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Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work Paperback – 3 May 2023
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FINALIST: 2024 International Book Awards - Business: Motivational
FINALIST: Goody Business Book Award 2024 - Self-Help - Personal Transformation
Too many of us work through burnout and sacrifice our work-life balance to get ahead in our careers. But the real path to success and happiness begins with you.
Rather than just accepting the fatigue and burnout, renowned mental health expert Petra Velzeboer shows you how to prioritize your wellbeing and mental health at work. From recognizing the impact of internal and external influences to learning support mechanisms, Begin With You offers you key strategies that will lead to a rewarding life and career.
Petra Velzeboer draws upon her personal experiences of trauma and hardship to offer insights on how you can overcome difficult periods and develop a positive outlook. Packed with case studies and psychological research, Begin With You is the essential guide to becoming a mental health champion and transforming your career and life for the better.
- Print length216 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherKogan Page
- Publication date3 May 2023
- Dimensions15.9 x 1.4 x 23.5 cm
- ISBN-101398610313
- ISBN-13978-1398610316
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"Petra brings through a reality and pragmatism when it comes to finding your wellness in this busy, chaotic world we live and work in. Written from the heart and spoken with care." ― Kirstin Furber, People Director, Channel 4
"This book brings inspiration, practical thinking and true thought leadership that I would recommend to anyone who wants a new angle on how to view their wellbeing at work." ― Stella Smith, CEO & founder, pirkx
"Petra offers empowering practices for claiming ourselves, our wellbeing, and our communities. I felt energized and hopeful reading Petra's book. You will too." ― Dr Ardeshir Mehran, psychologist and author
"This book guides the reader through an exploration of how our personal and professional lives are interconnected, allowing us to embrace the idea of focusing on ourselves in order to achieve success at work." ― Miriam Zylberglait Lisigurski, MD, FACP
"Petra is in a class of her own! Her passion is focused on helping others and her approach comes from a place of lived experience - an experience that she shares so transparently and unabashedly. This is all reflected in this book and what makes it such a solid, authentic source." ― Rondette Amoy Smith, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, EMEA, Nomura
"Begin With You is a must-read for virtually anyone: whether you are wanting to build a mental health strategy, are an entrepreneur or business owner, or are just interested in practical steps to improve your own mental health. Petra's approach can benefit us all." ― Hannah Meredith, Health and Wellbeing Partner, MVF Global
"We know a lot about investing in our success, but do we know and talk enough about investing in our mental health? Are we even listening? Petra Velzeboer leads the way and shines a light through the maze of tools and set constructs defined by employers and medical professionals. This book is lively, passionate, somehow even intimate at times where it feels like a cosy conversation with a friend." ― Eva-Christie Bessala, Director, Global Clients Pricing and Procurement, PwC
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Petra Velzeboer is a renowned mental health expert, speaker and CEO of PVL, a mental health consultancy. She has a MSc in Psychodynamics of Human Development and is a qualified ORSC & CTI Certified Coach. She is also an Advisor Board Member at Make A Difference Summits.
She is uniquely positioned to highlight the importance of wellbeing at work, as she draws upon her professional and personal experiences. Petra Velzeboer overcame a traumatic childhood to become a counsellor for vulnerable young people before campaigning for improved mental health services. She is based in London, UK.
Product details
- Publisher : Kogan Page; 1st edition (3 May 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 216 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1398610313
- ISBN-13 : 978-1398610316
- Dimensions : 15.9 x 1.4 x 23.5 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 346,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 356 in Occupational & Industrial Psychology
- 1,427 in Family & Lifestyle Depression
- 2,461 in Business Life (Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author
![Petra Velzeboer](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/52ecvmm50b3m69clpt0kusob0k._SY600_.jpg)
Petra Velzeboer is a renowned psychotherapist, TedX speaker, author, and CEO of mental health consultancy PVL.
Petra's vision for the new world of work focuses on dynamic leadership, success in a hybrid world, and creating space for skill development to enhance forward momentum.
Petra's background of being raised in a notorious cult and seeing many similarities in the world of work today, drives her to challenge outdated work practices and usher in a new way of working.
