Last week, Andrea & I went on a date night to see Les Miserables – The Arena Spectacular to celebrate our 35^th wedding anniversary.  This was the sixth time we had seen a live performance of Les Miserables.  As with each of the previous performances, I found myself emotional about and deeply moved by the story.

Putting on my business coach hat, I took time out to reflect on why this story continues to resonate so profoundly.  What I recognized were the parallels between its themes and the guiding philosophy that drives me and my coaching practice.

I realised that at its heart, Les Misérables portrays the struggle between the two wolves within me – one being of rigid judgment (represented by the character Javert) and the other being of compassion and growth (represented by the character Valjean).  When Valjean chooses to feed the wolf of compassion rather than that of bitterness, he transforms his approach to life which dramatically changes the outcomes he achieves.  Just like Valjean I consciously choose every day to focus on compassion and growth albeit I am acutely aware the other wolf is waiting in the shadows to pounce!

The musical also powerfully illustrates what I struggled with for many years– the tension between the demands of having a successful career and business and the desire to do things that brought me personal fulfillment. Fantine sacrifices everything for her daughter but loses herself in the process.  In recent years I achieved the delicate balance between working in the business that pays the bills and the “fun, sexy part of life” that brings joy, happiness and fulfillment to my life.

The most personally meaningful and relatable part of the story is when Valjean takes on the role of mentor for Cosette and Marius. In my own journey, the absence of a mentor during my early career profoundly influenced my passion for coaching today. Like Valjean, I strive to be for others what I wish someone had been for me – a guide who creates a safe space for exploration and growth.

In the end, Les Misérables celebrates compassion and human connection. In the same way, my approach to coaching centres on addressing the human elements that drive business decisions and family dynamics — helping business owners to understand there are different ways of looking at the seemingly overwhelming challenges they are facing.  By understanding they are in control of the choices they make, their journey can be a purposeful one to create the business + life to which they aspire.

For me, the musical’s enduring power, like effective coaching, lies in its recognition that true transformation comes not from outside, but from within.