https://www.youtube.com/@TomFM
Ever wondered what it takes to turn a gaming passion into a full-time career? In this episode, Kamal sits down with TomFM, a YouTube sensation with nearly 200K subscribers who’s living every football fan’s dream—playing Football Manager for a living. Tom shares his journey from casually watching his dad play Championship Manager to realizing he could actually build a career around his love for the game.
But this isn’t just about gaming; it’s about hustle, adaptability, and the grind that most people overlook. Tom opens up about the sacrifices he’s made, the mental switch that takes him from a social, laid-back guy to a fierce competitor in the YouTube game, and how he reinvented his approach to build a channel with millions of monthly views. Plus, he drops insights on the evolving world of YouTube, the high stakes of viewer engagement, and what it’s really like to sustain a digital career.
In this high-energy episode, Tom and Kamal explore everything from the highs of hitting 100K subscribers to preparing for England's first Football Manager World Cup—yes, virtually! Tune in for a candid look at the grit behind TomFM’s “overnight” success and actionable advice on following your passion to the next level.
Listeners are in for a treat as Kamau Ellis Hyman re-launches the Aim A Little Higher podcast with an engaging conversation featuring Tom Kelsey, one of the most influential content creators in the Football Manager community. Kamau opens the episode by reflecting on the importance of exposure and aspiration in achieving personal growth, setting a motivational tone that speaks directly to the podcast's young audience. As he shares his vision of introducing remarkable individuals under 30, he emphasizes that their stories can serve as guiding lights for listeners striving to elevate their aspirations. The episode serves as a powerful reminder that the paths to success are often paved with resilience, dedication, and the courage to take risks.
Tom takes center stage as he recounts his unique journey from a casual gamer to a full-time YouTuber, captivating the audience with anecdotes that highlight his passion for Football Manager. He shares how his early experiences—watching his father play the game—ignited his interest and laid the foundation for his future in content creation. As Kamau expertly guides the dialogue, Tom reveals the challenges he faced during his initial foray into YouTube, including the struggle for visibility and the long hours spent learning the craft. Their conversation dives into the essence of what it means to build a personal brand: the need to adapt, innovate, and remain authentic to one’s passion. Tom’s insights into the importance of understanding audience dynamics and the value of creating accessible content resonate strongly with aspiring creators.
As the episode progresses, listeners are treated to candid reflections on ambition, competition, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of success. Tom discusses the delicate balance between personal life and work commitments, shedding light on how his drive for improvement sometimes comes at the expense of social connections. The dialogue culminates in a discussion about the future of Tom’s channel and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, including his role as an assistant manager in an upcoming FIFA E Football Manager World Cup. Kamau’s adept questioning not only highlights Tom’s accomplishments but also encourages listeners to reflect on their own journeys. This episode is a compelling blend of inspiration and practical advice, reminding young listeners that with focus and determination, they too can aim a little higher and achieve their dreams.
In this episode, Kamal, Eliza and Storme discuss the importance of taking personal responsibility and avoiding the tendency to blame others for our failures. They explore why people continue to walk down a path that is failing them and not take action to change it. The conversation also touches on the fear of failure and the need to have a plan for the future. They provide strategies for coping with stress during exams and emphasise the importance of creating order and structure in managing time. The episode concludes with a reminder to focus on personal growth and becoming a great adult.
Takeaways
Take personal responsibility for your actions and avoid blaming others for your failures.
Don't continue down a path that is failing you without taking action to change it.
Have a plan for the future and be proactive in pursuing your goals.
