What Next?

It’s a question we all ask ourselves all the time. The anticipation of the future. The hope for things to be different or better, the intrinsic human need to grow.

It’s a question sometimes tiny in its impact, sometimes HUGE.

How we feel about what we’re having for pudding will soon be forgotten.

How we approach bigger WHAT NEXT? questions around our career or relationships can create terrifying paralysis, or phenomenal energy, drive and momentum.

These require an investment in time to reflect, admitting to ourselves our real desires or fears, and often pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone.  Not always easy, so we procrastinate or just don’t bother. It’s easy not to, unless there’s an obvious catalyst, a change in health, life circumstances or redundancy.

Every year, for the last 6 years or so, I’ve read the oldie but goodie “Who Moved My Cheese” between Christmas and New Year. It took a while to be brave enough to admit to myself that my first career in strategy, marketing & communications was losing its shine. That cheese was developing a whiff.

WHAT NEXT became a bigger and BIGGER question.  

Now it’s the name of my next career venture.  WHAT NEXT? Coaching.

The result of a lot of questioning, a lot of little changes to my life, goals and outlook over the last 2 years & an amazing Exec Coaching training programme with Henley Business School. Since someone first tried to label me a digital “guru” in 2009, I’ve rebelled and reminded them that guru is just for those who can’t spell charlatan. I’ve put the work in, done the training, read far & wide. I’m ready to GO!

In reality I’ve been coaching for decades, over a wide assortment of companies, teams, industries and cultures. I've helped literally hundreds of people grow in their careers, tackle challenging situations, see things differently. It’s a strong base to build on.

That’s what coaching helps you do. Dismantle the big hairy goals into smaller achievable steps, and move forward, making incremental progress. It’s hard work, but put the determination and the work in & you get results.

I’m not saying it’s not scary, actively choosing to be brave and do something different. To walk the talk on done is better than perfect. To walk further away from a more traditional career in the fast lane, a constant comfort-discomfort zone working with big household name brands like Google, Samsung & Procter & Gamble, & embrace the learnings from being around the world class coaches of elite athletes when I was CMO of World Athletics. Formidable training grounds that teach you resilience, focus & remind you that fortune favours the brave. They also teach you can go again, get back on the horse if you're thrown, to never regret having a go, for doing your best.

 It’s time to be brave.

To thank the many brilliant people I’ve had the fortune to work with and learn from.

To evolve the use my skills in understanding people, NOT for selling them products any more, but for helping them grow themselves for the better.

To demonstrate to my 9 year old niece that This Girl DEFINITELY Can.

To inspire and empower others that you can define and re-define success.  

To cross my fingers and trust my network will help me flap my wings & fly, take a punt on letting me help them and their teams push forward, faster, if supported.

I am super excited about my new coaching practice. The opportunity to coach execs and leaders through exciting and / or challenging questions of their own. To share my skills with a broader raft of business owners than I ever could working with one business or one client. To make a difference to more people’s lives.

One small step for Fiona… one press of a button… and I'm re-branded and re-positioned from CMO to Exec Coach. Chapter 25 commences for those of you that followed my #squigglycareercheers advent calendar.

Whether it's sailing across the Atlantic or jumping off high walls, as my grandpa wisely taught me: CARPE DIEM. Here we go....

What’s your WHAT NEXT?

If you need support to tackle the question, get in touch.