Andrew Brock

Son Behind The Clouds | Career Coaching

🌟 Andrew Brock
🚀 Career & Executive Coach 🌟

🔸 About Me:
With a seasoned background in investment banking and hedge funds and a strong understanding of the financial services sector, I comprehend the intricacies and challenges of your professional journey. Transitioning from the fast-paced world of investments, I've dedicated my career to guiding individuals like you towards well-deserved promotions and lasting success.

🔸 How I Can Help:
I aim to equip you with the tools and strategies needed to excel in your career. From honing your leadership skills to navigating complex promotion pathways, my coaching approach is personalised to unlock your full potential and propel you towards your goals.

🔸 Let's Connect:
Ready to take the next step in your career? Let's connect and explore how we can work together to shape your professional future. Reach out for tailored guidance and support designed to accelerate your journey to success.

🔸 Specialities:

• Career Advancement
• Self Awareness/Discovery 
• Promotion Strategies
• Performance Enhancement
• Financial Industry Insights

I look forward to connecting with you and assisting you in achieving your career aspirations. 🌟

Coach/Owner

Värde Partners

1 Year Contract

Liaise with prime brokers, custodian, and executing brokers to ensure proper settlement of trades across multiple asset classes and markets
 Daily capture and maintenance of trading activity.
Assist with Booking and Settling FX, REPO
 Identifying high touch events and escalate appropriately
Review of daily cash and position reconciliations; research discrepancies and determine course of action for resolution
Set up of securities and maintain data in a security master

Liquid Operations Analyst

Citi

• Main point of contact for client/administrator operational queries
• Act as back up for team manager when manager out of office or assist on any managerial responsibilities
delegated
• Trade handling across equity and fixed income PB, including trade capture, trade kick-outs, broker mapping
and connectivity issue resolution with clients/administrators
• Management of client settlement activity, liaising with settlements and clients to resolve any issues
• Management of client cash activity, authorisations, reporting and query resolution
• Review client cash balances / portfolios for operational issues
• Liaise with Citi execution desk on booking issues
• Documentation and publication of MIS where required
• Completion of all daily processes and controls including ad-hoc tasks that may be assigned.

Prime Brokerage Client Services

UBS O'Connor

▪ Performing daily trade, position and cash reconciliations, monitoring and ensuring that all reconciliations breaks are explained and cleared promptly.
▪ Monitor and resolve Prime Broker failing trades
▪ Escalating to supervisor/manager any aging breaks, fails or operational risks that could materially affect the business.
▪ Supporting London & Asia portfolio managers during the London time zone
▪ Liaising with the trading desk and being a point of contact for calls to and from our Prime Brokers and Fund Administrators.
▪ Monitor & ensure all day’s transactions have properly flowed through all systems and populated the Risk Management System (Front Arena) and our “Books and Records System” (Advent Geneva)
▪ Affirm trades and resolve trade differences between O'Connor and our executing brokers. Using CTM Omgeo
▪ End of day trade checking and Processing of option exercise and assignments
▪ Covering all aspects of OTC trade life cycle processing, this includes but is not limited to:
o Confirmation processing and signoff
o Cash flow processing 
o Collateral Management 
o OTC Lifecycle events

