Peter Wedderburn

Many people will know you as the vet from Ireland AM on TV3, tell me what do you like most about what you do?

I enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to pass on the information in my head about the right way to look after pets. I am passionate about preventing animal suffering and the best way to do this is to educate people: working in the media allows me to influence as many people as possible in as short a time as possible.

Were you always interested in animals, how did it all start?

I believe that I was born to work with animals. As soon as I was conscious and articulate enough to express myself, I wanted to own a pet shop. By the age of five, I had refined this to wanting to be a vet. So it certainly seems to be something within me that was just waiting to get out.
When I was in my early teens, the books of James Herriot reinforced my desire. He wrote about working as a vet in Yorkshire in the 1930′s, and he painted a charming, nostalgic picture that appealed to me.

What was your route to becoming a vet? I seem to remember that getting into a veterinary studies course at college required very good exam results.

It helped that I realised early on that I wanted to be a vet: I knew by the age of twelve that I had to excel in exams at school, and I was very focussed on getting those exam results. I was blessed in that I happened to have the ability to get straight ‘A’s. I feel sorry for all those unable to do veterinary because despite their best efforts, they cannot get the academic results to get into vet school.

Many of the people I’ve interviewed in this series worked in a range of jobs or careers either before they found their niche, or to supplement their income whilst pursuing their passion. Did you ever work at anything else, or consider an alternative career, or were you always going to be working with animals in some shape or form?

I was always going to work with animals, but I think the interesting thing about my career is how it has evolved. For the first fifteen years after qualifying as a vet, I worked hard to build up experience and to develop my own vet practice. But I then seemed to hit a wall of some kind: I began to feel vaguely unwell and I went to my GP. His conclusion, after a series of tests, was that I was physically well, but that I was on the brink of some sort of psychological crisis. He wisely told me to think hard about how I spent my working life, and if I wasn’t feeling better in a month, to come back, and he’d ‘pop me onto anti-depressants.’
This was a wake-up call to me. I realised that I had stopped enjoying full-time veterinary and that I needed to find gainful employment that did not stress me so deeply and continuously. At that stage, I started to focus more on media work: as well as TV and radio. I also spent time marketing my skills as a writer.
As soon as I left the GP’s office, I booked myself two days off work every week, and over the following 18 months, I managed to get contracts for regular weekly columns in the Evening Herald, the Daily Telegraph, Irelands Own, Woman’s Way and several others. I still work four hours a day as a vet in practice, but the rest of my time is spent working in the media. This mix works well for me: ten hours a day of veterinary was too much, whereas I find four hours pleasurable.

Pete’s first family dog Spot who was well known to Ireland AM viewers

What has been the biggest challenge and biggest lesson you have learned in your career to date?

The biggest challenge has been “how to keep enjoying it”. The job of a clinical vet does not change much: what you do the day after you qualify is similar to what you do on the day you retire. There are many serious stresses; supporting owners through the death of a much loved pet is a daily occurrence, as is telling owners that their pet is going to die of some serious illness. The suicide rate of vets is the highest of any sector of the population, at seven times the average. For me, the answer to the stress was to stop being a full time vet, and to develop media work. Each of us has to find out our own way of dealing with this type of challenge: it’s different for us all.

The biggest lesson that I have learned is anything is possible. To quote the Cranberries lyrics, “everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we?” It is easy to think that someone else can achieve a goal because they are somehow different in some way, but in reality we are all the same: if somebody else can do something, then you too can do it. I learned this lesson when starting the media work: at first it seemed like an impossible task, but I soon realised that if I wanted to do it enough, the work would come to me.

As a vet Pete, what motivates you or inspires you?

Two things: first, my inbuilt belief that animals are sentient beings who deserve to be kept free of suffering, just like humans. I need to do everything within my power to further the cause of humane treatment of animals. Second, my Christian faith: I believe that we are all much more than just “here and now”, and that spiritual health is as important as mental and physical health. Belief in God provides an inspiration to “do the right thing”, and in turn this leads to a more ethical, satisfying and productive life.

You developed your media work to reach a wider audience and to bring another dimension to your work, any tips for people who want to promote their work or cause in the media?

I am a goal driven person: “Goals are dreams with deadlines”. I decided that I enjoyed working in the media and I wanted to do more of it. I wrote down my goals, created the free time to work on the steps needed to achieve those goals, and in time, they were fulfilled. My other secret of success with media work is that I try never to say no. If a journalist or TV producer contacts you, it is easy to feel cautious and to say “I will get back to you later.” If you do this, they will go elsewhere: they need to find someone quickly. So if you always say “yes”, despite the fact that it puts you under immediate pressure, more work comes your way.

That’s sound advice. There’s no doubt you are a busy man, with many commitments, your practice in Bray, the media work and I know you’ve also written two books. Do you have any tips to share in terms of how you manage your time, or try to keep a healthy work life balance?

It’s all about scheduling: I write a timetable down every week, slotting in the important tasks that need to be done. Almost every minute is accounted for. I try to ensure that there’s a balance. Work, leisure, creativity, family, friendships, spirituality, physical exercise: part of the pie chart has to be allocated to each of these seven areas. I work out how long each task/activity should take, and I write it down in my planned schedule. If I just tried to do it all in a random way, without this level of planning, it just wouldn’t work.

“Do what you love and the money will follow.”

I know many people reading this would love to be earning their living by doing the work they love to do or by following their passion, from your experience what advice would you pass on to them?

“Do what you love and the money will follow”. This advice was given to me by a great friend and mentor when I was in my late twenties and I believe it whole heartedly. If you find an occupation that you love doing, you will become expert at it, and people will want to pay you to do it. And you will then spend your working life doing something that you enjoy, rather than just muddling through a job.
I like to ask people “what would you do if money was no object” and I am amazed at how many people know clearly what they would like to do. And equally amazingly, looking at their lives from the outside, often I cannot see major obstacles to them fulfilling their desire. It does take a bit of a leap into the dark, with no guarantee, but the consequences – a fulfilling career – are so valuable that it’s worth the risk.

I hear you on that one. Often the only limits are those we create ourselves. Tell me, what advice would you give to someone interested in working as a vet?

