A few years ago, I was just like many of you, figuring out the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, facing setbacks, and chasing breakthroughs. By 25, I had buil...
12: Why Your Employees Don’t Respect You & How To Be A Good Manager - Heather Elkington
No one teaches you how to be a great leader, but getting it wrong can make or break your career.
Today, I’m sitting down with Heather Elkington, the Gen Z leadership coach who’s helped thousands step up with confidence.
Heather started as a young manager at Harrods, struggling with imposter syndrome, tough feedback, and impossible workloads. Now she’s trained leaders at American Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, and FTSE100 companies and she’s here to share what actually works.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unsure as a leader, this episode is for you.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
3:00 The worst type of leader
5:00 How to give bad feedback
8:30 Why you need to stop being nice
15:00 Heather's love for work
17:00 working at Harrods
22:00 Building Her Business
44:00 Why you need core values
51:00 What does a great manager actually do
58:00 Heather First Business inspiration
1:03:00 Dark side of entrepreneurship
1:07:00 How to conduct a 1-to-1s
1:10:00 How to set boundaries
1:12:00 What is the biggest mistake managers make
1:22:00 What is the mission of the business
1:30:00 What's next for Heather
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow Heather: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipheather/?hl=en
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1:34:07
11: 8 Steps to Unf*ck Your Life and Create Your Dream Life - Roxie Nafousi
Manifestation isn’t just wishful thinking, it’s a science-backed process that can completely transform your life. But most people are doing it all wrong.
In this episode, Roxie Nafousi, bestselling author and the leading voice in modern manifestation, reveals the 7-step formula that has helped thousands turn their dreams into reality. Plus, she gives us an exclusive deep dive into her brand-new book, Confidence: 8 Steps to Knowing Your Worth
Roxie doesn’t just talk about thinking positively, she shares the practical strategies that high achievers use to shape their reality.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Roxie journey
3:30 Rat experiment
5:10 Roxie’s First Journey with Manifestation
6:50 Is manifestation real?
12:20 How to manifest a relationship
17:00 8 steps to confidence
21:00 How did your friends react
23:00 How to find out who are your true friends
27:30 What is the science behind manifestation
31:30 How to pick yourself up when you’re feeling low ( Gratitude Journal)
35:00 Don't miss the good old days
41:30 How to create a vision board
43:20 How can people remove the barrier of fear
43:20 How to find your purpose
47:00 How to turn envy into inspiration
52:00 How can you negatively manifest
53:00 Roxie’s first manifestation event
1:03:00 How Roxie learnt about branding
1:06:00 Roxie starting her business
1:11:00 Roxie’s Imposture Syndrom
1:15:00 Investing Journey
Confidence: 8 Steps to Knowing Your Worth here: https://bio.to/Confidence. Available from March 27th.
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en-gb
Follow Roxie: https://www.instagram.com/roxienafousi/?hl=en-gb
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1:19:35
10: Day in the Life of a CEO (VLOG)
This week on Wake Up, we’re doing things a little differently. I’m giving you an unfiltered look into a day in my life as a busy founder and CEO. No fake hustle, no highlight reels, just the real grind of juggling multiple businesses, coaching, and live shows while making time for deep work, a workout, and a beer at the end.
And it’s a packed one. The day starts with a deep-dive consultant session with Eric Partaker, followed by work, community calls, and hosting a live podcast for Sahil Bloom’s book launch event in front of 1,000 people. If you’ve ever wondered how I actually get things done without losing my mind, this is for you.
Chapters:
0:00 Morning Routine
4:20 First Meeting
6:50 Consultant Day with Eric Partaker
8:45 Lunch & Work
10:00 Cohort Call
11:20 Heading to South Kensington
12:40 Backstage at Sahil Bloom Live Event
15:15 Sahil Bloom Live Event
17:40 Wrapping Up the Day
18:35 Outtakes
Drop a comment and let me know, what part of your day you struggle to manage the most.
Subscribe for more real talk on entrepreneurship, productivity, and making it all work.
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18:55
9: The Truth About Ozempic, TRT & How To Increase Your Productivity - James Smith
James Smith, bestselling author and performance coach, shares the key lessons he’s learned about confidence, productivity, and the truth behind Ozempic & TRT. In this episode, James dives deep into the psychology of self-belief, how to break free from procrastination and become a productivity machine, and what most people get wrong about Ozempic, weight loss & TRT.
