How to Build the Life You Want and Leave a Lasting Legacy
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Kingsley Colley on Faith, Resilience, and Purpose: Overcoming Life’s Challenges with Tomorrow Is Not Today
Discover how Kingsley Colley turned adversity into a mission-driven life in this candid Sunburnt Souls conversation. From his early days in Kempsey to launching a successful coaching business and podcast, Kingsley shares his journey of faith, overcoming struggles, and building a life of purpose.
In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, I sit down with Kingsley Colley, the voice behind Tomorrow Is Not Today. Kingsley is a speaker, consultant, coach, and entrepreneur, known for his deep insights into resilience, personal growth, and living with intentionality. From growing up in a small country town to building a global platform that inspires others, his story is one of perseverance, faith, and relentless pursuit of purpose.
We dive into:
Overcoming childhood struggles and adversity – How Kingsley navigated family challenges, bullying, and financial hardship.
Finding purpose after setbacks – His journey through divorce, rebuilding his life, and discovering a new calling.
Mental health, faith, and business – The role of mindset, exercise, and biblical principles in shaping a fulfilling life.
Leaving a lasting legacy – The power of living with intentionality and making an impact beyond ourselves.
Join us as Kingsley opens up about his personal battles, lessons learned, and how he helps others carve out a life worth living. Whether you're struggling with direction, looking for inspiration, or simply love a good story of faith and resilience, this chat is for you.
Kingsley Colley: Podcasting, Faith, and Business – A Sunburnt Souls Interview
I am here with Kingsley Colley in his recording studio. Kingsley is a voice you may recognise. He's got a business called Tomorrow Is Not Today. He also has a podcast by the same name. He's been on the radio, he's a consultant, a coach, a speaker—everything else. Kingsley, thanks so much for coming on Sunburnt Souls today, brother.
Kingsley Colley: Mate, thanks for having me. I love to be on podcasts and chat with people like you.
Dave Quak: Well, it's been a pleasure. I have loved getting to know you, Kingsley. I've loved hearing your heart for people and even just hearing your show on Juice and everything else that's going on. Listeners can't see this, but I'm in Kingsley's studio, and he is kitted out with equipment. You've got the Joe Rogan-style mics, haven't you? Those ones? There's a Rodecaster over there, three cameras—this is a good setup. Why do you have such a great setup?
Kingsley Colley: I used to actually do a podcast from home. But when you've got kids at home, it's pack-up, set-up—it was just a nightmare. It was really funny because I was working from home, and it just wasn’t quite happening. My wife said, "You really need to go somewhere." And I thought, yeah, you're right. So I was out looking for a place and came across this one. A friend actually had it and wanted to move out, so we moved in here.
Dave Quak: I love it. Now, Kingsley, I'm a bit petty. Whenever I have a guest, I always have a contest in my head about who has the better-sounding voice. I think you may have beaten me. Usually, I've got the best voice on the podcast, but yours—yours sounds amazing. You've got this radio voice. It’s got depth, you don’t say "ums" and "ahs." You’re blessed with a good voice, brother.
Kingsley Colley: Well, thank you, but I reckon we should get the listeners to vote on that.
Dave Quak: That’d be fun. All right, we’ll have a vote on whose voice is better. Kingsley, before we get into business, I have a confession. I get a little reminiscent or nostalgic when I hear your name because my first pet was a mouse named Kingsley.
Kingsley Colley: Did you have to tell me that?
Dave Quak: I know! It was my favourite name, has been for so long. I've never met another Kingsley. I can still picture the mouse—it was light brown with a white patch. I was only about six years old. Isn’t that crazy?
Kingsley Colley: Hilarious. Do we look similar?
Dave Quak: I know! And I know you can’t really respond to that because there’s not a question in there, just a weird statement I made.
Kingsley Colley: Haha.
Dave Quak: But brother, thanks for coming on the show. Why don’t we start with little Kingsley? What was your childhood like? Where are you from? Do you have siblings? Do you have kids?
