The Quest is a Collaboration Global digital publication
Issue Fourteen 2020
Linda Burns
Spotlight on a key collaborator COLIN NEWLYN
The theme of this issue is:
TRANSFORMATION
RIANA AVIS SIMON THOMAS SUE PLUMTREE RAY SNOW GILL TINEY
Published by Collaboration Global, 2 Moat House Horsecroft Road Harlow Essex CM19 5BN Issue 14, first published on 1st June 2020 All rights reserved. Copyright Š Collaboration Global and Contributors, 2020 While aligned to the vision and values of Collaboration Global, the views expressed here are soley those of the contributors and are not expressions of policy on behalf of the Collaboration Global leadership. To experience a Collaboration Global Community, be our guest and come to a meeting. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/collaboration-global-28760629935
For more details about The Quest and about Collaboration Global, visit our website at www.collaborationglobal.org You can contact the team by writing to team@collaborationglobal.org, or to one of the contributors whose contact emails can be found at the end of their articles. The Quest is a publication platform open to members of Collaboration Global to contribute to major debates and issues of concern. Operating within the UK economy, and part of a global economic system, contributors to The Quest hold a big picture. They are personally involved with complex issues that require the skills and intent of many to solve. They are on a passionate, sometimes a life-long search, to secure change in the world and as such hold a great responsibility for benefitting future generations. Collaboration Global believes in working for a world where every individual has the opportunity to be the best they can be: where we are empowered to recognize and honour our ‘innate genius’, exploit our full potential and make our dreams real. We seek a world where business and work are designed to meet a Human need for respect, to be valued, to achieve and to contribute to others. Most of all we seek a world where everyone has the opportunity to have their voice heard and make a positive difference to the planet and humanity. 2
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Issue Fourteen
C O N T E N T S
About the contributors Editorial Gill Tiney Phoenix from the Ashes Colin Newlyn This too shall pass Riana Avis The Ideas Collision Simon Thomas How I discovered my life's purpose Sue Plumtree The music inside us Ray Snow Sometimes you just know when enough is enough! Time To Rise! Gill Tiney Collaborator profile: Linda Burns
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About our contributors Colin Newlyn Colin fell into a corporate career and fell out again 20+ years later. He successfully developed, launched a number of new and innovative online services, led many teams and projects, managed business units and rose to senior levels of management in the telecoms sector. After a brief spell in the City of London, the wheels came off his apparently successful career and he embarked on a new adventure - only not the one he thought he was on. He is largely self-taught in business, management and leadership, where he has learnt through a process of trial and error. Along the way he has picked up qualifications in marketing, coaching and behavioural analysis. He is currently creating a new initiative to ‘Decrapify Work’ and make it more human-centred and fit for the 21st century. These changes must be ‘done by’ rather than ‘done to’ and they may involve pirates, a few mutinies and a deal of ‘good trouble’.
Email: colin@colinnewlyn.com Telephone: 07900 247383 Website: www.colinnewlyn.com
Riana Avis With a background in corporate information technology and a love for helping people succeed, Riana is quick to grasp a situation and find a way to work smarter. Her clients are professionals who are helpers by nature and so dedicated to their own clients, they find that being the visionary for their business and the one who initiates new big projects, are just too hard. This is where Riana offers Pragmatic Solutions to calm what can feel like chaos, help them break through their barriers, and find ease in their business and their life.
Email: riana@rianavis.com Telephone: 07801 393431 Website: www.rianaavis.com
Simon Thomas Simon is an experienced digital and online innovator with 40 years’ business experience across a wide range of industries including industrial equipment, scientific research, biotech and engineering and latterly internet services and bespoke website and app development. Keeping ahead of the curve of innovation excites him and with his teams extends the bounds of what can be created. Simon provides a “goto” digital resource for clients and achieves solutions by blending programming capabilities with significant experience in business processes, workflow, design and marketing. Simon loves working with people who instinctively operate collaboratively, and he provides a resource of tangible value for clients who are earnest about online success. Simon has an intense sense of fair play and values people who are genuine and authentic; in fact, this is his filter and this ensures relationships with clients are enjoyable and of mutual value, respectful of their mission and empowering of their brand. Core values come from professionalism, trustworthiness and fun.
Email: simon@toucanweb.co.uk Telephone: 01279 871694 Website: www.toucanweb.co.uk www.simonthomas.org.uk www.myoutsourcedwebteam.co.uk
Sue Plumtree Sue Plumtree is The Personal Relationship Coach. Her passion is to enable people to build strong and loving relationships. Her third book, ‘Open Your Heart: The 7 Secrets Of Strong And Loving Relationships’ was published on 21 September 2017 and is getting consistently 5* reviews.
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She was unhappily married for 37 years when she finally left aged 60. Over the following 10 years she built a successful coaching practice working with women over 50, wrote her autobiography and built solid friendships. In December 2015 aged 70, she met Paul, her friend, lover and soulmate – and now her husband. As a prolific writer and regular blogger Sue shares her painfully acquired wisdom about what works and doesn’t work in a relationship as well as how it affects our emotional and mental health and wellbeing. Sue is a published author, public speaker, workshop facilitator and a columnist. She is frequently invited to be interviewed by mainstream media, radio and television.
Email: sue@sueplumtree.com
Ray Snow Ray is a husband of 30 years to wife Jackie and a father to Daniel aged 26. Music is his passion whose goal is to make people happy with music. Also known as - 1man6strings, he provides live acoustic entertainment covering the 50’s and 60’s through to Modern Classics and Anthems to get you up dancing and singing your head off. He also writes is own songs or small clips for anyone needing music for their film podcast. If I get the opportunity to perform and make someone’s day better, then I’ve done my job.
Email: ray_snow1@outlook.com Phone: 07305 689067 Website: www.1man6strings.uk
Gill Tiney Gill Tiney is a speaker, author, coach and ultimately a Community Catalyst and as such looks after the Collaboration Global community. Together they are instrumental in creating collaborations that in some large or small part can and do change our world. This community works to build and develop strategies that help collaborations to success by providing a safe space for abundant thinking and practical solutions to bring a project to fruition. Meeting every month they build a culture that expands genius, delivers knowledge and growth to members and enables them all to make a difference to the community and beyond. Gill invites you to join them at a session near you, or connect on the online platform Collaboration Global where you can meet other collaborators like you, who are looking to make our world a better place.
Email: gill@collaborationglobal.org Telephone: 07798 601701 Website: www.collaborationglobal.org
Linda Burns Linda empowers individuals to navigate life’s transitions and reach the end result they desire. Her techniques raise awareness of thoughts, feelings and how these play out in our everyday life. Linda has lived and breathed anxiety, depression, and readily empathises with living a life of frustration and stress. Linda inspires others through the ‘Power of Choice’ to train the brain for a happy and fulfilled life. Linda has worked in corporations, education and runs her own business. Her skills in collaborating and building community services, which are still evident today, is a major achievement. Linda has a combination of professional skills and personal experience that are engaging and powerful. Linda is a trained counsellor, coach and currently mentors young people at The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme.
