My name’s Tom. If we haven’t met before, here’s my story:
My Story
For thirteen years, I was a model employee in my City of London banking job. I got promoted from graduate to associate, then to associate director and director. I was leading transactions worth £100m’s and ended up becoming the “go to guy” between two of the bank’s largest divisions.
My life looked great on paper. I was eating in London’s top restaurants, living in a trendy flat next to St Paul’s Cathedral and flying business class to places like New York, Buenos Aires, Tokyo and Singapore
But beneath the surface, my energy and enthusiasm were being sucked out of me. Life felt hollow and empty. I told myself I’d be happier when I finally “made it”. But all I did was build a perfect corporate life I didn’t actually want.
One afternoon, I broke down in tears on my girlfriend’s sofa. I’d burnt myself out after months of headaches, stress and exhaustion. My body was giving me an unmistakable sign that something had to change.
I took a six month sabbatical from work and halfway through that sabbatical, I quit my job.
For the next two years, I took the time to figure out what actually mattered to me.
Then in 2023, I made a decision that surprised everyone: I went back to my old banking job! Except this time, everything was different. The role that once felt suffocating now felt manageable. I was sleeping better than ever. My Sunday evening dread had vanished and I was actually looking forward to going into the office. Most importantly, my ambition, imagination and creativity were back.
Even though my job hadn’t changed, I had.
What I Do Now
Nowadays I balance my day job with my coaching and writing. I help stuck, stressed and restless professionals find clarity, calm and fulfilment without changing career or quitting their job.
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You can also find me on LinkedIn, and my site is listed on Personal Websites.