From Kempsey to Denver: Kingsley’s Life Journey
I grew up in a little town in New South Wales called Kempsey. I don’t usually tell a lot of people that because, well, you just don’t go around bragging about being from Kempsey. So, some good things can come out of little towns. I’ve heard that said before.
Dave Quak: Probably from a little town guy.
Kingsley Colley: Haha. My parents were pastors, but there was a lot of not-so-good stuff that happened at home. They separated when I was about six. There were some interesting things going on at home, a few things flying around the house besides flies and mosquitoes.
Dave Quak: Right.
Kingsley Colley: Yeah. So, I grew up with that and then went to school. We didn’t have much money because of everything happening at home. I had some good friends, but I also got bullied a bit. Always loved sport, though. To be honest, I think I went to school just to play sport. If there was a game happening, I was there.
Dave Quak: Nice.
Kingsley Colley: People ask me if I watch sport, but I don’t really. I used to watch cricket as a kid because I played, but now, not so much. My son, though—he just turned 18, and he’s mad about the NBA.
Dave Quak: Oh yeah?
Kingsley Colley: Absolutely. You ask him a stat, he’ll tell you. I’ve started watching a little bit of NBA myself—I go for the Denver Nuggets. I actually lived in Colorado, in Denver, for a few years. Went over with a church organisation to start a church. Did creative arts, youth work, young adults ministry. Had a band, travelled around doing youth camps and different events. Even brought a bunch of 20 American teenagers to Australia for a tour.
Dave Quak: That’s awesome.
Kingsley Colley: Yeah, it was great. Got married a couple of years after school, moved to Noosa—people call it heaven. Then we moved to America for four and a half years, had two kids over there, so they’re dual citizens. One of them reckons he might want to be president someday.
Dave Quak: Well, he might have a shot given the options at the moment.
Kingsley Colley: Haha, exactly. Came back to Australia, got into business, had another son—he’s the basketball one. Later on, went through a divorce, which was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced. As a kid, I swore I’d never let that happen. It was a massive thing for me. But I had three kids all needing security, direction, and I had to pull myself together.
I made myself get out. I’d go to the beach, run 6 to 8 kilometres at 6:00 AM, take a dip in the ocean, then start the day. Had to give up a business I was just starting, got a job, started rebuilding. I’d literally sleep with my laptop playing positive messages, preaching—whatever kept my head in the right space. That was my routine.
Kingsley Colley: And I'll be honest, it was pretty heavy. I had to work. I would often go for a swim and think, "Why not just keep swimming?" I don’t know why I get emotional about that. I cry at anything, so don’t take it too seriously. My wife’s always like, "Are you crying again?"
Dave Quak: No, but that’s pretty legitimate, what you’re talking about.
Kingsley Colley: It is. But it’s funny because I don’t really feel the emotions, but I just get welled up somehow. I don’t fully understand how that works, but it does. Then I think, what am I going to teach my kids? What are they learning? What happens with that? So I went back and started learning everything I could about the mind, the body, how it works—about anxiety, stress, food.
I learned as much as I possibly could from a scientific perspective. Doing all that taught me so much, and that’s actually how I got into the whole coaching and consulting thing. I started to understand the relationship between food and the brain, exercise and anxiety, sunlight, grounding on the earth—all of this. How it all comes together.
We’re supposed to spend 90% of our time outside, but we actually spend about 90% of our time inside. A large part of our feelings and struggles happen because we’re not actually doing what God created us to do.
It’s really fascinating when you start making a difference with your life.
Dave Quak: Yeah, it’s really interesting that God shaped your life that way. As a kid, you were someone who needed assistance, probably by the sounds of things, and now as an adult, you’re the one providing assistance for other people.
Kingsley Colley: That’s a good point. I never thought of it like that, but yeah, it’s true. I love helping people. That’s my passion.
Dave Quak: So, with that season with your kids, what inspired you to keep turning up?
