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Who is behind Self Determined Life?

Martin Cole is a British born lawyer, compliance professional and coach and the founder and editor of SelfDeterminedLife.com and the Self Determined Leaders newsletter. He is a professionally certified organisational and executive coach and has a Masters (M.Sc.) in Coaching Psychology.

Self Determined Life provides evidence-backed strategies to help leaders build the mental tools you need to manage the complexities, uncertainties and pressures you confront on a daily basis in professional and personal life.

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Latest Posts
  • From surviving to thriving: An introduction to positive psychology
    When I was a child, and even as a young man, consideration of the workings of the mind was always centred on disfunction. The focus was always on what were then considered to be somewhat shameful conditions like depression, anxiety or … Read more
  • Self-Determination Theory: the key to unlocking powerful motivation and reaching goals
    Have you ever wondered why some people seem naturally driven to achieve their goals, while others struggle to find motivation? The answer may lie in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), a powerful framework for understanding human motivation and behaviour. In this article, we’ll … Read more
  • Habit formation and its powerful impact on goal achievement
    Habits shape the very core of our daily existence, subtly steering us towards our personal and professional milestones. Harnessing the transformative power of habits can mean the difference between hoping for success and living it. The formation of habits is fundamental in achieving … Read more
  • Difficult goals: 6 core strategies for success
    Setting clear goals can be transformative for your personal and professional development. And when you aim high and establish challenging and difficult goals, you tap into a reservoir of motivation that can drive you to stretch beyond your usual boundaries. When … Read more
  • The power of goal commitment for achieving peak performance
    Embracing goal commitment is pivotal to realising the zenith of your performance, be it in your personal or professional life. Whether you aspire to master a new skill, climb the career ladder, or achieve a vision you’ve fiercely held, the unwavering … Read more
  • How goals work: 14 key research based findings
    Goals are the invisible forces that drive our actions, shape our achievements, and influence our motivation. They can be defined as internal representations of desired futures states (Austin and Vancouver, 1996) Understanding how goals work can transform the way we approach … Read more
  • Breaking down big goals: 6 steps that are critical to success
    Breaking Down Big Goals Many of us look to improve our lives and feel a sense of achievement by setting ourselves big, important goals. Whether in our personal or professional lives, setting ambitious targets can definitely be motivating. However, it is … Read more
  • 20 different types of goals for more powerful goal-setting
    When it comes to goals, goal theory and goal setting, most people know the SMART goal framework – goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound. And there is no doubt, this framework is well-known because it is useful and … Read more