Recognise a Mistake

Mistakes, I’ve made a few, too many to list.

Popular culture says that if you learned from a mistake it’s never a failure.

If it’s true I am encouraged because I have certainly been trained by mistakes.

Taking a moment to consider why mistakes arise, it seems that bad judgement, distractions or lack of thought will play a part in tripping us up.

For some it may be because of a period of Illness, depression and lack of self worth.

The simple truth is that we will all make mistakes.

I have found I am resilient and mentally strong when facing the need to make corrections in my life.

The tragedy of mistakes is that, depending on their seriousness, they can have a disappointing downside which makes them hard to forget.

They affect the lives of others and Impact on relationships.

One lesson that is often challenging is the reaction of others.

Loyal ones rally, hesitant ones stand still and those who rush to judgement become unavailable.

Some relevant lessons are these;

·        Discourage anyone from putting you on a Pedestal as they will surely end up disappointed.

·        Don’t delay in recognising a mistake and look to correct it early.

·        Consider the Impact on others and offer them reassurances.

·        Show your appreciation for those who support you.

·        Say Sorry to those affected most.

·        Never expect Perfection in all you do. It does not exist.

·        Be Humble in accepting your Error.

·        Look forwards – Not Backwards when you have done all you can to limit the Impact.

·        Don’t be surprised by those who turn out to be Judgemental. Use the time spent on them with those who are more Impartial and Sincere.

All any of us can do is look to Improve Every Day

Darton College Students Show Great Promise

Being Invited to talk to 150 Students from Years 7 to 11 was a great privilege.
Principal Kate Davies and Her Staff are committed to preparing Students for Life and Careers.
The day was full of Fun and Learning and they taught me as much as I did them. 

Kate welcomed the Idea offered to stimulate Ideas in the minds of Students ahead of the challenges that the future might bring.

Young people have lots of energy and optimism and the College recognises the benefit of harnessing this as a way to find success in life. It was a genuine pleasure and lots of fun to engage with every age range. Knowledge is power but knowing how to use it creates the wisdom needed to get the best value from it. I felt part of a big family and was reminded of the great work done by teaching staff to benefit those in their care.

Reflecting on the day Kate Davies noted: ”It was a fantastic day and an honour to welcome such a diverse bunch of speakers from a variety of different professions. Our learners were incredibly positive about the day and certainly inspired and motivated! Huge thanks to everyone involved and to Dave Bond the Careers leader here at Darton who made it all happen”.

We can but wish these Students every success.

Privileged to Present the Patient Experience

There is no doubt that challenges can be difficult and we all get them at some time.

If we survive them the benefit is that we gain strengths that serve us well.

I am not entirely sure that having Bowel Cancer 18 years ago rates as my greatest anxiety ever but it’s certainly true that it seemed that way at the time to my lovely Family and Friends.

My GP, a Man I have huge respect for, asked me recently if I would do a presentation of my experience to Junior Doctors as part of their Training.

It was the least I could do for Him but it proved to be a huge Privilege.

I didn’t exactly expect Ten Doctors to be in the room, a mix of young Men and Women but it struck me Immediately that they had chosen a Career that would bring a huge range of emotions in their futures.

I knew that having seen some awful things as a Police Officer that what the Heart saw the Brain would continue to playback.

I told them that mental toughness would be needed and that days would come when they wondered why they ever chose the Career of a Doctor!

Where would any of us be without them of course.

My story would not be typical because people are different and deal with challenges differently.

I got my bad news from a lovely Consultant at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

He was having difficulty spilling the News and used terms like Carcinoma and Carcinogen.

My life was the Chemical Industry so I really knew before I asked him just to be straight with me.

He said he was cautious because grown men often collapsed at such news.

Inwardly I smiled since for all my flaws it never entered my head that the biggest challenge was mine.

I took that news that surgery must be Immediate with Stoicism.

It took me five minutes to get to my Car and another five to get home where my lovely Wife was waiting anxiously.

