Me
About
As the son of a hard drinking London-Irishman, who was born on St Patrick’s Day, my life was never going to be straightforward ...
At 14, following my parent’s divorce I pretty much grew up overnight. I realized no one was coming to save me and if I wanted to transform my life, only one person could do it. Me.
At the time I didn’t realise the impact four words could have on my life and I asked myself the simple question: “What do I want?”.
First up I needed money, so I started making changes. At 15, my work ethic kicked in. Mornings started at 3 a.m. collecting fruit and veg from Covent Garden market.
I started making my own money and realized it’s not what happens that determines your future, it’s what you do about what happens.
The next curveball came when I was 19. I became seriously ill and died twice on the operating table of a North London hospital. I was resuscitated but wasn’t expected to survive the night. I did (obviously!) and realized again my future was in my hands. At this moment I became obsessed with the power of my own mindset to get back out in the world living the life I wanted to live.
Once again, I asked myself, “What do I want?”. This time it was vitality, so I started setting myself daily recovery goals. Little by little. Everyday. I learnt that repetition made the difference. An incredible medical team saved my life, but it was 100% my decision how amazing my life could be.
"At this moment I became obsessed with the power of my own mindset to get back out in the world living the life I wanted to live."
20s
I set the bar high and at 21 I flew to Ibiza for a month. I stayed 29 years.
By 23 I was working 7 days a week, 16 hours a day, looking after some of the biggest venues on the island including Cova Santa and the Zoo (now 528). I didn’t have all the answers, but I had the same playbook that powered those early mornings at the market. Mindset, discipline and absolute belief
30s
By 30 I was immersed at Café Mambo, mixing with the world’s elite DJs and broadcasting Pete Tong’s BBC Radio One Essential Selection live. I say this not to boast but to prove, cliché as it sounds, you can have anything you want if you develop a winning mindset.
In my late 30s I challenged myself further and became part of an exclusive event and concierge agency. We launched Swedish House Mafia in Pacha Ibiza, hosted album launches for high profile artists and staged spectacular private parties for Ibiza’s elite. Some days lasted 48 hours and I trusted the same pattern, focus, mindset and determination.
40s
In my 40s I was asked to consult on a new hotel concept in Mallorca. I expected a calmer vibe, to suit this stage of my life. When David Guetta, Stormzy, Swedish House Mafia and Creamfields all joined me from Ibiza, it exploded into the largest festival and pool party venue on the island. We also had a full page in The Sunday Times so I guess I can live without that calmer vibe.
TRUSTED BY
Other things about me
- Most people have a finite number of nights out in a lifetime, normally at the weekend. Living in Ibiza sort of rewrote that rulebook for me.
- I read a mindset book a week and capture my key takeaways in no more than one page.
- After years of living next to the Mediterranean Sea, I agreed to do a New Year’s Day swim in the North Sea back in the UK. Big. Mistake.
- I started coaching informally 32 years ago when I was leading large teams in Ibiza.
- When I was 40, I completed my first London marathon. My wife Katy had a serious ski accident, and I promised the medical team, if they saved her, I’d raise money for their charity. On my first training run I threw up after 400 metres. 10 marathons and 32 half marathons later I’m still running.
- Working in the music industry since my 20s with long hours, late nights, alcohol and craziness I often think I’m on my 9th life. I still love that vibe but now I add in fitness and health.
- My spoken Spanish is fluent, my written not so…
- I led large teams for many years and among the highs, I’ve also encountered some of life’s lows, helping people through fatality, addiction, suicide and trauma.
- My most random, comical memory is a 4-hour drive to the Miami Music Conference in a red, 2-seater Mustang convertible, neither of which I was sitting in.
- I’m currently training to run up England’s highest peak, if all goes well, I’ll be able to run back down as well.
- I’ve been with my wife Katy for 30 years. We met in our early 20s, grew up together in Ibiza but have only actually been married 9 years. Neither of us wanted to rush into it…
- I became a father to 2 wonderful daughters in my 40s. We moved home to the UK 6 years ago for them to grow up in the Northumberland countryside. We still have homes in Ibiza and Mallorca when we want to escape the (daily) rain.