life Archives - Melanie Pritchard

What My Brother’s Death Taught Me About Love

Posted on 23rd January 202623rd January 2026 by Melanie Pritchard

“Now cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet prince;

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”

William Shakespeare, Hamlet 🖌️

Today, I think back 20 plus years ago to when one of my exceptional older brothers took his last breath aged 23.

I’m reminded of a potent learning around love that struck me like a bolt amidst the tragedy – an inspiring revelation which countered the piercing thought I had on learning of Marrow’s terminal diagnosis aged 22 – the latter being, how can life go on without the epicentre of our family? The life and soul of us? The one that makes us crease up with laughter every night at dinner and lights up every room? How will life ever be the same again? “I don’t get it?”, teenage me thought, “If there was a battle, it’s him I’d send in”.

With hindsight, that’s probably why he was sent the worst kind of battle – because he was best placed to handle it and harness it to inspire and transform other lives. A bittersweet legacy of the best and worst kind.

I’ve never seen the power of love more than when Marrow received his terminal cancer diagnosis. The seeming ease with which my parents navigated that situation stopped me in my tracks. Outwardly unflinching but I’m sure inwardly in a world of unimaginable pain. It wasn’t something I’d have associated with tragedy, their contrasting strengths illuminated and fortified in full force at the very worst of times. How horribly beautiful.

My pragmatic dad at his calm, problem-solving, stable best and my mum at her strongest, loving and most uplifting. Equally, the strength of character, wisdom and emotional maturity they instilled in a young man given a death sentence on the springboard of life revealed itself with a quiet force none us could have anticipated – a tenacity, humour, wisdom and bravery that brought home the power that parenting can yield in truly shaping character. I remember thinking in a real moment of truth – the person you spend your life with is everything, strengthening your fortitude or struggle at the best and worst of times whether the happiness of your children, your own success, your ability to navigate adversity and beyond.

It must be why studies say the quality of your life depends on the quality of your relationships.

This is something Marrow recognised as key to his fighting spirit, noting the reciprocal power familial support gave him. Tellingly, he signed-off a letter to my twin and I days’ before his death with an Austin Powers quote to that effect: ‘Sorry I have to write, but it helps me get ‘the info’ out. Quite selfishly, you two help me’.

What beautiful circularity that the ways of his two little sisters could’ve been as mutually beneficial to him as his strength was to us.

If I was privileged to have a child who dealt with outrageous misfortune like that, I think I’d have tasted the highest form of success. And one of the greatest testaments to love there might be.

The Top 5 Regrets of The Dying + Why Death Shows Us How to Really Live

Posted on 23rd January 2026 by Melanie Pritchard

“Cancer need not be the epilogue. In many ways, it’s the introduction to a richer life of wisdom”

Matthew Pritchard ☁️

To mark the 25th anniversary of my brother’s death at 23, and to make sure that you also make the most of life, check out the top five regrets of the dying observed by the best-selling author, Bronnie Ware. These bore true of her time in palliative nursing irrespective of people’s rank, profession or otherwise:

1. I wish I had had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”

2. I wish I had not worked so hard.

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

3. I wish I had had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

“Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

If you think you’re too busy to consider the above, all the more reason to ⛵️

For as Steve Jobs, the man who ‘had it all’, warned:

“At this moment, lying on the sick bed + recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition + wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled + become meaningless”.

Confused about where to start with life or career change? Drop me a line: www.melanie-pritchard.com

A Powerful 3 Step Communication Hack to Optimise Relationships

Posted on 23rd January 2026 by Melanie Pritchard

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity”

Nat Turner 💡

I’ve never been one for sharing personal relationship stories on here – but this one is too good not to share.

I’m still friends with an ex-boyfriend below, probably cos he was a good friend to me and a very genuine guy.

And though our love story wasn’t meant to go beyond what it did, like all relationships, I learnt some valuable pearls o wisdom.

The main one being the value of calm communication. Note – the calm gentle tone was more vital than the words as per studies which show tone and body language account for 65% of communication’s impact, with words being only 35%.

Food for thought, hey?

That was definitely one of his superpowers – a bit like my dad, it was as if in that moment when others might have been angry or agressive (like when I snapped some skis he leant me 🫢), he did what Mr P advises:

“If someone is upset or doesn’t listen, repeat yourself slowly and calmly until they do”.

