You're capable. You're stuck anyway.
You’ve built something real and you’re genuinely skilled at what you do. But something’s blocking progress.
Maybe you’ve plateaued as a leader. Your team frustrates you. You know you should be managing and inspiring them differently, but you can’t quite see how.
Or maybe you’re excellent at your craft but sales terrifies you. Rejection feels personal. The whole process makes you feel icky. You avoid it, which means you’re leaving opportunity on the table.
Here’s the truth: the problem isn’t your competence. It’s your internal narrative holding you back.
That’s where David Olney comes in.
David is one of the most incredible minds I've ever met. He always knows the right thing to say at the exact perfect moment. Working with him is an honour, and his mentoring has been extremely important during key moments in my career.
What David Does
David doesn’t fix your business strategy. He helps you build the internal capability to lead effectively, sell authentically, or navigate whatever transition you’re facing.
This is personal professional development. The kind of work that creates lasting change because it addresses what’s actually blocking you, not just surface symptoms.
After 15 years teaching Complex Problem Solving at the University of Adelaide, David brings academic rigour without jargon. Robust frameworks that turn vague frustration into clear action. Asset-based thinking that starts with what’s working, not what’s broken.
He’s not a cheerleader. He’s a structured thinker who helps you see what you’re missing about yourself.
The Approach: Asset-Based Thinking
As psychologist Kathryn D Cramer explains:
"Asset-based thinking is looking at yourself and the world through the eyes of what's working, what strengths are present, what the potentials are. Deficit-based thinking is looking at yourself and the world through what's not working, what's wrong, the gaps. When we focus primarily on the deficits, it holds us back. We may be able to correct the mistake, but we've lost the opportunity."
He’s not a cheerleader. He’s a structured thinker who helps you see what you’re missing about yourself.
Who This Is For?
Leaders Who've Plateaued
You’ve built a team. You’re responsible for performance. But managing people frustrates you in ways you didn’t expect.
You know you should be inspiring them. Communicating more effectively. Creating the conditions for them to succeed. But you’re stuck in patterns that aren’t working, and you can’t quite see the way out.
David helps you identify what’s blocking your leadership capability. Not through generic advice, but through grounded insights that reveal your specific strengths and gaps.
Sales-Capable People Who Hate Sales
You’re genuinely good at what you do. When clients work with you, they get excellent results. But the sales process makes your skin crawl.
Rejection feels personal. Promoting yourself feels gross. You’d rather do anything else, which means you’re leaving money and opportunity on the table.
David helps you reframe the entire sales process. Not through manipulation techniques or fake enthusiasm, but by rebuilding your understanding of what sales actually is. Many of his clients learn to genuinely enjoy it.
People Facing Major Transitions
New role. New responsibility. New market conditions. Something significant has shifted, and you’re not sure you have what it takes to navigate it.
You’re capable, but you’re also anxious. Procrastinating. Second-guessing yourself in ways that don’t match your track record.
David helps you access the resources you already have. Not through pep talks, but through structured thinking that reduces anxiety and builds genuine confidence.
How It Works
One-Hour Sessions
Most work happens in focused one-hour sessions. Some clients book three sessions to work through a specific challenge. Others settle into monthly ongoing sessions for consistent external calibration. Some space sessions further apart as confidence builds.
Nobody’s locked in. You can intensify during periods of change, space out when things stabilise, or stop entirely when you’ve got what you need.
Investment: $175 + GST per hour
David has an exceptional ability to cut through the noise and provide clear, practical guidance that genuinely shifts mindset and direction. Each session left me feeling more confident, focused and better equipped to lead both my business and myself.
The Process
David starts by understanding your past successes and current capabilities. What’s genuinely working. What strengths are present. What potentials exist.
Then he helps you apply those existing resources to the challenge blocking you. This isn’t about fixing deficits. It’s about recognising capability you’ve forgotten you have.
The frameworks he uses come from leading research: Kathryn Cramer’s asset-based thinking, James Clear’s systems approach from Atomic Habits, Daniel Coyle’s skill acquisition work from The Talent Code, Robert Cialdini’s understanding of social proof.
But David doesn’t preach theory. He applies proven concepts to your specific situation.
What You Receive
Clarity on What’s Actually Blocking You
Not vague frustration. Specific understanding of the assumptions and habits keeping you stuck.
Frameworks You Can Apply Independently
David doesn’t create dependency. He gives you tools to continue the work after sessions end.
Reduced Anxiety, Increased Performance
By starting with what’s working (asset-based thinking), you approach challenges from capability rather than deficit. This fundamentally changes how anxiety shows up.
External Calibration
Sometimes you just need someone outside your situation to confirm you’re on the right track or offer perspective you’re too close to see. David provides that steady external reference point.
How These Sessions Differ from Business Strategy Work
Strategic Clarity Sessions (with Steve) focus on your business message and positioning. What you say. How you communicate value. External market clarity.
Strategic Planning Sessions (David and Steve together) focus on organisational challenges. Team alignment. Strategic direction. Business-level problem solving.
Strategic Mentoring (David) focuses on you. Your internal capability. Your leadership development. Your personal blocks. The skills and confidence you need to build.
Different tools. Different outcomes. Sometimes you need all three. Often you need just one.
Ready To Start?
Whether you have met David, or been referred to him by Steve, or would like to book but would appreciate a free, 20-minute chat first, contact us and we will make it happen. David’s primary availability tends to be Mondays, Thursday, and Fridays with sessions conducted by Zoom. David is happy to record sessions for your records.