Welcome back to "Your Best Year Starts Here" with your hosts, Neil and Nigel! In this energising episode, we delve into the transformative journey from exhaustion to exhilaration, illustrating the profound impact of self-care and strategic decision-making on personal and professional performance.

• Recovery and Performance: Nigel shares his remarkable turnaround from a state of energy depletion to delivering an outstanding presentation skills day. His experience underscores the critical importance of listening to our bodies and the undeniable connection between well-being and peak performance.
• The Art of Saying No: Discover the liberating power of saying no to good opportunities to make room for great ones. Nigel's personal anecdotes reveal how this practice opened doors to phenomenal opportunities, highlighting the significance of prioritising and making space for what truly matters.
• Time Investment: Neil and Nigel discuss the common challenge of managing time effectively, emphasizing the necessity of declining requests that detract from our primary goals. They offer insights into overcoming the fear of disappointment and the importance of committing fully to chosen endeavours.
• Self-Trust and Reflection: The conversation explores the importance of trusting one's instincts and the value of reflecting on past decisions. By examining where our attention has been most fruitful, we can make informed choices about where to focus our energies moving forward.
• Setting Boundaries: Nigel shares candid examples from his personal and professional life, demonstrating how setting boundaries and asserting oneself can lead to increased self-esteem and respect from others.
• Value vs. Price: A discussion on the delicate balance between the value we provide and the fees we charge. Neil and Nigel encourage listeners to stand firm on their worth and not to undermine their value through discounts, drawing a compelling analogy with the cost of refreshments at conferences.

• Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your physical and mental health; it's the foundation of your ability to perform at your best.
• Prioritise Wisely: Learn to say no to opportunities that don't align with your goals or values, freeing you up to pursue what truly excites you.
• Invest Your Time: Treat your time like the precious resource it is. Say no to time-stealers and yes to activities that contribute to your growth and happiness.
• Trust Yourself: Have faith in your instincts and experiences. They are powerful guides in making decisions that serve your best interests.
• Maintain Your Value: Stand by the value you bring. Compromising on your worth not only affects your income but can also diminish the perceived value of your work.

In this heartfelt episode of "Your Best Year Starts Here," Neil Martin and Nigel Risner delve into a critical aspect of professional and personal life: the imperative of self-care and its direct impact on our performance. Join us as we navigate through Nigel's personal anecdote about confronting his limitations and the profound lessons it unfolds for all of us.

• Nigel's Candid Experience: Nigel opens up about his recent struggle with low iron levels, necessitating iron infusions, and how this physical ailment significantly impacted his professional obligations. Despite feeling unwell, he proceeded with a scheduled presentation, which, while well-received, was not up to his usual standard.

• The Interplay of Health and Performance: The episode underscores the often overlooked connection between our physical well-being and our professional output. Nigel's story illustrates how health issues can subtly undermine our capabilities, affecting the energy and quality we bring to our work.

• Acknowledging and Acting on Limitations: A pivotal takeaway from Nigel's experience is the courage it takes to acknowledge when we are not at our best and the wisdom in taking necessary steps to address it, even if it means rescheduling important commitments.

• The Ripple Effect of Compromised Performance: Nigel's reflection on his decision to push through his commitments serves as a reminder of the broader implications of not being in top form. It's not just about individual performance but also about how our state affects those around us, including colleagues, clients, and in Nigel's case, his audience.

• Self-Care as a Priority: This episode serves as a poignant reminder that taking care of oneself is not just a personal necessity but a professional responsibility. Ignoring early warning signs of fatigue or illness can lead to diminished quality of work and potentially more significant consequences.

• A Universal Lesson: While Nigel's story is rooted in his experiences as a speaker, the underlying message resonates across all professions. Recognizing and respecting our physical and mental limits is crucial, irrespective of our field of work.

As we wrap up this episode, we are reminded of the critical balance between pushing through challenges and recognizing when to step back for our well-being. Let this episode be a reminder to listen to our bodies, prioritize self-care, and ensure that we are always performing at our best, not just for ourselves but for everyone around us.