t be influenced in the moment. The key is to identify and act on lead measures. These are the day-to-day, controllable activities that will lead to your WIG. For a goal of "increase average order value by 25%," a lead measure might be "offer a product bundle to 10 customers per day." This shifts the focus from hoping for a result to consistently performing the specific actions that create the result. This simple shift empowers your small team and makes success a predictable outcome, not just a hope. Discipline 3: Keep a Compelling Scoreboard A small team needs to know if they're winning. The third discipline is all about creating a compelling scoreboard. It needs to be simple, visible, and updated frequently so everyone knows where things stand. This isn’t a complex data dashboard for the CEO; it’s a simple visual for the team. A scoreboard turns the WIG into a game the team wants to win. It fosters transparency, motivates everyone, and creates a sense of shared ownership. For a small business, this is crucial for building a cohesive and motivated team culture. Discipline 4: Create a Cadence of Accountability The final discipline ties it all together with a Cadence of Accountability. This is a short, weekly WIG meeting—15-20 minutes, no longer—where the team reviews the scoreboard and commits to specific lead measures for the week. This isn't a long-winded update; it's a quick, forward-looking session where commitments are made and kept. This weekly rhythm ensures the WIG stays a top priority and that your team is consistently taking steps towards it, no matter how busy the whirlwind gets. Final Thoughts on Scaling The 4 Disciplines of Execution provides a brilliant and practical framework for small business owners who are serious about scaling. It helps you stop working in the chaos and start working on the business with a clear, repeatable system. This isn't just a book about goal setting; it's a book about building a high-performance engine for your business. For any small business leader looking to bridge the gap between their vision and daily reality, this book is an essential read.
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The Performance Culture by Khalil Smith
I really enjoyed reading Khalil Smith’s The Performance Culture and his elegant Awareness, Behaviours, Community, and Systems (ABCS) model. As a high-performance coach, I'm always looking for frameworks that simplify complex organisational dynamics, and Smith delivers. Awareness: The Foundation of Impact I'm completely aligned with Smith on the critical importance of gaining full awareness of the current state before any meaningful impact can be made within a business. This isn't just about surface-level understanding; it's about digging deep into potential unconscious behaviours and belief systems that often dictate organisational reality. As a leader, this level of self-awareness is paramount. Understanding your blind spots enables you to see the landscape clearer, make better decisions, and ultimately, lead your business and people more effectively. It’s about building a solid, honest foundation from which all other improvements can grow. Behaviours: Simplifying the Ideal Khalil’s use of the Venn diagram model to identify "ideal behaviours" is particularly insightful. By focusing on three main cycles – Be Specific, Make It Shareable, and Use Plain Language – the overlapping section truly reveals those core, impactful behaviours. I really appreciate Smith's pragmatic approach. So often, businesses overcomplicate their core values, aiming for something "sexy" or aspirational to outsiders. The reality? These often fail to resonate internally and have little real impact. Smith's method ensures that behaviours are simple, clear, and actionable, making them much more likely to be adopted and lived by the team within the organisation. This focus on simplicity is a game-changer for genuine internal alignment. Community: The Power of Buy-In The next crucial piece in Smith's model is Community, and more specifically, how to secure buy-in and support from all levels of leadership and their teams. Khalil emphasises identifying your key stakeholders internally, and I couldn’t agree more. In my experience, the success of any culture change initiative hinges on the engagement and buy-in you secure from influential leaders. It's vital to remember that the most influential leaders aren’t always those at the top of the organisational chart. Often, informal leaders, team veterans, or highly respected individual contributors can wield significant influence. Identifying and engaging these individuals early is crucial for fostering genuine community and ensuring widespread adoption. Systems: Embedding High Performance Once you’ve cultivated a thriving community with clear awareness and demonstrated the desired behaviours, Smith wisely highlights the importance of systemising these behaviours. He provides excellent examples in his book, illustrating what it looks like when high-performance behaviours are seamlessly integrated into the daily operations and processes of a business. This systemic embedding ensures that the desired culture isn't just a fleeting initiative but becomes ingrained in the organisational DNA. It's about making the desired way of working the easiest and most natural way to work, reinforcing positive habits through infrastructure and process. Final Thoughts and Your Unique Business Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Performance Culture. Khalil Smith has done a fantastic job simplifying a very complex and often challenging aspect of business transformation. My biggest takeaway, and something I consistently emphasise with my clients, is the importance of the awareness stage. Every business is unique, with its own history, dynamics, and unwritten rules. Taking the time to genuinely understand your business – its strengths, its challenges, and its people – in this initial phase is non-negotiable. You will be amazed by what you can uncover and how foundational that understanding is for all subsequent steps. Thank you, Khalil, for sharing such a practical and impactful book with the world. I highly recommend it to any leader or organisation looking to genuinely elevate their performance culture.
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