What if the biggest obstacle in your life isn't external circumstances, but the invisible beliefs you've carried for years?

In this thought-provoking conversation, James speaks with leadership coach, author, and former Royal Air Force pilot Will Steel about personal transformation, authentic leadership, and the hidden constraints that stop people from reaching their full potential.

Will shares his fascinating journey from military and commercial aviation into the world of personal development, describing the life-changing moment that helped him uncover a limiting belief he had carried since childhood.

That experience led him to dedicate his life to helping others break free from self-imposed limitations and create lives filled with greater purpose, fulfillment, and impact.

Throughout the conversation, James and Will explore the power of self-awareness, the importance of asking better questions, and why many people unknowingly live inside "glass boxes" of their own making.

Will explains how our past experiences shape our future expectations and why true leadership begins with understanding ourselves first.

Will shares powerful stories from his coaching work, including transformational breakthroughs that have impacted families, businesses, and entire organizations.

This is a powerful conversation about freedom, courage, self-discovery, and what becomes possible when we stop living by old stories and start creating a future that genuinely inspires us.

About Will Steel

Will Steel is a leadership coach, author, and former Royal Air Force pilot who has coached CEOs, entrepreneurs, senior executives, military leaders, athletes, psychologists, religious leaders, and high performers from around the world.

After serving as a military pilot and later flying commercially, Will transitioned into transformational leadership and personal development, spending over two decades helping people identify and overcome the hidden beliefs that limit their effectiveness and fulfilment.

He is the author of Free To Lead: Unleash Your Hidden Leadership Genius and works with individuals and organizations to develop authentic leadership, create meaningful change, and unlock greater levels of performance and purpose.

Key Takeaways

• Many of our limitations come from meanings we assigned to past experiences.
• Self-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadership.
• Freedom begins when we question the stories we've been living by.
• True leadership starts with leading ourselves.
• Personal growth often requires uncomfortable truths.
• Success without fulfilment eventually feels empty.
• Transformation happens when we become willing to see what we've been avoiding.
• Living authentically creates greater impact and influence.

In Will's Words

• "It lights me up to light people up."
• "You have to create something that lights you up."
• "Are you willing to disappoint another to be true to yourself?"

Connect with Will Steel

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In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, James speaks with award-winning author, radio host, and educator Grace Sammon about authenticity, storytelling, and the power of sharing our experiences.

Grace reflects on her journey as a writer and how her novels became a pathway to deeper self-discovery. She shares how writing helped her navigate changing identities, life transitions, and difficult personal experiences while uncovering a stronger sense of purpose and authenticity.

The conversation explores the healing power of stories, the responsibility that comes with telling them, and how literature can help people make sense of their own lives. Grace also discusses her latest novel, The Reliable Narrator, and the themes of truth, silence, friendship, resilience, and personal transformation that inspired it.

James and Grace delve into creativity, vulnerability, reinvention, and why it's never too late to discover new purpose or begin a new chapter. They also discuss the impact of volunteering, the importance of meaningful human connection, and how the stories we tell can leave a lasting mark on others.

This is a powerful conversation about authenticity, courage, purpose, and the enduring impact of finding and sharing your voice.

Grace Sammon is an award-winning author, educator, radio host, and literary advocate. She is the author of eight books, including the acclaimed novels The Eves and The Reliable Narrator.

A recipient of the 2025 Indies United Award for Inspirational Women in Literature, Media, and Journalism, Grace is known for exploring themes of identity, friendship, reinvention, resilience, and personal growth through her writing.

Alongside her literary work, Grace has spent many years supporting others through education, hospice volunteering, advocacy, mentoring, and broadcasting. Her work continues to inspire readers and listeners to embrace authenticity and live with greater purpose.

• Authenticity begins with understanding who you truly are.
• Our stories have the power to heal, connect, and inspire others.
• Life transitions can become opportunities for growth and reinvention.
• Finding purpose often comes from helping and serving others.
• Writing can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and reflection.
• Everyone has a story worth sharing.
• Personal growth requires honesty, courage, and vulnerability.
• Meaning and purpose can be found at any stage of life.
• Volunteering often gives back more than we expect.
• We are never truly "done" while there is still life to live.

🗣️ “I’m not done. I’m just not done.”

🗣️ “Speak even when your voice shakes.”

🗣️ “To thine own self be true.”

🗣️ “Words last, but the voice flies.”

🗣️ “Being authentic is living the life your soul was meant to live.”

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What if success wasn’t just about profit, but about purpose, fulfilment, and the impact you leave behind?

In this thought-provoking episode of What’s Important To You?, James Dean sits down with spiritual business coach Andrew Grinbaum to explore the intersection of business, mindset, spirituality, and personal growth.

Andrew shares how entrepreneurs and leaders can create meaningful success without sacrificing their values or wellbeing.

Drawing on over 30 years of studying Kabbalah, mysticism, coaching, and business strategy, Andrew explains why so many high achievers still feel empty despite external success and how reconnecting with purpose can transform both business and life.

The conversation dives into spirituality in modern leadership, the role of mindset in shaping reality, emotional resilience, identity shifts in entrepreneurship, and the importance of treating both ourselves and others with dignity and respect.

Andrew Grinbaum is a spiritual business coach, entrepreneur, and founder of the nonprofit Spirituality in Business Institute. He helps entrepreneurs and executives align purpose with profit by integrating ancient wisdom, mindset work, and modern business strategy.

Having built and scaled multiple successful businesses while coaching thousands of professionals and leaders, Andrew’s work focuses on helping high performers create businesses that not only succeed financially but also contribute positively to the world.

Through his coaching, teaching, and nonprofit work, Andrew encourages leaders to embrace authenticity, values-based leadership, and personal transformation as the foundation for sustainable success.

• Spirituality in business and leadership
• Finding purpose beyond financial success
• Values, mindset, and fulfillment
• Kabbalah and ancient wisdom in modern coaching
• Emotional regulation and mindfulness
• Identity shifts in entrepreneurship
• Human dignity and common courtesy in leadership
• Coaching and overcoming fear-based thinking
• Building businesses that create positive impact
• Fulfilment versus material success

• “Your mindset makes a huge difference.”
• “Fulfilment is not in material things.”
• “All that’s missing in the world is common courtesy and human dignity.”

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