I’ve never, btw, heard my dad raise his voice once. Ever. No wonder I don’t do well with moody people 🫢

The What Why How handy communication tool below gives structure to the complex business o communication, boosting clarity, closeness and relationship success when you’re struggling to express something. It can also be applied at work 💼

Here’s how the 3 step formula goes:

🔦 What’s important to you

🔦 Why it’s important

🔦 How much of it you need (if relevant)

Continued below ⬇️

You can also ask it in questions if you’re getting to know someone professionally or personally:

For example:

🏈 What are two things that make you feel loved?

🏈 Why is that important to you?

🏈 How often need that?

How would you feel if someone asked you that?

How would it benefit you both?

Another example might be:

🍊 Being open about your worries is important to me

🍊Cos it builds my sense of trust n closeness

🍊 So I’d love it you could try to be open about stuff that’s worrying you when it’s weighing on your mind

What do you think?

What comes up for you if you apply it to pain-points in your life or work?

Simple tools like these can give a how to things that might otherwise block us and transform the complex into the simple.

In fact, often it’s not that we’re not good at communication – it’s a totally learnable skill – we just need the tools and willingness to be slightly vulnerable.

And what do we know about vulnerability?

It’s strength in disguise and it’ll always draw you closer to the right people and organisations 🏹

Try it n see 🪀

☘️ To upgrade your life or career, book a free discovery call: www.melanie-pritchard.com

7 Success Hacks to Expedite Entrepreneurial Success

Posted on 23rd January 2026 by Melanie Pritchard

“The harder you work, the luckier you get” – Mike Pritchard 🏒

💎 Unhappy, unfulfilled or apathetic about your current career?

💎 Unsure if you have the energy or clarity to change direction?

💎 Certain you need to shift paths but don’t know where to start?

Here are 7 things I’ve learnt about starting a business and changing career that helped me get to where I am today:

🛼 Many people see starting a business in black and white terms – as either reckless financial uncertainty and lack of experience or wonderful freedom working your own hours and having complete control over your life. The truth is somewhere in between. Many people work ‘normal’ jobs while growing a business and if you aren’t willing to put the time into getting good at what you do or learn how to market effectively, you may find y’self managing the most wonderful chateau with no road signs for punters to find or an awful place that looks great from the outside only 😶‍🌫️

🛼 Growth mindset is the winning factor in success or failure. Yes, you should play to your strengths, interests and values to optimise success but embracing confusion, mistakes and fear as the essence of development and growth versus success or failure is key to resilience and success 🥇 There are no mistakes, only positive learnings. As Churchill says: ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts’.

🛼 You can learn a lot about the field you want to set a business up in from working for others in the area you’re headed. I learnt a lot from working for a coaching leader in London and wouldn’t have learnt how to create structured coaching packages that optimise client success and stability otherwise. Don’t reinvent the wheel, research the market, build commercial awareness and then hone your own.

🛼 ‘You don’t have to get it perfect, you just have to get in going’ – Marie Forleo.
Let go of having the perfect website or product at the start. Minimum viable product is the baseline for businesses like mine – especially if you’re playing to natural strengths – and you can improve from there whether niching your service area, perfecting your copy or becoming skilled at your craft.

🛼 Action builds belief. If you wait to be ready you’ll never be ready. It’s tuning into your passions and taking small steps forward that boosts confidence, motivation and success. You’re bound to feel fear pushing outside your comfort zone but if you’re not feeling fear, you’re not growing. Embrace fear as a barometer for growth rather than a reason to stop ✋

🛼 It’s much easier to bridge gaps in skills and experience than you might think, especially when you’re clear on what you want to do and what your strengths and USPs are. High-results producing wins like volunteering, internships and taking short courses or investing in certifications can leapfrog you in new directions and rebrand your CV fast 💨

🛼 There’s no confusion in truth. Once you’re clear on who you are and what you need to be happy, there’ll be no stopping you. Yes, you need to consider important factors like money and earning potential but until you get clear on your framework for happiness, success and fulfilment, you’ll struggle to get the clarity and confidence to make big decisions like changing careers. I can assure you, having done career and life coaching for ten years, the answer is much nearer than you think 💭

To learn more about getting clear or optimising your career, book in a discovery call with me 🙂

If I could do it, you can too ❣️

How Radical A Career Change is Possible with Career Coaching?