In her signature keynote talk, Petra challenges companies to shift their focus and prioritise investment in human capital, wellbeing, and mental health.
Petra's keynotes are uplifting, moving, funny and challenge audiences to cultivate mentally healthy cultures that promote innovation and sustainable performance for the future of work.
Petra poses a question that completely changes the way we have viewed work:
What if work was good for our mental health, not something we had to recover from afterwards?
For more information or to book Petra Velzeboer for your next event, contact her at hello@petravelzeboer.com
To be invited into the world and shoes that Petra has walked in, is such a privilege, as it allows the reader to pause and be amazed at the courage it has taken for this brave woman to come out the other end with such beauty, compassion and a zest for life to be the best version of herself. The tips and wise words are like ‘pick me up pills’ that will help all those that read her journey ~ thank you for sharing your incredible story with us
Dr Kamel Hothi OBE, Non-Exec Director TLC Lions
“Petra is in a class of her own! Her passion is focused on helping others and her approach comes from a place of lived experience - an experience that she’s shares so transparently and unabashedly. This is all reflected in this book and what makes it such a solid, authentic source”
Rondette Amoy Smith - Head of D&I EMEA Nomura
A highly practical handbook that covers a range of very important topics and explores them thoughtfully, intelligently and with emotion. This book appreciates that mental health is a sensitive, at times challenging, and very personal experience and I would recommend this book to the novice, practitioner and expert alike.
Dr Shaun Davis
Group Health, Safety and Wellbeing Director. Belron.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book insightful and valuable for anyone interested in mental well-being. They say it challenges their own perceptions and provides good advice. The book is described as positive, hopeful, and filled with hope. Readers appreciate the author's authenticity and honesty.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book insightful and valuable for anyone interested in mental well-being. It challenges their own views and provides good advice on how to invest in mental health. The author brings a complex and multifaceted topic to life with her wisdom and practiced experience.
"...This, I feel, is an essential part of the story and sets the groundwork for the book...." Read more
"...It’s a truly fresh approach to building resilience and thriving at work. This is a book I will read again and again...." Read more
"...Creating a link between mental health and a growth mindset was really interesting and something i had not really dug into - even though i speak..." Read more
"...I find Petra's style of writing effortlessly easy to read and the book insightful and thought provoking...." Read more
Customers find the book helpful for mental health. They say it helps them reach their full potential and live a balanced, happy, and fulfilled life.
"...The author is clearly passionate about mental health and this book is filled with both positivity and hope." Read more
"...but i was very interested in this book as being able to navigate my own mental health is something that i have been assionate about especially..." Read more
"...explores how we can set out our work places so they are positive mental health spaces, and set the example as leaders re being open about our own..." Read more
"...being and how this can be used in reaching our full potential, coupled with happiness. Written from the heart and powerful." Read more
Customers find the book authentic and honest. It provokes thought-provoking questions.
"...This book is raw and authentic and in turn prompts questions that make you want to dig deeper into what well-being actually means and how you can..." Read more
"...own personal mental health journey throughout, which makes it all very real and practical...." Read more
"Though Provoking and Real..." Read more
Reviews with images
![Fantastic read!](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
Fantastic read!
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2023I finished this book in about three sittings, finding it a compelling read. Although the author's background and story are (of course) different to mine, I found myself nodding along at times, having experienced similar things in organisational settings.
The author starts by briefly explaining her childhood, growing up in a cult. This, I feel, is an essential part of the story and sets the groundwork for the book. She draws parallels into how certain thoughts and behaviours are rewarded or punished in a cult... and how that actually applies to other contexts too, perhaps even in organisational settings. Of course, it's a completely different context in an organisation, but there are things that cannot be spoken... and so people might not be able to truly 'show up', might have to 'mask'. I thought that was a really interesting observation.
