How To Chase Your Dreams Without Fear Holding You Back with Fran Millar | E67

Name: How To Chase Your Dreams Without Fear Holding You Back with Fran Millar | E67
Uploaded: 2021-02-08T06:00:03.000Z
Duration: 2 h 48 min 8 s

Introduction

The host introduces the guest, Fran Millar, and provides some background information on her career in cycling and business.

Fran's Background

Fran has had a fascinating journey through business and life.

She was surrounded by two inspirations throughout her career - Sir David Brailsford, an elite performance coach for Team Sky, and Steve Peters, a psychiatrist who authored "The Paradox".

Her brother David Miller was a highly regarded British cyclist who got involved in the doping scandal that left a stain on British cycling.

Fran worked at Team Sky for 12 years before becoming CEO of Team Ineos. She then became CEO of Belstaff during the pandemic when retail was struggling.

Fran's Story

The host asks Fran about her background in cycling and how it led to her current role as CEO of Belstaff.

Cycling and Family

Fran's brother David was a talented cyclist who fell in love with the sport but ultimately became deeply shamed due to his involvement in the doping scandal.

Fran's mother entered David into a cycling club when they were kids, which sparked his interest in the sport.

David signed with a big French team at a young age but was let down by broken promises from the team.

Career Path

Working at Team Sky had an unbelievable impact on Fran's life and decisions.

Fran's tenacity and success at Team Sky led to her becoming CEO of Team Ineos.

Fran took on the challenge of becoming CEO of Belstaff during the pandemic when retail was struggling.

Leadership

The host asks Fran about her leadership style and how she approaches leading a predominantly male-dominated industry.

Difficult Woman

Fran describes herself as a difficult woman, which she sees as a positive trait.

Being a difficult woman means being confident in your own abilities and not being afraid to speak up.

Leading in a Male-Dominated Industry

Fran believes that diversity is important for any organization to succeed.

She has faced challenges as a female leader in a male-dominated industry but has learned to navigate them over time.

Fran emphasizes the importance of building relationships with people across all levels of an organization.

Business Strategy

The host asks Fran about her approach to business strategy and how she navigates challenges in the industry.

Navigating Challenges

Fran believes that it's important to be adaptable and flexible when navigating challenges in business.

She emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision for where you want your company to go.

Fran also stresses the importance of having strong values that guide decision-making.

Building Brands

Fran discusses her approach to building brands and creating a strong brand identity.

She emphasizes the importance of understanding your target audience and tailoring your brand messaging accordingly.

Fran also stresses the importance of being authentic in your brand messaging.

Final Thoughts

The host asks Fran for any final thoughts or advice she has for aspiring leaders.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders

Fran advises aspiring leaders to be confident in their own abilities and not be afraid to speak up.

She also emphasizes the importance of building relationships with people across all levels of an organization.

Finally, Fran stresses the importance of having a clear vision and strong values that guide decision-making.

The Era of EPO

In this section, the speaker discusses the era of EPO in cycling and how it transformed the sport.

Discovery of EPO

Athletes and coaches discovered that they could use EPO to increase physical performance.

EPO was a transformative drug that couldn't be detected or tested for.

Hematocrit test was introduced to detect doping, but it was just a health check.

Doping in Cycling

Most top cyclists were doping, and it was endemic in the sport.

The expectation was that you had to dope if you wanted to be a professional cyclist and be any good.

Cyclists around him were not looking out for him or trying to help him fulfill his potential. They were trying to get him good enough to make money for them as a business.

Broken Promises

In this section, the speaker talks about how promises made by people around David Miller were broken.

Francois McGrane's Promise

Francois McGrane promised David Miller's mother that he would look after him.

He did nothing when he built a team that allowed doping behind the scenes.

When an investigation into Cofidis started, Francois effectively called out David Miller.

Responsibility

David has to take responsibility for his decisions, but he was fragile, impressionable and passionate about cycling.

19 - 25 years old is not always making the best decisions in life.

People are influenced by their environment and culture where cheating becomes the norm.

Decision Making

In this section, the speaker talks about decision making and how people are influenced by their environment and culture.

Nazi Germany Study

A study was done where people were put in a room and told to press a button that would effectively kill someone in another room.

65% of people pressed the button, showing that humans can make bad decisions when influenced by their environment and culture.

Cheating in Sport

People impose that athletes should make better decisions or do it differently.

If you're in an environment where cheating is the norm, it's hard to be the one person who doesn't cheat.

David Miller was fragile, impressionable, passionate about cycling. He got taken down the wrong path.

