Book Review: From Classroom to the Climb

From the Classroom to the Climb: Lessons in Resilience and Growth. By Derek Thomas.

Reviewed by Rebecca Miskin.

I’ve read a lot of books, did English Literature for A level, love the classics, admittedly not a great one for poetry – but this book is something else! 

I started my journey into network marketing for lots of reasons, about 11 years ago. I was at the top of my game in healthcare, remaining clinical while being in charge of a few hospital sites and all their staff, services and departments. A bit like Derek as headmaster of a school.

I needed to leave healthcare, ironically mainly for health reasons, and against my better judgement as I had spent decades putting my heart and soul into nursing and helping others feel better. Yet leave I must, and as I expected and received, contended with lots of downward glances, snide comments, opinions about deserting the ship and so on. A bit like Derek had.

For the first time I was reading that someone had been where I had been, and put the whole experience into words through reflection and insight so eloquently yet clearly and simply, that I finally understood what I had been unable to grasp in my own mind.  All from Derek. You know the kind of sentence that leaps from a page and makes you stop, and think, and deliberate? Like this one, ‘The only person present at every mistake in my life was me’. Hmm. True, but not one I’d wanted to think about too much! 

I have known Derek for nearly a decade, aspired to be the leader he is, quietly yet confidently guiding people to fulfil their dreams. I did not realise, and it certainly didn’t click, that we are so similar in background and experiences, that I am already like him, but a few paces behind. Now don’t go getting ideas, I’m not going to be climbing mountains! Well not in the physical sense. But, possibly like you, I am climbing mountains every day in my business, and with the help of Derek via his book, I can see the summit closer than I had thought. 

This book is different, with a different style and with useful pointers for inward questioning that I haven’t seen used before, to guide you to wherever point you wish to be.  If you are after a manual, it’s here. If you’re wanting adventure, it’s here. If you’re after openness and honesty, well that’s here too. 

The other lovely thing I love about Derek is his generosity, all the proceeds from this book are going towards his nominated charity. You’ll have to read it, to find out which, and why!