First, work hard at school so that you get the academic results. Second, create a curriculum vitae that provides clear evidence of your desire to work with animals: from the age of ten, find ways of getting experience with animals. Help out at a local animal rescue centre, assist a dog walking service, volunteer on a dairy farm, riding stable or boarding kennel. Do everything possible to show the world and the student selection board that you are passionate about working with animals.

What’s next for Pete Wedderburn, any goals, dreams or ambitions you are working towards or would like to achieve one day?

My aim is to continue to develop a role as an advocate for animals as effectively as possible: the extreme ambition would be to become the best known vet in the world, which would allow my voice to be heard as loudly and clearly as it could possibly be heard. Of course, this may be unlikely, but in this global, internet-driven era, it may not be an impossible dream. On a different note, I would also like to win my age group in the national series of triathlons!

Pete, here are some questions I think you will find interesting. My aim is to ask everyone I interview the same questions.

What’s your most cherished possession?

I won’t mention my pets, because they too are companions rather than possessions. It would probably have to be our home. We bought it,  a period house on an acre in Bray back in 2002: we looked at over 100 houses before we found this one. It has enough space for our pets, including hens and ducks, and the house, built in 1840, has substance, proportions and style that are never achieved in recently built homes.

What are you currently reading (or learning)?

“Proof of heaven – a neurosurgeon’s journey into the afterlife” by Eben Alexander. A fascinating account of a near-death experience, written by a doctor who started his journey as a sceptic about such mysterious happenings.

What’s your idea of happiness?

I’m at my happiest when crossing the finishing line of a triathlon: the suffering is over (until the next one)

Who or what inspires you?

My wife Joyce. She has high standards and equally high expectations, especially for those close to her. I do my best to live up to those. We met when I was just twenty one: asking her to marry me at the age of twenty five was the best, most life-changing decision I have ever made.

What character trait do you most admire?

Integrity, which, as the dictionary says, is “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles”.

If you could send some advice back in time to your twenty-year-old self, what wisdom would you share?

“If (when) you stumble, make it a part of the dance”

If you had a motto what would it be?

“Goals are dreams with deadlines”

Pete, it has been a pleasure speaking with you.

PETE WEDDERBURN BVM&S CertVR MRCVS qualified as a veterinarian from Edinburgh, Scotland in 1985. He has worked in his own 4-veterinarian companion animal practice in County Wicklow (www.brayvet.com), Ireland, since 1991, and he has his own menagerie of dogs, cats, ducks, hens and others (including a pet rabbit in his kitchen). Pete is well known as a media veterinarian in Ireland and the UK, with a weekly breakfast television slot for the past decade and a weekly evening prime-time show in Ireland as well as weekly newspaper columns and radio broadcasts. Pete is known as Pete the Vet on his busy Facebook and Twitter pages (@petethevet), regularly posting information on topical subjects and real-life cases from his clinic. He also writes a regular blog at www.petethevet.com His mission in life is to communicate high quality information to pet owners, in any way that this can be done.
www.petewedderburn.com

Chapter 4 – Questions you should be able to answer

Do you have any questions?

This is the one question you are guaranteed to be asked. Before exploring ways of how to use this opportunity at the end of the interview, a word of caution, I would avoid bringing up the topic of salary or remuneration especially if it hasn’t been raised already by the interviewers. The same goes for holiday entitlements or other employment benefits. These topics can be discussed later, either at a subsequent interview, or when hopefully you are offered the job.

In Chapter One I stated that the purpose of the interview is for the interviewers to gather information about you so they can make an informed decision as to whether or not you are the right candidate for the role. From your perspective it is useful to think about what you would like to learn about the organisation to help you decide if the role, or the company, is the right one for you. If all your initial questions about the company or the role have not been answered, then this is your opportunity to seek clarity.

Questions you might ask include:

• ‘What training will the successful candidate receive?’

• ‘Who would I report to?’

• ‘To be considered a success in this role, what would the successful candidate need to achieve in the first six months?’

• ‘When will I hear about the outcome of this interview?’

Of course you don’t need to ask a question, but there are ways you can use this time at the end of the interview to your advantage.

Asking a question that demonstrates your knowledge

Traditionally, interview candidates try to think of a question in advance to ask at the end of the interview that will impress the interviewers. Maybe you have read something about the organisation online and you shape a question that displays your knowledge and interview preparation. You don’t want to come across as a know-it-all, but a well phrased question about something topical, that is relevant to the company, will usually be well received.

Adding to an earlier answer

Often during an interview we will be asked a question that with hindsight we wish we had answered differently. Even by the end of the interview we may have thought of one or two additional points we could have made. Rather than leaving the interview wishing you had said something else, use this opportunity to seek permission to supplement your answer.

For example; ‘I don’t have a question per se, but I’ve thought of one or two additional points I’d like to share about (the question asked earlier.) Would it be ok to share them now?’

The majority of the time, the interviewer will say go ahead. You can then make your additional points. The only occasion when this may not be possible is when the interview is strictly timed and the interviewer may feel it would be unfair to the other candidates to allow you to redress an earlier response.

Drawing attention to a strength or competency

This one is only for the brave and usually only relevant for more senior positions. This is an opportunity to refer to a skill or strength that you feel wasn’t discussed during the interview. You have to be careful with how you phrase it, as you don’t want to come across as pushy.

Here’s an example. Suppose ‘leadership’ is a competency listed in the job description and it is also a strength you wish to emphasise, but the topic wasn’t addressed directly in the main body of the interview.

For example; ‘I don’t have a question as such, but I know from the job description that leadership is a required competency for the role. You may have all the information you need from me already, but I would like to think that leadership is one of my main strengths and I would hate to leave the interview without mentioning it.’

A statement like this may prompt the interviewer to ask a few questions on the topic, or the interviewer may say they have what they need. Either way, you are being proactive and you won’t leave the interview regretting not raising the issue.

Closing on a strong positive note

Whether you have an additional question or not, this part of the interview, when the floor is open to you, is an opportunity to conclude the interview leaving a good impression in the minds of the interviewers. It is always nice to thank the interviewers and to a make a brief positive statement.

‘I don’t have any additional questions, but I would like to thank you for inviting me for interview. This role sounds exciting and I would relish the opportunity of working here.’

