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As a child, James Laughlin was always in trouble. Introduced to drumming by a headmaster who offered him the choice of drumsticks or another detention, he picked up the sticks. By age 13, he was a world champion.

If you love a good underdog story, you won’t be able to resist James Laughlin in this episode of Chatter That Matters. Growing up in a divided household in Northern Ireland, James didn’t feel he belonged.



After frequent visits to the headmaster’s office, he was given a choice: detention or drumsticks. Imagining himself another Ringo Star or Keith Moon, he learned that his headmaster was the pipe major of a bagpipe band.

James took to the drums with passion, and by age 13, he was the world solo drumming champion. This brought him to Canada and started him travelling around the world.

In this episode of Chatter That Matters, James chats with host Tony Chapman about what he has learned about overcoming self-doubt, managing his imposter syndrome and dealing with sidelining critics — all of which he has manifested into a coaching platform called High-Performance Leadership. Hear how he’s helping others achieve what they might have thought to be unachievable in the context of his own underdog story.

The Marketing Hall of Legends and the Canadian Marketing and PR Hall of Fame Inductee Tony Chapman host Chatter That Matters. Each week Tony chats with an inspiring person who matters. Someone with the courage and conviction to overcome circumstances, chase their dreams, and change their world and ours for the better. The show is about positivity and the possibility of countering negativity, and a growing sense of impossibility.

Download and subscribe to Chatter That Matters wherever you get your podcasts, or click here.

https://www.chatterthatmatters.ca/podcasts-and-radio