Trade Support Specialist

Barclays Investment Bank

● Duties: releasing and closely monitoring DVP and FOP same day settlements primarily in the UK CREST Market; pre-matching trades in order to minimise risk by ensuring timely and accurate settlement;
● Producing European Fails report and informing front office of fail reasons for each trade;
● liaising with counterparties and agents to resolve issues on unmatched trades while working closely with stock loan traders and collateral management to provide short position coverage and rebook/correct trading errors.
● Liaising daily with corporate actions to monitor upcoming record date stocks to minimise the risk of unnecessary dividend claims, escalating any potential risk issues to management.
● Ensured client static and contact lists were updated and accurate.
● Contributed innovative ideas towards process improvements, cost controls and enhancing client services and productivity levels.
● Routine updates of custody control and settlements procedures, work flows and ongoing projects. Thereafter placed within UK space to assist with Stock Lending/DBVs and Prime Brokerage, and thus participated in the largest UK scrip issue in BarCap history, achieving 100% settlement rate across the accounts.
● In my manager’s absence I was the focal point of the team, and responsible for the smooth & efficient running of day to day tasks.
● Moved to Euroclear and been involved in training CREST and Euroclear to Indian trainees with the impending offshoring of Operations Roles to India.
● Jointly managed the transition of Self Clear markets (Euroclear and CREST) to Chennai, India. Returned from Chennai, India after ensuring the training needs were met and all processes were seamlessly transitioned across to India.

Operations Specialist

Direct Sharedeal Ltd

● Best execution on both buy and sell orders across all European markets (mainly UK and Ireland) on
both normal equity and CFD trades. Obtained CISI Certificate of Securities in March 2010 and as a
result became an Associate Member of the Securities Institute. This would allow me to be FSA
registered (CF30 Customer).
● However due to change of compliance officer and then the closure of the Glasgow office for Equity
Trading, this was never completed.
● Basic Sales trading for some institutional clients. Provide clients with information relating to the
market, securities ,and any other dealing related enquiries.
● Building strong relationships with market makers, clients, other regional offices namely London and
CFD provider to ensure excellent service on all levels.
● Provide information for the Sales team on price history, industry sectors and anything else they require
for marketing presentations to existing and new clients.
● Attendance at such presentations to answer client’s questions relating to trading and systems used.

Equity Dealer

Are you an ambitious investment banker or financial services professional seeking to elevate your career to new heights? Look no further.

Let's have a chat

🔸 About Me:
With a seasoned background in investment banking and hedge funds and a strong understanding of the financial services sector, I comprehend the intricacies and challenges of your professional journey. Transitioning from the fast-paced world of investments, I've dedicated my career to guiding individuals like you towards well-deserved promotions and lasting success.

🔸 How I Can Help:
My purpose is to equip you with the tools and strategies needed to excel in your career. From honing your leadership skills to navigating complex promotion pathways, my coaching approach is personalised to unlock your full potential and propel you towards your goals.

🔸 Let's Connect:
Ready to take the next step in your career? Let's connect and explore how we can work together to shape your professional future. Reach out for tailored guidance and support designed to accelerate your journey to success.

🔸 Specialities:

Career Advancement
Self Discovery/Awareness
Promotion Strategies
Performance Enhancement
Financial Industry Insights

I look forward to connecting with you and assisting you in achieving your career aspirations. 🌟

Life Coach/Owner

Do you feel lost? Are you trapped in a relationship? Do want to get promoted? Have you got goals you want to achieve but keep failing to accomplish them? Send me a message in confidence to get on the path to the best most authentic version of you so you can achieve anything you desire.

Not usually one for gloating or blowing my own trumpet, but today’s an exception. I’ve officially hit my 4-stone loss award at Slimming World—and I only started on the 1st of June!

A massive shoutout to Sarah, my consultant, who’s been an absolute star. Despite facing her own challenges since I’ve known her, she’s there every Saturday, always with a warm, friendly smile and unwavering support. 

Feeling proud and grateful today—proof that perseverance and the right choices can make a world of difference.

#WeightLossJourney #SlimmingWorld #4StoneAward #Gratitude #Perseverance

Ex-City Worker Now Helping Banking Professionals Strategize Their Career | GYGO Accredited Practitioner | Free Discovery Call. Let's POWER Up Your Career. Bespoke personal and professional development.Stress Management.

In my career in prime brokerage client services and equity operations, “fake it till you make it” was a mantra that often worked. Whether managing trade discrepancies, explaining operational processes, or handling demanding clients, projecting confidence—even when I wasn’t 100% certain—was a necessary skill.

