One of the most important needs some of my clients feel a void around is that sense of belonging. That feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves. Whether that’s a community, group, family or industry. Or even on a larger global scale. A sense of belonging is a fundamental need, not to be confused with fitting in. Because by focusing on fitting in we often betray ourselves in an effort to be accepted. Brene Brown wrote in her book The Gifts of Imperfection; a true sense of belonging is felt when we belong to ourselves first. This is the total opposite of trying to fit in, wher ..read more

Have you ever walked into a business or store and been greeted with a uniform “Can I help you?” You can see them out of the corner of your eye pretending to be busy. It feels like they are just doing a job and waiting to pounce. “Sales” is an important part of business and we all know this. The thing is though, if our focus is on the transaction itself, the person just feels like a number. Or like a dollar amount which is worse. When our focus is on creating a memorable experience and fully serving, then they feel more connected. Because of this we often find they continue to return to us ov ..read more

Each January there seems to be much talk about setting a goal or a new year’s resolution. There is often a big hoo ha about which is best, but we do know that both encourage growth in our lives, businesses or careers. However, there are times when goals or new year’s resolutions can feel downright impossible. And maybe you don’t feel like setting one at all. For example, you might be suffering with a serious illness or your partner or family member might be. Possibly you’ve lost someone you love. Even times like losing a home, as happened here in Cairns to a number of people after the cyclon ..read more

Cyclones are a natural weather pattern here in Tropical Far North Queensland, Australia where I live. And because they are natural it’s a challenge we are pretty comfortable with preparing for during our wet season. However sitting waiting for a cyclone to pass in December is extremely rare and yet that’s what I’m doing right now. What a cleansing way to end 2023 and start the new year. Cyclones can be very destructive and thankfully with this one that isn’t the case. As a category two and not being directly in the firing line, thankfully we are just receiving a nice cleanse. However if we ha ..read more

As a mother of adult sons, one of the greatest lessons I have learned was the art of letting go. Having coached many women in the same situation, I also know I am not alone. And on reflection this is very much the same as birthing and growing a business. When we have children, we are there for them consistently. We guide them and help them grow into people who are ready to live a fulfilled and happy life. I believe that’s our true purpose as a parent. During those early years our own life revolves around our children. They become the centre focus. For women we often find it very difficult to ..read more

Self sabotage is often talked about as if it’s something outside of our control. Patterns like procrastination, distraction, giving up too early, delaying starting are all seen as self sabotaging behaviour. Patterns like these are sometimes portrayed as quite complex; and they can be. The person displaying them often gets frustrated and disappointed in themselves. And the rabbit hole feels too deep to be able to climb out of alone. At times like this the support of a coach can be priceless. If you are at that point, I would encourage you to find a good coach to work with. But there is someth ..read more

Have you ever felt judged or disrespected while out socially, in a customer service situation or when networking? “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a quote by English novelist George Eliot and I have to say it’s some of the best advice I’ve heard. It serves in all aspects of my life including my business. How you interpret this quote can depend on what you’ve experienced both personally and professionally. But what it means to me is this. When we meet someone for the first time what we initially see is not a indication of the whole person. What this can also mean in our life, business or ..read more

If you want to know why it’s sometimes challenging to achieve what you want understanding your energy type might give you clues. The insights associated with this may also give you some direction into how to change too. The creators of NLP state that the way we filter information can affect our perception. And it’s our perception that influences our responses. And therefore our life experiences including whether we achieve what we want. I can’t count the amount of instances I have seen proof of this being true; both in my own life, and in the lives of my clients. We can only achieve what we ..read more

No one looks forward to stepping out of the comfort zone. But if we want to change something, have better experiences or grow, then we need to. But so many of us wait until the ship is sinking until we do so. When we feel at our worst and just want to feel better as quickly as possible. And then of course we take a massive leap in desperation and it can sometimes be in the wrong direction. The personal development narrative often teaches that to create change we have to take a massive leap out of our comfort zone. But over the years I have found that to be the most unhelpful belief. A few yea ..read more

Stress and anxiety seem to becoming part of living in our modern world. Whether it’s your life or your work that you feel is at the core of your stress, breath can be the driving force for change. We are told that a certain amount of stress is good for us; it motivates us and helps us get things done. This is seen as good stress and I have no argument with that. I have utilized this form of stress positively myself. Stress becomes a problem when it is present for a major part of each day. This can lead to depression, anxiety and stress related illnesses. What is also not that widely known is ..read more