What is it about footwear that is so memorable? I still remember the sandals I wore to primary school – traditional Clarks with spongy soles and a T-bar, and the silvery sparklers I paraded around in when I was crowned May Queen. That was when shoes were fun and easy. When I got to my teens, things got woeful and complicated. All of a sudden shoes were important, shoes spoke volumes … [Read more...] about Sole to Soul
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A Warm Glass of Flat Cola
A friend of mine once told me that coming events cast their shadow. At the time I didn’t really know what she meant; I was too busy living in a champagne bubble to care. The year was 1988, I was the editor of a pop magazine and had no boundaries in place between work and play. I did both far too hard and the notion of a holiday was alien to me. Then the aforementioned friend invited … [Read more...] about A Warm Glass of Flat Cola
“My story is boring….” Is that true?
In all my 30 years as a journalist, interviewer, reviewer and commentator, I have yet to come across a single human being who doesn't have a unique story to tell. However, they did not necessarily know that they had a story to tell. Why? There could be many reasons. There's a part of them - probably a protecting or controlling part - that is telling the story that they are dull and boring. This … [Read more...] about “My story is boring….” Is that true?
Anyone can embark on a hero’s journey
There's a reason why so many myths and fairytales, across all cultures and throughout history, have featured a hero's journey. This universal story speaks to us on a primal level, and its meaning is rooted deep in our collective unconscious. Many of the biggest box-office films of the past 40 years have been based on the hero's journey, from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings and, more recently, Harry … [Read more...] about Anyone can embark on a hero’s journey
There’s no such thing as an ordinary life
When I first started to share some of my personal stories, a part of me wondered if it was a little self-indulgent, that I might be perceived as a bit of a show-off or self-centred. Even though I always made sure that I made a wider point that would hopefully inspire my audience, the nagging voice remained. However, the more I allowed myself to be real and vulnerable, the better the response I … [Read more...] about There’s no such thing as an ordinary life
Why is it so important to tell stories?
Human beings are hard-wired for narrative - it’s how our brains work, how we make sense of the world and our lives. Seventy per cent of what we learn is through stories - so if you want to connect with other people, the most effective way is to tell a story. In some fundamental sense we need stories. As an individual but particularly as a business owner, one of the most powerful ways of making … [Read more...] about Why is it so important to tell stories?