“The story of any one of us is in part, the story of all of us. We need to have the patience to listen and the wisdom to learn.”

Lessons for Your Journey® was founded in 2006 by Dr. Ed Poole. The programs and services available are specifically designed to meet the needs of any organization, or individual within an organization, dedicated to continuous growth. Dr. Poole has extensive experience working with groups, organizations, systems, and individuals. A variety of customized training sessions and seminars are available for any size organization.

Much of Ed’s current work is focused on organizational storytelling. The importance of story to the growth and development of an organization cannot be ignored. When we partake in organizational storytelling, we give shape to the events we have lived and are living; they take on a pattern and new dimensions of meaning. Experiences change in the telling of stories. In the new world of business, where it’s every executive’s job to make sense of a fast-changing environment, storytelling is the ultimate leadership tool. Telling work-related stories is the most successful way to transmit the culture, determine where the organization is now, and create a vision for the future.

If you are looking for a motivational speaker, you need to search no more. Ed’s topics include leadership development, organizational change, team building, looking inward to discover our authentic path, the gift of depression, and overcoming thoughts of suicide. When Ed was first hospitalized with depression, his initial diagnosis was Clinical Depression. During his second hospitalization, the diagnosis was changed to Bipolar II.

Designing Training & Development and Consulting Programs for both the public and private sectors is also one of Ed’s passions. Over the past twelve years, Ed has trained and consulted with corporate leaders in: the art and skills of organizational storytelling, planning for systemic change, team building, and leadership development. Ed conducts his training with storytelling, assisting individuals in the art of telling “your leadership story.” Many professional associations have invited Ed to speak on topics such as: improving self-esteem, gaining increased self-confidence, encouraging authenticity in relationship building, the inward journey toward self-understanding, building trust by being trustworthy, the myths of depression, and escaping the claws of suicide.

Executive Leadership Coaching and Personal Coaching have common goals. The goals of Executive Leadership Coaching are the creation and management of trust, the facilitation of employee learning, and the development of employee autonomy and interdependence. The goals of Personal Coaching are similar. The coach and client work together to: improve communication skills, provide nonjudgmental feedback, develop a personal growth plan, reflect upon and assess personal growth. Ed’s coaching helps you to identify barriers for personal growth development and is designed to enhance your skills in solving personal and organizational problems.

The Writer’s Workshop is highly interactive in nature. The workshop assists new writers in acquiring the skills and knowledge needed to begin the writing process. The workshop also assists the seasoned writer who finds himself or herself stuck in the midst of writing and requires assistance in moving forward with current or future projects.

“Your life is a sacred journey. And it is about change, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on a path…exactly where you are meant to be right now…And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love.” (Caroline Adams)