‘Ali Campbell is my secret weapon’ effuses Kelly Rowland on the front cover of Campbell’s new book Just Get on With It.

It would never have occurred to me that Kelly Rowland ever had a motivational problem, but if it works for her then it’s a good enough reason to turn the pages. You see, Campbell is a life coach whose revolutionary approach can best be described as ‘a caring, compassionate kick up the ass’ according to his publishers.

He takes an idea that most of us are all too familiar with – the moment when we look at our lives and think ‘something needs to change’. Recession (or a hangover) will do that to a person – what’s important to me? What makes me happy? What do I want my life to be? – All good thoughts, but how many of us actually act on them?

It’s the next step in actually wanting to make changes and progress in our lives – move mountains, live by the sea, learn to pole dance – whatever floats your boat, but the important thing is actually doing it.

In an accessible style and with a practical but nonetheless supportive approach, Campbell takes the traditional idea of the self-help book and turns it into something totally different to any other. It actually tells you to get out there and help yourself.

In a world of navel gazing and contemplation (all of which are marvellous pastimes), this is a book that pretty much tells us what we all know is the bottom line if we want to make things happen… just get on with it.