But as I transitioned into coaching, I’ve come to embrace a different ideology: “faith it till you make it.” This mindset is rooted not in appearances but in belief—in your story, and your ability to grow.

Fake It Till You Make It: When It Worked

In banking, “faking it” often served a purpose:
	•	Fast, Confident Answers: When a hedge fund client called about a failed trade or a margin shortfall, I could not hesitate—they needed confidence and clarity, even if solutions were still taking shape.
	•	Authority Under Pressure: Clients trusted me to simplify complex operational processes. Acting assured in these moments bought the time to dig into the issue.

However, while “faking it” worked in the moment, it often felt like a mask. It left little space for real learning over time, it became tiring.

Faith It Till You Make It: The Real Foundation

What truly helped me through those moments wasn’t “faking it”—it was faith.
	•	Faith in Processes: I trusted the systems and workflows we had built to handle the pressure. That basis allowed me to focus on solutions.
	•	Faith in the Team: Prime brokerage is a collaborative effort. Delegating to trusted colleagues enabled me to deliver results without burning out.
	•	Faith in Learning: Admitting when I didn’t have all the answers and working to find them earned respect and built stronger relationships.

Bringing Faith Into Coaching

Now, as I build my coaching practice, “faith it till you make it” has become my guiding code. It’s about trusting the skills I’ve developed, believing in my clients, and adopting the process.

In coaching, faith means:
	•	Faith in Myself: Drawing from years of experience to guide clients effectively.
	•	Faith in the Process: Believing that small steps, taken consistently, lead to meaningful change.
	•	Faith in Others: Trusting my clients’ ability to achieve their goals, even when they feel uncertain.

A New Mindset for Banking

If I were to return to finance, I’d approach it differently. While confidence and quick answers are crucial, faith in systems, teams, and personal growth builds authentic leadership. It’s not about faking strength—it’s about building it.

What About You?

If you’re navigating your own career journey, ask yourself:
	•	Are you relying on appearances, or are you building belief in yourself?
	•	Are you “faking it” to get through, or “faithing it” to grow?

Let’s explore this together. Take my free career quiz here: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup and start building a career rooted in confidence and belief.

#FaithItTillYouMakeIt #PrimeBrokerage #EquityOperations #CareerCoaching #Authenticity #Leadership #SelfBelief #Resilience #CareerGrowth

No alternative text description for this image

Sometimes, Sitting in the Dark is the Brightest Thing You Can Do 🌑❤️

“When you can’t look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark.” – Lewis Carroll

Life doesn’t always give us sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, it’s overcast, pouring, or downright pitch black. And that’s okay. It’s okay not to be okay. The pressure to “stay positive” can feel suffocating when all you really need is someone who understands, someone willing to meet you where you are—without judgment, without rushing you to “get better.”

For me, 2021 was that dark time. I lost my best friend, Fiona, to cancer—a devastating blow that left me feeling untethered. At the same time, I made the difficult decision to walk away from a relationship that made me deeply unhappy. These losses left me with only my own reflection to keep me company. On top of it all, I was working long hours in a stressful job, feeling like I was stuck in an endless cycle of exhaustion and emotional turmoil.

I’ve been there—sitting in the dark, wondering if the light will ever return. And it’s in those moments that I learned the most about myself. I learned the power of stillness, of self-compassion, and of accepting support when it’s offered.

As a career and life coach, I’m here to help you see the light again—not by rushing you, but by sitting with you, step by step, until you’re ready. Together, we can find clarity, build resilience, and create a way forward.

You’ve got this. And I’ve got you.

🌟 The dark isn’t the end—it’s where transformation begins. And when you’re ready to move toward the light, I’ll be right here to guide you. 🌟

If this resonates with you, take a moment to explore your next step:
👉 Take my free career quiz at https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup
Or let’s talk: https://lnkd.in/eF7Wcu9H

#LifeCoaching #CareerCoaching #Empathy #Support #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #FindingTheLight

What’s Chasing You—and Why Can’t You Stop?

