Leadership the BraveSouls Way
What’s stopping you shine more of your light as a leader? Read more →
What’s stopping you shine more of your light as a leader? Read more →
A new kind of peer group for business owners, entrepreneurs, and those wanting to create more for themselves.
We’ll gather together once a month. We’ll challenge, stretch, create and deepen our awareness of what’s important to us. We’ll show up and be willing to share how we’re showing up in the world. We’ll be vulnerable and brave. We’ll dig deep and play light. There will be laughter, exploration, tears, celebration and support.
We’ll follow a loose program around the theme of developing our own Inner Wisdom to achieve the results we desire (whatever that may be). We’ll flow through the themes of Purpose, Passion and Performance through a combination of prepared exercises and reflective tools. Mostly we will share, challenge and debate. We will learn to deepen our questioning and listening skills to be fully present for each other. We will be accountable and we will deliver against the actions we commit to because it matters to us.
As a result of the success of the group we will gain;
In the first session we’ll contract in what we need for this peer to group to create exceptional impact, respect and support for each other in however many different ways we need to cater for our authentic styles.
The group will be loosely and carefully held by JP (founder of Simply JP) who will bring authenticity, honesty and courage to the group. Exercises, content and inspiration will be created and provided by JP. All you need do is make the monthly commitment to yourself and your peer group to show up, be you, be present and be brave.
YOUR COMMITMENT
It’s usually around this time of year I start to reflect on the year that’s just been so I can start plotting what mischief I’m going to create in 2016. It’s been quite the year for me and I decided I wanted to share more of my personal journey with you in the hope that it may not only inspire some of you, and so that we may be able to connect on an even more personal level than we are already. What I don’t want you to know about me is that this makes me feel particularly vulnerable. I fear what you will think of this approach and in deed how you might judge me afterwards. That said, integrity is everything, and being authentic is a core value of mine, so if I’m not being authentic with you, how can I expect you to be authentic with me?
So here goes. It’s been a crazy year for me I cannot lie. It’s been a year where I’ve faced some of my biggest fears, dared more courageously than I ever imagined I would or could and felt more authentically me than I ever have before. I have met some amazing people (that’s you!), helped clients be brave with their hearts, delivered new programs and coaching that’s helped people to step up beyond their expectations, made some great new connections, collaborated on cool projects, and helped businesses to make the tough decisions.
On a personal front, it’s also the year I stood in a crown court to face the man who attacked me over twenty years ago, got a guilty verdict and wrote a book to help other people thrive after trauma. This journey in itself taught me a lot. It showed me just how resilient and brave I already am (don’t we always question that in ourselves?). It brought me back into my full feminine energy without fearing you’d perceive me as weak or a lesser sex in the work place. It showed me our biggest critic is us and that self kindness is a fundamental lever in personal growth. And it showed me first hand how every tragedy can be a gift as much as a curse as well as how important it is to be able to ask for and receive help or support from others.
More recently, I was very grateful to meet one of my hero’s, Brene Brown. Brene is a social researcher from Texas who specialises in Vulnerability and Shame. Her TED talk was the biggest viral video of its time, you can see it here if you’ve missed it. Her work underpins so much of my approach to coaching but was also paramount to me being able to dare courageously in my personal life this year. Spending a day and half listening to her recount the highlights of her work returned me to the insighting reason I set out on this crazy journey in the first place; to make the world a better and easier place to be you while thriving myself!
Thanks to Brene, I was reminded of the three principles that under pin my work whether I’m working with individuals or teams which are,
Next year I’m looking to work with more clients who want to be more of themselves, to dare courageously and be able to speak their truth with integrity. I want to stand alongside them asking the right questions to help them get the awareness they need to be more of that. To be more of them. So if this is you, I’d love to hear from you and we can talk some more.
