‘Serendipity’s Secret’ is an innovative step-by-step guide to the tools and techniques of life coaching woven around the heart-warming story of a cat called Serendipity.

The book takes you on journey of self-discovery where you can witness the endearing character Serendipity start to explore a preferable future with the help of a parrot called Pollyanna who becomes her life coach.

What’s particularly great about this book is its use of the fable format which allows you to observe and become involved with Serendipity’s highs and lows so you can start to identify and reflect on your own life and how it may relate to what is happening in the story. This makes the messages within the book even more powerful on a personal basis, as it is gives you the space to raise awareness in yourself by observing objectively.

As a coach myself, it also helped me remember certain areas of coaching and also reflect on things I could be doing differently or improving upon. I particularly liked the chapters around procrastination, dejection, fear and regret where the book takes a novel approach of looking at these bugbears and helping the client overcome these obstacles. The book is also well structured, taking you along step by step through the whole coaching process and then providing a really useful, practical summary at the end. Overall, the story was great and flowed really well. Serendipity was a lovely character and Polly a great coach.

In summary, Serendipity’s Secret is a wonderful book whether you are looking to take your own life forward, or are a Coach helping others to do the same. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is interested in coaching or isn’t already living the life of their dreams!

Reviewed by Dee Wilkinson

The Coaching Manual – The Definitive Guide to the Process, Principles and Skills of Personal Coaching

As a recent acquisition, this book has not yet entered the shadowy depths of my bookshelf.  It has become a constant companion and trusted friend.  At risk of appearing over-keen, I feel well able to justify my enthusiasm for this comprehensive and navigable text.

I thank my assessor for her recommendation when I sought a practical guide to using intuition as a key coaching skill – an area for development highlighted by my final practical assessment.

I fit into the category of learner coach who has reached the stage of conscious competence.  I have occasional ‘whoopeedoo’ and ‘va va voom’ moments when I deliver a great coaching session to the very best of my ability.  My ambition now is to increase the frequency and consistency of those moments.

The 3^rd edition of The Coaching Manual was published earlier this year and is, in my view, a must read for personal coaches, whether new to coaching or long experienced.

The book is, as its title suggests, a manual covering all the essentials of coaching (and much more besides).  It integrates well with the GROW model.  Its format is highly accessible with each chapter containing checklists, toolkit elements, figurative process overviews, illustrative coaching dialogues and ‘Try it yourself’ exercises and questions.

Summaries are standard throughout the chapters and the sample coaching conversations are interspersed with explanations and insights that are very transferable to practice.  For me, this manual delivers as close to an interactive workshop as it is possible for written text to deliver.

With its high readability factor, the book can be digested in a couple of sittings and its format will likely encourage you to keep dipping in and out.  Chapters are clearly defined and logical in their sequence.  Intuition is covered within Chapter 4, Fundamental skills of coaching, where Julie Starr describes it as ‘an ability we all have, and one we can develop into a skill.  For a coach, it becomes something they rely upon, to help shape and guide a coaching conversation.’… ‘Intuition is simply an access to our brain’s potential to provide guidance and information free from the confines of our limited conscious mind’.

She also includes the pitfalls of intuition and, in so doing, models a characteristic of the book that is praise worthy – it provides a balanced perspective using straight-talking prose.  Chapter 5 is totally dedicated to Barriers to coaching.

As a collector of powerful and purposeful questions, I have marked several pages in Chapter 4 and regard Chapter 6, Coaching conversations: the coaching path as a treasure-trove.  Combine these with the drive to ‘Get specific!  What, where, when, with whom?’ in Chapter 7 and the fit with GROW becomes palpable.

Promoting the need to sharpen goals, Julie Starr uses ‘I want more energy’ as one example of a goal that is too vague.   She suggests coaching questions that get to the specifics:

• When do you want more energy specifically?
• Is there some activity or time you’d specifically like more energy for?
• How much more energy?
• With whom?
• When?
• Where?
• Which situations do you want more energy in?

This is but one of several sets of questions presented within this chapter that moves through, in detail, the structure and process of coaching.

My chosen extracts may not do justice to the book.  If you haven’t read it, please consider adding it to your bookshelf within easy reach of your armchair or desk.

Reviewed by Dawn Clissett

It seams my recent book reviews are for “small” books – this one is only 135 pages, but (to my mind) you should not need to write a “mega-volume” to make clear points in an engaging way.

I was loaned “The Spark” by a friend who is a trained psychologist but who works in “quality systems” for many international clients. Her “introduction” was; “I give a copy of this book to all my key client contacts – it’s never failed to provide a powerful message about what I will be working with them to achieve”.

