I sold my last business in 2002. After 9 successful but very hard working years I was ready for a change.
To what, I was not sure but something else beckoned and admittedly, I felt a sense of adventure in the unknown.
‘’What will you do?’’ friends and family asked me. ‘’I am not sure yet’’ I replied, but I had several interests I would like to follow, 3 in fact. They were:
- Become a Motoring Journalist- I like writing and always loved cars. Test driving them and writing sounded like the dream job for me!
- Landscaping perhaps – this would satisfy the creative side of me. Making a difference to the landscape, working with my hands – farming on a smaller scale – it was what I knew about to.
- Something to do with helping people was my next reply. I have always enjoyed leading and inspiring others to reach a new potential. Had had long serving employees for 30 years.
These were my standard answers to the frequently asked questions and so too one day by my osteopath as I lay on the table while she prodded, poked, stretched and cajoled my back to maximum mobility. (Not as unpleasant as it sounds!)
Perhaps it was seeing what 30 years of farming had done to my back which prompted her next question, “You should phone this guy to help you decide the right business move for you. He is a life coach and will help you.”
Strange suggestion I thought as I felt perfectly capable and inspired at the prospect of making up my own mind about what I would do.
But something made me listen – if she was as intuitive with my mind as she was with my vertebrae (!) I would think about this.
And so I did and it was the best move I could have made. My coach set about giving me exercises to establish which of my interests I was most likely to feel inspired and fulfilled by as well as make me happy. Also finding that it had been a good idea to sell my other business in the first place!
What surprised me was that the most obvious choice to me – motoring journalism – was not the number one qualifier but instead working to inspire people that came out top!
And so I moved forward peaceful in the mind that I had made the right choice and have never looked back since. I was so inspired by the coaching process that I decided to stay with my coach longer, even though there did not seem a clear reason at that time.
What I was discovering was that not only could my coach help me avoid wasted time, effort and money trying out different business ventures, but it helped me get right down to my core values; what made me tick and ignite my passion towards my new business direction.
3 months later I enrolled on a coaching accreditation course. An intriguing choice, because of the 3 original choices it was the least familiar to me, yet undoubtedly the most fulfilling in the end.
And so I had embarked upon a path of personal development which I found exciting, reassuring yet quite shocking too. I discovered I was only running at a fraction of my true potential. I mean as a businessman, husband, father and individual. And I say this writing as a man who felt successful in most areas of my life, with no obvious failures. Ok the osteopath is the give away here as there is no doubt my drive; energy and motivation were all coming from the relentless pursuit of achievement. Yes I get it, my problem was I did realise it and take time to recognise it. At the age of 44 I carried all the stresses and strains in my lower back. There was nothing structurally wrong with my back but emotionally and physically it was groaning under the pressure. I was constantly pushing myself against a background fear of failure.
So much so it was weighing me down physically, mentally and emotionally, albeit I did not quite understand that at the time.
By the way, I am totally free of all this pain, hassle and on-going cost now. I never had any medical input either; I just sorted myself out internally. My mental approach to life, reactions to situations and feelings about and towards myself and it has transformed my life and world!
Through learning about and how to coach others, I now help people explore, get to know better and reconnect with their inner selves so that they feel more alive, inspired and energised about their lives too. This can cover their three main areas in their lives. That is Health, Wealth and Relationships. All this eliminates stress, energy drainers, fear of failure and negativity in the body.
As a result success comes more easily, enjoyably and without the drawbacks and trappings so many people fear. It is entirely possible to have success without stress, wealth without poor health and the ability to be a friend to others as well as to yourself. It does not need to cost you the marriage, ill health or bankruptcy to get there. You don’t need to feel at odds with the kids or family members, or feel you have lost yourself, or spend your days feeling, ‘I am getting older – life is passing me by.’
Personal development is available to everyone, although not all are open to it. Excuses get in the way of many but that is not YOU, or you would not have read this article so far. Thank you, you are ‘open’ as we say, to explore more for yourself internally. With this precise approach there is nothing you cannot have, be or feel for yourself, now and in the future. Fact. You only need to be open, ready and willing.
Quote, ‘Those who are most successful in life are those who are most adaptable to change.’
Change is inevitable on our outside, but optional on our inside. You only have to WANT to change to make it happen. By so doing your inside will influence your outside, in a positive way. Life flows much more easily, effortlessly and enjoyably too and all because of Personal Development.
Develop your inside means we shape our outside. Personally within, personally out with. Have fun with this. I know I did and I know you can too.