But for now, perhaps you’re also reflecting on 2015 and how it’s been for you. So here are three questions to help you with some reflection;
And finally, a big thankyou to all my clients, working with you is as much an inspiration and a gift to me as I hope I am to you. I hope your year has been as adventurous as mine, that you’ve got exciting things planned for 2016 (for me it will include doing more of the work I love, publishing my book and being open to more joy and fun than I can imagine!)
I hope that you have a fun fuelled christmas with your loved ones. And if you need a hint as to what to get in the office secret santa check out this blog
Warmest blessings, Jennifer x
As you will know wellbeing at work is a key passion of mine. I know what it is like to get ill through working too hard and putting everyone elses needs ahead of your own health. A few years ago, I was working in a consultative role I mainly enjoyed but it was a tough environment and I wasn’t happy. I was working silly hours driving beyond the health and safety guidelines, working with bullying clients and quite frankly draining myself. I was counting down the weeks until a break at Christmas. Everything seemed to be draining from me and I wasn’t topping it back up!
Eventually my body said no more and I ended up with a rate viral attack of rhuematoid arthritus, which went from a sore wrist to being resident in every joint in my body within three hours. I can tell you first hand it f***ing hurts! I couldn’t dress myself. My illness took me away from work for 2 weeks and it was 3 months (with lots of acupuncture and a serious re think about how I was working) before I was feeling myself again. I consider myself lucky. Some people are ill for much longer and I don’t do being ill very well.
So you can see why I might be on a mission to make sure you don’t ever have to get ill to have a wake up call!
Recently, I signed up to do Arianna Huffington’s Online Thrive Course in partnership with Oprah no less. The Thrive book is a great book if you haven’t read it and focusses on redefining success and wellbeing at work – click here for more info. The world we work in is definitely changing with information overload, the ability to work through our sleep, demanding clients, the pull to live an extra ordinary jam-packed life.
And all of this got me thinking. How are you monitoring and creating a working environment and culture that supports both you and your teams’ wellbeing?
Happy healthy workers = happy clients and happy profits after all.
Are you living true to your unique culture? Do you create a culture of flexibility and empathy for your staff? Are you providing ‘wellbeing benefits’ as well as financial and personal development ones?
To help you get going, I have summarised Arianna’s top tips for success in todays very thoroughly modern workplace (and how to avoid burn out) in the following blog. The book is jam packed with so much more and definitely worth a read.
As always, I would love to know what you think.
Enjoy JP x
If you want to learn meditation the easy way, get in touch with Effortless Jo. She also offers to come to your company and teach groups if you can guarantee a group of no less than 8 people and she’s fab. Click here for more info.
THEM: So what do you do?
ME: I help people and businesses to shine
THEM: So you’re a coach or a consultant then?
ME: Well that’s part of how I help my clients, but it’s not what I do or who I am.
THEM: So what is it you do then?
ME: Well I ask the right questions, I help them get really clear about what it is that would make their lives or their businesses (or both) phenomenal. Then I support them to ensure they believe it can be possible, that they deserve it and we make it all happen together easily and effortlessly, faster, bigger and better.
THEM: Oh I thought coaching was for people who weren’t very good or needed help.
ME: Why do you think the most successful sports people, politicians, business leaders and life’s game changers invest in coaches? They’re investing in themselves, not the coach, quite often it’s the difference that makes the difference. What gives them the edge.
THEM: Oh well when you put it like that….sign me up!
It’s a common myth about coaching. That somehow to hire a coach implies you’re not good enough. Not capable of working it out alone.
The reality is that a good coach can help you see what you can’t see yourself.
They can help you get clarity and focus when your mind is full of a million responsibilities and decisions that need making.
They see your FULL potential even on the days you can’t see it in yourself, because they believe in you even when you don’t (subconsciously or otherwise).
They help you to create the magic and life you’ve always dreamed of because they help you to see how easy and achievable it all is when your beliefs and values are aligned to what you want and not focussing on what you don’t want.
