Simple Thinking...It's the Future....

I had a brilliant night out last night, did I go pubbing or clubbing, have too many ciders and a kebab on the way home? No I went to Derby University for an Audience with Richard Gerver and loved every minute., and for me every bit exciting.
If you don't know about Richard, he is one of the most inspirational speakers I personally have listened to for along time. To quote from his website at www.richardgerver.com

'Richard is one of the most celebrated speakers in the world. His insights into change and leadership have seen him work with organisations from Google to Harrods and Deloitte to Technicolor. His influence has led to him advising the Hilary Clinton campaign, the music industry and Olympic and elite sports organisations throughout the world. His mantra remains the same: systems and structures change nothing; people do'.

I first met Richard when he was head teacher at my son's primary school. It was a fantastic environment for the kids and for the staff who worked there. Awards galore this man has received for his teaching but aside from that he had great respect from his pupils, a good rapport with the parents, a good team around him and together it unleashed the secret of what good schooling was all about. My boys left the school around the same time he decided to leave education an start out on his new adventure. We moved from the area after the break down of my marriage but If he ever reads this I just want to thank him for being a part of my sons education, they had the best start and I couldn't have had better support especially with my eldest son with his Autism. It was a learning curve for us all but what was nice about the school was that every child was treated as an individual. Richard knew every single child, their background, what made them tick and he went to see every child in the classroom on their birthday armed with stickers and a smile. Great memories which I'll treasure. 

I think this was probably the first time I had seen Richard in a good many years but I've followed his travels on social media and purchased his book 'Simple Thinking'. It is a great book and well worth a read if you fancy a burst of inspiration. Good positive thinking from a man who oozes common sense and manages to make you change the way you think and how you can make improvements in your life for the better. Nobody is going to make a difference in your life but YOU! It made me think of that feeling you get when you've watched a brilliant feel good film, you walk out of that cinema with your head held high with the attitude you could take on the world and be as strong as Rocky or go to 'infinity and beyond' like Buzz Lightyear. That's how I was last night, ready for a change and thinking 'yes I can' rather than the slightly less confident 'oh no I can't do that' and finding a million reasons why something isn't possible. 

I'm not going to give away the content of his talk or any details from his book as I wouldn't want to spoil the experience of seeing or reading it all for yourself. However I did grab some great advice about inspiring our young people for the future which is very handy when you've got two teenagers especially one who is just going through the career advice stage and facing GCSE's. I feel I've got this! I'm going to take this advice because  the foundations Richard installed in them at five or six years old, I trust will be just as good at fourteen and sixteen. It just all made sense to me and whether you're in education, a parent like me or even a big mega MD of a huge big company be prepared to be empowered and aim higher especially after being 'Gerverised'.

Go now and buy a copy of his books, go to his website and read all about him.....there's a brew for you if you go and see him talk.....I really didn't just go for the free tea! Honest!! At no point did the advert for the event say 'come along and catch up with Mr Gerver and oh by the way Sue there's a free brew in it as well' it was just a lovely added bonus. 

Anyway thank you so much for reading you lovely lot and I'll catch you tomorrow.....