Posted on 12th July 202312th July 2023 by Melanie Pritchard

‘Choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’ – Confucius

🤫 Bored by your career?
🤫 Lack interest in the subject matter?
🤫 Hate the place you work?
🤫 Secretly long to change paths but don’t know how, into what or if you can maintain your earnings?

So many of my clients have many of these doubts and sooo much more.

Happily, working with hundreds of clients across all industries has confirmed successful career change is ABSOLUTELY possible – sometimes in radically different directions as explained above!

Infact, making ‘major’ changes become so much easier when you get clear on who you are and what you need to be happy. One way we do this in my 360 Career Change Programme is by examining:

🍋 Your passions and interests
🍋 Your strengths and superpowers
🍋 Your values (what gives your life meaning)
🍋 Your purpose

Sound hard? It’s easy with the right support, it really is.

Unknotting confusion is my superpower which is why anxiety starts to fall away from the moment we start coaching together – instead, hope, excitement and momentum abound!

That’s the simple power of coaching – it gets you out of the lonely silo of your circular mind and zooms in on the truth – what energises you and what direction you yearn to follow to find the deep happiness and success my clients long for.

If you’re wandering what sort of clients I work with and what sort of industries they start in and move to, here’s a sneak peek in this short video.

If I sound confident about your ability to change paths, it’s because my clients do this again and again. I’m talking 99%!

Like anything, it’s easy when you know how and have a structure.

To hear more about how I can support your next steps towards the career and life of your dreams, email me ‘bring it on!’ here. I have space for two new clients in the next 6 weeks and offer an early bird discount for the super keen! Think fun, clarifying conversations with tangible results which hit bullseye.

To quote one lovely client: ‘Coaching with Mel was the best investment I’ve ever made’. You can check out more Google Reviews from past clients who have moved from career confusion to successful 360 career change here!

What’s stopping you?

The Theory of Everything: What Stephen Hawking’s Divorce Teaches Us About Love

Posted on 22nd February 202222nd February 2022 by Melanie Pritchard

The Theory of Everything was quite something for Eddie Redmayne. He was already high on my list just for being a dazzling, redhead, for his (inoffensive) public school charm and for those stunning green eyes, but his performance in The Theory of Everything propelled him into unchartered territory.

I had assumed that The Theory of Everything would be about physics, planets and a famous scientist. And though it is, of course, about the incredible Stephen Hawking and his awe-inspiring achievements, it’s about far more than physical matter.

A Bit of A Game-Changer

This is a tale about the great themes of life – love and loss, strength and frailty, courage and fear, comedy and tragedy. This isn’t a perfect love story with violins and roses, romantic longevity untainted by challenge, this is a story about the varied and subtle shades of life at its most difficult and most beautiful. This is a story of reality and hope united, a story of a young couple bound by a love so strong that we are carried to dizzying heights with Jane’s passionate commitment to Stephen, a commitment at its most beautiful on his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease. Her inner courage is heightened by her miniature size, a gumption soaring way above the testing physical and emotional obstacles which are laid in their marital path. Stephen’s strength is as inspiring, manifest in his wicked sense of humour, sparkling eyes and remarkable scientific achievements despite his physical constraints. Nothing grips human nature more than strength in adversity and boy is this a hero’s tale – not just of the incredible scientist himself, but of his steadfast wife, unbending in love and sacrifice for the man she loves.

Where’s The Real Wow?

But for me, a more subtle ‘wow factor’ lies in the twist towards the end. The Hawkings’ ability to adapt to new and uncomfortable truths is established early on through Stephen’s illness but later, with the breakdown of their marriage, come some truly powerful messages. That the changed status of their incredible relationship didn’t undermine their happy ending bears poignant testimony to the power of the human spirit, challenging our perception of romance, commitment, happiness and success. For despite being the most brilliant example of ‘for better or for worse’, this ended up being a tale whose value wasn’t determined by whether the couple remained together or apart… this was a tale about success in a far wider sense – the ability to accept the twists and turns of life and adapt to changes thrown your way, no matter how unfair or futile.

What Can We Learn From The Theory of Everything?