Email: linda@lifeinsideout.co.uk Telephone: 07725 341251 Website: www.lifeinsideout.co.uk
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Editorial Gill Tiney
At the time of planning this issue, we could not have foreseen the unprecedented time we would find ourselves in, and the profound relevance of this issue. We are looking at transformation and change; how it affects individuals and the wider world, and how people are coping with situations that have had major implications in their lives. The Corona virus has brought major impacts to our planet, and we find many people are reeling from the change. Yet we are being blessed by the unexpected changes: from the cleaner air in some of our most populated and polluted cities in the world, to cleaner oceans and opportunities for our natural world to recover. Someone said, ‘it is like Mother Nature has sent us to our rooms to think about what we have done!’ Yes, there are tragic circumstances as people die alone, suffering horribly, and vulnerable people having to endure loneliness from family and friends. The flip side of this is that great swathes of humanity have remembered how to behave. From those working selflessly on the front line of defence, to the ritual of applause every Thursday, and remarkable veterans walking to raise millions of pounds. We now get to consider the ramifications of a Universal Basic Income as the coffers of Government are opened to support those to stay in work – a real time experiment. Ultimately, it is a fantastic exercise like no other in, and about, how to collaborate. In can be done: working together AND performing miracles. This issue’s articles are looking at how change occurred in the author’s lives, sometimes from choice, sometimes forced upon them. It is what they chose to do with that change; could they transform it for themselves. From moving countries and starting a business, to suffering survivor’s guilt when escaping the 9/11 disaster, our writers share how they chose to transform their lives and to take learning from 6
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the experience. I have been through my own personal Phoenix moment as I transitioned organisations from BeCollaboration into the Collaboration Global movement we have today. It took a lot of hard work, heart-searching and collaboration to ensure I was moving forward with the mission intact, and a clear way forward. I chose to rise. What will you do when confronted with changing times? Would you be angry if the decision was taken out of your hands, and/or feel upset when things don’t go your way? Or perhaps you’re looking on this unprecedented time as the place to count your blessings for all the amazing good that has emerged, and the opportunities created. Choosing collaboration will help you to stand on the shoulders of giants. Will You Rise?
About The Quest Team The Quest is produced by the Collaboration Global Digital Team and is made possible by, you guessed it, collaboration. For her driving force to bring the project to fruition, proofing and liaising with contributors, writing of editorial and case study and being our Team Dynamo we give huge thanks to Gill Tiney gill@collaborationglobal.org www.collaborationglobal.org
Colin Newlyn colin@colinnewlyn.com www.colinnewlyn.com
For typesetting, layout and art, project management of The Quest, proofing and creation and maintenance of our website, our warmest gratitude and huge thanks to Kay Westrap kay@mybusinessmum.co.uk and kay@couragetogrow.me.uk www.mybusinessmum.co.uk or www.couragetogrow.me.uk
For diligently proofing the content and checking for typos, huge thanks to Alan Brown of Brown and Tiney. alan@brownandtiney.com www.brownandtiney.com
For their awesome editing skills, thanks to Benn Abdy-Collins benn@bennabdy-collins. com www.bennabdy-collins.com and
For her proofreading and chasing skills, many thanks to Linda Burns. linda@lifeinsideout.co.uk
For proofing the typesetting, design and artwork and generally ensuring that the look and feel are always 100%, our huge respect to Simon Thomas of Toucan Internet LLP. simon@toucanweb.co.uk www.toucanweb.co.uk or www.simonthomas.org.uk
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Colin Newlyn
PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES
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I was fuming. I stomped from the meeting room, committed GBH on the lift buttons, then stormed out of the building. I walked down some steps to the riverside until I thought I was alone. I stopped in the stair well.
experience, and I got things done. I could make it work.
How dare they treat me so shabbily! Noone was ever going to do that to me again. “AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! I screamed again. That was it. That was the last job interview I was ever going to.
I was about to embark on my own version of ‘The Hero’s Journey’. Little did I know it was going to be rather more Mr. Bean than Luke Skywalker.
I wasn’t unusual in my situation. I’d had over 20 years in corporate and now I had to reinvent myself and create a new path. Lots of people “AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGHHHH!” I screamed. face this challenge in mid-life; how to rise, Steam was coming out of my ears. How could phoenix-like, from the ashes of their corporate they be so disrespectful! career.
The hero’s journey was identified by Joseph I composed myself and walked to the bottom Campbell as the story that we see told of the stairs, where a number of startled tourists repeatedly in myths and legends across all gave me wary looks. “Hmmm, London’s busy cultures. for this time of year”, I thought as I styled it out. It is the story of our lives, how we develop and And so that was it. My corporate career was grow, which is why it is so familiar and resonant over, and I was going to ‘do my own thing’ - for us. whatever that was. You’ll know it from numerous books, plays and I was sure it would be fine. I was smart and films. Well, my version is not quite so neat, but adaptable, had lots of transferable skills and you can track the steps on the diagram below.
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“I was disconnected from my spirit, and now my spirit was calling me back to it.”
Let’s start with the call to adventure - this mess of a job interview - although that was not how it appeared to me at the time. I mean, I’d been chucked off the corporate ladder onto the scrapheap.
I didn’t need to change. All I had to do was decide what my business was going to be, put my head down and push through, like I normally did. I’d make it work through hard work, and force of personality.
That’s a disaster, not a calling.
I had actually reframed this challenge as something outside of myself. I’d made the But it IS a calling. It’s your spirit calling you to challenge to create a business that would return to it. To repair and reinvent yourself as a bring in money to support our lifestyle. Only closer approximation of your true self. that wasn’t the challenge at all. Like lots of people, I had been badly bent out of shape by life, and by corporate life in particular. I had put on lots of armour to protect myself from the pressure and the bullying that I had experienced (these are sadly common in too many of our workplaces).
So, I embarked on a number of failed projects and ventures, which were attempts to shortcut the process, to bypass the ordeal ahead of me.
I started by buying a Business Coaching franchise, which was probably the most illjudged decision of my life. I am the one who I had disconnected from my emotions, creates the model for others to follow, not one numbed myself so that I could endure the toxic who follows it. environment. I had forgotten who I really was. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t work out. (Although, on I was disconnected from my spirit, and now my the plus side, it made me aware of my innate spirit was calling me back to it. ability to coach and nurture people). I had little choice but to answer. Eventually.
None of the several joint ventures I tried with others, worked. Nor the renewable energy After over 20 years of corporate life and three business that led to me selling solar PV system redundancies, I was rather beaten down. I to householders; the second most unsuitable was depressed, anxious and rather lacking in role I have had after being a franchisee. resources. Although I had started on the wrong challenge, It would have been easier to stay where I was - it has taken me across the threshold and into but I didn’t have that choice. I had to go on this this unknown world that I had heard about in adventure, even though it looked more like an my corporate life, where we called it ‘the real unwelcome struggle at the time. world’. I initially refused the call by staying in denial. 10
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What a strange space I found myself in, full of all sorts of weird and discombobulating places. Networking meetings, seminars, workshops, online communities and, strangest of all, my home office! Where I had to do all sorts of odd things like pitching, sales calls, 121 meetings, and bookkeeping.
Eventually, after all these failures, the penny dropped, and I realised that what I thought was the challenge wasn’t the challenge. It was time to get on with real one, the challenge of reinventing myself. You see, reinvention cannot happen without looking deep inside oneself. Rebirth cannot happen without death. The old me had to die so that the new me could be reborn. I had to get to know my inner self and to begin my transformation from there.
