The Philosophy


Beyond Personal Mastery® was developed as a personal and career development program based on the best available evidence from vocational and organizational psychology. The program was developed by an Organizational Psychologist, Professor Jim Bright and it incorporates the Chaos Theory of Careers that he co-created with Professor Robert Pryor.  It draws on over 300 publications produced personally by Professor Bright and beyond.


The Beyond Personal Mastery® program is based on the following foundations:

  1. Bullet  People are complex and dynamic

  2. Bullet  The world is complex and dynamic

  3. Bullet  Continual change is inevitable

  4. Bullet  Uncertainty is inevitable

  5. Bullet  There are limits to our actions, capabilities and ability to predict the future

  6. Bullet  Acceptance of our limitations provides pathways to our strengths beyond self-limitations

  7. Bullet  Personal growth and creativity occur when we accept life on the edge of chaos

  8. Bullet  Success requires both thought and actions


The model


Beyond Personal Mastery® recognises that thinking changes actions and at the same time action changes thinking. So the model addresses both thinking and action at the same time.  The thinking steps are based upon the best available current knowledge of the psychological qualities that are associated with productive and creative thinking.  It draws on the latest thinking and my own published research on performance, organizational, social, cognitive, coaching and vocational psychology.   From these bases I have developed a series of tests, card sorts and exercises designed to diagnose areas of development and tools designed to improve skills and assist individuals with each step.


The action steps similarly are derived from the latest thinking and evidence in psychology and management of what the precursors for successful action are.  They capture the latest thinking about complex adaptive systems, black swans, chaos, complexity and creativity.  For every step there are a series of exercises and tools to assist individuals in tracking their progress and developing their skills.


In a modern competitive world there are many who achieve mastery in their chosen field, but there are few who are able to transcend their mastery across life and time. The model is designed to help people go Beyond Personal Mastery®.