How to Strive - with Nick Adkins

Nick Adkins
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Hi I am your host and coach Nick. With over 14 years of experience in professional sports coaching, I have dedicated my career to player and coach development across a variety of sports and industries. My expertise spans both on-field coaching and strategic development roles, where I’ve worked to enhance performance, build high-functioning teams, and foster long-term growth in athletes and coaches alike. In addition to my work in sport, I have also collaborated with businesses to transfer my coaching skills and principles into organizational development, helping teams and leaders thrive in dynamic environments through my transformational leadership approach. My commitment to continuous learning and fostering a growth mindset drives me to always pursue excellence in every aspect of my work.

  1. Aug 16

    Tom Hartley - Who's Coaching the Coach?

    Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest opportunity to improve your coaching isn't another qualification, another session plan or another coaching course? What if it's learning to understand yourself? In this episode of How to Strive, I'm joined by Tom Hartley, an experienced coach, coach developer and leader who has spent more than 20 years working across football, professional sport and coach development. Tom's journey has taken him from coaching in grassroots and professional football, into coach development across Olympic and motorsport. We explore a question that sits at the heart of sustainable development: Who's coaching the coach? We talk about reflection, self-awareness, curiosity and the importance of having people around you who can challenge your thinking rather than simply tell you what to do. 🪞 Why coaches need people who can hold up a mirror rather than provide all the answers. 🧠 How reflection can change your coaching practice. ❓ Why asking better questions may be more powerful than having better answers. 🤝 The importance of relationships, trust and connection in coach development. 🌱 How coaches can continue to grow when they are already experienced. ⚽ What football can learn from coaching across different sports. And perhaps most importantly: How do we create the conditions that allow coaches to strive? This is a conversation for coaches who are ambitious, curious and willing to challenge themselves. Whether you're coaching grassroots football, working in an academy, leading a team, developing other coaches or simply trying to become better at what you do, there will be something here for you. Because becoming a better coach isn't about arriving at a destination. It's about staying curious enough to keep moving. Keep Striving. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

    Tom Hartley - Who's Coaching the Coach?

  2. Jul 30

    Dr. Jamie Taylor

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How To Strive, I’m joined by Dr Jamie Taylor, a leading coach developer, researcher and educator whose work sits at the intersection of coaching, skill acquisition, talent development and expertise. Jamie has coached at the highest levels of sport, worked extensively in coach development and now researches what actually makes expert coaches different. His work has included collaboration with organisations across elite sport, including the Premier League, professional rugby and Olympic sport. And this conversation goes much deeper than simply asking: "How do we become better coaches?" We explore what it really means to develop expertise. How do we create environments where coaches and athletes can continue to learn, adapt and strive? This is a conversation for coaches, coach developers, athletes, leaders, teachers and anyone interested in how humans develop expertise. If you've ever wondered: "What could I do differently to become better at what I do?" This episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now. And as always... Keep Striving. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

    Dr. Jamie Taylor

  3. Jun 14

    The Sunday Strive

    Send us Fan Mail In a world where we are constantly moving, achieving, reacting and rushing into the next challenge, one of the most powerful skills we can develop is the ability to pause, reflect and intentionally choose our next step. Welcome to the Sunday Strive, a guided weekly practice designed to help you look back with curiosity, learn from your experiences and create intentional action for the week ahead. In this episode, we explore how reflection transforms everyday experiences into meaningful learning and how taking time to notice the small moments can create significant change over time. Together, we will explore: 📝 Reflecting without judgement Looking back over your week with curiosity rather than criticism, noticing the moments, conversations and experiences that shaped you. 🏆 Recognising your wins and progress Learning to acknowledge the steps you have taken towards the person you are striving to become and connecting your progress to your Striver Table — your foundations of health, relationships, skills and contribution. 🧠 Turning experiences into learning Understanding the challenges, setbacks and successes of the week and asking what they can teach you moving forward. 🧭 Creating direction for the week ahead Identifying what matters, understanding the moments that may challenge you and planning how you can create the conditions for success. ⚡ Building behaviours that support your goals Creating simple, sustainable habits and actions that you can return to when life becomes busy, unpredictable and challenging. Because striving is not about creating a perfect life. It is about creating awareness. It is about making intentional choices. It is about becoming slightly better, consistently. The most successful people and teams do not simply experience life — they learn from it. So grab your journal, find a quiet moment and give yourself the opportunity to reflect, reset and refocus. Ask yourself: Where am I going? Do my behaviours align with what matters? What is my next step? Because: Direction + Alignment + Effort = Striving 🎧 Join this weekly reflection practice and take one intentional step towards becoming the person you are capable of becoming. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

