Anne Gilkes Coaching, Lizard (2026)

15/03/2026

My favourite place on earth.

A good place to process change.

Watching the waves, I could stay here forever.

So tempting...

08/03/2026

White on grey, black on grey, pink on grey, yellow on grey, mottled who knows what colours on grey.

And of course red on black and white!

Who says foggy days are dull!

10/08/2025

How often do you enjoy getting out of the every day normal and stepping into a different world?

Last weekend I went to the Green Gathering, an off grid festival - lots of off grid people, diversity in many wonderful ways and passion for traditional crafts, fairness and what people there believe in.

Aside from drinking lots of coffee, gorgeous food and listening to music, I also attended a couple of talks - on permaculture and forest gardening.

The one thing that kept coming back in as a theme was how nature always reverts back to diversity.

Everything in nature connected and working together, strengths from different ways of being.

Like the hidden mycelium, the fungus that connects trees so they can communicate!

It's got me reflecting on how as a world we could learn from this.

There a saying that we're only 7 connections away from every single person on the planet.

That's a pretty small number.

So I'm wondering how we can lean into this to make the world a more accepting and fairer place.

I don't have the answers for such a big question! But I'd love to know your thoughts on this too.

19/05/2025

Sometimes you have to adjust to the conditions.

The forecast on Saturday was wrong! Expecting a calm and gentle sea - only to find a north easterly wind had pushed up the swell to rollercoaster proportions!

I found myself getting in sync with the waves.

Noticing the shadows of the approaching peaks as I gazed down through the water. Breathing in and away from the approaching fronts. Keeping it time with the sets.

And technique.

Stretching and cutting through the rise and fall. Hands through 4 to 6pm. Feet boiling the surface. All the stuff I've been learning this past year.

And it worked - I managed a kilometre despite the conditions! And all from someone who started this time last year in the complete beginners class.

That's the thing.

In life and work it gets messy, especially when you're not expecting it to! It's just the way it is.

But how you deal with it? That's another matter.

If you have no techniques to cope, chances are you'll be floundering.

Trying to keep your head above the water or clinging to whatever you find that helps you stay afloat.

What if you had strategies so you could manage the ups and downs, without feeling overwhelmed or worrying?

I've helped many people going through difficult stages of their career and life.

Helped them to see what's important and what's not, cut through the noise, stop waiting and start doing.

Succeeding and progressing.

Getting more time for themselves. Creating happier lifestyles and building in the enjoyment and fulfilling activities that they were missing.

Life's too short to stay on the shore because the waves look a bit bigger than you were expecting.

Want to learn how to cut through the chop? Drop me a message and let's have a chat about what you want in your future.

07/04/2025

This morning I heard a brilliant analogy that perfectly illustrates how my brain works when I'm trying to connect with other people, socially and professionally.

For the last few weeks I've been working through a course that's very close to my heart - Neurodiversity Awareness.

It's been a long time coming - I'm in my 50s and only just learning the facts and differences of Neuro-typical vs Neurodivergent wiring, especially in women which presents in such a different way to the stereotypic profiles of men and boys (a subject for another day).

It's answering a lot of questions and puzzles I've had about myself all my life yet never really thought about.

Listening to a podcast of 'The Neurodivergent Woman' this morning had me spluttering into my coffee as I recognised myself as a squirrel!

Gathering information like nuts! Each one an interesting nugget to be kept and then shared with the people nearest and dearest to me - and using these same nuggets in social situations as a way to try to connect!

And here I am - desperate to share this amazing insight because it's so great in my head that surely everyone will want to know this! Won't they?

NLP has taught me how communicating between different types of people can be made easier, adapting to different styles with different types of people. Plus I've a lifetime of working and living...
So I've learnt to mix and match how I interact with others. But I'll be honest, it doesn't come naturally.

In fact I still like to default and share my nuts, especially when I'm a bit stressed - because I don't always get how conversations flow and sharing nuts just feels safer and easier for me.

So I hope you'll forgive me if I meet you out and about or networking and give you random yet interesting (of course!) information!

Do you feel like you're a bit of squirrel too?

I'm sharing my big basket of nuts in my free workshop this Thursday 10th April at 1pm to 2pm- "Unlocking Workplace Dynamics: An Introduction to Social Styles.

If you'd like to come along and learn a practical way to understand and communicate better with the four main styles you're likely to come across at work (and generally), there's a link in the comments below to register.

And if anything's just piqued your interest and you fancy a chat about how to get a better understanding of yourself and your personal superpowers, drop me a message so we can book in a clarity call.

20/01/2025

I stood at the top of a Tor on Saturday, probably looking like a mad woman, waving my arm round and round in circles!

No, I wasn't trying to scare off the ponies! Do you remember those plaques found at the top of view points that showed all the horizon points around you? Well now you just need to wave your phone and they'll appear as if by magic!

Quite useful on a murky January day when you can't actually make out that many points. And very useful if you're walking long distances. Or just if you're as curious as I am!

Of course, you have to get to a high point first.

And that takes effort.

For me, getting motivated is easier when I'm with someone and know where I'm headed.

And when you want to move forward or upwards in your business or career the same can apply.

Getting and staying motivated is easier when you have clarity of your next moves and have a partner holding you accountable, in a good way.

I knew we had a nice cosy hotel at the end of our walk to celebrate my birthday. Lovely open fire, perfect for a misty Dartmoor night.

If you know you want more this year and need help to get started, I have a limited number of free 30 minute strategy sessions left this month.

Drop me a message and I'll get you booked in.

31/10/2024

When I decided where we were going this summer I had no idea that our trek would begin with a National Geographic top 10 world walk!

Besseggen Ridge in Norway's Jotunheim National Park was forged by Thor on the anvil of the earth!