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Issue 1 of Next Steps from May 2004

Life and work is more stressful today than ever. Technology and gadgets that were supposed to make life easier have only made it faster. A worrying statistic released by the World Health Organisation predicts that by 2020, five of the top 10 medical problems worldwide will be stress related. The EU estimate that work related stress costs member states €20 billion annually and this figure is growing.

However, some stress, known as eustress is positive. Eustress fuels ambition and generates satisfaction when challenging objectives are achieved. Negative stress occurs when the demands of a situation exceed our ability to cope with (or control) that situation.

How do you know if stress is an issue?

The psychological symptoms include problems sleeping, anxiety, difficulties concentrating and irritability. Physically it can include back or shoulder pain, heart problems, and a depressed immune system. Behaviourally, substance abuse, using alcohol regularly to relax, bullying, and excessive anger are symptoms of stress.
In the workplace, underlying stress is evident in high rates of absenteeism, high staff turnover, poor time-keeping, bullying and low levels of motivation.

The main causes of stress in the workplace are work overload; having responsibility for others; poor work surroundings (cramped, untidy, dirty); inadequate control over one’s work; poor communication; poor support, a lack of training and guidance; commuting and relationships with the boss or colleagues.

Below are a series of questions designed to highlight the possible causes of stress in businesses. Answer them for yourself, then if you are a people manager consider how your staff would answer them.

• Do staff know what is expected of them?

• How healthy is the work environment in terms of space, tidiness, cleanliness?

• Do staff suffer from conflicting demands or a lack of clarity about what they should be doing and their priorities?

• Are some staff members suffering from work overload whilst others are under utilised?

• Is there adequate job training? Are employees anxious about employment status or changes that are taking place?

• How would you assess working relations between staff members and between you and your staff?

• Do staff know when they are doing a good job? Who tells them and how often?

Honest answers to these questions will provide clues as to the cause of work-related stress in your business. For example, if employees do not feel valued at work, they will view themselves as easily replaceable, resulting in lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of stress which will manifest itself in symptoms like absenteeism and poor time-keeping.

Realising and admitting that work-related stress is an issue, is of course just the first step. Stress is the symptom and to reduce or eliminate it, the underlying cause or causes need to be identified and addressed.

If you are suffering from work-related stress and it’s beginning to impact on your health, perhaps it is time to reassess what is really important in life. Perhaps it is time to commit to change before change is forced upon you.

5 practical ways to manage stress

• Don’t try to control the uncontrollable

Take an objective look at the issues you are responding to in a stressful way. We always have a choice about how we respond to stimuli. Focus on what you can control, including your response to the uncontrollable!

• Know what’s really important

Distinguish between what is really important to you in the bigger scheme of things and the trivial issues that you are allowing to bug you and which over a period of time will be forgotten.

• Exercise

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, stimulates the nervous system and produces endorphins that positively effect how we feel. Even a quick walk around the block at lunch time will make a difference.

• Stop trying to be perfect

Trying to do everything perfectly creates stress. Aim to do your best, but if it is good enough, it is good enough.

• Remember to breathe

When we are stressed our breathing is high and fast in our chests. Consciously lower and slower your breathing.

1. My main marketing tool

Traditional business wisdom says you get most of your business from your existing contacts. I think this is doubly true for people in my line of work. My monthly ezine has always been my main marketing tool and the means by which I stay in touch with my clients and contacts. I’ve tried different forms of advertising in the past, none of which worked for me.
Visitors to my website can easily subscribe to my ezine and I invite participants on workshops and talks to sign up as well. My clients and contacts are the heart of my business and my monthly ezine is my main tool for reaching out to them.

The first 7 editions of Next Steps

2. Adding Value

I ignore emails, tweets and other social media content that is just a hard sell. I will only click on, or read something I feel will interest me, or be of practical benefit to me. For this reason, the content of my ezine is focused on adding value. Tips, insights, people’s stories, book reviews and so on populate Next Steps each month. I respect the fact that people have given me their email address and their permission  to place a monthly email in their inbox.

3. The practicalities

Since the first online edition of Next Steps back in 2006 (issue 8,) I’ve used verticalresponse.com to distribute my ezine. It’s very cost effective (something like 0.005cent per email distributed) and I’m able to easily manage my distribution list and schedule launch dates (handy when on holidays.) I used to use dreamweaver to build my ezine content, but for the last few years, I’ve used Abobe Contribute. (Thanks to Maryrose Lyons of Brighspark Consulting, my IT and website guru.)

4. Monitoring hit rates

To manage anything effectively you have to be able to measure it, so monitoring statistics is key. I use Google Analytics and Vertical Response to monitor my hit rates, the articles that are being opened, forwarded etc. as well of course as unsubscribers, invalid email addresses and people who don’t read my ezine. This lets me know what my readers find interesting and it also helps me keep my database up to date.

5. Consistency

Consistency and reliability are cornerstones of any successful brand. In my opinion the same is true for ezines. I’ve distributed Next Steps the first Tuesday of every month since January 2006. If you are planning an ezine or even writing a blog, decide how frequently you will publish and stick with it.

6. Content

Business and personal development are broad topics, so there is always something for me to say and share. My ideas come from two main sources – what I’m reading (books, magazines, ezines) and from my clients (their challenges, their feedback, what they would find useful and interesting.)
We all like to hear other people’s stories and this was one of the reasons why I started a series of articles in 2012 where I interview people who managed to turn their passion into their profession. (Check out my ‘In conversation with series.’)
For many years now I have a number of word documents into which I note ideas for articles. It means that when the time comes to write something new, I’m not staring at a blank screen. I have similar word documents in which I collect questions (a coach’s tool of trade) and another for quotes, currently running to 107 pages!

7. Authentic

Some of the best advice I was given when I embarked on my first book back in 2006 was to be authentic. I hope I’ve brought this sentiment into my articles as well. For me being authentic means writing from the heart and when you communicate from the heart it goes to other people’s hearts.
In recent months I’ve begun to share more of my own personal experiences, challenges and learning in Next Steps and I know from feedback that these articles resonate with readers.
Here’s a great article by writer and blogger Jeff Goins (twitter @JeffGoins) about finding your authentic voice as a writer.

