Zigzags, Visibility, and the Myth of ‘Living the Dream’

You know that phrase, “living the dream”? Well, today’s guest, Declan Allen, Managing Director at HORIBA MIRA, would happily never hear it again. Because behind that Instagram-perfect idea of success is something much less glamorous - graft, growth, and a deep respect for doing things properly.

Declan started as a toolmaker. No master plan, no shortcut. Just a focus on learning the job, solving real problems, and showing up with consistency. Fast-forward a few decades, and he’s now leading one of the world’s most innovative engineering and mobility companies. But what’s remarkable isn’t the title, it’s the mindset that got him there.

Here are the big truths that landed for me in our conversation:

You don’t need a master plan; you need mastery of where you are.

Declan never plotted a corporate ladder. He focused on doing the role in front of him brilliantly. That kind of intent - the focus on craft, learning, and follow-through is what creates the reputation that opens doors.

It’s not about ambition without action. It’s about showing up and letting your results do the talking (then making sure the right people can actually hear them).

Visibility isn’t arrogance. It’s clarity.

This one’s personal. So many people assume that talking about their work means bragging. Declan nails it when he explains that visibility is about connecting the dots between what you do and why it matters. You can’t delegate your reputation, and if you’re not shaping your story, someone else is (and they might not get it right.)

The people who get noticed aren’t the loudest; they’re the ones who make the impact easy to see.

Difference is your team’s superpower.

Declan’s leadership style is quietly radical. He values the thinkers, the questioners, the doers because he’s lived every part of that ecosystem.

“If everyone thinks the same, we just get faster at reinforcing the same ideas,” he said. That’s it. That’s the whole leadership manual.

The best teams don’t iron out differences; they harness them, making them visible, valued, and useful.

Leadership is what you do when no one’s watching.

No self-congratulation, no shortcuts. Just a calm, relentless commitment to doing good work. Declan said it simply: “You don’t get noticed for saying you want to lead; you get noticed for getting things done.”And that’s the difference between chasing the next title and becoming the person people naturally trust to lead.

So what do we take from all this?

Success isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the accumulation of little moves - learning where you are, staying curious, owning your impact, and recognising the power of difference.

You don’t need to “live the dream.”You just need to build a life (and a reputation) that feels real, earned, and visible.

Bold Move to Try:

This week, notice one thing you do that makes a difference - to your team, customer, or organisation. Now find one simple way to make that visible. No brag. Just clarity.

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