‘Kairos moments’. Pivotal experiences... I wasn’t trying to be difficult. It felt like an issue of justice. I was in my late teens and this was a trade union meeting in a local town hall. The room was packed full and I sat upstairs in a balcony. The union leaders were in powerful positions, sitting in a row at the front table. Nobody dared to speak or to raise a challenge. To lose membership meant to lose one’s job. ‘We have mortgages to pay and mouths to feed.’ I valued the trade union ideal but, somewhere along the way, this body had lost its visionary, democratic principles. I disliked the way its leaders abused power and traded on fear. After making long, tedious speeches, reminiscent of a bygone communist era, the main leader stood up and asked if anyone had anything to say. A tense and tangible silence filled the room. I could feel my heart pounding and nerves straining throughout my body. I had to say something, I had to speak. So, much to my colleagues’ amazement, I stood up, took a deep breath and advocated a proposal for democratic reform. The whole room gasped…then fell back to stunned silence. The leader, now red with rage, shot me down for daring to challenge his authority – and inadvertently proved my point. I was treated like a hero as I left that day, work mates crowding around, punching my shoulders and patting my back with looks of surprise and admiration. It was a defining moment for me. I had stood up to authority, taken a public stance on my beliefs and values and, by God’s grace, managed to stay diplomatic and assertive. There could be no going back now. I organised a union-wide petition and, as a result, came under threat from union reps who warned me that I was ‘playing with fire’. I resigned, left my job and entered human rights and community development work. I can see a trajectory in my life that had led up to that point, e.g. from when, as a young school boy, I had hated bulling and cruelty to animals and had created an animal rights activist group at school. I can also trace a clear trajectory through my life and career in subsequent years, e.g. in leadership, coaching and OD roles in charities and INGOs, based on my spiritual-existential-humanistic beliefs and values. I still hold that same passion to support people who are poor, vulnerable or oppressed in the world. What have been the defining moments in your life and career? How did you get here? How can I help you work out your career-calling? Get in touch! info@nick-wright.com
12 Comments
Dr. Rohan Karpe, PhD MA BEng
28/4/2019 09:40:36 am
Hi Nick. Your articles are a delight to read, they express do's and dont's of professional conduct and learning and development often in image laden first-person narratives. And they are a breeze to read. I look forward eagerly for what you have to say on every topic you address. Thank you for sharing your worldviews!
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Nick Wright
28/4/2019 09:40:59 am
Hi Rohan. Thank you for such incredibly kind and encouraging feedback. Much appreciated! 🙏
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Marc Roussel
28/4/2019 09:49:11 am
Bien observé, je vis cela de temps à autres. De plus en plus souvent en fait . C'est le fait d'être en train de créer... Une expression totalement libre de soi^même en parfait harmonie et résonance avec les autres.
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Nick Wright
28/4/2019 09:50:48 am
Merci Marc. Avez-vous un exemple de ta vie que vous pourrez partager ici pour inspirer les autres?
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Geoff Williams
1/5/2019 06:29:02 pm
This is an inspiring reminder that all transformative acts start with the use of the voice. The voice is a type of potential energy that is only effective when spoken out loud in context - when we use it it becomes a type of kinetic energy that has the power to effect change. You used it Nick and look where your life took you. I wonder what the world would be like if we all used our voices in a similar way.
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Nick Wright
1/5/2019 11:00:27 pm
Thanks Geoff. That's an interesting angle. It reminds me of expressions we use in the English language that have both literal and metaphorical meaning, e.g. feeling silenced; 'don't speak unless spoken to'; enabling people to find their voice; being outspoken; speaking up. It's as if we associate notions of voice, of speaking, with power and liberation.
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Sue McDonnell
2/5/2019 10:38:08 am
I love this post Nick, thanks for sharing! My Mum says from the age of 3/4 I would approach people in the supermarket and ask how they were feeling lol!! She said I was always willing to say the things that needed to be said. Grateful for this courage! 🙏🏼
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Nick Wright
2/5/2019 10:39:53 am
Thanks Sue. Wow - a coach/therapist at such an early age! I'm impressed. :)
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William Chadwick
2/5/2019 10:24:23 pm
An inspiring story Nick - my similar paid work with the Equality Commission and now as a volunteer advocate when not freelancing, drove and shaped my life. My friend and I have put together a short booklet - just a word doc, nothing fancy, on tips that helped us as freelancers and indeed other people responding to a post by me on LINKED IN similar to yours have contributed their ideas. Happy to send you and others a copy -qedworks@hotmail.co.uk
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Nick Wright
2/5/2019 10:26:20 pm
Thanks William. That’s a kind offer and I would be interested to see a copy. My email address is info@nick-wright.com
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Bob Larcher
6/5/2019 09:10:01 pm
Ah Kairos, the often forgotten sibling of Ethos, Logos and Pathos - nice to see it getting a mention!!
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Nick Wright
6/5/2019 09:11:55 pm
Hi Bob. Yes, and in contrast to Chronos. 😎
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Nick WrightI'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? Get in touch! Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
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