I've many memories of Mike, and they usually involved challenges to me in some way!! Mike was one of those people who saw the world in a deeper way, he saw not just below the surface, but below, below the surface driven by an ever curious mind. There are two stories I'd share.

First at the end of the first four days of my first year on the Masters, as I left for coffee on that final morning of the fourth day, looking ever more shell shocked at what I was being put through. Caroline and Mike asked if I was okay. I said I in my head I felt like my mental house had been swept away by Hurricane Mike and just when I thought it safe to come out, I could see Mike coming up the hill with a metaphorical JCB to go after the foundations that remained. Mike just smiled, this was of course very much part of the deconstruction that I would have to go through to really learn.

The second story I recall was about Mike sharing something in supervision. He'd been approached by a young incredibly successful businessman, already powerful and wealthy about being his coach. Mike said he would coach the individual and at the house in Hampstead. The businessman said it would be more convenient for Mike to fly out courtesy of him to his location to coach him at the company HQ. Mike declined. The businessman offered business class, chaffeur driven cars, upped the fee, all of which Mike said were fine, but he coached in Hampstead. Mike explained to me it wasn't about him, if the client wasn't willing to sacrifice a little of their time to come to Mike then how serious were they about setting out on a journey of change. Ever since then I've always insisted that for the chemistry session at least, clients come to me first.

I haven't seen Mike in years, but I shall always remember him fondly and for helping me to see things more deeply.

Paul Ellis
i-coach academy MA alumni