| So often some people think of the reasons why | | | | some money to pay for the web design course that |
| they can't do something, whereas a change of | | | | would give her the skills she needed. He says: "Of |
| thinking might unlock a new path, an alternative | | | | course! But I have an inkling you could carve out a |
| thought process which reinforces the reasons they | | | | great career in the Metropolitan Police;" following his |
| can do something. It's the challenge for those of us | | | | own illustrious one. "Would you please me and just |
| who work with others to assist in finding the key | | | | see whether you could pass the selection tests? If |
| that unlocks that process. | | | | you decide it's not for you, then I'll give you the cash |
| A friend suggested that Sally came to see me as she | | | | you need." Well, she did well, and he didn't honour his |
| was due to come to the end of her current contract | | | | side of the bargain; with no funding, she stayed, |
| in the Metropolitan Police and had admitted to being | | | | resentful and untrusting. And so we got to 'now' ... |
| rather unsure of what she, unmarried and 29, wanted | | | | and 'advertising'. |
| to do next. She sat down for our session, actually | | | | As we talked about relationships and her |
| quite confident and self-assured. So I asked her what | | | | experiences, she began to trust her own thoughts |
| she wanted to talk about, did she know what she | | | | and ideas, secure in the unthreatening confidential |
| wanted to do next. | | | | coaching environment. Suddenly, and I can remember |
| "Probably, Advertising" she replied, although I | | | | this moment as if it was yesterday, she leans |
| detected a slight suggestion of doubt in her voice. | | | | forward and says: "Do you know what I really really |
| "Ok" I said, "So why have you come to see me?" | | | | want to do?" "It's not in advertising then?" "No!" "Go |
| "Well, you know, simply confirmation that this is the | | | | on!" I say; and out it came, ideas unfettered by |
| right thing to do." | | | | parental judgement and personal insecurities, a |
| So then we started the tale, from the beginning; | | | | stream of excitement and enthusiasm. She outlined |
| how she had actually wanted to become an internet | | | | her ideas, her timescales and her business model. |
| webpage designer, seemed to have a gift for it, but | | | | Eventually, breathless, she asked: "What do you |
| her father had other ideas, wanting to see his | | | | think? Can I do it?" |
| daughter 'do something with your life' - suggesting of | | | | "If you think this idea has merit, it's worth pursuing. |
| course that webpage design wasn't quite the right | | | | Only then will you know whether you can do it or |
| thing! Funny, and sometimes tragic, how parental | | | | not" |
| pressure can seriously affect the decisions you make | | | | "Great" she said, and got up and left! |
| in your late teens, often only realising later in life with | | | | I sat there in the aftermath, reinforced in my |
| more maturity and experience that you should, | | | | personal belief that if you really want to do |
| perhaps, have stuck to your guns. | | | | something, the best thing is to do it. In my hand I |
| Sally asked her father whether he would loan her | | | | held her metaphorical brake!! |