8. Discipline & Organisational Skills

It does require a healthy dose of organisational skills to produce my ezine each month. It has long since become part of the rhythm of my business. Having a deadline is good motivation. My favourite definition of discipline is ‘choosing between what you want now and what you want most.’ Yes, there are months when I would prefer to take the dog for a walk, but what I want most is to be of service to my clients and contacts.

9. Constantly evolving

The first seven editions of Next Steps were produced in hard copy, but with the advances in technology my monthly newsletter evolved into an ezine and then into a cover for my blog. In recent years, the expansion of social media means my articles can be easily shared, liked and commented upon.  .
Writing for online readers is also different to writing hard copy. Online articles are shorter, there are more bullet points and quick tips because people’s attention spans are shorter. The tone of the articles is more conversational which mirrors the trends in online communication.

10. Do I get business from it?

I’m often asked this question. Obviously I do, but it is not a linear correlation. I write my articles and distribute my ezine because I’m a writer and it is no chore for me to produce articles each month. I share that content because I believe people will find it useful. If people book 1-2-1 coaching sessions, contact me to organise a workshop, or speak at a conference as a result of receiving my ezine, then that is an added bonus.

The next steps for Next Steps!

Over the last fifteen years technology has revolutionised how we communicate. As I say on my communication skills workshops, it is not just what you say, but how you say it, when you say it and where you say, that is vital if your message is to be received and understood.
Complacency is the death knell of any business, so in the months ahead I will be incorporating podcasts into my website and ezine and establishing my own YouTube channel, making the experience more visual and interactive. Watch this space!

Declan Meehan

You are perhaps best known as the presenter of the Morning Show on East Coast FM, what do you like most about what you do?

I’ve presented the programme since 1994 and what I’ve come to love is reflecting Co. Wicklow; its activities, its people and being a part of the community. I discovered, in order to try and comprehensively report on the county, I needed to know more, and the more I discovered about Wicklow and the Wicklow people, the more I wanted to know.
I don’t think it’s possible to do the job without developing a curiosity in people and those who guest on the show. Unlike Dublin stations which have a niche, East Coast FM must embrace a wide age group and a range of interests without compromising viability or quality. It’s really enjoyable and stimulating meeting so many people, all with different talents, outlooks and lives. I love sharing their stories with my listeners.

Was broadcasting something you were always interested in? How did it all start?

It was down to my mother who was a great fan of radio. She knew by voice, all the announcers on Radio Eireann and she also used to listen to various BBC services every day. The radio was always on in the house. I remember, when walking on Henry Street, in Dublin, close to their studios in the GPO, mum pointed out two Radio Eireann presenters. I remember being fascinated by how tall and important they looked and I imagined them on the radio in front of their microphones.
My Dad worked in England and brought home a ‘wireless’ made by Pam which had great reception sensitivity and a green light to help tuning. I used to enjoy trawling through the bands discovering international stations. I remember in the summer of 1964 I read a detective story about ‘The Saint’, it featured a radio station which broadcast secret messages. To a kid of my age, this was thrilling. Around the same time, when searching the dial, I discovered a music station playing Pop Music, Radio Caroline. When I discovered it was a ‘pirate’ station broadcasting from a ship, well, there was no way back. It was both romantic and dangerous. As a sixties teenager there was plenty of music and culture aimed at my age group. I was hooked; radio was always going to figure in my future.

I know in the early part of your career you were involved with many radio stations those of us of a certain age will remember, like Radio Nova, Sunshine. What were those times like?

Radio Nova I’ve often said, reminds me of what the Beatles Apple Store must have been like, lots of money, fun and mayhem, with the added exciting element of being ‘illegal,’ but also accepted. In the midst of a biting recession we were being paid more than deejays on BBC and getting many perks due to our perceived celebrity status. And of course we had that confidence that comes with success and youth.
One of the most memorable parts of ‘work’ were free trips to LA to listen to KIIS FM (sic) to absorb their style and to implement it on our return to Nova. It was an amazing time where many circumstances came together. The ex 60′s pirates were in Ireland, the music was really great, especially from the US and there was so much untapped talent for radio in Dublin. One thing I particularly enjoyed was working with British and American broadcasters who joined us and found a home at Nova.

Many of the people I’ve interviewed in this series worked in a range of jobs or careers either before they found their niche, or to supplement their income whilst pursuing their passion, was it the same with you?

Having decided at 12 years old to be on the radio playing pop music, a lot of the things I did were to further that ambition. I used to have my own pretend station at home and would present a chart show every evening after school and later I joined up with friends to run weekend stations out of wardrobes in our bedrooms.
When I left school I worked in a chocolate factory with my weekends taken up with pirate radio. This eventually developed into two full-time jobs, with the chocolate factory income subsidising an unpaid five-day a week radio job. At this time there was no question of legal independent radio, it was RTE or nowhere. Apart from wanting to work in radio there was definitely also a feeling of a noble attempt to demolish this monopoly. Despite this, during this decade I did frequently apply to RTE and went to auditions every year, sometimes twice a year! I was nearly successful in 1976, but eventually persistence paid off and I was one of five deejays from the pirates who ‘went legal’ in May 1979 with RTE Radio 2 (now 2FM)

Was there one moment when you decided ‘right I’m giving this a go (broadcasting)’ I want to work in this field full-time? Or was it something that just seemed to evolve?

Looking back I can’t remember a time when radio was not my goal. I used know the names of all the deejays, where they were from and what stations they previously worked on. I was known for it at school. One day, when I was out sick, the teacher asked the class ‘is he gone broadcasting with Radio Rhodesia?’ As I mentioned earlier the ‘permanent’ day job was always going to be an interim measure.

What has been the biggest challenge and biggest lesson you have learned in your career to date?

Initially the biggest challenge was to get a job in radio. Up to 1979 there was limited pop music hours on RTE and its style was very different from the pirates. However, probably the greatest challenge over the years is to continue being relevant and to be aware of changes to the medium and in the industry, and of course to remain on air! One of the lessons I learned was not only just to ‘enjoy the moment’ of achieving a goal, but also to realise it is just a moment and not to forget you must work towards a future.

As a broadcaster Declan, what motivates you or inspires you?