The colours of the lakes are gorgeous - one turquoise from glacial melt waters, the other dark and clear - the cleanest in Norway!

And they're at completely different levels! Loved that!

Our trek took us into the heart of glacial landscapes that really did appear to be carved out by the Norse Gods.

In fact trek isn't the right word, obstacle course fits better!

You learn a lot about yourself when you spend hours in a quiet space..

When you're entire focus is the next step, the balance, the stretch, the endurance.

(I also learnt that Rob can actually get up at 6am when it matters!)

A variety of learnings, tips and (hopefully not too corny) analogies are likely to follow...😄

Look out for them!

And if you're feeling inspired to step into your own life adventure but want some help to make progress, drop me a message and let's talk. 😊

08/08/2024

We did it!

My highlights of recent weeks have been my open water sea swimming lessons.

I'm a beginner, dipping being my norm. Yet I've always wanted to swim 'over arm'.

Proper front crawl, which I've never mastered in a pool let alone the sea!

The wonderful Aspire to Swim with Gerry's Lyme Bay Swim and fantastic volunteers, and in conjunction with Pete Wilby Triathlon, ran their 6 week course again this summer encouraging anyone over 50 (yes, hard to believe I'm in that category!) to get sea swimming.

And at the beginning we all set a goal. The goal of swimming round the pier, about 500m or so. Or whatever goal felt stretchy yet reachable.

Today was the day, and of course the lovely flat conditions were typically replaced by big swells and chop, even the occasional 'white horse' in there too!

Slight change of plan had us swimming parallel to the beach along the groynes. Flexibilty to plans is the norm when conditions change.

After figuring out which was the better side to breath, we swam about 400m, the decidedto continue a further 200m!

Goal more than achieved! Certificate and cake gratefully received!

Having reached this milestone I'm now considering entering a 750m sea swim event.

I'll be honest, I'm a bit scared. It's definitely out of my comfort zone.

I know I'll be slow. I'll be at the back, and that's OK. My aim is to take part, 'enjoy' the experience and finish it.

So putting it out on here for some accountability and encouragement!

I talk about reconnecting with your adventurous self in my coaching. And this is exactly what I do with myself when I'm feeling unsure.

We've all got our past courageous or adventurous selves to guide us and be a resource we can use.

You just need to know how to tap into it.

I'll be running a masterclass on how to do this with NLP tools and techniques in October, so keep your eyes out for details.

Drop me a message if you'd like to know more or can't wait that long!

04/08/2024

So a bit more of a personal reflection...

Every year for the past 12 years or so, we go to WOMAD - a festival of World Music and Dance.

Music from across all genres from far flung corners of the world.

Bands I've never heard of and there are always amazing discoveries!

We gather with friendships that are so deep we can pick up from where we left off last year.

And most of all, we revel in the atmosphere of diversity and acceptance.

In a world so full of division, events like these are true balm for the soul. It brings me hope.

Experiences that fit your personal values are vital if you want to feel whole. This festival hits the spot for me.

And recharging of my batteries.

So where do you find your home from home?

What events hit your spot?

Oh, and a personal celebration - this is my 8th personal dry festival. Lots of tea, coffee and cake tasting!

22/07/2024

"Is it 2 steps forward and 1 backwards, or 1 step forwards and 2 backwards?" And then I decided it didn't actually matter...

I'm learning to swim in the sea. Not just dip like normal, but grown up front crawl.

Thursdays and Saturdays with Pete Wilby and a lovely group of like minded water folk.

Breathing though- that's my area for developing that I keep on trying to establish.

And after a wonderful swim a week ago where I felt as glidey as a porpoise, I've had 2 sessions spluttering like a drunken seal!

It doesn't matter what you're learning, progress is very rarely a straight line.

How you react to set backs depends whether you have a 'fixed' or a 'growth' mindset, and will affect how much and how quickly you improve.

When something isn't going to plan,
you can learn from it. And the effort isn't wasted.

Running away from failure or difficulty on the other hand only increases the distance to your solution.

So next time you feel like you're going backwards, instead of judging yourself and closing down, get curious about what you've just learnt.

Me? I've just learnt that breathing into the direction of on coming waves in a rough sea is not a good idea!

Photo taken on a calmer day, perhaps not my most glamorous!

When you’re ready to explore how you can gain more growth in your busines, or move away from a sticky situation or a habit you've formed at home or in your career, drop me a message and let's chat.

30/06/2024

Glastonbury 30 years ago!
And now my son's sending me photos from his 1st Glastonbury...
Feeling the excitement rising as I watch the coverage on TV.
Really must go next year, it's been far too long!

09/12/2023

I couldn't have done this walk a few weeks ago...

Why? Because I'd been putting up with old wellies with holes in! Because they were comfy, I liked the patterns on them, they were familiar...

And walking along today I was reflecting on how often we put up with the tools and skills we have at work that are comfy and familiar - but not always the best.

The way we plan out our day, how we shield ourselves from uncomfortable situations or conversations, sometimes ignoring what's blindingly obvious but scary to do.

Yet what would it be like to have better ways of managing your work?

Tools you can turn to when you need to have tricky discussions?

New skills and ways of communicating that are motivating and inspiring not just with your team but to you too?

When I embarked on my own journey of personal development I had no idea it would bring such a ridiculous amount of growth and an opening up of infinite possibilities.

Imagine bringing that kind of confidence into your working day and the positive changes you could bring!

And that’s what having coaching, especially with brings. Which is of course why I absolutely love it!

If you'd like to know more drop me a message as I have 3 spaces opening up on January 24.

Oh, and not feeling quite so smug about the new wellies as I forgot to put my boots in the car to change into... 🙄

Anne Gilkes Coaching