In this respect, The Theory of Everything is aptly named, for it really is rich in messages about so many aspects of human existence. The aforementioned twist, set against a tale of such supernatural love and professional achievement, shows us that imperfection can still be inspiring and that magnificence is not always born of picture perfect endings. Intelligence is not just about brilliance and jaw-dropping achievement. It can be of a quieter kind, found in dignity, courage and the ability to adapt to change. In an increasingly digital society dependant on the disposable, this film shows us that those who don’t end up with perfect Facebook statuses can still find immeasurable success in their lives, looking back and looking ahead, whether personal, professional or familial, external or internal – together or apart. Indeed, any other type of ‘perfection’ seems rather superficial and mundane set against a tale so rich in challenges and beauty that follows – but a static snap from a virtual world built to dazzle. The Theory of Everything challenges this empty cultural norm, showing that real beauty shifts and moulds to the circumstances of life – a life which can be rosy, shady and just plain difficult. A real life where real brilliance goes way beyond a perfect picture, inspiring hope in loss, beauty in pain, humour in suffering.

And it is in this vein that The Theory of Everything finds its cosmic power – in the quiet beauty of one of the closing scenes which sees the former couple united in the Queen’s perfectly manicured gardens, sharing their pride in the children that they have created together. The dignity with which they move on to confront life apart from one another after their incredible love story, without compromising the deep respect that they developed for one another, struck me as a great perfection. Nothing supernatural, nothing cosmic, nothing to write home about on a Facebook wall but a flawed reality rich in hope, humanity and dignity.

Why Should You See The Theory of Everything?

The Theory of Everything is a remarkable tale about the power of the human spirit – a spirit which can be dazzling, other-earthly in abilities and passions and spell-bindingly inspiring but one which is also, just that – human – flawed, challenging and complex. A truly metaphysical tale, The Theory of Everything unites improbable points of likeness on so many levels to incredibly powerful effect – strength in adversity, humour in suffering, passion in frailty and happiness despite separation. I can see why Stephen Hawking said he was proud of Eddie Redmayne. Both seem to be remarkable men, probing life’s deepest questions in dazzling fashion.

‘Shift: A New Era Begins’ – Featuring Melanie Pritchard in a New Book About How to Turn Adversity into Success

Posted on 1st December 2021 by Melanie Pritchard

Success Coach & Corporate Wellbeing Trainer, Melanie Pritchard is sharing her story of lockdown and the Covid pandemic in a story entitled “Coming Home”.

Just before the pandemic hit, Melanie had a sixth sense she needed to leave London fast. When national lockdown was announced, with no home in sight, she dug deep into her coaching toolkit and looked for the “probortunity” – the opportunity within the problem. On a geographical and spiritual quest to find her true north, she embarked on a deep dive journey to the rural wilderness, re-visiting sacred reminders within herself of what was important to her; boundaries, routine, rest and reflection. Testing her in ways unimaginable, Covid19 was a true wake-up call, reconnecting Melanie to her true self and her soul’s calling.

Read the full article here for top tips on what to do at moments of transition and change in life.

Hot Air Or Life-Changing? How Coaching Banishes Stress & Transforms Lives

Posted on 23rd November 20211st December 2021 by Melanie Pritchard

“Attention energises, intention transforms”

Deepak Chopra

Ever wondered why you’re unable to make change despite feeling frustration, boredom, anxiety or depression about your current life?

Here’s why..

To make any big change in your life, you need to do more than recognise discomfort – you need to create the time, space and resources to get real clarity. From there, change becomes easy.

Ever wondered why people telling you what you should do rarely works? Because sometimes it comes more from a place of projection, protectiveness and bias than objectivity and real listening – truly sitting in the moment with you and really hearing what lies beneath is usually quite different, leaving you feeling heard, understood and pumped to uplevel your life.

This is exactly what I thought coaching wasn’t when I first started out. Honestly, I was hoping it was a quick fix involving talking to a wise owl who could help me cut corners and expedite change fast.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When I heard it was being guided by the coach asking a series of questions to help me work out who I was and what I wanted, I thought it sounded like hot air.

Then we started practising coaching – and I ate my words fast..

I quickly realised helping someone connect to who they truly are and what they truly want versus telling them what they should do, is where the magic happens.

