Do you know HOW many times I have started this page.

This must be attempt 769, 770, 771, 772.

And, did you know that about pages are seemingly one of the most viewed pages on a website? Amazing huh?

Crikey, does this mean I’d better blow you away with my endless list of credentials, where I’ve spoken at, and how many awards I’ve won?

Just enough to make you think gosh she’s pretty amazing!

Seriously, you want to know if I can help you, if I could possibly be the right person for you to help you achieve your outcomes, and if I’m real, yes?

(You know, I did win an award at school, does that count? It was the Robert Burns (he’s a Scottish Poet) Poetry Competition ‘Ode to a Poor Finger’ or something like that, circa 1980, age 9, and I’ve been aiming that high since.)

I don’t think Burns wrote it though, so how did I win? I even remember it.

Let’s have some poetry. Why not? No idea what else to write.

Sair Finger

You’ve hurt your finger? Puir wee man!
Your pinkie? Deary me!
Noo, juist you haud it that wey till
I get my specs and see!
I get my specs…
I get…

Erm

Nope, it’s gone.

Right.

What now?

*taps fingers on keyboard*

Oh, I know…

Totally Useless Information About Me (But Was The Easiest Part to Write)

1. I’m a veggie, have been for 22, 23 years, could not have it any other way. (But I will work you if you eat meat and won’t make you feel guilty, I’m not a carrot activist or anything.)

2. I’m dog daft (and cats, but quite frankly they couldn’t care less if like them or not!), I live with 24 paws and two feet, and animal rights are mega important to me. In fact, abuse, that makes me angry livid. Anything like that: bullying, belittling, put downs, mistreatment — animal or human.

3. Simple things please me — my perfect day is spent with loved ones and friends, reading, eating, having a glass of wine, walking the dogs, taking an afternoon nap (not every afternoon, that’s just lazy, some days!)

4. I’m vulnerable. I worry sometimes. I’m just like you. I’m highly sensitive extrovert!

5. I have, like you plenty ‘ideas’, lots of things I want to create, I’ve learnt that it’s all one big adventure. I’m still learning.

6. I’m the forever optimist. I prefer my life that way. Realistic Optimist. If I run the risk of ridicule, so be it. I like to laugh and have fun. Oh, that sounds a bit flat. Laugh and have fun? I think of another way to say that later.

7. I gave up letting what others ‘think’ and their opinions bother me a long time ago. Sometimes they sting (heart on sleeve remember) but I know to be ‘free-er’ they no longer serve a purpose in the life I want to create and live.

Oh we’re on a roll…

You’ll realise quickly I’m passionate about what I do and making my difference. I don’t conform.

I don’t know it all. Like you, I’m a learner of life. I don’t have all the answers.

I do what I do because I believe that if I’m able to help you make a difference, to live with passion, courage, grit and moxie, I know that you’ll inspire others to do the same.

Hang around, you’ll be treated with care, the utmost respect and compassion (and no, you won’t be babysat.) I don’t train for trainings sake, coach with no purpose or dump information on you and leave.

No way! That’s not my style. We are a partnership.

It’s time to roll your sleeves up…

Is what I do hard at times? Sure.

Undoing the ‘non-sensical’ that you may have believed and added to for a lifetime can be hard work, and at times tough love.

Yet, in no way it’s impossible. Far from it.

Guaranteed…you’ll straighten out the mess, you’ll tidy up areas that have been neglected for years, spring clean the rooms you’ve mentally created which are choking and restricting you going through new doorways. And if you need me to help, I’ll support you to dump a lot of rubbish on the way, ready to live a life of purpose, passion and truth.

You’ve already passed the exam

Past clients are my testimony, they too are my teachers. It’s through their success stories I do what I do.

You won’t be fixed (’cause you aren’t broken) or rescued.

You come to me with a straight A from your School of Life, seriously, your past is not my concern.

It’s not who you were yesterday, it’s who you are today, this moment, this second and where you are planning on going tomorrow and the person you want to release, this is where I excel.

Where are you now? Where do you want to be?

You’ll be in safe hands…

I haven’t always done what I’m doing now, although with hindsight, it’s so obvious it was leading here…

Since 92 I’ve worked, trained and qualified in ‘people helpy’ areas.

