Illustration by Brian Stauffer
Have you experienced a dramatic turn of events that’s changed your life overnight?
For me, it was a serious health scare. Some of you know this story, but it was such a pivotal moment that made such a huge impact on my life and career, I want to reflect on it again here.
And just like that
Some years ago, I was alone, relaxing in my flat, when I noticed a strange tingling in my right side. The tingling turned into numbness, then into paralysis.
Using my left hand, I managed to call emergency services. They thankfully arrived quickly, and rushed me to hospital.
The medics had absolutely no idea what had happened to me, but said worst case it’s an aneurysm; I might not get out alive.
Over the next 10 days, I had test after test to discount all sorts of syndromes I’d never heard of, each one sounding more ominous than the last.
The stark realisation
Lying in my hospital bed, having lost my independence in a matter of hours, unable to move my right side, gave me a very different perspective. What I’d taken for granted was suddenly taken away.
I thought of all the things I hadn’t done with my life.
I’d been in the world of business for 40 years, building and running my own businesses, and supporting many others.
I love what I do. What if I could never work again? What would I do?
I was working with only a handful of entrepreneurs a year, showing up in person, travelling to meet my clients, offering tailor-made services to each one.
Suddenly, all that was hanging by a thread.
And I can tell you, you ask yourself some big, profound, honest, no sh*t, get real questions.
If I wasn’t able to go anywhere on my own, let alone travel around the country, could I help people another way?
What if I could reach, help and support businesses from, what at the time was, the comfort of my wheelchair? What if I could inspire hundreds, maybe even thousands of entrepreneurs at the same time?
Then came the epiphany
In the midst of this scary time, those ‘what ifs’ gave me a new sense of purpose, a reason to keep going.
I made myself a promise. If I get out of here, I’m really going to go for it.
And I did make it out of there.
Over the next year, with a lot of hard work, bloody mindedness and support, I made slow progress, to crutches, then to a walking stick, then to being able to move around unassisted.
I relearned how to walk, write, do up buttons…
What got me through all of that was my new sense of purpose, together with the amazing support of family and friends.
Sharing the love
I’ve made good that promise to myself, facing my fears, and moving into uncharted territory - the latest being to push myself to step on to the public speaking stage.
Through my website, webinars, blog posts, and established podcast, I now get to share my stories, my experience and my love for business as widely as possible.
A stroke of luck
I now view that horrendous experience as a stroke of luck, for which I will be eternally grateful. It has changed my life for the better. It has given me a new sense of purpose.
It fills me with great joy to know that I’ve already helped hundreds more entrepreneurs than I would have before.
How about you?
Life is precious, your business is precious. If there’s something you want to do, get on with it.
Don’t wait. Start now.
If you would like to have a conversation about transforming your company, I'd love to hear from you. Just fill in your details on the Contact page and we'll arrange to speak.
P.S. Eventually I got a diagnosis: it was a rare type of stroke. I might not be agile enough to give the Strictly contestants or Chelsea players a run for their money, but I’m doing okay and I’m grateful to be here and hobbling about!
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