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Featured Affiliate - Charles Fields
By: Courtney Hill
 As
Charlie Fields and a friend were hiking through the woods the friend
wanted to quit. Charlie said to him, “Let’s see what’s over that
hill.” “You’ve always wanted to go over one more hill,” responded the
friend. This constant quest over the next hill is how Charlie describes
his life. “I was born to be an explorer.”
This interest in exploration has served
Charlie well in his worldwide consulting journeys. While conducting
workshops in 15 countries, with participants from nearly 60 countries,
Charlie has explored culture, cuisine and lifestyle in a variety of
settings.
“I like to spend a day or two before the  workshops getting
acclimated to the local lifestyle. My hope is to begin to get a better
understanding of the people.”
An engineer by trade, Charlie began
work using the Flawless Consulting skills after meeting Peter Block in
1983. There was not much literature or information available when
Charlie began internal consulting in the early 1980s. “I attended a lot
of workshops over the years, and as things went on I began to increase
my ‘human side’ skills,” he explained. ”In the ‘80s I also had an
opportunity to work with Ned Herrmann and William J.J. Gordon. Although
I had always had a love for thinking and creativity they helped mold some of my skills.”
When asked about his favorite
workshop to conduct, Charlie responded enthusiastically. “I like the
combined four-day Flawless Consulting program. During the first couple
of days people are beginning to feel comfortable; after the third day
you can see the neurons snapping as their thinking begins to change. My
hope is to help people shift their thinking…to see things differently…to
create new possibilities.” Charlie continues to explain that the time
allows for practice; practice leads to confidence; and confidence builds
courage to use the skills.
As the workshops come to a close,
Charlie asks his participants a key question: “What one skill do you
plan on using in your own internal consulting practice?” This question
does not ask what participants think they are going to use,
rather what they will use. This gives participants time to
reflect on what they have learned in the workshop and allows them to
realize the impact the new knowledge can have on their lives.
Charlie embraces the ideas he
teaches in his workshops and truly lives by the concepts he presents to
participants. “You have to look at these ideas and take them to heart.
I
tell my participants that I’m the same Charlie with them that I would be
in any other aspect of my life.”
The obstacles he sees today in
workshops are not coming from the participants. “The people have been
super. They usually come prepared and ready to learn.” The obstacles
are the time constraints the participants feel; their jobs don’t end
during the workshop. Today people are being
asked to “work harder and smarter; do more with less...faster,” to meet
the demands of a constantly changing marketplace. Admittedly,
taking two to fours days away from the work of an office is a lot.
However, it is important participants get the most out of their
experience and the workshops
aren’t rushed.
After 34 years of marriage to his
wife, Chris, Charlie says he is more in love with her now than ever
before. Charlie and Chris have three grown children, one nine-month-old
granddaughter and one “neurotic” dog. Charlie, his wife and two sons
recently spent time in Ireland enjoying the countryside and getting to
know the country where Chris was born. “We had a great time and plan on
going back later this year with the whole family.”
When asked about his favorite hobby
Charlie laughs and responds with a sarcastic “shoveling snow.” After a
few laughs about the never ending task of snow removal in Connecticut,
Charlie did reveal a few hobbies he “actually” enjoys.
On the road or at home, Charlie will
most likely be seen with a book in hand. Currently, Charlie is reading
the book Do less, Achieve More by Chin-Ning Chu. This book is
allowing Charlie to look deeper into the cultural understandings and
insights of the author’s perspective on life and work in China.
Sailing has also been a long time
source of pleasure for Charlie. Since his years in the Merchant
Marines, Charlie has found solace on the water. “It’s relaxing on a
boat. I enjoy the freedom and occasionally miss my days spent on the
big ships.” This time on the “big ships” included a year traveling
throughout the Mediterranean, the Far East and the shores of England.
When his time at the United States Merchant Marine academy was
finished, Charlie fulfilled his obligations to the United States Navy
and spent another year and a half traveling the world and developing his
engineering skills.
It was these experiences that lead
Charlie to the world of consulting. Then after eighteen years of
corporate life, Charlie began his own company in 1989 and has since
worked to help people learn to think differently.
His next trip: New Delhi. This is
one place Charlie has never been and he is looking forward to visiting
the area and getting to know the local flavor. “After that I’m headed
for Spain, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore – and that’s all before
June.”
Charlie’s work can be summed in the
closing lines of “Ulysses” by Tennyson, “…to strive, to seek, to find,
and not to yield.” He can’t wait to get started on the next part of his
journey.
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