Appreciating the value of relationships and mentoring late in her career lead Liz Bradford to spread the knowledge to the benefit of others.
What’s your story?
I’m a farm girl who went to the big city(ies) to make her fortune and instead found burnout and passion. A banker for two decades, I trained as a personal trainer and taught bootcamps on the beaches of Sydney before work, an executive coach and founded coaching programmes tailored for tens of thousands of bankers, and finally made the side hustle my main hustle with Transform Perform and now Maia Health.
What excites you most about your industry?
The theme that runs through the various industries I operate in is change, and that moment someone realises they have so much more control, over their bodies, their careers, and their lives, than they have previously realised. I help clientS embrace rather than endure change, and that never gets boring.
What drives you in your career to push beyond what other people consider normal?
I’m unreasonably optimistic about the future. I love working, and seeing the impact of that work ripple out through empowered lives, their families, their workplaces. I spent 21 years working 80 hour weeks in roles where my only impact was shareholder returns. I was good at it, but i was driven by pure grit. I rarely need to tap into that side of me these days, I happily work just as hard, on problems that get me fired up.
What have been the most useful skills you have learnt and applied in your journey?
The skill of relationship building was one I refused to accept was necessary for a good decade. Once you build real relationships you build organic network, and nothing is a more powerful flywheel for your success, whatever your field. Boundaries, feedback, and conflict management have been key tools that have made some very challenging roles rewarding. Technical skills are table stakes, and now they can be learned or automated with our very own aI tutors and agents. It’s the human skills that will differentiate the leaders of the future.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Apply the rule of five before losing your temper (I have a beaut of one): will it matter in five minutes? Will it matter in five days? Will it matter in five weeks? Will it matter in five months? Will it matter in five years?
Even if something will matter in five years, by the time you’ve reasoned why, you’ve calmed down and realised that losing your shit is not going to be the best way to get what you want.
Who inspires you?
I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the most resilient, hard-working people you can find. I curate my ‘circle of five’, i.e. the people who get the most of my energy and focus, very carefully. Your circle will either push you to build a better version of yourself, or pull you down to their levels. Choose wisely.
What have you learnt recently that blew you away?
That the increased costs of fossil fuels as a result of the war will exceed the budget requirements of shifting entirely to renewables. This blows my mind, it will matter in five years, and our short sightedness as a society frustrates me.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would have sought out mentors earlier in my life. Having grown up very independently from a young age, it took decades for me to realise the value of others’ wisdom and guidance.
How do you unwind?
Walking in nature with my dog, preferably for hours.
What is a major mindset change, belief shift or ‘ah ha’ moment that you’ve experienced in relation to your career?
That we do our best work when we’re happy, not that we’re happy because we’re getting recognised at work. Sean Achor’s ted Talk and book on this are some of my go to resources for clients. Find reasons to be grateful, find work that makes oyu happy, and the world will reward you.
Everyone in business should read this book:
Influence, by Robert Cialdini. A team member gave this to me when I left the corporate world, and I suddenly saw how much easier the past 21 years could have been if I’d understood the simple rules he lays out. The power of reciprocation, commitment and consistency especially rang true. I think many of us do these things without much thought, but systematise it in trying to help others and you’re unstoppable.
Shameless plug for your business or career:
I help people address the performance gaps they feel between the person they want to be now, and the things they know they’re capable of. I work on physical wellbeing and energy management, career strategy and execution, and building better relationships so it’s all for something when you get home.
How can people connect with you?
I’m generally best on email or LinkedIn, I’m always keen to connect and learn from as many people as possible.
Social Media Links?
www.linkedin.com/in/lizbradford
This interview is part of the CallumConnects series.