How to Strive - with Nick Adkins

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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 goal
Why developing individuals is the foundation of developing great teams
The leadership behaviours that create trust, belief and accountability
How elite environments balance challenge, care and standards
The importance of communication, alignment and consistency
Why great teams are built through people, not just tactics
This conversation is packed with insight for:
coaches
leaders
athletes
teachers
business professionals
and anyone striving to create high-performing environments
Nigel’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.
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www.strive25.co.uk/

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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.
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www.strive25.co.uk/

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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.
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www.strive25.co.uk/

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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/