My past ‘work labels’ have included Youth Worker, Support Worker, Careers Advisor, Coach, Personal and Professional Development Trainer and Employability worker.

Qualifications?

Yes, I have those. Coach. Trainer (Learning and Development), non-accredited but important to personal and professional development: NLP Master, Firewalking Instructor and Brain Based Learning.

I also have qualifications in youth work, horticultural and a string of alternative therapies. I telling you those because I’d like you to know it took me a l-o-n-g time to work out passions and purpose, and that’s the whole point to the work I do now.

This website is the starting point…

dawnbarclay.com is a place where…

I write about careers, confidence, flourishing, passions, personal and professional development, making the leap from employee to entrepeneur, GSD (getting shit done) and inspiring others, plus ranting on occasion just because the mood takes me.

Everything you read here is mine. I’m not scared to make people uncomfy, or speak my mind.

And I won’t mince my words with you or see you struggle with an answer…ever.

My mission is clear to be a vehicle you can use for change, growth and development and to create a community where you can visit often, taking what you need, when you need it and sharing with others who may drop by tomorrow.

I coach unstick individuals needing assistance to working out what on earth they are supposed to be doing with their life, and new/soon to be solo business owners who have so many ideas they haven’t got a clue where to begin.

I train, speak and facilitate, lead workshops and events that are led by what people want: careers, marketing, confidence, empowerment. (I’m also a Firewalking Instructor, but there’s another site for that. That’s so much fun. Sometimes they are added to courses here, but really I love delivering events for charities so they can fundraise. Also, I help solo business owners get unstuck over at gonesolo.co.uk)

My Own Philosophy/Womanifesto/Commitment/Approach/Happy Cheery Method/Whatever You Want to Call It…

Here’s what’s at the core, not the method or the how:

• To provide happy, fun, inclusive and enjoyable services. (Sounds a little hyped, but I mean it, it’s important you have fun doing this, otherwise what you doing it for?)

• I’m not the expert of you, you are. Just because I’ve been at this while, please don’t think I’ll have your answers.

• Speed, Passion, Purpose and Get Results. Yes, you may need someone to take you by the hand (or kick you up the butt), but I’m not into holding onto people, I want you to go past me. To take what you need, then leave. Some people say ‘don’t fix people’ so they will buy more from you. I say BS to that, it’s just wrong.

• You will have something unique and precious to offer the world, I’ll hold that belief for you until you see it yourself.

• Perfection and waiting is soul destroying. There is no going back, either do it or don’t.

• Postivity and optimism. Some people can’t hack this, it’s the way I work. Sure it pisses people off from time to time, ask yourself, if you could work with someone with these characteristics, or would I (as we say in Scotland ) ‘do your head in?’

• There is no barrier, obstacle, hurdle that cannot be overcome.

• My work is not a replacement for therapy — I’m not a Dr.

• We all need support for something. No one is exempt from this.

• Potential — you have it, whether you use it or not is up to you. I’ll remind you it’s there.

• Taking action is where the change is happens. I don’t work well with serial course attendees or people who ‘read’ and just talk a good talk.

• To take you out your comfort zones, help you see what perhaps has been staring you in the face for a long time.

• To meet you where you are at. I don’t ‘do’ wishy, airy fairy, kumbaya, woowoo, tinkly pinkly music’ I will not promise instant results and overnight success.

People That I Love to Play With (Are we a fit?)

You have a sense of humour, even if the s**t is hitting the fan, you know that it’s temporary.

You’re committed to giving it all a go, to try new things, to being open to new ideas and suggestions.

You’re not a bitter-know-it-all. I also learn from my clients.

You may not use them yet, but you don’t get hung up and all defensive if someone talks about potential, passion, purpose, intentions, goals, taking action and results. You know, they don’t creep you out.

You’ve been around the block a bit.

You have a great story.

You have an idea or a thousand of where you would like to go.

You’re not scared to show how you really feel, that you quit ego and just let someone in to your fears.

You play, you’re curious, you’re ready.

Want to talk? Contact me, or sign up for updates for ways to get in touch.