I didn’t pick up any mentors on my way in. If I had got guidance from people who had left corporate life and reinvented themselves, it would have been very helpful, but I didn’t know I needed them and didn’t know any in any case. And, to be honest, I’d have probably My innermost cave was, in fact, my innermost self. My dragon was myself. have ignored them anyway. I did pick up some allies and fellow-travellers along the way, though. Through the Ecademy network initially, and more recently through Collaboration Global (and its predecessor BeCollaboration) I have found people who can help and support me.
It has taken much self-analysis and reflection, a lot of coaching and learning, to really get to know myself. There’s been a huge amount of un-learning and letting go of perceptions and patterns.
The image and the story about myself that I’d I also came across some enemies, people who developed over the years had to die. It’s been saw me as competition or as an ‘easy mark’ to painful and arduous at times but absolutely essential. be exploited. Join the discussion... facebook.com/Collglobal
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“The elixir I bring back is the wisdom I have gained, which I intend to share as widely as I can.”
One really important element that it took me a long time to recognise, is that we need to grieve for the futures that will never happen. We have created stories about how our life will develop that will never play out and it’s so automatic we are not aware we’ve done it. They can even be quite minor things like anticipating the buzz of going on an ‘important’ business trip or delivering a project.
My resurrection will be complete when everyone recognises and accepts the new version of me. That’s not in my control but I will be seeking to be a true and authentic version of myself, to ‘be’ the person I have become and not hide away. That, in itself, is a challenge for me and I will be looking for supporters to help me do that.
That’s the death of the old. Then comes the rebirth but, once again, real life is not a neat story. You might need a few attempts at reinventing yourself, as I have, each time going back to unlearn and let go of a bit more. It’s an iterative process, working through the layers of life and your persona that have accreted over time.
The elixir I bring back is the wisdom I have gained, which I intend to share as widely as I can. As well as ‘Decrapifying Work’, I am talking about leadership and teams and will coach emerging leaders to develop in a way that is aligned with their inner self and built in their genius. I also help people who are on the same journey as I have been on, going from corporate life to a new future that returns them to their true spirit.
The reward is truly knowing yourself and being ready to stand in your own power. It’s what Brene Brown calls “Braving the Wilderness”, the willingness to stand alone for what you believe. That is true freedom. That is the force within that will propel you into the future. I feel like that’s where I am now.
As of now, the Phoenix has yet to take flight, but it will soon. I don’t know what the future holds for me and I approach it with curiosity and anticipation. I know one thing, though: there won’t be any bloody job interviews!
As I look to make my way back to the ‘ordinary world’, I seek new friends and allies and fellow travellers, to add to those who are journeying with me. One of my passions is to make work more human and I am raising a banner to ‘Decrapify Work’.
You can contact Colin at: Email: colin@colinnewlyn.com Telephone: 07900 247383 Website: www.colinnewlyn.com
It’s a huge task and I am hoping some likespirited people will rally round so we can collaborate to make this change.
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Riana Avis
THIS TOO, SHALL PASS
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“It isn’t the changes that do you in, it’s the I had no idea what they were saying. For all I transitions.” – William Bridges knew, they could have been speaking Urdu, Swahili, or Sanskrit. It wasn’t until around month This quote always reminds me about the time six or seven that things began to make sense. when I moved from South Africa to the United Kingdom. The first six months were a doddle. But this time, there was something different. Everything was new and exciting. Something else going on. Something that felt like wading through treacle. That was a whole Then the novelty wore off. The glitz dulled and new, and very distressing experience. everyday normality set in. This ‘normality’ was not the ‘normality’ I knew back in South Africa. It happened again after I, correction, my job, Not at home and certainly not at work. was made redundant. I rejoiced! I had been keen to start my own coaching and consulting By then I’d been through enough changes to business for some time and thought I was know that this too would pass. For instance, well prepared. And then it came, rolling in like when I changed career from radiography to waves of nausea. That old treacle feeling. It computer programming, despite everyone would envelop me, making me feel that I was around me speaking English, waist deep wading through a sticky, cloying, viscosity. And along with it, thoughts of not
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“Then the world around you changes. Suddenly you find yourself in a different context. The blueprint by which you ran your life no longer works the way it used to.”
being good enough, who am I to, yadi-yadi-ya. I’ve done the personal training and spiritual seeking bit that teaches that you are responsible for how you feel. Thoughts drive your feelings and only your thoughts can hurt you.
half-formed new ideas. This now is our ‘tool’ for how we live our lives and make our decisions, except, it is far from clear and continually shifting as it adjusts and accommodates new information from our changed world – hence the wading through treacle while our inner Let’s just park that for a moment and focus world adjusts and transforms. on what William Bridges has to say: “It isn’t the changes that do you in, it’s the transitions. Much of the work I do with my clients is helping Change is situational, transition is the them wade through that treacle. psychological process people go through to come to terms with the new situation. Change They want something new in their lives, start is external, transition is internal.” their own business, run a workshop they have never run before, grow their business to a level Consider for a moment… you know your life, that was previously only a dream and is now, your attitudes, your beliefs, your likes, your achingly within reach and yet so elusive. dislikes. They form a blueprint for how you live your life and make your decisions. They Whatever results they want, they have to become so automatic you don’t even notice re-invent themselves because and it’s only that you have them, operate from them. Then when old patterns are broken that new worlds the world around you changes. Suddenly you emerge. Or as the saying goes, ‘what got you find yourself in a different context. The blueprint here won’t get you there.’ by which you ran your life no longer works the way it used to. It can leave you feeling fearful, Besides all the practical work of imagining anxious, vulnerable, frustrated, bewildered. A the future, working in 90-day cycles, getting new blueprint is required to deal with the new organised, solving issues, and planning situation. projects, it’s the deep work that my clients really appreciate. Do we consciously work out a new set of attitudes, beliefs, likes and dislikes when we That I am there for them when they are realize that the world as we knew it no longer discombobulated. When they’re frustrated exists? I think it is more likely that old beliefs with themselves. When things go belly-up. and attitudes come up against a brick wall, When they’re in the grip of self-doubt. Waist then slowly disintegrate and are eventually deep in the treacle. One client puts it this way: replaced by new ones. That is, if we are open ‘The work you do with me is profoundly deep to it. and on point. I feel seen, heard and totally taken in.’ And while this process is going on, we look at the world around us through our ‘cracked mirror’ of old attitudes and beliefs and swirling mists of Join the discussion... facebook.com/Collglobal
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Sometimes, the work itself will trigger a deep heart instead of dreading it.’ transformation. Results like that are music to my ears. What One particular client had such an experience. fun is there in holiday and enjoying yourself if it Something profound was triggered. It drove means extra debt? her to deeply re-assess what is important in Sometimes the work triggers ways in which I her life. can serve my clients even more. She seriously considered giving up her business and doing something completely Questions from clients often prompt me to different. It was a very scary time for both of us. go in search for answers. The most exciting Despite all that was going on for her, she kept thing about that is when it builds on existing knowledge and leads to new ways of applying showing up for her sessions. it. She kept on making the small changes we identified. Several times she shared how, For instance, the principals in the book ‘Profit despite her being so disconnected and out of First’ by Michael Michalowicz meshes so sorts herself, she was serving HER clients in well with the personal money management the most profound way ever. principals I teach, I ‘got’ the idea immediately. At her year-end review, she commented that this was the first time in all her years of being in business that she felt so in control, so organised, and at peace with her finances and her business, ready, willing and open for the next chapter in her life and work to unfold. Sometimes the work triggers a miracle. Another client expressed her delight that for the first time EVER, she did not have to do Christmas on her credit card. ‘Riana, it was a miracle!’ she exclaimed. ‘I could enjoy Christmas with a light 16
Here’s what I have learned about change, transition and transformation in my own life and observe time and time again with my clients. • Change, like any creation, starts with a thought. Simple example. You have an idea to take a break. Pretty soon you’re making plans about where, when and how. You book your holiday, clear your diary, arrange for the cat-sitter and voila!
