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Ever heard that phrase - “pride goes before a fall”?  Meaning that sometimes we find it really difficult to admit that we’re wrong when in fact we should listen to our guides and mentors - people who are familiar with the terrain.  But there’s one thing worse that being too proud - it’s being ignorant of the facts upon which you can make an informed  and intelligent choice…

One of things that I have had to admit on my own personal entrepreneurial journey - is admitting that I don’t have all the answers; And in the beginning I definitely made loads of mistakes because I lacked skill in many areas - OK I will now hold my hand up and say that I lacked so many skills it was frightening! Even Peter Jones admits to being terrified when he started his business working from a tiny little office all on his own.

I made errors through ignorance of the facts. Deep down I knew this of course. But I was afraid to admit this and to ask for advice. I felt that if I admitted I didn’t know something that it would make me look stupid, and my crediblity would go out of the window.

The trouble with that approach of course is that mistakes could have fatal consequences for your business - loss of revenue could cause your business to bleed to death, your reputation could be scarred forever and ignorance also wastes loads of time.

 The problem with trying to do it all on your own (for fear of looking a failure) is that you make even more mistakes; it destroys your self confidence and creates anxiety which can paralyse your thinking.   You could be swimming in the ocean and dynamically interacting with lots of other fish, being dazzled by sea horses and rays, instead of being eaten alive by the sharks.  

Or if you choose to stay in your safe little pond where nothing much happens for instance,  you are in danger of  only hearing one voice - your own.   You may have control - but the scope for growth is almost non-existent. This could happen to you if you’ve made a good start with your business, but somewhere along the line, things have started to go wrong. The recession is a case in point; did it take a big bite out of your profits last year? 

If you’ve got a nagging feeling that thing’s just aren’t right, then it is important to notice this, pay attention and consider getting some mentoring or coaching.  Because if you are ignorant of a few things and aren’t prepared to do some investigation or get some feedback, you are leaving yourself open to random chance events, which could come out of the blue and might literally cost you an arm and a leg.

Could the shallow waters of the uninformed be a death trap?

Don’t make assumptions. You need to get real, bravely step forth and do something different, which will ultimately lead you to safer waters. In other words…don’t wait for change to be forced upon you, or wait for the next shark attack.  You need be proactive about things and be armed with the harpoon of knowledge and expertise, for your next fishing expedition. You must search for the tributary that leads to the ocean where bigger and more experienced fisherman are waiting to help you.

Fail fast, fail often and success cannot elude you…

Until next time

Warmest Regards

Wendy Dashwood-Quick

I have a confession.  I really shot myself in the foot when I wrote a self development book for the British market; because let’s be honest, the majority of the UK population (unlike our American cousins) don’t ‘do’ self development.

That’s why we invented boxing, rugby and Millwall on a Saturday afternoon.

The British have their own version of self development which we call ‘the stiff upper lip’, the Charge of the Light Brigade, Polar Explorers and heroes courageously changing the world with one hand tied behind their back, and still home for tea at 5.00 o’clock; and all without breaking into a sweat! 

The stiff upper lip has been in our blood for centuries - but the big flaw in this strategy in this - it creates problems somewhere else, later on.

Take Queen Elizabeth I for example.  She led a nation, devoted herself to reform, had the mind of a political genius, and saw off The Spanish Armada. Even when hearing that her former lover and life long friend Rober Dudley - Earl of Leicester  had suddenly died - she sank to the stone floor of her bed chamber and lay there alone for three days and wept, and ate or drank nothing.

The average Brit doesn’t need any ‘help’ thanks.  Perhaps its centuries of invations, plagues and wars.

Even Brits abroad don’t really enjoy themselves - instead what do they do?  They end up having a punch up and get thrown into prison.  OK OK, not necessarily your Auty Sylvia, but I think you know what I mean.

So, why did I write a book for a nation that isn’t into navel gazing or introspection?  Talking to a ‘professional’ about your problems is something that we Brits don’t even tell the family cat about, and definitely not your best mates.

Whereas over the pond - nearly everyone has their own Coach, Psychotherapist, or Psychiatrist. 

Over here instead we do 20 pints of lager and a packet of crisps or ‘Retail therapy’.  But underneath the calm British cool; somewhere underneath the manic over achieving workaholic is something called ‘feelings’.

