Welcome to the Purple Co case studies page of our site.
The people we work with here at Purple Co quite often want to remain anonymous for a variety of reasons. We choose to respect this decision, and while some clients are really keen to provide feedback, testimonials and say thank you, others are happy for us to share their story in a non identifying way.
The scope of what we assist our clients achieve at Purple Co is quite extraordinary. We love seeing the change in the lives of people when they are reconnected to purpose. We are also proud of our accomplishments as consultants and JofromPurpleCo is very keen to tell the rest of the world how truly magnificent her team is.
We invite you to share the journeys experienced by our client’s with us.
Enjoy as you read on………..
Peter - Success comes with knowing yourself.
Peter had experienced a significant episode of anxiety and depression. Every time he thought about work, he would become paralysed. When I first met Peter in 2011, he was terrified of walking into his workplace and even of his SMART Phone.
Peter is 45 years old and had been employed in a highly technical and professional capacity. He is university educated and well respected amongst his peers. Over the preceding 12 months Peter had noticed a growing sense of unease and directly attributed this to his work. He had also noticed an overall decline in his mental health. Changes in the workplace resulted in erosion of self-confidence, leaving him with feelings of failure and an overall sense that he was not good enough. Despite these thoughts and feelings, Peter would continue to work long hours, obsessively checking his SMART Phone and continuing to take on board problems that were outside of his delegation.
Purple Co worked with Peter for 4 months after which he was able to enter his workplace, and successfully upgrade to full time employment in his pre-injury professional position.
What did Purple do?
- Developed and implemented a staged introduction to the workplace dealing with elevated anxiety levels and anxiety behaviours as they presented
- Engaged the support of Peter’s management team who kept him accountable to set boundaries for tasks and role responsibilities (as opposed to Peter trying to do everything)
- Engaged Peter’s management team in discussion of the functional expectations of depression and developed a Peter-centred support process.
- Provided education regarding the functional expectations of anxiety and depression
- Addressed personal boundaries
- Mapped energy levels
- Completed the E-DISC Personal Analysis which assisted Peter to understand that he hadn’t changed rather the demands of his role had changed and that the person/job fit was no longer as suitable.
Results
Peter expressed his surprise with how quickly he was able to move from being terrified of attending the workplace and requiring assistance to walk through the front door to taking on new client’s and customers on behalf of his employer.
Peter’s light bulb moment came when in completing the E-DISC personal analysis he was able to see that he had not failed, rather the personality traits that made him an excellent technician and an excellent problem solver meant that recent changes to his role responsibilities had made some aspects much more difficult for him.
Peter is not symptom free. He does however understand how to function effectively even on “down days”. He is now empowered to have a discussion with his employer regarding his own person/ job fit, and is anticipating that he will explore career development potential now that he has a greater understanding of himself.
Samantha – Just get on with it.
While walking across the front yard of a friend’s home, Samantha was hit by a speeding, drunk driver – taking the full force of an out of control vehicle on her left hand side with multiple factures and crush injuries to the left upper arm, shoulder, wrist and a fracture to the left hip. The injuries were pinned and plated, resulting in pain, poor mobility and ruined ability to carry plates and perform table service. This was devastating for the owner/manager of a restaurant.
Samantha is in her early 40’s. A successful restaurateur she has worked in some of the most famous restaurants in Sydney. Samantha explained when we first met that her career in hospitality and restaurant management had been her passion and she had given “everything she had” to her current restaurant venture.
When Purple Co met Samantha she was even more uncertain about her future. The restaurant was unable to provide her wages while she did not work and the income protection payments were for a minimal amount of her pre-disability salary, and were for a 2 year fixed period only. Samantha wanted to focus on her injury recovery however she was also feeling the pressure of significant financial strain. Without her restaurant or hospitality career, Samantha was really uncertain of her fit in the world. After 12 months she identified that a significant lack of purpose was contributing to a growing experience of depression.
As a result of working with Jo Muirhead of Purple Co:
Instead of seeking more treatment and more diagnoses Samantha decided to take back control of her health and work life. Despite a fracture to the left hip that does not want to heal and the need for further surgery to the upper arm, Samantha chose to complete her Cert IV in Training and Assessment. As a result has secured part time teaching within TAFE. Samantha is by no means symptom free and continues to use a walking stick to assist with mobility. However she is now in control of her finances and is able to plan when to have surgery (in between semester breaks) so that she can maximise her earning capacity during this stage of her life.
Samantha has been an inspiring client to work with. Her determination to just get on with it has caused me to consider how many clients could benefit from a similar attitude.
Samantha’s goal is to re establish her restaurateur career, but she knows she will need to improve both her finances and her function to enable this to occur.
Reconnected to purpose, Samantha is simply getting on with it.
Margaret – Evidence that you don’t have to feel great all the time to succeed.
Margaret had been unemployed for 12 months when she first met with Purple Co’s Consultant, Jo Muirhead. She was confused, depressed and anxious about her financial future. She expressed little hope of successfully finding work. She was also highly avoidant of looking for work and re-entering the workforce despite financial pressure to do so.