We all like to tell ourselves a story. Maybe you’re running toward the next big break, a dream job, the perfect relationship, or a place where everything finally feels like it clicks. Or maybe you’re not running toward anything at all—you’re just running. Head down, full tilt, hoping to leave behind that gnawing feeling you can’t quite name.

Here’s the thing no one wants to hear: that feeling doesn’t go away just because you cross another finish line. You can move to another city, swap careers, trade in one relationship for another—and yet, somehow, the same ghosts keep showing up. The ones that whisper you’re not enough. The ones that remind you of every time you fell short. The ones you bury in late nights, fast food, and all the little distractions that keep you from facing them head-on.

What are you so scared of seeing if you stop running? What’s the truth about yourself, your past, or your future that feels too big, too ugly, or too painful to face?

Here’s the hard truth: the running doesn’t end until you stop pretending that the ghosts don’t exist. Freedom isn’t in outrunning them—it’s in turning around, staring them down, and saying, “You don’t own me anymore.” That’s the moment you start taking back control. That’s the moment life starts to feel different—not perfect, but real.

So here’s my challenge: sit with the question. What’s chasing you? Why are you running? And what’s one thing you can do today to stop?

If you’re ready to dig into this mess—and make sense of it—start here: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup. It’s time to stop surviving. It’s time to start living.

#SelfReflection #StopRunning #FaceYourFears #CareerGrowth #LifeCoaching #EmbraceYourStory #OvercomingObstacles #PersonalDevelopment #MindsetShift #LiveWithPurpose #GrowthMindset #TakeControl #CareerClarity #HereAndNow #nextsteps

Stop Tripping Over Your Own Feet: The Truth About Self-Sabotage

Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’m just not ready yet,” or “What if I fail?” even when an opportunity is staring you in the face? Maybe it’s applying for that promotion, starting a new career path, or making a big life change. It’s like you’re holding your foot on the brake, even though the road ahead is clear.

That’s self-sabotage, my friend. And here’s the kicker—it doesn’t always look like fear. Sometimes it’s “I’ll do it next month,” “I need a bit more experience,” or “Things aren’t perfect yet.” Sound familiar?

As a career and life coach, I’ve seen how self-sabotage keeps so many people stuck in limbo. It feels safe to stay put, but in reality, it’s fear disguising itself as readiness. The truth is, you don’t need every detail figured out to take the next step.

The question isn’t, “Am I ready?” It’s, “What’s stopping me?”

Here’s how to break through:

1️⃣ Call Out the Excuses: Identify when you’re overthinking, procrastinating, or waiting for “perfect timing.” Spoiler: there’s no such thing.
2️⃣ Check Your Fears: Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen if I take this step?” Odds are, it’s less dramatic than you think.
3️⃣ Measure Your Readiness: Progress doesn’t demand perfection; it asks for clarity. Understanding where you are now is key to taking confident steps forward.

Ready to take control and move past what’s holding you back? My free career quiz is designed to help you assess where you stand and what’s needed to take the next step in your journey:
https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup

Stop letting fear call the shots. Your next step is closer than you think—you just need to take it.

#CareerCoaching #LifeCoaching #ReadinessForChange #PersonalGrowth #NextSteps

Stress doesn’t knock politely—it kicks the door in, grabs a beer from your fridge, and puts its feet on the table. In industries like ours, it’s not just a visitor—it’s a permanent roommate. Deadlines, targets, and emails piling up like junk mail—welcome to the chaos.

But here’s the deal: stress only owns you if you let it. The trick? You’ve got to fight dirty. Enter the 4 Ds—your no-nonsense survival guide:

1️⃣ DONE: If it takes less time to do it than to complain about it, get it DONE. Stop agonizing. Just rip the plaster off.

2️⃣ DEFER: If it doesn’t need handling right now, park it. You’re not a firefighter—stop acting like every task is a five-alarm blaze.

