About us
From Brisbane, to Saigon and beyond! Join us online from wherever you are in the world. :Come hang with us in person if you happen to be visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 😊
In love with personal development? In love with reading? Well, then, this is the group for you! This is a space for real and raw discussions, where you are invited to bring your whole self to the table, not just the 'good vibes only' version. Even if you feel like absolute crud on the day and just want to giggle at our lively discussion with your camera off, that's cool too 😁.
We discuss a featured personal development book every month and outline strategies for implementing key take-aways for the betterment of our own lives as well as for the lives of those around us.
Are you writing a personal development book? Well, this is a great opportunity to connect with a community of readers interested in the genre!
These meetings are facilitated by a full-time Life Coach (yours truly) and former university educator with over a decade of international experience in facilitating discussions across groups from various cultural backgrounds and beliefs. We value inclusivity 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️✊🏽🖤💛❤, and insist on respect discussion of differing views.
Wanna suss me out ahead of time to see if we'll 'gel'? Then feel free to have a snoop here:
- YouTube - Youtube.com/c/LeslieVCoaching
- Insta/Facebook - @leslievcoaching.com
Looking forward to meeting you all :)
Upcoming events
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Grit, by Angela Duckworth | meeting #61!
·OnlineOnlineWe’re rewinding to the early days of The Vanguard Book Club! Grit was our featured book for meeting #5 back in 2021, and with everyone thinking about their 2027 plans, it’s the perfect time to bring it back. This will be our last meetup for 2026. We'll be back in January 2027.
When: Saturday, October 24, 3-5 pm AEST (12-2 pm ICT)
Where: Online, or in person in Vietnam at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City
The book: Grit: Why passion and resilience are the secrets to success by Angela Duckworth @angelalduckworth
Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, spent years studying why some people succeed where equally talented people don’t. Her answer is “grit”: a combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. She draws on research from West Point cadets, spelling bee champions, and sales teams, and argues that sustained effort matters more than raw talent. She also shares practical ideas like the “hard thing rule” and how to find and deepen your interests.
The discussion: We’ll dig into Duckworth’s insights on passion and perseverance and how they play out in our own lives. Some questions we might explore:
- Is grit a trait you have, or a skill you can build?
- Where does perseverance become stubbornness? When is quitting the gritty move?
- Does the book account for privilege, access, and circumstances?
- What’s changed in your life since 2021, and does the book land differently now?
Agree with her insights? Disagree? We want your take either way.
Your facilitator: Me! I’m a full-time life coach and former university educator with over a decade of experience facilitating groups across cultures and beliefs. Respect and inclusion are non-negotiable 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊🏽. We’re also not into “positive vibes only.” We want real, raw discussion, so all the vibes are welcome. It's more fun that way 😉
Want to suss me out first to see if we’ll gel?
- Book club video: bit.ly/LeslieVBookClub
- Podcast: Thriving Between the Lines
- Free coaching consult: leslievcoaching.com
Any questions? Just ask! Looking forward to seeing everyone.
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
Your No-Nonsense Life Coach3 attendees
Past events
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