I dreamed up ways of finding words that would be reassuring.

I opened the front door and saw my wife at the end of the Hallway at the kitchen door.

Not a word was spoken before she burst into tears.

We hugged for what seemed Eternity and then we did the British thing, we put the kettle on.

My Daughter was pregnant with her second child and I swore her husband to silence about the Emergency surgery.

What began was to prove many things to me that are as clear today as they were back then.

The day after I arrived home to spend recovery time in bed my Daughter visited unexpectedly.

She noticed get well cards and asked who was Ill. Getting the truth finally, I heard heavy feet coming upstairs like a Roman Army.

Now I’ve seen a bit of Finger Wagging in my time but this was a Masterclass!

Trust me when I tell you NEVER to hide Important subjects from close Family.

I never let Cancer disrupt my life and checks were constant.

What is true is that those around you feel vulnerable and it’s this that is most worrying.

The only time it eases is when time passes and medical staff deem all looks good.

In time everyone relaxes whilst remaining Vigilant.

I found out a lot about myself and those around me and have felt blessed ever since.

It was Interesting telling Doctors that a Patient gets a lot of confidence from them caring.

It will take experience and time of course for young Doctors to find out if they have the best approach.

I was hugely privileged to be asked.

They asked where I got so much confidence from.

The Truth is that it’s an outward show to reduce the anxieties of others, a lesson I Impressed on the Doctors too that they needed to learn.

After such a Challenge it’s hard to feel fazed by much of the trivia of Life.

After all, its Life that makes so much possible and I certainly feel I did not waste the time since.

Talented Ladies To Be Guests on Sine FM Radio Doncaster

                                                                   Eve Lodge

                                                                   Michelle Bailey

                                                                  Paula Maguire

                                                                     Natalie Sykes

If ever there was a Man ready to say “Thank You DC” it would have to be well known Businessman and Lawyer in Doncaster, Andrew Isaacs.

Andrew is well known for giving back to the Community He Loves so much and one of His many efforts is to Host a weekly hour long radio chat show for Business Folk.

Barnsley Guests recommended by Me already appearing with him are Eve Lodge of Barmy Bunting and Michelle Bailey of Active Response Security Limited.

As expected Andrew created a great bond.

I am not one to stop there though and more is to come.

Paula Maguire the Winner of Fund Raiser on Pride of Britain Awards appears in January 2015.

Paula is well known as the “Ice Bucket Lady” raising funds for MND.

She has raised multiple Millions of Pounds for Research to help this Terminal Condition.

On top of this she is a Midwife at Barnsley Hospital with Energy that could and does Light up all of our Town!

On February 3^rd 2015 Natalie Sykes will join Andrew.

As Regional Director for Yorkshire and the North East for the Institute of Directors there could be no better Guest to advise Business. 

She is exceptionally Gifted and Committed to offering Business Support and Career Development.

What is common to all these Ladies is huge talent but Great Company.

Hard working and successful they provide a positive model for us all.

Sine FM in Doncaster are in for a Treat. Give them a listen at 10 a.m. Wednesdays.

You are Welcome Andrew.

Pleased to get Topic UK Magazine to Barnsley

Getting up on November 13^th 2015 had a special ring for Me.

I would be on my way to Barnsley FC at Oakwell Stadium to see a Goal achieved in recent Months.

Barnsley had long lacked a Quality Publication that covered Business and Community News.

Some Months earlier I had come across TopicUK Magazine, already successful in Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale and preparing for London.

I contacted Editor Gill Laidler to see how we could provide Barnsley with its own Edition.

Working together it was a pleasure to be at the Launch with Special Guests to see our work come to Fruition.

You can view the Magazine here:

http://issuu.com/blackie365/docs/topicuk_barnsley_oct2015/3?e=2289219/31460151

We look forward to the next Edition promoting our Town in the New Year.

Thank you TopicUK.