​How to cope with change in your work and your life is something that all of us are currently experiencing as we adapt to the daily challenges of Covid-19 world pandemic. Since 23rd March 2020, I’ve had the opportunity to revisit books that I enjoyed reading as part of my journey to become a qualified Executive Coach and over the coming weeks I’ll share with you my learning and views on the books.
Who is the book for?
This book was written by Liam O’Connell and is an alternative to “Who moved my cheese?” Some may argue it is the new “Who moved my cheese”. It’s a book for anyone who is going through and experiencing change whether that be in their personal or work life. The theory can be applied to any type of change from redundancy to starting a new relationship. It covers the universal themes of common sense and the reality of life in general. By reading this book can help you achieve positive success and enable you to enjoy your life and work.
What did I like about the book?
I read this book in an hour. It was simple, funny and yet a profound story about coping with change. The fire is a metaphor for what is really important to you in your life and at work. Sometimes our personal fire can go out and throughout this story, it helps to get your spark back to relight your fire!
The 4 devils who are the characters in the book have been illustrated in colour during chapter 1 and being a visual learner enabled me to picture the devils throughout the book as I read the story. Imagine my excitement when the characters kept reappearing in colour throughout the book.
The 4 devils are called Sparky, Oxy, Diesel and Stubbo. For those that know me well, would describe me as a combination of Sparky and Oxy. You will have to read the book to decide if that is a true reflection. It’s fair to say there is no right or wrong character. We are who we are when it comes to dealing with change and knowing what we know can help or hinder the situation. I would love to know which character you are and why?
After each chapter there is also a reflection titled “Thoughts from the flames!”. These are great go to sections of the book as a reminder of the thoughts and feelings that can occur as we go through change and helped me to understand that everything we experience is normal. 
My favourite thought from the flame which resonates with me and is part of my brand is “If you believe, you will achieve, without belief you have nothing. If you have a dream, make the dream come true!”
How have I used my learning?
Since first reading this book in 2013 when studying for my Corporate & Executive Diploma with The Coaching Academy and setting up my business, I’ve held onto the thoughts from the flame and frequently reflected back on them as I’ve gone through change. I’ve not only used the learning myself, I’ve used it with my clients by creating a safe space for them to “Dream what their future could be, Inspiring their confidence to Achieve their hopes, dreams and aspirations by Making It Happen”.  On my business cards and website you will consistently see “Dream, Believe, Achieve – Make it Happen”. 
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing all of my clients become unstuck as they’ve taken the action they’ve needed to make the change resulting in them coming out the other side with increased self – awareness, increased confidence, improved leadership skills, more effective decision making and improved communication skills. 
Having remained in corporate world for the last 29 years because it was safe, secure, reliable and I’m fiercely loyal, it took for me to have a 6 week loyalty sabbatical before I did what I encourage my clients to do and take the final leap of faith to follow my passion. Like Stubbo I kept returning to the familiar routine despite craving freedom and independence. I was waiting and hoping for the redundancy payment that never materialised. I looked at the thoughts from the flames “Change can be frightening – talk about it with people who are close to you and take positive action to change things for the better”. This is what I did and have never looked back. Every coach needs a coach and mine have helped me over the years to get to where I am now. Taking smalls steps forward daily help us with the change process and transition. 
How will I use this learning to grow my business further?
There are currently many employees who are furloughed from work and considering their worth, wondering if they have a job to return to and if so, is that the place that they want to return to? We are all one of the red devils in the book and my role is to understand which character my potential clients are and how I can best help and support them to move from where they are now to where they want to be.
There are also many CEO’s, Senior Leaders, Head of Departments, Managing Directors and Business Owners who are currently like hamsters in wheels, wondering when it is going to stop and how they can get out of the wheel to strategically think about their employees and operations. I want to be able to support these key people in their decision making process by using my expertise of employee engagement, corporate and executive coaching skills, knowledge and behaviours to enable them to thrive not just survive and achieve the results to celebrate success. 
The final thoughts from the flames!