During my deejay days what motivated me was to play songs to my audience, to introduce new ones and inform listeners about them. In fact, this goes back to my teen years before radio when I had to play records loudly in my bedroom with all the windows open, I wanted an audience even then! Nowadays, it’s getting the stories and interviewees that are right for East Coast. It can almost feel personal, in fact it is!

I know many people reading this would love to be earning their living by doing the work they love to do or by following their creative passion, from your experience what advice would you pass on to them?

I really feel lucky having been able to live my dream and I don’t have any thoughts as regards what other careers I might have done. Turning from mainly playing music, (although I still do that once a week on Today FM) I feel that ‘talk’ has matured me, informed me and given me the ability to see things from many perspectives. This probably sounds lofty but I feel it has educated me. What I do has become ‘me,’ it’s not just ‘what I do.’ Therefore, if somebody asked me should they follow their dream which may be ‘them’ I would have to say yes go for it! However, I must also say I did not leave my ‘real’ job until radio paid me. Growing up money didn’t matter. I would work for the love of it, but becoming a ‘grown-up’ with committments, I still love my work, but can no longer work just for the love of it.

For someone interested in a career in broadcasting, what advice would you give them?

Opportunities in radio these days are few in spite of the multiplicity of stations. Should you want to work there by all means, do your degree in radio or journalism, learn about the technology and how to use it and decide what area of broadcasting appeals to you. My own personal advice is, go to your room, practise speaking, announcing, and interviewing yourself in the mirror. Read the paper aloud, laugh, introduce songs, ad lib naturally and soon after, find a pirate station and beg a slot. Also, hang around your local radio station and always be willing. If you commit to something, do it, even if you have to walk 4 hours through snow with a broken leg for no pay. If your first job is doing office filing, do it well without resentment. Be cheerful and you will likely be given a chance to shine on the air out of good will. Have a backup plan just in case! Finally, as far as possible, never make enemies; you will meet people in many different circumstances in your career. That assistant you might perceive as lowly might one day be your boss.

Declan, here are some questions I think you will find interesting. My aim is to ask everyone I interview the same questions.

What’s your most cherished possession?

My photo of me with a hero of mine, Paul McCartney taken when I worked in Capital Radio in London.

What are you currently reading (or learning)?

Learning the use of apps and technology for use in life and for radio

What’s your idea of happiness?

Sitting on a balcony in Ibiza with my wife, Maggie, a glass of wine and no worries

Who or what inspires you?

Thought-provoking people introducing me to angles on things that hadn’t occurred to me.

What character trait do you most admire?

Integrity, which incorporates trust, loyalty and honesty

If you could send some advice back in time to your twenty-year-old self, what wisdom would you share?

Be more pragmatic than dogmatic.

If you had a motto what would it be?

Funny I made one up back in the day of deejaying it was – Be Sunny and Share (Sonny and Cher). Now it would probably be – Do it seriously for the fun of it.

Declan, it has been a pleasure speaking with you.

DECLAN MEEHAN is the host of the Morning Show on Eastcoast FM and presents Sunday Breakfast on Today FM. You can follow him on Twitter @radiodeclan

I’ve enjoyed rereading these articles and I think you will too.

Starting the day with a clear head

How an hour a day can change everything

First published in October 2008, this has been by far my most popular article on time management. Full of common sense, I was reminded of the importance of that first hour of the day!

7 ways to boost your self-confidence today

Self Confidence, or rather lack of it, is a concept we can all relate to. Originally published in 2008 (November)  this article lists 7 practical tips for enhancing our feelings of self confidence. It was written to coincide with the lauch of my audio CD ‘15 ways to boost your self-confidence‘ which was produced at that time.

How to secure a pay rise?

Since January 2006 when this article was first published pay reductions and pay freezes have become all too common. However the common sense principles contained in this article are perhaps even more relevant now than they were then.

Padraig McCaul

In Conversation with artist Padraig McCaul

Part of my series of interviews with people who have aligned their passion with their profession, my interview in February this year, with Achill based landscape artist Padraig McCaul really struck a chord with readers. Leaving the corporate world behind to pursue his dream of being a fulltime artist, Padraig shares the lessons he has learned. A truly inspiring article, it was a real pleasure interviewing Padraig.

Sunday Night Syndrome

This article appeared in the May 2012 edition of Next Steps and resonated with readers who know what it is like come six o’clock on a Sunday evening when the dread of the working week ahead kicks in.

Stress – change before change is forced upon you

This was the very first lead article from the issue 1 back in May 2004. It is as relevant now as it was then!

If there are specific themes or topics you would like me to explore in future editions of Next Steps, feel free to drop me an email or add a comment below.

There are many aspects to what you do, Reiki Teacher, Healer, Lifecoach. How do you describe what you do?

Yes I’ve trained in many areas and therapies but the core of my work is spiritual healing. When a client walks in the door I choose the most suitable type of energy healing to do with them. People come to me for treatment of physical injuries, emotional healing and spiritual direction. During a session I will connect with my guides and angels, and channel healing energy through my hands and give whatever guidance comes up. The majority of my clientele would be therapists and healers themselves. As I see it, my core mission is training healers through reiki, crystal healing and Angelic Healing.

Brian McCullen

How did it all start for you? When did you first get interested in working in the spiritual field?

As a child, I always had a sense of something ‘more’ out there; it was a very strong sense and feeling to me. When I reached my teens, I had what I can only describe as spiritual experiences. I became very aware of spirits around me. To be honest, I was terrified of these encounters and I used to pray myself to sleep. I became involved in prayer groups and retreats and faith healing. Then I discovered Reiki healing and I took to it like a duck to water. That pretty much opened a whole new world to me and through it I discovered and connected with the angels and my spirit guides.

Many of the people I’ve interviewed in this series worked in a range of jobs or careers either before they found their niche, or to supplement their income whilst pursuing their passion, was it the same for you?

My clients and course attendees usually laugh at the many so called ‘normal’ jobs I’ve had over the years – landscaping, working in Bewleys as a kitchen porter, McDonalds for a while, I’ve been a travel agent and security guard, I was on the M50 toll bridge for a few years, and then Hewlett Packard. Even though I had all those jobs I still worked with clients and did training courses in my spare time. When I look back I’m amazed I had the energy to do it all.

