The real story behind my first book ‘Leap!’

The first book I had published was ‘Leap! Ditch your job, start your own business and set yourself free’ in 2008. The title says it all: it’s a guide for those who want to work for themselves and my book includes all the tips and encouragement you’d need for doing just that.

I hadn’t, however, been entirely truthful about the real reason I’d taken the leap to work for myself.

My dream, as a teenager, had been to work in broadcasting. And I achieved my dream, working in TV and radio for most of the '90s.

That resulted in a high-paying, successful job as the managing director of a radio studio division of a fast-growing media group.

On the surface, everything seemed to be going well. But underneath a perfect storm was brewing. I had too much on my plate and I wasn’t looking after myself. What’s more, I lived right next to a tube station where all night-construction work was taking place inches from my bedroom wall. I went from loving my job to feeling utterly stressed and run down. I couldn’t do it any more.

And that was the real reason I took the leap at the end of 1999. My career plans and my dream job had been derailed. The decision was made for the sake of my health.

Most of us have curveball stories like that. Challenges, disruptions or unexpected shifts can come upon us suddenly. It’s part of being human.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of facilitating many leadership meetings and offsites. And I’ve noticed the magic that happens when teams share stories of dealing with adversity.

That’s why I’ve created Curveball Stories. It’s a session for leadership teams who want to deepen trust, strengthen relationships and model the kind of authenticity today’s organisations expect from their leaders.

Sharing our curveball stories with our colleagues enables us to reveal much about who we are and what’s shaped us. To get to know the real human behind the job title. When a space is held for sharing these insights, they fast‑track connection, building trust and relationships.

Curveball Stories is an expertly facilitated session for learning from these defining moments. How can Curveball Stories help you? Email me ian@iansanders.com and I’ll provide you with more details.