3️⃣ DELEGATE: Think you’re the only one who can do the job? You’re not. Hand it off. Let someone else take the heat for a change.

4️⃣ DUMP: If it’s useless, outdated, or just plain stupid, DUMP it. Stop wasting your life on things that don’t matter. You’ve got better battles to fight.

Stress isn’t going away. It’s like that weird uncle at Christmas—always there, always annoying. But you can decide how much power it has.

Feel like you’re drowning? Take my free career quiz—it’s like a roadmap to finding the surface.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup

Stress might be a permanent guest, but it doesn’t have to raid your fridge. How do you keep it in check? Let me know in the comments.”_

#StressIsTheEnemy #4Ds #WorkplaceWarrior #FinanceLife #BurnoutWithABeer #DarkHumour #StayInControl #CareerQuiz

Change: The Bridge You Dread but Need to Cross

Let’s not sugarcoat it: change is hard. It’s the nagging voice pulling you out of the warm familiarity of your comfort zone and shoving you into the great unknown. It’s uncomfortable, awkward, and sometimes downright exhausting. But let’s be honest—staying still? That’s a slow death.

The reality is, change doesn’t care if you’re ready. It barrels in, forces you to confront your limits, and strips away the illusion that everything’s fine just as it is. Whether it’s a career pivot, a life upheaval, or a step into uncharted waters, change will demand you adapt, learn, and figure it out as you go.

Here’s the kicker: no great story ever started with “I stayed exactly where I was.” It’s the messy bits—the doubts, the missteps, the moments you think you’ve lost the plot—that make the triumph worthwhile. Each choice, each step, each lesson is a brick on the bridge you’re building toward something better.

Yes, it’s slow. Yes, it’s frustrating. And no, there’s no map. But this is how you grow, how you prove to yourself that you’re capable of more than you imagined. Change is the ultimate test of grit, and it’s the only way forward.
So, what’s it going to be? Will you stay stuck where you are, or will you pick up the bricks and start building?

Ready to take the first step? Start with my free career quiz at https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup and see where your bridge could lead.

#ChangeIsHard #CareerGrowth #StepForward #BuildYourBridge #LifeLessons #NextSteps

What’s Really Stopping You?

It’s not your boss. It’s not the economy. It’s not the lack of time or money or any of the other excuses we throw around like confetti at a pity party.
It’s you.

Yeah, you heard me. You’re standing in your own way. Your fragile ego, your procrastination, your endless what-ifs and could’ve-beens—they’re the real culprits. And behind it all?

Fear.

Fear of failing. Fear of looking stupid. Fear that maybe—just maybe—you don’t have what it takes.

Here’s the thing about fear: it’s a nagging little voice. It creeps into your head, whispers sweet nothings of self-doubt, and before you know it, you’re paralysed. Stuck in the same miserable loop, convincing yourself that someday, somehow, you’ll finally get your act together.

Newsflash: “Someday” isn’t on the calendar.

And you know what makes this worse? Most people think the cure is courage. But courage is overrated. It’s a fleeting moment of bravado, and then what?

No, the real antidote to fear is love.

Not the cheesy Hallmark-card kind. I’m talking about the raw, relentless love for the grind. Love for the process. Love for the pure, insane joy of taking a shot at something you care about, knowing full well it might not work out.

Steven Pressfield said it best:
“The opposite of fear is love.”

But here’s the catch—it’s not easy. There’s no shortcut, no life hack, no inspirational quote that’s going to magically make you get out of your own way. You have to fight for it. Wrestle with that voice in your head. Choose the hard thing, every damn day.

And if you’re waiting for the perfect time to start? Forget it. Perfection is a fantasy. You just have to begin.

So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to keep letting fear call the shots, or are you finally ready to step up and take control?

If you’re serious about getting unstuck, I can help. I don’t do sugarcoating or fluff. I work with people who are tired of their own excuses and ready to do the work.

