Describe what you ate for breakfast this morning

I tend to opt for a very light breakfast most mornings. Today was a 5am rise, 3km swim set and a small cappuccino.

What’s the one film you go to time and time again?

Good Will Hunting – I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it.

What book is sitting on your bedside table right now?

At the moment I have two on rotation:

1. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
2. A History of the World by Andrew Marr

Who do you admire the most and why?

The people I most admire are those who demonstrate resilience and courage through tragedy, hardship and adversity. Having the inner strength to bounce back in spite of hardship and pursue life with a positive drive to ‘keep having a crack’ is something I really admire in others, and is a quality I work to mirror in my own life.

Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’ talks about how to be a good human being. This extract from the poem really resonates with me:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

What’s been your biggest success in life?

Wow… There is no ‘one thing’, but what stands on top of the mountain is my strong marriage of 20 years, coupled with the raising of my three children who I am now watching quickly transition into adulthood.

How do you rate your work/life balancing skills?

My rating always fluctuates, but generally speaking, I would rate it as a 6.5-7.5/10. There will only ever be 24 hours in a single day whoever you are. The reality is that it’s up to you as an individual to be constantly aware of the value of your time and where it needs to be prioritised. Though work should always sit towards the top of your priority list, your successes will be greater if you allow time for both your family and yourself.

You can choose any three people over for dinner – who are they, and what do you cook?

My Father, Nelson Mandela, and Winston Churchill. I would prepare my speciality seafood, chorizo, chicken and pork paella!

What did you learn in 2020?

Time is precious and the sun always rises the next day. I feel we all underestimated the longevity of the pandemic, but given the reality, I’ve learnt that we need to live pragmatically in the present and deal with each day as it comes.

What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months?

It’s time for us to focus on the light at the end of this pandemic tunnel and reinvigorate the investment of energy in our new goals – while being Covid safe of course!

What’s the last record you listened to in full?

When it comes to records, I’m going back to the 80s with Kenny Rogers’ Greatest Hits (it was my mum playing it!)

What’s your life motto? 

“Nothing great is easy”. I strongly believe that our biggest growth comes from our biggest challenges, knockdowns and setbacks. Staying resilient and working towards your goals with a positive attitude, consistency, and discipline will deliver success over the truly worthy achievements.

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