Having the courage to retire early

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Having the courage to retire early

I had a plan for my coaching session with Ian. I’d prepared. Ian brought something different. Ian bravely and purposefully brought his discomfort and struggle. 

He knows this is a space where it can be brought into the open, explored, examined. 

I have created a safe space. 

Ian is a courageous man. A purposeful man. An engineer. Here’s a problem. How are we going to solve it? 

Ian is in transition. After four and a half decades of work, three of those building and running his successful engineering business, it’s time for a new chapter. 

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Not your average clients

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Not your average clients

Characteristics common to most clients I work with are; passionate, hardworking, ambitious, caring, accomplished, expert, experienced, successful. What’s also true often is because they’re always striving for better for the business, organisations, and people they lead, they don’t spend much time acknowledging their achievements or considering their own personal desires, requirements, and wellbeing. 

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The only constant is change

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The only constant is change

“I feel deep down that my life is going through a fluid period at the moment... lots of change coming... so need to embrace it and roll with it” 

These wise words from a coaching client put him in a position of power. Sometimes we have more change to cope with than others. While navigating change can be destabilizing and tiring, the choice to lean into it makes the journey easier and often quicker, too.  

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Joy before duty

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Joy before duty

Something I have got better at in recent years and I’m proud of myself for, is doing what makes me happy in the moment rather than only once I’ve attended to my to-do’s.

For those of us who have been conditioned to believe our value and purpose lies in productivity, outcomes and achievements this is a BIG DEAL!

This lesson is the most pivotal and has been the hardest to learn in my journey to what I call “living the life of my dreams on a daily basis”.

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The inconvenient truth

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The inconvenient truth

Recently I’ve noticed a connection between the amount of screen time in a day and the amount/quality of sleep. Screen time, especially social media has been cropping up in coaching sessions recently. Coaching clients are describing how it makes them feel angry, less than, lack concentration and generally eats up hours of what could be more fruitful life.

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How to have more energy, ease and flow in your life

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How to have more energy, ease and flow in your life

Two years after I had my first ever set of personal branding photographs taken by the talented Ursula Kelly, I had a new set taken by the equally talented Tanya Lloyd. These were two entirely different experiences that in contrast taught me a lot about the ease, freedom and joy available when we are fully ourselves.

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Behind the scenes of success...

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Behind the scenes of success...

I feel sick with fear, literally. I have a heavy weight in the pit of my stomach. When I listen the voice in my head says “this must be good, you’ve got to get it right, you’ve got to say everything, you’ve got to be clear and eloquent, on point, it’s got to be a successful piece of writing or else…(when I really listen) you’ll be annihilated.”

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Create a better life now - 7 simple steps for tide-turners

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Create a better life now - 7 simple steps for tide-turners

For the last decade working as an executive coach and business mentor across many sectors I’ve seen more and more amazing women and men struggling to keep up with demands of life and work. Now the tide is turning. Amazing women and men like you and me are saying “No. No more, not now, not any longer. I require a different experience. Life is too precious to squander by bending myself out of shape keeping up with inhuman demands and delivering empty results. I refuse to keep denying my own experience”

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How to thrive in uncertain times...

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How to thrive in uncertain times...

We live in a fast paced and complex world with much uncertainty. Technology, politics, environmental and social issues provide a backdrop to daily life that can feel extremely stressful. How can you look after yourself in a way that enables you to enjoy your life and feel able to make a positive contribution to the future prospects of your family, neighbourhood, country, and beyond?

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Moving on from corporate life - Maria's story

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Moving on from corporate life - Maria's story

We have different seasons in life – what was best at one time can’t remain the same always. If you’re aware that you can’t or don’t want to do what you’ve been doing for another 10 – 20 years, this story of transitioning from corporate life to a path of purpose and passion is an inspiring and interesting read.

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Simple steps towards your new chapter...

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Simple steps towards your new chapter...

So, you’re feeling frustrated with where you’re at or ambitious for new / different / better. You know life and work can be more satisfying and you have more potential than you’re using. You may be conscious of years passing and it’s dawning on you that “someday” is in danger of passing you by. It’s time for a new chapter.

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The 2 ingredients you need to cook up your juicy new chapter

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The 2 ingredients you need to cook up your juicy new chapter

I have recently been in a period of major transition, moving to a new house and location. This new chapter was prompted as they sometimes are, by an unwelcome life event, the unexpected end of my relationship. Although that happened 18 months ago, it took me a year to be ready to start visioning a different future and start creating my new chapter. My confidence had been knocked, and for a good while I didn’t know what I wanted.

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Are you in tune with your dreams?

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Are you in tune with your dreams?

What big (or small) dream have you got inside? To give it a chance to become your inspiring future you’ve got to get it out, dust it down and show it to the light of day. A couple of years ago, Jazz musicians Rachel and Paulus did just that. They shared their big dream with me: to open a Jazz club in Nottingham! Read on for the rest of their story…

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Exploring your options...

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Exploring your options...

Often, you reach a point in your career where you begin to feel confused or stuck. You know that you want to make changes but it’s difficult seeing the way ahead. Sometimes, the difficulty is not seeing any other options or possibilities. Sometimes the difficulty is seeing too many, so many that you don’t know which way to turn.

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Help, I feel stuck...

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Help, I feel stuck...

In my time coaching professionals, I’ve identified several factors that commonly keep people stuck in work roles, and even careers, that no longer suit them. Although for the individual this trap feels real and limiting, there are always options, but it can be difficult for them to see the possibilities themselves.  

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Are you questioning the status quo?

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Are you questioning the status quo?

For many hard-working, caring professionals, mid-life (40’s – 50’s) is a common time for questioning the status quo. Energy levels change and domestic, and work situations do too.

The prospect of one or two decades more in the same work environment or having the same day-to-day experience, may not seem desirable or even practical.

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