Over twenty years ago, it irked some that I wasn’t prepared to plant myself at one law firm and nurture my place, for decades. Work was work, play was what you did after all the work was done. I always coloured outside the lines. Just a smigen. Never too much.  

Luckily for me, I found a way to work for myself. To make my own rules within the confines of other people's rules. Colouring just outside the lines. But not too much. 

I've done this forever it seems, and now I'm doing it again with law, mediation and coaching. It's time for a shake-up. 

These days our world wants to embrace change faster than we can sometimes bring it about, especially in the ‘professions’. Right now the legal world is grappling with mediation v litigation. There are government white papers and consulting reports, legal judgments raising eyebrows. And temperatures. 

Some lawyes are in a tailspin as they grapple with the new appetite for mediation over litigation in our court system. Some are embracing the change, some not so much. Others have seen the changes coming a mile off and are already onboard and settling cases for their satisfied clients. Some are scared their clients expect a litigation lawyer to be tough. Some clients are confused when their lawyer suggests mediation. They don't yet understand it, because in legal-age, it's fairly new. It's also in danger of losing some of what's special about it with too much legal interference.

Like all mediators, I can see all perspectives and any opinions I have, I keep to myself. I'm neutral. I sit on the fence. I listen to all side's mantra of the 'overriding objective' (the need to resolve disputes that are proportional to the costs involved) bang its drum. I encourage their opinions, their fears, their suggestions for the future. But I absolutely know mediation is here to stay. And I want to offer something a little different. A smigen different. I think you are looking for that, and that's why you are here. And that's why I'm here. This is all about you, not me.

Much of my working life has meant adapting and taking account of the point of views of others. I’ve been an employee, a boss, an entrepreneur. I'm still all those labels. When you think about it, most of us are. Even a stay-at-home mum is both the employee and the boss of their child. A son can be the employee and boss of his elderly parent. You get the idea. 

I love mediation. I love conflict resolution. It turns out, my life's journey was nurturing me towards my true passion: finding out what makes people tick, helping them find solutions and blending my knowledge and experience to best suit my client’s needs. 

Coaching and mediating on issues can sometimes explore the past, but ultimately resolving issues are always about finding ways to move forward. 

Sure, those in conflict wish to review and explain how they got here, but ultimately the participants of any conflict resolution come to the table to move from the past into a more promising and productive future. 

The magic for the mediator - the priviledge - is seeing the parties co-create that better future, together. 

Whatever that means for them.