David Miller's Sister on the Impact of Doping Scandals

In this section, David Miller's sister talks about how her family dealt with his decision to cross the line and use performance-enhancing drugs. She also discusses how it impacted her own life and career.

The Impact on David Miller's Family

Despite her mother's advice to come home and go to art school, David persisted in cycling.

The family turned a blind eye to his behavior because he was successful and seemed happy-ish.

When David would come home during the off-season, he would drink heavily and sink into depressions.

The impact of David's actions created divisions within the family as everyone had a different view of it.

The Impact on Her Own Life

She ran her own cycling agency and rode the coattails of her brother's success until he got arrested for doping.

People judged her harshly for being associated with him, which impacted all her decisions.

She felt she couldn't represent him anymore because she couldn't handle ignorant journalists asking binary right or wrong questions.

Being a Difficult Woman in Business

In this section, the interviewer asks about an article that was shared online regarding women being perceived as too nice in business. They discuss how important it is for women to be willing to be difficult at times in order to succeed in male-dominated industries.

Importance of Being Willing to Be Difficult

Women are often associated with niceness in business, which can hold them back.

[](no timestamp provided) It was important for her to be willing to punch people in the face and be a little bit difficult at times in order to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

Being Your True Self

In this section, Fran discusses the importance of being your true self and not filtering yourself. She talks about how women are judged differently for the same behavior that men exhibit and encourages young women to be confident and assertive.

Confidence in Being Yourself

Fran believes that it's important to be yourself and not filter yourself.

Women are judged differently for the same behavior that men exhibit.

Fran encourages young women to be confident and assertive.

Nature vs Nurture

Fran attributes her confidence to both nature and nurture.

She has always been innately confident but has also been lucky to work with people who have allowed her to make mistakes and grow.

Being your true self doesn't mean you have to be assertive or confident. It means being honest about who you are.

Directness in Communication

In this section, Fran talks about how she has become more direct over time. She discusses the importance of being honest and direct while also being mindful of other people's feelings.

Importance of Directness

Fran has become more direct over time, which she attributes to having a lot of things to do.

She is way more honest with her feedback now than she used to be.

Being direct is important when dealing with teams, especially those with high testosterone levels.

Balancing Directness with Empathy

Fran acknowledges that being direct can sometimes hurt people's feelings.

She tries to balance being direct with being mindful of other people's feelings.

Fran believes that there is a fine line between being an [ __ ] and being honest and direct.

The Importance of Honesty and Compassion in Business

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of being honest and compassionate in business. They explain that while honesty is crucial, it should be delivered with compassion to get a better response from people.

Honesty and Compassion

Being honest is important, but it should be delivered with compassion.

It's crucial to be authentic and honest, but that doesn't give anyone a license to be rude or aggressive.

Aggression, anger, and annoyance have no place in business. People can feel those things, but they shouldn't inflict them on others.

It's worse to be empathetic without being honest than it is to be an arrogant [__] because feedback is what's important.

Radical Candor: Balancing Honesty and Empathy

In this section, the speaker talks about radical candor - a concept that balances honesty and empathy. They explain how being radically candid can help people develop and improve.

Radical Candor

Radical candor means caring about people while also being very honest with them.

If you care about someone but aren't honest with them, it's like malignant empathy - you're not helping them develop.

While it may seem counterintuitive, being an arrogant [__] who gives brutal feedback can actually help people develop more than someone who is empathetic but not honest.

Making Career Changes: Dealing with Identity Shift

In this section, the speaker discusses the challenges of making career changes and dealing with identity shifts. They share their personal experience of leaving a job they were deeply invested in and how it felt.

Making Career Changes

It's difficult to make a career change, especially if you've been in an industry for a long time.

Leaving a job can be bittersweet - it's exciting but also uncertain.

It's important to trust yourself when making a career change and know that you'll figure things out.

The Danger of Identifying with Your Job

In this section, the speaker talks about how identifying too closely with your job can be dangerous and how leaving a job doesn't change who you are.

Letting a Job Define You

Identifying too closely with your job can lead to valuing yourself based on your job and not on other aspects of your life.

Jobs provide community, purpose, and identity, but it's important to remember that they are just jobs.

Moving On from a Job

Leaving a job can be difficult, but it's important to remember that it's just a part of your life and not your entire identity.

It's important to resist labels and continue challenging yourself in order to avoid feeling lost later in life.

Taking on Challenges

In this section, the speaker discusses taking on challenges and how he came to take on his current role as CEO of Bellstaff.

Taking on the Challenge of Bellstaff

The speaker did not plan on leaving his previous job until he was offered the opportunity to become CEO of Bellstaff by Jim Ratcliffe.