We’ve spent eons running away from our feelings and pretending everything’s absolutely okay in a kind of Monty Python comic way.

But eventually for some people their strategy for coping by NOT letting their feelings show will eventually become an even bigger problem.

The retail therapy leads to debt, the binge drinking leads to liver failure or obesity and the denial of what was once a young man’s dream soon turns into a life of meaningless compromise and a stomach ulcer.

So, I couldn’t write a book telling everyone to just be positive, when a millenia of conditioning has taught the British to be ready for the invasion, death, pestillence and the Blitz!  Being sensitive, tender and caring just isn’t the way its done.  It’s just not cricket is it Carstairs!?

So, I’ve gone via the back door and told three stories of  characters who aren’t having a great time, don’t wake up ready to hit the gym after they’ve drank a pint of pulped seaweed whilst reading that book about goal setting.

The average brit wants reality before they can get to believe that something good’s coming.  Which is precisely what my book is all about.

So, if you’re a Brit reading this and don’t do ‘Self Improvement’ and think its for softies.  Listen up - the people it’s written for aren’t soft.

They’re striving with everything they have - but have hit a brick wall whilst getting there.  That brick wall was created because of their own behaviour, programming and beliefs.  Sooner or later many of us face this challenge.  

However the characters in my book have decided to let their guard down just far enough to let some ideas through, which could in the end be the perfect antidote to their challenges; And in so doing end the pain, save them time, precious energy (and the occasional relationship) along the way and GET CONSCIOUS about what they’re doing - it might just be worth a look.

“Discover Yourself On the Yellow Brick Road” might sound like it’s a book for children - when actually it contains some real sensible, practical and inspirational stuff - and it’s one of the easiest and most straightforward books you will ever read.

Follow the link here to read a sample chapter…

In this week’s Podcast Suzanne Bolwell-Davies from Flexible Hr Ltd and I are discussing  the real meaning of “The Jewel In the Nile“.    If  a coach ( i.e. a ‘Diamond polisher’) could walk into your life with the skill and the wisdom to guide you in the right direction, would that become a priceless opportunity?

I have put together a list of 50 reasons why coaching can help individuals who are finding their career too stressful, who have aspirations to aim higher but haven’t so far taken action, or who would love to discover just what they are destined to become.  As the character played by Danny Di Vito Discovered in this film, sometimes what you’re looking for isn’t necessarily the end of the story …

 Click Here To Listen (12.42 mins)

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Don’t talk about it - just take action - just do it, something, anything!!

I once abseiled down the side of a 100ft office block for charity. I was lured into this feat by the prospect of a close encounter with an instructor from the Royal Artillery. The things you’ll do just to see a man in a uniform…!

Anyway, the thing about abseiling is that you once you go ‘over the top’ so to speak and are ready for your descent, nothing much will happen unless you push yourself out – out into empty space! At the same time you have to loosen the rope in one hand because if you don’t push or let go, you’re not going anywhere. It feels very strange at first and a bit counter-intuitive because your mind and body is screaming “why would I consciously want to push myself off a ledge 100ft up in the air whilst letting go of a rope?!”

This is exactly the same feeling we get when we’re faced with change. We know we’ve got to move out of our comfort zone into unknown territory, but nothing will happen unless we move into a space that makes us feel very uncomfortable indeed. Change is about letting go of the past, but pushing into the future without really knowing what’s coming next!

It takes courage to do both at the same time because our natural instinct is to sit tight, hold on and wait. There is, however a pivotal point where, with a bit of encouragement from someone else (i.e. in my case the army man!), we take a deep breath, let go and push - and bingo you’re on your way. After that the adrenaline kicks in and you feel stupendously and ridiculously happy!

If you’d like some strategies for letting go, embracing change and creating a meaningful future then more strategies can be found in my new book due to be published officially on the 8th June. “Discover Yourself On the Yellow Brick Road” is chock full of stories, activities, strategies and tools and tips all geared to help anyone who’s currently thinking “who am I, what do I really want from my career and how will I achieve that?”

Not sure if this is what you need? Then take a test drive and read a sample chapter here

http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=7008