  4. May 21

    Creating and developing winning teams - Nigel Adkins

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive, I sit down with Nigel Adkins to explore the leadership, culture and human behaviours behind sustained success in elite sport. Nigel shares the lessons and principles that helped him guide Southampton FC from League One to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions, stabilise Hull City after relegation, and achieve promotions and play-off success with Scunthorpe United F.C. Together, we dive into: How to create cultures aligned to a shared vision and common goalWhy developing individuals is the foundation of developing great teamsThe leadership behaviours that create trust, belief and accountabilityHow elite environments balance challenge, care and standardsThe importance of communication, alignment and consistencyWhy great teams are built through people, not just tacticsThis conversation is packed with insight for: coachesleadersathletesteachersbusiness professionalsand anyone striving to create high-performing environmentsNigel’s humility, clarity and leadership shine throughout this episode, offering a rare look into the human side of elite performance and team development. If you want to understand what truly drives successful teams, not just for moments, but sustainably over time, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and discover how ownership, culture and leadership shape teams capable of striving together towards meaningful success. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

    Creating and developing winning teams - Nigel Adkins

  5. Apr 19

    Mindset

    Send us Fan Mail Why do some people grow through challenge… while others shrink from it? In this episode of How to Strive, we explore the powerful concept of mindset, inspired by the work of Dr Carol Dweck, and how it quietly shapes your performance, progress and potential. We break down the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, and more importantly, how both show up in your everyday life, often without you even realising it. This isn’t just theory. You’ll learn how to:  Recognise when you’re slipping into a fixed mindset  Reframe challenges, setbacks, and failure  Build behaviours that support continuous growth  Use reflection to turn experience into progress  Apply a growth mindset across your Striver Table—health, relationships, skills, and career Because striving isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing to learn, adapt, and grow, again and again. If you’ve ever avoided a challenge, doubted yourself, or felt stuck in your progress… This episode will help you shift your thinking and more importantly, your actions. The mindset you choose today… shapes the life you build tomorrow. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

  6. Mar 31

    Alignment

    Send us Fan Mail How to Strive: Aligning Your Behaviours to the Outcome Most people know what they want. Very few align how they live to get there. In this episode of How to Strive, we explore the powerful connection between outcomes, identity and daily behaviours and why this is the missing link for so many people striving for more. Drawing on the work of James Clear and Simon Sinek, this episode breaks down how to:  Gain clarity on what you are truly striving for  Understand the deeper why behind your goals  Translate outcomes into clear, actionable behaviours  Build habits that reflect the person you want to become  Continuously reflect and adjust as your journey evolves This isn’t about setting better goals. It’s about building better systems. Because success isn’t found in big moments, it’s built through small, consistent actions aligned with purpose. If you’ve ever felt stuck, inconsistent, or disconnected from your goals… This episode will help you close the gap between intention and action. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

  7. Mar 8

    Direction

    Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest barrier to progress isn’t effort… but direction? In this episode of How to Strive, we explore why clarity is the foundation of meaningful progress and how aligning your actions with your purpose allows your effort to truly matter. Using the simple equation Direction + Alignment + Maximum Effort = Striving, this episode breaks down how you can move beyond being busy and start moving forward with intention. Drawing on ideas such as the famous quote from Lao Tzu “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” , we explore how taking the right first step requires reflection, clarity and purpose. We also explore the Japanese concept of Ikigai, helping you consider where passion, skill, meaning and opportunity intersect in your life. Throughout the episode, you’ll learn practical frameworks to help you turn direction into action, including: • Thinking in macro, meso and micro planning • Building micro habits that create consistent progress • Structuring your goals through outcome, performance and process goals • Focusing on the process rather than obsessing over the outcome If you’ve ever felt busy but unsure if you’re moving in the right direction, this episode will help you slow down, reflect and take the next step with intention. Because striving isn’t about doing more. It’s about moving forward with purpose. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

  8. Mar 1

    How we learn

    Send us Fan Mail Why do we forget so much of what we learn… and what actually makes something stick? In this episode of How to Strive, we explore the science behind learning, memory, and behaviour change, so you can move from simply consuming information to truly becoming better. Drawing on research from Hermann Ebbinghaus, we break down why repetition, emotion and environment play a crucial role in how your brain stores and recalls information. From the forgetting curve to the power of neural pathways, you’ll begin to understand why your favourite song sticks effortlessly while most of what you read or hear disappears. This episode goes beyond theory. You’ll gain practical tools to: Retain information more effectivelyTurn learning into consistent habitsApply knowledge in a way that drives real changeBuild systems that support long-term growthIf you’re serious about striving, not just learning more, but becoming more, this episode will reshape how you approach your development. Keep striving. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

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About

Hi I am your host and coach Nick. With over 14 years of experience in professional sports coaching, I have dedicated my career to player and coach development across a variety of sports and industries. My expertise spans both on-field coaching and strategic development roles, where I’ve worked to enhance performance, build high-functioning teams, and foster long-term growth in athletes and coaches alike. In addition to my work in sport, I have also collaborated with businesses to transfer my coaching skills and principles into organizational development, helping teams and leaders thrive in dynamic environments through my transformational leadership approach. My commitment to continuous learning and fostering a growth mindset drives me to always pursue excellence in every aspect of my work.

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