Kingsley Colley: I have three kids. What else are you gonna do?
Dave Quak: Like, was it necessity-based?
Kingsley Colley: Yeah, there was no choice. They were my life, and they still are. Outside of my marriage now—I’m remarried, very happily, very blessed with an incredible wife—outside of her, my kids are my life. They always have been.
Dave Quak: Yeah. So now you’re through that season. You mentioned your youngest is 18 and obsessed with the NBA. How much money have you dropped on Jordans in the last ten years? Because my son loves Jordans, and every time I buy them, I feel like I’ve redrawn on the mortgage—it's ridiculous, man.
Kingsley Colley: It’s really interesting. He goes through different phases with shoes. It wasn’t always Jordans. His favorite player is Donovan Mitchell from the Cavs. When I first started watching basketball with him and he went for the Cavs, I was like, "Oh, I’ll go for the Cavs too." Then he was like, "No, that’s my team!" So I was like, "Oh, okay, fair enough. I’ll go for the Nuggets then," because I used to live in Denver.
And funny enough, that year, the Nuggets won their first-ever championship.
Dave Quak: Oh, I love it! That’s so good. So, with him being 18, your youngest, the kids are getting more self-sufficient. You don’t have to turn up for them as much as you did in those early years.
Kingsley Colley: No, that’s right.
Dave Quak: What drives you now to keep turning up, to keep planning and pioneering businesses, to running "Tomorrow Is Not Today," to publishing magazines? What’s your driving factor now?
Kingsley Colley: The tagline for my business is "Create the life you want." And the second part is "Leave a legacy you’ll be proud of." That’s it. That’s how I live. That’s what I want to do. I know we’ve had conversations before—I’ve lived a lot of life that was just not right. I’ve made so many dumb mistakes, it’s ridiculous. You look back and think, "How could you even do that? How did you not understand how dumb that decision was?"
So now, I want to live the life I know I was put on this planet to live. I want to help as many other people as possible do the same.
I hate it when people are miserable or going through stuff. Not that I hate the struggle itself, but I hate when people won’t put in the effort to make a change. Or when they pretend that "this is what I like," but deep down, they want something different. But something inside them—whether it’s responsibilities, societal expectations, or fear—holds them back from being honest about what they truly want and what will truly fulfill them.
Success should be defined by them, not by what society says.
Dave Quak
And we've had enough chats today that I know you don't think anyone's life is perfect. So what does life look like for someone like me with bipolar or someone with depression if they want to implement the first of those two things in their life?
Kingsley Colley
As in just creating the life they want?
Dave Quak
Yeah.
Kingsley Colley
First off, you've got to be honest with yourself. What do you really want? Are you going after that business, career, or sporting goal because it's truly what you want? Or do you feel like you have to because of something that happened in childhood, societal expectations, or even because your brother-in-law did it? We often feel like we have to follow a certain path.
But is that really what you want? When you look at studies on the regrets of people in their dying years, a lot of them say, I didn't live the life I truly wanted, I didn't take the chances I wish I'd taken, or I didn't travel enough. These are common regrets when researchers have studied thousands of people.
So, what are you doing? If you want to build a business, make money, and give back, that's fantastic. But is that truly who you are? Is it really fulfilling you? And the thing is, you can do both. It doesn't have to be one or the other. What really grabs you and makes you tick every day?
Dave Quak
If someone is stuck trying to articulate that, how would they even start?
Kingsley Colley
A couple of things. Number one: What are your passions? What are you good at? What do you love? What do you really want to get into but, for some reason, haven't?
A lot of people think that if they start something new, they need to be at chapter ten on day one. But that's not how it works. When I started this, the first magazine we put out was a nightmare to put together. It took an insane amount of work. And I thought it looked pretty good until I got a copy of it—then I was like, Oh, far out, really?