Her last position had been a negative experience for her. After 4 years she had chosen to leave because it had become detrimental to her mental health. She had experienced bullying, which had eroded her self-confidence; extremely long hours; expectations of international travel; and expectations of 24/7 availability given her immediate superior was based in Europe. Margaret left paid employment needing treatment for depression, with feelings of failure and an overall sense that she was not good enough.
Margaret had previously been employed successfully for many years, including in senior marketing and communications roles for large multinational companies. She had achieved remarkable results especially in the financial services and IT sectors.
Margaret wanted a part time executive role. However, she was convinced that such a role would not be able to be found due to the lack of them in the marketplace. Margaret was fearful of rejection and of re-entering the paid workforce, so she asked for assistance from her income protection insurer with career development and job search assistance. The first Consultant she was referred to did little to reassure her and so came to Purple Co hesitant, resistant and somewhat doubtful of the value such assistance may provide her.
Purple Co worked with Margaret for 6 months. Carefully designed programs were developed and implemented to empower Margaret to re enter the paid workforce on her terms.
What did Purple do?
Stage 1
- For the first 3 months, Purple Co and Margaret worked together to “get ready for work”. This included developing a personal culture statement; addressing boundaries; developing effective communication strategies for dealing with conflict and managing the time pressures of being a mum to three children (two with visual disabilities).
- Provided education regarding the functional expectations of her anxiety and depression
- Attended a 1 day workshop to up-skill
- With much initial reluctance from Margaret revamped her résumé, portfolio and LinkedIn profile into marketing machines.
- Provided a mock interview to identify the pressure points for anxiety and poor performance during an executive style interview
Stage 2:
- For the next three months Purple Co worked with Margaret to actually do the do.
- Gained commitment from Margaret and established accountability to Jo Muirhead for the actions she said she was going to take.
- Jo was able to use the motivation of financial freedom, independence and self worth that comes from being employed that Margaret had identified as being her motivators during stage 1.
- Margaret completed the E-DISC Personal Analysis which assisted her to develop more effective communication and relating styles with potential employers. The E-DISC Report also enabled Jo Muirhead to develop a job search and placement strategy that was the most effective for Margaret, highlighting the way her personality would be most engaged and successful in applying for new roles .
- Margaret simply got on with it, and in the space of 3 weeks developed her LinkedIn profile to 100%, and obtained endorsements for positions held in the past 10 years; attended interviews with recruitment companies; applied for vacancies and attended two job interviews.
What was achieved?
Of course, she is now employed in a part time marketing and communication Manager role within the energy sector. This is a national role, and Margaret still cannot believe that she has the job of her dreams. A part time Sydney based executive role.
Margaret came to understand that just because she didn’t feel great all of the time she could still function at a very high level. Margaret has come to appreciate the power of being very clear and committed to what she says she wants. She also has a new appreciation of the power of learning about herself.
Margaret is still scared; and we have recently commenced Stage 3, which will teach, implement and develop resilience in the workplace by addressing anxiety behaviours as they occur and teaching independence in managing these behaviours.
Melissa – Strategy brings success
Melissa had been unemployed for 12 months when she first met with Purple Co’s, Jo Muirhead. She was confused, depressed and anxious about her financial future. She expressed little hope of successfully finding work.
Her last position had been a negative experience for her. After 3 years she had chosen to leave because it had become detrimental to her mental health. She had experienced bullying which had eroded her self-confidence, leaving her with feelings of failure and an overall sense that she was not good enough.
Melissa had previously been employed successfully for many years, including in senior marketing roles for large multinational companies. She had achieved remarkable results especially in the international airline sector.
At the time of meeting with Purple Co, Melissa’s husband had also just been made redundant and she felt she had no option but to return to the paid work force.
Melissa had attempted to find employment on her own for 12 months without success, before she asked assistance from her income protection insurer. With only 12 months left on salary continuance benefits Melissa was feeling pressured to obtain employment and get it now!
Purple Co worked with Melissa for 6 weeks. During which time she obtained three interviews, and two job offers. The job Melissa accepted resulted in increased remuneration than the job she had left.
What did Purple do?
- Provided education regarding the functional expectations of her anxiety and depression
- Mapped energy levels
- Included structured programs to facilitate whole health improvements including sleep; diet and gentle exercise
- Turned Melissa’s résumé, portfolio and LinkedIn profile into marketing machines.
Melissa did the rest
She engaged in the process readily and was hungry for more. The turning point came quickly when she caught the concept that she could market herself. She had successfully marketed international airlines; she realised she should and could market herself!
Melissa accepted a senior marketing role with a wholesale travel company. 4 Months later she was headhunted for another international airline increasing her confidence and helping her realise her dreams of financial independence.
Melissa is 62. She is a competent, interesting and experienced professional who continues to make significant contributions to her new company. Melissa is enjoying her financial freedom.
Kelly - The power of knowing what you want and being bold enough to ask for it
Kelly was frustrated, bored and feeling let down by her employer. In her early 30’s, and like many professionals, Kelly had stopped learning and her role had become stale. She blamed her employer for not providing her with the opportunities for training and development and was considering a change in profession.
