About The Curious Rebel
Up from Earth's Centre through the Seventh Gate
I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate,
And many a Knot unravel'd by the Road;
But not the Master-Knot of Human Fate.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
I’ve asked questions all my life. I have found some answers. Some have even stayed with me as wisdom. Other answers have slipped away before I could fully grasp their meaning or test their validity. Many questions still remain. I go on searching.
I try not to write just another newsletter. My aim is to create a rallying point for people who refuse to accept that, "the way things are or have always been" is good enough. It's a home for questioners, explorers, and imaginative rebels who like to think differently, question the status quo, and live boldly, in their quest to make their unique mark on the world.
At The Curious Rebel, I foster the beliefs that:
Curiosity is a Superpower: Questions spark innovation, creativity, and growth. The best ideas start with "what if?"
Rebellion is an Art: Real change comes because we are willing to challenge assumptions and carve our own paths.
Fun and Depth Can Coexist: Thoughtful, meaningful ideas are even more powerful when they're delivered with a wink, a smile, and a playful twist.
The best answers are created when we search together.
What You'll Find Here
Newsletters packed with quirky insights, mind-bending questions, and fresh perspectives.
Short Substack Notes that keep your imagination buzzing between issues.
A lively, welcoming community of curious rebels like you who love dialogue, creative experiments, and bold new ideas.
Thought experiments, creative challenges, intriguing research, and opportunities to engage and contribute.
Why Join?
Because you're not interested in following the crowd. You're here to ask better questions, ignite your creativity, strengthen your unique voice, and turn curiosity into your greatest advantage.
If you've ever felt that normal is overrated, you're in the right place.
Our Motto:
"Question everything. Accept nothing at face value. Because normal is boring."
Come join the rebellion.
Stay curious, stay bold.
David Ferrers
Chief Rebel & Curiosity Advocate
About The Editor
For 18 years I worked for two of the world’s top advertising agencies, Leo Burnett and BBDO, where I helped major brands attract and influence their consumers.
Later, I became an Executive Performance Coach. I showed senior leaders in multinationals how to improve their self-understanding and confidence and how to communicate and lead with authority.
Now, I am editing this newsletter to help those like you who want to develop a mindset that will enable you to achieve what you want. _See also this letter from me to my subscribers._
My Life As An Executive Performance Coach
These are some of the companies I worked for when I was a coach and some of the comments my clients made about me.
This is what clients have said about my coaching on LinkedIn.
Astute and Exceptionally Motivating Coach
David is a most astute and exceptionally motivating coach with great personal and professional integrity. For somebody with such depth of experience, he is remarkable in his continuing quest for learning and improvement, whether it’s sport, business or leading a balanced life. He works skilfully with many different types of people and encourages them to find their potential with their own formula. The support he provides always exceeds what one can reasonably expect. The initiative he recently took to set up a service to support executives hit by the economic downturn shows imagination and compassion.
Lucian Hudson, Durham University, Global leadership, strategic communications, collaboration and change across public, private and civil society sectors. Communications chief since 2000, and board chair since 1997.
A Wise Guide
I was lucky enough to take a series of coaching sessions with David during a challenging time in my current role. My aim going in was to develop my executive leadership skills but we ended up going much further. It was an opportunity to reflect not only on how I work but how I live and David was the perfect guide for this journey. I have worked with other executive coaches, one of whom was very helpful, but none have had the impact that David has had – several months after our sessions were completed I can honestly say that I’m living and working with clearer purpose and greater satisfaction.
Andrew Merryweather, Vice President of Experience Design at Oracle NetSuite
The Best Coach I’ve Ever Had
David is simply the best coach I have ever had on every level and we clicked right from the first conversation.
His intuition almost other-worldly and his mix of nurturing and no-nonsense and (very) honest feedback quite simply transformed the way I see myself and those who I interact with in the world.
When we met I was successful enough but was so at the expense of other things in life. David quickly helped me to find balance, authenticity and a self-awareness that enabled be to make the sustainable adjustments required to improve my happiness.
I would recommend David to anyone, but especially to those people who do not believe they need a coach!
Thank you so much for what you’ve done for me, David.
