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Derek opens up about the untold side of his life as a headteacher. Behind the applause, strong results, and professional admiration was a quiet and steady decline. This section uncovers the emotional price of high achievement and the heavy responsibility that comes with it. It offers a raw glimpse into how easily someone can lose themselves when their career becomes their entire identity. For anyone feeling exhausted, stuck, or silently overwhelmed, this is where the journey begins.
Eventually, the pressure broke through and everything shifted.
From stepping down to protect the jobs of others to facing a life-threatening health scare during a trip to Las Vegas, Derek hit rock bottom.
These chapters capture the moment life came to a halt and the haunting question that followed: What if I died with my story still inside me? This part is real, painful, and honest. It is written for those who know change is needed but are unsure where to start.
Healing did not come all at once. In this stage, Derek stepped away from roles and expectations to rediscover his true self. Whether it was quiet walks, supporting others through coaching, or eventually climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, this is a story of rebuilding from the inside out. These chapters are filled with hope for anyone trying to rise after a breakdown or major life shift. They remind us that every journey back begins with one small step.
Clarity came with healing, followed by a renewed sense of purpose. In the final chapters, Derek explains how his journey expanded beyond himself. Through mentoring, launching a business, and supporting an orphanage near Mount Kilimanjaro, he encourages others to turn pain into purpose. These pages serve as an invitation to lead with compassion, give from a place of fullness, and build a legacy worth striving for.
Stella Maris Primary School was founded to give orphans and vulnerable children in Moshi, Tanzania, the chance of an education, daily meals, and a brighter future. My purpose in supporting the school is to help fund a dedicated teacher to lead an entrepreneurial curriculum — one that encourages pupils to work on projects, collaborate, and learn how to monetise their skills. These children, just 8 or 10 years old today, will be stepping into a world transformed by artificial intelligence and rapid change by the time they are 18. Our goal is to prepare them not only with knowledge, but with creativity, resilience, and the ability to create their own opportunities. Every contribution goes directly toward equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in the future.
Derek Thomas is a former headteacher who made the leap into entrepreneurship, authorship and coaching, using his own story of burnout and reinvention to help others find purpose and freedom in their own lives.
After almost 30 years in education, including five as a primary school head, Derek stepped away from the profession he once loved when it began to take a toll on his health, family and sense of self.
Today, he runs a successful UK-based business that not only helps people cut everyday household costs but also supports them in starting businesses of their own.
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