CHAPTER 1
YES, I CAN HANDLE THREE THINGS FOR NOW
Throughout the book, I provide examples of how real people and events have successfully used my approach of "Three things for now" and my coaching techniques. What I have included are insights into what I see people experience in their everyday lives through my career and consulting business over the past few years.
I present some personal stories to make my approach more relatable. Whilst each story is completely fictional, the scenarios these characters find themselves in are based on real-life occurrences I have had the privilege of witnessing and being part of. I have changed names, blended situations, changed business names, and combined some aspects of different clients so that what is presented are "composite" characterisations of the real people I have shared many life experiences with. I value the trust afforded to me by others, and I have not shared any information provided to me personally as I respect the privacy and confidentiality entrusted to me. For this reason, the composite character of "Tom" gets a big serve, as do a few others. Try not to judge them too harshly, or even at all.
Some clients don't always see things to fruition because they move on at their own pace or stall for long periods, which is natural and normal. Whilst many achieve success, continuity is not always the final outcome. With other clients, we pick up and start part way through a process. I have combined these for a complete example, specific event, or story here for the book. So these real situations are not written exactly as they were experienced. I have also added or taken away some aspects of the shared experiences whilst working on a client's business or life plan, so the intended outcome is my client's alone. If you do recognise yourself, ssshhhhh, don't tell anyone. It is purely coincidental and not intended, or I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting you.
* How to Use This Book for Your Own Success
Summaries and Tools
You will note that each chapter has a summary. This is a place where readers can jump ahead, progress their individual plans and actions, and then return to the broader text to explore each chapter in greater detail. This detail adds to the summary and, hopefully, strikes a chord of resonance with you, enabling you to put your plans into action. Chapter 4 details several specific, practical tools I advocate for all readers. Feel welcome to jump forward and backward across each chapter as you are interested in what I offer. You may simply explore my characters and their adventures in goal setting and success achievement. I hope readers treat this book as a resource to access regularly as they experience changes in their lives and when specific matters present themselves.
A Whole and Happy Life Is not Segmented nor Compartmentalised
My approach applies equally to business planning and life coaching, so please consider each example as fitting perfectly with your personal focus at relevant times in your life. I do this purposely because I feel every individual is complex and whole, and cannot be separated from work and play. Contrary to some popular beliefs that such separation is necessary to better manage our busy lives, I believe in embracing the whole person, living with integrity, and seeking balance as the way to success.
You may be curious regarding chapter 6, "Love and Relationships," and how it possibly relates to business planning. But believe me, relationships are complex, and no more so than when running a business. The skills of communication and empathy relate strongly to both personal and business situations, particularly when many fumble and fail. So I offer suggestions that recognise our wholeness and remove the need to block out the workday/ workweek from our lives in order to relax. With a different perspective on how to live life to the full and make a good living income at the same time. I contend that we need not make these mythical separations, nor should we try to segment ourselves. We are more capable, resilient, and creative when we access all our experiences and skills together and live as a complete and whole person. And so, with these thoughts, this book asked to be written, and who am I to contradict a book, right?
A Narrative for Success
I offer these narratives as examples to be read as if they might relate to your own circumstances. Please take time to consider the examples offered and the positive steps embedded in each story. If any of the tools and methods are relevant to your current situation, I am happy you can make use of them. Each chapter has something to offer and relates to issues that affect us all, either in our business dealings, in our personal lives, or both.
The tools referred to earlier are being used by the real characters portrayed as fiction by me in these pages and they are improving and enhancing their lives. Whilst not always spelled out, you may spot them being used in my stories, and this may give you ideas of how to make the best use of them. Adaptations are always a great way to use tools and guides and to move forward with your own style, so please feel welcome to adapt anything I suggest here.
If you do read from cover to cover, I hope you recognise a path that took me from a feeling of helplessness in my own life to one of contentment. Much of what I write is a reflection of myself as much as an insight given to me by others. We all have many lessons to benefit from during our lives. These lessons often appear unexpectedly, but I believe purposefully. Our teachers may not be obvious either, because they are disguised as friends, combatants, acquaintances, work colleagues, and the like. These life teachers look like the local greengrocer or DVD store owner, or maybe our neighbour or that mum who helps out at the BBQ fundraiser every spring. Sometimes they look just like us. If we are awake and aware of these teachers, the lesson may be more of a delightful realisation than a harsh wake-up call. Embrace it, and you will be delighted that someone has given you a wonderful and lasting gift.
I hope my stories and words offer some engagement and insight into another perspective worth considering.
Hold on, Tom, Just Hold On
People often just hold on to their current positions in life, can't see a way forward, and they are in fear of falling backwards. I feel there is always an option to explore that brings us back to progress. A few examples may show better what I mean.
My first...
