In this reflective episode of the Life Lab, Tom explores the tension between authenticity and performance in modern leadership and life. In a culture that constantly tells us to pitch, polish, and promote ourselves, he asks: What happens when we stop selling ourselves and start being ourselves?

Through personal insight and coaching experience, Tom shares why overperforming can disconnect us from who we are, and why the most powerful leaders are those who show up grounded, honest, present and real.

He challenges listeners to experiment with presence over performance: to trust that the right people, opportunities, and moments respond not to our packaging, but to our truth.

In this Tom's Life Lab episode, Tom explains why you don't need to fit in to make an impact.

The feeling of not fitting in can creep in anywhere. Whether it's the boardroom, family dinner table or group chat, it's a feeling that can appear quietly, but powerfully, and it can shape how you show up.

Many of us grow up believing that belonging is about fitting in, but real belonging isn't about sameness; it's about being seen and accepted for who you are.

If you don't feel like you fit in, instead of camouflaging your interests behind other peoples', be honest about your likes and beliefs. Show up with integrity, and people will respect you for being your true, authentic self.

Listen to the episode to learn three things you can do the next time you feel like you don't fit in.

This episode of Tom's Life Lab explores how growth comes from pursuing the cringe.

Cringe is the emotional signal that we're brushing up against our edges. It's something most of us instinctively avoid, but if you're never cringing, you're probably not growing.

When we cringe, it's often because we feel exposed, at risk, or a bit awkward; however, the leaders that learn to embrace this feeling, evolve the fastest. They ask questions in a room full of experts, admit when they don't know, and try new formats, even if they don't succeed.

In the episode, Tom reveals his own cringe moment, and how the thing that he thought would make him feel foolish, actually made him feel alive. Listen now for some examples of ways you can pursue the cringe.

Powerful partnerships are often at the heart of breakthroughs in leadership, business and life. Big leaps forward rarely come from acting alone; they come from leaning into partnerships.

Collaboration isn't just nice to have; it's a necessity. We need people around us who challenge us, support us and see possibilities we wouldn't see on our own. Powerful partnerships aren't just about working together, they're about building trust, showing vulnerability and creating something great.

In this episode of Tom's Life Lab, Tom discusses what makes a powerful partnership work, the benefits of his own partnerships, including Beyond Potential and The Sustain Collective, and how you can create more powerful partnerships of your own.

In this week's episode of Tom's Life Lab, Tom explores the feeling of being stuck and how to move through it.

We all know how it feels to be stuck. When we know something needs to change, but we're not sure what to do next.

Feeling stuck isn't a sign of failure; it's a sign something matters to you; however, problems can arise when we stay stuck, and staying stuck is a choice.

We often tell ourselves we lack clarity, when really what we're lacking is courage. We know what to do, but put it off due to feelings of discomfort or a fear of taking a risk.

Are you feeling stuck? It's time to stop sitting in it - join Tom to find out how to move past it.

Complaining feels good. We all get tempted to do it, because it can make us feel seen and validate feelings of frustration, but it rarely gets us anywhere.

Whether it's about traffic, the weather, tech issues or company culture, complaining may feel like taking action, but this act alone won't move us forward, and instead causes us to get stuck in a loop where nothing changes.

The energy you bring to your life and leadership sets the tone with others. Lead with complaint, and you invite more of it, which is draining for you and those around you. Next time you feel like complaining, explore what is beneath it instead. Is a boundary being crossed or a need not being met?

Join Tom in this episode of Tom's Life Lab to find out how to shift a complaint into positive change.

Many of us believe life just happens to us. We react, respond, cope and manage like we are passengers in our own stories. What if we flipped this and, instead, behaved like we happen to our lives?

This isn't about control, it's about agency. The ability to decide how you show up, what you focus on and how you respond in any situation. This shift to 'I happen to my life' doesn't need to be dramatic to be profound, and it may not be easy to start with, but with practice, it will come.

In this episode, I give examples of subtle ways you can change your mindset and behaviour to put you back in the driver's seat of your life. If you've ever felt like you're reacting to other peoples' priorities and losing a sense of who you are, this episode is for you.

We’ve all heard the phrase: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. But how true is it in leadership and life?

In this episode, Tom explores the importance of first impressions. From the subtle, instinctive signals people read in those opening seconds, to the deeper trust that only grows over time, he challenges whether we place too much weight on the moment, and not enough on the relationship.

You’ll discover:

• Why presence is the real currency of leadership.

• How authenticity creates lasting influence.

• Practical tools to ground yourself, shift your energy, and connect more deeply.

Through stories, neuroscience insights, and coaching examples, Tom unpacks what it means to show up with clarity and intention.

So, what impression are you making today?