Taking on challenges is important for personal growth and development.

The speaker took on the challenge of becoming CEO despite knowing that Bellstaff had struggled financially in recent years.

Feeling Stagnant

In this section, the speaker talks about feeling stagnant in her previous job and wanting to move on to something new.

Wanting to Move On

The speaker expresses frustration with feeling stagnant in her previous job.

She discusses wanting to feel like she's moving forward and not being stuck in one place.

The speaker talks about how she had been working in pro cycling for 20 years and felt like she wasn't growing or developing anymore.

She mentions that she was helping others develop and achieve their potential but wasn't doing the same for herself.

Career Decisions

In this section, the speaker talks about making career decisions and taking on new challenges.

Making a Big Decision

The speaker discusses deciding to stay at Ineos after Sky stopped sponsoring the team.

She talks about taking on a deputy CEO role while her boss was off due to prostate cancer.

The speaker describes working 18 hours a day for five or six weeks leading up to an event and loving it.

She mentions realizing that she wasn't growing or developing in her previous job and wanting to do something different.

Ready for Change

In this section, the speaker talks about feeling ready for change and leaving her old job behind.

Trigger Moment

The speaker discusses feeling like something was niggling at her and wanting to do something different.

She talks about a trigger moment that made her decide to leave her old job and move on to something new.

Coping with Trauma

In this section, the speaker discusses their experience of coping with trauma and how they managed to overcome it.

Coping with Trauma

The speaker found it traumatic when they had to leave their previous job and move out of their house.

They felt out of control during the transition period but trusted themselves as they had gone through a similar experience before.

Trusting oneself is key in overcoming trauma. The speaker had quit a business before and went on to build an even bigger one.

Having case studies of past successes can help calm one's nerves during times of uncertainty.

Quitting as an Underrated Skill

In this section, the speaker talks about quitting as an underrated skill that people should learn to appreciate more.

Quitting as an Underrated Skill

The speaker considers themselves a prolific quitter and believes that quitting is just as important as starting something new.

Quitting allows for growth and learning from past experiences.

Appreciation for Huel

In this section, the speaker expresses their admiration for Huel and its values.

Appreciation for Huel

The speaker's appreciation for Huel has multiplied by a factor of 10 after getting to know the CEO, founder, and teams behind it.

Huel's non-negotiable values regarding ingredients and product quality have made the speaker realize that they have their back when choosing them over other brands.

Winning Behaviors

In this section, the speaker talks about their role as the head of winning behaviors at Team Sky.

Winning Behaviors

Team Sky started racing in 2010 and was initially unsuccessful.

The team reset everything and took a different approach, which led to them winning the Tour de France twice within three years.

People who signed up with Team Sky were signing up for an adventure, and the team's success made them one of the most dominant teams in cycling.

Creating a Winning Team

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of creating a winning team and how it was achieved in their cycling team. They discuss the need for a set of behaviors that enable people to work together towards a common goal.

The Importance of Winning Behavior

The speaker discusses the divide between Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome in their cycling team.

They emphasize that it's important to focus on being part of the team rather than taking sides.

A set of behaviors was created to eradicate losing behavior such as backstabbing, criticizing others behind their backs, etc.

This set of behaviors is called "Winning Behavior" and helps create an environment where people can deliver their best.

Five Areas of Losing Behaviors

Losing behavior was separated into five areas: self, team, communication, continuous improvement, and another area not mentioned.

Self is all about managing your own emotions and not letting them affect your performance.

Team is about understanding your role within the team and not criticizing or going against collective opinions.

Communication is about seeking counsel from everyone but ultimately making decisions as a group.

Not buying into collective opinions can be insidious and destroy an organization like a virus.

Public Speaking Experience

The speaker used to do public speaking but feels that some topics are now in their past.

Dave Brailsford's Key Qualities

In this section, the speaker talks about Dave Brailsford and his key qualities that have made him successful.

Dave's Qualities

Dave is a brilliant man manager who is incredibly visionary and brave.

He is an incredible leader who is unrelenting and has a ferocious appetite for learning.

He has incredibly high standards and expects people to meet them.

He sets a standard, and if people can't meet them, then they're not in the right organization.

The Importance of Hard Work

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of hard work in achieving success.

Hard Work Narrative

The narrative around hard work has become somewhat toxic over the last couple of years.

However, it's important to note that hard work really matters when it comes to achieving success.

Working with purpose and passion towards achieving goals is what motivated ambitious people should feel.

