The Nathan Barry Show – Episode 121
My Habits For (Almost) Limitless Energy | Simon Alexander Ong
March 25, 2026
Episode Overview
In this energizing episode, Nathan Barry sits down with Simon Alexander Ong, author of "Energize" and renowned coach for creators and leaders. The conversation dives deep into the multi-dimensional nature of energy and how it underpins sustainable productivity, creativity, and leadership. Nathan and Simon discuss energy management, burnout, the importance of consistency over intensity, building creativity through cross-disciplinary inspiration, and actionable strategies for stress management in high-performing creator environments.
Throughout the episode, both Nathan and Simon share personal stories, frameworks, and tools for creators looking to build resilience, cultivate energy, and make better decisions in their businesses and personal lives.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Defining Energy and Its Dimensions
- Simon introduces four types of energy: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual (00:19)
- Physical: Sleep, exercise, diet
- Mental: Mindset and creativity
- Emotional: Relationship with self and others
- Spiritual: Meaning, purpose, and fulfillment
- Quote: “We live in the feeling of our thinking moment to moment. Your life is what you choose to see.” — Simon (05:07)
2. From Finance to Fulfillment: Simon’s Creator Journey
- Simon shares his unconventional leap from finance at Lehman Brothers to entrepreneurship and authoring “Energize” (01:54)
- Emphasizes that fulfillment and success are self-defined, not measured solely by external achievements (02:52)
- Notable moment: Simon's "journey from head to heart" after Lehman Brothers’ collapse
3. Energy Management vs. Time Management
- Simon explains that energy fluctuates throughout the day, making energy management superior to rigid time management (00:38)
- Quote: "Time management assumes your energy is constant... whereas energy management appreciates that it fluctuates throughout the day." — Simon (00:38)
4. Burnout and Building Longevity
- Burnout happens when creators focus on intensity instead of consistency (09:05)
- The value of incremental consistency: Start with a rhythm you can sustain and build from there
- Quote: “The key is to thrive, not just survive, and the only way to do that is to find a good rhythm that works for you.” — Simon (09:58)
5. Purpose, Mission, and Happiness
- Simon and Nathan explore the importance of clarity on personal purpose and self-defined success (12:12)
- Happiness and emotional stability shouldn’t be tied only to achievements
- Quote: "When you know what fulfillment looks and feels like for you, that awakens one of the greatest energetic sources within us." — Simon (16:27)
6. Overcoming Stress and Shifting Perspective
- Stress often results from over-attachment to outcomes and focusing only on “how far there is to go” instead of progress (33:34)
- Tools for managing stress:
- Distance from the challenge (storytelling, e.g., the Netflix episode exercise) (18:49)
- Stillness: Meditation, walking, and reflective journaling to gain clarity (21:46)
- Connecting to your future self: Making decisions with your Future Self in mind (23:33)
- Quote: "You fall into this tragic scenario of living as if you are never going to die and then dying, having never really lived." — Simon (33:45)
7. Giving Up Control, Gamification, and Having Fun
- Treat your creator journey like a game—expect experimentation, leveling up, and using “cheat codes” (12:57)
- Loosen your grip on outcomes in both business and parenting; focus on being present and co-creating experiences (36:51–44:13)
- Parenting and leadership parallels: guide rather than control, invite contribution, and value presence (37:01, 45:13)
8. Energy in Teams and Leadership
- Leaders must be mindful of the (often nonverbal) energy they bring to their teams (69:45)
- Positive, empowering energy from leaders allows teams to “loosen up” and perform better (70:13)
- Practical gratitude: verbal, specific appreciation—voice notes are powerful (73:29)
- Quote: “The greatest gift we can give to someone else is our energy and our presence.” — Simon (43:09)
9. Creativity: Cross-Pollination and Unique Talking Points
- Look outside your own industry for creative inspiration; combine different sources for originality (52:27, 54:38)
- Example: Simon’s book marketing borrowed ideas from hospitality and the arts (58:59)
- Question Storming: A technique to draw out team wisdom by asking broad, cross-industry questions (64:23)
10. Strategic Decision-Making and Following Energy
- When stuck between choices, trust your intuition—coin flips or role play with your future self can reveal true desires (77:38)
- The most compelling visions naturally energize and draw you forward without requiring extra motivation (79:21)
- Quote: “If you see worth in what you have to offer, other people will see it as well. They will feel it, and they will want to work with you in some form.” — Simon (76:15)
Memorable Quotes
- Simon (00:00): “What is a successful life for you? If you could take away all of these external metrics, when you know what fulfillment looks and feels like for you, that awakens one of the greatest energetic sources within us.”