Take the first step—book a free coaching session here: https://lnkd.in/eF7Wcu9H. Or, if you’re not ready to face the truth just yet, try my free career quiz: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup.
But don’t kid yourself. You know what the problem is. It’s time to fix it.

Your move.

#CareerCoaching #LifeCoaching #OvercomeFear #SelfGrowth #MindsetMatters #StopProcrastinating #ChaseYourDreams #PersonalDevelopment #BreakThroughBarriers #AchieveYourGoals #BeatResistance #FearIsTheEnemy #LoveTheProcess #SelfBelief #NoExcuses #TransformationJourney #SuccessMindset #CoachingForSuccess #GetUnstuck #OwnYourFuture

If You Want 2025 to Be Different, Start Now—Here’s How

There’s nothing special about January. It’s just another month, and waiting for it is just another excuse. Change happens in the small, deliberate decisions you make today, not in some imaginary “perfect time” that never comes.

So, if you’re tired of feeling stuck—career going nowhere, life on autopilot—here are five things you can start doing right now to take back control and set yourself up for a better year.

1. Write Down What You Actually Want

Not what your friends want. Not what sounds good on LinkedIn. What you want, brutally clear and simple. Success is a lot like cooking—get the recipe wrong, and the outcome’s never what you hoped for.

2. Find the Leaks in Your Time

You don’t need more hours; you need better priorities. Track where your time’s going for a week. Social media spirals, mindless meetings, endless distractions—it’s all dead weight. Cut the nonsense and reclaim your time.

3. Take a Risk—A Real One

The things you want live on the other side of discomfort. Send that email, ask for the opportunity, take the leap you’ve been talking yourself out of. Growth doesn’t happen when you play it safe.

4. Clear Out the Noise

Bad habits. People who drain you. The excuses you cling to when you’re scared to start. Get rid of it. Your life only has room for so much—make space for what matters.

5. Put Something into Yourself

You’ll spend money on distractions but hesitate to invest in your own growth. A book, a course, a coach, even a decent notebook to organise your thoughts—this stuff pays off. Start treating your future like it’s worth it.

Want the shortcut? There isn’t one. Change is slow, messy work, but it starts with small steps—taken now, not next month. If you don’t know where to begin, take the first one here: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup.

2025 doesn’t care about your plans. Only your actions will make it worth something.

#NoNonsenseCoaching #StartToday #Make2025Yours

Friday Fact: Most New Year’s resolutions are dead by February.

As December creeps in over the weekend, the annual charade begins. Gyms fill up, kale smoothies make a comeback, and everyone suddenly starts spouting off about their “journey” to a better self. By February? The treadmills are empty, the kale’s wilted, and Deliveroo’s back on speed dial.

Why? Because most resolutions are nonsense. They’re vague, overblown, and more about appearances than action. It’s all fluff—ideas that sound good in the moment but have no substance. If you’re tired of playing that game, let’s cut through the noise.

1. Stop Trying to Impress Anyone

No one cares if you’re planning to run a marathon or eating quinoa for every meal. If it doesn’t actually matter to you, it’s not worth your energy. Do it for yourself, not for social media.

2. Start Small and Keep It Real

Grand, sweeping goals are tempting, but they’re the first to fail. Instead, pick something manageable: take a 15-minute walk every other day, cook dinner at home once a week, or spend 10 minutes a day reading. Change is built on small wins, not grand gestures.

3. Own Your Setbacks

Let’s get this straight: You’re going to have bad days. You’ll skip the gym, eat the takeaway, or miss your target. And that’s fine. What matters is whether you get back on track or throw in the towel.

4. Forget the Calendar

Why wait for January? You don’t need a new year to make a fresh start. Start today. Start next week. Hell, start on a random Wednesday afternoon. The calendar isn’t in charge—you are.

So, here’s the question: Are you setting goals because you want to, or because you think you should? If it’s the latter, scrap them. Real progress doesn’t come from guilt or societal pressure—it comes from knowing what you want and going after it, one step at a time.

