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. Creating and developing winning teams - Nigel Adkins

    5H AGO

    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/

    58 min

  2. 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 min

  3. 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/

    6 min

  4. 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/

    7 min

  5. 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/

    8 min

  6. FEB 22

    The role of developer

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to develop elite coaches? In this episode of How to Strive, we explore the challenge and opportunity of working with expert and master practitioners. When someone already performs at a high level, traditional coaching approaches often fall short. So how do you add value? This episode dives into the shift from teaching to refining, from giving answers to deepening awareness. We explore how to become a mirror, a thinking partner, and a precise challenger, helping top-level coaches uncover blind spots, sharpen their decision-making, and evolve their identity. If you’ve ever questioned your value when working with high performers, or you’re striving to operate at a more elite level as a coach or leader, this episode will give you a powerful new perspective. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

    6 min

  7. FEB 20

    How to maximise a developer

    Send us Fan Mail Are you truly maximising the support around you? In this episode of How to Strive, we turn the lens onto the coach. Having access to a mentor or coach developer is a privilege, however the real impact comes from how you show up to that relationship. We explore how to move from being a passive recipient to an active driver of your own development. From setting clear intentions, inviting challenge and using your coach developer as a mirror… to turning reflection into meaningful action. This episode is packed with practical shifts and powerful questions to help you take ownership of your growth and accelerate your development. If you’re serious about striving to be better, not just doing more, but becoming more. this one is for you. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

    7 min
  8. Anthony Limbrick

    JAN 2

    Anthony Limbrick

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How to Strive, Nick is joined by Anthony Limbrick, who is a highly respected football coach with experience leading professional teams and developing elite footballers internationally. Anthony brings an methodical coaching identity shaped by years in high-performance environments, from working in the academies of Southampton and West Ham United and with England’s U-17s, to managing first-team squads across Europe and now taking the helm at Loudoun United FC in the USL Championship.  His methods, that are grounded in player development, tactical clarity, building competitive identity and detailed preparation have earned him success at every level he has coached at.  In this conversation we explore how Anthony’s life experiences have shaped his values, how he builds cultures of growth and resilience in teams and what aspiring leaders can learn from his journey in elite sport and coaching development. As a Striver, this episode will inspire how you think about identity, challenge and continuous improvement. Start Striving at  www.strive25.co.uk/

    50 min
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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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