The first question I ask all my new clients is this;
“What would make this year extra ordinary for you if anything was possible?”
What would your answer be?
I work with individuals who believe they have what it takes to make life amazing and those that are curious to explore whether they could believe that about themselves. I offer everyone a free coaching session to explore that last question and to experience whether coaching and my approach could be the difference that makes the difference in helping you achieve all that your heart desires.
To see if coaching could be the difference that makes the difference in your life, call me on 07786 250175 or email jennifer@simplyjp.com. Exploratory sessions can be done face to face via Skype or phone.
Here’s what some of my recent clients said about their unexpected experiences….
“It’s like you know me better than I know myself” Stuart
“I didn’t know I could achieve so much in just one session” Judy
“You helped us to see things from a totally refreshing perspective and we achieved more in one day with you than we could have done in a month without you” Richard
“I’ve never felt so excited about my future” Nicola
“I didn’t think it was possible to change what I think and feel about situations. I’m revolutionised. Life is going to be easy from now on in” Steve
We can all get far too wrapped up listening to the voices in our heads. And they are just that. Voices. Telling us what we should or shouldn’t do, responding
to what’s happening around us. The real version of you, is the version which observes those voices, chooses to tune in or counter argue. Some people call this our consciousness others have far more spiritual names for it (but that’s perhaps another newsletter for another time).
I like to call it our authentic self.
It’s the part of us, which knows if something feels right or not. Our gut instinct. It’s the part that falls in love with someone. It’s the part that bubbles up when we hear something infuriating and we explode out of character.
I’m always really curious about just how much I can get clients connected to their authentic self, because I know that’s where the magic starts. When we live true to ourselves and our hearts desires, we set the world on fire and inspire anyone and everyone who happens to be in the ripple effect of our magic.
In order for me to be authentic with my clients I’ve spent some time this summer reflecting on my own life purpose in order to articulate to my clients how I choose to show up and what I can offer them. It’s been a moving and enchanting experience.
I discovered that I believe my purpose in life is
“to inspire as many people as I can to “be more” by connecting to the life and work they’ve always wanted and doing it “their” way.”
And this works for the individuals and the businesses that I support.
I do this by inspiring, creating and empowering.
You see I’m a bit of a dream weaver, a creator of magic and I love empowering people to know they have choices every day. I’ve never believed that we should work 9-5 (or worse still 9-9). I’ve also never believed that Monday to Friday should be standard working days and I wholeheartedly believe that we should never feel like we’re working when we are, because we should love the work we choose. We should be able to work when we’re at our best, have enough quality time for family, exercise when it suits us, and mainly do work that feeds our desires!
So often people are too busy to take the time to step back and connect with what’s important to them, to get support and inspiration from those that can help and be empowered to believe they can make their dream life happen.
So I’ll leave you with a few questions to help you ponder your own authentic soul (and remember if you need inspiring, help creating or skills to feel empowered, give me a call!)
¬If you were dreaming about the life you’d love to live… what do you notice that’s different to how you’re living now?
¬What are all the things/activities/hobbies/jobs/tasks that you do that are so much fun, you get lost in time?
¬What are all the things you do that make your insides fall to the floor like a deflated balloon?
¬What things do you do that make your eyes want to pop out of your head because you’re so excited?
¬If you were to write your own obituary, what three words would you use to describe the life you hope you live?
Finally, I’d like to invite you to focus on your body, and ask yourself, where does your authentic soul sit? Is it in your tummy? Is it in your heart? Next time you have to make a decision, give yourself permission to ask THAT part of you what you should do and give your head a holiday! You’ll be surprised by the clarity.
As a result of my own work, I have packaged up a one day intensive to help YOU get clear about your authentic self, the work life balance you’ve always dreamed of and a work/life plan to make it all happen! To find out more and get enchanted about your own authentic soul, click here.
