How to Strive - with Nick Adkins

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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.
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www.strive25.co.uk/

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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 effectively
Turn learning into consistent habits
Apply knowledge in a way that drives real change
Build systems that support long-term growth
If 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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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.
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www.strive25.co.uk/

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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.
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www.strive25.co.uk/

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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/