How to be Resilient: Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight! with Adrian de Courcey

Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast

Ever wondered how to stay calm and grounded while pivoting careers in the midst of chaos? Meet Adrian de Coursey, whose professional path took him from corporate strategy at Shell and Johnson & Johnson to running a small family business during the height of the global financial crisis. In this candid interview, Adrian reveals the high-stakes challenges he faced - burning the candle at both ends, juggling every aspect of the company, and grappling with the reality that his work-life boundaries had all but vanished.

Yet amid the turmoil, Adrian discovered the secret to thriving rather than just surviving: resilience. Drawing on lessons learned from sleepless nights and tough financial decisions, he breaks down the practical strategies that helped him regain control. From setting strict daily goals (his “most important tasks”), to instituting a digital sunset that protects his evening downtime, to embracing mind-clearing meditation before bed - Adrian leaves no stone unturned.

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how he transformed adversity into growth and how he cultivated the mental fortitude essential for any entrepreneur (or mid-life career changer). Adrian also dives into the art of being “brutally objective”—knowing when to pivot, when to persist, and how to cut your losses fast. If you’re looking for an honest, inspiring conversation about managing stress, planning for big transitions, and truly knowing yourself so you can seize new opportunities, this episode is for you.

Tune in to discover:

• Why resilience is the #1 trait for navigating career pivots and entrepreneurship.
• How to compartmentalise tasks and find genuine work-life balance.
• The power of self-awareness in identifying (and leveraging) your strengths.
• Why failures and wrong turns can be priceless.
• scheduling your days, such as mediation, that can drastically reduce stress.

Join host Philip Briscoe and Adrian DeCoursey as they unpack the ups, downs, and actionable tools for building a fulfilling career on your own terms. If you’re seeking real talk on forging inner strength through life’s toughest moments, don’t miss this deep dive into resilience and reinvention.