18.11.2024
We sat down with executive performance coach, Thomas Woodland, to understand his approach to business and life, and how ‘reframing’ changed his whole outlook.
One of your key principles is your Inside Out’ approach. Can you explain that?
Absolutely. It’s more than a philosophy; it’s understanding the truth of life’s mechanics. Many coaches use frameworks, but I don’t. I point to how life truly works. Life doesn’t function one way one day and differently the next. Once you understand the mechanics of something deeply, like life itself, you naturally operate it better without effort. I guide clients to see how they’re using the ‘machinery’ of life so they can stop operating it in ways that don’t serve them.
How did you come to adopt your current approach to life and work? Was there a turning point for you?
Yeah, 100%. I was working in private equity, earning a fortune, and living in Marylebone after moving from East London. I thought, maybe changing external circumstances would bring me fulfilment—changing jobs, going to business school, even practicing yoga. But one morning, after a night of drinking, I had this moment. I was miserable. I had everything I thought I wanted—great job, nice apartment—but it wasn’t making me happy. And then I realized something: life doesn’t work that way.
Are there any real-world examples of how this perspective has transformed someone under pressure?
Yes, one client, a former Goldman Sachs trader, quit to start his own sports betting business. His marriage was strained because he was mentally absorbed by the business. Through coaching, he learned to be more present and found that his life reflected this change. When he later had to wind down his business due to regulatory changes, he handled it with such grace that his main investor offered him a role running their hedge fund. In his words, he couldn’t have managed it without the insights gained through coaching.
How do you get someone to act with that level of calm in stressful situations?
People create their own dramas through their thinking, no matter the circumstances. I help them see that their thinking is the source of their stress. Once they realize that, they can quickly return to a state of balance. Other coaches might focus on resilience-building activities, but this approach works from the understanding that we naturally operate best when we’re clear-minded and not caught up in worry.
How does this philosophy affect someone who feels like the world is against them?
They need to be open to exploring it first. If someone’s in a victim mindset, for example, life will often mirror that belief back to them. What we think creates our reality. So, if they think everyone’s against them, they’ll find evidence everywhere for that. I help clients realize that the external world is a reflection of their internal beliefs. Changing one’s outlook starts with looking inward.
Can you share an example of someone who intuitively understands these principles?
Yes, I met Tim Draper, an early investor in Tesla. In everything he talked about, I noticed the very principles that I teach, even though he’d likely never had a formal conversation about them. Some people just get these concepts intuitively.
Do you think this approach applies to everyone? Are there people who can find fulfilment in their external circumstances?
It depends. For me, I realized that satisfaction and fulfilment come from within. It’s not about changing the outside world, but about understanding that what we experience is a result of our thinking. If I had understood that earlier, I could’ve been perfectly happy. But the key realization was that it’s about seeing life differently—from the inside out.
What was the process of your transition from private equity to where you are now?
I spent another couple of years in private equity, observing the environment. People would ask why I was so happy, and I realized I had shifted my mindset. Then, I decided to leave, went to LA, and got into coaching. People at work had already suggested I should be a coach, so I followed that intuition. I ended up studying under a coach in LA, and that’s where everything clicked.
What kinds of traits does adopting an ‘Inside Out’ perspective develop?
There’s a natural, effortless confidence that comes from this approach—a sense of being ‘unf*ckwithable’.
It makes people stress less often, and when they do, they recover quicker. There’s a natural, effortless confidence that comes from this approach—a sense of being ‘unf*ckwithable.’ When you understand this, it becomes clear that when others are critical, it’s because they don’t see things as you do, and it has nothing to do with you. You see them as innocent in that way.
So, what is the core of this philosophy you live by?
The core is that life becomes a fun game when you stop taking it too seriously. The less attached you are to outcomes, the easier they come. When you’re calm and relaxed, your mind is elastic, and that playfulness leads to better decision-making. It’s about finding joy in the journey and not letting external circumstances dictate your happiness.
Do you think this philosophy is more difficult to adopt in today’s world, with so much external pressure through social media and other influences?
There’s definitely a polarization. More people are waking up to this understanding, but there are also more people lost in the noise of misinformation and external pressures. But the reality is, the more you get this approach, the more you can navigate the chaos of the world with ease. Material wealth and status are fine, but they don’t bring fulfilment unless you have this deeper understanding. The paradox is, the more you let go of attachment to outcomes, the more successful you become.
How do you guide others to make this shift?
It’s about trusting yourself, trusting that inner resonance. When you feel that, you know you’re on the right track. People often overthink, especially in business decisions, because they’re stuck in fear. My goal is to point people to that inner knowing. That’s where true leadership and clarity come from.
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