Not sure where to start? Take my free career quiz: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup. It’s quick, simple, and might just help you find the right focus for 2025.

Let’s cut the fluff and make this the year of doing, not pretending.

#CutTheFluff #CareerCoaching #MakeItCount

81 Years of Life and the Art of Getting On With It

Yesterday, we celebrated my dad’s 81st birthday. That’s 81 years of life, love, and let’s face it, more than a few questionable decisions. (No, not you, Mum—you’re practically perfect.)

Born in the middle of World War II, with his father off fighting for King and country, my dad belongs to a generation that’s arguably witnessed more change than any other. They’ve lived through bomb shelters, ration books, and the rise of colour TV, all the way to broadband, smartphones, and self-checkout machines that still can’t tell a baguette from a cucumber.

So, I asked him: What’s gotten better? What’s gone downhill faster than a runaway pram in Kelvingrove Park? And what’s stayed the same?

His answers were classic dad: dry, insightful, and brutally honest.
	•	“Things have gotten faster but not always better.”
	•	“Folk still moan about the weather, the government, and how trains never run on time.”
	•	“But here’s the thing—you can’t control most of it. So stop wasting energy on what you can’t fix and focus on what you can.”

That stuck with me. It’s the kind of wisdom you only get from a lifetime of adapting to change.

It got me thinking about how we approach life’s challenges. Whether it’s building a career, chasing a goal, or just trying to get through the week without losing your mind, it often comes back to three questions:
	1.	What do I need to start doing?
What’s missing? What small change could help you move forward? Maybe it’s learning something new, reaching out to someone who inspires you, or making time for something that truly matters.
	2.	What do I need to stop doing?
Be honest. What’s holding you back? Is it procrastination, self-doubt, or distractions? Maybe it’s agreeing to things you know aren’t right for you. Sometimes progress starts with stopping what doesn’t work.
	3.	What’s working that I should keep doing?
This one’s easy to overlook. We’re so focused on fixing what’s wrong that we forget to build on what’s right. What are you doing well? What’s the thing that makes you, you? Don’t throw out the good stuff while trying to fix the rest.

It’s not about big transformations or dramatic gestures. It’s about clarity, action, and making small, meaningful steps in the right direction.

When I think about the kind of resilience and perspective my dad has, it reminds me how much of life is about learning to adapt and move forward—regardless of the circumstances.

What about you? What’s your version of start, stop, continue? If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of your next step, my free career quiz is a great way to get some clarity: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup

No fluff. No gimmicks. Just an honest look at where you are and where you could go.

#CareerCoaching #Resilience #Focus #KeepMoving

"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." ~ Sir Edmund Hillary
Let’s get one thing straight—life’s biggest challenges aren’t the ones out there. It’s not the email inbox bursting at the seams, the terrifying job interview, or the endless bloody grind of chasing success. No, the real battle is right between your ears. It’s the voice that says you’re not good enough, that you don’t belong, that you’re going to fall flat on your face.

The mountain? That’s just a backdrop. The true enemy is the little voice called fear. Self-doubt. Paralysis. The imposter syndrome whispering, “Who do you think you are?” And here’s the rub—there’s no magic pep talk or shortcut that’s going to shut it up. The only way out is through.

So, what’s your mountain today?

Is it the fear of quitting the job that’s crushing your soul?

The gnawing sense that you’ve stayed too long in your comfort zone and now it feels more like a cage?

Or maybe it’s just getting out of bed and facing a world that feels too damn much sometimes?

Here’s the thing: every step matters. Even the crappy ones. The ones where you stumble, curse, and wonder why the hell you’re doing this. That’s the good stuff. That’s growth. The climb isn’t about the summit—it’s about learning to carry your own weight. To feel the burn, to sweat, to curse, and to keep bloody moving anyway.