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“Change gives you an opportunity to expand your horizons, see the world differently, do things differently. ” When the time comes, off you go and have • Change is endemic. a fabulous holiday, just like you imagined it. It is a cliché to say that the only constant is change. Change IS the only thing we can • Change is messy. be sure of in our five-senses world. It gets worse before it gets better. It can be Whatever we hang our security on: the distressing struggling with uncomfortable government, economy, our job, business, thoughts, emotions and uncertainty, wade the people in our lives, or anything else, it through the treacle and tear our hair out is going to change. when people pull us in different directions. It offers us a chance to clear out outdated thoughts, ideas and even relationships that are not good for us anymore. It has much in common with decluttering your physical space.
Coronavirus has shown just how quickly all of that can change. Find the constant and changeless factor within you.
And we all know how uncomfortable that can be!
Moment by moment.
• Whether you instigated the change or it was something imposed on you, there is an adjustment period where you experience elements of the grief or change cycle: excitement, anger, denial, despair. Yes, even if it was a change you wanted. It caught me by surprise too. • Change gives you an opportunity to expand your horizons, see the world differently, do things differently. You can go down the ‘poor little me’ road of victimhood, the ‘what do you expect from people like that’ road of villainy, the ‘there’s nothing I can do’ road of helplessness or any other road of your choice. It is YOUR CHOICE that dictates how you will experience it and the future you’re unwittingly creating from it.
Respond from that deep place.
Ask yourself, what does this moment want from me now? Then pause. Listen to the faint voice within. Listen deeply. You are more likely to respond with love. That is what the world needs from us right now. Love. Not fear. Choose wisely. Change, transition and transformation? You can do it. I have done it. And my clients do it every day. You can contact Riana at: Email: riana@rianavis.com Telephone: 07801 393431 Website: www.rianaavis.com
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Want to know more about Collaboration? We have an online Collaborator Academy, where you can learn how to harness the power of a great collaboration. We teach about YOU – discover what holds you back and what will propel you forward, in your business and your relationships. We teach about your BUSINESS – no matter how long you have been in business there is always something more to know and The Collaborator Academy has a community of specialists waiting to help you and for YOU to help them. We teach about COLLABORATION – a method, a step by step process to support you as you connect with people to collaborate with and leverage your voice, your offering. If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far – collaborate! In the Collaborator Academy you will get:
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Simon Thomas
THE IDEAS COLLISION
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“See far beyond the profit motive so that we can truly reach our innate potential�
Technological growth and innovation are hurtling mankind forward at an everaccelerating rate and, as we progress, these advances are rapidly leaving more of the mainstream behind in its wake. This is why we need more of the niche specialists - the scientists and engineers who work in these areas - so that as a society we can keep pace with the progress and have the understanding to be able to capitalise on it and make it work for us. We need to embrace, trust and fund our innovators and scientists and look far beyond just the profit motive so that we can truly reach our innate potential.
started a journey of discovery and innovation that went far beyond what could have been envisaged at the onset. From the space programme came cochlear implants, artificial limbs, the insulin pump, 3D foods printing, aircraft anti-icing systems, improved radial tyres, chemical detection, fireresistant reinforcement, firefighting equipment, shock absorbers for buildings, enriched baby food, portable cordless vacuums, freeze drying, CMOS image sensor, water purification, solar cells, OpenStack computer technology, structural analysis software, powdered lubricants and food safety. I deliberately include such a long list, which is still woefully short of complete, to demonstrate the real value in empowering those who innovate and discover.
When President John F. Kennedy asked Congress on May 25, 1961, to commit the federal government to a programme to land a man on the Moon by the end of the 1960s, it was much more than just a political ambition. The US space programme (entrusted to NASA, The pace of change brings to the fore a which has only just been founded in 1958) favourite subject of mine, that of technology
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understanding we are able to make, the permutations are beyond imagination. What are the few diverse components that will come together next to create our next technological breakthrough, just think about that. We should all wonder at the genius of those Our mobile phone is a stand-out example of who successfully come up with an idea of a something new arising from the confluence convergence of technologies and bring it to of previously individual components. It the world. combines specialisms from communications technologies, ergonomics, the gaming The number of possibilities for convergent industry, electronics, computing, design, discoveries make another leap when a material technology and big heap of inspired genuinely new resource comes into play, in the innovation. It also needed a large mountain of way that a material like graphene has become cash, for that matter - but when the whole of commercially available during this last decade. humanity is a possible client you can afford to In R&D programmes around the world you’ll think big, very big. find graphene in electronics, composites, lubricants, display material and many more It’s amazing how adaptable we are as a species applications. as we readily accommodate something new. Before the mobile phone (and it’s later By combining the worlds of AI (Artificial incarnation, the smartphone), a camera, a Intelligence) and pharmacology, the prospects telephone, an email device, a web browser, a for drug discovery are improved significantly. microcomputer, a games console, an alarm Discovering new molecules and relating them clock, a fitness tracker, a payment facility and to disease using AI speeds up the discovery even a torch would all have been separate process because it makes it possible to operate items. Yes, we have a great deal to be grateful at a pace that is simply impossible for humans for. to achieve alone. In a few years’ time we may Knowing the vast extent of the resources well look back and see how we treat disease available to mankind and the leaps in now with the same disbelief that we currently convergence. This is the most fascinating part of the world we live in as it is engineers, in the broadest use of the word, with imagination who innovate today to create the things that we all take for granted tomorrow.
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look back at the Victorians with their leaches.
several months to a year and half in the future, even with a radical compressed programme Whilst the headlines are of fantastic new devices of clinical trials. The innovations and muchbeing enabled by converging technologies needed solutions will come to the fore and will and driven into reality by specialists in all the be in the form of digital research collaboration niche disciplines, it is the coming together of across organisations world-wide and the rapid people that makes it happen. This is nothing development of test kits and equipment such more or less than collaborative genius. as ventilators. Forces at play in the different markets will encourage some areas to innovate differently, and at differing paces. However there’s little to compare with the worldwide impact of Coronavirus. The massive impact on humanity of this virus mutation has galvanised every country into common actions to preserve life, to discover the virus characteristics and to engage in research and development. This work will ultimately lead to an inoculation programme, although a safe vaccination currently looks
It is the transformational power of computing that is the ultimate game changer, as humanity now manages to use this resource in every conceivable corner of existence from the highest communication satellites circling the earth to the emerging technology of injectable nanobots going into our own bodies. For example, scientists expect to use nanobots in medicine to target and kill cancer cells, to deliver drugs to target sites in the body and to improve vaccines.