Was there one moment when you decided ‘right I’m giving this a go,’ I want to work in this field full-time, I want to run my own business?’ What was that like?

It was my last job working in Hewlett Packard, I realised that I was getting ‘too comfortable’ there and time was going by so quickly. For me it was a flash decision, so I discussed it with my wife that night and handed in my notice the next day and thankfully I’ve not looked back since.

You run your own spiritual/ healing centre in Enfield which is the dream of many people working as coaches and healers. How did that come about for you?

My dream was always to have a healing centre. I used to teach in the local hotels and in my own house. The place where I’m now based was up for sale 2 years ago. At the time even my own accountant said there was no way I could afford it. Anyway through a lot praying, perseverance and knocking on the door of eight banks, everything eventually fell into place. It is still a work in progress, but I’m blessed to have the healing centre. I still pinch myself and I’m grateful every day for having it come into my life. As they say; if there is a will, there is a way.

I’ve attended two of your Reiki workshops, which were great. I know you run a range of workshops. Tell me a little about the different aspects of your work.

I’m delighted you enjoyed the courses, thank you. Besides the Reiki healing courses, I run crystal healing courses, basic and advanced. It’s amazing to see the attendees learning to trust their own intuitive healing style as they grow in confidence.
The area I’m really working with at the moment is Ascension healing with the Angels and Ascended Masters. I founded a new healing system called “Angelic Core Healing” which helps the person not only learn to be a very powerful and intuitive healer, but also to help them become empowered with their own Higher Self, ultimately to be their own Divine Authority and to come here to do their spiritual mission. This is the flag ship healing course for me, a result of 5 years of channelling information from the Ascended Masters and Angels.

That sounds fantastic. I suspect I will be signing up! On a different note, I think that many people are experiencing a spiritual vacuum in Ireland. Traditional institutions like the Catholic Church are no longer dominant and people who sought fulfilment in possessions and financial excess during the Celtic Tiger years are still searching for an elusive sense of peace and happiness. What are your thoughts?

Yes there’s a massive change in the consciousness of people; I see a lot of people questioning not only their faith and belief system but also their way of life, which is great.  I think many are realising there is more to life than just the material. More and more people are coming into a space of empowerment and the desire to live out their dreams. My wish is that people follow their own intuition and come to realise that they do not need someone else to tell them what God wants them to do. They can learn to connect with their own spiritual source and more importantly trust their own unique spiritual connection.

What has been the biggest challenge and biggest lesson you have learned in your career to date?

The biggest challenge and lesson I’ve learned so far is to follow my own truth regardless of what others think. I don’t mind admitting the fear of judgment for me in the past has been massive. I’m delighted now to be freeing myself from that. It’s about time too.

I know you have a steady stream of personal clients and course attendees which is great testament to how good you are at what you do. In the early years how did you go about generating business and how do you keep the business flowing?

The only thing I did do at the beginning was setup a website, other than that, I haven’t done any advertising. Word of mouth is how I get business. I always tell the healers this; for every one person that comes to you they can tell countless people about you. For me it was different starting off, I was working normal jobs whilst doing healings on a part-time basis. When I built up my practice I then moved into it full-time. Regarding how I keep my business flowing? Again it’s word of mouth, but I do change my style of working to keep things fresh and I follow my intuition. I also do a lot of internal work, focusing on dream building and abundance.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The sense of peace from doing what I am supposed to be doing.

Wow. That’s terrific. If only everyone could experience that.
I presume like any area, your field is a constantly evolving one. For people with an interest in the area, are there publications or websites or indeed courses you would recommend?

Reiki.ie is a very good Irish website with information about reiki healing, and the international reiki.org is packed with interesting articles on reiki healing as well.

I know many people reading this would love to be earning their living by doing the work they love to do, or by following their creative passion, from your experience what advice would you pass on to them?

There are countless different ways of following your dream. For me, I focus daily on where I want to be, I align with the emotional feeling of doing what I love doing and visualise where I want to be and then allow the universe to facilitate the process. It’s not just meditation, there is action involved, as in following your gut instinct as to when to act. In my opinion, a lot of people give up too soon or become disillusioned when they don’t see instant results, perseverance and commitment are essential.

What’s next for Brian McCullen? What are your dreams or aspirations?

The next step for me is to bring my new healing system to the public arena, The Angelic Core Healing. I’m also about to launch a new Album of Angel Meditations for Abundance, “Angel Abundance Now” aimed at helping people to manifest their dream. There are a few books in the pipeline too.

Brian, here are some questions I think you will find interesting. My aim is to ask everyone I interview the same questions.

What’s your most cherished possession?

My pendulum, I used it for clearing, healing and connecting.

What are you currently reading (or learning)?

I was recently reading the “The Four Agreements: Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (Toltec Wisdom)by Don Miguel Ruiz, an excellent book for helping us to focus on speaking and living our truth.

What’s your idea of happiness?

Doing what I came here to do and enjoying seeing that unfolding.

Who or what inspires you?

Genuinely everyone around me, my wife, my kids, other people, daily encounters with clients, healers and somebody on the street.  Everyday I ask my Higher Soul and Angels for guidance too.

What character trait do you most admire?

Willingness to evolve

If you could send some advice back in time to your twenty-year-old self, what wisdom would you share?

Don’t be so hard on yourself…you’re getting there.

If you had a motto what would it be?

Know thyself…and chill out

Brian, it has been a pleasure speaking with you.

Thanks James, a real pleasure.

BRIAN McCULLEN has been working in the healing area for the last 20 years. He runs a fulltime busy healing practice and besides teaching the Angelic Core Healing, he also teaches Reiki healing and Crystal healing courses.  Brian is based in Enfield, County Meath.
Brian’s Healing Therapy Website:
http://www.solashealing.com/
Brian’s Angelic Healing Website:
http://angeliccorehealing.com
“Angel Abundance Now” meditation album:
https://itunes.apple.com/ie/artist/brian-mccullen/id566531090

Read the other interviews in the series

1. Predict and prepare

As with every other aspect of your presentation, effective handling of questions starts with good preparation. By putting yourself in the audience’s chairs you can probably predict many likely questions. If you can predict them, then you can plan in advance how you will respond to them should they come up.
Ask yourself – what questions would I hate to be asked? This will shed a light on a subject or issue where you may not feel comfortable. How would you respond to them? By incorporating this strategy into your preparation you will feel more in control and more control means less nerves.