Create order and structure in managing your time to reduce stress and increase productivity.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Taking Personal Responsibility
03:12 The Importance of Personal Responsibility in Education
05:09 Preempting Failure
06:23 The Fear of Failure
08:10 Having a Plan for the Future
09:35 The Importance of Clarity and Direction
10:34 Coping with Stress during Exams
11:32 Creating Order and Structure
12:55 Identifying the Root Cause of Stress
14:17 Finding Strategies to Manage Stress
20:24 Eliminating Distractions and Focusing on the Task at Hand
23:36 Being Realistic and Adapting to Your Environment
25:03 Taking Personal Responsibility for Success
26:46 The Power of Personal Responsibility
29:06 Growing Up to Be a Great Adult
30:00 Conclusion
The conversation explores the concept of imposter syndrome and the tendency to categorise emotions under this label. It delves into the distinction between imposter syndrome and nervousness, highlighting the importance of understanding specific emotions rather than generalising them. The hosts discuss personal experiences with imposter syndrome and the role of confidence and communication in overcoming it. They also touch on the dangers of faking it and emphasise the need for authenticity and adaptability in different situations. The power of clothing and presentation is explored, along with the importance of believing in oneself and doing one's best. The conversation concludes with a reminder of the value of building relationships and the reality of needing others in personal and professional growth.
Takeaways
Imposter syndrome is often used as a catch-all term for various emotions, but it's important to identify and address specific feelings.
Confidence and communication are key in overcoming imposter syndrome and succeeding in professional settings.
Adaptability and authenticity are crucial in different situations, and it's important to present oneself appropriately.
Believing in oneself and doing one's best can help overcome imposter syndrome and achieve success.
Building relationships and seeking support from others is essential in personal and professional growth.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:12 Imposter Syndrome and Categorizing Emotions
02:56 Imposter Syndrome vs Nervousness
04:22 Imposter Syndrome in the Game 'Among Us'
05:34 Defining Imposter Syndrome
06:01 Personal Experience with Imposter Syndrome
07:08 The Importance of Confidence and Communication
08:07 The Dangers of Faking It
09:29 Adapting to Different Situations
10:38 The Power of Clothing and Presentation
13:42 Believing in Yourself and Doing Your Best
27:50 Fake It Till You Make It
31:12 The Importance of Building Relationships
32:07 Conclusion
In today's episode we discuss why you may as well try and how quitting before you've started lets everybody down, not just you!
Today's show sees the team answer questioners sent in from listeners!
Today we are talking choices versus circumstances.
Which plays a bigger roll in your life? Is there a way to overcome the cards life has dealt you, by making better choices?
Let's go!
In today's episode we discuss what it truly means to win and what a loss really looks like!
Today we answer questions from the listeners!
Today's question comes from Warrick; all about how to overcome self-doubt, even when you know you are fully capable and able to achieve the goals you set!
It is exam season Ladies & Gents!
Today we talk Exams; how to deal with them before, during and after.
Including some of our own experiences which will hopefully help you in your process regardless of which exams you are taking!
Today's episode is a laid back one, we go live on Instagram and answer listeners questions!
Recently Channel 4 released a show called Naked Education - we discuss why this is a huge problem and how we as Adults have a responsibility around our young people!
We also talk influential programmes and cartoons growing up!
In today's episode we are exploring all things Mentors!
What are they?
How do you find them?
Should you pay them?
Today we are talking all things losing!
Why it's a good thing, why we should allow people to lose and how we can learn from losing to ultimately smash life!
Every week we invite you to ask questions for the podcast and this week... You did not disappoint!
So today, we dedicated an entire episode to your questions!
Enjoy!
If you want your questions answered next time drop us a DM on Instagram @aimalittlehigher or @kamalhyman
Today's episode is all about personal responsibility and Kamal experiences a valentines day disaster!
The Peter Jones' Tycoon Challenge sees 300 businesses battle it out to be the winner. Today, we speak with the winners Lucia & Maisy and find out about their journey, their idea and how they were crowned champions!
Does school actually prepare students for the real world?
Today we talk Cancel Culture!
What is it, why did it begin and what effect has it had on this generation?
In today's episode we explore the idea of 'marrying a rich man' and why having this as a goal may NOT a great idea!
Today we are exploring the Phone Pandemic!
Campaign set up to warn kids about using phones around roads. In 2019 6,200 pedestrians were killed or had life-changing injuries on UK roads. More than one in five of those people (1,415) were aged 17 or under – that’s around a whole class of schoolchildren EVERY week. Accident data shows those aged 11 to 14 are the most likely to be killed or badly hurt – around 50 EVERY month. Phones are labelled as one of the biggest distractions for pedestrians