Author · Speaker · Consultant
Change is in your hands.
Thoughts, stories and practical ideas about people, work, relationships, and the choices that shape our lives.
- Pull up a stool. Stay awhile.
50+
years working with people
Mel, mid-thought. Probably about people.
Hello, I’m Mel
I’ve spent more than five decades working with people — and I’m still fascinated by what makes us tick.
I’ve built businesses, held senior management and director roles, worked with organisations across Europe, North America and China, lectured in business and project management, and written business books and poetry along the way.
But a list of titles doesn’t really tell you who someone is. What all those years have taught me is something much simpler.
Business is never about processes, systems, or spreadsheets. It’s all about people.
50+
years working with people
26
years building businesses
3
continents of clients and colleagues
4
books, from business to poetry
choice
The idea behind everything I write
We can’t control everything that happens. But we can still choose…
how we respond.
what we accept.
what questions we ask.
what boundaries we set.
what we do next.
Personal responsibility isn’t about blaming yourself. It’s about recognising where you still have a choice — and being willing to use it. That’s what I mean when I say change is in your hands.
Mel’s Journal
Notes on people, work and the choices we make.
A new entry most weeks — observations, stories and the occasional poem. Written to make you think, and now and then to make you smile.
Latest entries
The Me Factor
Taking responsibility isn’t about blaming yourself for everything. It’s about noticing where you still have a say — and using it.
ReadBusiness has never been about spreadsheets
Processes and systems matter. But whether anything actually changes always comes down to the people in the room.
ReadThere’s a crack in everything
On mistakes, regrets and why the imperfect parts of a life might be exactly where the possibilities begin.
Read
Sláinte!
Mel’s weekly note
Stay in the conversation.
One email a week from me — a new Journal entry, a story, an observation, and now and then a poem.
No funnels and no hard sell. Just a thoughtful note, the kind you’d read with a cup of tea. Or something stronger.
Free, weekly and easy to leave. I’ll never share your email.
Featured book
The Savvy Child Within You
Become more successful in your life and business using forgotten childhood wisdom.
As children we’re honest, curious and direct. Somewhere between the playground and the boardroom, most of us learn not to be — and workplace culture is very quick to fill the gap.
This book is for you if you…
- feel overworked and find it hard to say no
- are tired of office politics and other people controlling your time
- work inside a high-pressure or unhealthy culture
- want your boundaries, your self-respect and your sense of choice back
The bookshelf
Four books. One curious mind.
A book about keeping your humanity at work — and three collections of poetry about everything else.
Business & personal development
The Savvy Child Within You
Mel Clifford
For anyone who’s felt overworked, overruled or quietly worn down by workplace culture. Rediscover the honesty, curiosity and directness you had as a child — and use them to reclaim your boundaries, your self-respect and your sense of choice.
Poetry
Into Me, I See
Mel Clifford & Emily Elzbeth
Two poets, one honest look inward. A collection about seeing ourselves clearly — and the connection that becomes possible when we do.
Poetry
Poetry Just For You
Mel Clifford
Poems for the moments that are hard to put into ordinary words — written to be read slowly, and perhaps passed on to someone who needs them.
Poetry
Changing the Way I Am
Mel Clifford
Poems about change, perspective and the experiences that shape us — and the quiet courage it takes to become someone a little different.
Tap a book to take it off the shelf
Connect
Ask me anything.
Got a question? Did something I wrote make you think — or make you want to argue? I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
People get in touch for all sorts of reasons:
- A question
- Something I wrote
- One of my books
- Podcasts & speaking
- Collaboration
- Mentoring & consulting
- Just saying hello
I read every message myself.
Usually with a coffee in hand.
Send me a note
“There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
— Leonard Cohen
So perhaps the cracks aren’t always something to hide. Perhaps they’re where the possibilities begin.
Change is in your hands.