Parents as Leaders: How My Dad Taught Me Everything About Self-Belief

By Olivia Fleming, Marketing Assistant at The Power Within Training

 

If you ever want to know what it’s like growing up with a mindset coach for a dad, let me tell you… it’s something else.

Don’t get me wrong, I still got bedtime stories and cuddles. But alongside that came the classic Fleming pep talks. Before I’d even brushed my teeth, it was “Olivia, what’s your vision for the day?” There were no lazy mornings, just lessons on potential, resilience, and not letting fear run the show. Sounds intense, eh? It was. But it also made me who I am.

My dad, James Fleming, is the Managing Director of The Power Within Training. He’s helped thousands of business owners and leaders across the UK. He’s built something incredible. But no matter how many stages he speaks on or awards he wins, he’s still my dad. Which basically means it’s impossible to get away with any BS.

 

The Day I Dropped the Bombshell…

I’ll never forget the day I told him I was leaving school at 17 to become a hairdresser. The man who taught me that I had “unlimited potential” looked like he’d aged ten years on the spot.

But after the initial heart palpitations, he said something I’ll never forget:

“If you’re going to do it, be the best. Don’t half-arse it.”

So, I didn’t. I walked round Glasgow hand-delivering CVs to salons. I got an apprenticeship in the city centre and worked nearly seven days a week. Early mornings. Sore feet. Long hours. No weekends. It was brutal, but I threw myself into it and learned so much: discipline, people skills, dealing with tough days, how to keep smiling while your client tells you about her cat for 45 minutes straight.

But eventually, I realised it wasn’t what I wanted long-term. I loved the challenge, but it didn’t light me up anymore. And when that little voice inside whispered, “Maybe marketing’s more your thing,” I knew it was time to pivot.

 

From Shampoo to Strategy

Now, approaching your dad – the mindset guy – and telling him you’ve had a career revelation is… nerve-wracking. But I did it. And true to form, he didn’t give me a free pass. He just said, “Prove it.”

So I did. I volunteered at The Power Within Training, got stuck into anything and everything, and eventually joined the team officially. Today, I’m part of the Marketing team, and handle everything for our sister brand, The Power Within HER.

And honestly, I love it. Because every day, I get to share the tools and mindset that helped shape me. Even if it does mean working next door to the guy who STILL won’t let me off the hook for being 3 minutes late.

 

“Success or Excuses”: Not Just a Tagline

I can’t lie… I did roll my eyes once or twice growing up (sorry, Dad!) His catchphrase, “You can have success or excuses, but you can’t have both”, isn’t just something he slapped on his book or his podcast. He’s been saying that to me for years. Usually when I was trying to wriggle out of doing my homework or tidying my room.

But the older I get, the more it hits.

Because we all have excuses. We all have doubts. That voice in your head that says, you’re not good enough, you’re too young, too inexperienced, too… whatever. I’ve got that voice too. But what Motivational Intelligence (MQ) taught me is that you don’t have to believe it.

MQ is all about understanding how your mindset drives your behaviour, and changing the patterns that hold you back. It’s what we’re built on at The Power Within Training. And it’s what I was lucky enough to be raised on, even if I didn’t realise it at the time.

 

That Time I Told My Dad I Was ‘Bad at Maths’

There was also this one time when I was still in school and really struggling with maths. I came home, slammed my bag down, and said something like, “I’m just bad at maths.”

Oh boy… wrong move. That kind of limiting belief doesn’t wash with my dad.

He sat me down and started asking questions. Not lecturing, just gently challenging the story I was telling myself.

“If you worked with a tutor or a mentor outside school hours, do you think it would help?”

“Yeah, probably.”

“What if you spent just an hour or two each night practising – do you think it would make a difference?”

Again, yes. It was like something clicked in my head.

 

That conversation flipped a switch for me. I wasn’t bad at maths. I just hadn’t committed to learning it yet. And once I started showing up consistently and doing the work, I got better. That same mindset has helped me in so many other areas of life. Whenever I hear that voice again, the one that says, “You’re not good at this,” I go back to that moment.

 

Parents as Leaders (Whether You Like It or Not)

The way you show up as a parent  (or mentor, coach, manager), shapes how the people around you see themselves. Your words become their inner voice. Your belief becomes their permission to dream bigger.

My dad didn’t hand me success on a plate. But he gave me the confidence to earn it. He taught me that your circumstances don’t define your potential – your mindset does. That failure is just feedback. And that if you want to do something, go all in. It taught me that parents as leaders aren’t just there to help with homework, they’re quietly building belief systems and confidence that follow us into adulthood.

I didn’t end up becoming the next big thing in hairdressing. But I did learn how to work hard, back myself, and get up when things didn’t go to plan.

 

So if you’re a parent, a leader, or just someone who people look up to – remember that your influence runs deeper than you think. And if you’re reading this thinking “I’m not where I want to be”, just know that you’re allowed to change direction. You’re allowed to start again. And you’re absolutely allowed to believe in yourself, even if no one else does yet.

If more of us recognised the impact of parents as leaders, we might all speak to ourselves a little more kindly.

 

And that’s the thing about what we do at The Power Within Training.

This isn’t just about becoming a better manager or building a stronger team. Yes, our leadership and business coaching can help you do that, and we’ve seen it transform careers and businesses across the UK. But the real magic runs so much deeper than titles, targets or to-do lists.

• It’s in how you show up for your kids after a tough day.
• It’s in how you speak to yourself when no one’s watching.
• It’s in the way you face challenges, bounce back, and believe in who you are becoming.

Our training is rooted in Motivational Intelligence; the mindset that helps you unlock your potential, lead with belief, and take full ownership of the life you want to create.

I’m not just saying that because I work here. I’m living proof of it. I’ve grown up with it. And I’ve seen what happens when people learn how to quieten that voice in their head that says, “You’re not good enough”, and replace it with one that says, “I’ve got this.”

So, whether you’re stuck, struggling, second-guessing yourself, or just ready for more, reach out. We’re here. We’re listening. And we know how to help.

Because it’s not about changing who you are. It’s about uncovering the power that’s been in you all along.

 

Olivia Fleming
The Power Within Training,
The Motivational Intelligence Company
olivia@tpwtd.com