Boost your career with exceptional skills in personal and professional excellence
For a rapid return on your investment in training, development and coaching
FREE 45-minute
Performance Coaching
Introduction. Click here
for full details.
Call 0845 868 0125 now
to discuss your career
development plan with
Programme Director
Vanessa Cobb
"Doubt immobilises us. We say: 'How could I possibly do that? I don't even have a plan!'
Yet the plan is in the potential, like the fruit in the seed. And no matter what, once we've planted that decision, success is inevitable." Vanessa Cobb - author of the IMP System™ for Accelerated Achievement
"I looked at that mountain of books and thought: Okay, forget it."
Despite childhood dreams of becoming a writer, Vanessa was a poor student. Barely scraping her 'A' Levels she started her career as a personnel filing clerk. Three years later, after little progress, she enrolled in evening classes at London University, hoping to strengthen her career prospects.
The reading list was overwhelming and, within the first term, she quit, leaving behind all trace of confidence in her natural learning ability. Deciding to concentrate on her job, she worked hard, only to discover that her future within one of the world's largest companies had already been decided, and it didn't look bright at all. Striving for recognition she pushed against each obstacle to promotion, only to feel crushed by every rejection.
One night in 1984, as pictures of famine flooded the TV screen, Vanessa's frustration reached its limit. This was no longer personal: she was convinced she had something to offer, but had no idea how to make a difference.
Mobilising friends and colleagues into supportive action, she placed herself on a strict weight loss regime and began fund-raising for Band Aid. Her evocative slogan in the office corridor declared: 'The food I eat for luxury could save the life of a starving child.'
As the weeks went by, results became more and more surprising. About thirty people in her department lined up to support her efforts; strangers handed her cash on the tube; six cashiers at the bank sponsored her when she opened an account to collect funds. By the time she completed her 10 week initiative, Vanessa had lost 21 pounds in weight and raised nearly seven hundred for the cause.
That was just the beginning. The following Summer she volunteered to assist at the Live Aid concert, then joined a small team of athletes running in Africa to launch Sport Aid. She went on to recruit and lead a team of fund-raisers in her North London region, whose results during a worldwide campaign matched the entire national contribution raised that season in West Germany.
Now more determined than ever, Vanessa wanted to leave her unrewarding job and set her course for a more fulfilling future. She researched as many study tools and learning techniques as she could find. Finally, while relaxing with a sketch pad, she chanced upon a simple but powerful idea. By combining it with what she had learned from volunteering, she uncovered a key to creating lasting change that would liberate her from illusions about her own lack of ability once and for all.
Vanessa won a place at the University of York and, on completing her degree, she commanded a reading speed of nearly 1,000 words per minute - about four times the national average.
Twenty-one years later, she has transformed that idea and those experiences into a string of career achievements, most recently including the iminent publication of her first novel, The Colour Caster, and a remarkable formula that underpins all of her life-changing courses and coaching methodology.
Latest News
September 21, 2009 Extreme Reader Course Launches From Gatwick
Extreme Reader takes all the content from the Peak Performance Speed Reading Programme and ramps it up into an unforgettable comprehensive journey into high impact personal achievement.
Gathering information and distilling it into profitable use, is the aim of the new Exteme Reader Programme. Whether you are honing up for exams, preparing a presentation or planning on wirting a book, participants can save countless hours by learning and applying powerful speed reading and research skills.
Running at the Crowne Plaza Gatwick Crawley for London and the South East region, on Tuesday October 20th and the morning of Tuesday November 3rd, tickets are going fast.
Save Money now!
Hurry - find out how you can save £50 on the price of your ticket by placing your booking by Friday 25th September and settling your account promptly in full. See full details here.
We're delighted to announce that Vanessa will be Keynote Speaker at the forthcoming:
'Get Involved 2009'
Annual Conference of the Mid Devon Voluntary Sector.
Speaking on 'The Art of Raising Voices,' Vanessa will explore how leadership within the sector can derive from self knowledge and by balancing the apparently conflicting demands we place upon ourselves.
For further details of the event, which takes place in Tiverton on Wednesday 9th September, contact organiser Duncan Wood
At the heart of every
course from Rapid Return Development is the IMP System™ for accelerated
achievement, integrating Vanessa's three winning strategies for career
success:
Exercise Initiative ♦ Build Momentum ♦ Challenge Potential.
Testimonials
"I would like to express my appreciation for your
work. I can say without hesitation that it was the most powerful and
inspiring course I have ever attended."
John K, Project Director, Mobex North East
"Your excellent informal approach gave us an ejoyable day
which passed all too quickly."
Dylan
W, BP, CATS Terminal.
"I cannot speak highly enough about the advances I have
made as a direct result of the Leadership Challenge."
Steve M, Commercial Manager, Frank Haslam Milan
For the History of our courses and their
impact on client performance, read about us here .
Proven, Effective Seminars from Rapid Return Development -
The School for Speed™
Speed Reading and Study Skills
Release an average of two free days every month with the Extreme Reader
speed reading and study skills course - ideal for frequently assessed
financial advisors, health practitioners, speakers, consultants and
career changers returning to learning. Find out more about all the Rapid Return Reading Programmes here.
Presentation and Influence
Engage enthusiasm and deliver an unforgettable experience with Reach The Audience,
a Master Class in speaking with influence - ideal for coaches,
consultants, business owners, new trainers and seminar leaders seeking
diverse platform skills. Discover our Presentation Skills Programmes here.
Leadership and Team Building
Transform your professional relationships and inspire the talent of others with the Pro Leadership Challenge,
an outstanding programme of influence and accomplishment - ideal for
sales and management teams, business owners and senior executives.
Learn more about our Leadership and Team Building Programmes here.
Open courses are held frequently in London, Bristol and Leeds.
All of our courses are suitable for in-house delivery and can be adapted to meet
your specific organisational learning needs.
We believe that your
investment in training and development, like any other, must deliver a
solid, measurable return.
That's why each of our
programmes is designed to create new perspective, improved performance and
genuine opportunity for all participants. By evaluating results against individual learning goals, we ensure
that courses address our client's issues and strategies at precisely the right
moment in time.
Transparent Value Guaranteed
We know you value
openness and honesty, because we do too. Our course leaders are skilled
and sensitive professionals, committed to learning and growth. We're
up-front about prices, clear about goals and obsessed with individual outcomes. Learn about your 100% Value
Guarantee here .
Quality with Speed
Not only are the
benefits of your Rapid Return experience lasting, but results happen
fast. By employing a variety of accelerated learning techniques, each
course provides activity, exercises and content to match every learning style.
Browse our comprehensive menu for the service to meet
your needs or contact
us today for a rapid response to your enquiry.
Rapid Return Development 