Daniel Hodgkiss, Vice President - Global Data Science at Ralph Lauren
Growing at a Phenomenal Rate
A massive thank you for the work you have done with me thus far. We are still growing at a phenomenal rate, and the stress would have bogged me down before I met you, but now I have learned to view things differently, and also to be myself rather than a dictator is an enormous help. THANK YOU.
Jamie Smith-Thompson, MD, Portal Financial
A Joy to be With and to Learn From
I’ve worked with David in the context of his NLP coaching and training and I am deeply impressed with the level of humility combined with deep competence that he brings to his work. Not only is he excellent at using the combination of his business acumen and his NLP skills, he has a sensitivity to simultaneously learn while creating the conditions for profound learning of others. The other characteristic which stands out for me is the wisdom which he brings to each encounter and which he whole-heartedly shares. He is a joy to be with and to learn from.
Gene Early, partner, Leaders Quest
A Fantastic Coach
David is a fantastic coach. If you want someone to make you and your managers think, to really make a difference, look no further.
Oliver Burns, CTO, Cambridge University
Made a significant impact to my personal and professional development
Having David as a coach has made a significant impact to my personal and professional development. His thoughtful, sincere and inspiring attitude enabled me to change the way I think and my approach to situations I previously found daunting. His gentle yet determined methods meant that I have progressed significantly more than I expected. Working with David was interesting, rewarding and always enjoyable. I would highly recommend David to anyone who is looking for guidance in their professional development. He also managed to improve my skiing technique too.
Jane Sutton, Director, Strategy and Development at Reed Business Information
David Will Help You Find the Answers Inside Yourself
Before David became my coach, I was quite cynical about coaching. Now I realise the true value. As a coach, David has the life experience, knowledge, empathy and understanding to listen, guide and mentor. You have the answers inside yourself. David will help you to find them.
Andy Proyer, Actor
I Feel Much More Confident and Driven
I have taken onboard a lot of what I learned with David on a personal and work level. It has helped me make decisions that I previously found difficult to make. I have a more positive apporoach to things and feel so much more confident and driven. I have had two new starters this week, which is going well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for a wonderful course and for showing me that I CAN do what I set my mind to do!
Mary Crammond, Case Liaison Officer, Portal Financial
Always Positive and Supportive
David’s coaching has fundamentally changed the way I think, and therefor act.
As a senior manager, communication is integral to my personal and commercial success. David’s coaching has developed and fine-tuned my communication skills to give me confidence in small or large groups, from hosting large team meetings to delivering international board presentations.
In addition to helping me build confidence through better self awareness, he has shown me how to comprehend other’s motivations and drivers as well. Through our coaching sessions and his blog, I have now learned how to do more than just listen: I can really understand what people mean. This makes me extremely effective in day-to-day situations especially in managing conflict or finding resolutions.
I appreciate David’s sincere and open style. Although I’m an extremely private person, his relaxed self confidence put me at ease from the start. This was crucial else I might not have benefitted from the coaching at all. He doesn’t let me get away with anything, yet he’s always positive and supportive which sets a great example for a young professional.
David is responsive to my needs: our coaching programme doesn’t always go according to plan as he often helps me through a challenging week. Having that sympathetic yet stern confidant is a priceless competitive advantage in the business environment.
Recently I attended one of his day-long workshops and I learned techniques which I could implement the very next day to stunning effect. From little tricks like breaking state to big things like setting well-formed outcomes, his coaching has really taken me from competent professional to confident executive.
Tom Van Aardt, Executive VP, Accuity
A Life Changing Experience For Me
Without wanting to sound melodramatic, David’s coaching was a life changing experience for me which has produced profound effects in both my work and personal life. David understands people very well, particularly the workings of the human mind, and is able to explain your emotions and help you control them whilst giving you the confidence and direction to achieve your goals.
Bob Stark, Commercial Director, Portafina Financial Services
My Professional Development has Progressed Significantly
I was initially fairly sceptical about the benefits of coaching programmes but that was before I started my sessions with David. Three months in, I couldn’t recommend it more.
For me, the real value of the sessions with David has been a much clearer understanding of my behaviours, motivations and strengths which, in turn, has made a huge difference to my outlook and approach. As a consequence, my professional development has progressed significantly and I feel that I have gained valuable knowledge that will assist me in both my personal and professional life.