Most people didn’t think it was that bad, but I looked at it and thought, Man, this is rough. Same thing when I started doing podcasts and radio shows—absolutely horrible at first. But I knew it was what I wanted to do, so I didn’t stop. I just kept going.
The other thing is, quite often, the things that drive us come from tragedies in our lives. We want to help others overcome what we went through. That’s often a big motivator.
Dave Quak
Yeah, it's impressive because you've really carved out a life on your own terms. Obviously, no one completely lives on their own terms, but you've built the business you want, in the facility you want, in the suburb you want. You're entrepreneurial in that sense. If someone is thinking, Yeah, that's great for Kingsley, but he's already there, what were the early days like for you?
Overcoming Challenges: Kingsley's Story of Resilience
I’ve been on struggle street. Massive struggle street. Just trying to get enough money to keep going. You set money aside, do all the right things, and then a client leaves or doesn’t pay, and suddenly you’re in a tough spot.
Have you read Shoe Dog?
Dave Quak
No, I haven’t.
Kingsley Colley
It's the story of the guy who started Nike. As you read the book, you see that as his business grew, he constantly faced struggles—money problems, team problems, supply issues. But he just kept fighting through.
There’s another guy I listen to a lot, Andy Frisella, who created 75 Hard. That challenge was a huge catalyst for me launching this business in a big way. He started with literally nothing and made a ridiculous amount of money—like, a lot of money.
Dave Quakw
Like, so much that you have to raise your eyebrows when you say it?
Kingsley Colley
Exactly! You have to elongate the o when you say lot.
He talks about how 95% of what you do in business is struggling, pushing, and wondering how it's going to work out. Then 4% of the time, you feel like, Okay, I think I’ve got this. And then 1% of the time, you actually win big, and you celebrate for a moment—before starting the whole process over again.
Ed Mylett interviewed him on a podcast and said, Now that you’ve got all this success, it must be all fun, right? They walked through his garage, and he had millions of dollars’ worth of cars that he paid cash for.
Dave Quak
Yeah.
Kingsley Colley
And Andy said, No, it’s actually harder now than ever. He explained that now he has so many employees relying on him to feed their families, so many deals to manage, so much pressure.
I think people don’t realise that there's no perfect, stress-free destination. We imagine there’s this utopia where everything falls into place. But it's not about finding a utopia—it's about living the life you want.
Because when you hit obstacles, if you’re doing what you love, you can push through them. You don’t quit, because you know you’re in it for a reason.
Dave Quak:
I like that a lot, Kingsley. So sometimes in some of my rhythms, I want to escape too. This is pretty common knowledge now—escape to Thailand or somewhere on a deserted beach and never talk to anyone in English again. Eat takeout, you know, Pad Thai, get massages, and chill out forever. What is it about that?
What is the hole in that desire, do you think?
Living with Purpose: Finding Meaning in Every Season
I was listening to him talk about dopamine at one stage, and dopamine is, you know, it's a happy thing, a reward centre, that sort of thing. But he said, when you really break it down—what dopamine is and does—it’s actually our striving and our pushing where dopamine really has the most effect.
That’s when it really works. We've got an upper and lower level of dopamine. What happens is we get terribly excited about something, very excited when we get a big win, and so the dopamine spikes.
But however high it goes up, it's going to come down as well. That’s when a kind of depression kicks in. But dopamine works best when there's something out there that we’re striving for, something we really want, and we’re working hard, striving, pushing. When we get there, that’s when we feel the best. That’s when we feel most fulfilled. That’s when things happen.
One of the things I tell people: if you want to have a motivated Monday, go outside and exercise in the sun—preferably outside on the dirt if you can, but wherever. Just go out and do that. Do it for 30 to 45 minutes when you start your day, and you will have a motivated Monday. At that point, you've got so many hormones and different chemicals going through your body that it literally changes the brain.
Dave Quak:
Yeah. So just sitting around on the beach—it might be nice for a couple of weeks, but do you think you’d just get bored because there’s no dopamine? No mountains to conquer?
