
Books · Fifth anniversary
Three Colors, Twelve Notes
Personal stories as an artist, business leader, and regular human, on why trying new things and staying curious should be a lifelong pursuit.
“I believe that whole human beings show up in the workplace and in communities. It's important to uncover, discover, and celebrate the different aspects of oneself to bring the best self to whatever effort, including work, you are investing energy in. Taking the time to get to know yourself, and all your messiness, helps you openly and honestly get to know others, and all their messiness. This leads to better relationships, in families, communities, organizations, and nations. An open, curious mind is a vital ingredient to a rich life. Ultimately, I hope you find this collection of words and stories and invitations meaningful, inspiring, provocative and enjoyable.”

Free fifth-anniversary chapter
Listen to Chapter 3 now, or download it as a PDF.
Watch the launch celebration

Alan Cross and Catherine chat about the book (2021)
Praise for Three Colors, Twelve Notes
Catherine Harrison is a creative spirit who has given us insight into her soul and its curious nature in this book. A storyteller who is witty, real and inspiring, Catherine takes the reader on a journey through her life using wonderful stories to inspire the reader to think more deeply and get curious about many things we might just be taking for granted. Navigating uncertainty in our lives isn't easy and this book gives one hope and confidence to channel their curiosity and unleash their creative side.
I met Catherine Harrison as one of those “people who ask her to fix things.” My organization had embarked on a new strategic plan and many of the staff were reluctant to change; morale was down and staff departures were up. Catherine worked with me and my leadership team to engage with staff in a more reflective, collaborative way so that they could embrace the change rather than be fearful of it, just as she describes in the chapter. But it's only now, after reading Three Colors, Twelve Notes, that I truly understand both the art and the science (as well as lots of music!) that make Catherine's work so powerful and, ultimately, so successful. The book is a joy to read and is literally crammed full of wonderful personal stories and seemingly hundreds of amazingly apt quotations from every source imaginable. Yet it also challenges the reader to be curious, to be courageous and to let our imaginations soar. Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your secrets!
A masterfully written account of one woman's journey through self-actualization, predicated by curiosity, creativity and an innate need to connect with the world around her. Catherine's reflections unveil a striving to achieve her full potential personally, emotionally, spiritually and professionally. These raw life stories, of overcoming the ever-flowing undercurrent of fear we all share, connect the reader to their own sense of possibility. So many leaders are promoted due to their technical skills, tenure or who they know, but are completely malnourished when it comes to emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. Encouraging and enabling leaders' self-awareness is a key attribute necessary to take our teams, workforces, and companies to the next level. This book is a great first step.
Those who make a habit of looking for meaning and transformation in unusual places will enjoy this curious little book by musician, corporate émigré, business owner, executive coach and first-time author, Catherine Harrison. Drawing on the eclectic experiences of her self-determined and deeply examined life, Harrison explores the critical moments in her own growth and provides signposts to the lifelong process of perpetually reinventing oneself. If you think that it's the journey that matters, and that to always be at the beginning of something is one of the secrets to life, you will find a kindred spirit here.
Catherine Harrison is one of the most positive, energetic, and adventurous people that I've ever known, and a true master of “not knowing the outcome but going for it anyway”. Would you like to be this way, too? Read Cat's book and learn from her experiences how to blend those three colours and play those twelve notes your own way, for yourself, and for everyone else, too.
Three Colors, Twelve Notes, and 26 letters which Catherine Harrison turns into words and weaves into a magical set of stories that invite us to become more curious about who we are and what we may become. Catherine defies easy description: musician, mother, consultant, manager, traveller, artist, adventurer. She shares her life stories with a rare mix of bravery and humility, humour and depth, relevance and imagination. She mines each episode of a life richly lived for insight and learning. Her book is accessible and easy to read, and the questions and exercises she includes with each section provide a practical way of applying her experience to our own lives. I'll be reading this again and sending copies to the people I love.
In Catherine Harrison's entertaining and inspiring new book Three Colours, Twelve Notes, Catherine proves through plenty of colourful and often humourous examples the power of saying 'YES'. You'll learn to recognize opportunities when they arise so you, like Catherine, could discover your own powers within that you may never know you had.
About the author
Catherine Harrison, M. Psych., is a human-centred leadership expert, certified executive coach, author of Leading in Stereo and the Founder and President of Revelios. She has more than 35 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience and a lifelong career as an award-winning Canadian musician. More about Catherine.
