Quick note - there are very occasional choice words in this episode, so use caution if you’ve got younger people in earshot.
Episode Summary
What happens when the things that once drove you no longer feel quite so important?
In this conversation, I’m joined by Alan Wick, whose life has taken him from playing drums in a rock band to building internationally successful businesses and now helping other entrepreneurs.
Alan shares some extraordinary stories, including working with The Jam and selling his first business during a flight on Concorde. But beneath those stories is a more personal conversation about ambition, money and how our ideas about success change.
We talk about the stroke that forced Alan to reconsider how he was living, the values he eventually recognised from his father, and his growing interest in serendipity and being open to unexpected opportunities.
Alan also introduces the intriguing idea of our wild twin, the part of ourselves that might have been left behind as we learnt to do what was expected of us.
It’s a conversation about following curiosity, learning to listen to yourself and making room for the people and experiences that matter.
And perhaps noticing the opportunities that are already appearing in our own lives.
Today’s episode is brought to you by: Bollywood Dreams Chai tea, a bold Assam black tea with cinnamon, ginger, cloves & warming chai spices.
In this pause for tea, you’ll discover:
03:08 - Alan’s early days as drummer for Titus Oates, and how the pressure to impress record companies began to change his enjoyment of music.
09:05 - The crossroads between pursuing music and building his first business, and why he chose entrepreneurship.
14:29 - How noticing what other sound companies overlooked helped Alan win The Jam as a client.
20:52 - The remarkable story of selling his first business on Concorde, with a little help from champagne and a flight altitude display.
27:18 - What really fuelled Alan’s ambition, and why he doesn’t find it useful to ask whether he’d make the same decisions again.
34:10 - His reflections on difficult business partnerships, ignoring his instincts and learning to listen to more than his head.
37:25 - The stroke Alan calls his “stroke of luck”, and how it began to change his approach to work, family and success.
44:42 - Why Alan believes serendipity, openness and a willingness to take thoughtful risks have shaped his life more than any carefully written plan.
50:13 - Rediscovering his father’s values, rethinking his relationship with money and defining success as happiness and having enough choice.
55:24 - The idea of the “wild twin”, questioning the things we think we should do, and why other people can help us understand ourselves more clearly.
"To be serendipitous means to be open to new ideas."
Resources and Links
Alan Wick’s website: More about Alan’s work and background.
The DO Lectures: The community and learning experiences through which Alan and Erica connected.
Firms of Endearment: The book Alan read during his recovery that helped shape his thinking about business.
Conscious Capitalism: The book that brought Alan back to his father’s approach to business.
The Second Mountain: Mentioned during Alan’s reflections on the “wild twin” and what we really want from life.
Tenzing: Alan mentions this 2026 film, directed by Jennifer Peedom, which tells the story of Tenzing Norgay, who reached the summit of Everest alongside Edmund Hillary in 1953. Great achievements come from following something deeply meaningful to you, but they also depend on the people who help you get there.
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Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.
If this helped, I’d love a quick comment, a heart, or a share. It genuinely helps this post reach more people who need a calmer next step.
Erica x
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