I had a lovely response recently to one of my blogs from Mark Watkins, an old friend and a great coach, who said in essence, “let’s hear more of your journey from being a traveller to ‘a day in the life of’ a keynote speaker.”

Well, feeling inspired I decided to put finger to keyboard and start a ‘speakers log’. My feeling is that it has come at the perfect time as I am experiencing many changes at present and shall endeavour to make it a regular feature if people approve.

Let me start straight from the heart and say that I believe I am an ordinary person living an extraordinary life. My journey from fun-fairs to disco-owner to international speaker and author in personal development has been unusual to say the least. For 15 years I have shared the principles of success through Goal Mapping and my other personal empowerment programmes. And although I have always felt it was my purpose, achieved much, and know I have inspired many with my story of turning adversity into prosperity, the truth is that I’ve always felt like a boy playing a man’s game. – I have rarely felt in my true power.

Until the start of this year that is.

In January I felt something powerful; a calling from deep within me. A gentle voice, quiet and soft, yet so strong I could not ignore it; – ‘IT’S TIME TO STAND AS A MAN’ it summoned.

At first I didn’t take it too seriously, but the voice kept calling – ‘STAND AS A MAN’; for your self, your family, your work in the world.

The feeling was overwhelming. I find it hard to express in words. All I can say is that I have been deeply changed by the experience. I feel genuinely different. Shakespeare has been whispering in my ear: “There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.”

I feel my purpose calling.

I haven’t spoken to hardly anyone about it, although some people have noticed it. The beautiful Berni Allen was one when I was in Dublin presenting Goal Mapping: “Brian” she said, in her lovely Belfast accent, “you know I’ve always loved your work, so I hope you don’t mind me saying, that whenever I’ve seen you up on stage you’ve always looked like a boy in man’s shoes to me. But not today. Today I saw a man standing in his power.”

It was just a week after I started hearing the calling and was like confirmation for me that I was sensing something real. I immediately started creating Goal Maps to help me ‘Make My Stand’ in my self, my family, my work. Although I’ve been using the Goal Mapping system for some 15 years I have never experience such power and progress. Above is the symbol I drew for my main-goal and it has taken on deep meaning for me as I have used it in every area of my life to gain great progess. I feel I have reached a new high in myself. And while I still have my down days, they are short, shallow and quickly transformed.

Since feeling this inner calling in January I have found myself being ‘called’ to ‘Stand as Man’ in many different situations. It has stretched me to live my own teaching to a new level.

What does it look like in my work as a speaker? – I’m presenting less, and just talking more. It has allow me to look the audience in the eye and with real integrity call them to ‘Make Their Stand.’

It will be interesting to see what unfolds over the coming months. I feel it is going to be a big year, and the one after will be even bigger. I’ll be completely honest and say I feel a slight twinge of fear but I know I must now bravely step down my path. We shall see what unfolds, and I shall blog my progress along the way.

Why not use Goal Mapping Online to create your own Map of success and please let me know how you get on as you make your own ‘stand’ and move along your life path.

Wishing you Love & Light my friends with this my testament from my heart.

Brian