What would your life be like if you could work less and earn more? What if you could have everything you really wanted, whether its financial security, world travel, a bigger house, or just more time with the people that make you feel really good? What would it feel like to wake up everyday knowing you were going to do your dream job?
In just a one-day commitment from you, this intensive interactive session will give you a tailor-made success strategy that will help you create the life and or work success plan for your happiness.
It includes the following:
– reconnect you with the aspects of your life that are most important
– get clarity about where you’re going and how you’re going to get there in an effortless way
– design the ideal work life balance that suits you and your loved ones needs
– inspire a three year vision for your work and life goals
– empower you with a one year business and life plan so you can hit the ground running knowing what you need to do first to make it happen
This one day intensive is for you if you’re a business owner, a senior manager, or any individual with a desire to live life fully in your own authentic way. To have more, to do more and to be more!
Perhaps you’re feeling a bit stuck or lost about where to go next or perhaps you’re so damn busy you just don’t feel like you have the time to take a step back and think about the bigger picture. You might be wondering what happened to your work life balance, feeling guilty about the fun things you’re not doing with the ones you care about the most.
The sessions are fun, interactive and effortless. All you have to do is turn up with an open heart and an open mind.
As your co pilot for the day, I’m curious about learning who you are, connecting to what’s important for you and how you want to make your mark on the world. I’ll then support you to create a vision and action plan that will help you get started with your new adventure.
Here’s what one client thought of her supercharged life plan day!
‘It’s been a total day of discovery, Jen really drives down into the challenges. If you need clarity and focus in your business or your life go see Jennifer Potter’ Judy Parsons (Build your Perfect Tribe).
It can be delivered either 121 intensively with deep level coaching support from me or in small groups of 4 or 6
(please note that there is less time for 121 deep level coaching in a group format)
** 1 day 121 intensive for your ultimate work & life plan = £750 (+vat). Includes a printed report with your supercharged plan for 2015.
** Workshops = £295/person
Both include lunch, refreshments
To book your ultimate life and work plan for an extra ordinary 2015, email jennifer@simplyjp.com or call me on 07786 250175
Go on, make next year your best one yet!
I love this time of year and as I sit ready and primed to get back into my thriving business with full gusto, I’m reminded about that back to school feeling.
Dusting off my school bag, re-packing my new pencil case (I’m a stationery obsessive), stuffing it full of funky new pens, daft rubbers and a cool ruler. Quick check the calculator still works, then off to the bus stop (in a new school shirt) for the mini bus that used to collect me. I loved the start of a new year, the anticipation about what my timetable would look like. What would I have when? Who would be in my groups? Who could I sit with/mess about with? The promise of daily catch ups with friends. The start of an exciting year ahead.
What if every school year was awesome? What if every school year was filled with amazing friendships, inspiring people, top class results and dreams that came true? Wouldn’t life be extra-ordinary? Well I’m here to tell you it can be (at any age)!
You see thanks to Murphy the new office dog, and his super hero talents, he’s inspired me to pull together an extra-ordinary package to help you tap into your super hero talents making sure you have an extra-ordinary year. And yes everybody has them, it’s just that some people don’t know how to wear their super hero pants with pride.
If you’re ever so slightly curious about living an extra-ordinary life and what difference that could make to you or your business then you need to know more about my “Being Extra-Ordinary program”. Details are below.
Perhaps you’re so thirsty for being able to do more, and be more, you just want to book up straight away, in which case, call me on 07786 250 175 or email jennifer@simplyjp.com.
Here’s what my last super hero said of her coaching experience “Truly transformational. I’ve never experienced coaching so powerful”.
Watch out for next months newsletter when I launch my ‘Creating Extra-Ordinary Teams’ program especially targeted and dynamic and growing businesses who are hungry to help their people be brilliant.
