Notice the itch — Pay attention to that hum of dissatisfaction. It’s usually the first clue that something needs to shift.
Distinguish between burnout and boredom — You’re not always exhausted, sometimes you’re just under-challenged. Know the difference before making changes.
Audit your life in cycles — Every few years, ask: is this job, relationship, routine still me? If not, what would make it so?
Experiment before you explode — Try small shifts before burning it all down. A side project or new habit can rekindle energy without chaos.
Reframe change as evolution, not failure — Moving on doesn’t mean you got it wrong. It means you’ve grown.
Growth is an essential part of life, both personally and professionally. Every day presents an opportunity to learn, evolve, and become better versions of ourselves. But how do we seize these opportunities? How do successful writers, leaders, and influencers ensure they are constantly growing and improving? What daily habits, practices, or mindsets contribute to their continual growth? In this interview series, we are talking to authors, leaders, influencers, and anyone who is an authority about “What We Can Do To Grow Every Day”. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing James E. Crawley.
James is a CEO, Non-Executive Director, Mentor, Public Speaker and the Bestselling Author of three books: Fuel Your Employer Brand, Refuel Your Employer Brand, and The Seven Year (Sw)itch — Why We Get Restless in Work, Life, and Love, and What to Do About It. James began his career submerged (literally) as a Submariner in the Royal Navy. After a few years underwater, he resurfaced, tracked down his wife, and stumbled into executive search. Starting as a researcher, he rose to leadership positions in start-ups, turnarounds, and public companies, with the occasional plot twist along the way (including a divorce and an upgrade to Wife v2.0, complete with two delightful pre-installed apps). Over three decades, James evolved from head-hunter to business consultant, founding JCM Advisors to help growing businesses and entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls he knows all too well. Today, he leads multiple companies, advises high-growth firms, and delivers keynote talks worldwide. Off the clock, James dedicates time to humanitarian and charity projects, including the RNLI, South East 4×4 Response, and the Sevenoaks CPR Charity. While he holds no formal psychology or mentoring credentials, his wealth of experience from a live well lived offer lessons few could match.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up with a curiosity for people and their stories, though I didn’t realize it at the time. My early life was fairly ordinary family life on the surface. State Grammar school, small-town and rural England village routines, Boy Scouts, the usual mix of teenage ambition and impatience. My father came from the Greengrocer trade in the East End of London, and my mother was a teacher. I always had a restlessness about me, a sense that life had more to offer if you were willing to step outside the comfort zone. These days I would probably be diagnosed ADHD, but that itch to explore different paths became a defining theme later on.
Can you tell us a bit about what you do professionally, and what brought you to this specific career path?
Professionally, I wear several hats: Business Consultant, Executive Search & Talent advisor, Entrepreneur, and Author. I started as a Submariner in the Royal Navy, arguably the best free management school on the planet. After surfacing (literally), I stumbled into Executive Search, worked my way up, and built my own firms. Over time, I realized my real passion was helping people and businesses navigate moments of change. Today, I run JCM Advisors, advise several businesses and have significant interests in a Software business and a Commercial Radio Station. When I can, I write, most recently about the “itch” we all get when life or work needs a reset.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion about Personal Growth. To make sure that we are all on the same page, let’s begin with a simple definition. What does “Personal Growth” mean to you?
Personal growth is the ability to notice when the “itch” is telling you something, that hum of restlessness when life has stopped stretching you, and then acting on it constructively. It’s not about endlessly reinventing yourself for the sake of novelty. It’s about evolving with intention, so you’re not living the same year on repeat and calling it progress.
Why do you believe that it’s important to commit to growing every day?
Because the alternative is stagnation. Growth doesn’t always mean dramatic leaps. Sometimes it’s just nudging yourself out of autopilot, checking in with your values, and asking, “Is this still me?” The daily commitment stops small ruts from becoming seven-year chasms.
What are the key upsides for those who mindfully engage in a journey of personal evolution?
Clarity, energy, and resilience. When you lean into growth, you’re less likely to torch your life in frustration. You spot patterns, adapt earlier, and use restlessness as fuel instead of seeing it as failure.
When we stop evolving in intentional ways, what do you think are the biggest downsides?
You drift. You stay in the wrong job, wrong relationship, wrong routine because it’s easier than confronting change. Comfort calcifies into stuckness, and before you know it, you’re ten years down the line wondering how you ended up there.
What specific practices, if any, do you have in place to ensure that you don’t become stagnant in life?
I build in checkpoints. Every few years, I audit my work, my routines, even my friendships, and ask whether they’re still serving me. I stay curious, trying new projects, volunteering, writing. And I make space for honest conversations with people who’ll tell me the truth, not just what I want to hear.
Is there any particular area of your life where you are most committed to growth (e.g., spiritually, professionally, socially, internally, relationally)?
Professionally and personally, they’re intertwined. My work thrives when I’m evolving as a person, and my relationships improve when I bring the best version of myself. But if I had to pick one, it would be internal growth — the willingness to question old stories about who I am and update them.
Here is the primary question of our discussion. If you could offer five tips to readers on how to stimulate and perpetuate self-growth, what would they be? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.
- Notice the itch — Pay attention to that hum of dissatisfaction. It’s usually the first clue that something needs to shift.
- Distinguish between burnout and boredom — You’re not always exhausted, sometimes you’re just under-challenged. Know the difference before making changes.
- Audit your life in cycles — Every few years, ask: is this job, relationship, routine still me? If not, what would make it so?
- Experiment before you explode — Try small shifts before burning it all down. A side project or new habit can rekindle energy without chaos.
- Reframe change as evolution, not failure — Moving on doesn’t mean you got it wrong. It means you’ve grown.
What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck and unsure of how to start their personal growth journey?
Start small. Don’t pressure yourself into a grand reinvention overnight. Pick one area — health, work, hobbies and introduce one intentional change (and track that change). Progress, however tiny, builds momentum.
Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have significantly contributed to your personal growth?
I’m biased, but “The Seven-Year (Sw)itch” is my honest attempt to map this territory. Beyond that, I draw a lot from conversations with entrepreneurs, leaders, and volunteers. You can learn a lot from “everyday” folks just living their lives if you listen to them. As for resources: What’s Up Docs? From the BBC with the Van Tulleken brothers is a great listen on tough conversations and when to say no. I am fan of Simon Sinek — his TED Talk on “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” hooked me onto his content — the “Start with why” applies as much to personal life as it does to a business.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I’d start a movement around normalizing reinvention. Too many people see changing paths as weakness. I want people to see it as a sign of growth, whether that’s changing careers, rethinking relationships, or simply updating your own narrative. I think if this became normalized more people would also recognize the value of giving back some of their time to the greater good, because they would realize the immense benefit to their own wellbeing. I personally try to give up one third of my time to the voluntary humanitarian sector — it gives me an enormous sense of wellbeing and actually makes me more productive and more successful
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can find my work at www.jcmadvisors.com, or my Amazon Author Page: follow updates on Linked-In (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescrawley) , or YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/@jcmadvisors/videos) and of course, pick up or listen to “The Seven-Year (Sw)itch: Why We Get Restless in Work, Life, and Love and What to Do About It”.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Growing Every Day: James E. Crawley, of JCM Advisors, On What We Can Do To Grow Every Day was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.