My Library
People are my library, my writing inspired by what I learn: ideas, inspiration, wisdom, and sometimes some eclectic whimsy for good measure, all centred around #OpenLeadership. At the heart of all of this is that I write to share learnings and to discover my thoughts. Over the years i have written (mostly) daily, over 2000 posts and 1,000,000 words (that last part blows my mind, tbh!). Enjoy browsing.
How rich is your mind?
Share your knowledge—When you talk about your ideas and knowledge with others, you’re not only being helpful, you’re also enriching your own mind. This leapt out at me as the fifth of six keys that Darius Foroux has identified for himself in developing his own mind,...
How rich is your mind?
My greatest gain from writing is that it enriches my own mind. I take an average of at least two to three hours every day…
Leadership – The impact of beautiful art
"We’re all lonely for something we don’t know we’re lonely for." ~ David Foster Wallace Early morning, awake and reading a lovely book by Matt Haig called "The Humans". As I read, I am stopped and mesmerised by this beautiful quote in the book from David Foster...
What is a Friend?
A while ago I heard someone coin the term "professional friend". I loved the designator "professional friends", as they aren't involved in each other's personal lives, simply have been meeting up for several years each month for a full day as a business owners peer...
Leadership Lessons from Pushing Cars
When I was a young Chartered Accountancy student I had an old MG Midget just like this one. A tiny little car (and yes, somehow I fit in it!), it had a faulty starter motor, so I became very familiar with push starting it. As a relatively big and strong guy with a...
Brevity is the soul of wit
Yesterday's post, "Beauty in Brevity" mused eclectically on the power of art and prose to communicate to us powerfully and rapidly through being concise. Today, I turn that focus to messaging in business and leadership. In many situations, the shorter and simpler the...
Beauty in Brevity
Recently I've been musing on the power of art to communicate to us at deep levels with brevity. It occurred to me that writing can also do the same. Around art, I recently had the great pleasure of being invited to accompany someone to an exhibit at Tate Britain....
Why procrastinate today? Put it off until tomorrow!
Today I was in a great conversation about procrastination. I've written before on this topic several times, so feel free to click the link for several minutes of excellent procrastination time! Today a simple thought to ponder. If you are actually really feeling busy...
Are you resumé building or legacy building?
This week I went to New York to support my friend, the force of nature that is Rosie Von Lila (for more, see VonLila.com). Her guest at the event was New York State Assembly Member Michael Blake, an inspiring individual indeed. Paolo Coelho's latest email to his...
People are my Index Cards
Socrates distilled wisdom encourages us to "Know Thyself", and I am on a constant journey of self-knowledge. I know I don't have all the answers at any stage in life, I'm constantly curious and like to think I have a "beginner's mind" and, in most areas, a Growth...
Flow and wisdom from Kung Fu Panda
I've been writing recently about balance, about having only enough Structure to allow Flow. Today I will share a story, about Flow and Kung Fu Panda! For background, one area of my work is to facilitate leadership meetings for businesses and organisations around the...
Amor Fati and “I did it My Way”
I write often about presence, about flow, about stretching out of our comfort zone. I fully embrace that I am a romanticist, an idealist, I look for the best in people and situations, I see people deeply, their ability and opportunity to live their life to their full...
Trust that the dots will connect
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” ~ Steve Jobs Yesterday I wrote about "Commitment, Boldness and Magic" from a log cabin under majestic...
Commitment, Boldness and Magic
I write this at 7am in a log cabin under two majestic tall pines in the redwood forests of northern California. I came here from London this weekend to attend the wedding of one of our Modern Elder Academy cohort that came together and bonded tightly during our week...