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More brilliantly bouncy, less sad Tasmanian Devil
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Reading time: 3.14 766 words Hey Reader, I don’t know about you, but I spend far more time than I’d like frantically spinning in the midst of 492 separate things I want to do all at the same time. Imagine the Tasmanian Devil, but instead of cackling with glee, it’s sobbing while frantically shovelling thin slices of cheese into its mouth. Not ideal. In fact, the stress and the cheese combined sound like a shortcut to an early grave and that’s not on my mushrooming to-do list. I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR DEATH. What I need is… RESILIENCE! Funny thing is, I always thought “resilience” was gritting your teeth and powering through, hoping you make it out the other side without too many things bursting into flames, but it’s not. After all, that’s what we’re told, right? We just have to hustle harder, work more, sacrifice even more of who we are for everyone else, and we’ll finally get what we want. To me, that sounds an awful lot like the social contract which is now broken: work for 40 years THEN you can chill and enjoy yourself. At which point, you promptly drop dead from exhaustion. No ta. That version of “resilience” can get in the bin. Thankfully, it’s not even accurate. According to Laura Chamberlain, who is a wise and wonderful Professor owl, resilience is thriving with energy. I love that idea. I love the idea of thriving and I love the idea of being energetic about it. I love the idea of being Brilliantly Bouncy. Which, coincidentally, is the book that Laura wrote almost exactly a year ago! Brilliantly Bouncy: Discover Positive Resilience just celebrated its first birthday and it’s an absolute delight. AND she was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2026 Business Book Awards, which is so exciting! Laura’s revolutionary “positive resilience” approach laughs in the face of conventional wisdom, and she shows us how resilience is a vibrant process we can build every day, not just a hair-on-fire crisis response. Her lovely book shares a whole bunch of practical wisdom including:
“You are already stronger than you think. You don’t need to be “fixed” or completely transformed. You don’t need another overwhelming self-help programme that feels like just one more thing on your impossible to-do list. What you need — what you deserve — is a way to feel more confident, more in control, and yes, more resilient, without having to completely overhaul your already full life.” This quote sums up Laura’s approach and her book. She’s such a champion of people, she sees the good and the strengths in everyone she meets, and she’s adamant that we’re all wonderful people and don’t need to try to be someone else. What could we achieve together if we really believed we’re as wonderful as Laura believes we are? If we got out of our own way, calmed down, and did the thing? I reckon we could move mountains. As soon as I met Laura, I made a friend for life. We started as author and book coach (and have carried on that path) but we quickly became close friends, and I feel incredibly lucky. I loved her idea for Brilliantly Bouncy and I particularly loved helping her step out from her academic writing shell and into her true voice. That’s one of my favourite things. We don’t have to put on the voice that is expected of us. We get to use the voice that reflects who we truly are, and Laura has done that in this book. I’m so proud of the work we did together and I know this small but mighty book will change your energy for you, if you let it. Get it now from Amazon. Massive congratulations to Laura on publishing your first book and happy first birthday to both of you! Brilliantly Bouncy is a delight to read from start to finish. We’re all too tired and that’s a real shame because we get one turn on this merry-go-round and I think it’d be lovely if we were all a bit less stressed about it. Read the book. Love the book. Live more bouncily. TTFN, Vicky 🫡 p.s. Laura wrote this book in my MicroBook Magic coaching programme. I’m not running that programme anymore, but you can still work with me. I’m offering 3 Book Breakthrough: Unlocked sessions in November. Find out more and book here. p.p.s. Know someone who might enjoy this email? Please forward it to them and get them to sign up here.
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Learn to Write Like You Mean It
Join 500+ writers, creatives, misfits, and weirdos and learn to write like you mean it in 10 minutes a day. Get ONE practical tip, story, or shenanigan on Mondays + Wednesdays + a creative goodie bag on Friday 🖖🏼
Reading time: 0.29 114 words Read this email in your browser Hey Reader, It’s Monday, the sun is shining, it’s a perfect Autumn day, and what better conditions than this for a little fun creativity? I have a prompt for you: Have a quick look through your wardrobe and find something you no longer wear that you could sell or donate. Write a really honest, fun description. What kind of vibe does it embody? What could you wear it for? What HAVE you worn it for and what superpowers did it give you...
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Reading time: 3.45 890 words Read this email in your browser Hey Reader, Raise a drinking receptacle with me, for today we celebrate! I am cheersing the release of a new book called You Might Live Twice: A surgeon’s journey from stroke to self-mastery — a roadmap that may change your life too by Simon Kirby, MD. I had the honour and delight of being Simon’s book coach and editor, and this one felt particularly special because he trusted me to help him bring his story to life. And his story is...