Following Nick Elston’s talk at the IFW Conference 2022, when his session was so popular that it was standing room only in the room where he spoke, we’ve invited him back as a keynote speaker at the IFW Conference taking place at the Bristol Hotel on 23rd May 2023.
Buy your IFW Conference ticket with the special IFW member discount here.
Non-member tickets are available here.
Book your spot at the social & networking evening on 22nd May.
Nick is a high-profile and globally-renowned inspirational speaker on the lived experience of mental health.
At the IFW Conference, Nick will deliver his talk:
Money and Mental Health: The Chaos and the Conflict.
Your key learning points will be:
- Financial Wellbeing – the relationship between money & mental health
- Changing the narrative – how to find opportunity in the chaos
- Supporting others – how we can look after the people around us whilst protecting ourselves
Nick shares his experiences of mental illness, mental ill-health and breakdown worldwide through powerful, inspiring, engaging and emotional talks, offering insights, tools, tips and techniques on how to manage anxiety in life and in business – to implement immediately.
For Nick, his talks are where Mental Health meets Personal Development, focusing not just on what anxiety is, but on what it does – how it stops us living life on our terms and ultimately how it affects our success – by our own definition.
I asked Nick to let us know a bit more about what delegates can expect from his talk and discussion.
We’re thrilled you’re returning to the IFW Conference. What are you looking forward to most about it?
Thank you – I’m thrilled to be heading back! For me, as someone who works in the space but not exclusively, it’s a wonderful event to immerse myself in as you have the chance to listen to wonderful speakers, engage with all of the attendees and, let’s face it, have fun too.
What can delegates expect from your keynote talk?
What I bring is very different – yes, I talk about Financial Wellbeing, but from a ‘lived experience’ perspective of the impact of money on mental health. So, whether it’s a message the attendee needs to hear for themselves, or an awareness piece for people to engage better with people around them, my talk will give them an emotionally-led insight into the topic which I guarantee will land in some way with every attendee.
How did you find yourself on the journey of becoming a global inspirational speaker?
In short, a breakdown. For me, Speaking was initially a therapy – it was my way back from mental illness and mental health challenges. What I found though was by sharing ‘The Truth’ with people, unfiltered, in a professional environment – it helped to educate, inspire and empower others to reach out for help for their challenges. The rooms got bigger, the audiences got bigger and the rest as they say, is history.
How would you summarise your passions, both in and out of work?
I’m a huge advocate for focusing on ‘emotional connection’ – developing self-awareness to understand what nourishes us and also what depletes us. It drives everything I do. Even with my Speaking, I focus on an audience ‘feeling’ what I’m saying, not just listening and hearing my words. So, with that in mind, my passions are things that ‘light me up’ – whatever recharges my battery on that day is what I do – an eclectic mix – walking, gaming football, listening to country music…
What’s your happiest memory?
My happy place generally is St Ives in Cornwall. We try to get away four or five times a year to recharge by the sea. All of my adult happiest memories have been there – I have such a strong connection with the place – to the extent that it almost feels like home when we are there.
What’s your understanding of financial wellbeing and why it matters?
My angle and focus is on educating people that more money does not equal better mental health. I work with enough high-profile people to know that just isn’t true, they have the same challenges – just a different back-drop. For me, to be ‘financially well’ is to have clarity on your situation at any given time, even if those times are difficult. It’s very easy to procrastinate or avoid a situation altogether – but that only increases our anxiety.
What do you wish you’d been told about finance when you were 15?
To respect money more. I never used to respect money until I started working. Even then I had a ‘have it – spend it’ mentality. Because of this I got into financial trouble very soon into my adulthood and it played a large part in some very poor life choices. It took a long time to come back from that. That mentality still lurks below the surface now at times, so I need to be always mindful that I’m making the right financial decisions.
Who or what is your favourite wellbeing guru, podcast or book?
This is a difficult one to answer – as most personal development books you read, courses you take or episodes you listen to make you feel that if you don’t do everything they say you’re a rubbish human being. Everyone wants you to do it their way. My approach is to listen to lots, watch lots and read lots. If there’s one tip/tool/line that jumps out at me, I pop that in my own playbook. What I would say is to listen/watch/read people with different views, opinions and insights to you, to avoid the echo chamber effect.
What are you doing to advance your own financial wellbeing?
I’m in the process of building a business that isn’t just me. For me, that’s what legacy looks like. I don’t have any children (other than a small Shih-Tzu!), so my legacy will be creating something which not only secures and enhances my future, but also has the potential to have that effect for other people too.