He also reveals the biggest mindset shifts that separate high performers from everyone else and the strategies he’s used to transform thousands of lives. If you’re looking for practical, no-nonsense advice to build confidence, get more done, and take control of your health, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:30 James’ background
6:00 The role of honesty in James’ career
8:00 Leaving corporate life to become an entrepreneur
11:30 The secret to building confidence
15:10 Inside James’ confidence workshop
17:30 Growing a powerful social media presence
24:00 When your friends don’t support you
25:30 Why buying a flashy car is a waste of money
29:00 James’ journey from broke to fame
31:00 What it’s like meeting fans
33:00 Landing his first book deal
40:00 The reality of James’ first tour
43:00 Facing Piers Morgan in an interview
45:20 Becoming a #1 best-selling author
48:00 How James stays organized and productive
50:30 Scaling his business to new heights
53:00 Game-changing email marketing hacks
54:00 Starting a business with Chris Williamson
58:00 James’ approach to business mentorship
1:02:00 The 1-5-10 hour rule explained
1:05:00 How to price yourself correctly
1:08:00 The secret to maximizing productivity
1:12:00 James’ experience using Ozempic
1:20:00 What happened when James tried TRT
1:31:00 The truth about Ozempic
1:33:00 How Ozempic removed the emotional connection to food
1:36:00 The impact of Ozempic on the brain
1:41:00 What Ozempic really costs
1:43:00 The dangers of using Ozempic
1:44:00 James’ childhood struggle with an eating disorder
1:50:00 What’s next for James?
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en-gb
Follow James: https://www.instagram.com/jamessmith/?hl=en-gb
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1:52:44
8: The Biggest Lies About Building Wealth (and The Tiny Habit That Changed Everything) - Sahil Bloom
GIVEAWAY! Sahil just launched his new book, The 5 Types of Wealth, and we’re celebrating with a giveaway!
Win a signed copy of his book + a free ticket to his event in London on February 13th!
Here’s how to enter:
1. Comment on Sahil’s podcast on my YouTube with your biggest goal for 2025.
2. Sahil will pick 5 winners to receive a signed book and a ticket to his exclusive event at the Royal Geographical Society, London.
Sahil Bloom, entrepreneur, investor, and author, shares the biggest lessons he’s learned about wealth, success, and creating a meaningful life. In this episode, Sahil dives deep into the 5 types of wealth, how to know if you're playing the wrong game, and the mindset shifts that separate the 1% from everyone else.
He also reveals the best advice he received from his mentor, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and how those lessons shaped his approach to business, leadership, and life. If you’re looking for practical, no-BS strategies to build real wealth and take control of your future, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:00 The Biggest Lie We’ve Been Told About Wealth
3:00 The Most Common Mistake People Make Chasing Success
3:45 The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
4:30 The One Question to Ask Yourself Every Day to Stay on Track
5:20 Tim Cook’s Best Advice for Success
8:30 The 4 Types of Luck & How to Create More Opportunities
12:00 The 5 Types of Wealth You Need to Build
19:30 Sahil’s Wake Up Moment
25:00 Why the 13 Richest People Have 14 Divorces
28:00 The Real Way to Find Your Purpose
31:00 How to Create Value & Make Yourself Indispensable
34:00 Stop Trying to Impress the Wrong People
39:00 The Harsh Truth Making a Million Dollars Isn’t Easy
41:00 The Trade Off Why Something Has to Suck to Get What You Want
43:00 How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome for Good
43:40 Why You Need to Fall in Love with Embarrassment to Succeed
46:00 What Is the Spotlight Effect & How to Stop Caring What Others Think
47:00 The Secret to Becoming Luckier in Life & Business
48:00 How to Think & Act Like the Top 1%
50:00 How Becoming a Dad Changed Everything
53:00 How to Intentionally Redesign Your Life for Success
55:00 Should You Give Your Children Money? The Hard Truth
1:03:00 The Success of Sahil’s Book & Lessons Learned
1:07:00 Treat Your Body Like Your Home If You Want It to Last
1:10:00 The Science Behind Cold Plunges & Their Impact
1:11:00 The 4-7-8 Breathing Method for Better Sleep
1:14:00 What Is Quiet Quitting in a Relationship
1:17:00 The Difference Between Falling in Love & Growing in Love
1:19:00 Why Proximity to Loved Ones Matters More Than You Think
1:21:30 What Is a Darkest Hour Friend and Why You Need One
1:23:30 What’s Next A Look into the Future
Let me know if you need any more refinements.
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdonnellyofficial/?hl=en
Follow Sahil: https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom/?hl=en
A few years ago, I was just like many of you, figuring out the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, facing setbacks, and chasing breakthroughs. By 25, I had built and sold a leading digital marketing agency. By 30, I was co-founding Lottie, a health tech company transforming care solutions, and growing into one of the UK’s fastest-rising business creators. But along the way, I noticed something: the world is changing, yet most of us are still stuck playing by outdated rules.
That’s why I launched Wake Up, a podcast for people who are ready to rewrite the playbook. It’s not just about hearing incredible stories, it’s about taking those stories and turning them into real, actionable steps. Each week, I sit down with some of the most inspiring leaders, creators, and innovators to uncover their strategies, struggles, and unfiltered truths.
Wake Up isn’t here to inspire you for a moment, it’s here to empower you for a lifetime. Together, we’ll rethink the way we work, lead, and succeed in a world that demands new ideas. Thank you for joining the movement. Let’s wake up to what’s possible and create something extraordinary.
![Podcast A Bit of Optimism](https://ie.radio.net/podcast-images/175/a-bit-of-optimism.jpeg?version="2663ecf96c7eca87c79962e9fef4a5c1")
Ireland