Shropshire Council CEO launches new book
Shropshire Council chief executive Andy Begley made the announcement on social media.
“This post has nothing to do with my day job,” he began.
“But I am very excited to share the news that the book I have been working on, for what seems an eternity, has finally been published!”
He was referring to ‘I Didn’t Row The Atlantic #sowhat’ which draws on experiences gained from his wide-ranging career which has spanned senior roles in both the public and private sectors.
In his debut book, he shares some of the tools and strategies he feels have helped him on his own career journey – and explores lessons learned from the simple, hard truths he’s faced along the way."
It’s a frank, honest and practical resource for creative business thinking which has been gaining rave reviews.
“I don’t have a primary audience for this book – and that was very important to me,” he says.
“It would have been easy to aim this at chief executives of large organisations, or serial entrepreneurs, but that’s not the point of this.
“I’ve written this in a way which I hope will appeal to everybody from single person businesses and individuals who just want to progress themselves personally and professionally, through to chief executives and directors. If it stimulates their thinking in some way, then that’s job done for me.”
Andy, who is at pains to emphasise that this has been done entirely in his own time and is in no way associated with his council role, says the book is born from personal experience and learning, as well as drawing on ‘the wit and wisdom of others’.
“All the ingredients, methods, clues and cues for success are with us – the key is how you recognise them and choose to use them.
“I’m a firm believer that it’s not about what you do in life, but what you learn along the way… and crucially, how you choose to use all of that information.
“I want to share the tools and strategies that have helped me on my own career journey, the crossroads I have reached when I’ve had to be brave enough to make a choice, and the lightbulb moments which have helped me to appreciate that there are more ways than you might think to solve any given problem."
“And if, at the end of all this, the result is something of a ‘go-to’ companion that provides a resource for innovation, business solutions, and opportunities to look at life’s challenges a little bit differently, then I’ll consider it a job well done.
“Lots of books have numbers attached to them with phrases like ‘the rule of seven’ – mine is not like that. I consider myself a quite straightforward individual, and I’ve not published this as a marketing gimmick. I think there’s an honesty and integrity to what’s been written.”
It's received good reviews too.
World record-breaker Nick Sanders, the Mid Wales-based adventurer who has circumnavigated the globe on both bicycle and motorbike, says: “You don’t need to have rowed the Atlantic to have valuable life skills to share.
"Andy is in an incredibly informed position to advocate and share experiences across a wide range of specialisms.
“I’ve been round the world 11 times and think I know what it means to travel, but I don’t pretend to be a motivational speaker offering leadership advice. We do have one thing in common though, I think . . . the capacity for self-examination and ability to look at life through a different lens.”
Reviewer Beth K Davis, a ghostwriter and editor, adds: “Andy leverages his eclectic career experiences and pursuits to slap down the notion that leadership and personal growth come from extreme feats or monumental achievements.
“He shows us that real growth comes from curiosity, discipline, cultivating skills that truly matter in both business and life, and – shocker - learning from your mistakes."
“This isn’t your typical ‘climb every mountain’ self-development book. Instead, Begley cuts through the noise of traditional success and leadership advice, using humour to tear down corporate fads and champion something refreshingly simple: being human.
“With a blend of hard truths and wit, Begley calls for leadership that embraces humility, adaptability, and authenticity - qualities too often overlooked in the pursuit of status and success.
“I Didn’t Row the Atlantic will inspire you to see leadership and life from a new perspective—one that doesn’t require an ice pick but does demand a bit of introspection.”
Darren Edwards is a former Army reservist from Shropshire who was paralysed during a climbing accident but has shown grit and determination to become a record-breaking adventurer and motivational speaker has also given a testimonial.
“Having started my career in local government, I often found myself frustrated by the lack of strong and effective leadership. When I first met Andy, I immediately recognised his empathetic, pragmatic, and strategic approach.
“Unlike many senior leaders, Andy leveraged the strengths of those around him and demonstrated the humility to acknowledge that successful leadership requires collective buy-in and ownership of the organisation’s vision.
“In short, Andy’s greatest skills as a leader are his empathy, humility, and ability to foster a shared vision that others embrace and take accountability for.”
Andy reflects: “I hate being taught anything, but I do love learning. And in many ways, I feel this is what has compelled me to write this book.
“That might sound like a paradox – in fact this book is full of very intentional paradoxes…but indulge me for just a moment. Meeting someone who has the ability to teach me something, without preaching or patronising, is a very rare find indeed, and something I value immensely.
“I ‘learn’ in different ways – picking up snippets of wisdom from other industries, sectors and cultures and contemplating how I might be able to apply them in my own corporate world at an unknown juncture somewhere further down the line.
“It’s impossible to know what’s going to be of use to you until that moment arrives. But the more you can tuck away in your memory bank, the better prepared you’ll be when it happens.”
Andy says he has always been interested in the science of leadership, but increasingly found himself trying to cut through all the chaff.
“There’s a lot of spouting for spouting’s sake in the corporate world these days. A lot of vanilla. Theories that are bland, baffling, or too safe.
“People have a natural inclination to latch onto what resonates with them; we like listening to like-minded people because they reinforce our own beliefs, and make us feel comforted and reassured.
“But that’s really dangerous in my opinion. Restrict yourself to this audience and you’ll always be trapped in your private thought bubble.
“Creating your own echo chamber is really perilous, but it’s a trap which is so easy for us to fall into. I’m not trying to copy anyone with my views in here, or simply reach out to connect with those who will agree with every word I say.
“I believe it’s incredibly important to recognise the type of people you are automatically attracted to – not always for logical, healthy reasons – to keep this constantly on your radar.”
Andy became chief executive of Shropshire Council in August 2020, after holding the post on a shared interim basis through the early stages of the pandemic.
He has been stewarding the authority through challenging financial times. In the current financial year it needs to reduce budgets by £62 million, which has meant making some very difficult decisions impacting both Shropshire’s communities and council staff.
However, Andy has taken the approach that where there are challenges there are also opportunities, and has been using this as a catalyst to transform Shropshire Council - seeking to take the whole of the organisation with him.
With the full support of the senior leadership team, he has galvanised the whole organisation with a clear vision and a plan – The Shropshire Plan – which has been communicated to council staff, councillors and partners, emphasising the difference every person can make.
And the council says there are very clear signs of change now in place across the council, kickstarting a new culture and approach.
His work was recognised in the Public and Third Sector Leader category at the 2024 West Midlands Leadership Awards, which celebrate the people who are role models within their organisation, as well as showcasing the achievements and success of business in the region.
Council leader Lezley Picton says the award was much deserved. She described him as ‘the key driver towards Shropshire Council being recognised as a confident, capable and caring organisation’.
Andy says: “Whenever I’m putting a management team together, avoiding the echo chamber scenario is something I am acutely aware of. I don’t want to surround myself with a group of people who will automatically resonate with my way of thinking. Or indeed appoint a procession of ‘yes’ men and women who lack the courage to challenge my views – or think that I’d object if they did.
“That’s why it is crucial to create a degree of friction and difference in a very close team. How are you and your organisation ever going to evolve if your senior team constantly aligns with what you already think or do?
“Now, more than ever, as we speed through the fourth industrial revolution towards an even more frenetic fifth, taking a risk and trying something different is no longer the most dangerous strategy. Standing still, and settling for the status quo, is far more dangerous.”
· I Didn’t Row The Atlantic #sowhat, by Andy Begley, is now available from Amazon in Kindle (£2.99), paperback (£9.99) or hardback (£19.99) format. ISBN: 979-8345918920