Sparks

For most of my life, my name for God was “Fix-It.” That wasn’t His name, of course, but it was mine for Him, a reflection of my own broken operating system. My world was built on performance, a relentless, grinding pressure to solve every problem. My mind was a Gantt chart of anxieties, each task a dependency for the next, with no room for grace or error. Professionally, I was the one with the ans...

We are so excited to share a pilot episode of a brand new project: The What’s Better Today? Kingdom Lens Podcast. For a while now, we’ve been exploring what it means to be “Apprentices of the Way” - not just reading the Bible, but letting it fundamentally reshape how we see everything. That’s where the Kingdom Lens Meditation comes in. It’s a framework we’ve been developing to help us get deeper r...

Five days ago, The Insiders launched into the world. The reviews are already telling a story I hoped for but didn’t dare expect. As professionals, we’re bombarded with content promising transformation, breakthrough insights, and life-changing revelations. Most deliver neither entertainment nor genuine change. But something different is happening with early readers of The Insiders, and their respon...

I’ve been coaching for years, and there’s a pattern I see over and over again. The kindest, most conscientious people are often the ones who suffer most in difficult relationships. They’re the ones who absorb criticism like sponges, who lie awake replaying conversations, who question their own worth based on how others treat them. Kim was one of these people. The Weight of Other People’s Expectati...

As professionals, we're constantly told to "adapt or die" in our rapidly changing workplace landscape. But here's what most leadership development programmes won't tell you: your brain is actively working against the very changes you're trying to make. Not because it's broken, but because it's doing exactly what it was designed to do - keep you alive by maintaining predictable patterns. Understand...

As leaders, we face a fundamental question that determines every decision we make, every priority we set, and every response we choose: who's really in charge? Not just of your team or department, but of the mental processes that drive your leadership style. When pressure mounts and competing voices demand your attention, which one gets the final say? This isn't just about external authority—it's...

As professionals, we face split-second decisions that can make or break relationships, deals, and careers. But have you ever wondered what's actually happening in your brain during those high-pressure moments when multiple voices compete for control? The answer reveals why some leaders thrive under pressure whilst others crumble… and it all comes down to which voice gets the final say. What if I t...

As leaders and professionals, we make hundreds of decisions daily. But have you ever wondered what's actually happening in your brain during these decision-making moments? The answer might surprise you - and transform how you approach leadership challenges. What if I told you that every internal struggle you've ever experienced was actually a crew meeting aboard the starship of your mind? That voi...

The algorithm is full of prophets now. Preaching the gospel of platform, profit, and performance (especially if you’re willing to “niche down” and “sell the formula.”) “Here’s how I made six figures on Substack.” “Let me show you how to go viral on LinkedIn.” “Just copy my exact system—it’s not about the money (except it totally is).” We laugh. We roll our eyes. And then that whining voice in our...

No human brains were harmed in the making of this leadership programme. No beliefs were questioned. No blind spots revealed. No habits challenged. Two days, five stars, one highly engaging facilitator—and leadership stayed exactly the same. But the food was excellent. The feedback forms were full of praise. The boxes were all ticked. So, mission accomplished… right? The Box-Ticking Epidemic Somewh...

Welcome to Sparks from DifferenceMakers by John Michael. It seems to me if a tool is so widely used, there must be something to it. As a leadership mentor and coach, procrastination is almost always the first thing my clients want to eliminate from their lives. Actually, they begin by telling me that it’s not quite the right time for this, or that the task needs something they haven’t got right no...

What’s better Today, friend? Gather with me as we navigate the challenging journey of life’s storms—a journey where stress and anxiety swirl like tempests upon the sea of our minds. Yet, even amidst these gales, there is a lighthouse of understanding to guide us safely into the harbour of peace. Watch the Video - a whiteboard animation of the neuroscience of Stress and Anxiety in your brain. Also...

Watch video at: https://differencemakers.substack.com/p/your-brain-on-stress-and-anxiety-video What’s Better Today, dear friend? Journey with me through the intricate dance of our minds when faced with the tempests of stress and anxiety. In the realm of our thoughts and emotions, understanding is a lighthouse guiding us safely to harbour. So let us explore together how our brain responds to the si...

Have you ever paused to consider the dialogue that runs through your mind each day? It's like a constant stream, isn't it? One moment, it's uplifting, reminding you of your blessings and potential, and the next, it can be a torrent of doubts and fears. But what if we chose to speak to ourselves with the same compassion and encouragement that we offer to a dear friend? Imagine starting your day wit...

Ideas are the golden coins of our modern era. Your ability to convey these precious ideas with persuasion and passion is the key that unlocks the doors to your dreams. To spread your message effectively, you need a fresh, contemporary approach to communication. Let me introduce you to the art of HUGS . Yes, HUGS! Communicating with impact requires us to embrace new principles—principles that trans...

As Christian parents, we bear a profound responsibility towards the children entrusted to us by God. This stewardship is rooted in the understanding that children are gifts from the Lord, as expressed in Psalm 127:3-5, which states, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." Recognising this divine ownership shifts our perspective from control to stewardship,...

The office buzzed with the kind of energy that makes a fluorescent light flicker, casting an odd dance of shadows, reminiscent of an unexpected '90s rave. Within the maze of cubicles, young Owen Paragon, the aspiring manager with ambitions as vast as the horizon, felt a creeping certainty that his team was unraveling at the seams, faster than a soufflé forgotten in the oven. His sanctuary of seren...

There I was, nestled in the backseat of an old black Austin Wolseley—our family’s pride and joy. The leather seats had a unique smell, aged and comforting. My sister and brother sat on either side of me, while Mum and Dad occupied the front. On special Sundays when Dad wasn't preaching or we weren't visiting Grandma, we embarked on a Sunday drive. One memorable Sunday, we ventured to Redhill in Ke...

Elias sat alone in his small office, fingers hovering over the keyboard, a familiar pang of doubt gnawing at his resolve. "Who am I to think I can lead this project? They’ll see right through me," he muttered to himself. The company had tasked him with developing an innovative tech solution, but every attempt seemed to reek of inadequacy. His mind echoed with that incessant inner critic, "That wil...

Stef stands at the edge of a vast, serene lake, the morning sun glistening off the water, casting a golden glow. A gentle breeze brushes her freckled face, and in the stillness, a thought whispers in her heart, “What about me?” Maybe you’ve found yourself asking the same question, in moments of quiet reflection between meetings or during a coffee break, feeling like an imposter in a world that mov...

Hey friends, What’s better Today? This past year, I’ve taken a step back from my 33-year journey of running my own leadership training and coaching business. While I wasn’t quite ready to “retire,” I was curious about what God had in store for my next chapter. So, I decided to embark on a sabbatical and filled my time writing a novel that’s been brewing in my mind since I was a teenager. Thanks fo...