Lincolnshire confidence coach featured in international bestseller

Ricky Locke, 37, from Bourne, contributed to The Art of Connection: 365 Days of Resilience Quotes By Entrepreneurs, Influencers and Business Owners, which has topped the Amazon charts in multiple countries.

In the book, the married father of one shares how embracing ‘magical resilience’ helped him turn his life around after the pandemic derailed his magic and speaking business.

“I left a 15-year retail career to go all in on my dream, only for lockdown to bring everything to a halt. Overnight, events were cancelled and booking opportunities disappeared,” said Ricky, who is a member of The Magic Circle and a former President of the Peterborough Society of Magicians.

“When we watch a magic trick, we’re comfortable with the unknown because we trust that something amazing will come from it. I applied that same mindset to the dire situation I found myself in – asking one simple but powerful question: ‘What happens next?’ That shift in perspective helped me move from panic to possibility – a lesson I now share in The Art of Connection.”

Co-authored by Robert W. Jones and John Verrico and published by iNet Publishing House, the book is the latest in a series that has grown into a global movement celebrating entrepreneurship, community and inspiration.

Ricky joined the project after realising his own comeback story could inspire other business owners facing setbacks.

From losing everything overnight, he is now Co-Director of the Confident Club; an international presentation coach; TEDx speaker; and a certified Jack Canfield Success Principles Trainer – having trained personally with the world-renowned personal development expert.

“I’ve gone from my biggest professional roadblock to having the opportunity to work with world-class clients such as Coca-Cola, Audible and The AA,” the UNLOCKED podcast host explained.

“My hope is that my story, and those of the other contributors, will inspire readers to get from where they are to where they want to be in life. In tough times, it’s about asking: ‘What’s next?’ and seeing challenges as opportunities… the seed of something extraordinary.”

Ricky’s story is listed on 4 April – marking six years to the day he left his career to pursue his dream.

Prior to then, he will be meeting his fellow contributors in New York to celebrate the book launch, as well as visiting Edge Studios to record his audio chapter.

“Best of all,” added Ricky, “we will be heading to Times Square, where the book will be on the famous Jumbotron for 24 hours. I am so grateful to be sharing this experience with Robert, John and all the collaborators. From lockdown in Lincolnshire to the ‘Big Apple’… it’s been the journey of a lifetime – proving what can happen when you have the confidence to embrace the unknown!”

Following the bestselling launch of the Kindle edition, The Art of Connection is now available in paperback.