Diamond Minds helps you develop a journalling habit so you can grow your confidence and your business mind-set. Combined with coaching, this helps you unlock your success.

Latest Blog Entries

A Sense of Place

written July 10, 2021 by Nicky Torode

It was invigorating being outdoors for our Start the Week Write journalling session this week. We sat in the magical St Leonard’s Gardens and wrote about the sense of place. We took inspiration from the lily-covered pond and read the poem, The Pond. Start the

Career Journaling – Wellcome Sanger’s Institute’s online conference

written June 7, 2021 by Nicky Torode

I thoroughly enjoyed running a session on career journaling for the staff at Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge at the end of May. Through creative writing prompts and a poem, participants explored the shape of their career and recalled a peak moment in their work which

BAPAM Returning to Work writing for wellbeing workshop

written May 18, 2021 by Nicky Torode

It was a pleasure to facilitate a journaling workshop for performing artists at the BAPAM community drop in today. We explored our attitudes and emotions about returning to work and not knowing what might be next. We wrote empowering statements using re: words –

Nicky, you are brilliant.

Nicky, you are brilliant. You bring the best out of people – your gentle manner helps people to open up and share. Well-organised. Great visual aids.

***

Nicky was brilliant in leading the group. Very calm and clear about getting the group to interact with each other and give their input.

***

You are a fantastic facilitator and life coach. Fantastic delivery, approach, time keeping, subject and keeping us together and focused.

Team Workshops – Children’s Centre staff, London

Children’s Centre

Nicky’s sessions are thoughtfully planned and seem to flow seamlessly.

Start the Week Write sessions has helped open my mind after 40 years of 9-5 routines and allowed my creative thinking to flow onto the pages of my notebook.

Nicky’s sessions are thoughtfully planned and seem to flow seamlessly. The writing techniques are helpful in stimulating motivation to write when no apparent urge is forthcoming. I like the way Nicky as facilitator places herself within the group and is part of the circle of voices joining in reflections. Nicky has created a safe space for opening up my mind and introduced a new way of expressing feelings, thoughts and ideas.

Attendee

Start the Week Write group, Hastings

I appreciate your time and preparation and most of all your originality

I appreciate the time you take to prepare each session, the tips and links you give me and most of all your originality. The fact that you call my imagination into action, I believe, will be helpful to reach my learning goals. You carefully listen to me and then ask me to identify the mistake that I made before giving advice. That is very reassuring and will have a positive impact on my confidence. I liked the flow of our conversation. Just the right rhythm.

Business English Speaking Skills training,

Senior business analyst, 2019

Business Analyst

Nicky is fantastic

Nicky is fantastic – the time spent flew by. It was constructive, thought-provoking and deeply motivational

Start the Week Write, Hastings

Nicky made the session so welcoming and intimate

We shared prompts and helpful tips about journaling. The fact that Nicky made the session so welcoming and intimate helped me to open up and let the writing flow!

Master Coach

Nicky was refreshing and upbeat, She drew out my goals and challenges and helped me frame them as adventures which appealed to my extrovert nature. Watching and working with her was, at times, like watching a Master Coach in action.

R, April 2020

Experienced and contemplative coach

Nicky is a very contemplative coach who gave me plenty of time to answer the incisive questions she asks. She is an experienced coach who uses her tools to full advantage and helped me gain a deeper understanding of my new venture.

T, April 2020

Your sessions were little gems – each a complete and special encounter

Thank you for hosting the writing group Nicky – your sessions were inspirational and thoughtfully created by you – much hard work I think went into your prep . Your weekly sessions were little gems – each a complete and special encounter. Each poem had a significant relevance for our times and the sessions we shared. Writing helped me be more receptive to the positives in my environment.

Participants, Start the Week Write Online, June 2020

You are amazing

“This course changed my attitude towards myself. Before I was hiding and now I’m treating myself with more kindness. You are amazing. You opened up this opportunity for deeper self-discovery. Thank you.” Participant, July’s 7-Day Journalling Challenge

Excellent teacher and communicator

Excellent teacher and communicator. Clearly understands her subject and is passionate about it and gave provoking prompts to get me back into journaling.

Attendee: Finding Your Confident Business Voice – City Business Library, London (online workshop)

Bright, energetic and goal-oriented

Nicky is an incredible teacher and coach. Since the beginning she was bright, energetic and goal-oriented and she created the best environment to work together. I’ve never had a coach who has given as much passion and focus as she has done.

Inspiration, encouragement and detailed feedback

Nicky combined measured effective presentation with inspiration and encouragement. The sessions were well managed and friendly.

I particularly appreciated Nicky’s diligence in the helpful and detailed individual written feedback she did every week for our submitted written homework. I felt she went the extra mile on this.

Informative and enjoyable

The most helpful aspect of the course was Nicky the course leader. She would cover a topic in an informative and enjoyable way and she provided valuable feedback

Participant in my 9-week Creative Writing course for WEA

Excellent, stimulating & well-paced

An excellent course with layers of techniques and very stimulating. Well paced teaching.

Participant in my 5-week course for WEA