If you’re stuck at the base camp, looking at the mountain and thinking, “What the hell do I do now?” start small. Take the first step. It might be as simple as figuring out what you actually want. Need a map? Here’s one: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup.

Because at the end of the day, the mountain’s not your enemy. It’s the mirror that shows you what you’re made of. Now, get climbing.
#NoBS #CareerCoaching #FaceTheFear #GrowthHurts #OwnYourPath

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the financial industry is a brutal, relentless machine that stops for no one. AI, blockchain, automation—it’s all here, bulldozing the old ways of working and leaving the unprepared in the dust. If you think you can skate by on what got you here, think again.

But here’s the truth no one likes to talk about: keeping up with this tech whirlwind feels like being tossed into a blender. You’re already working crazy hours, juggling client demands, and now someone’s telling you to ‘learn Python’ or ‘get blockchain-certified.’ Sure, no problem. Let me just invent a 25th hour in the day.

The good news? You don’t need to learn everything. You just need to learn the right things. The problem? Most people have no clue where to start. That’s where I come in.

I created a free career quiz to cut through the noise and help you figure out where you stand. Are your skills aligned with where this crazy industry is headed, or are you clinging to a sinking ship?

👉 Find out here: https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup

Finance doesn’t wait. The future’s coming whether you like it or not. So, are you ready to lead, or are you going to get left behind?

Let’s hear it: what skills do you think will separate the sharks from the minnows in the next five years? Drop your take below—no fluff, just the raw truth.

Yesterday, I dropped one of my mum’s vases. It wasn’t just a vase—it was tied to memory and love. One moment it was safe in my hands, the next—crash. Shards everywhere. And in that instant, I couldn’t undo it.

Moments like these aren’t rare in life or work. They’re the missed opportunities, the failed projects, the relationships we wish we’d handled better. It’s not the mistake itself that hits hardest—it’s the weight of what we can’t fix. But these moments are more than just setbacks. They’re teachers.

The Lesson in the Break

When things go wrong, most of us rush to fix them. Patch it up, smooth it over, make it look like nothing happened. But here’s the thing: skipping past the mess means skipping the lesson. Real growth comes when we pause, feel the frustration, and ask, What can I learn here?

What the Vase Taught Me

As I cleaned up the pieces, I realised the vase had something to teach: How do you respond when things break? Because life will break things—your plans, your confidence, even your heart. The question isn’t whether it happens, but how you handle it.

Here are three truths the vase reminded me of:
	1.	You’re not defined by your worst moment. Dropping the vase didn’t make me a careless person; it made me human.
	2.	Owning it builds trust. I told my mum what happened. She forgave me quicker than I expected because honesty matters more than perfection.
	3.	Every break is a chance to rebuild. Maybe the vase couldn’t be fixed, but I could rewrite the story I was telling myself about it. Most setbacks aren’t permanent.

What’s Your Vase?

What’s slipped out of your hands? What’s left you staring at the pieces? Don’t ignore it. Don’t rush past it. Let it teach you. Every crack, every chip, every moment you think you’ve failed is a chance to grow stronger, braver, and more compassionate.

Life and work will break things again. The question is, will you grab a broom, own the mess, and keep moving forward? Or will you let it define you? Here’s the truth: You’re not your broken vase. You’re the person who picks up the pieces and keeps going. That’s what makes you unbreakable.

Ready to Pick Up the Pieces?

If you’re wondering how to move forward, start here. My Next Steps Career Quiz is designed to assess your readiness for what’s next in your career and life. It’s quick, free, and helps you rebuild with purpose. Visit https://lnkd.in/enBUdzup to begin.

#CareerDevelopment #LifeLessons #GrowthMindset #Resilience #CareerCoaching #LifeCoaching #MindsetMatters #TakeTheNextStep #OwnYourJourney #PersonalGrowth

Taplio

Andrew Brock's Linkedin Analytics

What is Andrew talking about?

Who is engaging with Andrew

's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?