Take a break

Category: Editorial

For forty weeks I toil, composing CorporateCoach for my readers. But at Christmas, Easter and during August, I take a break; a rest and some time for review and development. I know that some religions have already celebrated their festivals but, nonetheless, may I send you season's greetings and wish you a prosperous and fulfilling New Year.

The next official CorporateCoach will be in January but we shall be testing some new formats to avoid spam filters. If we send you a test email, please respond – it could help us get you more coaching notes in the future.

I am disappointed to learn that CoachVille will not be going back to New Orleans next year. You probably remember that I visited there twice in April/May and was very struck by the people and the place. As a result we were able to relate to the events that accompanied Katrina. The 2006 CoachVille conference has been transferred to Chicago. I love Chicago, for many years my port of entry to the USA. But I am sad that we are not returning to New Orleans. The city is staging a recovery and some major hotels will be open. What matters is not just that the city is rebuilt, but that this magic community regains its soul. It is by visitor support rather than government funds that this will be done, so that the jazz musicians, restaurants and bars can re-establish a commercial presence.

The two major events that will be key are Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. The two weekends of Jazz Fest, which we attended and enjoyed last year, coincide with my nephew's 18th birthday party and the CoachVille conference. Should I call at New Orleans on my way to CoachVille to show solidarity? I am very tempted.

One of my colleagues is Dianne Benussi, one of the UK's leading divorce lawyers. She is vice chairman of Birmingham Forward, on whose board I sit. Unfortunately, people have a tendency to think that if you are seen around with her you are seeing her professionally. I was outside the lift in her office waiting for a meeting with her recently, when another local colleague came up to me and said "I am sorry to see you here." I did not understand his point and replied: "Well I am delighted, I am going into a meeting about the city centre."

Anyway, as a public relations exercise, Dianne has published a little book "How not to get divorced after Christmas". I love Christmas as the height of the family year, when we all get together from different parts of the country; and this year from different parts of the world. But I know that for other people it is a time of stress, having to put up with the continuous company of the people they have chosen to live with.

When I worked with London Transport I learned that pre-Christmas was a major time for people to throw themselves in front of trains – and, apparently, the post Christmas period is the peak time for divorce decisions. So, for people you might know, I include an extract from Dianne's book in this week's Coaching Notes.

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