Autumn leaf fall

Category: Editorial

Richard Winfield - editor Although I live right in the centre of Birmingham, my home is in a quiet spot overlooking three locks of a canal. As I looked out of my window yesterday I noticed the leaves falling from the trees opposite. It occurred to me that they are dying; they are being shed so that the trees can grow new fresh leaves next year.

What should I be shedding just now to make room for new growth in the future? What habits, practices, possessions should I be letting go of to make room for further growth and development?

On the canal between the locks we are able to watch ducks. Further up, there are plenty more ducks, and Canada geese, but never any swans. On Saturday, for the first time ever, when I was walking along to my gym, I saw two swans. They are definitely swans not geese, but they are a grubby grey colour; white feathers but grey tips. I don't know whether this is the last sign of adolescent cygnets or whether they have been in some oil. Whatever, their beauty is hidden. So, what beauty do we hide beneath a grubby exterior? Whether it be our clothes, our possessions or our body language, what do we do to disguise our true value? Again, what should you shed or change?

I am currently reading The New Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. Matlz was a plastic surgeon who first recognised the significance of self image in an individual's ability to achieve - or fail to achieve - any goal. He claimed that you cannot outperform your self image, but you can change it. Much of his book is devoted to helping the reader become more aware - and that is the role of a coach.

We went to Long Beach this month to launch CoachesGetRich.com and those of you who have not yet signed up have already missed out on a special offer from Michael Bungay Stanier and a free teleseminar with Rich Schefren. If you provide a professional service and wish to build a better business, then the sooner you register the more you will benefit. I have created CoachesGetRich.com as a sort of shopping channel in which you are exposed to a mixture of editorial and advertorial confronting the issue that many coaches do not earn enough because they do not have enough clients or do not charge enough. In particular, there will be encouragement and opportunities to develop additional earnings streams to supplement and reinforce your success as a coach, consultant, facilitator or trainer.

At the ICF conference in Long Beach we met Bea Fields, who is leading research into the new Generation Y. I am delighted to be able to include an article from her as this week's Coaching Notes.

Some of you joined me in August at Akasha. One of the key speakers was Dr John Demartini, who has since returned to London to run a weekend workshop. I was unable to attend but have received rave reports from colleagues who did. His "Breakthrough Experience - Empower yourself to design and live your life on purpose" is an intense and often challenging look into the elements that form the basis for almost every decision you make. It is truly life changing and is rated way above other programmes that people have attended. I am delighted to be able to bring you early news of his next visit to London - 12-13 January. I recommend that you book early. One warning, though: think carefully about where to stay; it is very intense and you might not get out until the small hours!

Richard Winfield is founder of Brefi Group.

An international facilitator, he coaches and

facilitates directors and boards in transition:

helping them to make progress by

bringing structure and clarity

to their thinking.