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“The key point of the film is when HAL, the spaceship’s onboard AI, determines that the crew are detrimental to the mission. The humans are no longer required.”
If “a machine” can do calculations quickly enough and to a preprogrammed set of rules, you have devices that can not only do jobs for humans, but also do them autonomously. Give those “machines” the ability to do this very quickly and to a set of complex rules and you have AI. Give them more power, more data and more ability and you have true machine learning. Take this to the end point and you pass what is known as the Technological Singularity, where these devices have become self-aware, can make autonomous decisions and write their own rules. At this stage, this has gone beyond machines writing their own code and being capable of something like human thought and behaviour. This is this line of thought progression that drives the various dystopian futures portrayed by Hollywood block busters like Terminator and The Matrix. However if there’s ever an enduring milestone in this film genre, it is the Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 epic “2001: A Space Odyssey”, based on Arthur C. Clarke’s futuristic novel. The key point of the film is when HAL, the spaceship’s onboard AI, determines that the crew are detrimental to the mission. The humans are no longer required.
reaching the Singularity much closer than we could expect with our current silicon-based computing. “How will we coexist with an intelligence that massively eclipses that of mankind?” With this theoretical rise in computing power such that we can envisage the point where its intelligence massively eclipses that of mankind, it begs the question: how we will coexist and will this massively enabling resource be in the hands of those whom we want as guardians of our legacy and mankind? You can contact Simon at: Email: simon@toucanweb.co.uk Telephone: 01279 871694 Websites: toucanweb.co.uk simonthomas.org.uk myoutsourcedwebteam.co.uk
Moore’s law has given us a moderately close estimation as to the growth of real computing power since the invention of the silicon chip in the early 70s. However, with the pioneering breakthroughs in quantum computing, this law simply doesn’t apply as we witness a significant leap in computing power becoming available to us. This could bring the moment of 24
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Time to Get In Action! Our purpose is to enable everyone to benefit from the value of collaboration. As a Collaborator Pro, you are part of the movement to establish a new paradigm for living. Moving society from fear scarcity and competition to love connection and abundance. Are you ready to raise your profile, connect with likeminded individuals and get into action. As a Collaborator Pro you will have all the relevant information at your fingertips to maximise your message and mission. As a Collaborator Pro you will have exclusive access to skills, knowledge and expertise in the community in addition to all the benefits of the Collaborator Academy. We work together as a community to support you and spread your message. As a Collaborator Pro you will be interviewed for our podcast that we regularly share across social media i.e. Apple Podcasts, Spotify etc. Write an article in this publication ‘The Quest’, host your online courses on our platform, host and attend masterclasses, present to our guests and wider community, access coaching and training from others in the community and much, much more.
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Sue Plumtree
HOW I DISCOVERED MY LIFE’S PURPOSE
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“They did whatever it took to survive.”
I was born in Buenos Aires of parents born in practical skills and became ‘El Ingeniero’, an honorary title to show respect. the Austrio-Hungarian Empire. They were forced to flee Prague just before the invasion of the Nazis and landed in Argentina. But first, they hid in the jungles of Bolivia with other refugees waiting to see how the war would pan out before deciding where to go next.
My Mum, who had never cooked in her life, cooked for the people who worked at Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales de Bolivia, the Bolivian state-owned oil company.
My Dad was a journalist in the only Germanspeaking newspaper in Prague and used his position to gather intelligence for the British. He knew what was coming and, despite having been sworn to secrecy, he tried to warn family and friends. Nobody believed him.
My Dad used to tell me stories of their adventures. He kept a journal which I recently donated to the Wiener Holocaust Library.
They did whatever it took to survive.
Looking back, given this background, I find it difficult to understand how I was brought up to play it safe, to never call attention to myself, to To be honest, I wouldn’t have believed him never raise my head above the parapet and to either. The idea of what suffering humans never ever ‘wash your dirty linen in public’. can inflict on each other is beyond my My Dad did things for me I should have done understanding. for myself, including breaking up with a young When there was finally no other option, my man. My Dad especially made decisions on my parents fled. It was a journey that called for behalf and insisted I always trust his judgement courage, persistence, resilience – and the help on the grounds of his superior life experience. of countless strangers who formed a chain that took them in – and out – of Britain and, They had dreams for me. eventually, to Bolivia. I had a gift for languages, German and Spanish There, the big question was how to survive being the obvious ones as we spoke German at home while living in a Spanish speaking among the indigenous population. country. My Dad discovered electrical and other Join the discussion... facebook.com/Collglobal
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When I was 14 my Dad asked me what I wanted to be. I shrugged. “In that case, he said, you will become a tri-lingual secretary.” I shrugged again. My professional fate was sealed for nearly the next two decades. They worked and saved really hard to send me to England.
I liked the look of him so, breaking every social taboo in the book, I sat right next to him and engaged him in conversation.
I judged his hair too long (it just touched the top of his shirt). The fact that this was 1965, the Swinging Sixties, meant nothing to me and I My parents believed that since nobody spoke decided that, if I got to know him better, I would foreign languages in those days, I would be get him to have his hair cut. head and shoulders above the competition. That was the first of a long list of ways I judged But things didn’t quite turn out that way. him not being good enough and tried to I arrived in England in 1965 aged 20 – a very change him. insecure young woman. My upbringing hadn’t exactly equipped me with the confidence and I engineered our next meeting at another skills needed to build an entirely new life in a concert (to which he had not invited me) and I became determined to see if I could make him foreign country. fall in love with me. Coupled with that I never believed I was Unfortunately, I succeeded, and we married 5 attractive or loveable enough. months later as my work visa was due to expire. I first met Jim at a concert 3 months after my As decisions go, this one was one of my worst. arrival in England. I’d decided to arrive early to I stayed in that marriage for 37 years, most of the get a good seat but discovered that the place time feeling unhappy, unloved, unimportant and very lonely. was empty except for this one man. 28
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“All my relationships which felt superficial and lukewarm.”
Not surprisingly, I felt controlled by all kinds of fears, fears that held me back in all areas of my life – the work I did (which didn’t fulfil me), the gifts I had (but I wasn’t an ‘expert’), the money I earned (which I didn’t deserve or was never enough) and continuously playing small (“who do you think you are!?!”).
I deserved more from my marriage. At last, I found the courage to admit to myself that I deserved to be happy. And so, in 2005 at the ripe old age of 60, I left my marriage. The pain of staying had become worse than the fear of the unknown.