David draws on deep personal and professional experience to provide unerringly insightful analysis and advice always delivered in a thoughtful, friendly and informal manner, which only serves to magnify the value of his input.
Matt Bye, CTO, Sedex
Find Your Inner Confidence
Would you like to find your inner confidence, self awareness, behavioural traits, and exploit all of these and exude positivity and earn respect and authority? If the answer is yes then I would suggest that you book up some coaching sessions with David Ferrers. Sceptical? Yes I was one of those people that thought yes I know all of this and am doing it. Well think again, David is more than a coach, but a liberator of thought and has the power and deep insight into encouraging you to believe in yourself and make your own destiny by changing how you view yourself and are viewed by others.
It’s evident that David cares about people and their progression in life and works tirelessly to unearth the inner you by ways of persuasive questioning techniques coupled with wit and a likeability factor that makes the whole process an enjoyable experience. I know that I’ve developed in the time that I’ve been working with David and know that he can continue to teach and coach me into re-evaluating what’s important to me and others and arm me with the skills to be the best Manager, mentor, colleague, person I can be. I know that I can look back on this experience and will confidently say that he has made a positive difference to my development.
Claire Boeje, Head of Ad Sales Systems and Data, RELX
Universally Positive Feedback and Improved Performance
David is an excellent leadership coach whose tailored, and confidential, approach resulted in universally positive feedback and improved performance from those who participated in this program.
Nigel Sterndale, CIO, Total Jobs Group
Greater Confidence in my Existing Strengths
David is a very sincere person of great generosity and depth. It is clear that for him coaching is a passionate vocation and that he takes great personal motivation from supporting and developing those with whom he collaborates.
I received coaching from David for 12 months a new experience for me. During my time with David I learnt to greatly value the reflexive view that he could offer me on my own motivations and behaviours helping me to understand the impact I have upon others, to place greater confidence in my existing strengths and to find the subtle adjustments that could open up improved relationships with colleagues at all levels.
Aside from his acute understanding of mind and behaviour, David is in himself an inspiring and deeply interesting person. An author, entrepreneur, leader and man of countless other histories, he is able to blend theory with a rich human experience. September 15, 2011
Iain Lennon, CPO, Zyte
A Very Positive Impact on the People he has Worked with Here
I would highly recommend David as a leadership coach. He has had a very positive impact on the people he has worked with here. He has a gentle but challenging approach that drives constructive self insight leading to improved performance.
James Cahill, CTO, Total Jobs Group
The Best Money Spent of Any Training I’ve Had
I wasn’t sure what to expect from coaching before my first session with David. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was aimed at improving me, as a rounded person, working in a management position, rather than turning me into a more efficient machine for the company. I know now that the latter is an output of the former, but you get so much more with it. It’s really made the biggest difference to my outlook, and in my opinion, has been the best money spent on any training I’ve had. Give him a go, you won’t regret it!
Chris Loveless, Director of Engineering, Chemistry Solutions, Elsevier
He Enables You to Get Results
I first met David when I attended one of his seminars shortly after I started my own business. A couple of years ago I started working with him as part of a group coaching session. In that time I’ve enjoyed each of our weekly sessions immensely. He’s able to challenge, motivate and inspire and has a wealth of information and experience to draw on, which he happily passes on. He’s also incredibly helpful and always passing on information and ideas for me to work with between sessions.
I’d highly recommend working with David. His approach is gentle, yet challenging and he enables you to get results. I certainly wouldn’t have achieved as much as I have in the last year without his help.
Clare Evans, author of Time Management For Dummies
Really Motivates One to Crack on and Achieve One’s Goals
David provides a fantastic service. He offers really useful advice and helps devise strategies to achieve the best results.
He not only advises on business issues, but also helps with one’s whole situation, self-esteem, family relationships, etc.
He is always available with great advice and encouragement and really motivates one to crack on and achieve one’s goals.
Kevin Duck, Sales Manager, Hiber Gene Diagnostics
Fantastic Insight Into How People Work
I worked with David over several months when he came in as a management coach. The sessions I had with David were very enjoyable and enlightening. I really looked forward to the sessions He has a fantastic insight into how people work and this has really helped me in my role.
Peter Dean-Osgood, Project Manager, RBI
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