2. Have the right intention

If you are honest, have you ever gone into a presentation thinking ‘how can I get this over with a quickly as possible?’ or ‘I hope to God they don’t ask my any questions?’ With intentions like these (conscious or unconscious) you will speed through your delivery hardly pausing for breath, let alone a question.
When presenting, we have to realise that questions and audience engagement is part of the process. A presentation is always a means to an end, and that end, whether it is educating the audience or seeking buy-in to an idea, requires interaction and questions are the best way to achieve this. So set your intention positively and consciously. Ask yourself – how can I engage the audience, how can I stimulate discussion?

3. State how you want to deal with questions at the outset

Clarify for the audience how you are going to handle questions. Are you happy to take them as you go, or do you want the audience to hold them until the end? A number of variables will determine the best option; the context, the nature of the topic, your experience as a presenter. At a formal conference questions will usually be at the end of your segment. In a work or educational context taking questions as you go is the norm.

4. Get the basics right

For many people, raising their hand and ask a question requires a little courage, so it is nice to acknowledge their question, particularly the first question asked. Demonstrate that you are listening by holding eye contact with the person. Even though you might think some questions are off the point, or you already covered the topic, treat each person with respect. Repeat or paraphrase the question, especially the longer ones, it demonstrates that you are listening and gives you time to think of the best response.
You also build rapport with the audience when you bridge to the next question. For example, by saying ‘does that answer your question’ or does that make sense?’ Once they respond positively, you then have permission to proceed.

5. The Chris Tarrant option! – Ask the Audience

If there are experts in the audience, or the question asked seeks an opinion, you can deflect the question. For example, if I was asked the question ‘how do you deal with disruptive people?’ I could respond by asking ‘has anyone here had experience of dealing with that situation, what did you do?’ This approach can stimulate a discussion and I may never have to answer the question directly. This strategy can only be used sparingly, you can’t deflect every question!

6. Empathise with the Dissenter

From time to time you may encounter someone who disagrees with something you are presenting. In classic conflict management mode, acknowledge this person’ point of view, empathise with their position, but own your opinion. You want to retain ownership of your presentation throughout; you don’t want to have it hi-jacked by an audience member on a soap box. If necessary, take the issue off line. You don’t want the rest of the audience to feel uncomfortable, so treat the dissenter with respect (even though sometimes that can be hard.)

7. Defend the idea, not yourself

Occasionally, an audience member will have their own agenda and will try to discredit you and your presentation. In these extreme cases they may make snide comments or try to knock your confidence. Retaining your self control is key. As in any conflict situation avoid getting personal. Don’t defend yourself; focus on defending the content of your presentation. By ignoring the personal jibes you earn the sympathy of the rest of your audience. Never get into a discussion about your qualifications or experience, then you are trying to justify your position and you will lose rapport with the group.

8. Disarm hecklers by raising the ‘hot’ issue yourself

If you know that it is highly likely some of attendees will raise contentious issues or have arguments they want to express, deal with them upfront. Remove their ammunition by raising the issue yourself. With this approach you are dealing with the issue in an open and objective way. You are also showing respect for the dissenters by acknowledging their position. But above all you are retaining control of your presentation.

9. Have a plan when you don’t know the answer

No one knows everything, so very occasionally you may get a question you cannot answer. Rather than saying ‘I don’t know…..’ say ‘I’m not 100% sure…..’ The latter presupposes some knowledge and you probably have some knowledge to share. Most of the time people want an accurate answer to their question, rather than an immediate answer. It is absolutely acceptable to say you will find out and get back to them. In this instance, note the question, either on a flipchart or be seen to write it into your notebook. This gives the audience member more certainty that you will actually revert to them.

10. Never end on a question

Have a plan for concluding your presentation; don’t let it peter out by desperately seeking additional questions, or by answering what might have been a weak question to start with. Summarise your main points, share a relevant quote, or outline the next steps. And it is always nice to conclude by thanking the audience.

Many presenters fear being asked difficult questions, or facing a row of angry people with conflicting agendas. This rarely happens. In the vast majority of situations, the audience wants to hear you and learn from you. So whilst some of the above strategies address ways to manage dissenters, from my experience you will rarely need to apply them.
In part four of this series I will take you through some techniques you can use to stimulate questions from the audience to foster engagement and buy-in, the days of asking ‘any questions’ and being met by stony silence will be over.

Check out the previous articles in the series

Part 1 – Avoiding the 4 common mistakes presenters make
Part 2 – Presenting to Senior Managers

Answer – Meditation

Some people say they don’t know how to mediate properly and others say they are simply too busy (a sign they need to meditate!) but surely a practice that has so many benefits, and costs nothing (apart from a little time) is worth bringing into your daily routine.

I’ve meditated on and off for years. I’ve never attended a meditation course, or even read a book on the topic (which is not like me.) I simple sit down, close my eyes and focus on my breathing. Sometimes I will light a candle and have gentle classical music playing in the background to help me get in the mood, but in essence I’m sitting still for twenty minutes.

This quiet time enables me to park the endless thoughts rattling around in my head and connect with something deeper, an inner wisdom, a sense of peace, love, even God. That doesn’t mean my active mind doesn’t fight me every step of the way, telling me what I could or should be doing, but I do my best not to judge these thoughts, allowing them to drift in and out.

One of my favourite spots for meditating

I love the saying ‘you should meditate for 20 minutes every day, unless you’re too busy; then you should meditate for an hour!’ I know the wisdom of it, but it is hard to do, because really when we mediate we are doing nothing and that is something that we struggle with, myself included.

Most of us run the belief that if we slow down or stop for even a few minutes, we will miss out on something. Evidence of this is having our mobile devices within arm’s reach and the moment we are not stimulated, we will check emails, browse social media, or play angry birds. We have to be doing. But we are not human doings, we are human beings.

What’s ironic is that I’ve come to realise that behind so many of the distractions we build into our lives, and even our on-going requests to be ever better versions of ourselves, is a deep desire to reconnect with the Source from which we came. For me, meditation is a doorway back to the ‘Infinite Mind,’ ‘higher consciousness,’ ‘All that is,’ ‘the Great I am,’ ‘God.’

