Unlocking Your Potential and Finding Your Energy with Simon Alexander Ong

Unlocking Your Potential and Finding Your Energy with Simon Alexander Ong

Welcome to a special episode of the podcast celebrating the launch of my new book, You’ve Got This!

On this episode, I share the in-depth interview I did with Simon Alexander Ong. What a legend! For those who don’t know Simon, he’s an award-winning life coach, a personal development guru, a fantastic speaker, and the author of a really, really good book called Energize, which proudly sits on my bookshelf. He also joined me at the You’ve Got This launch event we held in Hatchards, Piccadilly. He was incredible!

Going back to the start

Simon’s journey is fascinating. He initially studied economics before spending around a decade working in the financial sector, joining right in the midst of a turbulent time that saw him in and out of work. It was this experience that really prompted Simon to reflect on what he wanted from life, leading him to the world of coaching. From there, his path evolved to speaking and eventually becoming a keynote speaker on major stages across the globe. This journey also led him to write his first book.

Was it a sign?

One of the early points Simon made that really resonated with me was how he viewed the implosion of the financial world not just as a crisis but as a potential sign. I think that’s a powerful reframe, a real mindset shift, because many people might not immediately see such an event as a learning opportunity. Simon explained that growing up, he felt a strong expectation to pursue a high-earning career in fields like banking, law, or medicine – professions that would bring pride to his family. He hadn’t really questioned these choices until the financial crisis forced him to reconsider whether a career in finance would still lead to the success and progression he had envisioned, especially as the crisis impacted every corner of the industry. Looking back a few years later, he realised that the decision to begin that process of questioning was truly transformative. It ignited a curiosity within him – and he acted on it.

The spark that started it all

This curiosity became the initial spark, driving him to research other industries and potential business ventures before making any hasty decisions. This also highlights a common block for many aspiring entrepreneurs: feeling a lack of resources, whether it’s knowledge, experience, money, or time. Simon’s experience underscores how curiosity can be the catalyst that propels you to seek out those resources and learn what you need to know.

A financial backer?

Over time, Simon’s personal growth began to change his relationship with his job. Even though he didn’t enjoy it, he consciously chose not to let it drain his energy. Instead, he viewed his job as a stepping stone towards his true calling, even before he knew exactly what that was. Using the analogy of running a business, he saw his job as an investor, providing him with the capital to experiment, explore, take courses and seminars, and ultimately test different paths. It was through this process of experimentation that he discovered his passion for coaching.

When to take the leap

For Simon, making the leap into full-time entrepreneurship was a carefully considered decision, influenced by his risk-averse background. He started off combining his day job with his coaching work on evening and weekends, but he reached a limit with three coaching clients. He knew if he took on any others it would impact his performance in all areas of his career. After several months of deliberation and discussions with close friends and his wife, he chose to take that leap of faith. While it has been an incredible journey since then, he emphasised the importance of having some sort of foundation before making such a significant change.

Believe in yourself

As Simon discussed in his book, believing in yourself is paramount. If you don’t back yourself, it’s difficult to convince others of your value. He shared a powerful analogy- there are two sales that occur – the first is selling yourself on your own abilities, and only then can you effectively sell your services to others. While self-doubt and fear are part of the human experience, having conviction means fundamentally believing in your ability to succeed, even if the timeline isn’t immediately clear.

Confidence or courage?

Simon also offered a valuable insight into the nature of confidence itself, suggesting that it’s not a prerequisite for action but rather a byproduct of courage. The first step is often taking a courageous leap into the unknown, trying something new, or reaching out to someone. When these initial acts of courage yield positive results, they build confidence – the knowledge that you can do something. This confidence then fuels self-belief, encouraging you to take on bigger challenges, which generates momentum.

Feel the fear and do it anyway?

When faced with that initial paralysis of fear, Simon shared two key strategies. The first is to focus on what you, personally, can control. Often, we become paralysed by overthinking things we have no influence over. By shifting our focus to controllable actions, such as how many people we reach out to or what content we create, we can feel less helpless. The second strategy is to change your environment. Surrounding yourself with people who are actively taking courageous steps and experimenting with new things can make it easier for you to do the same.

The power of tribes

This beautifully led us to a discussion about the power of “tribes” – the people we surround ourselves with – and how they can dramatically influence our success and mindset. Simon explained that we are inevitably influenced by the people, things, and places we spend the most time around. He shared a powerful analogy: if you spend time with five of your fittest friends, you’ll likely become the sixth; the same applies to millionaires or successful business owners. Being in an environment where you witness live examples of people achieving what you aspire to do shatters your perceived limitations and expands your sense of what’s possible.

Goal setting

I asked Simon for any final thoughts or advice, particularly around goal setting. Simon shared a valuable distinction between goals and vision. He often shares the saying, “Visualise in decades, plan in months, execute daily.” For Simon, a vision is more emotional and long-term, while goals are the specific milestones that help you move towards that vision. He sets his goals in 90-day sprints, recognising that circumstances can change quickly. However, if he had to choose one goal for everyone to focus on, it would be simply to be better than who you were yesterday. He believes that consistently striving for small improvements will yield significant rewards over time.

If you enjoyed this episode and found Simon’s insights valuable, please consider rating and reviewing the podcast and, of course, leaving a review for You’ve Got This if you’ve read it. To find out more about Simon and his work, head over to www.SimonAlexanderOng.com. You can also connect with Simon on LinkedIn, where he shares particularly great content, and on other social media platforms.