Happy 2nd Birthday Max Purpose Psychology!

I launched Max Purpose Psychology in September 2022, while still working as a Senior Educational Psychologist with a Local Authority (LA). 

A New Chapter 

Increasing numbers of Educational Psychologists (EPs) are leaving Local Authorities to explore different ways of working. I spent 22 years as an LA EP—over 40% of my life—and during that time, I was fortunate to have some amazing experiences. Some highlights include working with a virtual school, serving as vice chair of the Adoption panel, leading a Targeted Mental Health initiative, managing an Assistant Educational Psychologist programme and being a Sector Specialist for Vulnerable Children and Early Intervention. But above all, it was the relationships with my colleagues that made the experience so rewarding. 

February’s Curveball 

In February 2023, life threw me a curveball when I spent nearly three weeks in hospital with a collapsed lung. It was a tough and frightening time, but it forced me to slow down and re-evaluate my priorities. 

Ikigai: Finding My Purpose 

The concept of Ikigai—finding the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for—became especially relevant during my recovery. In the last two years, I’ve shifted my focus towards supervision, training and coaching, areas that align with my Ikigai and allow me to make a meaningful impact. 

Leaving the Harbour 

In September 2023, I put my “out of office” on forever, leaving my LA job with a mix of nerves and excitement. As I reflect on two years of running Max Purpose Psychology, I realise that leaving the safety of the LA role was daunting but necessary. Like the saying goes: 

“A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” —John A. Shedd 

Thank you to Mark Adams of Aspen Psychology for sharing this quote with me in February 2023, when life threw me that health curve ball. 

Key Lessons from Two Years in Business 

1. Find your tribe and cheerleaders: Surround yourself with people who believe in you. 

2. You are braver than you know: You have more strength within you than you realise. 

3. Connect, network and collaborate: Relationships open doors. 

4. Work to your strengths and ask for help: You don’t need to do it all. 

5. Harness the power of social media: Use it wisely but don’t let it control you. 

6. Be kind to yourself: Talk to yourself like you would to a valued friend. 

7. Work-life harmony: Balance what works for you. 

8. Every ‘yes’ has a ‘no’: Be mindful of what you commit to. 

9. Know your worth: Don’t undervalue yourself. 

10. Prioritise CPD: Continuous learning is key to growth. 

11. Take breaks: Enjoy being your own boss. 

12. Work on your business, not just in it: Set aside time for strategy and reflection. 

13. Find your Ikigai: Align your work with your passion and strengths. 

14. Adopt an abundance mindset: Believe in limitless opportunities and help to grow the pie by giving back.

15. Don’t forget the cake: As Mole in ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ by Charlie Mackesy, reminds us, “If at first you don’t succeed, have some cake.” 

When those imposter thoughts creep in, remember: 

“There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask, ‘What if I fall?’ Oh, but my darling, What if you fly?” —Eric Hanson 

References:

Mackesy, C. (2022). The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Penguin Books