The Crisp Report – Invisible Strings
I’ve got a confession. Every time I listen to my coach, I feel inferior. Not in a bad way.... he’s brilliant, he’s helped me hugely over the last three years. But because I know I could never be like him.
He’s smart, eloquent, polished. Decades of experience. More than four books to his name. The kind of voice that carries authority the second he walks into a room.
And it takes me straight back to being six years old in primary school. Made to stand in front of the class because I couldn’t spell the word breakfast. The whole class laughed. That scar still whispers in my ear even today: “You’ll never be that good.”
I’m sure that teacher had no idea that one small moment would carve such a deep mark.... one I’ve carried for over 52 years. I wonder how many of us are still carrying scars from things others thought were small at the time.
And it’s not just my coach. I still feel it when I hear someone with a clean, confident accent. When they list out degrees, A-levels, exam results. I’ve got one CSE grade 1 in technical drawing. Not much use today.
So yes… sometimes I sit in awe of people who are clever on paper. And the voice whispers again.
And then someone like Steve Riat reminds me otherwise. A few years ago Steve asked me if I could mentor one of his team. It was successful, ran for a couple of years with everyone happy. Yesterday, he wrote me this testimonial:
“What makes Mark stand out is his coaching style: he doesn’t simply hand out answers. Instead, he helps others uncover insights for themselves, creating a powerful learning experience that builds confidence and lasting growth.” (Read the full Testimonials in my Bio.)
That’s not polish. That’s not grammar. That’s me ....stripping it back, listening deeply, helping people grow, and above all, doing it my way. Not Polished, not trying to be like someone else. Just being ME.
And maybe that’s the point.
Because here’s the truth: We all have invisible strings that hold us back.... old scars, voices, comparisons, issues. They tug at us when we step forward, whisper when we’re about to speak up, and tighten when we try to grow. They say it so often, we start to believe them.
But those aren’t weaknesses. They’re proof we’ve lived. They’re the very things that make us trustworthy, human, and worth listening to.
When people come to me for mentoring, they don’t want another textbook-reading coach. And when companies book me to speak, they don’t want another polished, theory-driven keynote. They want someone who’s lived it. Who’s carried the weight, tell it how it is, who knows how it feels at 3am when the numbers don’t add up. Who knows the sting of your best client cancelling just as you’re boarding a plane with your family.
After 36 years in business, that’s what I bring. Not polish. Raw, lived presence.
1% Action Step: If you’ve ever felt “not good enough” next to the polished ones, try this:
👉 Tell a scar story instead of the perfect version.
👉 Ask one more question instead of giving the answer.
👉 Admit one thing you’re still learning.
Do just one of those and you’ll feel the shift. Because people don’t remember polish. They remember presence....and the scars that shaped it.
Thanks for reading and for being part of this journey with me.
#Leadership #Trust #Vulnerability #Resilience #PresenceOverPolish #TheCrispReport