What will the book do for the reader?
‘The book will give them confidence in themselves and a menu of easy ways to make life better. So many ‘self help’ books are American, evangelical and actually rather off putting. I wanted to write a book that anyone could pick up, flick through and find something easy to do straight away. That will encourage them to dig deeper, both into the book and their lives. Where did the idea for the book come from?
I meet a lot of people who decide to start a business to change their lives. What they often find, is that they’ve literally jumped from the frying pan to the fire. Running a small business can be terrifying and actually they’d have done better to take control of the situation they’ve left behind. Our world is so politically correct and inclusive that we’ve lost sight of what’s real. You don’t have to wait for your employer to adopt some equal opportunity policy or the other – you’ve just got to slowly but surely develop yourself and take control of your situation. It’s not difficult if you do it one small step at a time Who did you have in mind when you wrote this book, and how might it help them?
When I was 17 and at college I was very unhappy at home and totally lacking in self esteem. My father was a respected bank manager in the town where I lived and a domineering alcoholic at home. He was out of control and unable to seek help. Anyway, over a long term I plucked up the courage to visit the college’s student counsellor – I guess it was to be my first positive step towards breaking free. The counsellor’s office was at the top of one of the stairwells, in a kind of converted box room and the only room on its floor – I guess it was also access to the roof. One summer lunchtime I slowly climbed the stairs and knocked on the door – I was shaking with fear and trepidation. There was nobody there and I ran back down the stairs and never tried again. 25yrs later I sought advice again and this time completely changed my life. Now I’m not suggesting that this book is for shy teenagers struggling to escape from a nasty home environment. However, we all have things in our lives we want to change, some major and some just silly niggles. The book is easy to pick up, perhaps at a railway station, flick through to check it’s for you and then buy for a tenner. It will help everyone who wants to change something about themselves. Had I read my own book when I was 17 I might have felt a whole lot less alone and scared and not waited a quarter of a century to unlock my potential. If we read your book, what will we get better at?
Easy – whatever you want to get better at. In some ways I hope readers will find suggestions in there that they don’t need to read or consider. In fact you could use the book as a kind of ‘life MOT’, ticking off the sections you’ve got sussed and focusing on the areas of need. Tell us more about a scenario in which your book might prove particularly useful for our readers?
Well apart from my own story, it’s perfect for anyone who feels even the slightest bit like they’re missing out on something in their lives. It’s also a great book to buy for someone you love or simply that guy in the office who never quite seems to get the plot.
Any great stories in the book? I guess a good example of the practical nature of the book is the fact that I deal with losing weight in one page. The first two tips are to eat less and exercise more. Again, we get so hung up on the details of this diet or that that we completely forget the obvious. Of course obesity is more complex than that and there are often underlying issues that are prompting overeating and an unhealthy lifestyle, but this book deals with those things as well. It’s tough to lose weight when you’re miserable. This book can make you happy and then the pounds will fall off almost on their own! Is this one for a global audience?
Absolutely. Wherever we live and however rich or poor we are, we are people. This book is for anyone who has self doubt, ambition and an urge to make things better. We all start that journey from somewhere different, but it’s the distance we travel that counts. This book can guide anyone along that road. If there is one critical message that you would like readers take from your work, what would it be? It’s your life, your future and your opportunity. Tomorrow, whatever you did today becomes history. It’s never too late or too early to make changes in your life. I’ve learned the hard way that looking back kills your ability to move forward. It’s a cliché I know, but today really is the first day of the rest of your life. What in the world of management has done most to create the need for this book?
Hmmmm in many ways this book is an antidote to management. Too many people are managed to the point of intellectual extinction. This book helps them retain and grow their individuality. How does your book differ from/build on the work of previous books on this topic?
Well for one thing it’s easy to read. No jargon, big words or bias towards this philosophy or that. It’s also practical and packed with plenty of easy things to get the reader used to the concept of self improvement. Then there are bigger things to try, but only once the reader’s comfortable and ready
All interesting stuff, so how should we go about putting it into action tomorrow?
Buy the book, a pad of post it notes and a highlighter. Then map out some things you want to first, highlight them and go and do it. If we want to explore or implement these ideas further, what should we do?
Buy the book . . . . . oh, and visit my website and read my daily ‘top tip’. You can even subscribe, read lots of additional stuff I’ve written and ask me questions.
Do these ideas work?
I am evidence of that. How did you research a book like this?
By living, watching and listening.
How do you keep in touch with the changing world of work?
I constantly put myself in uncomfortable situations, risking reputation and sometimes money in activities that will stretch my thinking and remind me of how tough real life is for many. Which "big idea" has had the greatest impact on the way you work?
The notion that you need to build a ladder to reach your ultimate goal. Every successful person took it a step at a time and took plenty of knocks along the way. The trouble is they don’t often share the pain they endured along the way and we all think they made the distance in one giant leap. That’s simply not true! As a business thinker yourself, which thought leaders have most inspired you?
I read widely and voraciously. Often the stuff I apply in a business context I’ve lifted from a completely different context. For example recently I’ve been researching the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. This is essentially a situation where you value and appreciate the wear and decay that an object can only acquire with time and use. To me it’s the opposite of bling. Why do we change things because they’re no longer perfect when imperfections can themselves be attractive and even tell stories about our history and experience. What do you consider yourself to be?
Very lucky. When I sorted my life out I realised I had a whole load of useful experiences, a loving wife, balanced children and a great future. I’d been running blindfolded for years so could so easily have lost it all. If you want to know how I describe myself, I guess I’d say I’m Robert Ashton. I don’t want labels, badges or self-description. I want people to decide what I can be for them and that’s what I’ll be, for that person as an individual Finally, any questions that you'd like to ask your readers?
Don’t just read the book and put it on a shelf. Make it a book you carry about, read on the train, write all over, bend over pages and really put to use. Then, when you’re really beginning to see a difference in your life, email me and share you success. I want to hear how people use my book to change their lives.