Liam OConnell - My Fires Gone Out!: How to Cope with Change in Your Work and Life

MY
FIRES
GONE
OUT!

MY
FIRES
GONE
OUT!

How to cope with change in your work and your life.

Published by Accent Press Ltd 2010

ISBN 9781907016516

Copyright Liam OConnell 2010

The right of Liam OConnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher: Accent Press Ltd, The Old School, Upper High St, Bedlinog, Mid-Glamorgan, CF46 6RY

With thanks to

Sue, Dexter, J Girl, Roy, Trish, David Blount, Jen and remember Bryn you have ruined my life, only joking! Liam

To Jude and all the family. Thanks for sticking by me when times got tough. Martyn

To my mum Ann, and dad Ric, my girlfriend Tilly and my best mate Sy Wilderspin. Weve all been through changes, many of which weve shared together and all of which have made our love for each other stronger. Peter

To my wife Diane, my three boys Elliott, Adam and Ethan, my mum, dad and brother Mark, Tony, Carol and Debbie, a big thanks for all your help and support over the years. Also thanks to all my friends who have been there for me and my family throughout the changes in my life. Thank you all. Steve

Foreword

Since I have written this book a number of major changes have happened to me in my life. Millions of people around the world have also experienced significant changes, some of them good some bad.

Change happens, it really does you know, but it is how we react to change that is important

Keep your fire burning!

All illustrations by Steve Lilley for more information visit:
www.stevelilleydesign.co.uk

Fire video by 7video
for more information visit: www.7video.co.uk

Chapter 1

A long time ago, in a strange and dark world far beneath the earth, there lived four little devils who stoked the fires of hell.

It was hard work but most of the time they enjoyed what they did, after all it was a job wasnt it? And these days beggars cant be choosers. The devils in many ways were just like you and me; they had their strange quirks, their strengths, their weaknesses, their hopes and their worries. This is the story of how they reacted when sudden dramatic change interrupted their normal flow of life.

Why dont I introduce them to you?

Sparky
A creative soul, Sparky is always coming up with new ideas. He loves having fun and grasping the many opportunities that life brings. Sparky has a positive can do attitude, is fast thinking and a bit quirky. Some people might say he is a little sensitive and doesnt like criticism, but then who does?

Oxy
Oxy is keen to get things done; he is very good with his hands and is always the first to get stuck in when something needs to be finished. He usually sees the bright side of life and would rather take action and complete a task than sit around talking about it all day. Some people might say Oxy is rigid and lives by rules and regulations, but that might be a bit harsh.

Diesel
A really deep thinker, Diesel is sound and reliable. You can always depend on him in a crisis. He will listen to both sides of an argument and make his own judgement. Some people might say he can be negative, a glass half-empty sort of person. But is that really the case, or is it just the thoughtful look on his face?

Stubbo
Stubbo has seen it all before; he tends to think that everything always goes wrong for him and has a negative attitude to life in general. He doesn't like change and prefers things to carry on just the same as they always have been. Some people might say he is one of life's victims, read on and make up your own mind!

Join the four devils, as they get ready to have their own world well and truly rocked!

Chapter 2

It was a morning very similar to many other mornings for the four devils. They were awoken by their alarm, got out of bed, had a quick shower, got dressed, made some breakfast, waved goodbye to their families and went to work.

They slowly made their way along the same twisting path through the dark and dimly lit caverns. As usual, at a crossroads, they would all meet Sparky, Oxy, Diesel, and Stubbo and continue on their walk to work. Work began at the same time every day with the loud shrill of a siren. They started to shovel the fuel onto the furnace, to keep the fire burning.

They often had a laugh to make the time go quickly and after a lot of hard shovelling, a few coffee breaks and lunch in the rumour-mill canteen, before they knew it there was a long blast on the siren, and it was time to go home. They quickly made their way back along the path, through the caves to their families.

You see, not much changed in the world of the little devils, and it seemed to have a regular pattern and routine all of its own.

Wake up, get ready, walk to work, start work, work hard, go home

You can almost feel the rhythm as you repeat the words

Wake up, get ready, walk to work, start work, work hard, go home

It was a similar routine every day and the devils were very comfortable and safe in the knowledge that they had work to pay their bills, look after their families and do the things that they enjoyed at night and at the weekends.

I suppose when you think about it, most of us are the same we go to work, do our job and then go home day in, day out, year in, year out, earning enough to do what ever makes us happy in our lives.

Generally we are all creatures of habit. We like things the way they are and dont like change. You might say we exist in our very own comfort zone and dont step outside of it very often. Thats great isnt it as long as youre happy?

But change can sometimes happen when we least expect it!

Chapter 3

It was a morning very similar to many other mornings for the four devils. Wait a minute havent you heard this somewhere before?

They were awoken by their alarms, got out of bed, had a quick shower, got dressed, made some breakfast, waved goodbye to their families and went to work.

They slowly made their way along the same twisting path through the dark caverns and caves. As usual, at the crossroads, they all met and continued on their familiar walk to work.

But this was going to be a different day!

When they arrived at work they saw a strange notice pinned to the wall. It read:

By instruction of the management, the rumour-mill canteen is now closed. All devils are requested to use the new vending machine instead.