They say there is a book in everyone!
Well, if thats the case, it took almost 45years for me to find my keys to the library!
Since leaving the Army through route of a Medical Discharge in 2003, I’ve had more and more people tell me I should write a book!
Although I got good grades in both English Language & literature, I wasn’t a born reader! I can read, but didn’t used to get a lot from books. I struggled to find anything I liked, and even then was easily bored, became fidgety and wanted to put it down and ‘go do something’.
Maybe, one day”
I’d politely reply, and then quickly carry on with the HERE and NOW.
Then, whilst delivering a WHY NOW is the RIGHT time to SCALE your business workshop in Sheffield, ALL of that was about to change!
I had delivered this workshop over a dozen times in the last 3 weeks or so, as part of a marketing roadshow, signing up new clients to our Business Growth club. It was a Friday morning, I’d set off from my home REALLY early to arrive at the venue and set up well ahead of the 9:30am start.
The room quickly filled with around 40 Business owners keen to learn how to SCALE their businesses, and I’d gone through our very informative, educational and interactive workshop. Although throughout I’d given plenty of opportunities for people to ask questions, I always got one or two that left it until the end to ask their question.
‘PJ’ Patel an ophthalmologist running 2 optometry clinics in Sheffield and neighbouring Chesterfield was one of those who left his question until the very end!
Whats wrong with your eye?
He asked! Nothing to do with either the presentation, the workshop or his business!
“Nothing” I replied, a little frustrated by the inappropriateness of the question! “I’m just a little tired” I explained.
“If that were the case, you would be rubbing both your eyes. You are only troubled by one.” He continued “What is wrong with your eye?” he repeated!
Rather confused by his line of questioning, I replied “It’s just a little dry. Maybe its these lights”
“Would you mind if I took a quick look?” he continued further, stepping from his seat, producing an optometrists torch from his jacket pocket and proceeding towards my eye!
Within minutes he had determined I had a detached retina, and would require immediate transportation to the local hospital. Where, armed with a scribbled note from ‘PJ’ I was diagnosed, transferred to the day case eye clinic, and received almost an hour of sight saving surgery that afternoon!
What that got to do with writing a book?
Whilst my sight was saved. The surgery did mean that for the next week or so, I was blind! The lazer surgery performed temporarily blinds you, in order your body then begins to repair, and so was required to wear a blindfold, and refrain from sunlight, or any ‘back lit’ devices for around 3-4 weeks!
No driving, No TV, Laptop, Tablet or Mobile phone use.
No going outside (without sunglasses and a sun shield)
3-4 weeks (after a frantic whirlwind tour of both the North East, North West of England and Northern Ireland with the promotional workshops and now NOTHING!
I know, I’ll write that book!
Battlefield2Boardroom was conceived, considered, mapped out, and ‘written’ inside 6 weeks!
When I say written; I spoke EVERY word into a dictaphone, and then sent the audio files to a audio typist requesting it be turned into a script. This was then shared with a copywriter and eventually a book architect as it took shape and turned into my book!
I approached a number of publishers, with the copy accepted by 10-10-10 of NYC. And in Waterstones during the April of 2015 it was launched!
Within 6 weeks, I was standing on a large stage in London (hosted by 10-10-10) a finalist in their Author of the Year awards. And am THRILLED to advise I / IT won their innovations award.
Learn more about Battlefield2Boardroom, and order your copy.
Book 2
By the end of 2016, many were asking me, whats next? And, based mainly on the feedback from those who had read Battlefield2Boardroom, The Road2Utopia began to be written!
Whilst Battlefield2Boardroom continues to get great 5* reviews (Both in the UK and now sold in 6 other countries!) One of the criticisms was that B2B is great for those with a TEAM, but what do you do if you are not yet big enough to have a team and doing everything yourself?
So The Road2Utopia is all about a PERSONAL mindset shift, helping ANYONE (It’s JUST as applicable to employee’s and those not working as is for Solopreneurs) on how to THINK differently in order for facilitate different outcomes.
If you always do, what you’ve always done;
You’ll always have (at best) what you have already
Using this concept, if you WANT a different outcome, it comes from different TASKS, and that starts by having a different chain of thoughts. It was Albert Einstein himself who declared:
“You will NEVER resolve any problem, using the same level of thinking as that which caused it”