All my relationships felt superficial and Having been with Alan all along my journey I could see the power of coaching and I wanted lukewarm. to give back what was given to me – a champion I was 52 when I first crossed paths with a man and a guide showing me what was possible. called Alan who became my first life coach. I spent the next 10 years building a new And so, I began the most amazing journey. life. I began to attract wonderful friendships I learned the extent to which I hid behind all many of which are still with me, I wrote my kinds of socially acceptable masks in order to autobiography called ‘Dancing with the Mask: conceal my true self. I would go to any length learning to love and be loved’ and I started to get people to like me. Not that I realised building my coaching practice. that. I really believed I was being my true self. More than anything I wanted to be loved. But even years after I left, I continued to blame Jim for my unhappiness and the death of my Yet as much as I kept insisting to Alan that I marriage. really wanted to change my life, I resisted every step of the way. What I wanted was for my life Then, one day, I had an unexpected epiphany to change without having to change myself. which was both intensely painful and And yet, very slowly, almost despite myself, profoundly liberating. I did change. I began to shed my masks and I saw for the first time the many ways I had began to discover who I really was. contributed to my own unhappiness. I was It wasn’t until 2003 when I finally realised that devastated because, up until then, I had Join the discussion... facebook.com/Collglobal
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regarded myself as an innocent bystander.
taking my learning from one to build the next, with myself. Once I learned who I was I was It was a paradigm shift that stopped me from ready to share my life again and I attracted the seeing myself as a victim and take responsibility wonderful Paul. for my side of things. As a result, I have discovered my life’s purpose, I began to have some adventures. I went on which is: holidays on my own for the first time in my life. My most memorable one was a paragliding To enable people to build long, loving and holiday in Turkey! Can you imagine it? Me! lasting relationships. Paragliding! At 70! It was awesome! I believe with all my heart that happy people in I felt loved and fulfilled. I had it all! fulfilling relationships cannot be mean to each At least that was what I believed but only two other. weeks after I returned from Turkey I met Paul, the man who turned out to be the love of my That is my mission and my purpose. life, my soulmate, my team mate, my partner and now my husband. You can contact Sue at: Because this relationship was wonderfully easy from the very beginning I wanted to find Email: sue@sueplumtree.com out why. Over time I began to find out what damages, even destroys, relationships and what it takes to develop relationships that are strong, loving and fulfilling. As it turned out, without realising it, we were both doing all the right things. My first marriage turned out to be a treasure trove of insights and knowledge as is my relationship with Paul. Today I use everything I learned about both, what does NOT work and what does work in relationships and I’m passionate about sharing my learnings and insights in my coaching, my courses, my talks and my writings (my latest book, ‘Open Your Heart: The 7 secrets of strong and loving relationships’) was published in 2017 and getting 5* reviews on Amazon. I am so grateful that from the ashes of one relationship, I have risen into the best relationship I could have ever imagined 30
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Ray Snow
THE MUSIC INSIDE US
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I didn’t become a musician until about six by four days actually. The company I worked years ago. OK, so I played a clarinet at school, for lost 167 staff members and my friend. That’s obtained a high grade, played in an orchestra when my mental health and depression set in. for five years. That didn’t make me a musician. PTSD and survivors’ guilt weren’t pretty, and it For me, it was merely an apprenticeship pushed me toward suicide as the better option. process, one without passion. A music teacher told me I couldn’t sing and asked me to mime Nightmare after nightmare and a sense of in the school choir; so I left and that was end of losing control, almost sent me over the edge. music. That said, I’ve used music as a context After 18 months on sick leave, I was asked to come back into work or resign. So, I decided for this article. to leave the company and to look at repairing At work, I found myself pursuing a technical my life. career with a large corporate attitude. I dressed smart, was very professional and always did my I remember that day well. I was more fearful best. I think this came from my upbringing of of what my wife Jackie would say, having being the eldest of four siblings. I succeeded in resigned, rather than what the future would my studies and found a job teaching I.T. systems bring. for a major credit card processor which meant privileged travel around the world with my I set up an I.T. business. Probably the worst job, which included Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and best decision I ever made, otherwise my Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Canada, and ‘journey of possibility’ would never have been started. I was surrounded by negative people parts of the USA. at the time who suggested that running a I became very well respected in my field and business was bad and would bankrupt me. after the success to the Lloyds TSB merger, I I thought, “it must work for some people and it’s been done before”. So I continued making was head hunted by another major player. connections and talking to people. I was My last project with this company was invited to an early morning networking group connected with the World Trade Centre in New in Chelmsford. York, South Tower. I wasn’t there during 9/11,
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“I had become the master of disguise and professionalism, but I’d stepped forward, and that was a start.”
Nervously, and with little confidence in myself, I attended. That’s when I met the incomparable Gill Tiney who was so welcoming with her radiant smile and warming feeling (nothing changes). It was the first time I’d met a group of positive people all looking out for each other’s business. It helped me personally and I began to grow, flourish and resemble the confident person I once was.
idea what that was. I had been trying to ‘survive’ for most of my post 9/11 life. Surviving isn’t a passion, it’s a need. My wife, Jackie had joined a community choir around eight years ago and suggested I joined. Reluctantly, I did, and was pleasantly surprised that I could sing ‘a little’. I was also learning to play the guitar, so it fitted well.
I began to find and learn about the new Ray. Howard and Gemma Francis from Big-Sing I still had a long way to go, because I was played a huge part in my mental health recovery apprehensive about collaboration activities. and my confidence through the medium of song. It gave me a warm inner strength and Being almost addicted to anti-depressants, sense of community, of the present time. None that and my whiskey drinking being a big factor of the past, and none of the future, just now, in my relaxation process (if you know what and that was good. I mean), didn’t help either. I had become the master of disguise and professionalism, but I’d Around the same time, I met a fabulous lady stepped forward, and that was a start. who was a Cognitive Behaviour (CBT) Therapist. She took one look at me and felt the need to My I.T business grew over the years, but I still fix me. I feel bonded to her now, and she has needed to change my thinking. After I left become a personal friend. the network group, my and Gill’s paths kept crossing over the years, and I never strayed far. Ali worked with me solidly for six months. At the start, I walked into her home slouched and A business coach once said to me; “the teacher wanted to cry most of the time. Six months later, can only teach, when the student is ready to after massive amounts of therapy, I walked learn”, I knew this, and I knew it was me. out of her home with no anti-depressants, no whiskey, and no doubt about who I was, or I knew I needed something in my life but what I wanted to be. I have to explain; I did go wasn’t sure what it was. Coaches in the past home between sessions. had mentioned the word passion, but I had no 34
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“Ironically, having joined the group and received the love and embracement from its members, it would appear that Collaboration Global was always ready for me. I just wasn’t ready to be open.” I now stood on my own two feet, unassisted by an artificial persona and it felt fantastic. My wife Jackie had got her husband back, calm and focused. I felt well for the first time in sixteen years and I found passion to write a song for Ali, which I have since recorded. A song called “Listen to Ali”.
I always perform with passion and with six of my written songs later, Gill and I bumped into each other again, and I was ready for Collaboration Global.
After a bout of illness around 2 years ago, I made the decision to reduce my stress and invoke life changes. I sold my I.T. business and started working for someone else so that I could extend my music through a channel I call ‘One man and six strings’. Or 1man6strings for short.
