Blog

'The more that you read,

The more things you will know.

The more that you learn,

The more places you'll go...'

Dr. Suess

The blog posts below pull together ideas absorbed from world-renowned thought leaders and link them to my own thoughts, observations and experiences. They combine elements of the business world, general life and competing as an endurance athlete - as the human brain doesn't exist as an isolated entity, and is influenced by our physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing. These concepts are linked to a broader perspective of sustainable performance which combines mindset, movement, exposure to nature, nutrition, hormones, neurological health, social connections and other factors.

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Minds Over Matter

Feb 14, 2019
4 min

Minds Over Matter

It doesn’t make sense. My head hurts from thinking about it. I’ve logically analysed every potential solution; there is no solution! These statements are usually accompanied by a puzzled look of confusion, doubt or outright despair. My clients have generally grappled with their predicament, challenge or opportunity; often for months, years and sometimes even decades. Sharp, intellectually astute and leaders within their field, our clients have usually scrutinised every possib

What are your three top tips for anyone interested in discovering more about coaching?

Mar 13, 2018
6 min

What are your three top tips for anyone interested in discovering more about coaching?

Sometimes it can be confusing to know what to do or how to actually get going. The previous articles in this “Discover Coaching” series will hopefully have given you the background that you need by introducing you to a variety of areas, highlighting useful resources (websites, podcasts, books, articles), my coaching backstory, debating different qualifications and advice on how to tackle tough challenges. The aim of this final article is to neatly pull everything together b

What Coaching Qualification Would You Recommend?

Mar 6, 2018
8 min

What Coaching Qualification Would You Recommend?

Coaching qualifications present yet another conundrum to circumnavigate. It’s partly the sheer volume of coaching qualifications available, partly the vast array of course structures, content and design, partly the lack of a globally recognised professional coaching qualification*, partly the enormous range of coaching approaches and partly the hefty price tag attached to some courses. What appears on the surface to be a simple decision like weighing up the pros and cons of

How Did You Know What Coaching Niche to Specialise In?

Feb 20, 2018
8 min

How Did You Know What Coaching Niche to Specialise In?

Chocolate Leadership Vanilla Executive Strawberry Life Choc Chip Transition Salted Caramel Confidence Caramel Business Coconut Empowerment Pistachio Wellbeing Lemon Health Raspberry Spiritual Orange Christian If you were given a massive tub and had to fill it with ice-cream that you could e

What Coaching Resources Would You Recommend?

Jan 30, 2018
7 min

What Coaching Resources Would You Recommend?

Following on from the first couple of “Discover Coaching Series” posts this time I focus on key TED Talks, books, articles and podcasts that I’ve tried and tested over my coaching career. This builds on the previous” post that covered different coaching professional associations and other online resources. It's also worth checking out the first post “What’s your personal coaching journey?” to start from the beginning. BOOKS The Art of Coaching: A Handbook of Tips and Tools -

What Coaching Websites Would You Recommend?

Jan 16, 2018
5 min

What Coaching Websites Would You Recommend?

This “Discover Coaching” series was designed to consolidate my thoughts, experience and knowledge around coaching and present it in an accessible format for anyone who’s interested in moving into the coaching profession, introducing a coaching-culture in their organisation or simply becoming more coach-like within their everyday life. The idea was formulated after receiving several emails over the last few years which usually follow the format below: "Hello Anna-Marie, I hope

Taking Networking Outside

Jul 6, 2017
3 min

Taking Networking Outside

On the afternoon of Tuesday 30th June 2015 our flight descended into London Heathrow airport after six years living and working abroad as an expat in the Middle East and Australia. Once the initial flurry of move related administration and excitement of a quick trip over to Germany to race Challenge Roth; the biggest global long-distance triathlon, a rather daunting realisation hit home. After an extended period of time overseas returning to the United Kingdom meant my Britis

Global Nomadic Leaders

Jun 5, 2017
2 min

Global Nomadic Leaders

Dr. Katrina Burrus kindly invited me to her home in Geneva earlier this year after connecting through the International Coach Federation (ICF) Leadership and Executive Community of Practice (CP). She’s created a unique niche coaching “Global Nomadic Leaders” a phrase she coined after working with individuals who are: “Masters of multiculturalism, raised in multiple countries, speaking multiple languages, Global Nomadic Leaders are highly mobile and adaptive individuals, thriv

Coaching Spaces

Mar 20, 2017
4 min

Coaching Spaces

We’re stood overlooking the River Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament; the murky water churns below as the first rays of sun creep over the London skyline. I stand shoulder to shoulder with my client on Waterloo Bridge, wrapped snugly against the cold clutching freshly brewed coffee as the wind whips around. Time almost stands still, but for the grey clouds racing overhead as we explore the mental curiosity with quiet wonder. The coaching space sets the scene of every co

Sound of Silence

Feb 7, 2017
3 min

Sound of Silence

When was the last time you indulged in a moment of pure silence? On your own in the shower or out for a run? Everything paused; the to-do list, "should have done" and "must dos" faded into the background. Your internal chatter diminished and waves of silence washed over you uninterrupted by mobile phone notifications, nagging thoughts or any other typical incessant background noise of 21st century living. Our daily lives are an endless cacophony of sound as noise assaults our

Women's Adventure Expo - Saturday 28th January 2017

Jan 15, 2017
7 min

Women's Adventure Expo - Saturday 28th January 2017

‘Everyone Can Be An Ambassador For Adventure In Their Daily Life. It’s All About Talking The Talk And Walking The Walk Every Day. There Is A World Of Adventure To Explore Every Time You Step Outside Your Front Door’. Anna-Marie Watson. Half the battle of committing to and completing an adventure, whether it be big or small, is convincing ourselves that we can do it. Performance coach, founder of ‘Reach for More’, ex-military Officer and qualified expedition leader, Anna-Marie

Say Yes More.

