Back in September 2012, having received the Tamworth Business Chamber Award for Excellence in Professional Services, I was very honoured and humbled, yet I wasn’t so confident then.

I posted on how coaching in the local community was paramount and my passion for making this professional service available and accessible here in Tamworth and I am grateful for these awards.

Being acknowledged for your work and passion can certainly imbue one with courage to continue and I needed courage because… “Back in the day”, although there was a worldwide movement for ‘peak performance’ and ‘leadership’ coaching, coaching was not really a known thing in Tamworth.

How things have changed (I sure don’t look like that anymore ;-), and yet in some ways not. We coach our kids in sport. We’d not contemplate sending our athletes to the Olympics without a coach, yet some still think it a sign of weakness to have a coach for the most important - really truly meaningful things in life.

We don’t - not everyone - realises the value of coaching for equipping us for our most important adventure; life. Personally, I have found motherhood, personal relationships and leading dynamic, high performing teams more challenging than any occupational or sporting challenge.

The challenges of modern life; constant high performance, while having a balanced life and quality relationships, I am yet to meet someone who thinks it is a snack.

I am very grateful to all those who have skilfully supported me along the way; Sue Knight, Peter Thompson, Tim Coates, Maree Ham.

Especially on my leadership journey, Wendy Quinn and would not consider not having a coach, Gene Early and a big appreciation for Tamworth Business Chamber for their ongoing commitment to quality business in our community.