Day in the Life – Shane Cradock, motivational speaker & coach

Originally from Kilkenny, Shane Cradock is a renowned motivational speaker, executive coach, and business consultant. Specializing in personal development, leadership, and business success, he collaborates with individuals and organizations to help them achieve their goals and enhance overall performance.

Shane, an alumnus of CBS primary and secondary schools, pursued chemical engineering at UCD. Raised by parents deeply involved in the Kilkenny community, his mother, Mary, was a notable actress and director at the Watergate Theatre, while his father, Jim, chaired SOS after retiring from Smithwick’s Brewery.

Recently releasing his book, "The Inner CEO: True Success is an Inside Job," Shane offers an easily digestible guide to understanding the mind, particularly helpful for those navigating the January blues or facing career crossroads. Here is a glimpse into Shane’s world…

Shane, you dedicate your book to your parents. You also bravely open up in the very first line of writing saying, ‘One day I woke up and the plan was to end my life.’ Can you share more about that dark period when you were 24 years old?

While working at Pepsi Cola International, I found myself descending into a spiral of depression for 18 months without realizing it. It has nothing to do with working at Pepsi. That day I rang home to say goodbye to my mother, without saying the worst goodbye, but my father answered, and he picked up on something and wouldn’t let me off the phone. I said I was fine but eventually he got it out of me and put me straight onto Maurice Quinlan, a counsellor who saved my life.

On our very first meeting he said something to me that will stick with me forever. He said, ‘Shane do you realise that you have a mind’. Counselling with Maurice over the next six months delved into the intricacies of my inner world, revealing that my mind was a distinct tool from my identity.

Positive changes noticed by colleagues prompted inquiries about my transformation. A senior manager even commented, commending the positive shift.

What was the difference in you that he saw?

I was behaving differently; I was more confident.

A friend said to you when your book came out, ‘do we really need another book about the mind?’. Do we?

Society has only scratched the surface when it comes to understanding and addressing mental health issues. My book is from the perspective of my own personal experience, not as an academic, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

Your path has taken you from engineering to coaching. Tell us about that journey?

A few months after I had transformed myself at work another pivotal moment occurred when a friend, now a successful personal trainer in the U.S., invited me to speak about the psychology of goals in his health and fitness workshops across Ireland.

Despite my initial reservations, he saw my personal growth and believed I could contribute valuable insights. This marked the beginning of a realization that the principles guiding mental health could be applied to enhance success in various aspects of life.

After a well-received 20-minute presentation to a group of 30, the positive feedback and subsequent invitations to other workshops prompted me to explore this direction further. What started as a one-time event evolved into a budding career, fuelled by the impact on individuals making positive changes based on my shared insights.

Are your teachings about positive thinking, and how our thoughts shape our behaviour?

Yes, on a surface level, my teachings emphasize the connection between thoughts and behaviour.

However, it goes beyond mere positive thinking. Surface-level thoughts influence our immediate emotions, but deeper thoughts, such as beliefs, play a crucial role.

Positive thinking, in isolation, is limited.

Instead, understanding our inner world is key. Recognizing that our thoughts directly impact our feelings is essential, even if many don't always make that connection. Additionally, my personal journey, especially with Maurice, highlighted the significance of discerning our inner voice—acknowledging that it's distinct from our true selves and not always to be blindly trusted.

In managing your inner world, you liken it to overseeing different departments as a CEO does in the real world. Can you elaborate on this analogy and the importance of discerning inner voices?

Absolutely. Just as a CEO gathers input from various team leaders before making decisions, I engage with my inner voices, seeking their perspectives.

However, I've learned not to unquestionably accept their judgments, recognizing that thoughts and judgments, though potent, don't necessarily reflect reality.

In the past, my inner voice shaped a negative perception of reality, convincing me of personal inadequacies. Realizing that I had more control over this process, I conducted an experiment. I challenged my mind's negative beliefs, actively redirecting my thoughts. Initially challenging, it took about months of counselling with Maurice to break through and recognize my resilience.

Transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, you've seen a shift in interest towards mental well-being. How has this evolved, especially considering the 2010 financial crisis and the recent pandemic?

Between 2010 and 2020, my focus evolved from corporate leadership to encompass more personalized life coaching. With the pandemic's onset, interest in mental well-being surged, making my consultations more diverse and inclusive. Presently, 70% of my clients, including women in leadership roles, seek guidance in both business and life.

It's interesting that there seems to be a trend of men, including yourself, speaking out about mental health. Can you share your perspective on this shift, especially with older men?

You're the second person this week to highlight this.

I recently spoke at an event in Cork, and someone questioned whether it's wise to delve into your past struggles. The observation made was that when a man, who appears to have it all together now, shares his previous vulnerabilities, it's particularly powerful, especially with older men.

While women have been more accustomed to expressing vulnerability, Irish men still grapple with cultural taboos. However, I've found that sharing my own vulnerabilities, especially with male clients, breaks down barriers, fostering more genuine and open conversations, steering away from superficial exchanges.

In Marianne Williamson's book 'A Return to Love,' she suggests that babies enter the world full of love, and societal influences alter them. Similarly, you've expressed the belief that, fundamentally, humans are designed for success, well-being, and happiness, regardless of their background. I find these claims bold.

Do you truly believe this applies even to individuals living in challenging circumstances like Palestine or Ukraine?

Yes, while extreme examples like Palestine or Ukraine exist, I guarantee stories are unfolding right now of people stepping up as heroes, doing extraordinary things. This points to something within, perhaps the soul.

Society, due to a lack of understanding of the inner game of life and business, interferes with this innate quality. Conditioning sets in, and many are not encouraged to believe they can succeed.

My personal journey reveals that overcoming the mind's interference has been key to my success.

 Men's vulnerability, for instance, is often hindered by thinking, which implies weakness. Yet, once the mind is out of the way, genuine expression emerges.

Children, before societal conditioning, exemplify innate goodness. It may sound bold, but I truly believe it, having witnessed countless individuals achieve incredible feats. It's about having role models to inspire us to step up.

So, it's how we show up?

Exactly, yes, and that's the inner game.