- Simon (05:41): “Instead of looking at others for comparison, look at others for inspiration... The only person we should be comparing ourselves to is who we were yesterday.”
- Simon (09:05): “Consistency versus intensity: We go hard, and when we don’t see results, we burn out. The key is to thrive, not just survive.”
- Nathan (12:12): “Making money is a skill. I can learn this thing. And then achieving all of the goals that I had set out … I wanted to share that with everyone else.”
- Simon (33:45): "You fall into this tragic scenario of living as if you are never going to die and then dying, having never really lived.”
- Simon (45:45): “A lot of people I see are exhausted not because they're physically doing too much, but because they're doing too little of the things that bring them joy.”
- Simon (76:09): “There are two sales that happen in business: the first is selling you to you. Until you can sell you to you, the second will remain a challenge.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–00:38: Intro to energy – dimensions and approach (Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual)
- 01:54–05:21: Simon’s transition from finance to coaching and realization about self-defined success
- 09:05–10:22: Creator burnout – the trap of intensity vs. sustaining consistent energy
- 12:12–12:47: Purpose, mission, and transforming scarcity mindset into abundance
- 16:37–21:00: Stress, detaching emotional well-being from achievements, and gratitude as abundance
- 18:49–23:46: Tools for stress – reframing through storytelling, stillness, and visualizing future self
- 33:34–35:41: Releasing control, loosening up, and the physical/emotional consequences of “death grip” leadership
- 36:51–45:23: Parenting, leadership parallels, co-creation, and fostering resilience in kids/teams
- 52:27–58:59: Creative cross-pollination, unique talking points, and lateral thinking in business marketing
- 64:23–65:41: Brainstorming vs. question-storming
- 69:45–74:03: Leadership energy, nonverbal cues, power of gratitude and presence
- 77:38–80:20: Decision-making, intuition, and “the coin flip” as an insight tool
Actionable Takeaways
- Audit Your Energy: Consider all four dimensions and identify which area needs the most attention this week.
- Prioritize Consistency: Set a sustainable rhythm for content creation or any new habit before increasing intensity.
- Gamify Your Work: Reframe challenges as levels to beat and look for “cheat codes” as creative shortcuts.
- Distance Yourself from Stress: Use storytelling or visualization to get perspective on problems.
- Practice Gratitude Publicly: Send specific, verbal (or voice note) thank-yous to team members or collaborators.
- Look Outside Your Industry for Inspiration: Cross-pollinate ideas to create original projects or marketing.
- Harness Future Self: When facing tough decisions, ask how your future self might act, or use the coin flip method to reveal your true preference.
- Loosen Control for Creativity: Hold outcomes loosely in parenting and leadership; focus instead on co-creation and positive presence.
Final Word
This episode is a masterclass in sustaining the energy and momentum needed for long-term creative and entrepreneurial success. Through a blend of practical frameworks, vivid analogies, and transparent storytelling, Nathan and Simon offer listeners a toolkit for thriving as creators, leaders, and humans.
Follow Simon Alexander Ong:
- simonalexanderong.com
- Social: @simonalexanderong on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram
Host: Nathan Barry | The Nathan Barry Show