You can contact Ray at:
I perform standards in bars and private venues along with writing my own songs too. That’s the creative side. When people ask me what I believe it has always been my integrity and I do, I say; “I make people happy with music”. battle throughout the years that has forged my How can you not enjoy that? journey. In other words, I’ve always done what I can for others and never burnt a bridge behind Ironically, having joined the group and received me, despite my own problems. the love and embracement from its members, it would appear that Collaboration Global was I accept that not everyone sings the same always ready for me. I just wasn’t ready to be tune, or in tune for that matter, and we are open. I see it as a platform to express myself, all individuals with different tastes. None of be myself and be passionate about the journey those flavours should impact the confidence I wish to pursue. One man and six strings is my of another. The more positive people you met, passion, it’s my music and it’s my inner rhythm. the better you get. To re-evaluate my first paragraph and speak My musical confidence grew because I from the heart, I believe we are all musicians practiced every day for hours and I have never in some form or another. We all have an inner missed a day. Some go to the gym or run every beat or rhythm and once we are all in time, the day. I sing. synchronicity of collaboration commences, and the music starts. We are surrounded by I was privileged to sing lead vocals at Brentwood inner rhythms and when you think hard about Cathedral with our community choir, as well it, you bump into song titles all the time. You as the Savoy Hotel, London, in the same year. just have to ‘listen to you heart’ because if you I sang a song called, ‘Love my life’ by Robbie look around you ‘Times are a changin’ and Williams. How ironic! Collaboration, is definitely the way forward.
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Email: ray_snow1@outlook.com Phone: 07305 689067 Website: www.1man6strings.uk
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Gill Tiney
SOMETIMES YOU JUST KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! TIME TO RISE!
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Towards the end of last year, I found myself So, having listened to others, spoken many many times to the one who might have stopped between a rock and a hard place. the dilemma and feeling like I was going slowly I knew exactly where I wanted to be and how mad, I took myself off to what I refer to as my ‘happy place’. I headed to the coast. to get there. I had to listen to me.
I was following my passion.
and I had to confirm what my purpose was. I had to identify what I was capable of, redefine what my mission was and how I was going to Yet something wasn’t right. I wasn’t happy, transform our community. I thought I was going I wasn’t working in my genius and I felt like I to do that with someone else but, when that had one shoe nailed to the floor and was going became obvious that it was not happening, I realised that I was no longer going to wait on round in circles. another. I was going to stand in my own power The one person I should have been working and move forward alone. well with was the one who I felt was stunting my growth. It was keeping me awake at night As Maya Angelou said – I was enough, and it and it felt like an insurmountable problem - was time to rise. how could I advocate collaboration when I was In reality I was not alone, however, as there were apparently unable to collaborate? people in the community who stepped up to be I shared my concern with people in the by my side. Those who believed in the mission community and they offered to help us to to teach people the power of collaboration and resolve the situation. Several solutions were to share the strength of community. forthcoming and as we talked one seemed to solve everyone’s concerns. We had a lot of work to do. We had to move away from what we had been building and I had a glimmer of hope that we could move on quickly create a new brand, logo and structure from the impasse. of operations - in short, a new business. We were able to keep the heart, the commitment It was not to be. of our members and the love for the new I was surrounded encouraging people.
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supportive
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“As Maya Angelou said – I was enough, and it was time to rise.”
vision going forward – the life blood of the We had no long-term strategy. organisation. Values had been created, and I agreed them, It has been 3 months of hard slog. Then, just but I had never been forceful enough to insist as we were seeing the light at the end of on a review of them and be tougher when they the tunnel, we had to pivot the model and were not adhered to. work even harder to raise the profile of the community. Social media was always an issue – what was the voice of the organisation? However, Corona virus could not have come at a better time. Don’t get me wrong, never We agreed to disagree too often. would have been a better time, but if it had to come and demonstrate the power and impact I took on the bulk of the work – it seemed of collaboration then we now have the perfect quicker that way. example of what we, as a planet, can achieve when we really want to. I often settled for a quiet life – I was a people pleaser and struggled to say no. Looking back over the previous 2 years I can now see clearly how the breakdown of the Meanwhile I was wistful for a time when we relationship occurred. had been in complete harmony. “Indifference and neglect often do much more It took 2 years for me to realise those times had damage than outright dislike.” gone. Dumbledore Yet going through that period has made me It would be so easy for me to point a finger a different person today. It made to push of blame, lick my wounds and feel sorry for myself out of my comfort zone and led me to myself. experience a bigger vision. It made me work much smarter, and to see myself in a new light. But, in truth, there is blame to be allocated on I am grateful for that time. both sides. No longer will I acquiesce so readily to another. There was no clear plan. I will no longer accept at face value what Join the discussion... facebook.com/Collglobal
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people say, I will be looking for evidence of who they are being. Walking the talk is now a measure of where my trust will be given. I have been accused of being brainwashed, being naïve, soft, too nice. I don’t want to change my inherent being but I will now consider carefully how I respond to others, who I share my time with and who is deserving of my help. In 3 short months we have an impressive list of achievements. As well as coming up with a new name and logo, we built a new website in less than a week!!! (Kay Westrap at My Business Mum is incredible). We have created a new podcast and rebranded The Quest (our online publication that you are reading now), whilst still adding new issues to it. We have also finished building the online membership platform and online teaching space, The Academy. We have grown the movement by adding hundreds more people to our Facebook group and online platform as well as achieving thousands of views and trending on LinkedIn. Plus, many more people are joining Collaboration Global, either becoming ‘Collaborators’ (our top level membership option) or by joining The Academy.
stunted phase of its previous incarnation. Together we have learnt, together we are stronger, and I now see that, I am enough! Yet I could not have done it without the support and love of this amazing community. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. If they did not believe in making a difference in this world and want to help others and know that collaboration is the way to impact as many people as possible, then they would not have risen with me to create our fledgling organisation. Collaborations do not always work. And when they don’t, we have much to learn. When they do, we have much to be thankful for and we learn even more! You can contact Gill at: Email: gill@collaborationglobal.org Telephone: 07798 601701 Website: www.collaborationglobal.org
Our community at Collaboration Global has indeed risen from the ashes of what was a
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Profile: Taking a look at a key Collaborator in the community.
Linda Burns
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Who is Linda Burns? Life ‘started’ in east London in the 1960’s, yet life ‘began’ for me much later! My mother was English and my father Maltese, which brought its own challenges in 1960’s Britain for my parents. My brother Paul was born a couple of years later, and we have a very strong relationship to this day. Fast forward ….. I have been married for 30 something years to Phil and am a proud Mum to Chris and Nick. My childhood was a difficult one, but I did not know this as a young child. My awareness was raised when I visited friends’ houses around the age of 11 and saw fun & laughter, which I hadn’t experienced at home. In my home there was lots of shouting, tension and long silences. ‘Criticise, condemn and complain’ was my recollection of childhood. Nothing was ever right or good enough, no matter how hard I tried, and believe me I tried very hard at times. I carried many stories and beliefs that ‘I’m not good enough’ about myself into my adult life, which impacted greatly on my worth.
it sparked a keen interest and curiosity within me, which has continued for some thirty years to the present day. Through much time, effort, and hard work I have created a life where I now have the freedom to live as I choose. I believe nothing changes fundamentally without risk or challenge! I now see 2010 as when my life ‘began’, following my third breakdown! I was stopped in my tracks, life was put on hold and I had to relearn even basic tasks like making a cup of tea. Not for the first time, I contemplated taking my own life, as I previously had in my teens.