Oct 21, 2016
3 min

Say Yes More.

Say Yes More… These three simple words are what encouraged me to take action and set the ball rolling for a brilliant running weekend micro adventure in Spain. How? If we rewind a couple of weeks to when the monthly newsletter from my sponsor WAA the French endurance equipment company popped into my inbox it should make sense. I scanned through the usual athlete results and equipment updates then my eyes stumbled across an invitation to take part in the 3CIMS (Summits) trail

Walking & Talking in Nature

Sep 29, 2016
3 min

Walking & Talking in Nature

Do the following questions strike a chord for your clients or maybe just you? Working 11, 12, 13 or more hours a day cooped up inside and permanently attached to a computer? Struggling to hit 10,000 daily steps to satisfy the FitBit? Mentally fatigued juggling 101 dead lines and demanding clients who add to a never-ending “to-do” list that regularly spirals out of control? Was that a resounding “Yes!”; grudging “Maybe”, niggling “Sometimes” or resolute “No”? For most of us wh

What's in a Name?

May 9, 2016
3 min

What's in a Name?

“Scrawny Monkey”, Nameless, Anna-Marie, Anna, YaYa, George, A-M, Louisa... I've collected a variety of names over my lifetime. For the record I (apparently) resembled a scrawny monkey, when born nearly two months premature during the famous political “Winter of Discontent” when Newcastle entirely ground to a halt with 70cm of snow. The name debate between my parents lasted a while (hence “Nameless”) until “Anna-Marie” trumped “Laura” to the post. This decision was based on th

Memory Lane

Apr 4, 2016
3 min

Memory Lane

It had been on the cards for a while; 10, 5, 2 and 1 year parental warnings had been issued repeatedly but I'd always mentally dismissed them as sometime in the "future". A lifetime away. But it's finally happened...the Watson family home has been sold after 36 years and my parents are officially downsizing. Fond childhood memories immediately spring to mind; building extensive Swallows and Amazon-esque dens on the lawn to the annoyance of the old lady next door, daring my yo

TGt Meets...Anna-Marie Watson

Mar 8, 2016
4 min

TGt Meets...Anna-Marie Watson

I was delighted to chat to Liz Ledger from "TGt" as part of annual International Women's Day celebrations on 8th March. The interview series covers a variety of inspirational women from the local area in business, entertainment and sport about their personal and professional experiences. Which woman would you compare yourself to? Question number 1 and stumped already!! I’ve genuinely never compared myself to anyone, as I’m simply Anna-Marie. I draw inspiration and positivity

Mind Over Matter

Feb 28, 2016
3 min

Mind Over Matter

This may be difficult, but get ready and step away from the self-help fluff!! Performance coaching focuses on motivation, goal-setting, mental toughness and balance with a healthy dollop of science. Trainers – check Race entry - check Training plan – check Nutritional plan – check Mindset plan - ???? The collective running community spends The collective running community spends hundreds of hours pounding the pavement, hundreds of pounds on the latest kit or technical gadgets

The Great Outdoors

Feb 10, 2016
3 min

The Great Outdoors

Three months old… On a glacier in Norway… In a Fenwicks* plastic bag… In the 21st century some might call it child cruelty, though with hindsight this was probably the moment the seed was sown that leads me to reflect so positively on Arctic warfare training with the marines in Norway, mad marathons starting at Everest Base Camp and extreme treks across the Sahara Desert. This adoption or “download” (Bargh & Morsella, 2008) of cultural norms through an unquestioned passive i

Resolution Boycott

Jan 19, 2016
3 min

Resolution Boycott

A couple of weeks ago nearly two thirds of the British population will have diligently made well-intended New Year Resolutions in a resolve to get fitter (36% of women and 30% of men), eat more healthily (36% of women and 26% of men) or take more care of their appearance (15% for both women and men). Yet only 31 days later by the end of January 32% will have broken these resolutions (YouGov, 2015). So this year I simply decided to continue with my usual routine that balances

Zestology

Jan 18, 2016
1 min

Zestology

I was simply over the moon to be interviewed by TV presenter and author Tony Wrighton at the end of last year to chat all things Marathon de Sables, Arctic warfare training, the Great Outdoors, Walking & Talking, ‪‎coaching, flow‬, decision-making, Nepal... Zestology is a personal firm favourite on my weekly podcast list to learn about ‪energy‬, ‎vitality‬ ‪and motivation‬ then integrate lessons learnt into my performance ‪coaching‬ conversations. I'd love you to check out my