BEING EXTRA ORDINARY YOU PROGRAM
Do you know you could do so much more and feel happier at work/life but unsure how to get started? Then you need my EXTRA-ORDINARY program to help you tap into your own super hero powers. You can choose to run with either a pre structured program or mix and match with free flow sessions. Essentially it can be tailored to match your needs.
A four part 121 super hero training program
The program includes 4 1.5 hour coaching sessions with me either face to face or by Skype/phone, a full colour psychometric profile report to help you assess your strengths and empower your relationships with others, and workbooks for each program.
►For just £995 (+vat) you could be tapping into your Super Hero Powers right NOW. That’s a saving of £405 on standard stand alone coaching sessions.
►To start being EXTRA ORDINARY NOW or to find out more contact me JP, on jennifer@simplyjp.com or 07786 250175
WIN NOW and get your year ahead turned from ordinary to EXTRA-ORDINARY
Competition Details
Giving back is really important to me so in addition to monetary donations, I also like to donate my time and skills.
Every month for the next 12 months, I will be giving away one “Being Extra-Ordinary” package, which includes four 121 coaching sessions with me and supporting work books to help you tap into your own super hero talents and have an extra-ordinary year.
The program includes the following four part 121 super hero training modules delivered through 121 coaching and exercises
A superhero needs a vision big enough to capture his heart as well as his head. Are you aligned to your magical plan?
An exploratory session to assess your superhero strengths and review magical resources within your tool kit.
Engage your allies. All good superheros have a powerful sidekick. Support is essential for extra-ordinary. Learn how to identify and build your own superhero support team.
Pow-kazzam-blast your villains into space. Villains can be what we perceive in other people or they can live inside our heads trying to sabotage our grand plans. Learn how to notice and blast those villains into infinity and beyond.
For your chance to win, simply email your answer to the following question
“If you had a magic wand, what one thing would make the biggest difference to you and your life right now?”
Email your answer to jennifer@simplyjp.com
And the best thing? You only have to enter ONCE and you’ll automatically be included in the draw EVERY MONTH for the next 12 months. That’s 12 chances to win!
T&C’s apply
– Once entered, individuals will be put into the draw to win EVERY month upto and including August 2015
– The prize can be onwardly gifted to a friend, colleague or loved one (so long as the individual wants to engage and commit to the program)
– The winner will be selected randomly
– Winners will be responsible for booking their own coaching sessions and will have two months to complete their program
– Coaching sessions can be either face to face (in York) or via skype/phone call
– The prize drawn includes four coaching sessions and additional workbooks/homework as required on an individual basis
– Homework and workbooks are optional
– A testimony will be expected at the end of the program if the individual is satisfied with the results of the program and a gifted promise to recommend the program to other individuals who might benefit
– Content of the program is subject to change
Are you hungry for GROWTH?
How many of the following questions can you answer YES to?
Answer YES to any of these questions and there’s a good chance you could benefit from joining the Growth Accelerator Program.
As a Growth Coach and Growth Accelerator Trainer, I’m often asked to explain the program to people so I thought I’d produce this helpful little guide.
If you want to find out more about the Growth Accelerator, please feel free to get in touch and either myself or a Regional Business Development Manager will come out to help you assess your needs and eligibility.
What is the Growth Accelerator program?
Growth Accelerator is a government funded UK initiative targeting high growth businesses who want to enter their next growth phase and have the determination and potential to get there.
Alongside a growth coach, we’ll work with you to develop your growth plan, bespoke to the needs of your business. This will typically focus on one of three areas; Access to Finance, Business Development or Growth through Innovation.
Who can join?
To be eligible for the program, your business must be registered in the UK and be based in England. You must have fewer than 250 employees and a turnover less than £40m.
What do I get?
How much does it cost?
It depends on the number of employees
(all packages incur a VAT cost of £700 which is the VAT amount for the full grant awards of £3,500)
To get cracking with your business and personal growth, call me on 07786 250175 or email me at jennifer@simplyjp.com. Either myself or the Growth Manager will come out to assess your needs.