• Change happens
• Anticipate change
• React positively
• Plan and focus for the future
• Take action and the opportunity that change brings!

Remember……… Change can be good……. You only have one life, so live it, enjoy yourself and remember never, ever give up!
If this blog resonates with you or anyone you know, then I would love to talk

​For me a sign of a good book is if I pick it up and continue to read chapter after chapter without putting the book down…… This is exactly what happened when I started reading “Do it or Ditch it” by Bev James, MD of The Coaching Academy and Founder of The Entrepreneurs Business Academy with James Caan.
Who is the book for?
It is aimed at business owners and entrepreneurs. More people than ever before are aspiring to set up their own business. Now don’t worry if you are one of those people that are already successfully running your own business then this book is still for you.
This book is also aimed at Intrapreneurs – employees who want to make a good idea great, identify new ways of doing business or simply want to be more effective at decision making in the Corporate World.
Why did Bev write this book?
In her words “I wrote this book due to having too many conversations with a friend that resorted in frustration, I have been hearing you talk about this for years, but you’ve never done it. It’s time to bite the bullet and either do it or ditch it for good”
Does this sound familiar? I could certainly relate to this from my own personal experiences and I love this direct approach.
What did I like about the book?
Before reading the book I thought “this is going to be another book that suggests I have a business plan and tells me how to write it….” Oh how I was wrong…… This book was Bev’s story of how she decided to go from Coaching Academy delegate to MD of The Coaching Academy in 1000 days. What an inspiration of someone to have a dream and make that dream come true. If you think it was easy then you would be wrong, it took hard work, drive, ambition, resilience, determination and coaching supported her along the way by helping her address and overcome limiting beliefs. It’s hard to believe I know, however even the best coaches and business people have the power of the mind to deal with on a day to day basis.
The Do it or Ditch it approach takes you out of your comfort zone and into your learning zone. Bev uses DISC (personality profiling)which is her Unique Selling Point to help her clients turn ideas into action and make decisions that count. Anything is possible – it depends on the choices you make and how you choose to use your time.
The Do it or Ditch it approach is clear, focused and practical. Throughout the book Bev shares her own personal experiences and shares her stories linking back to decision making, DISC and Coaching.

• Part 1 of the book is all about 5 decision making tools
• Part 2 of the book is how to apply each of those steps to your business

How have I used my learning?
I was a big fan of DISC from the 1st time I attended a Continuous Personal Development day and really understood how this fits into your business model. I subsequently went on to become a certified DISC personality profiler so that I can get to know my clients in minutes rather than months. I then use this to move my client forward a lot faster and it forms the 1st coaching session.
Bev talks in pictures which capture my visual learning preferences and I realise being an “ID” personality, outgoing influencer with task dominance when under pressure I have lots of planes circling which need to land 1 by 1. In other words I have loads of ideas which I need to commit to paper and see through to the end. Her own personal experiences tap into my kinesthetic learning preference as well as my “Influencer” personality.
I recently had a coaching session with a client who is successfully running his own business, however is growing at a rapid rate following coaching sessions. I used the time travel tool and took him on a journey of self discovery, taking him to the past, present and future. As a result he was able to draw on his past experiences to support his present as well as dream big again for the future. I have also got him to reflect on the DISC personalities looking in the mirror at himself to reflect what he sees, but also what is missing and how when he seeks future employees he can use DISC to play to his strengths to build a team that fits all the boxes.
How will I use this learning to grow my business further?
I realise and accept that within business you need all of the DISC personalities, outgoing task Dominant, outgoing people focused Influencing, reserved people focused Supportive and reserved task focused Compliance. What is missing in my business and what I will need to be aware of in the future is the need for someone to keep me compliant, someone who thrives on getting into the detail and can prepare me for the risks that I might face, someone who can keep me grounded. A coach always needs a coach and I realise that a coach can help me land my planes and with the use of DISC I can turn my ideas into action and make decisions that count. All of the tools have now been added to my toolkit so that my clients can benefit too. If it moves me forward “Do it” if it moves me away “Ditch it”. This book is highly recommended for any coach or business owner.