Welcome to my blog
A place to find help, insights and clarity
October Plans – Signatures, longer nights, and some candid self-reflection
“October teaches us that letting go can be a beautiful act of courage.” – Unknown Now we are in the final months of 2026; your mind may be turning to Halloween, the half-term break and colder days. Ditto! However, before we get to that, let me share some key...
How to navigate AI’s impact on job searching
Each month, there is a chance to “pick my brains for free”. Some call it a question-and-answer session. I call it Ask Me Anything. Sometimes, those questions come directly from the community; other times, they’re themes I have seen in conversations with clients. Each...
Book Review: All the feels: How technology can change our emotional lives for the better” by Pamela Pavliscak
How does this title make you feel? Hopeful? Sceptical? Intrigued? I think many of us have a complicated relationship with technology. One that has changed as technology and its impact on our lives have evolved. I tend to have a mixed bag of emotions when it comes to...
The (brief) history of The Balance Collective
Deciding to move to a new role and company can take a lot of soul-searching. When I knew I was ready to move to a larger organisation and team, I had a list of must-haves. I knew I wanted the not-for-profit sector, and I was determined to work with smaller/start-up...
September Plans – new starts and cooler days
“Find out who you are, then do it on purpose”. Dolly Parton I couldn’t think of anyone better to open this month’s email than words from the amazing Dolly Parton. What an inspiration! I am aiming to “be more Dolly”; are you? I’m back at my desk after a lovely August,...
When is the best time to make a change in your career?
“I really want to be in school hols with G; oh well, off to work I go”. My Facebook status from August 1st, 2011, isn’t unique. It’s a sentiment that so many parents share. The pull between work and home over the school holidays. The juggle of arranging childcare and...
August Plans – I’m quieter, but I’m not disappearing.
“Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.” We are now officially in a birthday month, for both family members and me. That, along with annual leave, means work will be a little quieter. In fact, I only have two of my working weeks over...
Book Review: The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
With over 15 million copies sold worldwide, “The Courage to be Disliked” has found its way onto quite a few bookshelves. The title seems to have waves of popularity, especially on social media, since its 2013 publication. Promising to give you tips on “how to free...
Seven last-minute ways to feel calmer during the summer juggle
The middle of July always creeps up on me fast. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been sorting the summer break since 2011; I always feel like I have more time. It doesn't help that a shift in my youngest’s schooling earlier this year has meant that I’ve got to the summer...
What are the risks of not offering return-to-work coaching to parents?
I imagine I am not the only return-to-work and career coach you are paying attention to. You may be scoping me out alongside my talented peers until you are ready to start the coaching process. You will be looking at my work, my values, my results and my pricing. But...
An update on the 100 rejections challenge (and your invitation to join me)
Back in my Project Manager days, it was always important to check in on how things were going. To look at the “scope” of the project, make sure that we aren’t drifting away from the original purpose. Of the many things that I have brought into my coaching career, this...
July Plans – A challenging book, downtime and a summer holiday
“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” Audre Lorde I have opened the July email with a wonderful quote from Audre Lorde. As 24th July is International Self-Care Day, I think it’s a great...
About
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
Isn't it time to have career to enjoy not endure?
FIND OUT MORE
proudly supported by
