Show Notes
Stop waiting for motivation. Start scheduling your success.
Mark reveals why high-performing leaders don't rely on motivation to reach their goals. From building daily fitness routines to managing community funds, Mark has spent his career helping leaders blend empathy with accountability and showing that purposeful business can drive real results.
His work across the UK and New Zealand charity sectors has shaped a leadership philosophy grounded in clarity, compassion, and measurable impact.
In this conversation, Mark shares how he learned to schedule consistency over motivation, why empathy must walk with accountability, and how serving others brings deeper meaning to work.
He also reflects on mental health, values-driven decision-making, and the triple bottom line mindset that ensures profit, people, and planet grow together.
About Mark Longbottom
Mark Longbottom is the Founder and Host of Purposely Podcast and Head of Community Engagement at Trust Investments NZ.
After more than two decades in the UK and New Zealand charity world, he has worked with many leading social enterprises and funders, helping organisations align business performance with purpose.
Through Purposely, Mark has interviewed hundreds of impact leaders, uncovering the habits and frameworks that help them create lasting change. He believes purpose is built through daily action, not abstract inspiration, and that scheduling priorities is one of the most underrated leadership tools.
Mark shares insights on:
• Why “It’s not about motivation, it’s about scheduling it.” • How empathy and accountability can coexist in leadership • The value of obsessive clarity when aligning teams to purpose • What 260+ interviews taught him about happiness and service • How to balance profit, purpose, and people through the triple bottom line • Building habits that protect focus, family, and mental health
If you want to lead with purpose while staying grounded in performance, this episode is for you.
Timestamps
(0:00) “It’s not motivation. It’s scheduling it.” (1:03) Growing up in NZ and 20 years in UK charity work (6:24) Early lessons from Auckland City Mission (11:08) The 3 values that guide his leadership (13:41) Serving others as the path to happiness (17:09) Empathy and accountability in leadership (23:08) Measuring impact beyond profit (27:11) Routine, focus, and family life (34:57) Managing stress, passion, and perspective (36:24) Mark’s wish for a world where everyone has enough
Learn more about Mark and his work
• Purposely Podcast: https://www.purposelypodcast.com • Trust Investments NZ: https://www.trustinvestments.co.nz • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-longbottom-27225a44/?jobid=1234
Learn more about Azoora and her work
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azooraali/ • Website: https://www.accountingandtax.co.nz/
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