David Garwood & The Solo Path: Finding Freedom Through Bold Choices

In this episode of the Finding Your Freedom Podcast, host Nat Baldwin interviews David Garwood, founder of The Solo Coach and host of The Solo Coach Podcast. Once afraid to spend even a weekend alone, David shares his remarkable journey from a decade-long IT career to becoming an accredited transformational coach and global solo traveler.The Courage to Walk Away

David candidly reveals how he left the security of his IT management role after feeling increasingly disconnected from his work. Despite outward success, he found himself looking out windows during meetings, questioning if this was truly the life he wanted. After experiencing what he describes as “Groundhog Day” for years, David took a bold four-month sabbatical that evolved into a complete career reinvention.

The Wake-Up Call: Following a bike accident and attending funerals of loved ones, David confronted the fragility of life and realized he needed to make a change before regret set in.

Breaking Free from the “Sunday Blues”: David describes how his transformation led him from dreading Monday mornings to waking up excited about his work-a feeling he hadn’t experienced in years.

David’s journey took him through seven countries including New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, and Thailand, where he discovered strengths he never knew he possessed:

• How facing his fear of being alone became the catalyst for his greatest growth

• The midnight conversations around campfires that showed him he wasn’t alone in feeling lost

• Why downsizing his possessions and living on $4/night in hostels gave him more fulfilment than his previous lifestyle

• The moment he realised his sabbatical had answered his most important question: “Is this the right path for me?”

Throughout the conversation, David shares powerful insights about reconnecting with your true purpose:

• The simple yet revealing exercise that helped him realise his passion lay in people development, not technical problem-solving

• Why imposter syndrome can actually be a characteristic of high achievers

• How learning to trust his intuition transformed his decision-making

• The importance of distinguishing between skills you’re good at versus skills that energise you

This episode offers valuable guidance for professionals contemplating their own life changes:

• Why you’re not “throwing away” your career when you pivot-you’re bringing transferable skills to a new context

• How to recognise when you’ve “leveled out” in your current role

• The financial realities of making a major life transition

• Why taking even a small step toward change can create momentum

David’s story powerfully demonstrates that freedom isn’t just about escaping something negative-it’s about aligning with your authentic self and creating space for what truly matters.

The Freedom Challenge: David reminds us that “we are all way more capable than we realise,” and challenges listeners to lean into the ideas that keep recurring in their thoughts, as these may be signposts to their true calling.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about redefining success, embracing uncertainty, and finding the courage to create a life that feels truly aligned with who you are.

00:00 Introduction to David Garwood

02:27 David’s Early Life and Career Beginnings

04:02 The Turning Point: Leaving University

07:06 The IT Career and Realisations

15:25 The Sabbatical and Solo Travel

20:40 Transition to Coaching

23:39 Challenges and Self-Discovery

32:44 Advice for Career Changers

43:58 Embracing Change in Life and Career

48:03 The Concept of Freedom

55:02 Navigating Financial Challenges

01:05:06 The Freedom Challenge

01:14:29 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Music copyright – feeling happy today [upbeat happy beat]bysnoozy beats