Work-Life Balance

In this section, the speaker talks about how work is a passion for them but they still take days off and live a normal life. They also discuss their struggles with relationships and how they are not motivated to have someone in their life.

Passion for Work

The speaker's work is the passion point of their life.

They take days off and live a normal life despite working hard.

Struggles with Relationships

The speaker has struggled in the relationship department.

They have never been able to hold down a relationship.

They are not motivated to have somebody in their life or want companionship.

The speaker loves being on their own and is happy in their own company.

Societal Pressure

The speaker feels pressure from society to be in a relationship.

They tried dating but realized they were doing it because society wanted them to.

Small talk with strangers is like hell on earth for the speaker.

Meaningful Connections

The importance of meaningful connections and relationships was emphasized to the speaker.

They realized that they didn't really have those connections and started changing their perspective towards it.

The speaker actively participates in the lives of their friends' kids and friends' lives, which fulfills their need for connection.

Sacrifice vs. Connection

In this section, the speaker discusses sacrifice versus connection. They talk about how they used to think that having companionship was not necessary but later realized that having meaningful connections is crucial.

Sacrifice vs. Connection

The speaker used to think that having companionship was not necessary.

Reading about the importance of meaningful connections made them change their perspective towards it.

Having your own community and tribe is crucial, but it doesn't necessarily have to be through companionship with one other human being.

The speaker has incredibly meaningful relationships and connections with their friends, which fulfills their need for connection.

They are not adverse to companionship but are not actively seeking it.

Pressure to Have Children and Views on Relationships

In this section, the speaker discusses the pressure women face to have children post-30 and how it causes anxiety. She also talks about her own views on relationships and having children, which are influenced by her upbringing.

Pressure to Have Children

Women face intense pressure to have children post-30, causing a lot of anxiety.

The pressure drops away as people think it's rude to ask if you're going to have kids when you reach a certain age.

The speaker has never really had a biological clock ticking or felt the need for companionship of one other person.

Views on Relationships

The speaker's parents had a toxic relationship, which made her view relationships as prison.

She used to feel trapped in relationships and would come up with reasons why they wouldn't work out.

The responsibility of having children always scared the speaker because of the constant worry and anxiety that comes with it.

The speaker finds fulfillment from her job and community of friends, so she doesn't feel the need for a companion or children.

Non-Conformity and Obsession

In this section, the speaker talks about her desire to live a non-conventional life and her belief that it has given her more freedom. She also discusses how she is obsessive and finds it difficult to manage multiple focuses.

Desire for Non-Conventional Life

The speaker expresses her desire to live a non-conventional life with no interest in conforming to society's expectations of getting married, having kids, etc.

She believes that living a non-conventional life has given her more freedom than following societal norms.

The speaker reflects on whether she would have achieved as much if she had followed the typical milestones of society.

Obsessive Nature

The speaker admits that she is obsessive and does not like compromising.

She believes that it is impossible to have it all and mentions women who are CEOs with five kids as an example.

The speaker finds it hard to manage multiple focuses and prefers to go all-in on one thing at a time.

Following Your Own Path

In this section, the speaker talks about how people cannot follow in someone else's footsteps but can create their own path. She also encourages taking opportunities when they arise and embracing change.

Creating Your Own Path

The speaker believes that people cannot follow in someone else's footsteps but can create their own path.

She acknowledges that her own career path was unconventional and advises against trying to replicate someone else's journey.

Embracing Opportunities and Change

The speaker encourages taking opportunities when they arise and not worrying about making mistakes.

She reflects on how change can be scary but is often the best thing that can happen.

Perspective on Challenges

In this section, Fran discusses her perspective on challenges and how she deals with them. She talks about the challenges of working for a big company that is reinventing itself, but also expresses gratitude for the opportunity to do so.

Gratitude for Opportunities

Fran feels lucky to have been given the opportunity to work for a big company that is reinventing itself.

She acknowledges that there are big challenges associated with this job, but believes that they are relative to the challenge at hand.

Fran shares an example of someone who bought a business and asked her to run it because he liked what he had seen her do in the past. She sees this as a great opportunity and feels lucky to have been given it.

Dealing with Challenges

Despite the challenges she faces, Fran says she wouldn't change anything for the world.

She credits Steve Peters' advice on not letting things define you and just trying your best as being powerful in helping her deal with challenges.

Dave B has also been influential in helping Fran deal with challenges by reminding her that all she can do is try her best.

Perspective on Life

Fran has started to realize over the last two years that worrying about things beyond your best is useless.

As long as no one is dying or getting hurt, Fran believes that everything will be okay even if things don't go according to plan.

She encourages people to try and see the world in a more positive light and release themselves from expectations.

