Eyes wide open

I've spent many years being involved with change in many different shapes and sizes - I've driven the change, I've shaped the change, I've delivered the change, I've mended the change and I've challenged the change.

And for a long, long time I enjoyed it, I really did. But then one day that joy just stopped - because the change become predictable, constrained by process and delivered by largely over-stressed, de-motivated and p*ssed of people, who had simply become sick of change for changes sake.

And that's what happens when the markets get tough, competition gets fierce, profits get diluted and leaders are accountable to far off shareholders who are interested in the biggest financial return today not tomorrow - organisations panic and in that panic they think they need to change, but that change is not always done for the right reasons, thought through deeply enough and it generally comes from a place of scarcity and fear, rather than courage and creativity, which simply leads to lots of organisations, attempting lots of change, for lots of the wrong reasons resulting in lots of cr*p results and so the cycle begins all over again.

So, if you are going to change, have a good, long think about why that is and ensure that it is driven from a place of genuine intent and courage, to create something new, something of value, do something better and differently, not to simply outrun your competitors and appease the pockets of your shareholders - appease the minds of your employees and in turn they will appease the pockets of all.

And if your are really up for challenging the status quo, then I'm more than happy to come along for the ride, but please don't be fooled, my help is not for the faint hearted, if I'm in, I'm in and that means that I need you to be too.

It's pretty much the accepted norm that organisations create change to basically improve, grow or mend something that is broken. No matter how the change initiatives are dressed up, it generally comes down to productivity, profit and market share. 

Well what if that was not the primary focus? What if the primary focus was igniting passion, unleashing creativity, building a community, defining a new business model, really understanding people and what motivates them and creating a genuine heartbeat throughout the organisation?

Perhaps organisations might find that they no longer have to flog themselves to constantly drive profits up, push costs down, rack their brains for new ideas, or fight for space in over-saturated markets, because all of those things simply become outcomes delivered by empowered, engaged and liberated individuals, doing what they love alongside other people who are also doing what they love, in a community that connects and genuinely cares for them all.

Perhaps the focus and drive for organisational change simply needs to be meaning:

"Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. " Stephen Hawking

So, on that basis I would argue that the purpose of an organisation is not profit, it's shareholders, it's customers, or even it's people directly, but the creation of a deep and purposeful meaning that can add real value to this world and as such helps people to find their own meaning and purpose, which in turn helps others and the ripples of this concept become infinite whilst the outcomes are, as yet, beyond our imagination. 

So, please do the work, stop chasing meaningless goals and find something true enough, deep enough and meaningful enough to really make a difference in this world.

And perhaps one way to start, is simply to start by doing something, anything differently - take a challenge, do something never considered before, don't overthink it, don't worry about a ROI, just do it and watch how one brave and creative action can open the doors to many more.

In the same way that a midwife brings a soul into this world, a soul midwife helps a soul to depart this world. My role as a soul midwife is to support anyone with an end of life illness, from the point of diagnosis to their final departure with love, care and compassion - this might be for months, weeks, days or hours - whatever is required is given.

I am there to provide emotional, intellectual, spiritual and therapeutic support, to enable each soul to have the most peaceful and content death that they are able to. 

I work purely on a pro bono basis as a soul midwife, no payment is required, my services are given with love.

I am particularly drawn to supporting people who receive an end of life diagnosis in their younger years, although nothing is set in stone and I believe the people who I am meant to support, will find me if they need too.

An end of life diagnosis is never easy no matter what our age, but receiving that diagnosis earlier than anyone could possibly have imagined, can be deeply traumatic and I am not afraid to step into a space where the grief and loss of knowing you may be leaving before others are ready for you to, can be raw and overwhelming, often accompanied by a deep sense of unfairness and unimaginable sadness. 

I cannot solve grief and loss, but I can accompany people on their journey and hold a light for them during the darkest of days.

My role is not to judge, or intervene, or to solve things, but to listen, support, facilitate reflection and provide whatever comfort I am able to, throughout this hugely intimate and most precious of journey's.

Please do feel free to reach out to me if you would like me to accompany you for whatever part of your journey that you need me to.

I believe in owning our truth and sharing our authentic selves without shame, fear of prejudice or judgement. And the more of us that can do that, means that more of us can do that and that is truly liberating, empowering and really quire beautiful - the words 'me too', are perhaps some of the most powerful we have.

I do not have a pre-defined list of topics that I am an expert in, I'm not an expert, just a human being having a human experience. I simply write about a feeling, experience or observation that has come to me, raw, unfiltered and very much in the moment.

My blogs are varied - some happy, some sad and some mad. It just depends on what is going on at that time in my life. But they are all honest and written in the hope that they can help someone, somewhere, just as the process of writing them and owning my truth helps me.

Death, grief, depression, parenting, debt, addiction, the menopause, organisational change, life lessons, conscious capitalism, sustainable living, defining new ways to live, work and play, are just a few of the topics that have exercised my mind so far.

All written with love, honesty and a desire to help us all live more meaningful and sustainable lives. 

"If you have knowledge, let others light their candle in it" Margaret Fuller

Creating space for people to have conversations to explore life in all of its guises - death, grief, the menopause, creating joy in our lives, finding peace within ourselves, challenging the status quo, finding better ways to be be, mental health, embracing change, creating organisations with heart and soul, are but a few of the subjects I touch upon.

These conversations are liberating, enlightening, fun, truthful, comforting and inspiring. The aim is to simply share our perspectives, experiences and knowledge, in order to move our thinking on and make a difference to someone, somewhere. The rules are also simple: be honest, be kind and be you.

The conversations are held on-line, they are free, they last around 1.5 hours and there are a maximum of 6 people in each session - it's important that everyone has the time and space to be heard and seen.

If you would like to explore a little of life with me and other life explorers, please drop me a line. I'm very much looking forward to meeting my fellow travellers on the journey through life.

I try to live my life as fully and authentically as possible and as part of that quest, I observe many things - about myself, about others and about life. And I like to share my thoughts, honestly and in the moment.

Some weeks are more fruitful than others, you never know when a thought, a realisation, or an epiphany will hit, but when they do, I talk about it and then I share it. 

There is no rhyme or reason to my vlogs -  they are just my story or as I like to think of them, messages of love and hope from me to you.

Sometimes I add several a month and sometimes not - it just depends when the thoughts come, because I do not work to a script, schedule, brand, or even an audience,  I just talk from my heart, in the moment, in the hope that it will help someone, somewhere.

Please do take a peek and see if my words can help you too.