“That’s just the way it is” is what Ben Sims heard throughout his life when he questioned why he was treated differently from white children or coworkers. It was a sentence that did not sit well with him, and he kept that inquisitive mindset throughout his career in the Air Force, his university education, and his jobs with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He has encountered racism in various forms but vowed not to yield to its principles and limitations, and he has always found a wa...

What Do You Really Want? is a book designed for those who recognize that it’s time to change direction but find themselves uncertain what to do next. “My current occupation no longer aligns with who I want to be, and I’m eager for a transformation, yet I don’t know which steps to take first.”

If you find yourself uncertain about whether you’re in the right place, it doesn’t necessarily imply that you’re in the wrong job. In fact it’s more probable that you’re experiencing ...

Sounds familiar?

• You want to make a difference, but intangible forces seem to be working against you;

• New initiatives always seem to be trumped by established procedures;

• All-too-quickly you find yourself once again doing what you were so determined not to do;

• The fact that nothing ever really changes in the organisation makes you despondent.

Systems form everywhere. You yourself are part of a system, but you can exert influence on it. Hidden away under the guise of organisati...