Paul’s story
It took me a while to figure it out. I was tipped for a great career: a degree from Cambridge, a Masters from Durham. I moved from role to role, working all hours in large, high-pressure organisations because that’s the definition of success, right?
Deep down, I knew it wasn’t. So I did more training, looked at lateral moves, made a huge list of my strengths and skills, and tried to find jobs that matched, but I couldn’t find a career I wanted. I felt adrift.
Around this time, my first daughter was born. Then, out of nowhere, my health dropped through the floor. One day I was running 10k, the next I couldn’t even answer my front door. I suddenly had a very different perspective on life.
From that point on, work became almost unbearable. I was aware precious time with my wife and daughter was trickling away in trains and meeting rooms. Demotion would have been a relief. I wanted balance and longed for an exit strategy, but I had a mortgage, bills to pay and mouths to feed.
When my second daughter arrived a few years later, I was still stuck. My health was suffering again, I wasn’t the person I wanted to be, and the idea of fulfilling work seemed like a myth.
That’s when I got a coach. More than one, in fact. And that was a start. I examined what I found to be truly meaningful, and I began to rebuild my whole life around that. Through that process I uncovered what had always driven me: helping others rise through dilemma and challenge to find richness and meaning in life. And that’s where you’ll find me now.
About Paul
Paul is a co-founder of Thriveherd and the architect of the PEP Talk career change program. With extensive experience as a corporate and independent career coach, Paul has worked in large organisations, chiefly in the public sector, at a range of levels of seniority.
Paul is an Animas transformational coach, a global member of the International Coaching Federation and a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council.
Professional interests:
- Career transition and change
- Career development
- Meaning and purpose
- Confidence coaching and Imposter Syndrome
- Existential coaching
- Personal branding
- Small business ideas and planning
Deep down, I knew it wasn’t. So I did more training, looked at lateral moves, made a huge list of my strengths and skills, and tried to find jobs that matched, but I couldn’t find a career I wanted. I felt adrift.
Around this time, my first daughter was born. Then, out of nowhere, my health dropped through the floor. One day I was running 10k, the next I couldn’t even answer my front door. I suddenly had a very different perspective on life.
From that point on, work became almost unbearable. I was aware precious time with my partner and daughter was trickling away in trains and meeting rooms. Demotion would have been a relief. I wanted balance and longed for an exit strategy, but I had a mortgage, bills to pay and mouths to feed.
When my second daughter arrived a few years later, I was still stuck. My health was suffering again, I wasn’t the person I wanted to be, and the idea of fulfilling work seemed like a myth.
That’s when I got a coach. More than one, in fact. And that was a start. I examined what I found to be truly meaningful, and I began to rebuild my whole life around that. Through that process I uncovered what had always driven me: helping others rise through dilemma and challenge to find richness and meaning in life. And that’s where you’ll find me now.
About Paul
Paul is a co-founder of Thriveherd and the architect of the PEP Talk career change program. With extensive experience as a corporate and independent career coach, Paul has worked in large organisations, chiefly in the public sector, at a range of levels of seniority.
Paul is an Animas transformational coach, a global member of the International Coaching Federation and a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council.
Professional interests:
- Career transition and change
- Career development
- Meaning and purpose
- Confidence coaching and Imposter Syndrome
- Existential coaching
- Personal branding
- Small business ideas and planning