Taking on a New Job During COVID-19

In this section, Fran talks about taking on a new job in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and her approach to dealing with the challenges associated with it.

Getting to Know the Business

Fran started her new job in October 2020, in the middle of the pandemic.

For the first three months, she focused on getting to know everyone in the business and listening to their perspectives.

She sought advice from mentors who advised her not to make any rash decisions and to wait until she had a proper plan.

Approach and Strategy

Fran's approach is to be positive and optimistic about turning things around for the business.

She believes that it's important to focus on what can be done rather than dwelling on what has gone wrong.

Fran plans to work closely with her team and listen to their ideas before making any major decisions.

Bell Staff Brand and Retail Changes

In this section, the speaker talks about their ambition to do the best possible job for Bell Staff as a brand. They discuss the incredible history of the brand and how they plan to take it to profitability and beyond. The speaker also discusses changes in retail, accelerated by the pandemic, and how they believe experiential shopping will be a big play over the next few years.

Ambition for Bell Staff Brand

The speaker's ambition is to do the best possible job for Bell Staff as a brand.

They believe in Bell Staff as an incredible brand with an amazing product.

The design team has done a brilliant job getting the product true to who they are as a company.

Taking Bell Staff to Profitability

The speaker wants to take Bell Staff to profitability and beyond.

They believe it's possible with the backing of Jim and INEOS through a significant period of transition and change.

Building foundations for growth is key.

Changes in Retail

Retail has changed significantly due to e-commerce and internet shopping.

High streets were dying before, but now people are moving online more rapidly than ever before.

People's behavior around shopping was on the cusp of quite significant change, which has now flipped massively due to COVID-19.

Experiential Shopping

Despite changes in retail, people will still want to go shopping when things open up again.

Shopping is seen as an experience, and the internet is more of a utility.

Retail will need to seize hold of the experiential piece and create an experience for customers.

The speaker believes that Bell Staff can create an experience and a story that other brands may not be able to.

Brain Scans and Death

In this section, the speaker talks about their experience with brain scans after a bike accident. They also discuss their thoughts on death.

Brain Scans

The speaker had to get a brain scan after crashing their bike and landing on their head.

The team doctor was overcautious due to some concussion, so they got an MRI.

Unusual patterns were found in the speaker's brain that could potentially be the starts of tumors.

Thoughts on Death

The speaker used to be scared of dying when they were religious until about 18 years old.

Once they realized they were going back to nothingness and peace, it was quite liberating.

Death is not something to be scared of but rather something that happens.

Dealing with Health Issues

In this section, the speaker talks about a health issue they faced and how it impacted their perspective on life.

Diagnosis and Reflection

The speaker had a year-long period where doctors were unsure of what was causing their symptoms.

Despite the uncertainty, the speaker realized that they wouldn't change anything in their life even if they had a serious illness.

This realization gave them a sense of freedom and positivity.

Perspective on Life

The speaker has a sand timer in their house as a visual reminder that time is finite.

They wrote an article called "Deathbed Thinking" which emphasizes the importance of living true to oneself and making important decisions based on what really matters.

The speaker believes that as long as their family and friends are healthy and happy, they are content with whatever the future holds.

Future Plans

In this section, the speaker talks about their approach to planning for the future.

No Set Plan

The speaker doesn't have any specific plans for the future beyond wanting their loved ones to be happy and healthy.

They used to make five-year plans but now find them amusing when looking back at how ambitious they were.

The speaker's friend wanted to have a successful business, live in a nice house with his wife and three children, and be healthy and happy. In contrast, the speaker wanted materialistic things like having loads of money.

Traveling in Style

In this section, the speaker talks about his experience traveling in business class and how he used to want different things than what he wants now.

Business Class Travel

The speaker used to travel everywhere in business class with his partner.

He no longer desires that lifestyle and prefers spending money on experiences with loved ones instead of material possessions.

Spending Money on Experiences

The speaker spends all the money he earns doing things with people he loves.

He takes his sister-in-law and friends on trips to places they couldn't afford otherwise.

He spends his money on experiences, seeing new places, and doing things with people he loves.

Book Recommendations

In this section, the speaker recommends a book he wrote called "Happy Sexy Millionaire" and encourages listeners to pre-order it.

Happy Sexy Millionaire

The book is an honest, vulnerable recount of the author's life journey and everything he's learned along the way.

It took almost two years for him to write it himself without a ghostwriter.

Pre-orders count as more than just a normal sale in the publishing industry.

Those who pre-order will receive exclusive content such as voice notes, access to tickets, etc.