Philosophical Mentorship with Simon Drew

My coaching method is simple: human communication with the common goal of becoming wiser, stronger, better human beings. I listen to you and I tell you the truth as I see it, I ask questions that provoke deeper thinking, and we both draw upon wisdom from past and present. Sometimes we’ll talk about practical personal development techniques, and other times we’ll philosophize and search for meaningful answers to tough questions that you’re wrestling with. If you’ve listened to my podcast or read my work and you trust my judgment then you can book a session with me via the button below. I’m looking forward to meeting you!

CLIENT REVIEWS

I've found Simon's coaching to be invaluable during a transitional period in my life. Whether you're looking for life guidance from a Stoic perspective or simply some deep and interesting philosophical conversations, Simon is always able to provide, and I've walked away from each conversation feeling refreshed and with some good advice to chew on. I can't recommend him enough.

If you are looking for a plainspoken, philosophical and deeply practical guide — Simon is your man. Our time together has created an immense amount of clarity about my goals, and the insight and motivation to effectively pursue them. All with a foundation in philosophical virtue, not ego and materialism. I have referred several friends to Simon and will continue to do so.

Simon has all the traits of an excellent life coach; he is an active listener and gives me the time and space to say what I needed during our sessions. His coaching approach is not prescriptive, but I've always left the session with a clear idea of what I need to work on afterwards.

I started working with Simon at the start of this year and it has been awesome to have a dialogue with someone so dedicated to helping other people excel. It’s rare to get candid feedback on one’s direction in life and Simon has been able to provide that in a way that both prompts me to think critically and encourages me to keep striving.

Simon is a very wise, kind and gentle soul. He is so easy to talk to. In my sessions with him I have felt inspired and challenged. He gives me practical advice and tasks to do to help me along my journey. I'm very grateful.

I’ve been working with Simon for about a month and a half and can’t overstate how much of a positive impact it’s had on my day-to-day life and my overall well-being. Working with Simon personally I’m given practical tools, but customized and tailored for my own personal life and situations.

Building habits that aid flourishing

The things that we do, say, and think repeatedly are, to a large extent, the markers of what our future will become. I help my clients to think differently about their repeated behaviours, and I encourage them to develop new habits that aid their flourishing in the moment (which, in turn, aid future flourishing).

Clarifying Aims

While the world of personal development can often focus too heavily on motivation, the pursuit of wisdom via philosophy helps us to pay attention to our aims. Humans are aiming creatures, but sometimes these aims can be perverted by repeated habits, limiting thoughts, and external influences that do not serve us. I help my clients to pay closer attention to the aims that they’re moving toward, and together we endeavour to clarify and redefine those aims so that they work for the client’s flourishing, and not against it.

Self-knowledge and understanding

I believe that there is a wellspring of deep wisdom that lies within each and every human being, and I aim to help my clients to gain access to these waters. I’m an advocate of the age-old delphic wisdom of “know thyself,” and it’s my opinion that if I can help my clients to gain clearer access to their own personal understandings then I will have succeeded in giving them the tools to move forward in their lives with greater awareness, confidence, and wisdom.

Achieving balance

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus once said that there are two keys to personal growth: self-scrutiny and self-kindness. I have often found that one of the most important paths I could help my clients to walk on is that of self-kindness. Most people have the self-scrutiny down, though many are far too harsh and unforgiving in their judgements. I help my clients to strike a harmonious balance between scrutiny and kindness, which in turn acts as a powerful feedback loop of personal transformation and growth.

A hand to hold

Seneca once wrote that he wished not to give advice as if he had all the answers, but only as if he were a fellow patient in the same hospital, lying in a bed opposite to the student, talking about how they could both become well. This is how I like to work with my own clients. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. I have not gained an ultimate understanding of the principles we may discuss in our sessions, but I only wish to be wiser, stronger, and better week-by-week, and I hold my client’s hand as we walk this same road together.

Space for deeper thinking

One thing that often tell my new clients is that a session with me should feel like a meaningful conversation with a close friend who wants the best for them. I allow space for the coaching relationship to grow into one where both the client and I are comfortable in each others presence, and where we can freely and honestly discuss the most significant matters of life through the lense of philosophy, theology, and broader cultural wisdom.