Kingsley Colley:
100%.
Kingsley Colley:
You can only do it for so long. When you look at the stats, people who retire and don’t actually have something to strive for—something to live for—start dying quicker. But people who have something to live for, to work towards—they live a lot longer. And they’re happier.
Dave Quak:
It’s interesting because when I was in research mode, I was looking at one island that had one of the highest levels of alcohol dependency for retirees. They were living on this beautiful island but were so bored that they just got pissed all the time.
So, with the second part then—we want to create and carve out the life we want, but then with the legacy, I guess. What would your legacy desires be, Kingsley? And how do you think we should shape our legacy desires to be something worthwhile?
Kingsley Colley:
I think they work hand in hand. The Bible talks about leaving a legacy for our kids and their grandkids. That’s one thing.
The other thing is—what do you want to be known for? When everything is done, you’re in the ground, six feet under, what do you want to be remembered for?
And beyond that, what do you want people to be able to carry on from you? The good that you’ve done—can they take it and spread it further to help others?
Dave Quak:
I like that. And is that something for everyone, even if they’re broken, messed up, or have a rough past?
Kingsley Colley:
100%.
We’re all broken. We’re all messed up in some way. But what are we doing with that? Because we can make a difference. You’ve dealt with it. I’ve dealt with it. We could stay there—stay in that place—or we can make a decision to move forward.
I know that when you’re in that place where you're so low, even making a decision can feel like a mission in itself.
But I always tell people—I don’t care how slow you’re going, just take one step forward. If that one step is getting out of bed, stepping outside for a moment, and then going back inside—well done. You’ve done that.
Maybe tomorrow, you go out to the front yard and then go back. Maybe you phone someone and have a chat. Find someone who might be able to help or just listen.
Can you write down what you’re thinking and feeling? Just get it out on paper.
Can you swap one unhealthy habit for something better? Maybe change what you're eating? Maybe, instead of watching something mindless, put on a YouTube channel that’s going to give you something positive to feed your mind?
Anything that helps you start moving forward—just start there and gradually build on it.
Dave Quak:
I love that. So, Kingsley, sadly, much to my regret, we have to start rounding out soon. Lots of reasons—I like the chat, I’m in your epic studio, and I’d like to live here—but we do need to wrap up. For me, I know everyone has their flaws—you do, and I do—but I really admire people who craft a life designed for the betterment of others, who live so that others can benefit.
And as far as I can see, that happens a lot through Tomorrow Is Not Today and all your other endeavours. What is motivating this, man? That can’t just come from a carnal desire or wanting to get rich—though I do hope you get rich. What’s really driving all of this?
Kingsley Colley:
I love helping people. It might sound corny, but going through a divorce led me to study a lot about marriage—what it is, how it works, and what love really means. Probably a bit too late, but...
Dave Quak:
Oh, the new wife would be happy with that!
Kingsley Colley:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, she’s good! But honestly, I learned so much about love through that process. When you really break it down, love is something profound. 1 Corinthians 13 is really interesting—the first few verses talk about how you can pray, prophesy, and do all these incredible things, but if you don’t have love, you’re just a loud, clanging cymbal. And that’s really, really annoying.
We can look at things that seem fantastic, but without love, they’re just noise. And then you get to verses 4 to 7. I challenge anyone to live up to those verses. If you can, let me know, because you’re perfect! It’s really challenging to live that way, but it’s the best thing ever.
When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” in response to the command to love your neighbor, He told a story about one of the worst enemies His audience could have imagined—and He showed that real love means stepping out, caring, sacrificing. The Samaritan didn’t just check on the wounded man; he cared for him, spent his own money to put him up in a safe place—not forever, but long enough for him to get back on his feet.
Love is about always believing, always hoping, always being kind. I don’t know about you, but that’s not me. But I strive for it as much as I can.
