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Ready is a mirage; alignment is real. This week I sit down with author and coach Nikki Chaplin to unpack what it takes to play bigger, live authentically, and design a life that feels like play without torching the practicalities that keep your world turning. After 25 years in corporate banking, Nikki didn’t just pivot—she layered writing, speaking, and coaching until a new identity took shape. Along the way she learned to swap perfection for progress, fear for curiosity, and titles for the inner compass of values.
We dig into the moments that shaped her: the mentor who believed before she did, the three words from Les Brown—“Why don’t you?”—that launched her first book, and the jolt of a merger that pushed her out of a safe role and into the work her soul had been asking for. Nikki shares a simple L and I framework: learn the basics, then invest in yourself through communities, mentors, and practice. We get practical on the difference between scattered work and intentional action, how to use journaling to name what you truly want, and why purpose isn’t a single path but many doorways you can walk through with confidence.
If you’re stuck in a job that pays the bills while your heart whispers “more,” this conversation offers a bridge. You’ll hear how to honour financial realities while building creative momentum, how to test whether you love a new path before betting the farm, and how a tribe of peers can turn scary leaps into smart steps. Expect honest stories, useful advice and a warm nudge to choose the next brave move—because impact starts when you do.
Connect with Nikki on Substack, LinkedIn or Instagram

https://thinkbrave.net
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Have you ever felt trapped by the daily grind and responsibilities, shrunk yourself to 'fit in' or followed the rules then realised they didn't bring you the success or happiness you'd been promised? Tick, tick and tick. My life had plateaued, my unused potential was wasting away and I felt powerless to change anything. I wanted to escape but instead of running away, I decided that ordinary is optional, and I could DECIDE to live authentically, put FUN back on the agenda and do more of the things that made me feel alive. This podcast is one of them and through these conversations I'd love nothing more than to be able to help you do the same!

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