John McLauchlan is 36 years old and lives in Lincolnshire in the East of England. As a youngster John began karate training, and knew straight away that karate was with him for life, he won many trophies and became a black belt by 16.
Although John's karate was a sure thing, his career intentions were not.
"I never really knew what I wanted to do, apart from teach karate, which was not encouraged as an option."
So while at school, he began work in retail, and later full time in the retail business before applying for the RAF. It was at this time that John suffered a serious motorbike accident.
"I remember, the doctor speaking to me about my leg, saying that I would never walk again and that karate was a thing of the past, but I was unconcerned, I knew I would recover, and although it took 2 years and a lot of pain, I did. If doctors promoted a positive mental attitude I'm sure more patients would benefit."
After his recovery and return to work, he began his journey into personal development.
John joined the local council working with weights & measures, and qualifying as an enforcement officer, "That job was about as cushy as you get, I worked with some great people, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I needed more of a challenge, so I joined the police."
Most of John's friends and family thought that was him for life, career and pension, but he had other ideas.
"I knew where I wanted to be in life, and realised that the police was an ambition from my childhood, so I said to myself that I would do 5 years and move on."
John completed nearly 10 years, developing a successful property development business both in the UK and US prior to him leaving the police
"The day I left the police, was just like any other, because I had visualised it for so long, there was no leaving party, no goodbye's, I just left as usual, and never went back."
John was now where he thought he wanted to be, with a successful business,& homes in the US. However a series of family tragedies and the 9/11 attacks putting pay to his business, he found himself at his low point, having to start again, and whatever he did, seemed to go wrong...
"I never really knew what I wanted to do apart from teach karate, and that wasn't really encouraged as an option"
"I remember the doctors speaking to me about my leg, saying that I would never walk again"
"I knew where I wanted to be in life, and realised that the police was an ambition from my childhood"