She knew she had been at this point before with a previous company and this time decided to see if she could do something about it herself rather than continue a cycle of job hopping
When she came to Purple Co for coaching Kelly was very clear about what she wanted:
- To start enjoying her work life again
- To be recognised for the value that she gave her company, and
- To become confident to say no to the tasks she simply no longer enjoyed (and had not enjoyed for years).
In our first coaching session Kelly clearly identified her passion for more learning opportunities and was able to articulate her desire to nurture and grow a team of young professionals. She also clearly defined some new boundaries for her work roles that she felt were reasonable given her skills and experience.
After just one powerful session Kelly was confident enough to arrange a meeting with her employer. For the first time she was able to articulate her concerns and her professional goals and ask if there were other opportunities for her within the company.
As a result of that meeting her employer realised that a highly valued employee had further potential and very quickly created an opportunity for her.
She was offered a temporary promotion as a Site Manager – a clinical role with strong team leadership development and operational responsibilities.
Since then, further coaching has assisted Kelly to grow in her operational and people management skills. Kelly has embraced the value of taking control of her own professional development and of building a life of continual learning.
Subsequently, Kelly proved herself to be such an effective site manager that she has recently been offered and accepted a larger multi-site manager role.
Kelly’s success all started with taking responsibility for her own work life, identifying and articulating her professional goals, and then one conversation with her employer.
Stacy - Values – they are so important
As a teenager, due to family circumstances, Stacy had left school to take on care responsibilities in her family and some financial support for the education of her younger siblings. Her dreams of a career in nursing had to be put on hold.
Upon immigrating to Australia, Stacy was able to finally embark on her nursing career. She studied and worked hard and became a well respected and highly sought after clinician. Her dreams had become a reality.
Then at the height of her career she severely injured her right shoulder and was again forced to put her career on hold.
At 45 years of age, after almost 5 years out of the workforce, Stacy presented to Purple Co depressed and feeling hopeless. The first two sessions were full of tears and personal anguish.
The range of barriers to Stacy seemed overwhelming:
- Out of the workforce for more than 5 years
- English is her second language
- Pain presentation and symptoms of depression were severely affecting her ability to function
- Grief at realising that her injury was not healing and she would have to leave her beloved nursing career behind
- Her husband was unwell and unable to work and she felt the pressure of responsibility to provide for her family.
What did Purple Co do?
Initial coaching focused on providing education to understand the science of depression, and its interrelationship between pain experience and low mood. Highly resistant at the start, it took some weeks before Stacy built confidence in activity actually being good for her.
Further coaching identified Stacy’s strongly held values of ‘significance’ and ‘contribution’. It was very important for her to move into a career that would give her a similar sense of making a difference in the lives of others, just as nursing had.
Helping Stacy to gain clarity around her values greatly helped to reignite her passion. Purple Co was able to generate a range of potential career choices for Stacy.
She decided to embark on a career in dentistry.
Stacy was offered two traineeships from two interviews and accepted an offer with the Westmead Dental Hospital. Opportunities to specialise in infection control and radiology have already been discussed by Stacy with her training school.
Where is she now?
3 months into training and Stacy is earning an income while studying and achieving above average results in her class. Her husband tells us that she is already being targeted by the hospital dentists as a nurse of preference in surgery. One Path is very pleased with the result as they no longer have to pay salary continuance for Stacy.
Stacy no longer talks about her shoulder pain. She recognises that it is there, but is aware that she cannot hurt herself any further in her new chosen career. She has learned to adapt her body positioning to ensure she can work in a manner that is safe.
As for the depression, that seemed to simply disappear once Stacy grabbed a hold of a new hopeful vision of the future.
Connected to purpose passionately, Stacy can now make the difference she has always wanted to make.
Brad - Forced change doesn’t have to change who you are
Brad is not quite 40. He has always been a bit of a free spirit, and describes himself as being “a bit of a hippie”.
Working in a casual job while trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life, Brad fell off a roof and crushed his right heel. This was pretty devastating for Brad. The injury was pinned, plated and resulted in pain and significantly reduced mobility. The worst part of that is it ruined his skateboarding and surfing.
When Purple Co first met with Brad he was very insecure about his future. He had always been able to “fall on his feet” (his joke I assure you) and been able to turn any situation into something positive. Now, perhaps for the first time, Brad was unsure of how he would “fit” into his world.
During coaching with Purple Co, Brad determined that he did not want to be “controlled” by the rules of an insurance company. His desire was to travel and try his hand at a few different things. And so, Brad took the bold step of choosing to withdraw from the insurance scheme he was attached too.
Now, two years on from making that decision, life has opened up dramatically for Brad. He has married and they have had their first baby. He renovated his home and has travelled extensively. After more surgery to his foot he continued with physiotherapy and prosthetic treatment. He also started to do some voluntary work with a collective to build a self sustaining community in regional NSW.
Just recently Brad found employment as a caretaker for the NSW Department of education, and has decided to return to TAFE to complete an adult apprenticeship in Carpentry enabling him to become a qualified builder. This will enable him to continue to help build the sustainable community.
Brad is focused, purposeful and full of hope for his future, and that of his family.