I see this kind of magic happen daily with clients – whether midwives moving into project management, financiers moving into consulting, lawyers moving into coaching or graduates moving into advertising and beyond.

It’s not rocket science, but boy does it work.

As a wise friend on Mindline once said, really active listening is like developing a sixth sense.

So I say again – attention energises, intention transforms. Finding space to be truly heard and to deconstruct what’s really going on for you is an essential component to creating the intention required for change.

So if you’re feeling misaligned with your life or career, what’s stopping you?

And if you’re still feeling stuck, remember, nothing changes if nothing changes 💫

#coaching #life #career #change #listen #plan #goals #transform

Podcast Episode 6: The Surprising Secrets of Entrepreneurial Success!

Posted on 7th December 20203rd February 2021 by Melanie Pritchard

“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people dream of”

Episode 6 of The School of Success Podcast Series with the one of a kind @jamie.lesinski is now live! Join us for a seriously open-hearted and generous insight into how to build your own business from the ground up!
💎
This inspiring interview with the wonderful Jamie Lesinski, founder of Prime Cap, the multi-award-winning property-related currency services teaches you:

– what kind of path you should take before launching your own business;
– what type of person is suited to being an entrepreneur;
– the struggles nobody talks openly about; and
– what type of person hits the jackpot where others fail.
💎
This is for you if you have an interest in setting up your own business one day. This is also for you if you’re not sure you have what it takes and want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly.
💎
In this warm-hearted interview, Jamie openly shares the keys to success, how he learnt these and why they may not be at all what you might expect.
💎
You can find Jamie @jamie.lesinski on Instagram and at www.primecappayments.com
💎
Be warned, Jamie is an inspiring example of drive, creativity, innovation, likability and everything in between!

Listen here!

#health #wealth #happiness #success #entrepreneurialism #selfmade #business #property #finance #currency #happy #lifestyle #successful #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurmindset

Podcast Episode 2 with Marisa Ribordy: Re-align your Life + Develop A Toolkit for More Conscious Living

Posted on 23rd September 201910th May 2020 by Melanie Pritchard

Episode 2 of The School of Success Podcast Series: How to Re-align your Life + Develop A Toolkit for More Conscious is now live!

This inspiring interview with the intuitive yogi, women’s guide, writer + workshop facilitator, @marisaribordy, teaches you How to Re-align your Life + Develop A Toolkit for More Conscious Living helping you connect more deeply to your true self so you can shift your life from the inside out.

This is for you if you’re feeling off-center, disconnected from your true self, constantly tired or drained by city living or otherwise or have a feeling you’re on the wrong path but you don’t know where to start to get clarity on who you really are and what you really want.

This is also for you if you want to find greater peace + balance in your life, develop your mind body connection + learn how to listen to your instincts more so you can get clear on areas of your life that aren’t truly aligned with you and your greater growth and happiness. And develop that strong sense of self + clarity that underpins confident decision-making.

In this warm-hearted interview, Marisa lovingly guides you to discover a range of powerful tools to help you develop greater self-awareness and connection to your true self so you can realign your life in a way that makes you feel truly happy and free. Formerly @wildhappyheart, you can now find Marisa at @marisaribordy on Instagram and at www.marisaribordy.com.
Since this podcast interview, Marisa has embarked on an inspiring series on women’s workshops centering around the magical cycles of the moon and how you can set powerful intentions around manifesting + letting go at these times. Be warned she is a powerful manifester with magical tools to help you create your dream life whether in work, love or otherwise.

I hope you enjoy it!

Tag: life

What My Brother’s Death Taught Me About Love

The Top 5 Regrets of The Dying + Why Death Shows Us How to Really Live

A Powerful 3 Step Communication Hack to Optimise Relationships

7 Success Hacks to Expedite Entrepreneurial Success

How Radical A Career Change is Possible with Career Coaching?

The Theory of Everything: What Stephen Hawking’s Divorce Teaches Us About Love

‘Shift: A New Era Begins’ – Featuring Melanie Pritchard in a New Book About How to Turn Adversity into Success

Hot Air Or Life-Changing? How Coaching Banishes Stress & Transforms Lives

Podcast Episode 6: The Surprising Secrets of Entrepreneurial Success!

Podcast Episode 2 with Marisa Ribordy: Re-align your Life + Develop A Toolkit for More Conscious Living

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