It’s a winding road
But the scenery is good
There’s lots of coffee stops
(And almond croissants)
Helping people gets me out of bed. That and time in the hills. Okay, and motorbikes. My favourite work is seeing folks over and around life’s hurdles, encouraging them as they push forward. Especially when things feel uphill.
Why? Where does the love come from?
Simply, I’ve survived a fair bit of drama.
Been through trauma and fought hard to rebuild my life. Twice. Doing that, I’ve found what truly matters to me. Lifting folks up, creating momentum, and celebrating it. That’s what coaching is and so I was in this game long before I formally called myself a ‘coach’.
A few bits of my life story, then…
Driving back to the High Commission, I pulled over to unwind from a difficult job. It was getting late, and I saw footballers shouting and jostling along the beach. In 2001, at the tail end of a brutal civil war in Sierra Leone, an impromptu kick-around hadn’t always been a safe thing.
Then it struck me, what I’d seen without absorbing at first. The players were all amputees and they made good on homemade crutches. Still enjoying life. Cheering one another on. They’d survived, formed new hopes, and looked forward!
Africa taught me much about resourcefulness and reaching for solutions. It showed the danger of perfectionism and the value of ‘good enough’. That what counts most is progress.
Vitality and action are the keys to a good life, not possessions and status.
When my marriage broke down amid huge difficulty, I left the IT world to cheer myself up.
Keen to get happier, I bought a laser cutter and made tailored gifts – a radical change drawing me into other’s inner worlds. It went well, I traded up from a market stall into a high street shop and then one day a happy customer (and troubled Mum) suggested her daughter volunteer to help bring her out of her shell.
Autistic and awkward at first, I helped this young person develop new ways of thinking, looking at herself, what she wanted, and where she could go. She grew into a paid role, and while the shop later closed, she’d flourished, and we stayed in touch. I became her unofficial coach and (fast forwarding some years) she’s now a published author! I’m touched to have found a place in the acknowledgements of her first book.
We both grew out of a place of hardship, finding new opportunities to contribute and thrive.
I went back to tech jobs. Making gifts was fun, but it wasn’t going to pay for the motorbike I wanted. I jumped back into software development, going full-stack in a couple of roles, then on to managing national infrastructure in a global consultancy. The job wasn’t as important as what it gave me the opportunity to do – serve people’s needs and energise those I work with. I found success because I’m curious and I look for the bigger picture. Then, bringing people with me, I favour bold, positive action.
On reaching the peak of my employed career and secure in a well-rewarded job, my young ‘un was battling suicidal ideation. This led to mental health challenges for me, too. It was a time of looking deeply at my values and purpose, and as I recovered I needed to do more of what I love. To connect with people meaningfully, help them grow or get unstuck, and build fulfilling lives.
I certified as coach and now here I am, for you.
“Mark’s attitude is one of grounded positivity and action, which combined, are a potent mix for good. Mark was un-phased as I shared embarrassing difficulty and he helped me see my options and be better prepared.
All done with the utmost respect.”
There’s twists
Great scenery
Lots of coffee
(and yup, cake)
Helping people gets me out of bed. That and time in the hills. Okay, and motorbikes. My favourite work is seeing folks over and around life’s hurdles, encouraging them as they push forward. Especially when things feel uphill.
Why? Where does the love come from?
Simply, I’ve survived a fair bit of drama.
Been through trauma and fought hard to rebuild my life. Twice. Doing that, I’ve found what truly matters to me. Lifting folks up, creating momentum, and celebrating it. That’s what coaching is and so I was in this game long before I formally called myself a ‘coach’.
A few bits of my life story, then…
Driving back to the High Commission, I pulled over to unwind from a difficult job. It was getting late, and I saw footballers shouting and jostling along the beach. In 2001, at the tail end of a brutal civil war in Sierra Leone, an impromptu kick-around hadn’t always been a safe thing.
Then it struck me, what I’d seen without absorbing at first. The players were all amputees and they made good on homemade crutches. Still enjoying life. Cheering one another on. They’d survived, formed new hopes, and looked forward!
Africa taught me much about resourcefulness and reaching for solutions. It showed the danger of perfectionism and the value of ‘good enough’. That what counts most is progress.
Vitality and action are the keys to a good life, not possessions and status.
When my marriage broke down amid huge difficulty, I left the IT world to cheer myself up.
Keen to get happier, I bought a laser cutter and made tailored gifts – a radical change drawing me into other’s inner worlds. It went well, I traded up from a market stall into a high street shop and then one day a happy customer (and troubled Mum) suggested her daughter volunteer to help bring her out of her shell.
Autistic and awkward at first, I helped this young person develop new ways of thinking, looking at herself, what she wanted, and where she could go. She grew into a paid role, and while the shop later closed, she’d flourished, and we stayed in touch. I became her unofficial coach and (fast forwarding some years) she’s now a published author! I’m touched to have found a place in the acknowledgements of her first book.
We both grew out of a place of hardship, finding new opportunities to contribute and thrive.
I went back to tech jobs. Making gifts was fun, but it wasn’t going to pay for the motorbike I wanted. I jumped back into software development, going full-stack in a couple of roles, then on to managing national infrastructure in a global consultancy. The job wasn’t as important as what it gave me the opportunity to do – serve people’s needs and energise those I work with. I found success because I’m curious and I look for the bigger picture. Then, bringing people with me, I favour bold, positive action.
On reaching the peak of my employed career and secure in a well-rewarded job, my young ‘un was battling suicidal ideation. This led to mental health challenges for me, too. It was a time of looking deeply at my values and purpose, and as I recovered I needed to do more of what I love. To connect with people meaningfully, help them grow or get unstuck, and build fulfilling lives.
I certified as coach and now here I am, for you.
“Mark’s attitude is one of grounded positivity and action, which combined, are a potent mix for good. Mark was un-phased as I shared embarrassing difficulty and he helped me see my options and be better prepared.
All done with the utmost respect.”