Allow me to reintroduce myself
As the domain suggests, my name is Rich Leigh.
Some of you might know me as the noisy PR bloke that stopped being quite so noisy just over a year or so back.
In that time, a lot has changed.
On February 7th last year, my youngest brother Jordan (below, left) took his own life, aged just 27. His suicide note to me was addressed ‘To the father I never had’.
That should give you some idea as to our relationship, with our own father invariably at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
rock bottom
In May last year, I sold the business that had entirely changed my life, Radioactive PR. A PR agency I’d started from nothing and built over 10 years. A company that had seen me go from cheeky upstart to… something like a successful upstart, working with more than 300 incredible clients and building a team I couldn’t have been more proud of.
But, after Jordan, and the painful, surreal months that followed, I knew that I was then no longer the leader it needed and deserved.
Dear Reader, I hit rock bottom. I mean, properly, if-there’s-worse-than-this-I-can’t-and-don’t-want-to-comprehend-it, capitalised Rock Bottom. Drinking every night until I passed out to blot out the nightmares, hoping I wouldn’t wake up Rock Bottom.
I’m going to fast forward. I’ve created this space to blog about the last year, among many other things, and blog I shall, but for now: I’m on an upswing and want to stay positive.
I started a podcast called Project Possible, and brought it back in September last year. Without exaggeration, it might very well have saved my life.
In creating it, I’ve surrounded myself with the most incredible people.
Lords and Ladies. Olympic champions and World Cup winners. Some of the world’s most influential creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers and inspiring adventurers.
From household names to people with the most amazing stories. It’s a selfish act, really - I get to meet and talk to these people and then, I get to share those conversations, with millions of people to date.
It’s still an expensive hobby - until it isn’t - but it’s got me to here. And I’m calling this chapter…
New game+
I was speaking to my 15 year old son about feeling like I’m ready to re-enter the professional (ish) world again - while very much still pushing in the direction of continued podcast growth and success.
He said something that might resonate with any gamers among you - ‘it’ll be like playing New Game+ mode’.
New Game+ is an unlockable video game mode available in some games that allows you to restart the game's story - with all (or some) of the items or experience you gained in the first play-through.
And, although I’m not heading back into PR, I thought: what a bloody brilliant way to put it.
All of the years of experience, the scars, the connections, the creativity - I’m not starting from scratch. When you’ve been down, it’s easy to forget just how much you actually have to give.
So what am I doing?
The podcast, and building a community around it, sits at the heart of everything. If you've got a story worth telling, a guest suggestion, or a sponsorship or partnership idea that makes sense, let's talk.
But, extending the metaphor: New Game+ isn't just about Project Possible.
It's about taking everything I've learned over the last twenty years or so, and putting it to work in different ways.
That means speaking.
I've spent years talking publicly, in the media and on stages about creativity, entrepreneurship, culture and building meaningful businesses.
More recently, I've found myself talking and writing more about resilience, reinvention and what’s truly possible, adversity be-damned. I’ve been told by people I respect enormously that my story is perhaps just as worth listening to as my business success, so… I’m going to get myself out there.
It means advising business leaders.
I’ll be quite selective about this and probably only have time for a role or two at a time, but I’m open to consulting. My experience and network have been earned the hard way, and I’m sure I can help to halve a headache or two for those looking to build their businesses.
It means advising PR/marketing industry suppliers.
Similar to the above. I’ve spent BUCKS on tools and services over the years, even going as far as building my own. I’ve worked with suppliers to develop and improve their offerings, having made it my business to know the industry inside and out - and can add some serious value here.
And perhaps most unexpectedly, it means being an agent.
Almost twenty years in PR, plus getting on for a hundred podcast guests, means my phonebook is full of the most ridiculously impressive human beings - people I know well. The sort of people who make events better and campaigns stronger.
Having put a good few people together in the last six months for speaking gigs and talent work, I’ve become something of an accidental agent.
So if you're looking for a speaker for an event or talent for a campaign, and you get square eyed searching endless rosters, let’s speak. From logistics to fees, I’ve been on all sides of this. It doesn’t go well by accident, and I’m probably only a call away from the right talent for you.
Maybe two if they’re not UK-based.
If you’re sat there thinking: you know what, I like the cut of this Rich guy’s jib and would like to work together in one of the above ways - or another mysterious and exciting way, email me.
FINALLY, while I still have you - thank you to those of you that have been in touch in the last year.
It’s been the hardest year and a bit of my life - and while one can never be ‘fixed’ - and I’ll arguably never be the same man again - many people that read this will have played a not-insignificant part in keeping me going.
For that, I’m forever grateful.
And hopeful.
