One of the best books I've ever read... (and we just released our London Marathon Vlog)

Opportunities Aren't Handed Out —You Earn Them

For those just here for the book recommendation, it was:

When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead by Jerry Weintraub

For those who want to continue the read…

I am feeling incredibly inspired at the moment. I know I cant always run when the inspiration is crash hot and that it is through consistently showing up every day no matter what that things will truly continue to build and grow.. BUT

I am currently sitting in the front seat of my car, laptop open and a mind full of thoughts that I wanted to share before I started my drive home.

I’ve been thinking a lot about opportunity lately. The ones that come your way when you least expect them, and the ones you have to fight for, create, or flat-out drag into existence. Running the London Marathon this year wasn’t just another race for me. It was one of those moments. An earned opportunity, not just a chance. The kind of thing that tests who you are, stretches your limits, and in doing so, reshapes how you lead, how you build, and how you show up for the people around you.

This book reminded me on my perspective of building a life full of beautiful stories, all whilst building strong connections and further about never giving up at the first “no” if its something you deeply desire.

Jerry Weintraub’s When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead has been sitting with me for weeks. It’s one of those books that doesn’t just tell stories, it reminds you what’s required if you actually want to do something great. If there’s one thing Weintraub made clear, it’s this: no one is coming to hand you the life, business, or experiences you want. You earn them. Through hard work, relentless persistence, and the kind of stubborn belief that makes other people uncomfortable.

When I got the opportunity to run London, it wasn’t convenient. It meant doubling down on training while running Fortem, early mornings, late nights, and the kind of discipline that leaves no room for excuses. But that’s the point. It forced me to lean into the exact qualities that shape both my personal growth and my leadership. Resilience, consistency, and a refusal to settle. It reminded me that leadership isn’t telling people how to show up, it’s showing them. By doing the hard thing, you earn the credibility to expect more from your team. Sometimes this has been me, sometimes it hasn’t and sometimes I haven’t even known how to show up. But, I am here, and I am trying and thats what matters most to me.

The parallels between training for that marathon and building Fortem are impossible to ignore. I spent the last 30 minutes searching for some of the learnings I had written down in a journal over 5 years ago about this book and finally I found them..

So here they are, I’ve quickly typed them up.

• If you don’t ask, you don’t get. (Closed mouths don’t get fed)
  Weintraub’s entire career was built on bold asks, doors opened because he knocked, often when everyone else stayed quiet.

• Be relentless with rejection.
  He got turned down repeatedly, for concerts, films, deals, but every "no" only fuelled his next attempt.

• Opportunities are earned, not handed out.
  His break with Elvis? Pure hustle, showing up, pushing through gatekeepers, and refusing to settle.

• Relationships are your real currency.
  Weintraub mastered connecting with people, understanding that trust and persistence open far more doors than talent alone.

• Work ethic beats talent when talent takes it easy.
  He was never the smartest in the room, but often the hardest-working, showing up early, staying late, and outlasting competitors.

• Charm is a tool, but consistency seals the deal.
  Confidence and charm can get you noticed, but only consistent action earns long-term opportunity.

• Failure isn’t final, it’s tuition.
  Weintraub saw every loss, mistake, or humiliation as the cost of education on his way to success.

• Take big swings, comfort zones kill dreams.
  From Elvis to Ocean’s Eleven, he bet big on ideas others doubted, knowing calculated risk creates outsized rewards.

• You’re never “too small” to chase giants.
  He started with no money, no connections, and still pitched icons like Sinatra because self-belief trumps circumstance.

• The hustle never stops, earn it daily.
  Even after success, Weintraub kept chasing the next deal, proving the greatest opportunities come to those who never get complacent.

Every time I lean into something like London, I’m reminded it doesn’t just stop with me. When I push myself to show up better, physically, mentally, as a leader. It has a flow-on effect. It shifts how I approach the business, the conversations I’m in, the expectations I have. That translates to new projects, bigger opportunities, and space for our team to keep growing alongside the business. At the end of the day, the more I stretch myself, the more it opens things up for everyone around me. That’s how I want to keep building, by earning it, not waiting for it.

For those interested, we just released our London Marathon vlog and it can be viewed here

As always, these are my thoughts on the fly and I would really love comments, thoughts and feedback as I take the leap to share more of my mind and what we are building.

Big love