Our 10QUESTIONS feature asks members of the Freshfield community ten questions about their working life. Featuring client partners, colleagues and FF friends, our guests share some personal stories, views and fresh words of wisdom.

Our latest guest is Michael Finnigan, founder and CEO of i2i HQ Limited. Specialising in performance psychology, Michael is credited with helping elite sports professionals and teams, business owners and other individuals to overcome barriers to performance and develop a winning mentality.

How do you like to start your working day?

Up early replying to emails and jotting down my overnight genius ideas which will otherwise get forgotten. Then a health drink and coffee from my Bialetti.

Where and how do you come up with your best ideas?

Either in my sleep or from reading, and sometimes, like Thomas Eddison, just ‘sitting for ideas’ until they come. He sat in the dark, I just sit and talk to myself.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

‘Aim high’ which means think as big as you possibly can. It’s free and inspiring. This advice comes from W Clement Stone, who is my inspiration. If you don’t know him; find out or read my book ‘Tablets of Stone’.

What does leadership mean to you?

Getting people to love doing what you agree to do. Focus 50% people and 50% task; that way, you don’t suffer fools who are counter culture.

What’s your top tip for achieving a work-life balance?

Pick the five things which create it for you. Create a daily action plan around them. Do it. Simple. Or let us show you how that’s done.

Which current or historical business figure do you most admire and why?

W Clement Stone the greatest human who ever lived, bar none. He believed in the impossible and in every single person he ever met, bar none. “If you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying, then by all means try”.

What is your most trusted source of news?

John Talbot of Talbot Print, my neighbour. At 10.30 over a coffee, he tells me all about the world overnight and we agree what we’re going to do about it when we’re in charge.

What is your favourite brand and why?

My own. Seriously. Yours should be your own too. I do my job for my clients all the time, way more than they pay for, way better than they expect. Delta Airlines lead the way also, just behind me.

What’s the most recent new skill you have learnt?

Padel, and I’m showing real promise. I lost the power to win at tennis, but Padel isn’t power, it’s touch, and I’m still good there.

We all use them…what management jargon phrase do you use the most?

‘It’s all about people’, because it really is.