When the Clouds Come. Drew Povey

CEO, Westfield Health

      “I would wholeheartedly recommend that you read this book to help build your strength and optimism and to understand that that the choices we make CAN make everything better. Drew is one of the few people I've met who can help me think through ways of dealing with the constant uncertainty we all experience in life. This book really is an essential companion for the world in which we currently live.”

      —Sophie Devonshire: CEO, The Marketing Society

“Having worked with Drew on a range of different projects, I always find myself energised by his positive approach to business, leadership and life in general. I have no doubt this book will instill that same positive energy for its readers.”

       Stuart Pearce MBE, Football Icon

      WHEN THE CLOUDS COME

      DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES, FACING YOUR FEARS, AND OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

       DREW POVEY

       WITH SAM DRAPER

This edition first published 2022 Copyright © 2022 by Drew Povey. All rights reserved.

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       Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is Available:

      ISBN 9780857089175 (paperback)

      ISBN 9780857089182 (ePub)

      ISBN 9780857089199 (ePDF)

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Introduction

      I think some people write books because it's their lifelong ambition, others because they think it's a business opening. I think people write books for a myriad of different reasons. For me it's always about, ‘Can you put something out into the world that is going to make a difference?’ That's it.

      People normally write books because they're passionate about whatever their message is, or information they are parting with. Let's be honest, it's not that easy. It's quite a long and drawn-out process – well it is certainly that way for me. I wanted to write this book because I'm limited on the number of people I can share my thoughts and ideas with day to day, and I wanted to get those ideas down so that I can hopefully provide others, whom I wouldn't normally come into contact with, that little bit of additional help to get them through any tough time they might be facing.

Like with anything in life, the decision to write a book will come down to how much you really want to do it. And that is the question that I kick around a lot. Then I'll make a decision, as a result of which I'll actually get behind this book and do it – or not. Sounds simple. But of course, you're going to be asking yourself questions like, ‘What's the point of it?’ Well, on this occasion I had a clear answer to my doubts and questions.

      I've spent around 20 years in the world of leadership and for such a long time, the story was always about the gold medallist – the winner! It was always about the person that had climbed the highest mountain. It was always about those people that have done incredible things and achieved brilliance. And yes, all of this is very inspiring, but there's always that bit at the back of your mind that says, ‘But I'm not an Olympic athlete’, or ‘Well, I'm not going to be climbing that mountain, and actually I don't want to.’

I really felt that there was a need for people to have more conversations around what happens when life isn't going so well. When life gets difficult. When you're feeling like the walls are closing in or you are perhaps in the middle of your own storm. Bad things happen, it's normal, it's customary to us, it is relatable. Whether it's having a tough time in work, or the devastating news of cancer coming into your family, or whether you have lost your job, or been involved in a terrible accident. Whether it's that you just don't feel right. Whatever it is, it's when those negative times come, those difficult moments that I really think we need to have some more understanding. And hopefully, this is just what this book will do.

      I looked at other people's difficult experiences, and to my own life, and considered what was both helpful and not in these types of situations. And soon, there was a real catalogue of ideas emerging about dealing with these tough times. And to go back to that question of how much you want to do something – this is what it came down to for me: can I do something that's going to help more people beyond social media and the coaching/development-type sessions that I already do? Something that was real and that was practical. Something broken down so simply and in one place that would mean that anyone could grasp it – wouldn't that be wonderful?

I'm never going to claim that I've had a tough life. In fact – even reflecting on my most difficult moments when compared to