What happens when a five-year-old girl changes the entire course of your life?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with High-Performance Coach and former JP Morgan derivatives head Rich Waterman to explore one of the most powerful transformations you’ll hear on the show.

Rich shares the moving story of Leonor — his friend’s young daughter whose battle with a terminal illness became the catalyst for his life’s work. Helping to raise emergency funds for her treatment opened his eyes to the power of community, commitment, and the extraordinary impact of turning pain into purpose.

Together, Paul and Rich unpack how entrepreneurs can channel suffering into fuel for growth, how presence is the new currency of leadership, and why sometimes the shortest lives leave the greatest legacies.

If you’ve ever wondered how to reframe setbacks into rocket fuel, or how to build a business and life truly aligned to your legacy, this episode is essential listening.

Key Takeaways

• Turning Pain into Purpose: The most powerful catalyst for personal and professional growth is learning how to transform suffering into service.
• The Power of Commitment: Rich’s moment of saying “we’ll make this happen” for Leonor’s treatment shaped his philosophy on leadership and focus.
• Past, Present, Future Model: How to reframe your thinking by using the past as a resource, the present as practice, and the future as full-colour vision.
• Presence is Leadership: Top performers plateau when they fail to manage switching “on” and “off.” Learning to be present is now a strategic advantage.
• Legacy is not Time-Based: The measure of a life well-lived isn’t length, it’s the scale of impact on others. Leonor remains a profound example of this truth.

About Rich Waterman

Rich Waterman is a High-Performance Coach, mentor, and speaker with a unique background that bridges finance, sport, and psychology.

After a decade as Head of Derivatives Structuring at JP Morgan, Rich went on to launch sports analysis businesses working with the England Rugby World Cup-winning team and international cricketers. He later became the first UK-based Senior Trainer for Tony Robbins, coaching teams and teaching leadership at global events.

Today, Rich runs Get Rich Coaching, helping entrepreneurs, executives, and athletes unlock performance, presence, and purpose.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Rich Waterman → richwaterman.com
• Connect with Rich Waterman on LinkedIn → linkedin.com
• Follow Paul Avins for Scale Up insights on LinkedIn → Paul Avins | LinkedIn
• Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat → The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025

Next Steps

Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours.

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