Why empowering people is more important than ever

Author and vitality coach Nikki Fogden-Moore's mission is coaching world leaders to sustainable success. She believes we are trapped doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result.

Her new book Radical Self Belief gives people the tools to realise they're in the driver's seat.

She believes people are chronically overwhelmed, so her book is about combating this by empowering people with vitality, confidence, courage, and conviction.

Do you think empowering people is now more important than ever?

I think the need precedes COVID. COVID just amplified the state of confusion and lack of autonomy that everyone has been feeling.

[Being overwhelmed] is a serious disease, it creates burnout, freak out and opt-out. People are overwhelmed now and we're making decisions with only a fraction of information. We have the most digitised AI industry than ever before but we're the most disconnected from ourselves. We ask Siri for everything.

COVID has just put the spotlight on how people are feeling and made them stop. The things that people thought they should be doing - the three-year plan, the five-year plan - all these foundations are suddenly torn away. We've always been taught about resilience but not about agility.

Your new book features celebrities like ironman Trevor Hendy and AFL player Jake Edwards. How did you choose your subjects?

I've had leaders on my podcast, Radical Self Belief, and so over the years, I've always worked with extraordinary people who have evolved from their life experiences. I've thought, what can I learn from them? No matter if they're going through bankruptcy, divorces, burnout, losing a child - they have the ability to say 'what if'. No one says they're perfect. It's about progress, not perfection. All the people in the book have looked at radical accountability to assess what they need to do next.

What was your first job?

My first job was at 13; I worked in a ski and snowboard shop called Ski Yer Heart Out. My first real job was working in marketing for a rugby league team as an assistant in New Zealand.

What's the best money advice you've received?

Know your numbers is the best advice ever. The best decisions are informed decisions and with a vision for what's next. I wish I was told that earlier. Growing up, talking about money was taboo - you didn't talk about it. Knowing numbers and being curious and asking the right questions means that you can combine it with a decision for what's next.

What's the best investment decision you've ever made?

I bought my first apartment at Alex Headlands on the Sunshine Coast. It was a tiny apartment with ocean views. It was simple with no flaws and it's been fantastic. And it's also about working within your means.

What's the worst investment decision you've made?

Not buying property when I worked in Europe for 13 years. I had an incredible salary for those years and spent it on travelling but not having the investment insight - I didn't get that until much later - buying property wasn't on my radar. I don't regret any of the travel but feel that I could have done both. That has been my biggest regret.

What is your favourite thing to splurge on?

Champagne! That's my favourite thing. And I just signed up to a Zero to Hero Polo course - that has been amazing. I didn't know how to ride and I got the opportunity to do a 10-week course to play a polo match at Noosa Country Polo.

If you had $10,000 where would you invest it?

I'd probably chat with my financial planner as to the best place but I'm a low-risk investor in terms of profile so I would say shares or a property fund. I think you need to know what questions to ask a planner, and have a basic level of financial acuity and know your own profile and not be swayed about what everyone else is doing.

I started educating myself and going to a few planners and looking at their values, and what they did, and what their lives were. I dug deeper - the relationship with a planner is really intimate. We put a lot of hope and blame on experts but you need accountability on what you expect to get out of it. Know thyself, and then find great relationships that manage money with you.

What would you do if you only had $50 left in the bank?

I really would hope that is never the case. Running a business and being the CEO of my life means being on top of my numbers and ensuring I don't have all my eggs in one basket.

Do you intend to leave an inheritance?

Great question, I'm looking into all these options now as I don't have children of my own - so it's a pertinent point. This is a legacy plan I'm currently working on and looking at different scenarios.

What's been your best money-making career move?

Simplifying and retaining the highest level of quality in all we do. I wish I had been given this advice two decades ago but it comes with experience and really fine-tuning your offer and product. That's where the magic lies for customer satisfaction. I only work with 10 CEOs a year, I cap it because I'm in the trenches, but now I also have my podcast and book to help more people.

Finish this sentence: money makes...

... the world goes around. Whether we like it or not, the concept of cash carries a significant amount of energy and impact. My mission is to ensure the world's wealth is handled by the very best value-led leaders.

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