The author also highlights how many organisations view success as a collective win, but failure as an individual's problem. E.g. if someone burns out, it is really on them... even though (in reality) there is a systemic and sometimes toxic reason that's led them to burn out. She argues that apps and helplines and benefits are great, and have their place, but they are somewhat putting a sticking plaster over a wound. They don't address the root cause of *why* the wound is there in the first place. Indeed, a lot of talk of mental health in organisations seems to be about managing crisis, harm prevention, etc. But 'health' isn't just about illness... it's also about wellness. So what if we build the good stuff into what we do?
There's so much more I could say. There's was stuff in there I'd thought about before, but lots of new perspectives too. Most of all, reading it gave me time to pause and actually think about this stuff.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who is interested in their own mental health, the mental health of their team, or anyone who works with other people.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 October 2023I work in the field of culture and wellbeing and few books I’ve come across have explained the roles of both individuals and organisations so beautifully. Petra’s personal story and professional work bring a complex and multifaceted topic to life. It’s a truly fresh approach to building resilience and thriving at work. This is a book I will read again and again. I take something new from it each time.
I love it. I recommend it. And if I were you, I’d buy it.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2023Well-being is such a buzz word these days but looking at the rates of anxiety and depression in society at the moment you can’t help but wonder if a critical piece is missing. This book is raw and authentic and in turn prompts questions that make you want to dig deeper into what well-being actually means and how you can make real changes both in work and at home that will lead to a more balanced, happy and fulfilled life. The author is clearly passionate about mental health and this book is filled with both positivity and hope.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2023I admit that i have worked with the author, but i was very interested in this book as being able to navigate my own mental health is something that i have been assionate about especially post COVID. I was expecting a more practicle guide on how to manage my own mental health, but you know what they say about assumptions. What i got was an insight into Petra's own childhood, and how they navigagted their own mental health.
Creating a link between mental health and a growth mindset was really interesting and something i had not really dug into - even though i speak about fixed and growth mindset when it comes to career development!
Thought it was a good read, absolutely made me challenge my own perceptions and it had some good advice.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2023Start with you.
This was a strange book to read for me as it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was expecting a practical guide to being able to harnessing my wellbeing and mental health at work.
However, roughly 30% of the book was about the author’s back story. She had grown up in a cult which she had left and then described her life afterwards which had not been easy. This, although interesting, could have been a book in itself and I could see that some of it could be relevant to this book. However, it did take up a significant amount of the book.
The author also liberally sprinkled the text with exclamation marks which after a while began to grate somewhat as I felt that they were unnecessary.
However, the author did make some good points about toxic workplaces and mental health. Although the latter has become more prominent since the pandemic in that people appear to be more aware of it, there is still, as the author claims, a stigma about employees speaking and seeking help. The well being industry as the author calls it can be little more than a glossy veneer over a simmering pot of indifference and fear especially in these uncertain times. Although she suggests reaching out to co-workers who may be having mental health difficulties I did wonder about confidentiality and trust. How comfortable would the other person be with this?
Another pertinent area was ‘groupthink’. Sometimes when you leave an organisation, that’s when you realise what’s been going on and see what you were really up against. I related to her comment on burnout being related to boundaries as it happened to a friend of mine. The boundaries in her role changed without warning and she had a whole ton of work dumped on her without warning. It led to her leaving. The author made an interesting point about ‘playing’ into bullying if you have been bullied several times. I think the bullies sense that a potential victim may be vulnerable and that lets them in. This is not the victim’s fault and bullying is unacceptable in any organisation. But, in my experience, companies do not want to deal with it all and just brush it under the carpet while trumpeting their Dignity at work policy to all and sundry. One organisation that I worked at held a discussion on bringing ‘your authentic self to work.’ How often does anyone feel that they can do this?
The author does suggest leaving a job if it is so toxic it affects your mental health. I feel for people who are unable for whatever reason to do this. She also mentions the boiled frog scenario which I was unfamiliar with and also discusses the possibility that using apps for mental health may not be appropriate of helpful.
A book with some helpful and useful suggestions and overview but not what I was looking for.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
Top reviews from other countries
- UnknownReviewed in the United States on 17 October 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Beautifully written ❤️❤️ Petra has a unique and insightful perspective that will get you thinking…Useful tips and tricks as well that we can all incorporate into our daily lives.
Definitely one for repeat reading!