Dave Quak:
Amen. And I love seeing you tear up because you live this out. Seeing this flow through another brother in Christ is such a blessing. Kingsley, I really appreciate you sitting down with us today. Thank you so much for your time.
Just a couple of logistical questions—if people want to get in touch with your course, how do they do that?
Kingsley Colley:
Just go to the website: tomorrowisnottoday.com.
Dave Quak:
Yeah, and all the resources are on there—your book and everything else?
Kingsley Colley:
Yeah, a lot of it. Not everything is up, but people can always leave a message.
Dave Quak:
Oh, sorry, I mean everything in the sense of a gateway to all your stuff.
Kingsley Colley:
Yeah, exactly. They can find us on social media too—just search Kingsley Colley or Tomorrow Is Not Today. We’ve got both of those.
Dave Quak:
Nice. And when will your radio show be on Juice FM?
Kingsley Colley:
Sunday nights at 7:00.
Dave Quak:
Nice. And your podcast—what’s that called?
Kingsley Colley:
We’ve got the Tomorrow Is Not Today podcast, and another one launching in March called Eight Minute Thoughts.
Dave Quak:
Nice. So, how long does it go for? (Such an old-man joke!)
Kingsley Colley:
I love it!
Let’s Pray
Dave Quak:
Awesome. Well, brother, could you finish us off by praying for us today?
Kingsley Colley:
Yeah, absolutely.
God, thank You for the opportunity to sit here with Dave. Thank You for friendships. Thank You for the medium of podcasts, radio, and all the ways we can communicate Your love and who You are. Thank You for the passion You put in each of us.
Lord, I pray for those who have a desire, those who have a passion, that You would speak to them and let them know what You have called them to.
How to get help with my faith and mental health?
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Frequently asked questions
How did Kingsley Colley overcome adversity to build a life of purpose?
Kingsley Colley faced significant hardships, including family struggles, financial difficulties, and personal setbacks like divorce. However, he chose to use these experiences as fuel for growth. Through faith, resilience, and intentional decision-making, he rebuilt his life, launched the Tomorrow Is Not Today coaching business, and created a platform to inspire others.
His journey highlights the importance of persistence, mindset shifts, and biblical principles in overcoming challenges and finding purpose.
What role does faith play in mental health recovery?
Faith provides a strong foundation for mental health recovery by offering hope, community, and a sense of purpose. Many find that trusting in God helps them navigate anxiety, depression, and life’s uncertainties. Prayer, scripture, and spiritual practices contribute to emotional resilience, while Christian community provides vital support.
Studies show that faith-based coping strategies can reduce stress and improve overall well-being, making faith an essential component of holistic mental health care.
How can I find my purpose after setbacks and struggles?
Finding purpose after setbacks requires reflection, healing, and taking intentional steps forward. Kingsley Colley emphasizes the power of resilience, learning from past mistakes, and realigning with personal values. Start by identifying your passions, seeking guidance through prayer, and surrounding yourself with supportive people.
Small, consistent steps—such as setting goals, learning new skills, and serving others—can help rebuild confidence and create a meaningful path forward.
What are the best ways to strengthen faith during difficult times?
To strengthen faith in tough seasons, start by immersing yourself in God’s Word, leaning on prayer, and staying connected to a faith-based community. Worship, fasting, and gratitude practices can also help shift focus from fear to trust in God. Engaging in acts of service, journaling your prayers, and finding a mentor or accountability partner can further deepen spiritual resilience.
Remember, faith grows through challenges, and trusting God’s plan leads to peace and renewed strength.
How does mindset and biblical principles impact success in life and business?
Success in life and business is deeply influenced by mindset and biblical principles. The Bible teaches diligence, integrity, stewardship, and perseverance—all key factors in achieving lasting success. Kingsley Colley’s journey demonstrates how shifting from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, prioritizing discipline, and aligning work with God’s purpose can lead to breakthrough moments.
When faith and action work together, success is not just about financial gain but also about leaving a lasting legacy of impact and purpose.