I emerged from the emotional pain, misery and darkness, supported by a fabulous counsellor, who is still at the end of the phone should the need arise. To say there was a major shift in my thoughts and feelings is an understatement. I started to believe I was ‘good enough’ to say no without guilt and serve myself first, instead of last as had been my choice up to this point! I started to feel empowered with each risky Throughout my life, I consistently heard decision I made, and there was some big ones. reference to the innocent child, living a carefree Like the time my husband was living & working life, happy and content. A long way from my in Dubai and I decided to open a shop and stay world. In my late teens I was introduced to ‘Feel in the UK, despite previously planning to join the Fear and Do It Anyway’ by Susan Jeffers and him. 42
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I had always appeared confident to my peers, what an illusion that was! My survival instincts as a child had built up many protective layers over the years. I was weighed down, by this heavy suit of armour, dragging me through life! What was going on inside was so very different. I had to relearn who I was as an individual. Yes, I was a daughter, mum, sister, wife, but who was Linda? Strengths, weaknesses, hopes and dreams? With dedication to my mental health and well-being, my awareness was heightened. I was empowered with tools and techniques to address my boundaries and act in my best interests. Developing a new way of being inspired me to train as a Counsellor and Power of Self-esteem Coach. What fills you with joy? Most people experience fun and joy as a child, unfortunately this was not me. With a new child-like mind set, I am now learning joy and fun. The most difficult part for me is experiencing these emotions without guilt. As a child I recall no time for fun, no moment of the day was to be wasted by idle hands, always doing and never being! It’s no surprise that the moments I cherish now are in peace and stillness, allowing myself just to be! Ideally surrounded by mountains, with the sun beating down on my face. My daily yoga is a key practice in achieving a peaceful state of mind. In service to others I am filled with joy, when I see a light bulb moment of awareness to their new perspective. Walking beside another while they tread a new and exciting path is very rewarding for me.
happiness means something different to each individual, but to experience, even just for a short while, peace within, is heaven on earth. This is not a place or possession but a state of mind! In my coaching world I am ‘Life Inside Out’ as, from my own experience, I believe we have to work on ourselves from the inside out. We cannot control others or the environment, but we can control how we react to them. I like to raise awareness and open the door to choice for others. A favourite tool of mine, taken from ‘More to Life’ training, is “true, false, don’t know”. This can be applied to any thoughts that come up and, unless you can see the future, you simply ‘do not know’ what it holds! Yet many of us fear what is in front of us, be it a job interview, or meeting someone for the first time. Our beliefs are very strong and to bring them to the fore and work with them is very challenging. No one said it would be easy, but so worth it! Mental health is aligned to physical health! If we wish for a different body shape or to drop a dress size and maintain it, time and effort is paramount to achieving this change. If we wish to change the record playing in our head, and want a different beat to live by, we can choose to dedicate the time and effort to make the changes required. Maintenance, as with physical wellbeing, is ongoing. I am still working on my mental health and emotional well-being each and every day, some 30 years on. If you could choose one Collaboration Global value that you identify with, what might that be? Human being first - love for ourselves, care and support for our fellow humans, animals and planet. Unfortunately, we are all too busy doing. Well, we were until Covid-19! I sincerely hope that given the time to slow down and reflect upon our own lives and that of humanity as a whole, there will be a shift in care for our fellow humans and planet.
What is your reason for BEing? I see so much hurt and suffering, and the majority of these are individuals that would be deemed successful by society. The big house, smart car etc, etc! When is enough, enough? So I am passionate about helping others You have been a member of Collaboration to experience the peace, contentment and Global for a while now, can you share how happiness that I have found. I appreciate you have been impacted in your life by being a member? Join the discussion... facebook.com/Collglobal
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Where can you meet with a group of people who ultimately will serve you from a place of love, kindness and compassion? Not to say there aren’t challenges along the way, but they are always in the individual’s best interest for positive growth and development of themselves, their community and their livelihood. I feel it is a safe space to be me, whatever form that may take at each interaction. Our feelings constantly change and having a place to share our vulnerability when we need to, without judgement, is a special place to be. This issue of The Quest has focused on ‘Rising Like a Phoenix’, how do you see that manifest in your life? I rose like a Phoenix a decade ago and have never been happier. There is a lot of reference to ‘returning to normal’ at present. What is normal? Were you happy with normal? Would you like a new normal? Is it time for you to rise?
community? My vision for humanity is so aligned with Collaboration Global that being able to support the work of this community is a privilege and serves my higher purpose. Looking back, collaboration has been a fundamental part of my life. From building a community in the 1990s on a new development in Essex, through to the Government agendas I implemented in both education and health. I collaborated with a range of services whilst leading on both the Extended Schools and Children Centre agendas. I look back fondly on these collaborations and the difference they have made to individuals, families and society. Collaborating is part of who I am and I am proud to spread the message of Collaboration Global to a wider audience. Are you free to operate within your Genius? What does that mean for you? I do not like labels, life is ebb and flow. Unfortunately, from a young age, we are labelled as being good or bad at this or that by others. Beliefs then create our reality, and we become stuck.
We are currently in unprecedented times and I welcome being a part of others’ lives as they rise like a Phoenix from their present situation, I mentor young people in The Princes Trust and I always aim to be the person I needed as they choose to create a better future. when I was younger. This means listening and As one of our team on The Quest and allowing them to be heard. I believe we all at Collaboration Global what made you have a purpose and I encourage these young volunteer to support the work of this people to discover their purpose and the 44
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difference they can make in the world. Life is a journey of discovery and the choices that we make determine the outcomes in our life. Many times I hear “I should, I must, I have to”. Three little words I ask my clients to be most aware of and adopt this new phrase “I choose” when they hear themselves saying ‘should, must, have to’. In my experience, we believe our choices are far more limited than they actually are. Give it a go, I promise it will have a totally different impact and empower rather than disempower your decisions. I choose...
I sincerely hope that individuals place a greater value on their time, and of health being their wealth.
If someone is interested in coming getting involved with our Collaboration Global community, from your perspective what might they expect when they get there? Collaboration Global allows every person who connects to dip their toe in the water, test out theories and practices before taking them out into the world. The support from fellow collaborators is second to none, given the diverse range of skills and experience within What vision do you have for your business the group. No idea or question is a silly one! and your life working within the Collaboration Global community? If we can’t help through collaboration, we The Universe has presented us with a big find someone who can. Ultimately it is a safe challenge, stopping our planet in its tracks, space to connect firstly with your inner self, and sending us all to our rooms to think about collaborate with like-minded individuals and the world, our community and the individual live your life on purpose. part we play. Collaboration Global is a place where we can unpack our thoughts and find someone to help us become empowered in You can contact Linda at: our new choices. Email: linda@lifeinsideout.co.uk As I was stopped in my tracks in 2010, so Telephone: 07725 341251 many others have had this experience during Website: www.lifeinsideout.co.uk lockdown. My vision for the future is a different normal for everyone, to what it was prior Covid 19! Join the discussion... facebook.com/Collglobal
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Be Our Guest! Be our guest at one of our regular live online sessions and meet our community. The last Tuesday of the month 3-5pm online What happens: We learn - as a member shares their genius We discuss – as we consider ways to improve our business and life We debate – a topic of the day or a belief system We connect, collaborate, and grow! Click the link below and we look forward to seeing you there. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/collaboration-global-28760629935
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