Tom
McCallumWhat I’m Focussed on Now
Updated 20th May 2024
{this is a Now page, hat tip to Derek Sivers for the idea}. I love the idea of a Now page, as so many of us focus on so much more than our core work as expressed on our website. I set this up in November 2020, I update it regularly.
Knowledge Speak, Wisdom Listens
Context is key in leadership and in any activity, business or personal. In periodic updates to this NOW page, then, I often highlight my current context. As I entered 2024, my new context became “Knowledge Speaks, Wisdom Listens”
With “Knowledge Speaks, Wisdom Listens”, I started the year with a focus on finding the right balance between listening and then sharing knowledge. To begin the year, I indefinitely paused my daily posts on this site (a little less “knowledge speaks” , whilst at the same time restarted WhatComesNext.Live podcasts in early February (some more listening!).
As this new context began to flow, though, I found that I was keen to create more and more space, more “Ma” space, “space between”. I therefore also paued the podcast after the end of April until around October, allowing even more space over the summer months.
I’m also, right now, aware that, on a human level, this amount of space will be a rare moment in time. As an empy nester with healthy parents and adult children all happy and content, this is a window in life for a 58 year old that will, in time, be subject to change as life moves on.
Less is more (when it comes to my client work)
When I last updated this page in January 2024, I noted that for all of 2023 I was “currently not accepting new clients”, then noted that I absolutely could have taken on more clients, but choose to be “always active, never busy“. This phrase itself came from a growing focus on “being intentional with time“, being around being the best I can be, always, for the clients that I do choose to work with.
At the time of that January update I noted that I had space for “no more than (literally) one or two new clients for 2024, and noted a piece I had written on the value of structured support which linked to that graph on progressive improvement linked to having such structure.
Now, in May 2024, my client book has once again been closed since February, and I am very much aware that “less is more”, that I support six clients and only six, and that to be at my very best with every client on every call, at every meeting, that is my optimum. Yes, I could do double that client based in my diary, but I know I could not then always guarantee to be at my best.
So, that’s my update for May 2024. more “Ma” space, and appreciating increasingly every day that “Less is More” for my work.
What is #OpenLeadership?
With each periodic upate of this NOW page, I keep this section as a constant, as my concept of #OpenLeadership remains a constant and one that has more and more resonance and relevance for leaders everywhere.
I developed the idea some years ago and it is one of two core themes flowing through all of the over 2000 daily posts on my blog and over 100 podcasts on #Whatcomesnextlive (also on this site).
So, here is a reminder of the core article: “Are you ready for #OpenLeadership” and the summary within it:
What is #OpenLeadership?
What we are talking about here is a transformational shift in leadership, from closed, “command and control” to open, empowering, inclusive, trusting, believing, supportive (and more!). This is therefore all about how a leadership “shows up”, who they are “being” as a Leader.
I also highlight the four attributes in the image below, and ask you to consider them as two pairs. First, to be “Brave and Hungry”. These can be powerful on their own, but also run the risk of being controlling and even toxic. So, then add the second pair, to be “Open and Humble”. Again, these on their own can be frail and even the opposite of leadership into the future, but pair them with “Brave and Hungry” and you have a powerful combination.