Since I was at school, I had fantasised about being an author. I mentioned this to my teacher, and they gently let me down by saying it was never going to happen. These thoughts and desires were instantly buried, and I got on with life.
Moving on, I have always felt lucky to achieve something in my careers. First, being a cop meant having the opportunity to wear a uniform and feel like I was doing something positive within society. Being invited to number 10 to be presented a national bravery award, having the knowledge that I had what it took to stand on a thin line, which not many dare to step up to. Then a chance to wear another uniform, this time in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, seeing lots of sand when mobilised to Afghanistan. Both of these self-accomplished career feats gave me feelings that were something I was proud to shout about (and still do).
But rush forward a few years, and something happened, a drive and determination inside of me just pushed itself to the surface, and one day I just started writing, with no idea, training course, or qualification in writing, and no one egging me on, things began to flow through my fingers and on to a Word document.
By 2015, I had achieved something that my teachers had told me would never happen. I had a copy of a book in my hands, all written, presented and pulled together from my scrambled thoughts and a willingness to allow the creative energy flow. The feeling of accomplishment topped everything I had achieved before. This feeling is something most people will never get to experience, but I did.
The book, an extension of myself, my thoughts, experiences, and desire to continue doing good, was finally available for the entire world to buy and consume. It was presented in three parts. To help people manage stress, identify other people’s traits so you can manage their personalities and then learn how to make a personal change stick. I gave away loads, sold quite a few, and was known as the Caveman Speaker. Through Filament publishing, articles were written in national newspapers when I roamed the halls of The Institute of Directors in a Caveman outfit, making London gentlemen quaff and cough at the sight. I was on the up, things were really happening. Most was from my self-promotion as an author, and other times things seemed like luck, but all could be traced back to something I had done.
Unfortunately, the world had different plans for me, and just before the book got real traction, it was over. Tackling some major life changing challenges meant I had to pause my fledgling book business. Which, with hindsight, may have been a blessing.
You see, life has its way of keeping things in check and for me, I had to deal with more life experiences, tackling PTSD and having to rebuild a life that I had assumed would take care of me. But I knew it was not the end of the Caveman. Taking the time I needed, using the knowledge I had gained and written about several years earlier, I began to rebuild. Learning new skills, becoming a highly respected and sought-after Project Manager within the MOD, a career I never wanted, but was making things work. Yet I had that empty feeling of needing to address the writing job I once almost had, the one I have always yearned for. Now that I am standing stronger, taller and more robust than I have been for many years, it is time to do it all again.
This week I have handed in my notice. Life is too short to live with regrets. In a few short months, I will be back in the author game, giving it my all and seeing if I can make the magic happen once again.
Yes, with the second edition of The Caveman Principles, with additional content, better and more impactful stories and examples, this Caveman is back for another round. 2025 might mark the ten-year anniversary of the first edition, but it is not the reason for a rewrite. No, it was an opportunity to grow, to make something that was good, something that is now great!
Watch out 2026, the author is going to be everywhere and unstoppable. This Caveman’s shop is back open for business.