Over the next five messages, I’m going to share the five questions I’m asked (as an author of 7 books) most often.

And I promise not to be a boring, self-indulgent old fart with the answers.

No. 1 How did you get started?

This question’s answer could be so BORING!

I’ve discovered that unless you have a belter of a story, no one really cares ‘how you got started’. So, let’s flip it.

Here’s how I almost didn’t get started.

When I was 16, I stuck two fingers up at my local comprehensive school, laughed at my appalling O-Level results (I got one – in art) and started to work as an apprentice slater and tiler.

It was my dad’s business - my brother was already there. Yes, W Heppell & Sons Ltd was born and my dad was absolutely thrilled. All he wanted was for my brother and me to join him in the family business.

I could write a book about my experiences as a roofer but that's for another day. Fast forward seven years and I was given an opportunity to take a few months on secondment to work on a project with a youth organisation I volunteered for.

I remember being terrified about asking my dad for the time off, but what he did was quite brilliant.

Rather than being upset about my wanting to be out of the business for a few months, he suggested asking the organisation I would be working with if they would take me on for a year. He knew it would take at least a year for me to get to know the scope of the work. They agreed.

Then he said something to me which I'll always remember.  On the day I finished I said (as a joke) ‘I'll see you in a year’.

He looked me in the eye and said, ‘Son, you won't be back. And that's fine.’

And he was right!

We often talk about having the courage to let go...

To let go of what you already know and to let go of what you already have.

If it wasn't for him and a brilliant guy called Allan Percival who gave me the opportunity, I certainly wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now.

What do you need to let go of to get started?

Write That Book!