A BUSINESSMAN from Pinner who reinvented himself as a motivational coach and speaker published his first book this week.

Nick Simmonds, from Melrose Road, wrote "The Easiest Way to Double Your Profits" as a follow-up to his seminars and speeches, which have proved popular with businesspeople and others who want to push themselves to achieve in life.

Despite the financial title, the book aims to help the reader with much more than just their bank account.

Nick explained: "What I do is about empowering people. I believe that most of us live a life that is a tiny percentage of our potential, and to me that isn't acceptable. Unlike previous generations, who might have been happy simply to survive, we have everything we need in this country to live comfortably. So the way I see it, we have a duty to do more than survive and to spend our time doing something more worthwhile with our lives."

And Nick, 44, believes in practicing what he preaches. Married with two teenage sons, one of whom has a disability, he was nevertheless not afraid to take a new direction in life when he gave up his successful business selling promotional gifts in favour of a more people-centred career.

He said: "For me it's really important to walk the talk. Around three years ago I was bored with my business. All it did was support my family, which is important of course, but for me I've got to have something more than that. I think we all need to gain some satisfaction from our work, to have some moments that make you punch the air. Why should it just be the footballers who get to punch the air?"

After taking a course by the American-run Coaches Training Institute, Nick now helps dozens of clients a month in face-to-face sessions and on the phone. One of his exercises involves analysing different areas of your life through a diagram called the wheel of life', which can help focus the mind on what needs to be changed.

Nick added: "One of the things I have discovered most often with my clients is that what they are missing is clarity. We need to be clear on why we are doing the things we are doing. We live in this society, that for all the freedom that we have, there is so much expectation, so many cultural demands on us to live our life in a certain way. We are almost obliged by this societal norm to play the game. If you are doing what you do because of that, then where's the sense of destiny?"

"The Easiest Way to Double Your Profits", published by Trafford, is available now and is priced at £11.95. For more details and to order online, visit www.nicksimmonds.com.