Good old fashioned encouragement

I don't hear that word as much as I'd like you know but my next Pink Expert Helen Yarnold knows all about encouragement. She bills it as her top talent in business and why not. In fact, it's encouragement that's got her meeting and beating her own personal goals including being able to do the Moonwalk for charity – here she is in her fluffy bra ladies...she tells me she usually only wears it on very special occasions! Read on and you might just be encouraged to do something amazing today...

What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

I would say that my natural talent is encouragement. I sometimes think that “motivation” is a harsh word and suggests someone doing the pushing while the recipient is definitely pulling away! Gentle encouragement is my way of helping others find their way to doing what they really want. I was told just the other day – “You’re good at this – you don’t even know you’re doing it!”

When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

Encouragement and humour are the ethos of my coaching practice and I have developed this into working with people with weight and body issues – something I am familiar with – having lost 5 stones myself. This has been a journey for me, culminating in completing the London Triathlon in August this year – I’m still smiling! What I want to give people is that feeling – that amazing feeling that gives you a sense of self belief that if I could bottle it, I would be a millionaire! The journey continues with me training to be a personal trainer, still have some weight to lose, still need to be able to lift my feet up when I run – I might never be fast but it’s great fun along the way!

If, like Helen, you think you're talented at your job, we'd love to hear from you!  E-mail your answers to the above question to lynette@pinkskills.co.uk today.