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.
What’s in my bookcase?
A happy Saturday to you, and so for today, a relaxed post for those of you who may wish to get more sense of me. As I settle more and more into my new home, I recently did a little circular economy upcycling (bought a used bookcase and painted it!) and now have a home...
What’s in my bookcase?
I recently did a little circular economy upcycling: bought a used bookcase and painted it! Now I have a home for a bunch of my…
What is the single most important message for your audience?
What is the single most important message for your audience? Yesterday I sat with a client as they talked through the questions they had received for a "in conversation with" video they were about to film later that day. There were about eight questions around a...
A 2×2 Matrix for Dogs
More genius from the mind of Steve Chapman, "Playful with not knowing" Sometimes we take leadership, strategy, management etc etc WAY too seriously. So, today, genius from the mind of Steve Chapman and his insights into the mind of his dog Poppy and, let's face it,...
What will your tombstone legacy be?
My late mentor and friend Ed Percival, has left a truly powerful "tombstone legacy" through many you have learned from him and share what they have learned. Among the many phrases wrongly attributed to Winston Churchill, though losing none of the power of the...
The most powerful voice in the universe is yours
The most powerful voice in the universe is yours because the most important words in the universe are yours. Self-talk matters. Choose wisely.Gregg Parini, Head Swimming Coach & Professor at Denison University Concise wisdom from Gregg Parini in a tweet this past...
Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something
“People say nothing is impossible. But I do nothing every day. Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something.”Winnie the Pooh Today when this post goes out at 8am on Friday, I will be disconnected. The night before I'll have gone to a country inn, where I've...
Beware of sensory overload
A personal story today to make a point for all of us to be aware of around allowing ourselves to experience sensory overload and the impact that can have. Oh, and also a recommendation for those who suffer restricted hearing, one which may make a massive positive...
Do you have the available capacity to focus?
How much capacity is left in your cup, or are you full to overflowing? Readers will note that, in the last week or so, a number of my daily posts have been briefer than usual, plus a number have talked about focus. Linked to this, during this brief period, I have been...
Focus turns good performers into great performers
What seems like a difference in talent often comes down to a difference in focus. Focus turns good performers into great performers. Two keys to focus are saying no to distractions and working on the same problem for an uncommonly long time. Both are simple...
When drinking tea, just drink tea
Today curating from the wonderful Sketchplanations. First, let me note the style of the picture, it is done in the glorious style of the TIntin comic books that I adored in my youth. I also therefore feel the TIntin movie made a few years ago is a total gem, as it...
Intermission
If you are as old or older than me you may remember intermissions in plays, opera, even movies over 2.5 hours (no, they didn't make you sit through three hour plus movies without a break). Sometimes it is good to pause, to reflect, to build anticipation for what is to...
Docendo discimus – by teaching, we learn
In the mid-1990s, in my late 20s, the Squash Club in Cayman was looking to reinvigorate their junior programme. I was on the board of the club at the time and myself and another member, the late and dearly missed Derek Tyler, agreed to get this started. At the time, I...
What would your Desert Island Discs be?
It occurred to me to write this post when I most recently listened to what to me is the greatest cover version of all time, David Bowie covering himself with the version of Cat People on the Let's Dance album, featuring the epic production of Niles Rodgers and even...