Simon Johnson: Our Monthly Sparring Framework

Um, well, look, why, why did I invite you on? We've been speaking about this for a while.

So, uh, Simon was my one-to-one client for, what was it? About three years, four years?

Yep.

Um, and I've gotten to know Simon inside out, and I've always respected his ability to be consistent.

I've always res- respected his ability to operate, and we also operate very differently, which is where I think we're very good sparring partners for each other.

So, uh, I've, we've become really close friends after the one-to-one, and I think they were, they were actually at the end, I said, we, I think we both went, "Maybe we need to put this aside 'cause we're mates now," and maybe that, and we made that call.

Um, and then, yeah, at the beginning of this year, I was looking at the way in which I work with friends, 'cause I don't have many friends.

But the friends I do have, I have a lot of depth.

And the friends that I love are the ones that challenge me.

The ones that, uh, I think it was Tolstoy that said, uh, "An enemy will agree with you, a friend will argue with you." Uh, and it's always the friends that, that, that challenge me that I can talk to about all areas of life, business, training, personal life, professional life, investment, and I think everyone in life should have a sparring partner.

So at the beginning of the year, I think I sent you a voice note and I said, "Simon, mate, uh, I got this idea.

Uh, I'm looking for a sparring partner.

It's a year-long commitment.

This is what it would look like.

Um, what do you think?" And you instantly come back and went, "Dude, I'm so in for this." Um, when you got that invite, actually, what was on your mind? Can you remember?

I think there was a slight level of nervousness in a, in a, in a healthy way because I also know, and this is why I value your friendship so much, you're someone that won't let me...

You will push me in a very healthy way to uncover the parts of me that I might try and skirt away from or ignore or do the work on that.

So it's a healthy nervousness or an excitement, I'd say.

But for me, I think as you grow, as you evolve, as you progress in business personally, I think the number of people that you can speak to and relate to on multiple different aspects gets smaller and smaller.

And I'm, be very honest, I'm not the best at sitting down and journaling or reviewing or asking myself these questions.

I just kinda, that's where I'm going, head down, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving.

Um, and it gave me accountability to sit down and review things as well.

So there was a slight nervousness, but a very much an excitement and a like, this is a great opportunity for me to grow and also to be able to help you in the way that I can.

'Cause I think we had strengths and opportunities of growth kinda in opposites as well, in a, in a very good way.

Yeah, absolutely.