Many people have asked me how Apricot Island got its name. And I would love to be able to say it came to me in a dream, or that it emerged as a significant symbol from a Clean Language session. But it actually came about as the result of a web-based name creation process.

When I set up the business in 2001, I wanted a name which would represent all my future work, and I didn't want to close down options by choosing a descriptive name. I needed a name which didn't already have meaning associated with it. Its meaning could evolve as I went along. Naturally I wanted a website, so the domain name also had to be free.

I went on lots of domain name sites and from there discovered those sites that let you generate new names: you enter some initial ideas, the software generates hundreds of suggestions. I can't remember what words I entered, or which site(s) I used, but I can recall choosing the word 'apricot' first and then looking for something to go with it. When "Apricot Island" appeared on a list one Saturday morning, I knew immediately that it was the one. It felt right. I checked the domain name. It was available and within a few minutes it was mine.

It was only once I'd settled on this name that I thought to look up the two words, 'apricot' and 'island'.

• The word apricot comes from the Spanish Arabic 'al barquq' meaning 'precocious'. (The apricot tree blooms very early each spring.)
• An island is often used to symbolise a spiritual centre or sanctuary.

To start with, it was simply a nice name that felt right. For me, it conjured up an image of a sunny, happy island where people help one another, share ideas and eat apricots!

I soon found that it is also a very intriguing and memorable name, which is an obvious advantage for a business. the disadvantage, of course, is that it doesn't give anyone a single clue about what we do... although even that can be a blessing. I've had many, many conversations that started with: "Apricot Island. That's an unusual name. What do you do?"

The Apricot Island logo was created about 9 months after the name was chosen. A friend of mine, Lizz Clarke, who runs a PR and marketing agency in Fareham, had a 16-year old student named Harriet with her for work experience. Harriet was keen on graphic design, so Lizz set her the task of creating a logo for Apricot Island. She read the 5-page website I had at the time and came up with several amazing choices, including this one. The original picture Harriet drew shows the meaning of each part of the apricot.

In case you can't see it clearly in the scanned picture below, here's Harriet's interpretation, which I think is spot on:

• the apricot represents your own personal world
• the stone is your inner self and any problems you have
• the island = inside your world
• the tree represnts growing confidence
• it is drawn in cross section to show how the Symbolic Modelling process allows you to see everything
• 'Apricot Island' helps you to go through the different layers - the skin, flesh, etc to the hidden inner self.
• the tropical colours - greens, oranges, yellow and sea blues - represent relaxation
• there are associations with getting away from stress - holidays