Change is uncomfortable, but staying still can become expensive in its own way.
In this episode of Peek Inside, Arky Jones speaks with business coach and author Peter Boolkah about career change, entrepreneurship, discipline, AI, learning and personal responsibility. Peter reflects on moving from McDonald’s and corporate life into restaurant ownership and eventually coaching, where he has now spent more than two decades.
One of the most interesting parts of his story is that coaching was not initially a calling. Peter says it began as a practical response to circumstance. The passion came later, after commitment, repetition and years of learning.
Why Commitment Can Matter More Than Passion
Arky challenges the familiar idea that people need to “find their passion” before they begin. Peter’s experience points in a different direction.
After entering coaching, he had to build revenue from scratch. There was no guarantee it would work. Over time, he says the major shift came when he decided he was no longer going back to corporate life. That commitment forced him to stop mourning what had been and focus on what he could build next.
Arky connects this to discipline and repetition, arguing that breakthroughs often look less like sudden inspiration and more like showing up for years.
Their discussion also touches on self-help and the law of attraction. Arky raises a criticism often made of these ideas: visualisation can be mistaken for action. Peter agrees that thought alone is not enough. In his view, affirmations or visualisation only matter when they are paired with actual work.
Business Crises, AI and Learning How to Adapt
The conversation then moves into periods of real business pressure.
Peter talks about the Global Financial Crisis and COVID, describing times when large parts of his revenue disappeared. Rather than focusing on blame, he says the priority was finding a solution and continuing to move.
That leads naturally into a broader discussion about change. Peter argues that knowledge helps people respond when circumstances shift because it creates a larger frame of reference for decision-making. The more someone understands, the more options they may be able to see when conditions become difficult.
Arky then asks whether AI is making people less willing to think for themselves. He draws a distinction between reading, digesting ideas and applying them versus asking a system for an immediate answer.
Peter sees the issue slightly differently. He does not believe AI itself is the problem. Instead, he argues that people who use it lazily may get shallow answers, while those who use it thoughtfully could become more effective. In his view, getting an answer is not the same as understanding the situation behind it.
Taking Ownership Instead of Living Someone Else’s Life
Later in the episode, the discussion becomes more personal.
Peter says many people do not really know what they want and instead chase other people’s version of success. Arky connects that to agency, attention and the danger of allowing social media, news or outside expectations to dictate direction.
When Arky asks what keeps people trapped, Peter’s answer is blunt: often, themselves. He argues that people can resist change even when they know their current situation is not working. His wider point is that change is inevitable, whether it is chosen or imposed by circumstances.
The episode does not pretend change is simple. Instead, it keeps returning to a more practical idea: learn, adapt, take responsibility and keep moving.
For anyone interested in business coaching, entrepreneurship, AI, mindset, discipline or personal growth, the full conversation offers a candid discussion about what it takes to stop waiting for life to change on its own.
Watch the full conversation on Peek Inside:
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