I doubt that many people would believe that I became a coach for entirely altruistic reasons – saying that I wanted to make the world a better place seems a little too cliché.

I became a coach because I chose to be.  I had a number of options of where my career could go, and this is the one I felt a passion for.  It was a way of going to work, and not having to leave half of me at the entrance to the office.  I could bring all of my passion and interests into my work.

Perhaps the greatest lesson of my life has been that I can give something to others without having to give anything away.  What is more, this type of gift has the most impact.  This is in contrast with the current view of our society, which seems to say that for me to give you something of meaning, it must be a sacrifice for me.

I noticed that, through conversations with friends and colleagues, I could give people encouragement and support without feeling any drain on myself.  What is more, the connection I felt with them when we had those honest conversations gave me energy.  The dialogue was a win-win situation; both of us felt better for it.

At the same time, I noticed around me that most people did not have anyone they could really talk to.  They have friends, colleagues and loved ones, and those people are not always the best to hear our unformed, unresolved and uncensored thoughts.  This is particularly so within organisations, where few people are trained to listen and confidentiality is important.

I became a coach because I have skills to offer.  I became a coach because I want to help you realise your potential.