Meditating doesn’t mean your day won’t be busy, or that your chores will disappear, but you will approach those tasks more clear-headed, feeling more resourced (re-Sourced even!) and able to respond to life’s challenges somehow more purposefully.

If you find the term meditation off putting, rename it. How about ‘re-connecting with yourself,’ ‘savouring the silence,’ ‘quietening the mind,’ or ‘sacred time.’ I’m no meditation expert, but I do know what works for me. Here are some tips that I hope you will find useful.

Choose a time

Knowing your schedule as you do, when would be the best time for you to put aside twenty minutes when you know you won’t be disturbed? Like anything important, if left until everything else is done, it will never happen. If having twenty minutes ‘being time’ is important to you, schedule it in advance.
My normal time for meditation is when I return from the gym in the morning, before I have my breakfast. I’ve recently completed a 21 day self-healing, as part of a Reiki course, and sitting down for 20 minutes at the same time every morning, incorporating Reiki into my meditation is a fantastic way to start the day.

Have a regular spot

Where would be the best place for you to have your ‘sacred time?’ I mediate in the living room inside the window. There is a little table close by where I place a candle and a statue of a meditating Buddha. I know someone who turned the space under their stairs into their meditation space, (very Harry Potter,) but it works for them.

Time-box your meditation.

If you struggle to sit in silence, set yourself the target of just five minutes and build from there. My usual timeslot is 20 minutes, sometimes it might be as much as 40, but my busy mind seems to relax when it knows it only has to be still for a pre-determined number of minutes.

Focus on your breath

Some forms of meditation incorporate a chant or a sound (e.g. ‘Ohm’) but all forms of meditation encourage us to bring our attention to our breath. Inhale and exhale consciously, noticing the moment between your out and in breath.

Set an intention

Sometimes I will set a specific intention for my meditation, perhaps it’s to gain an insight into something that is bothering me, or for inspiration for an article or the book I’m writing. From my experience, meditation is route one for connecting with higher wisdom and inspiration.

I will often incorporate prayer into the start of my meditations. For me, prayer is a heartfelt, sincere, personal communication with God. I’ve heard it said that ‘prayer is when we ask or petition God, meditation is when we get the answers.’ From my experience this is true and it also ties in nicely with one of my favourite Bible quotes ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ (Psalm 46:10)

Like any habit, meditation requires regular practice before it will become a natural part of your daily routine. The Dalai Lama has said that ‘if every child in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within a generation.’ How great would it be if we thought our children to meditate, and of course the best way to do that is by being their role model.

I often use the analogy of ‘weeds on the garden’ to describe how we can think we have dug up a limiting belief only for it to return again because the roots were deeper than we thought, or because we didn’t continue to pay attention to the garden (our thoughts.) Recently the weed of lack of worthiness returned for me in an unexpected way.

I was fortunate to be able to go on holiday in January. We were blessed with good weather, the brightness and warmth in the middle of winter was a fantastic tonic. Towards the end of our 12 day trip, over a bottle of wine we toyed with the idea of staying for longer. Initially it was wishful thinking. Was a three week plus holiday possible? My partner was on sabbatical and working for myself my diary is flexible. After some enquiries and phone calls, twenty-four hours later we had changed our flights and extended the stay in the villa. Everything fell into place so easily. But something inside me didn’t feel right. I felt anxious and uneasy.

As the American author and speaker Iyanla Vanzant says ‘pain’ means ‘pay attention in (the) now’ and whilst I wasn’t in pain, my state was unsettled. I’ve learned that that feeling usually means there is a gift of wisdom lurking, so armed with my trusted notebook and pen I went for a walk by the sea. Watching waves always helps me reconnect with the rhythm of my soul.

Watching the waves

So I asked myself what was I feeling? Guilt was the answer loud and clear. Who am I to spend three weeks in the sun in January? What did I do to deserve it? Have I earned it? What would other people think? The last niggling question was an interesting one, because family and friends and even the clients I contacted to rearrange meetings said I was doing exactly the right thing. So it was illogical that I was feeling a lack of worthiness, but then limiting beliefs tend to be illogical.

My first reaction was to laugh. I’m no novice at personal development and at shifting limiting beliefs in myself and others, but there was obviously a part of the garden I hadn’t weeded in a while!

I meditated on what was underneath the feelings of guilt and lack of worthiness and of course journaled everything I was grateful for, including this opportunity to learn. It got me thinking about how we can restrict our lives by being concerned about what other people think of us, when in reality they’re probably not thinking about us at all.

In the western world there is also the belief about earning time off. We believe we must work hard to earn or to deserve the right to have a relaxing weekend or a holiday. Maybe the opportunity to extend a holiday on the spur of the moment was just life showing me what was possible? Yet there I was trying to sabotage it, a common unconscious response when our reality doesn’t meet our beliefs or expectations as to how things should be. Sometimes we feel as well that we have to portion our happiness and well-being into bite-size chunks. I was being presented with a gourmet meal of rest and relaxation, and I couldn’t digest it!

The really funny part was that a year earlier when I was writing out some goals and ambitions, I wrote that in the future I wanted to be able to live abroad for a few weeks to avoid the worst of the winter cold and darkness. Here was the universe presenting it to me and I was struggling to receive it.

Sunset – Montana Roja, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, January 2013

So what was the gift of wisdom? There were several nuggets of learning.

It was a beautiful, gentle reminder to be open to receiving the abundance of the Universe/ God even when it is presented in ways I don’t expect.

I also learned that dreams and goals can be reached by many routes and usually not the pre-planned ones. And oftentimes you don’t have to do anything differently, just get out of your own way and allow yourself to receive.

As ever, it was a timely reminder to live in the moment, to be present, to live life as it is, not as how I expect it to be or want it to be.

And perhaps most powerfully, not to postpone happiness, to seize every opportunity.

The last sentence I wrote in my journal whilst watching the waves crashing was ‘what if this is the time of my life and I don’t realise it?’

I started writing this blog, whilst enjoying a sunset, full of gratitude for being able to enjoy a winter break and equally grateful for the learning that has enabled me to relish and savour the gifts of the present moment. I’m editing and uploading it back at my desk in my office, equally grateful.