It did not take me too long to “get the message” – one that I believe is just as valid for coaching as it is for quality systems, team development or (especially) personal knowledge and growth..

The Spark is an interesting “tale” about one persons introduction / overview of the creative process and mind-set that is at the very heart of the (very successful) Cirque du Soleil organisation / business. And the story does not get in the way of the “messages” that the creator (Lyn) and the writer (John) wanted to share with the reader. Subjects such as; motivation, team work and community spirit, creativity inside and outside of comfort zones, the value of mistakes, and TRUST are all covered very clearly – and not just the how but the why; their value to the person and the team.

I could not write notes in the book, I was loaned a personal copy; personally dedicated to my friend by the books creator (how’s that for trust in me?).. So, by the time I had read the book twice, it looked like a one-sided Christmas Tree, with lots of Post-it tabs highlighting messages that I found of value.

I won’t spoil your enjoyment of the book and your own finding of the messages, by sharing too many here, but let me share just three:

“Its important to remind people that whatever they do for Cirque du Soleil – whether they’re acrobats or accountants – these shows are why you do what you do. It helps to keep us motivated. Never lose sight of the reasons for your work…”

“It’s amazing how much we fear the unknown – even when the unknown carries with it the possibility of success. We are so determined to stick to our comfort zones that we learn to live with disappointment, as long as it’s familiar and safe”.

And finally; “Most of our life we’re put in a cage, where we sing the same song day in and day out. But life is not about being caged, life is about flying.”

Isn’t that what coaching is about; helping our clients (and ourselves) see the cage, find the way to open the door and finally to FLY?

Why run away to join the circus – when this book shows you how to bring the circus into your own life? Well – not quite, but it certainly highlights the value of creativity in our lives. I’m ordering up copies for my key clients as well as passing on the ISBN details (ISBN 0-385-51651-7) to all those that I coach!!

Reviewed by Malcolm Lugton

Last month, Bev James’ long-awaited book released – Do it! or Ditch it – 8 steps to business success from the millionaires’ mentor, Bev James – turn ideas into action and make decisions that count, Virgin Books.

To support the launch of the book, Bev has created the following resources to support your success:

• Daily Do Its – Register via http://www.bevjames.com to receive your Daily Do It email with hints, tips and quotes.
• Do it! or Ditch it FREE Resources – register via http://www.bevjames.com/do-it-or-ditch-it/resources.php and you can download the FREE templates for The Essential Business Plan, Business SWOT Analysis, Competitor Analysis and Personal SWOT Analysis. You can also take advantage of the FREE DISC Profile Assessment too.

If you have read Bev’s book please do add your review on www.amazon.co.uk

You can send your Do It! or Ditch it stories in to Bev via info@bevjames.com

Do It! Or Ditch It – 8 Steps to Business Success, written by Bev James, is already receiving rave reviews just one week after publication.

We love to share positive news here on the blog so do read on find out what all the fuss is about:

“If you are serious about being the best, take head of Bev’s advice and you too could have success you’ve so far only dreamt of” – Pam Lidford, Personal Performance Trainer and Coach

“As a business expert and turnaround specialist for a new generation of millionaires, Bev understands how business leaders think and why they behave the way they do” – Emma Wimhurst, Author of BOOM!

“Sometimes a book comes along that you pick up and can’t put down because of the great business sense it offers. Bev James has written such a book…the boost you know you need, right NOW!” – Ann Skidmore, Award-Winning Image & Leadership Coach

“I have witnessed Bev’s Pragmatic, insightful and inspiring business coaching style and quality, first hand for many years. She has now skilfully crystallized all of that into Do It! Or Ditch It” – Greg Brown, Managing Director and Executive Coach, GB Executive Solutions Ltd

“When an influential business woman such as Bev James commits her expert knowledge to paper, the rest of us need to take note of every word. From title to final sentence, this book is crammed full of useful and inspiring material all delivered in her passionate but practical and no-nonsense way” – Tim O’Rahilly, Business Coach and Education Consultant

“Accessible and informative. Bev’s energy for getting things done is infectious” – Nikki Wild, Managing Director, Wild Empowerment Ltd

“If you want to turn your ideas in to action and ensure more business success, Do It! Or Ditch It moves you forward with inspiration – highly recommended. Let it inspire you to take your business success to the highest level” – Maria Deacon-Viney, Chartered FCIPD, Remarkable Success Coaching and Consulting

“If you are looking for a one-stop-shop in a book which will help you devote to the important things in life and business in order to move yourself forward then you have found it in Do It! or Ditch it” – Placida Acheru, Business Transformation Coach

Bev’s book is now available; you can buy a copy or add your own review by clicking here.